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Weekly Thought
by Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This year, the first day of Shavuos marks two hundred and fifty years since the passing of the Baal Shem Tov.
It is known that the Baal Shem Tov passed away on Shavuos, but there is disagreement whether his passing was the first or the second day of Shavuos. In Hayom Yom, the Rebbe writes: “The Baal Shem Tov passed away on Wednesday, the first day of Shavuot, 5520 (1760) and is interred in Mezibuz. The Alter Rebbe commented (on Wednesday, the 20th of Kislev 5559 (1798) in Petersburg [the day after his release from prison]: ‘On the fourth day the luminaries [referring to the Baal Shem Tov] were taken away.’” (See Hayom Yom, Sivan 6, note 4; see also Likutei Diburim, English edition, Vol. 1 p. 75)
When was the Baal Shem Tov buried? From the Rebbe's sichos, the burial appears to have taken place on the second day of Yom Tov and was performed by the talmidim.
The Baal Shem Tov especially loved the second day of Shavuos, and he used to make a special seudah and farbreng on that day. (See Likutei Sichos Vol. 4, p. 1027; notes 29 & 30.) It was the custom of the Rebbeim at the Shavuos meal to say a Torah of the Baal Shem Tov and to tell a story of the Baal Shem Tov. (See Sefer Hasichos 5704 1944, p. 140.) The Rebbe explains in the Sicha above that it may be for this reason that the Previous Rebbe divided the Chitas daily study in such a way that we learn the beginning of Shaar HaYichud V'emuna on the second day of Shavuos, where it discusses the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov.
In a letter from the Rebbe marking the two hundredth yahrtzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, the Rebbe notes that there are three teachings of the Baal Shem Tov that are entwined with one another. First, the Baal Shem Tov expounds on the verse, “Forever Hashem your words stand firm in the Heavens.” (Tehillim 119) That Your words by which You uttered “let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,” the words with which the heavens were created, stand firmly in the heavens and give them life. The Alter Rebbe in Shaar HaYichud V'emuna adds that all the heavens above and the earth below exist only from the G‑dly words with which He creates them and constantly re-creates them every second. This is one of the main teachings of the Baal Shem Tov.
Second is the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov regarding Divine Providence: that there is a direct G‑dly influence on every small thing in this world. As the Baal Shem Tov taught, even a leaf blown from one place to another as it falls from a tree is by Divine Providence, and it effects the entire creation. The aggregate of all individual acts brings to completion G‑d's grand design in the mystery of all creation. (Hayom Yom, 28 Cheshvan)
From the two concepts above, that Hashem constantly creates the world and Divine Providence, we come to the third teaching of the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov said: Every single thing one sees or hears is an instruction for his conduct in the service of G‑d. This is the idea of ‘avoda’ - service, to comprehend and discern in all things a way in which to serve G‑d. (Hayom Yom, 9 Iyar) Even the simple events in our daily lives that we see and hear must be a lesson to love Hashem and fear Hashem. This will give us inspiration to learn Torah and fulfill mitzvos with true life and beauty.
When we think about all of the above, it brings life and light to our service of Hashem.
In these special days – the eve of Matan Torah and the Yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov – we must take these lessons to heart, and use these lessons to affect the entire world. Just as it was told to the Baal Shem Tov (by Moshiach), that when your wellsprings will spread out – meaning, when the inner secrets of Torah shall reach to the farthest part and in all parts of Creation, this will hasten the complete Geulah, when the entire world will feel and see that Anochi Hashem Elokecha.
Based on the Rebbe's letter of Shavuos 5720/1960, Igros Kodesh, Vol. 19 p. 328.
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