The Baal Shem Tov and the Cat

 

The world rests on the merit of 36 Righteous Men in each generation, from nearly the beginning of time and even now. The 36 are represented by the Hebrew letters Lamed (ל) and Vov (ו) and are referred to as the Lamedvovniks.

The Lamedvovniks live mostly hidden among us. They generally appear to be simple people, laborers toiling for their daily bread. When necessitated, they may be smugglers of holy books or of vast fortunes of precious stones or gold coins. Sometimes they were miracle workers. At times they would gather in secret places, clearings in deep forests or on mountain tops, forming minyans with prayer that moved mighty forces on Earth and even the Heavens. The world depends on the Lamedvovniks. 

Yisrael Ben Eliezer showed promise even as a child. He learned quickly. He brought joy to those he met along the way. As a young man, he taught small children. However, he didn't reveal the fullness of his powers until his 36th (לו - lamed vov) year. It was then he began to publicly perform miracles. This is when he became known as the Baal Shem Tov, the Master of the Good Name, or the BeShT (בעש״ט).

The Lamedvovniks were dependent on the Baal Shem Tov, even as the world depended upon them. The BeShT taught and led those that secretly taught and guided the world. 

This new role that Yisrael took on as the guiding light and touchstone of the Lamedvovniks necessitated extensive traveling at a moment's notice over verst after verst of unmeasurable distances in all sorts of weather and often through days and nights beyond counting. The Baal Shem Tov needed a loyal driver. 

The Baal Shem Tov placed himself into the hands of a Wallachian peasant, a gentile by the name of Alexei who served as his wagon driver, on whom he was at times totally dependent. And, although Alexei would never admit it, he was very much dependent on a feline companion. 

This particular cat was usually called by the Polish names Mruczek (The One Who Purrs) or Puszko (Fluffy) by Alexei, even though Alexei’s Mother Tongue was Romanian. The Baal Shem Tov always called the feline Ketsl although the cat was certainly well past being a kitten. The cat, of course, answered to any name, especially if the person was offering a schtickle of herring.