Shmot 17:12 Aaron and Hur supported Moshe’s hands. one on this side one on that.. and his hands were faith…
Its not enough to believe in our hearts but its important that faith spreads to the 248 limbs.
The Ari HaKadosh said when one does Natilat Yadaim… its important to raise the hands to the head to receive the kedusha…
It was revealed to the Baal Shem Tov that if the two great lights of the world were to meet, they together could bring Moshiach and the final redemption. From that time, the Baal Shem Tov desired greatly to go to Eretz Yisrael to meet the great Ohr Hachayim (Rabbi Chaim ben Etar).
In the year 5503, the Baal Shem Tov traveled from home in Mezibush to fulfill his long held desire to visit Eretz Yisrael and meet the great Ohr Hachayim. By Pesach, he reached Istanbul. There he prayed at the gravesite of Rav Naftali, a Tzaddik (righteous man) who had attempted the same trip at an earlier time but had only traveled as far as Istanbul. That night, Rav Naftali appeared to the Baal Shem Tov in a dream. “Reb Yisrael, it has been decreed in Heaven that you are not destined to dwell in Eretz Yisrael. If you are stubborn and attempt to continue your journey, you will die here as I did. Return home.”
The Baal Shem Tov accepted the decree and embarked upon a ship headed homewards. His ship was captured by pirates, who let him off at the port of Kilya, from where he continued his journey to Mezibush.
Three months later, during the shalosh seudos meal on the Sabbath of Parsha Pinchas, immediately after washing his hands and eating a bite of challah, the Baal Shem Tov said with a sigh, “The Western light has been extinguished.”
At the Melave Malkah (meal of the departing Sabbath Queen) on that motzoei Shabbos (Saturday night), the chassidim gathered their courage and asked, “Rebbe, what did you mean when you said that ‘The Western light has been extinguished?’”
The Baal Shem Tov replied, “The Ohr Hachayim has died. He was known in heavenly realms as the Western light.”
“How does the Rebbe know that?” one Chassid boldly asked.
The Baal Shem Tov answered, “There is a particular kavannah (intention) for the recitation of the blessing for washing hands which I have always wanted to know. However, this kavannah was hidden from me since only one person in each generation can know it, and the Ohr Hachayim had preceded me. This afternoon, as I washed my hands for shalosh seudos, I suddenly became aware of a new kavannah. I immediately understood that the Ohr Hachayim had passed from this world and now I become the guardian of that kavannah.”
The particular kavannah was to raise the hands above the head.
