13 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Baruch of Kosov
Rav Baruch ben Avraham of Kosov was a kabbalist and maggid. He was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk.
Yahrzeit - 13 Cheshvan
Resting place - Kosov, Ukraine
Reb Baruch was born and lived in Kosov, where he also taught. It is known that his father was Reb Avraham of Kosov, and he was related to Reb Moshe of Kitov. For a time he lived in Brody.
Reb Baruch was married and had children, among them his son Yosef, who became a maggid meisharim in Batshan. His grandsons also took care of publishing his books after his passing. There are mentions of his son-in-law, Reb Avraham Katz, maggid of Batshan, who passed away on the 3rd of Tishrei, 1812.
Rabbi Baruch of Kosov was actively engaged in spreading and explaining the teachings and path of Chassidism in its early period. Rabbi Baruch is the author of the works "Yesod HaEmuna" ("Foundation of Faith") and "Amud HaAvoda" ("Pillar of Service"), which are considered fundamental works of early Chassidic thought.
He should not be confused with Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kosov, founder of the Vizhnitz and Kosov dynasties.
He did a great deal to make the complex teachings of Kabbalah, especially the teachings of Isaac Luria, accessible through metaphors in his sermons. He advised first studying the works of the Arizal and Rabbi Chaim Vital before delving into the Zohar.
Rav Baruch was known for his interpretation of the kabbalistic concept of tzimtzum as a metaphor for G-d's self-withdrawal, and for his conviction that spiritual concepts could be grasped through intellectual and spiritual discipline.
Segula for 13 Cheshvan on the Yahrzeit of Rav Baruch of Kosov
Rabbi Baruch taught that the book of Tehillim holds a special power — to awaken a Jew's heart to sincere faith and joyful service. Therefore he said that reading Psalms on the day of his yahrzeit connects a person to the source of faith, strengthens the spiritual bond with the tzadikim, and can bring deliverance from personal troubles.
According to Chassidic tradition, the segula of Rabbi Baruch of Kosov is connected with reading his books — especially "Amud HaAvoda" — to awaken faith, strengthen one's connection to G-d, and achieve rectification of the soul (tikkun haNefesh).
In addition, some sources mention that reading passages from his writings or mentioning his name on the day of his yahrzeit - 13 Cheshvan - is a segula for salvation from troubles, strengthening faith, and receiving special blessing in the service of Ha-Shem.
Rabbi Baruch emphasized that the main means of drawing close to G-d is emuna peshuta (simple, pure faith) and avoda be-simcha (service with joy). Therefore his segula is often understood as a spiritual reminder that sincerity and joy in service are the source of all blessings.
After lighting a candle le-kavod the tzadik Rabbi Baruch ben Avraham and setting aside tzedakah, recite Tehillim:
4, 17, 63, 116, 137, 138, 150
Sipurei Tzadikim
When Torah Is Not for the Sake of Heaven
Once Rav Baruch of Kosov came to a Beit Midrash in a Jewish town and found students there studying Torah. The students were young and sharp; they argued with one another and devised great novel insights in Torah.
Rabbi Baruch of Kosov saw that their debate was full of nonsense, and that the whole purpose of their study was not to reach the Heavens and seek truth, but to boast and show off.
The rabbi laughed at them and said: "Blessed is the One who brought me to such a house, full of Torah!"
The young students were delighted at these words, and their faces lit up, for they thought he meant to praise them.
"That is not what I meant about you," said the rabbi. "Is it not known that when a person occupies himself with Torah for its own sake, the Torah he studies does not remain below, in this world, even for a moment? The Torah hurries back to its home, to G-d, and bursts through the windows of Heaven. But if the purpose of the study is not for its own sake, but for self-glorification, then it remains below forever and never rises above. And behold, my eyes have seen that all your studying and chatter are not 'for its own sake' and not for the sake of G-d, blessed be He, and my ears heard only empty chatter. Not a single page of the Torah you studied wished to rise above, and all your learning remained below until it filled the entire house. That is what I meant when I said I found here a house full of Torah."
May the merit of the tzadik protect the people of Israel!