Welcome to the Daily Holy Story. The Or HaChaim HaKadosh says the Pasuk (verse) says, “Vehitkadishtem Vihyitem Kedoshim.” And you shall be holy and be sanctified. If you make yourself holy, then you will not become defiled by things that crawl on the ground. You will not eat anything that is unkosher. And I will make you holy. HaKadosh Baruch Hu doesn't make a person stumble if he sanctifies himself.
The story goes that the great Tzemach Tzedek, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Hasidic rabbi) of many, many years ago, stayed for a few weeks in the city of Petersburg after he was released from prison, in order to rest from his troubles. He settled in the home of one of his Chassidim (Hasidic followers), who was a very wealthy man. Many of the Chassidim went to the wealthy man's house to see the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek. One time, when he was sitting with his Chassidim and they were talking Divrei Torah (words of Torah), the Admor (Hasidic leader) asked the owner of the home to bring him a container of milk. The owner hurried to bring the container of milk, as his Rebbe had requested, and put it on the table next to his Rebbe. When the Rebbe saw that the Rebbe didn't take his hand to take the container, he told him, “Rebbe, the container of milk is on the table next to you, and you can drink it.” But the Rebbe continued talking Divrei Torah with his Chassidim and didn't pay attention to the container of milk next to him. After a few moments, the Rebbe wanted to drink it and once again asked for the container of milk. Everybody was bewildered, because the container was right next to the Rebbe, and even the owner of the home had told his Rebbe that it was there. With no choice, the owner of the home took the Rebbe's hand and put the container of milk in his hand.
The Rebbe shook and said aloud, “If the container of milk was hidden from my eyes, even though it was right next to me, it must be a sign that this milk is forbidden to drink. We have to check it and see if it's unkosher milk.” They investigated where the milk came from and found out that it had been made by a non-Jew without a Jew watching it. People were bewildered. They said, “Wow, the Rebbe must have Ruach HaKodesh (divine inspiration).” The Rebbe continued, “No, I don't have Ruach HaKodesh. It's because I listen to the words of the Chachamim (Sages), to be careful to be holy. And when a person makes himself holy on the earth, then from upstairs they sanctify him, like the Or HaChaim HaKadosh said.” He added, telling his Chassidim, “How great are the words of our Chachamim, who said that milk made by a non-Jew, when a Jew doesn't see it, is asur to drink. That is why it says, ‘A Jew didn't see it,’ meaning that nobody watched the milk. And that's why HaShem protected me from drinking the milk.” Have a lovely, lovely day, and thank you for listening to the wonderful Daily Holy Story.