Chassidic story[1]
Lost in the Forest: The Baal Shem Tov’s Mysterious Shabbos Adventure 🌲🕯️
- The Journey Begins
One Saturday night, after the peaceful glow of Shabbos had faded, the Baal Shem Tov—a great and wise spiritual leader—set out on a journey. With him were three of his most trusted students: Rabbi David of Mikolayev, Rabbi David Sirkes, and Rabbi David Leikes. Their driver, Alexei, guided the horses as they sped along the road, the night air cool and full of promise.
The Baal Shem Tov often traveled in wondrous ways, and sometimes, with a single leap, their carriage would cover many miles in an instant! But this time, something strange happened. On the second day of their journey, they lost their way and wandered deep into a tangled forest. The trees grew thick, the paths disappeared, and soon, they could barely see the daylight. They had no idea where they were.
- Worry and Weariness 😟🌑
Days passed. The Baal Shem Tov, usually so calm and wise, felt confused and troubled. He wasn’t used to being lost, and his students grew anxious too. As the sixth day approached—Friday, the eve of Shabbos—their worry turned to sadness. How would they welcome Shabbos in the middle of nowhere?
As the sun began to set, the Baal Shem Tov, exhausted from worry, drifted into a troubled sleep. His students hoped that maybe, in a dream, he would receive a heavenly message about what to do. But when he awoke, there was no answer, only more confusion. The group sat together, their hearts heavy, unsure what would become of them.
- A Light in the Darkness ✨
Suddenly, at midday, they spotted a faint light shining in the distance. Their spirits lifted! “Maybe God is guiding us to a place where we can spend Shabbos,” they thought. They hurried toward the light, hoping for shelter, warmth, and a chance to rest.
- The House in the Woods 🏚️
The travelers arrived at a small, lonely house standing in the middle of the forest. At the door stood a large, rough-looking man, barefoot and dressed in ragged clothes. He looked at them with suspicion and annoyance.
“Please, sir,” the Baal Shem Tov asked, “may we spend Shabbos in your home?”
The man scowled. “I don’t want you here, or your Shabbos! I can tell by your faces that you’re Hasidim and preachers. I’ve hated people like you all my life, just like my father and grandfather before me. Go away! I don’t even want to look at you!”
The students pleaded, “Is there any other village nearby? We’re lost and Shabbos is coming soon.”
The man replied, “The time it took you to get here, you’d need just as long to reach the next village. You won’t make it before Shabbos.”
Desperate, the students begged him to let them stay, offering to pay much more than usual. At last, the man agreed, but only with strict conditions: “No loud prayers, no long prayers, and don’t be picky about the food. I need to eat on time, and I don’t want you making a fuss!”
- Shabbos in a Strange Place 😬🍞
Inside, the house was bare—no table, no chairs, just four pegs in the ground with a plank laid across them. There were no other people, no animals, not even a cat or a bird. The silence and emptiness made the travelers shiver.
As Shabbos began, the host covered the plank with a thick black cloth, stuck a candle into a lump of clay, and lit it. He rushed through the prayers, mumbling the words so quickly that the Baal Shem Tov and his students barely had time to pray themselves.
After prayers, they wished him “Shabbos Shalom,” but he snapped back, “May a bad year come upon you!” When they tried to sing Shabbos songs, he shouted at them to be quiet.
For the meal, he made Kiddush (the blessing over wine) in a hurry, drank almost all the wine, and left them only a few drops. He put a single, thick, dark loaf of bread on the “table,” cut it himself, and gave each of them a small piece. Then he brought out a bowl of lentil stew, handed them spoons, and ordered them to eat together—no extra food, no singing, no blessings together. “This is how it’s done here,” he grumbled.
The Baal Shem Tov and his students felt lost and confused. Was this really Shabbos? They tried to keep their spirits up, but the host’s harshness made it difficult.
- More Trials and Tribulations 😣
The next day, things didn’t get any better. The host hurried through his prayers and forced the guests to do the same. When they asked for the third Shabbos meal, he mocked them: “Gluttons! You just ate, and now you want to eat again? Do you expect me to slaughter cattle for you?” They had to make do with words of Torah, whispered quietly among themselves.
The Baal Shem Tov, usually so wise and full of understanding, felt his spiritual strength leave him. He didn’t know what to do or why this was happening.
- The Endless Shabbos 😩
When Shabbos ended, the host continued to insult and mock them. He kept them busy with chores and harsh words until late at night. The next day, he insisted they eat with him again, refusing to let them leave. This went on for four days! Only then did he finally take payment for the food and let them go.
- The Mysterious Woman 👩🦰✨
As they were leaving, a door opened and a richly dressed woman appeared. She approached the Baal Shem Tov and said, “Rabbi, please spend the next Shabbos at my house.”
The Baal Shem Tov was astonished. “How do you know I am a rabbi? And if you knew, why did you let me suffer through such a terrible Shabbos?”
The woman smiled gently. “Don’t you remember me? Years ago, I was an orphan girl who worked in your house. I was sick, and your wife used to care for me. One time, I cried out and refused her help, and she slapped me. You saw, but you said nothing. Because of this, Heaven decreed that you would lose your share in the World to Come, for the Torah says, ‘Do not mistreat a widow or orphan.’ My husband and I, seeing your fate, prayed for you. We asked that you be given a chance to make up for your mistake. Shabbos is like a taste of the World to Come, so we arranged for you to experience a Shabbos that felt like exile. Now, your soul is forgiven, and your place in the World to Come is restored.”
- Joy and Restoration 🎉🕊️
At that moment, the Baal Shem Tov’s wisdom and spiritual strength returned. He realized that everything he had suffered was for a reason—a lesson in humility and compassion. He and his students spent the next Shabbos with the woman and her righteous husband, celebrating with joy, learning Torah, and sharing new insights. After Shabbos, they continued their journey, hearts full of gratitude and peace.
The Lesson 🌟
This story teaches us that sometimes, life’s hardest moments are really opportunities for growth and forgiveness. We must always be kind, especially to those who are vulnerable, and remember that even when things seem unfair, there may be a deeper purpose behind our struggles.
[1] Sippurei Chassidim Zevin Mishpatim
