Knowing Means Doing
“…You shall not stand by the blood of your fellow…” – Vayikra 19:16
לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל דַּם רֵעֶךָ – ויקרא יט, טז
The Baal Shem Tov taught that from everything that a Jew sees or hears he must take a lesson in his service of G-d. This teaching finds its roots in the words of the Talmud, “Of all that G-d created in His world, He did not create a single thing without purpose” (Shabbos 77b). Or, as the Mishna says in Avos (6:11), “Everything that G-d created in His world, He created only for His glory.” Included in “everything that G-d created,” taught the Baal Shem Tov, is your encounter with any particular object or situation; your very perception of it was created for a purpose that will bring about “G-d’s glory.” G-d orchestrated your encounter with this article or event in order for you to apply its message in your duties toward G-d.
The same principle applies equally when your fellow is at risk of spiritual death, as unfortunately so many of our Jewish brothers and sisters are today. The Torah warns us that we may not stand idly by our brothers’ blood. Our very awareness of the spiritual threat facing our fellow Jews indicates that we are capable and personally obligated to save them, by each of us taking active part in the dissemination of Torah and Judaism.
—Likutei Sichos vol. 32, pp. 125-126
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