Hayom Yom: Chai (18) Elul

Birth of the Baal Shem Tov in 5458 (1698). The day his holy teacher1 and master appeared to him in 5484 (1724). The day the Baal Shem Tov became revealed2 in 5494 (1734).

Birth of the Alter Rebbe 5505 (1745).

Outline of the Baal Shem Tov's discourse3 on Shabbat Tavo, Chai (18th) Elul 5652 (1892), after Kabalat Shabbat:

It will be when you come into the land (eretz) that the Eternal your G-d gives you for an inheritance, and you will inherit it and dwell in it.4

The Midrash notes that eretz is an idiom of merutza (running) and of ratzon (will, desire). When you attain the level of ratzon, "desire,"5 that is a gift from Above and an inheritance for every one of Israel, then your avoda is "...you will dwell in it" - to internalize all you have attained, "bringing it down" in a settled manner.6

"You shall take...and place it in a basket,"7 - draw down the (spiritual) lights into (appropriate) vessels.

"You shall go to the place the Eternal your G-d will choose"8 - a Jew must know that when he goes from one place to another, he is not going on his own, but is being directed from Above. And the intention and purpose in this is...

"...to cause His Name to dwell there"9 - that is, to make G-d known in his (that Jew's) locale.10

After Maariv the Baal Shem Tov repeated this discourse and added:

"It will be when you come..." For you to attain the level of "desire"11 etc. it is necessary that... "you shall go to the place, etc... to cause His Name to dwell there." You are to utterly dedicate yourself to making G-d known there. How does one "make G-d known"? With a b'racha and a verse of Tehillim.