Chassidic Vision

Rabbi Yonasan C Beitz

The Inclusion of the Many into One

When the Baal Shem Tov had an elevation of the soul and arrived at the chamber of the Moshiach, he asked him “When will the Master come?” The answer the Baal Shem Tov received from Moshiach was “When your wellsprings of teachings will be spread to the outside.”

The question raised by many is “What does the term “outside” mean?

We know that there is an “inside” and “outside” to things; just like a house has an area inside which is surrounded by four walls and a roof which protects and keeps the dwellers warm. But the “outside” has exposure to tremendous elements and there the creatures are not protected.

The Baal Shem Tov had a select group of students who would travel with him. They witnessed many wonders and were shown deep secrets of Torah wisdom. There were also the simple Jewish folk who could not easily comprehend these depths nor appreciate the subtle novelties of the mystical teachings. The Baal Shem Tov, per the instructions of Moshiach, encouraged them to make a big effort to disseminate Chassidus. This involved the use of stories and parables to assist them in their understanding. This method of communication was essential for their comprehension and was passed onward to the Chassidic Rebbes ever since.

In the Gemara we learn the laws of Shabbat concerning the carrying of an item from the private domain to a public domain. The private domain is called “the individual’s domain” while the public domain is called “the domain of the many.” Chassidus explains that the “domain of the many” means that there are, so to speak, many forces controlling this environment, whereas, in the “individual’s domain” there is only One force. This refers to Hashem.

In halacha there are various methods used to close off the public domain from the private domain. One way is to use an “eruv.” This is a specific demarcation indicating boundaries between these different types of domains for the purpose of inclusion as taught in the Shulchan Aruch chapter 83. It is possible to halachically change these boundaries so as to carry on Shabbat or Yom Tovim. The physical area which was once the “public” domain can now been expanded, before Shabbat, to be included in the private domain of the One. 

Through the teachings of Chassidus we strive to include people from outside by gathering them and assisting them towards the domain of the One, the “domain of the individual.” This type of enactment of the Jewish law nullifies what had been designated as “the domain of the many” and completely transforms “the outside” into a larger inclusive gathering.

There is a phenomena within Jewish religious life where a member of a Chassidic family decides to follow their own individual lifestyle standards. The individual leaves the family dwelling to begin a new life “outside” in another neighborhood. When this person meets new friends he inadvertently tells them about his previous family life. His new friends become exposed to ideas and teachings which they would never had heard otherwise. This is a phenomena in which the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov spread to even unexpected places and to the “outside.” His friends might even be inspired to investigate Hashem in a Chassidic way. Each encounter like this adds more light and hope to all.

As followers of the Lubavitcher Rebbe or other Chassidic masters, we should try to involve people at various event with the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. An example of this might be when a person is sitting in a public bus and engages a stranger in a polite and comfortable conversation. The dialog is intentionally steered towards interesting stories that describe love and caring for our fellow human being or even wondrous episodes of a Chassidic figure like the Baal Shem Tov. In accordance with the known saying, “the face that you show the water is the face which will be reflected back,” the public becomes an “inside” friend who may eventually decide, out of their free will, to follow the examples and teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. This will encourage the arrival of Moshiach who we have been waiting for.

May he come soon in our days. Amein!