A Lesson in Warmth

This e-mail is dedicated to my special cousin Danell, on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah. Mazal Tov!!

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On this coming Shabbat, the Hebrew date of the 18th of Elul,
we commemorate the birth date of the holy Baal Shem Tov, in 1698.
The Baal Shem Tov emerged following a very difficult time in Jewish History in Eastern Europe, primarily with the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648-1657, that killed between 100-500,000 Jews!
Still reeling from these massacres, Jews felt colder toward Judaism, G-d, and life itself.
The Baal Shem Tov arrived - emphasizing joy, pure faith, and trust in Hashem. He revitalized the importance of loving every fellow Jew like yourself, and how much G-d Loves us & how dear he beholds every Jew: "Like an only child born to an elderly couple in their old age, except much more so!" (not exactly the classic image of a powerful king in the sky with lightning bolts :)

There is one story of the Baal Shem Tov that I've always loved, and which I think best shows 2 things he focused on so much: Serving G-d with joy & vitality, and learning from everything 1 sees.

Once, the Baal Shem Tov and his many students were journeying through a forest. As they entered a clearing, they saw a vast, frozen lake. That wouldn't have been too bad, except for the cross that was carved into it. "Rabbi!" Exclaimed his students, "You've always taught us that everything we see and experience is a lesson in life and in the service of G-d. But what in the world could be the purpose of G-d Showing us this!?"

The Baal Shem Tov paused for a moment, and then turned to his students. "Why are you able to see such an image?"
"Because the water is frozen," they answered.
"But if the water were to be warmed up, this image would not be able to exist, correct...?"
The students understood the message.
When one's relationship with G-d is a cold one, lacking joy and excitement, it can lead to the worst of things for a Jew.

We must always remember how lucky we are, the children of the King, who loves us and cherishes His Relationship with us, every moment of our lives. Like a young child whose every movement and motion is cherished by his parents, we must always remember how beloved we are, and how every effort we make to connect to our Father is beloved to Him.
We may fall down from time to time, but like a child beginning to learn how to walk, surely the child's father smiles the entire way, as long as the child is trying his best to stand up.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel
Nice, France
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May you be written & sealed for a good & sweet year!
Remember: Your next deed will change the world.So make it a good 1!