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 | Blogs > kabbalah69 > etz chaim > The Rabbi and the Thief - Another Baal Shem Story |
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The great mystic and Kabbalist known as the Baal Shem Tov [Master of the Good Name] was born in the Ukraine in 1698. During his life, he became known as the Kabbalist of Thieves because many crooks, scoundrels, and swindlers claimed him as their spiritual master and teacher. One especially notorious thief, known as Jacob the Swindler, lived in the small Western Ukraine village of Medzeboz. Whenever the authorities began closing in on him, Jacob would hurry over to the Baal Shem Tov for a special Kabbalistic blessing from the Master. As this was taking place, the police of Medzeboz would mysteriously forget about Jacob the Swindler and move on to another case. The relationship between the Kabbalist and the thief continued like this for many years. Each week, Jacob would commit a series of crimes, and each week the Kabbalist invoked a special blessing that wiped Jacob's slate clean. One day the people of Medzeboz received word that an extremely wealthy nobleman, who was a cousin of the Czar of Russia, would be passing through the town. Since it was well known that this nobleman always carried gold coins and other valuables during his travels, Jacob couldn't resist. He would hold-up the nobleman in his horse and carriage just outside the town. Then Jacob would flee -- and before the nobleman could summon the authorities, he would be at the home of the Kabbalist. There he would receive a blessing, and once again he would be scot-free. On a clear night in the year of 1760, on the outskirts of the village of Medzeboz, Jacob pulled off the robbery with extraordinary skill. When he arrived at the home of the Kabbalist, however, he received the shock of his life. His beloved teacher had departed this world! Not only was Jacob's heart shattered, but he suddenly realized his desperate predicament. The police had launched a full scale search at the behest of the powerful nobleman, and there was no Kabbalist to exonerate the thief. Jacob managed to elude the authorities as he made it to the home of another Rabbi who studied under the Baal Shem Tov. Jacob told him of his arrangement with the Kabbalist and asked for a special blessing. However, the Rabbi refused and slammed the door. With the search and pursuit intensifying, Jacob rushed across town to the cemetery and the grave of his beloved teacher. Falling to the ground, he wailed, "How could you leave me here helpless? You were my only hope! And I was your devout student." Miserable and frightened, Jacob eventually fell asleep by the graveside. What occurred later that night under a star laden Ukrainian sky is somewhat vague. But it is said that Jacob had a dream in which the Baal Shem Tov appeared to him and said, "Don't worry, Jacob. I'll make sure you are looked after. When you awaken from this dream, go to my grandson, who is my successor. Tell him I've sent you. He will give you the blessing and you will again be free." Since Jacob was naturally worried that the grandson would never believe him, the Baal Shem Tov then revealed one of the great hidden secrets of the Kabbalah, a mystical insight into the wisdom of the universe that only those who learn in the Garden of Eden can possibly know. Upon hearing this secret wisdom, Jacob was filled with an ecstasy that was beyond words or mortal explanation. "When my grandson hears this secret," the Kabbalist told him, "he will know for certain that I have sent you." Jacob awoke just before the dawn, and he immediately hurried over to see the grandson. As the thief had feared, the grandson did not believe his story -- so Jacob revealed the hidden wisdom given to him by the Kabbalist. As the spiritual secrets left his lips, Jacob felt the presence of pure Light in every syllable and word that he spoke. At that moment Jacob's soul was profoundly stirred, and he knew that he must change his ways forever. And he did. Over the ensuing years Jacob emerged as a great spiritual leader of the village and a masterful teacher who embraced everyone he met without judgment. Eventually, Jacob became the successor to the Kabbalist's grandson, and thus the successor to the Baal Shem Tov himself. |
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6/14/2008 2:13 pm |
that is good stuff.
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5/26/2008 3:50 pm |
It's all.. "wow"
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