Baal Habayis File
Because the blacksmith viewed his work as a way to provide for his family and give charity, every strike of his hammer was as holy as a prayer.
As the Baal Shem Tov taught, even if you can only "grab onto a part" of a mitzvah or a prayer while busy with work, you are still connected to the whole of the Divine. Doing It All: The World of the Baal HaBayis | Toras Chaim Baal Habayis
During the Shabbat meal, the Baal Shem Tov watched the blacksmith intently. The man’s prayers were simple, and his knowledge of complex law was limited. However, every time the blacksmith finished a section of the prayers or said a blessing over his food, he did so with such intense, raw sincerity that the room seemed to glow. Because the blacksmith viewed his work as a