The Baal Shem Tov, meaning “Master of the Good Name,” was an 18th century Jewish mystical rabbi who founded the Hasidic movement in Eastern Europe. He taught the value of sincere prayer and joyful worship of God. One of his famous tales illustrates this core teaching.
Joyful Worship in the Forest
It is said that the Baal Shem Tov would often go into the forest to meditate and connect with God. He would play his violin and sing and dance with sincere joy and devotion. The animals of the forest would gather round to listen to his prayers.
One time, the Baal Shem Tov was lost deep in prayer when a group of merchants passed by on their way to a fair. They stopped in their tracks as they heard the beautiful yet mysterious music coming from the forest. They followed the sound and came upon the rabbi, eyes closed and lost in ecstasy, singing and swaying as he played his violin.
The Skepticism of the Merchants
The merchants laughed. “What sort of prayer is this?” they mocked. “Your song and dance may be fine for entertaining guests at a wedding! But you call this prayer? This is no way to serve God!”
The Baal Shem Tov opened his eyes and smiled at the men. “My friends, how do you serve God when you pray?”
"Why, with reverence and solemnity and humility of course!” the merchants answered.
Seeing God in All Creation
Just then, the Baal Shem Tov saw a group of foxes emerge from the brush. He called to them and they drew near. The Baal Shem Tov took out pieces of bread from his coat pocket and fed each fox by hand. He pet them gently and played with them.
The merchants were shocked. “Foxy cunning thieves! We would never allow these scoundrels near us, let alone feed them!”
"Ah," said the Baal Shem Tov, still smiling kindly at the merchants. “You see, God created these foxes too, just as He created you. All of creation sings its own song of worship and joy to the Creator, each in its own way. When I sing and dance in ecstasy, I sing the song embedded in my very Jewish soul. And who are we to judge the way another creature chooses to praise God?”
The Value of Joy and Sincerity in Worship
The merchants bowed their heads in contemplation. The Baal Shem Tov had imparted an important spiritual lesson. One’s prayer and worship of God should be sincere, joyful and heartfelt. Just as God created different creatures, so too He created diverse pathways to serve and connect with Him.
The Hasidic movement went on to broadly promote this celebratory worship of God in contrast to the more austere, intellectual style that preceded it. The tale of the foxes in the forest illustrates that all creation has its own way to praise God rooted in an innate joyfulness. As long as human prayer comes from a place of sincerity and faith - whether through celebratory song and dance or quiet introspection - it has immense spiritual value.
This Hasidic teaching is a touching reminder that God can be worshipped in endless ways by souls both simple and wise. The key is unfettered joy and wholehearted devotion, using the unique channels of prayer embedded within each living being by the Divine Creator. When we tap into wellsprings of the soul, that is true devotion - and true joy.
Wishing you a wonderful day filled with blessings!
See you soon in the next post!
Tohar Liani