Every so often, I come back to the following story (see here for the original posting). I find much comfort in the layers that I have gleaned from it. Here is one version as I recently wrote up for Congregation Ahavas Achim’s Shavuot Journal.
Hasidic stories have many layers of interpretation and points for reflection. From the simple niceties of storytelling to deep esoteric concepts, many of these stories require time and focus to explore the breadth and depth of the lessons we can glean. One of my favorite stories describes the origins of how R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch (Maggid of Mezeritch) became a follower of the Baal Shem Tov (see Sefer Baal Shem Tov, vol. 1 pg. 7-8 or Keter Shem Tov Helek 2 23a).
(Freely translated/adapted): I heard from a Hasid, at some point R. Dov Ber began hearing about the greatness of the holy Rabbi, Baal Shem Tov, and how people would travel from far and wide to witness and receives his prayers. R. Dov Ber was known as one who had a sharp mind and was an expert in Shas and Poskim. Additionally, he had his hands in the wisdom of the Kabbalah. He was curious as to what made the Baal Shem Tov so great.
He finally decided to travel to the Baal Shem Tov in order to test him. As he was travelling, he began having regrets, for R. Dov Ber was a matmid, (someone always immersed in study) and he was unable to maintain his learning while travelling, thus distressing him. He finally resolved to continue, knowing that he would hear Torah when he arrived to see the Baal Shem Tov. Alas, this was not to be. Instead, the Baal Shem Tov shared a story about a how he was travelling for days and ran out of food to provide for his wagon driver. He then happened upon a poor non-Jew from whom he purchased bread to provide for his wagon driver. The Baal Shem Tov also described how he ran out of food for his horses on a journey. While the stories contained tremendous wisdom, R. Dov Ber did not see the wisdom or depth of the Baal Shem Tov’s words.
R. Dov Ber went to his assistant and told him to ready the wagons for his return trip the next morning, as it was too dark to travel on this particular night. At midnight, with everything prepped to go, R. Dov Ber was summoned to meet with the Baal Shem Tov.
The Baal Shem Tov asked him, “Do you know how to learn?”
He responded, “Yes.”
The Baal Shem Tov then continued saying, “I have heard that you know how to learn. Tell me, do you have knowledge of the wisdom of the Kabbalah?”
He responded, “Yes.”
The Baal Shem Tov then asked his attendant to bring him a copy of the Etz Chaim (Kabbalat HaAri) and showed R. Dov Ber an essay, which the Baal Shem Tov asked him to explain. R. Dov Ber took the text, reviewed it and returned to the Baal Shem Tov and explained the text to him.
The Baal Shem Tov said, “You don’t know anything.” So R. Dov Ber went back, looked it over again and told the Baal Shem Tov, “The correct interpretation is like I already stated, so if you think you know a better explanation, please tell it to me for I will hear truth from whomever shares truth.”
The Baal Shem Tov responded, “Stand up, for this passage contains names of angels.”
As soon as he said this, the text illuminated the entire house and a fire surrounded them. They sensed the presence of the angels mentioned in the text.
The Baal Shem Tov then said to R. Dov Ber, “In truth, the interpretation is as you said, however your learning lacks soul (ed. Note – emphasis mine).”
At this moment, R. Dov Ber told his servant to return home and he would be staying with the Baal Shem Tov to learn from his great wisdom.
Many of us struggle with the greater goals of Torah study. Throughout Jewish tradition, we have many philosophies and motives for study, including:
- Studying the works of our tradition is an act that is to be done lishma, for its own sake.
- Studying the Torah is a process that helps maintain the world, as we learn in Pirkei Avot 1:2, that one of the world’s pillars is the Torah.
- Studying the Torah is for the sake of action, Lilmod al Minat L’Maaseh, study in order to do.
Yet, even with these goals and ideas, I would presume that we all struggle at times to see the soulful depth of what we are learning. We struggle to keep these ideals in mind.
If we reflect on the above story, perhaps we can garner a new appreciation for the centrality of Torah in our lives, something we reinvest in over Shavuot. R. Dov Ber did not recognize the Torah of storytelling, of the seemingly mundane. For him, Torah was merely the fixed “text” of Talmud, halacha, kabbalah. Anything outside of that was seen as mundane, unimportant. He couldn’t grasp the value in the experiential aspects of Torah study. That is, until the Baal Shem Tov opened his eyes to the deeper Torah that comes from experiencing it, integrating it beyond the words on paper. The Baal Shem Tov showed R. Dov Ber the soul of learning.
Today, we are blessed to be able to learn anytime, anywhere, almost anything we want. This is a blessing and a challenge. Many partake in daily set study, whether Daf Yomi, Mishna Yomi, Nach Yomi, or some other Yomi. Others have set learning based on certain desired quotas and measures that one takes upon oneself. We can connect to great scholars around the world. We are fortunate to be able to have access to both the texts and teachers who can help guide us through. Yet, how many times do we despair because the study moves too fast, or because we don’t recall the material from one day to the next.
We shouldn’t give up. As we can see from the story of R. Dov Ber, it isn’t just the ability to read a text that speaks to our growth in Torah study. It is about how we are engaged in the study. R. Dov Ber stayed with the Baal Shem Tov to learn what being engaged in the text meant. For us, it is how we approach our learning. If we are consistent, if we are mindful and engaged with mind, body and soul, then we will find true success. Not just in what we know, but in how Torah guides us in our lives.
This is the message of Shavuot as we celebrate it today. Shavuot, as Zman Matan Torateinu, the time of receiving our Torah, is a time to reinvest in our learning. Many do this through staying up and learning/being engaged in learning on the first night. Others through the communal focus on study activities throughout Shavuot. In all of these moments, we are tasked with both the study and also the experience of study so as to inspire us to strive towards deeper and more meaningful study. May each of us experience a soulful learning this Shavuot.
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