Baal Shem Tov, R. Israel

“As He is rachum (merciful), [so you be merciful].” (Shabbat 133b) [The word] rachum has the same letters as chomer (matter). The implication is as follows: It cannot be that the Holy One, blessed is He, should show mercy to turbid matter, for how can the...

“. . . and to become attached unto Him.” (Deuteronomy 11:22) How can you attach yourself to [God] when He is a “devouring fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24)? It means, “attach yourself to His attributes: as He is merciful, so you be merciful.” This paragraph is a c...

You are to serve God with [both] fear and joy. These are “two friends that do not separate [from each other].” Fear and joy related to one thing are two contrary feelings. In the service of God, however, they do not contradict one another but can go toget...

“The Torah is concerned about the money of Israel.” (Yoma 39a) Why so? It is an important principle that when you wear, eat, or make use of anything, you derive benefit from the vital force inherent in that object. See above, sect. 90, and notes 9-10 ther...

When praying, have in mind that God is vested in the letters. See above, sect. 75, 88 and 103. This means: We do not know what a person thinks unless he speaks. It follows, then, that speech is a garment for thought. The thought is vested in speech. Say, ...

Prayer with great joy “One is not to pray in a state of sadness but with joy” (Berachot 31a). “The root of prayer is the heart’s rejoicing in God” (Sefer Chassidim, sect. 18). is certainly much more acceptable before [God], blessed be He, than prayer in s...

Citing R. Israel Baal Shem: When the body ails, the soul, too, is weakened, Cf. the admonition of the Maggid of Mezhirech: “A small hole in the body causes a big hole in the soul.” (Maggid Devarav Leya’akov, Addenda, sect. 191) and one is unable to pray p...

Sometimes one can recite the prayers with love and fear, and great hitlahavut (fervor; burning enthusiasm), without moving at all, so that to another it may appear that he is saying the words without any deveikut (attachment to God). See above, sect. 58-5...

Sometimes one is to serve God just with the soul, i.e., in thought, keeping the body static so that it will not become ill from using it extensively. See above, sect. 59, and below, sect. 105. Cf. also above, sect. 58, notes 5-6.

Speech is the vitality of the human, and that vitality comes from [God], blessed be He. “When a person speaks, breath comes out of his mouth. That breath is part of his vitality . . . it derives from his soul . . . That is why why we are enjoined not to e...