Love of God

There are different types of personalities, thank God.  Yet, sometimes these “different” types can lead to misunderstandings.  Here is one example:

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was full of exuberance while Rabbi Baruch of Medzhibozh was reserved.  When Levi Yitzchak davenned (prayed) he was so full of joy and enthusiasm that he often shouted, swayed, danced and sang extemporaneously.  Rabbi Baruch was just the opposite.   He davenned quietly, moving his lips, barely swaying, the picture of calm.  Stories about Rabbi Baruch’s holiness and piety were legend. 

When Rabbi Yitzchak heard of Rabbi Baruch’s erudition and holiness, he yearned to spend a Shabbat with him.  Yet, he was warned not be to be over-ecstatic.  People told Rabbi Levi to control himself if he was going to sit in the presence of this great luminary.  It would not be fitting for Rabbi Levi to be his usual excitable self.

Rabbi Levi vowed that when he sat at Rabbi Baruch’s table he would not open his mouth except to say “Amen” to the blessings he heard.

When the date finally arrived, Rabbi Levi sat attentively at the table, barely moving.  He watched the motions of Rabbi Baruch intensely and yet refrained from budging an inch, although it was quite difficult for him.

There used to be a tradition on Shabbat that the meal would consist of sweet and sour fish.  The seated guests would take their preference. 

Late in the meal Rabbi Baruch turned to Rabbi Levi and asked, “Which do your prefer?  The sweet or sour fish?”

At that point Rabbi Levi could no longer contain himself and jumped up from his seat.  “Do I like sweet or sour fish?!!  I love God!” he yelled with gusto and joy.

As he sprang up, so did his Kiddush cup which splashed all over Rabbi Baruch’s tallit.  Along with most of the food! 

A hushed silence fell over the table.  When Levi Yitzchak saw what he had done he was embarrassed and apologized profusely.   Yet, the stately Rabbi Baruch shushed Levi Yitzchak and his guests.  He said, “Anyone who loves God so deeply is truly a holy man.” 

Shlomo Carlebach taught that Rabbi Baruch never washed his tallit.  The stains were there for the rest of his life as a sign of real devotion to God.

It is a Jewish custom that a person is buried in the tallit that they wore during their lifetime.  Yet, this was not the case for this holy tallit.  That tallit was handed down from generation to generation of rabbis until it came into the possession of the Munkitcher rebbe who only wore it at Neila, the conclusion of Yom Kippur, as the tallit was so fragile.  When the Munkitcher died the tattered tallit was finally buried with him.

Every day we read, “And you shall love the Lord, your God….”.   Is it really so challenging to choose love?  To elect to see goodness?  The way we view the world is a reflection of who we are.  Perhaps that is why the Torah is so insistent that we love God.  If we dedicate ourselves to finding the source of such love within ourselves the world becomes so much brighter.