We are now living in an emergency situation where everything is cracking and, without the light of Baal Shem Tov, Yiddishkeit cannot continue. The Baal Shem Tov continued the classical explanation that the tachlis (purpose) of Talmud Torah is dveykus (attachment to G-d) as found in writtings of Zohar, Ari z"l, Bach and the Maharal. Only difference between the Chassidm and the Misnagdim was in the emphasis placed on tefillah (prayer). Bach writes that the beginning of our journey, step by step, level by level, is in order to join our neshama (soul) with the essence of Torah lishma (for its own sake). When Jews learn Torah without G-d, then the Torah will not protect us from doing the worst aveiros (sins). Torah lishma is dveykus - we must bring Hashem into ourselves.