Chapter 1

ואתה קדוש יושב תהלות ישראל

“And You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”1

This is to be understood according to the following Midrash:2 “Rabbi Shmuel said, ‘Whenever Jews praise G-d, His holy presence resides among them.’ ”

While still a student of the Maggid of Mezritch, the Alter Rebbe (author of the Tanya) heard his master relate a tale of his master, the holy Baal Shem Tov. Before the Baal Shem Tov became famous, it was his custom to wander from town to town and village to village. He did so because one of his methods of Divine service was to ask all Jews, men and women, young and old, how things were going. He would inquire after their health and their children’s well-being, and whether they were making an adequate living.

He was most gratified to hear the loving praise with which the men, women and children replied to his queries. They would employ expressions of praise, such as: “Blessed be His Name”; “Praise the L-rd”; “The loving G-d”, “May the loving Creator continue His benevolence”; “The sweet Father sustains us, praised is His Holy Name, blessed be He and His Holy Name;” “He is the true healer of the ill,” and other similar expressions. Men would answer after their fashion and praise G-d for the health of their families and for their sustenance. Women would respond in their fashion, praising G-d for sustenance and children. Children would praise G-d in their own way, thanking Him for having given them parents who provide for all their needs and teach them Torah.

In the various cities, towns, villages and hamlets that the Baal Shem Tov would visit disguised as a simple villager, he would seek the opportunity to contact simple folk, men, women and children. He would meet them in the synagogues, in the streets, in their homes, stores and workplaces. At all times and in all places the Baal Shem Tov centered his discussions on the people’s health and sustenance. His holy intent was to elicit their praise of G-d, as mentioned earlier.

It once happened that the Baal Shem Tov visited a certain town and, as was his habit, strove to make Jewish men, women and children meritorious through their praise of G-d.

In that town there lived a great Jewish scholar who for the past 50 years had studied Torah day and night in abstinence and holiness. He would sit garbed in tallis and tefillin until the late afternoon, fasting until after the evening prayers, and then breaking his fast with a crust of bread and some water.

When the Baal Shem Tov entered this great scholar’s “seclusion chamber” in a corner of the synagogue, he inquired after the man’s health and as to whether his needs were being met. The recluse, seeing that the Baal Shem Tov was garbed like a simple villager, ignored him. The rebbe repeated his questions a number of times. Finally the great scholar became angry and motioned to the door, indicating that the Baal Shem Tov should leave.

Said the Baal Shem Tov: “Rebbe, why don’t you provide G-d with His sustenance? You will G-d forbid make Him hunger and He will depart from the world.”

The scholar became bewildered on hearing what he thought was a simple villager speaking about seeing to G-d’s needs. The Baal Shem Tov read the man’s thoughts and said to him: “Jews exist by virtue of G-d’s sustenance. What sustains Him? This is answered by Dovid in Tehillim, where he says: ‘And You, Holy One,’ what is Your sustenance? ‘He sits,’ i.e., He is sustained, ‘by the praises of Israel’ by the Jewish people’s words of praise for their health and sustenance.”

For these words of praise, G-d repays us with children, health, and ample sustenance.

In summary: While still incognito, the holy Baal Shem Tov would seek the opportunity to make Jewish men, women and children meritorious by eliciting from them each after their own fashion praises to G-d for their health and sustenance. The Baal Shem Tov’s meeting with a great Torah scholar who studied in abstinence and holiness is described, concluding with the manner in which the Baal Shem Tov interpreted the verse: “And You, Holy One….”