Perek 90

[Bentzion Meltzer]

The Baal Shem Tov taught:

After a person experiences a period of spiritual elevation, one must
return and descend in order to elevate those still on lower levels,1
as alluded to in the verse, "I have washed my feet."2 This is also the
meaning of, "running and returning,"3 and what is referred to as,
"katnuth/immaturity and gadluth/maturity."4

And every time one descends, one must take care to be able to rise
again,5 so that one does not remain in spiritual descent. For as the
Baal Shem Tov said, many people fell and remained there.6

1 This idea is connected with the previous teaching (#89), in that one
can elevate others only by identifying and becoming "one" with them on
some level. During periods of spiritual ascent, when one is
experiencing a spiritual "high," one may tend to disassociate from
those people still on lower levels, and is thus unable to elevate
them. But when one has fallen oneself, one understands and identifies
with the difficulty others are experiencing, and is thus able to
elevate them with his own return.
2 Song of Songs 5:3. The "feet" are a metaphor for the lowest
spiritual levels, and the verse thus alludes to the thought that may
go through the mind of someone presently at a higher level: I have
"washed" my own "feet" already, so I don't want to dirty myself again.
3 Ezekiel 1:14. This verse refers to the angels running towards and
returning away from God, and is metaphor for the spiritual ups and
downs of the human soul.
4 Although physiological maturity is irreversible, spiritual maturity
is cyclical.
5 Although one may be in a state of spiritual descent, one must remain
aware of this and not allow oneself to wallow in this state or to act
in ways that would reinforce it.
6 Toldoth Yaakov Yoseph, VaYera #1. Indeed, the higher one goes, the
deeper the potential fall, and the disappointment and frustration one
experiences.

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted
with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit
www.baalshemtov.com

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[Joseph A. Cleary]

Dear Bentzion:
As I'm in all likelihood the lowest on the totem, it would be
for every one else to help me see better or to read the proper things so as
to not fall off the track.
I am sorry if my slang bothers you.
I was reminded of the last time I was in Israel which was in 04.
As I was returning to Oklahoma I encountered a family also
returning to Oklahoma. They had also been in Israel, they didn't like it
there at all. When I asked why, they told me that they weren't treated very
well. When I asked them how they treated the Jews of Israel they replied the
same they had in Oklahoma.
When I asked them where they ate when they were in Israel, they
told me of a beautiful little place in Tel Aviv, they didn't describe it
that way that was me, as I and a friend of mine had eaten there when I was
there in 2000. It was a Kosher place which served Kosher foods which meant
nothing to those other Oklahomans.
I asked the man what had he ordered which caused such a turmoil
a cheese burger with milk? Oddly enough it was exactly what they had wanted.
The staff that were there went through five or six waitress' before they
finally found some one who spoke enough English to tell the mans wife off.
In Jerusalem he was thrown from a McDonalds bodily, this was
after they took him to the door and showed him their Kosher sign. I asked
what he had ordered there? It was a ham and cheese burger with milk.
After this I told them that they might consider them selves
lucky, had they gone to a Muslim country and asked for Pork they might have
been killed on the spot.
At that point I was asked if I were a Jew, my answer was Yes I
am. I was only trying to help them learn from their mistake. They got up and
moved away from me, for which I was grateful for them leaving me alone.
Please do be well and do have a good week.
Shalom, Shalom, Yosef

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