HOLY FIRE - A STORY

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well and enjoying Sukkos.

A refuah shlemah for Yechezkiel ben Ester.

Mazal Tov to Alisa and Juan who had a baby girl on Yom Kippur! And whose name is Camille (Millie) Tova. Wishing parents and grandparents, Reuven and Chana Lieba (Ravin and Annette), many simchos and much continued nachas! So happy for all of you.

It is coming up Simchas Torah plus Shmini Atzeres next week, and in connection to this I saw an interesting point in this week's Sedra, Vezos Habrachah, and read an interesting story, which I would like to share

Sedra (33:4)

It says "Torah tziva lanu Mosheh MORASHAH kehilas Yaakov" - The Torah which Hashem commanded us is an INHERITANCE for the community of Yaakov"

Acquisitions belong to specific people who are deserving

But inhertance comes to one whether one deserves it or not.

Torah belongs to every single Jew, no matter what level of observance or knowledge we are up to. And as Rashi adds, "We will not abandon it."

And this is reflected in the fact, that on Simchat we can all dance with OUR SEFER TORAH. which is covered and closed, and with much joy!

Story (Rabbi Tilles)

One year on Simchat Torah, in Medzibuz, (round about 1734) the Baal Shem Tov and some of his advanced students were dancing together way into the night, with great joy, and consuming large quantities of wine.

The wife of the Baal Shem Tov, Leah Rochel was concerned that there would not be enough wine for the next day's kiddush and Havdalah and she asked her husband to ask his disciples to stop drinking.

The Baal Shem Tov's face lit up with a smile and he asked his wife to go and tell them, which she proceeded to do.

However, when she opened the door she was shocked by the scene - The Chassidim were dancing in a tight circle, and around them was a canopy of flames surrounding them, and hovering over them.

Without taking a further step, she turned around, went down to the basement cellar, gathering as much wine as she could, and placed it on the table of the enthusiastically dancing Chassidim!

Surely the Shechinah (Divine Presence) was dancing with them!

On a different year, the same scene repeated itself, but then at the height of the ecstasy, the shoelace of one of the disciples broke, and he could not continue dancing with his companions.

On this occasion, the only daughter of the Baal Shem Tov, Udel, was standing on the side enjoying the joyful spirit.

Udel was already married but did not yet have children, and she quietly approached the Chasid and said to him "If you promise that I will give birth to a son this year, I will provide you with a good pair of shoes to continue dancing."

The Chassid was in a quandary. How could he make such a promise? On the other hand, how could he give up being part of such an exalted celebration?

He quickly promised her for what she had asked.

That year she gave birth to the Holy Rebbe, Reb Baruch of Medzibuz, who grew up to be one of the most important Chassidic leaders in the third generation of Chassidim!

Gut Moed, Gut Shabbos and Gut Yom Tov to all, with much joy!