Editing Hashgacha Pratis - Divine Providence (section)

== The Rebbe's innovation in understanding the different approaches ==
The Rebbe innovated and taught that the approach of the Rambam and his own approach do not contradict each other.

The Rebbe taught that in hashgacha pratis (Divine Providence) there are two types: external hashgacha pratis and internal hashgacha pratis.

Internal hashgacha pratis means Divine Providence where Divine intervention is clearly visible and not concealed in the usual ways of nature.

The Rebbe explains that the Rambam and his school spoke about this type of hashgacha pratis, which indeed exists only for those who cleave to Divinity and not for the rest of the speaking species, plants, or animals.

The second type is external hashgacha pratis. This means that this Divine Providence is clothed in nature, and the Divine intervention in details is conducted while taking into account the laws of nature without disrupting them, and therefore it is not visible at all to the eye but appears as if nature is operating on its own.

In this type of hashgacha pratis, says the Rebbe, spoke the Baal Shem Tov, and to this type even the Rambam agrees with the words of the Baal Shem Tov.