Rosh Hashana is a time of prayer and repentance – and also time of great hassidic stories. This is one of our favorites, about the Ba’al Shem Tov and a very unusual prayer.
Which is your favorite hassidic story?
One day before Rosh Hashana, the holy Ba’al Shem Tov arrived in a distant town where there lived only one Jew, who owned an inn.
The Ba’al Shem Tov made his way there and asked to meet the innkeeper.
The family members explained, "Father is praying", and served him a meal,
The Ba’al Shem Tov waited for the innkeeper to finish praying for a long time.
After a few hours the innkeeper came out of his room and in a shy voice explained to the Ba’al Shem Tov:
“I am a very simple Jew. I can barely read the words in Hebrew, so I recite the prayers very slowly. The reason that the prayer takes me so long is that I don't know the proper order of the prayers, and what should be said each day, so every day I try to read the Siddur from beginning to end.
“I am very happy that you happened to come by just before Rosh Hashana,” the innkeeper continued, “since I would very much like to know the order of the Rosh Hashana prayers. Please tell me what is to be said when, and how to perform each part of the prayer.”
With great patience, the Ba’al Shem Tov wrote in Polish on small pieces of paper the entire order of the prayers:
"Selihot",
“Evening prayer for Rosh Hashana”,
"Morning Prayer for Rosh Hashana",
“Shofar”,
“Additional prayer for Rosh Hashana”,
"Afternoon prayer for Rosh Hashana",
And so on...
He took the innkeeper's Siddur, which was worn out from years of use, and placed the notes in the correct places. The innkeeper held the Siddur full of little notes close to his heart, and his face shone with joy. He felt that now he was getting closer to the right way for a Jew to be. With the start of the new year, he would finally be able to pray properly.
The innkeeper thanked the Ba’al Shem Tov very warmly, without knowing who he was. They wished each other a “Shana Tova”, and the Ba’al Shem Tov left.
A short time later, the Siddur suddenly fell, for no reason, from the shelf. The window of the innkeeper’s house was open, and as the Siddur fell, a strong wind blew into the room and all the little notes that the Ba’al Shem Tov had placed in between the pages to mark the prayers flew out and floated into a jumbled heap on the floor.
The innkeeper hurried to pick up the notes, trying to return them to the right places, but he had no idea where each one belonged. The notes were all mixed up, and all the Ba’al Shem Tov’s work had become undone.
The innkeeper was filled with grief, Without even thinking he picked up the notes and the Siddur, and started running after the Ba’al Shem Tov. After years of yearning to know the proper order of the prayers he suddenly had an opportunity to pray correctly, and he did not want to miss it.
After a long run along the country road, the innkeeper finally saw the figure of the Ba’al Shem Tov standing at the edge of a deep and dangerous river, preparing to cross over. The innkeeper knew that the river was much deeper than it appeared, and he was filled with concern for his dear guest.
He tried to run faster so that he could at least get closer and warn him, but then he saw the Ba’al Shem Tov take a handkerchief out of his pocket and spread it on the water. Standing on the handkerchief, he floated from one side of the river to the other.
When the innkeeper reached the river he did not hesitate. He did exactly as the Ba’al Shem Tov had done: he spread his handkerchief on the water, then placed his feet carefully on it and stood. The handkerchief felt as strong and steady as a ship.
Reaching the other side, the innkeeper managed to catch up to the Ba’al Shem Tov, who immediately asked with curiousity, "How did you manage to cross the river?"
The innkeeper looked confused.
"I used a handkerchief, just like you," he replied. "It’s an excellent solution. I've never seen anyone do that before.”
The Ba’al Shem Tov listened to the innkeeper’s request that he rearrange the notes again. He turned to the innkeeper thoughtfully and told him:
“It seems to me that the Holy One, blessed be He, loves your prayers just as they are.
It’s best that you keep praying just the way you used to. I don't know what your prayer is, and what you have in your heart as you recite it, but it is a complete prayer and you need not change anything.”
They again wished each other a “Shana Tova”, and the innkeeper returned to his inn, without the notes in the Siddur but with a full and happy heart.