Avraham Abba of Krivosh

Rabbi Avraham Abba of Krivosh was among the foremost disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, and merited to have the Baal Shem Tov lodge in his home.

He served as rabbinical judge (av beis din) in the town of Krivosh, and later succeeded his colleague Rabbi Avraham of Podolsk as rabbi of Shede-Lavan.

Stories with the Baal Shem Tov

Regarding how he first came to know the Baal Shem Tov: the Baal Shem Tov once came to the home of Rabbi Avraham Abba in the town of Krivosh, while Rabbi Avraham Abba and his father-in-law were engaged in Torah study. They did not show him proper respect, nor did they rise to receive him. Seeing this, the Baal Shem Tov asked them: "Which Mishnah are you studying?" They indicated a different Mishnah than the one they had actually been learning, but the Baal Shem Tov said to them: "I know which Mishnah you were truly studying — but I would like you to explain to me the plain meaning of this one," and he posed them a difficult question on it. He then revealed to them his own interpretation of that Mishnah, and departed, traveling about a parsa's distance away, where he stopped to let his horses graze in a field.

As he left, they began to appreciate his greatness — recognizing the profound depth of his explanation compared to how they themselves had understood the Mishnah. They immediately set out to find him, and discovered him at his stopping place, where they drew from his wellsprings. From that point on, Rabbi Avraham Abba became a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, traveling to him once a month.

On one occasion, during a Shabbos when Rabbi Avraham Abba had traveled to be with the Baal Shem Tov, he erred during the Maariv prayer of Shabbos Kodesh — reciting Atah Chonantanu (the weekday prayer) in place of Atah Kidashta (the Shabbos prayer).

After the prayer, as Rabbi Avraham Abba passed before the Baal Shem Tov to exchange a Shabbos greeting, the Baal Shem Tov remarked to him with a smile: "Very nice — the Rav of Krivosh recites Atah Chonantanu on Shabbos…"