* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Today is the 18th of Elul, the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Hasidic movement. Here is one of the beautiful stories I heard about him that is featured in my book, Ligdol.
The month of Elul was coming to a close. The new year was approaching and the High Holiday season —Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Repentance, and Yom Kippur—was about to begin. One day, the Baal Shem Tov came to visit a small village. The village residents were thrilled to greet their holy visitor and hoped that he would remain with them for as long as possible, especially for the upcoming holidays.
“Who is the chazzan who will lead your prayer service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?” asked the Baal Shem Tov.
“His name is Yaakov,” the people replied. “He is the one who leads our prayers every year.”
“And what are his prayers like?” the Baal Shem Tov inquired.
“He has a pleasant voice and is able to connect the congregation with their prayers. But there is one thing that is a little strange about him: He sings the Yom Kippur confessions in a happy tune. In fact, all the sections of the prayers that focus on our sins and faults, for which we say, “Ashamnu, Bagadnu”—“We have been culpable, we have been unfaithful,” and “For the sin that we committed…” he recites with joy.
The Baal Shem Tov requested to meet with Yaakov. He asked him: “Why do you sing the confessions with joy? Wouldn’t it be more fitting to recite these prayers in a solemn tone or even with tears? “
This was Chazzan Yaakov’s response:
“A servant who cleans the dirty courtyard of the king’s palace is very happy to do so. He loves the king and knows that what he is doing pleases him, so he sings while he cleans the palace.”
“You have answered well,” said the Baal Shem Tov. “I will be happy to join your village for the High Holiday prayers.”
What message can we take away from this story?
The king in the story is God. His palace is our world, and once a year, each one of us receives a special invitation to clean the king’s palace.
Rosh Hashanah, The Ten Days of Repentance, and Yom Kippur—these are not depressing days, but quite the contrary, they are days of great joy because we are given the opportunity to repair our deeds.
Imagine a world where there is no possibility to regret what you have done and to start over; where every mistake is permanent because there is no concept of repentance. While it might not be pleasant to “clean the dirt,” the opportunity we are given to begin again is a special privilege, so how can we not rejoice?
