Rebbe Yisrael, the Maggid (preacher) of Koznitsa, visited Apta annually. During one of these visits, the elders asked the rebbe to give a sermon in the shul (synagogue) during the celebration of Shabbos (Saturday). Rebbe Israel refused.
“Last year,” he said, “you asked me the same thing.” I preached a sermon in the shul, but achieved nothing. Nothing has changed for you since then. Why should I strain my voice?
The Maggid's reproachful words quickly became known throughout the town. The residents of Apta were disheartened. Soon a certain artisan asked to meet with the rebbe.
“I am not a scientist or a saint,” this man turned to the Maggid, “but I know that when you said that your sermon did not bring any benefit, you were mistaken.” I listened to you last year. You spoke about the responsibility of every Jew to practice what is written in the Psalms: “I am always mindful of the presence of the Lord.” Since then I have been constantly striving for this. The Name of the Lord constantly remains before me, revealed as black fiery letters on a white fiery background - this Name is inscribed on all people and objects that come my way. The sacred awe of the Divine Presence never leaves me for a moment.
The Maggid smiled at the man and apologized to him for his hasty conclusions:
“If one soul was revealed last year, perhaps this year there will be two.”
On Saturday, in the synagogue of Apta, the Maggid read a sermon, after which many turned to a righteous life.
Commentary by Rami Shapiro “I always remember the presence of the Lord.” This line of the psalm comes from the very heart of the spiritual practice of Judaism. Many Hasidim repeat this line over and over again in order to look beyond the apparent diversity of reality and see the first principle, which is God.
To live in an unceasing consciousness of the Divine Presence is to achieve spiritual awakening. This means going beyond duality, without rejecting it, and seeing the One in the plural. It is to see how the non-duality that is God manifests itself as the duality that is creation. There is nothing but God. Shiviti does not deny anything: spirit and matter, heaven and earth, sacred and profane, holy and secular - all this is perceived as one or another facet of the divine.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru