3546 —הבעל שם טוב, תפיסה מעבר למקום וזמן

B"H, 11 Sivan, 5715. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

... Regarding what you noted about what is written in the discourse 'Ki Savo' 5666, that for the Baal Shem Tov, place and time were not limiting factors, and it was for him actual seeing. You raised a question about this etc. The topic discussed in this discourse is about the place and time of this physical world of action not being a limitation. He saw matters in this world without limitations etc. And this is not related to the concept of essence and being or similar ideas. - See the story in Sefer Derech Emunah page 129; in Sefer Derech Mitzvosecha at the end of the mitzvah of belief in G‑dliness; and in my notes there ^[1].

1 Because it is known afterwards that what happened on Rosh Hashanah was that he perceived and foresaw the act of the Baal Shem Tov years before it occurred, as his brother-in-law Reb Gershon Kitover wrote from Eretz Yisrael: that his soul had an ascent into the supernal chambers of Adam Kadmon in general, but not specifically into Atik Kadmon itself; therefore, what happened was only potential at that time and not yet actualized. Thus it is explained elsewhere that all years are included in a single glance; just as the head contains all vitality for the year which flows from Rosh Hashanah onward, so too with each new month at Rosh Chodesh, and similarly with all time—so too with all vitality for the body.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that spiritual perception can transcend physical limitations of place and time, as exemplified by the Baal Shem Tov's ability to see events beyond their worldly constraints. This insight encourages us to recognize higher realities beyond material boundaries.