Follow-Along Text:
Lessons in Tanya - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
פרק לז
Now this ultimate perfection of the Messianic era and [the time of] the resurrection of the dead, meaning the revelation of the Ein Sof-light in this physical world,
וְהִנֵּה, תַּכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵימוּת הַזֶּה שֶׁל יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, שֶׁהוּא גִּילּוּי אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַגַּשְׁמִי –
is dependent on our actions and [divine] service throughout the period of exile (unlike the aforementioned revelation at Sinai, which was initiated by G‑d).
תָּלוּי בְּמַעֲשֵׂינוּ וַעֲבוֹדָתֵנוּ כָּל זְמַן מֶשֶׁךְ הַגָּלוּת.
For it is the mitzvah itself that causes i.e., creates its reward.
כִּי הַגּוֹרֵם שְׂכַר הַמִּצְוָה – הִיא הַמִּצְוָה בְּעַצְמָהּ,
The Rebbe notes: Unlike, for example, the wages paid by the owner of a field to the laborer who plows and plants in it, where the laborer does not create the money he is paid, a mitzvah actually creates its own reward.
By performing [the mitzvah], man draws the revelation of the blessed Ein Sof-light from above downward
כִּי בַּעֲשִׂיָּיתָהּ, מַמְשִׁיךְ הָאָדָם גִּילּוּי אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא מִלְמַעְלָה לְמַטָּה
to be clothed in the physicality of this world, i.e., in an object which had heretofore been under the dominion of kelipat nogah and had received its vitality from this kelipah,
לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, בְּדָבָר שֶׁהָיָה תְּחִלָּה תַּחַת מֶמְשֶׁלֶת קְלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ וּמְקַבֵּל חַיּוּתָהּ מִמֶּנָּה,
namely, all pure, permissible objects with which the act of the mitzvah is performed. By performing the mitzvah, man draws the Ein Sof-light upon the object with which it is performed.
שֶׁהֵם כָּל דְּבָרִים הַטְּהוֹרִים וּמוּתָּרִים שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית בָּהֶם הַמִּצְוָה מַעֲשִׂיית,
The Alter Rebbe now illustrates his phrase—“pure, permissible objects with which the act of the mitzvah is performed”—citing as examples one object from each of the three categories: animal life, vegetative, and inanimate life.
For example, the parchment of the tefillin, mezuzah, and Sefer Torah, which must be made of the skins of permissible, kosher animals.
כְּגוֹן: קְלַף הַתְּפִילִּין וּמְזוּזָה וְסֵפֶר תּוֹרָה,
As our Sages state: “For the ‘work of heaven’ i.e., mitzvah objects only that which is pure and permissible to eat may be used.”1
וּכְמַאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה: "לֹא הוּכְשַׁר לִמְלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם אֶלָּא טְהוֹרִים וּמוּתָּרִים בְּפִיךָ".
The parchment derived from such animals is, however, under the dominion of kelipat nogah until one uses it for tefillin, etc., when the mitzvah draws upon the parchment a revelation of the Ein Sof-light.
Similarly, an etrog which is not orlah (the forbidden fruit of a tree’s first three harvests)
וְכֵן אֶתְרוֹג שֶׁאֵינוֹ עָרְלָה,
In reference to his earlier stipulation that an etrog not be orlah and that charity be honestly acquired, the Alter Rebbe notes:
For Orlah is of the three completely unclean kelipot that can never ascend into holiness, as is written in Etz Chaim; thus, fruit which is orlah, deriving its vitality from these kelipot, cannot be elevated by having a mitzvah performed with it,
שֶׁהָﬠָרְלָה הִיא מִשָּׁלֹשׁ קְלִיפּוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת לְגַמְרֵי שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם ﬠֲלִיָּה לְעוֹלָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּﬠֵץ חַיִּים,
and similarly any mitzvah whose performance involved a transgression (G‑d forbid). Since the sinful act receives its vitality from the three completely unclean kelipot, the resulting mitzvah cannot elevate it.
וְכֵן כָּל מִצְוָה הַבָּאָה בַּﬠֲבֵירָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
When performed, however, with pure and permissible objects, the mitzvah elevates those objects from kelipat nogah to holiness to be united with the Ein Sof-light, as the Alter Rebbe continues:
Now that one fulfills G‑d’s commandment and will with these objects,
וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁמְּקַיֵּים בָּהֶם מִצְוַת ה' וּרְצוֹנוֹ –
the vitality within them ascends and is dissolved and absorbed into the blessed Ein Sof-light, which is His will that is clothed in the mitzvot, the Divine will that each mitzvah represents.
הֲרֵי הַחַיּוּת שֶׁבָּהֶם עוֹלֶה וּמִתְבַּטֵּל וְנִכְלָל בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, שֶׁהוּא רְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ הַמְלוּבָּשׁ בָּהֶם,
For [in a mitzvah], there is no “concealment of the Countenance” whatsoever to hide His light, preventing the object from being absorbed in this light. As stated earlier, wherever the Ein Sof-light stands revealed, there is no separation from G‑d; everything is united with His light—in this case, the object with which the mitzvah (representing revelation of the will and light of the Ein Sof) is performed.
מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵין שָׁם בְּחִינַת הֶסְתֵּר פָּנִים כְּלָל לְהַסְתִּיר אוֹרוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ.
Thus far, the Alter Rebbe has discussed the effect of a mitzvah on the objects used in its performance (e.g., the etrog, the parchment used for tefillin, etc.). He now discusses its effect on the power of a Jew’s animal soul that is applied to the mitzvah. This soul, like the aforementioned objects, derives its vitality from kelipat nogah, and like them, it experiences a similar elevation to the realm of holiness whenever it is used in the service of a mitzvah, being absorbed into the Divine will represented by the mitzvah.
In the Alter Rebbe’s words:
Similarly, the power of the vitalizing animal soul clothed in the bodily limbs of a person who performs a mitzvah likewise clothes itself in the deed of the mitzvah.
וְכֵן כֹּחַ נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית הַבַּהֲמִית שֶׁבְּאֵבְרֵי גּוּף הָאָדָם הַמְקַיֵּים הַמִּצְוָה – הוּא מִתְלַבֵּשׁ גַּם כֵּן בַּעֲשִׂיָּה זוֹ,
Thereby, it ascends from the kelipah to be absorbed into the holiness of the mitzvah, which is His will and is nullified within the blessed Ein Sof-light.
וְעוֹלֶה מֵהַקְּלִיפָּה, וְנִכְלָל בִּקְדוּשַּׁת הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁהִיא רְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ, וּבָטֵל בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא.
The Alter Rebbe now goes on to say that those mitzvot involving speech alone likewise effect this elevation of the animal soul, even though here, the animal soul’s power is not brought to bear in the performance of any mitzvah.
Even in the case of such mitzvot as Torah study, reciting the Shema, prayer, and the like, the animal soul’s power is elevated to holiness,
וְגַם בְּמִצְוֹת תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּתְפִלָּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן,
although they do not involve actual physical action which is under the dominion of kelipat nogah,
אַף שֶׁאֵינָן בַּעֲשִׂיָּה גַשְׁמִית מַמָּשׁ שֶׁתַּחַת מֶמְשֶׁלֶת קְלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ,
yet it is an accepted principle that “thought is not a substitute for speech,”2 and one does not fulfill his duty of Torah study, prayer, etc. unless he actually utters [the words] with his lips.
מִכָּל מָקוֹם, הָא קַיְימָא לָן דְּ"הִרְהוּר לָאו כְּדִבּוּר דָּמֵי", וְאֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ עַד שֶׁיּוֹצִיא בִּשְׂפָתָיו,
It is also accepted that “moving one’s lips constitutes action,”3 and such “action,” as the Rebbe notes, likewise stems from the vitality of the kelipat nogah that is nourished by the animal soul, as does the actual bodily action spoken of earlier.
וְקַיְימָא לָן דַּ"עֲקִימַת שְׂפָתָיו הָוֵי מַעֲשֶׂה",
For the divine soul cannot express itself with the physical lips, mouth, tongue, or teeth, the instruments of speech, except by way of the vitalizing animal soul actually clothed in the organs of the body.
כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לַנֶּפֶשׁ הָאֱלֹהִית לְבַטֵּא בִּשְׂפָתַיִים וּפֶה וְלָשׁוֹן וְשִׁינַּיִים הַגַּשְׁמִיִּים, כִּי אִם, עַל יְדֵי נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית הַבַּהֲמִית הַמְלוּבֶּשֶׁת בְּאֵבְרֵי הַגּוּף מַמָּשׁ,
The divine soul is entirely spiritual, the body, physical. Therefore (as explained in ch. 35), the divine soul cannot activate the body to perform a mitzvah except through an intermediary. This intermediary is the animal soul, which, on one hand, is a soul, a spiritual life-force, yet on the other hand is actually clothed in the blood and the bodily organs.
