Hayom Yom 16 Menachem Av - People are drawn to water and they fear fire
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
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Show Notes
נְסִיעוֹת הַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב בִּתְחִלַּת הַהִתְגַּלּוּת שֶׁלּוֹ הָיוּ עַל דְּבַר שְׁלֹשָׁה עִנְיָנִים
In the early years following his revelation, the Baal Shem Tov traveled [widely] for three reasons:
פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִם
to redeem captives,
חִזּוּק הַתּוֹרָה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
to strengthen Torah observance and the fear of Heaven,
הִתְגַּלּוּת פְּנִימִיוּת הַתּוֹרָה
and to reveal pnimiyus haTorah — the Torah’s inner, mystical dimension.
אַדְמוּ"ר הָאֶמְצָעִי הָיָה מְבַאֵר בָּזֶה
[Regarding this last reason,] the Mitteler Rebbe explained:
גַּלְיָא שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה נִקְרָא מַיִם
Nigleh, the revealed dimension of the Torah, is called water,
אוּן צוּ וואַסעֶר גֵייט מעֶן
and people are drawn to approach water.
פְּנִימִיּוּת הַתּוֹרָה נִקְרָא אֵשׁ
Pnimiyus haTorah is called “fire,”
אוּן פאַר פַייעֶר האָט מעֶן מוֹרָא
which arouses fear.
דעֶרפאַר דאַרף דעֶר מַשְׁפִּיעַ גֵיין צוּם מְקַבֵּל אוּן זאָגעֶן אִיהְם
Therefore, a person who is teaching the Torah’s inner, mystical dimension must approach the recipient and tell him:
האָבּ קֵיין מוֹרָא נִיט וַוייל ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה הוּא
“Do not be afraid, because ‘G‑d your L‑rd is a consuming fire.’”
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English
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