| Keter Shem Tov 3: To Know the Unknowable |
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| Written by Bentzion of Medziboz |
 The Baal Shem Tov discusses the futility of man's effort to know the unknowable - and how he may find spiritual growth and satisfaction in the process of discovery-not in the discovery
itself: The Baal Shem Tov discusses the following phrase in the Talmud: "If only they had abandoned Me but kept My Torah. " The ultimate goal in striving to know G·d is the understanding that one truly cannot know G·d. [And man thus remains ignorant of this understanding]. However, there are two categories of such "ignorance". The first category is that of a person who immediately realizes their limitations. Since they understand that it is impossible to truly know (G·d), they abandon any further effort to contemplate the matter. The second category is that of a person who also immediately realizes their limitations. Nevertheless, they continue their effort to search until they know that it is truly impossible to know (G·d). The difference between these two categories can be explained with the following parable. Two of the king's subjects want to know the king. The first person walks through the king's palace observing the wealth and luxury of the king. He delights in all he sees, yet he realizes that despite all that he sees, he doesn't truly know the king - he is only seeing the king's possession. We can thus better understand the two categories mentioned above. One individual makes an effort to know the King and does not succeed, while the other does not even attempt to try, and also doesn't succeed. So when G·d says, "They abandon Me", it refers to the "avodah" [spiritual effort] in trying to know G·d. Nevertheless, says G·d, "If only they had abandoned Me", knowing that they can not ultimately know Me. But the "abandoning" only occurred after they engaged in the process of searching until "they had kept my Torah" (and had explored all its depth). Yerushalmi, Chagigah 1:7 (6b) Translation and commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit www.baalshemtov.com Join a class on the Perekim from the Kesser Shem Tov: Shabbos morning 9am in the Shteibel Minyan Beis Medresh Also, write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to receive the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov in your email inbox, visit and join a discussion group on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov at http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov To Help Bring Moshiach Right NOW! Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov to Bring Moshiach NOW! Bentzion Meltzer 954.242.9208 www.besht-yomi.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stories_of_the_Baal_Shem_Tov/ 
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