נְסִיעוֹת הַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב בִּתְחִלַּת הַהִתְגַּלּוּת שֶׁלּוֹ הָיוּ עַל דְּבַר שְׁלֹשָׁה עִנְיָנִים: פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִם, חִזּוּק הַתּוֹרָה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, הִתְגַּלּוּת פְּנִימִיוּת הַתּוֹרָה. אַדְמוּ"ר הָאֶמְצָעִי הָיָה מְבַאֵר בָּזֶה: גַּלְיָא שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה נִקְרָא מַיִם אוּן צוּ וואַסעֶר גֵייט מעֶן. פְּנִימִיּוּת הַתּוֹרָה נִקְרָא אֵשׁ אוּן פאַר פַייעֶר האָט מעֶן מוֹרָא. דעֶרפאַר דאַרף דעֶר מַשְׁפִּיעַ גֵיין צוּם מְקַבֵּל אָן זאָגעֶן אִיהְם: האָבּ קֵיין מוֹרָא נִיט וַוייל ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה הוּא.

In the early years following his revelation, the Baal Shem Tov traveled [widely] for three reasons: to redeem captives,1 to strengthen Torah observance and the fear of Heaven, and to reveal pnimiyus haTorah — the Torah’s inner, mystical dimension.

[Regarding this last reason,] the Mitteler Rebbe explained: Nigleh, the revealed dimension of the Torah, is called water,2 and people are drawn to approach water. Pnimiyus haTorah is called “fire,”3 which arouses fear. Therefore, a person4 who is teaching the Torah’s inner, mystical dimensionmust approach the recipient and tell him: “Do not be afraid, because5 ‘G‑d your L‑rd is a consuming fire.’”6

A Mini-Farbrengen

In the sichah from which this teaching is taken, the Rebbe Rayatz explains that the Baal Shem Tov visited all the major Torah centers of his time. When the Baal Shem Tov was asked why he did not remain in Mezhibuzh and wait for the students to come to him, he remained silent. The Maggid of Mezritch, when asked the same question, also did not answer. The first to answer the question was the Alter Rebbe, who gave the pithy reply: “One revealed dimension attracts another. Therefore, in the revealed dimension of the Torah, the student seeks out the teacher. However, one inner dimension must arouse and reveal another. Thus, the teacher must go to the student and inspire him.”