It was once asked of the Rebbe of Ziditchov, "Why are these times different from previous ages? Since the Besht arrived in this world, he has drawn a huge multitude of followers to his teachings, which are essentially those of the 'Ari' (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), whereas the Holy Ari did not attract such a large following. What is it in the Baal Shem Tov that has allowed him to have such great success in spreading his teachings?"
The Rebbe replied by way of a parable:
"Once, the people in a certain country were in need of a new leader. They had heard that there was an exceptional person living in a far-away land and they wondered if perhaps he might be the leader they were seeking. He was said to have great physical beauty as well as the noblest character -- indeed he was unique in his wonderful qualities. Still, they couldn't make up their minds about his worth until one man who had just returned from his land described what he had seen with his own eyes. Still, with his vivid descriptions, he succeeded in convincing only some of the citizens.
One wise person decided to take the initiative to go to that distant land and fetch the candidate back with him to his country. When the people of the land saw with their own eyes the marvelous qualities of the candidate, they unanimously rose and crowned him king.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his followers were the first to reveal Holy secrets in the Zohar, but this book was closed to all but the initiates. Then came the Holy Ari who spread these teachings amongst the populace. But he, too, attracted only the greatest scholars, for his writings were very lofty and difficult to apprehend. When the Baal Shem Tov came to this world, he succeeded in showing that G-dliness is inherent in even the tiniest speck of matter in this low world. The Besht taught us how to reach G-d through each of our deeds, thought and speech, even the most mundane, and so, he succeeded in bringing all people closer to the Creator.
