The Baal Shem Tov once came to a beis midrash together with the townspeople as well as his followers and chassidim. “This beis midrash is full of Torah and tefillah!” he declared. The townsfolk were glad and proud upon hearing these words. They thought that the holy Baal Shem was lauding the fact that their beis midrash was so full of Torah study and davening!
However, their pleased expressions were in noticeable contrast to the tzaddik’s countenance which seemed sorrowful and pensive. The Baal Shem stood on the threshold and did not enter the beis midrash. He turned to the assembled and explained, “I cannot enter, for there is no room! This beis midrash is simply too full of all the Torah studied and tefillos recited here! The Zohar explains that Torah and tefillah that lack dechilu u’rechimu – fear, awe, and love, lack the means to rise heavenward. Any study and prayers that are insincere, that are lacking in fire, in emotion and devotion, simply sink and linger in place. For love and awe, ahava and yira, are like two wings. Our Torah and tefillah require these wings to fly and soar heavenwards! The Torah and tefillah of this kahal,” explained the Baal Shem to the disgraced congregants, lacks warmth, lacks fire and devotion. They have no wings to fly and so, remain grounded. That is what’s causing the lack of space in this beis midrash; it is so full of Torah and tefillah that I cannot get in!”
