It is a mitzvah to honor the souls of the holy departed. This moment was when I was in Ukraine last June. As i was approaching the resting place of the Holy Baal Shem Tov, this Hasid was lighting a candle in honor of his soul. The Ba'al Shem Tov was the founder of the modern day hasidic movement. He returned spirit and passion into prayer and spoke to hearts of the simple illiterate. He lived in the 18th century. In my eyes nothing has changed in two hundred years looking at this image. Perhaps that is why it looks so painterly. We reference this pastoral image in oil painting a time gone by.
Brit Milah
Rabbi Kreiman, a moyle, is helping to prepare the 8 day old baby boy for his bris.
