Faith Beyond Words: The Baal Shem Tov and the Simple Innkeeper

Before he became known and founded the Hasidic movement, Rabbi Yisrael later famous as the Baal Shem Tov often wandered through the countryside of Eastern Europe. He visited Jews in small, isolated villages and roadside inns, drawing inspiration from their simple faith and encouraging them.

One day, he came to a small inn at a crossroads, far from the nearest community. The innkeeper’s children welcomed him warmly and served him food.

“Where is your father?” he asked.

“Praying,” they answered. Rabbi Yisrael waited.

An hour passed, then two, until late in the afternoon the innkeeper emerged. He greeted his guest, then apologized: “I’m ignorant,” he said, ashamed. “I can barely pronounce the prayers, and I can’t read the instructions without vowels. So each day I must read the entire siddur from beginning to end.”

“Perhaps I can help,” replied Rabbi Yisrael. He sat with him and patiently marked the siddur with slips of paper, labeled in simple Yiddish: “Morning Prayer,” “Addition for Mondays and Thursdays,” “Grace after Meals,” “Afternoon Prayer,” “Evening Prayer,” “For Shabbat,” “For Rosh Chodesh,” “For Rosh Hashanah,” and more. The innkeeper thanked him deeply: “Now I can finally pray like a proper Jew.”

But only hours after the Baal Shem Tov left, the siddur mysteriously fell, scattering all the slips. “Woe to me!” cried the innkeeper. “Who knows when another scholar will pass by?” Determined not to lose the chance, he seized the siddur and notes and ran after his guest.

After many miles, he saw the Baal Shem Tov approaching a river. How will he cross? he thought. The waters are deep and rushing it’s impossible. But then he saw Rabbi Yisrael spread his handkerchief on the water, step onto it as if it were solid, and glide across to the far bank.

At once, the innkeeper too laid his handkerchief on the water, stepped onto it, and it held. He hurried after the Rabbi, calling:

“Wait, Rabbi! Please mark my siddur again all your slips have fallen out!”

Rabbi Yisrael turned in wonder. “How did you get here? How did you cross the river?”

“With my handkerchief, just like you,” said the simple Jew. “It’s quite a trick I never knew it could be done.”

The Baal Shem Tov said gently: “I think God is more than satisfied with your prayers as they are. Better that you continue praying exactly the way you always have.”