In a short teaching preserved in Keter Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (the Baal Shem Tov), examines an enigmatic rabbinic teaching describing God's acceptance of the Jewish People's rejection of their creator on the sole condition that they not abandon the study of Torah. The Baal Shem Tov considers the relative strengths and limits of faith and knowledge in the pursuit of truth and wisdom.

Note: This sheet presents the teaching as preserved in the Kehot edition of Keter Shem Tov; the Sefaria edition is displayed further below.

A teaching from the Baal Shem Tov which I heard from my master as an insight into the Midrashic statement: "If only it were me they abandoned but my Torah they preserved." (1) The interpretation requires an interpretation of the ironic observation that "as he enters the breach, the thief prays to God." (2) To which God responds "if only it were me they would abandon" i.e., if only this thief would not pray to me and also not steal, and thereby he would preserve my Torah. And this approach is simple to grasp.

A further explanation. Consider that an ultimate achievement in the pursuit of knowledge is the realization of one's ignorance. (3) Nevertheless, ignorance is reached in two forms. The first is immediate when one realizes the futility of the pursuit of ultimate knowledge and does not even attempt it. The second person tries to understand using every means available to them and only then concludes that they cannot fully grasp this ultimate knowledge. And the difference between these two approaches may be explained with the following parable: Two individuals wished to meet and befriend the king. The first enters the palace, visits each room and hall, enjoys and admires the king's treasures and bounty, but eventually understands that meeting or befriending the king is not a possibility. The second person sees all this and declares, if one is not able to meet and befriend the king, there is no need to enter the palace and to witness or experience anything there at all. And with this parable we may better understand the two categories of ignorance discussed above. And the statement "me they abandon" refers the failed pursuit of ultimate knowledge. Nevertheless, "if only it were me they abandon" should occur after the serious attempt and pursuit of knowledge which is facilitated through the study of Torah. And graceful are the words of the wise.