Yiddishe Mamme

During one of his lectures on psychiatric disorders, our professor Dr. Z told us that every once in a while a patient would come to him and he could not pinpoint what was exactly the matter with the person. In such a situation he would prescribe a wonder-drug called Obecalp. Obecalp was an effective agent against depression, pain, and a host of other common conditions. Although this drug is no longer available for clinical use (nowadays it is solely used in research), when Dr. Z was practicing as a young doctor many decades ago, he was friendly with a nearby pharmacist and this pharmacist would privately formulate Obecalp. Nowadays the drug name has changed (they spell it backwards), but even today, before any new drug is approved the drug manufacturer must prove that his drug is more effective than Obecalp. Recently, researchers are finding the Obecalp is becoming even more effective, yet no one knows how Obecalp works. One leading theory raised by proponents of Lubavitcher Hassidism ...

Some Hasidim of the Maggid of Mezheritz came to him. "Rebbe, we have a problem. It says in the Talmud that one must thank God as much for the bad , as for the good. How can that be? What would our gratitude mean, if we gave it equally for the good and the bad?" The Maggid replied, "Go to Anapol. Reb Zusya will have an answer for you." The Hasidim undertook the journey. Arriving in Anapol, they inquired for Reb Zusya. At last, they came to the poorest street of the city. There, crowded between two small houses, they found a tiny shack, sagging with age. When they entered, they saw Reb Zusya sitting at a bare table, reading a volume by the light of the only small window. "Welcome, strangers!" he said. "Please pardon me for not getting up; I have hurt my leg. Would you like food? I have some bread. And there is water!" "No. We have come only to ask you a question. The Maggid of Mezheritz told us you might help us understand: Why do our sages te...

The Baal Shem Tov taught: And G·d said to Abram, "Go out from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) "I will make your nature known in the world" (Rashi). I heard from my Master in the name of Rav Sa'adiah Gaon, that a person is created in this world solely to break his negative, inborn character traits. Through this, he raises up the level called "your nature" [i.e. what is natural for you] "in the world" - [i.e. into the world] Above." It is called "world" (olam) from the word "hidden" (he'elam) and "concealed." Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore