לקוטי שיחות חלק ד׳ - ח״י אלול

Likkutei Sichos Vol. 4 – Chai Elul – Hilula of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe

1. The 18th of Elul is the birthday of our teacher, the Baal Shem Tov (in the year 5458), and of our esteemed Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe (in the year 5505).

It is known that the Alter Rebbe would refer to the Baal Shem Tov as "Grandfather." On a simple level, this is because the Alter Rebbe was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov's disciple, and our Sages say, "Anyone who teaches his friend's son Torah, it is as if he has given birth to him." However, in this teaching of our Sages, it states "as if he has given birth to him," using the term "as if," indicating a resemblance, not that he actually gave birth to him. In Chassidus, it is also explained that any intellectual influence is merely a reflection from the influencer, not a transmission of his essence as it is in birth, and therefore it is only "as if he has given birth to him." However, the Alter Rebbe called the Baal Shem Tov "Grandfather" without the "as if," and even more so: it is known what he said regarding Reb Baruch of Mezhibuzh, who was a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (and he was a grandson through a daughter, which has a certain advantage over a grandson through a son), that he — Reb Baruch — is the Baal Shem Tov's grandson in the physical sense, and I — the Alter Rebbe said about himself — am a grandson in the spiritual sense, and he said this as a compliment. This means that the Alter Rebbe took the inner essence of the Baal Shem Tov: not just the intellectual influence, which is a reflection, but even the inner essence that is not transmitted in the essential influence of birth.

The explanation of this briefly: "The righteous are similar to their Creator." Just as the Almighty says, "I have written and given My soul," meaning He has placed His essence into the Torah, so too with the righteous, they place their essence into the Torah. In the teachings of Chassidus, the Baal Shem Tov placed his essence, even that which is not transmitted even to a child. And since the Alter Rebbe took the inner essence of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, he thereby took the inner essence of the Baal Shem Tov. Therefore, he is the true grandson.

To the extent that the inner and essential connection of the Alter Rebbe with the Baal Shem Tov was expressed also in the fact that their physical birth, which is connected to essence, occurred on the same day — the 18th of Elul.

2. The relationship between a grandfather and a grandson is twofold: the grandson receives from the grandfather, and he completes the grandfather. As our Sages say regarding the verse "The seed of your seed shall not depart," Torah returns to its host. And it is said, "The crown of the elders is their grandchildren."

3. Since the Alter Rebbe identified himself as a grandchild of the Baal Shem Tov, it is understood that both aspects are present in him: a) He took the essence of the Baal Shem Tov, as mentioned earlier. b) He completes the Baal Shem Tov: the intention of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings is fulfilled through the teachings of Chabad Chassidus. Chabad Chassidus elevates even the levels of Chagas and Nehim, as explained elsewhere, showing that Chabad Chassidus has achieved that even simple people, who seemingly are not connected to understanding and comprehension, can also be elevated through Chabad Chassidus, even more so than through the general teachings of Chassidus.

Besides the fact that the Alter Rebbe and the Rebbes of Chabad after him revealed, brought down, and clothed the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov in the intellect of holiness, so that everyone could understand it even with human intellect, they also achieved a completeness in the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. For in order to bring down into intellect the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, which are above intellect, one must have a very deep power, and through this, a higher light is drawn, which brings about completeness.

Based on the above, we can also understand what the Tzemach Tzedek writes about the Alter Rebbe: "Also from my grandfather, of blessed memory, we heard future events, precisely hitting the mark." At first glance, this is not understood: does the Tzemach Tzedek mean to praise the Alter Rebbe with external matters, matters of miracles? Is this the praise of the Alter Rebbe? Rather, the explanation is: this comes in continuation to what he says earlier: "That he (the Baal Shem Tov) and his disciple, the Maggid, of blessed memory, saw from one end of the world to the other with actual sight... and this was because the light that was created on the first day, which the Holy One, blessed be He, concealed in the Torah, was revealed to them." And on this, the Tzemach Tzedek says: "Also from my grandfather, of blessed memory, we heard future events, etc." From the wording "also," it is evident that the "future events" of the Alter Rebbe are the same matter as what he previously said regarding the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid: the revelation of the "light that was created on the first day," but with the Alter Rebbe, it was — "precisely hitting the mark."

The "light that was created on the first day" is the light that is above the order of creation. And even higher — the light before the tzimtzum, and within that itself — the light that reveals His essence. Although for the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid, this light shone also concerning the physical world, which is why they saw with actual sight, with the Alter Rebbe, it was added: the light shone with settlement — "precisely hitting the mark." And for a light that is above the order of creation to be able to come into the world with settlement, it is not due to the light, but due to the essence, which bears all opposites.

3. Similarly, this will be the case in the future, when the ultimate intention of creating a dwelling place in the lower realms will be fulfilled — a dwelling for His essence. From the perspective of His essence, the two opposites of physicality and spirituality will be united, so that "the glory of the L‑rd will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together," meaning that the physical flesh will perceive G‑dliness, and this will be with settlement. It can be said that this is the inner meaning of the Tzemach Tzedek's words, "Also from my grandfather, of blessed memory, we heard future events": with the word "future events," he is also alluding to the revelations of the future.

And all of this the Alter Rebbe incorporated into Chassidus Chabad: through learning Chassidus, one "takes" the highest matters, up to the "hidden light" and even higher, and this enters the intellect of the G‑dly soul — in a manner of the settlement of light within a vessel — until it reaches the understanding of the intellect of the animal soul, until "the glory of the L‑rd will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together," even with the coming of our righteous Moshiach, very soon.

4. The Tzemach Tzedek once said that he heard from the Alter Rebbe that the Baal Shem Tov would often say, "I will not be separated from you, and when you will be in need, I will help you." This statement of the Baal Shem Tov is similar to what is related about the Maggid of Mezritch, who said, "I will not leave you, and I will help you." The Alter Rebbe explained that this is because the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid are the heads of the Jewish people, and just as the head provides life to the entire body, so too, they provide life to the Jewish people.

5. This concept is further elucidated in the teachings of Chassidus, which explain that the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid are the "heads" in the spiritual sense. They are the source of life and vitality for the Jewish people, similar to how the head is the source of life for the body. This is why their influence continues even after their passing, as they continue to provide spiritual life and guidance to the Jewish people. This is also connected to the idea that the righteous are called "living" even after their passing, as their influence and teachings continue to live on and impact the world.

6. The revelation of the Baal Shem Tov was such that it brought about the revelation of the inner dimensions of the Torah, and it was a revelation that did not involve any form of concealment. The proof of this is that even his student, the Maggid of Mezritch, who possessed a double portion of his spirit, similar to Elijah and Elisha, would say before delivering Chassidic teachings, "Hear the secrets of the Torah," and the world was unable to receive it. Although this is a very high and exalted level, it is still not the revelation of the essence of the inner dimensions of the Torah. This essence was revealed through our Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, in a manner of comprehension, thereby drawing down the essence of the inner dimensions of the Torah.

The revelation of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid served as a preparation for the revelation of the essence of the inner dimensions of the Torah, which was revealed by the Alter Rebbe. This is analogous to the work of the Patriarchs (the fragrances) which served as a preparation for the revelation and essence of the giving of the Torah.