This intermediary is necessary in mitzvot performed through speech, just as in the mitzvot performed through action. For articulating the words required for the mitzvah also constitutes physical “action” so that this, too, cannot be accomplished by the divine soul except by way of the animal soul’s power.
Hence, the more forcefully one speaks words of Torah or prayer, the more of the animal soul’s energy he introduces and clothes in these words. Thereby, he converts more of the energy of the kelipah to holiness.
וְכָל מַה שֶּׁמְּדַבֵּר בְּכֹחַ גָּדוֹל יוֹתֵר – הוּא מַכְנִיס וּמַלְבִּישׁ יוֹתֵר כֹּחוֹת מִנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית בְּדִיבּוּרִים אֵלּוּ.
This is also the meaning of the verse, “All my bones shall declare…[:‘G‑d, who is like You?’],”4 which means that the words of Torah and prayer must be said “with all of one’s bones” so that as much as possible of the body’s energy be utilized in performing the mitzvot.
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: "כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה וְגוֹ'".
This is why our Sages have said: “If the Torah abides in all 248 limbs, it is preserved in your memory; otherwise, it is not preserved.”5
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה: "אִם עֲרוּכָה בְּכָל רַמַ"ח אֵיבָרִים מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת, וְאִם לָאו – אֵינָהּ מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת",
For forgetfulness in matters of Torah stems from the kelipah of the body and vitalizing animal soul, derived from kelipat nogah, which is sometimes absorbed into holiness; when it is absorbed into holiness, there is no longer any cause for forgetfulness.
כִּי הַשִּׁכְחָה הִיא מִקְּלִיפַּת הַגּוּף וְנֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית הַבַּהֲמִית, שֶׁהֵן מִקְּלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ הַנִּכְלֶלֶת לִפְעָמִים בִּקְדוּשָּׁה,
This is accomplished when one weakens their power (the power of body and animal soul), applying all their strength to the holiness of Torah and prayer.
וְהַיְינוּ כְּשֶׁמַּתִּישׁ כֹּחָן וּמַכְנִיס כָּל כֹּחָן בִּקְדוּשַּׁת הַתּוֹרָה אוֹ הַתְּפִלָּה:
This, then, is the meaning of the aforementioned quotation: When one involves (the energy of) all his 248 limbs in Torah study, it is preserved in his memory, for the kelipah that causes one to forget has been weakened.
Up until here, the Alter Rebbe has spoken of the effect of a mitzvah on the power of one’s animal soul used in performing it. He now states that not only does one’s animal soul ascend from kelipat nogah to holiness when he performs a mitzvah, but also, all the food and drink that sustained one and gave him the strength to perform the mitzvah are likewise elevated from the dominion of kelipat nogah.
Based on this idea, the Alter Rebbe explains how the vitality of all physical objects of this world—which currently draw their vitality from kelipat nogah—will be elevated to the realm of holiness.
Every Jewish soul is given the ability and responsibility to elevate a portion of this physical world which “belongs” to it. This elevation is accomplished by means of the 613 mitzvot, as mentioned. There are, however, two categories in mitzvot: the 248 positive commandments and the 365 prohibitive commandments. Similarly, the elevating effect of mitzvot on physical matter takes two forms: one positive and the other negative (i.e., restrictive).
To explain these two aspects of elevation accomplished by the two categories of mitzvot, the Alter Rebbe uses for each category an analogy drawn from the human body. The 248 positive commandments correspond to the body’s 248 limbs and, indeed, the function of these mitzvot resembles that of the limbs. Every organ of the body is a vehicle for a particular faculty of the soul and brings that faculty into active expression. Similarly, every (positive) mitzvah is a vehicle for the expression of a particular aspect of Divine will and brings about a G‑dly revelation.
The prohibitive commandments, numbering 365, correspond to the 365 blood vessels of the body; their function, too, is like that of the blood vessels. The blood vessel acts as a conduit, channeling blood in the right direction so that it will not be randomly, wastefully dispersed through the body. Similarly, the prohibitive commandments prevent the life-force of holiness from being funneled off into the kelipot, thereby increasing their power; they channel the life-force toward deserving recipients.
