Baal Shem Tov - Shofar Story

Over 200 years ago, the BMT he went and spoke to Rabbi Zev, one of his senior students, saying, "You shall blow the chauffear for us all on Russia Shana. But first, I want you to learn every single kavana, each cobalistic secret of the chauffear. You should know so that you'll have the proper intention when you blow." Now, Rabbi Zev was quite excited, as anyone might be. He was overcome by joy, but also anxiety, though elated he'd been designated for something so great. He was nervous that he'd have to carry this huge weight. And so quickly he began the task he was assigned, reading every writing on the chauffar he could find. Soon he knew the cobalistic secrets of each sound, how they penetrate the soul and affect the world around. And carefully he wrote down notes about every cavana and soon prepared the perfect reference sheet for rushana. For in the palace of the king there's many gates and doors that lead to many halls and rooms on many different floors. A palace keeper must have many keys upon his ring. For each one opens up a door in the palace of the king. Rabbi Zev was ready when it came to New Year's Day. The morning of Russashana the first day of tre. He stood up on the beamer in the center of the droves of cassidum in the synagogue of the Bamtove. In the corner of the room, his master looked all knowing standing at his table with his face like fire glowing. A fearful silence filled the air for they had at last reached the climax of the day when they would hear that chauffear blast. But when Rabbi Zev reached in the pocket of his coat, his heart froze because he could not locate his note. He knew he had it with him. When he left his home at dawn, he remembered bringing it to Shul, but somehow it was gone. He searched frantically in fear till it became quite clear. The sheet with all those cavote he wrote had disappeared. His heart broke over letting down his master, who had asked and trusted him to be prepared for this most sacred task. For in the palace of the king, there's many gates and doors that lead to many halls and rooms on many different floors. A palace keeper must have many keys upon his ring. For each one opens up a door in the palace of the king. The rabbi searched his memory, but he could not recall a single thing he learned. Somehow he forgot it all. His eyes welled up with tears. His broken heart just sank for in distress. His mind was drawing up a total blank. So Rabbi Zev, he blew the chauffear on that Russia shana as though it were a simple horn without any cavana. In despair with a broken heart, the rabbi blew just the basic chauffear sounds he was required to do. Afterwards he couldn't look his master in the eye. He made his way back to his seat where he began to cry. But when he finished diving, he looked up from his place and hovering above him was his master's smiling face. A good yum of Reb Zev, you blew us all away. I never heard a chauffear blown as well as you blew it today. Rabbi Zev said, "Rebi, you must not understand." But the Balsham told just cut him off as soon as he began. He said, "In the palace of the king, there's many gates and doors that lead to many halls and rooms on many different floors. A palace keeper should have many keys upon his ring. For each one opens up a door in the palace of the king. And yet there is a single key that fits in every lock. If you have the master key, you never have to knock. With it you can open even the most inner part in the palace. The master key is a broken heart. And today you had that master key that fit in every lock. And since you had the master key, we didn't have to knock with it. You just open the very most inner part in the palace. The master key is your broken heart.