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16 The Ba‘al Shem Tov and the Sorcerer T O L D B Y A Y E M E N I T E J E W T O R A C H E L S E R I For three days, the Ba‘al Shem Tov had been traveling with his disciples. On the evening of the third day they reached a village. Entering the establishment of a Jewish tavern keeper, they asked if they could spend the night there. But the proprietor refused. They noticed that he seemed to be preoccupied and that, inexplicably, many candles were burning in the room. The Ba‘al Shem Tov asked the man what it all meant, but the villager did not want to answer. The Ba‘al Shem Tov repeated his question. “Even if your honor knew what my problem is,” replied the tavern keeper, “how could you help me? Alas, no one has ever suffered a disaster like mine.” The Ba‘al Shem Tov pressed to know more, until finally the man agreed to tell his story. “Tonight we are holding a vigil in the house, because tomorrow, with God’s help, my newborn son will be circumcised. This is my fifth son. All his brothers died on the eve of their circumcisions, at midnight, without having been sick. So I’m petrified that some disaster will befall him tonight, as happened to his brothers.” “Fear not!” replied the Ba‘al Shem Tov. “Go ahead and prepare for tomorrow ’s circumcision. I promise that the child will live. No harm will befall him tonight.” The father was still afraid. But when he heard these words he said, “If it turns out as my master says, I will give him half my wealth and will give thanks to the Holy One, Blessed Be He, all the days of my life.” “I don’t want wealth,” the rabbi answered. “But you must not delay giving charity to ransom his soul. Now, call two strong men to stand next to the baby’s cradle with an open sack in their hands. One man should stand on one side, holding the sack, with the second man holding the sack on the other side. But they have to be careful not to doze off for even a moment.” Turning to his disciples, he instructed them to sit at the table and learn 115  116  Folktales of the Jews: Volume 1 Torah. Then, as he went to lie down on the bed and rest, he spoke to the men standing by the baby’s cradle: “If you feel that something has fallen into the open sack, close it up instantly and tie it firmly with a cord. Then come wake me up, and I’ll tell you what to do.” The man did as they were bidden. Just at midnight the candles started to flicker suddenly. The disciples did everything they could to block the draft that was extinguishing them. While they were doing this, the two men who were watching the child saw a weasel in the sack. Without delay they shut it, and tied it firmly, and went to wake the rabbi. When he got up, he asked the men whether they had tied the mouth of the sack tightly. Then he said, “Each of you take a stick and beat the sack with all your might.” They did this until he gestured to them to stop. Then he told them to untie the sack and throw it [the weasel] outside. They went to check whether the baby was all right and to get ready for the circumcision. When morning came, they prayed the Shaharit service. Then they brought out the baby and gave the Ba‘al Shem Tov the great honor of being the sandek, holding the baby while the circumcision was performed exactly as prescribed. After the ceremony, the father asked the Ba‘al Shem Tov to stay for the feast. He added that first he had to bring sweetmeats from the circumcision festivities to the lord of the village, a very evil man of whom he was mortally afraid. “Go in peace,” said the rabbi. The father went to the lord of the village. He found him indisposed, lying in his bed, the marks of a brutal beating visible on his face. The lord received him cordially, though, and asked, “Who is that man staying in your house?” “He’s a Jew from Poland who came to stay with me last...

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