When all the souls of Israel, representing the vitality of all physical matter, fulfill all the commandments—drawing down G‑d’s light by performing the positive mitzvot and confining it to the realm of holiness by observing the prohibitive mitzvot—they elevate the vitality of the entire world from kelipat nogah to holiness.
This, in summary, is the subject of the following discussion.
An additional [virtue] in mitzvot involving action (aside from their function in elevating one’s animal soul, mentioned above):
זֹאת וְעוֹד אַחֶרֶת,
the vitalizing soul’s energy clothed in the utterance of letters of one’s speech in Torah study, prayer, or the like or the energy clothed in the performance of mitzvot involving action
שֶׁכֹּחַ נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית הַמִּתְלַבֶּשֶׁת בְּאוֹתִיּוֹת הַדִּבּוּר בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה אוֹ תְּפִלָּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן, אוֹ מִצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת –
derives its entire growth and vitality from the blood, which is of kelipat nogah itself,
הֲרֵי כָּל גִּידּוּלוֹ וְחַיּוּתוֹ מֵהַדָּם, שֶׁהוּא מִקְּלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ מַמָּשׁ,
meaning all the food and drink that one has eaten and drunk and which have become blood.
שֶׁהֵן כָּל אוֹכָלִין וּמַשְׁקִין שֶׁאָכַל וְשָׁתָה וְנַעֲשׂוּ דָם,
These were under the dominion of [kelipat nogah] and drew their vitality from it.
שֶׁהָיוּ תַּחַת מֶמְשַׁלְתָּהּ וְיָנְקוּ חַיּוּתָם מִמֶּנָּה,
Now that the person performs a mitzvah with the energy derived from this food and drink, this kelipah is transformed from evil to good and is absorbed into holiness by means of the energy of the animal soul that grows from it (i.e., the energy nourished by those objects that derive their vitality from this kelipah), which has now clothed itself in these letters of Torah and prayer or in the performance of this mitzvah, which actually constitute the unveiled expression of the inner aspect of G‑d’s will.
וְעַתָּה הִיא מִתְהַפֶּכֶת מֵרָע לְטוֹב וְנִכְלֶלֶת בִּקְדוּשָּׁה, עַל יְדֵי כֹּחַ נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית הַגָּדֵל מִמֶּנָּה, שֶׁנִּתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּאוֹתִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ אוֹ בַּעֲשִׂיָּה זוֹ, אֲשֶׁר הֵן הֵן פְּנִימִיּוּת רְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּלִי שׁוּם הֶסְתֵּר פָּנִים,
And their vitality (the vitality expended in performing mitzvot) is also absorbed (like the mitzvot themselves) into the blessed Ein Sof-light, which is His will as expressed in mitzvot,
וְחַיּוּתָן נִכְלָל גַּם כֵּן בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא שֶׁהוּא רְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ,
and with their vitality, the energy of the animal soul is likewise elevated and absorbed into the Ein Sof-light, and since the energy necessary for performing mitzvot was supplied by food and drink, the vitality of the food and drink is likewise absorbed in the Ein Sof-light, together with the mitzvah whose performance it made possible.
וּבְחַיּוּתָן נִכְלָל וְעוֹלֶה גַם כֵּן כֹּחַ נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית.
Thereby, all of kelipat nogah, which constitutes the vitality of this physical and corporeal world as a whole, will ascend as well. When will this come about?
וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה, תַּעֲלֶה גַם כֵּן כְּלָלוּת קְלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ, שֶׁהִיא כְּלָלוּת הַחַיּוּת שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַגַּשְׁמִי וְהַחוּמְרִי,
When the whole neshamah, the divine soul6 in all of Israel, which is divided into 600,000 particular offshoots (the standard figure for the members of the Jewish nation, all individual souls being further subdivisions of these 600,000 “general” souls, as will be explained further) will fulfill, each individual soul thereof, the 613 mitzvot of the Torah:
כַּאֲשֶׁר כָּל הַנְּשָׁמָה וְנֶפֶשׁ הָאֱלֹהִית שֶׁבְּכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַמִּתְחַלֶּקֶת בִּפְרָטוּת לְשִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא, תְּקַיֵּים כָּל נֶפֶשׁ פְּרָטִית כָּל תַּרְיַ"ג מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה:
when they will refrain from transgressing the 365 prohibitions, to restrain the 365 blood vessels of the animal soul in the body,
שַׁסַ"ה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה – לְהַפְרִיד שַׁסַ"ה גִידִים שֶׁל דַּם נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית שֶׁבַּגּוּף,
so that they do not draw nurture or receive vitality by means of such transgression from any one of the three completely unclean kelipot, from which are derived the 365 Biblical prohibitions, and the Rabbinical prohibitions—their offshoots.
