והבשר אשר יגע בכל טמא לא יאכל (צו ז:יט)

A talmid chacham acquainted with the Ba’al Hatanya zt”l was spotted befriending the Maskilim (the enlightened).  The Ba’al Hatanya summoned the talmid chacham and explained to him the dangers to his Yiddishkeit by befriending these people, ending with a warning that they would eventually ensnare him into their web of deceit.

The talmid chacham haughtily responded: “I do not have to worry because I’m strong enough not to get influenced by anyone.  And to prove myself, I’ve befriended many chassidim in my life and still haven’t become a chassid!”.

The Ba’al Hatanya countered: “There’s no comparison between the connection with Chassidim and the connection to Maskilim.  It says, “והבשר אשר יגע בכל טמא לא יאכל” – from this passuk, we learn that one can have a Kosher piece of meat that just touched something impure and it becomes contaminated.  It also says in the parsha when talking about ‘hekdesh’ ”כל אשר יגע בבשרה יקדש” – (ויקרא ו:כ) – whatever touches its flesh becomes holy.  Chazal learns from the word “בבשרה” – by just touching the flesh, it does not yet become holy only if it has something previously absorbed.  From these Pessukim, we learn that if something is טמא (impure), one becomes impure from touching it.  Even more, when something is ‘hekdesh’ – holy, one does not become holy only if you absorb holiness from the ‘hekdesh’”.

Concluded the Ba’al Hatanya: “Especially with you, I see that you didn’t absorb the kedusha from the chassidim, but the impurity is there, and the danger is great!”