Hayom Yom 26 Tishrei - An everlasting reminder that the Baal Shem Tov was born on Monday

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

הָעִנְיָן עַל פָּסוּק לְעוֹלָם ה' דְּבָרְךָ נִצָּב בַּשָּׁמָיִם

The verse — “Forever, O G‑d, Your word stands in the heavens” —

מֵבִיא רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן (שַׁעַר הַיִּחוּד וְהָאֱמוּנָה פֶּרֶק א', אִגֶּרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ כ"ה)

the Alter Rebbe quotes and cites a classic teaching based on it (both in Tanya — Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah, ch. 1, and in Iggeres HaKodesh, Epistle 25).

בְּשֵׁם הַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב

However, the Alter Rebbe cites this teaching in the name of the Baal Shem Tov —

הֲגַם שֶׁיֵּשׁ עִנְיָן זֶה בְּמִדְרַשׁ תְּהִלִּים

even though the same teaching appears [much earlier] in Midrash Tehillim.

וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנִתְבַּאֵר גַּם בְּלִקּוּטֵי תּוֹרָה בְּדִבּוּר הַמַּתְחִיל כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר

This fact is also mentioned in the maamar beginning Ki bayom hazeh yechaper, in Likkutei Torah.

וְכַוָּנָה מְיוּחֶדֶת בָּזֶה

[The Alter Rebbe] has a particular reason for doing this.

כִּי בְּיוֹם שֵׁנִי הָיָה הַמַּאֲמָר יְהִי רָקִיעַ

The utterance, “Let there be heavens” — which itself stands in the heavens eternally — was issued on the second day of Creation.

שֶׁהוּא הַנִּצָּב בַּשָּׁמַיִם

[The teaching: Each of the Ten Creative Utterances (“G‑d’s word”) in the Six Days of Creation, such as “Let there be heavens,”] is eternally present in the [universe and continuously, at every instant, recreates all of existence, such as the] heavens, ex nihilo.]

וְזֶה יִהְיֶה לְזִכְרוֹן עוֹלָם

This serves as an everlasting reminder

כִּי בְּיוֹם שֵׁנִי ח"י אֱלוּל נוֹלַד הַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב

that on Monday, Chai Elul, the Baal Shem Tov was born.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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