שֶׁלֹּא יִינְקוּ וִיקַבְּלוּ חַיּוּת בַּעֲבֵירָה זוֹ מֵאַחַת מִשָּׁלֹשׁ קְלִיפּוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת לְגַמְרֵי, שֶׁמֵּהֶן נִשְׁפָּעִים שַׁסַ"ה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וְעַנְפֵיהֶן שֶׁהֵן מִדְּרַבָּנָן,
Since all that derives its vitality from the three wholly unclean kelipot cannot rise to holiness, were a Jew to transgress any prohibition and thereby cause the particular blood vessel associated with that prohibition to receive vitality from these kelipot—
the vitalizing soul could no longer ascend to G‑d, having been tainted by the impurity of the three impure kelipot.
וְשׁוּב, לֹא תוּכַל נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית לַעֲלוֹת אֶל ה' אִם נִטְמְאָה בְּטוּמְאַת הַשָּׁלֹשׁ קְלִיפּוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת,
[For] these [kelipot] can never be elevated but must be nullified and utterly destroyed,
שֶׁאֵין לָהֶן עֲלִיָּה לְעוֹלָם, כִּי אִם – בִּיטּוּל וְהַעֲבָרָה לְגַמְרֵי,
as is written, “And I shall banish the unclean spirit from the earth.”7
כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: "וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר מִן הָאָרֶץ";
Similarly, anything which derives its vitality from them can never ascend to holiness. Therefore, only the observance of all the 365 prohibitions allows the entire vital soul to ascend without any part of it held back by the impurity of these kelipot.
When, furthermore, every individual soul will fulfill also the 248 positive commandments, thereby drawing down the blessed Ein Sof-light below,
וְרַמַ"ח מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה – לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא לְמַטָּה,
to elevate to Him and to bind and unite with Him the entire vital soul, which is in the 248 limbs of the body, in perfect unity (such is the effect of a mitzvah in uniting the vital, animal soul with G‑d) so that they become actually one [with Him],
לְהַעֲלוֹת לוֹ וּלְקַשֵּׁר וּלְיַיחֵד בּוֹ כְּלָלוּת הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית שֶׁבְּרַמַ"ח אֵבְרֵי הַגּוּף, בְּיִחוּד גָּמוּר לִהְיוֹת לַאֲחָדִים מַמָּשׁ,
in accordance with His will that there be an abode for Him in the lower realms, and so great is this unity that they (the limbs of the body with the vitality of the animal soul invested in them) become a “chariot” for G‑d, as were the Patriarchs—whose every limb was in total submission to the Divine will, wherefore they are designated as G‑d’s “chariots”—and so will every Jew become a chariot by performing the mitzvot.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָלָה בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ לִהְיוֹת לוֹ דִּירָה בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וְהֵם לוֹ לְמֶרְכָּבָה כְּמוֹ הָאָבוֹת.
Once the totality of the vital soul of the community of Israel will become a holy chariot for G‑d,
וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁכְּלָלוּת נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית שֶׁבִּכְלָלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּהְיֶה מֶרְכָּבָה קְדוֹשָׁה לַה' –
then also the general vitality of this world, which now consists of kelipat nogah, will also emerge from its impurity and sickness (the term “impurity” refers to the evil of the kelipah; “sickness” refers to the element of good that kelipat nogah contains, which is nevertheless the good of kelipah, not holiness) and will ascend to holiness,
אֲזַי גַּם כְּלָלוּת הַחַיּוּת שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, שֶׁהִיא קְלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ עַכְשָׁיו, תֵּצֵא אָז מִטּוּמְאָתָהּ וְחֶלְאָתָהּ, וְתַעֲלֶה לִקְדוּשָּׁה
to become a chariot for G‑d, upon the revelation of His glory (in the World to Come).
לִהְיוֹת מֶרְכָּבָה לַה', בְּהִתְגַּלּוּת כְּבוֹדוֹ,
Then “all flesh will behold [G‑dliness] together,”8 and He will appear over them with the majestic beauty of His power, and “the glory of G‑d will fill the whole world.”9
"וְרָאוּ כָל בָּשָׂר יַחְדָּיו", וְיוֹפִיעַ עֲלֵיהֶם בַּהֲדַר גְּאוֹן עוּזּוֹ, "וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹד ה' אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ",
Israel will see “eye to eye”—the human eye will see the truth of G‑dliness just as the supernal “eye” sees it—just as [they saw] at the giving of the Torah,
וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִרְאוּ עַיִן בְּעַיִן כִּבְמַתַּן תּוֹרָה,
of which it is written, “You showed Yourself so that it be known that ‘G‑d is the L-rd (lit.: the Four-Letter Divine Name is Elokim; i.e., despite the concealment of the Four-Letter Divine Name (which denotes G‑d’s limitless power) by the name Elokim (which signifies G‑d’s self-limitation), it is the former that still pervades all existence) there is nothing else besides Him.”10
דִּכְתִיב: "אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּוֹ".
But whereas the revelation at Sinai lasted only a short time, the revelation in the future will be permanent.
Through this ascent of kelipat nogah to holiness, the three unclean kelipot will be utterly annihilated and nullified,
וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה, יִתְבַּלְּעוּ וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ לְגַמְרֵי כָּל הַשָּׁלֹשׁ קְלִיפּוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת,
for the nurture and vitality which they now receive from holiness comes to them [only] by way of kelipat nogah, the intermediary between them.
כִּי יְנִיקָתָן וְחַיּוּתָן מֵהַקְּדוּשָּׁה עַכְשָׁיו – הִיא עַל יְדֵי קְלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ הַמְמוּצַּעַת בֵּינֵיהֶן.
Kelipat nogah, containing both good and evil, is the medium through which these kelipot which are completely evil receive their vitality from G‑dliness, which is completely good. When kelipat nogah ascends to G‑dliness, the impure kelipot, no longer having any access to G‑dly vitality, cease to exist.
It follows, therefore, that the purpose of the Messianic era and of the resurrection, namely, the revelation of His glory and Divinity and the banishment of the spirit of impurity from the earth,
וְנִמְצָא, כִּי כָּל תַּכְלִית שֶׁל יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים – שֶׁהוּא גִילּוּי כְּבוֹדוֹ וֵאלֹהוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ, וּלְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה מִן הָאָרֶץ –
is entirely dependent on [our] drawing down His G‑dliness and the blessed Ein Sof-light upon all the 248 limbs of the vital soul of all Israel (for by way of the vital soul, all the world will be suffused with G‑dliness), and this is achieved by the vital soul’s performance of all the 248 positive mitzvot;
תָּלוּי בְּהַמְשָׁכַת אֱלֹהוּתוֹ וְאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא לַנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית שֶׁבִּכְלָלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל רַמַ"ח אֵבָרֶיהָ, עַל יְדֵי קִיּוּמָהּ כָּל רַמַ"ח מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה,
and this purpose is also dependent on [our] banishing the spirit of impurity, i.e., the three impure kelipot from the vital soul of all Israel (for by being banished from the vital soul, the spirit of impurity is banished from the entire world), and this is accomplished by the vital soul’s observance of all 365 prohibitive mitzvot, thus preventing its 365 blood vessels from drawing nurture from the spirit of impurity.
וּלְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה מִמֶּנָּה, בִּשְׁמִירָתָהּ כָּל שַׁסַ"ה מִצְוֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁלֹּא יִינְקוּ מִמֶּנָּה שַׁסַ"ה גִידֶיהָ.
Why is it that suffusing the vital soul with Ein Sof-light and banishing the impure kelipot from the vital soul produces a parallel effect on the entire world?
For the community of Israel, comprising 600,000 particular souls, is the general source of vitality for the world as a whole, since the world was created for the sake of these souls.
כִּי כְּלָלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהֵם שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת פְּרָטִיּוֹת, הֵם כְּלָלוּת הַחַיּוּת שֶׁל כְּלָלוּת הָעוֹלָם, כִּי בִּשְׁבִילָם נִבְרָא,
Each specific one of them contains and to each is related the vitality of one-six-hundred-thousandth part of the entire world.
וְכָל פְּרָט מֵהֶם הוּא כּוֹלֵל וְשַׁיָּיךְ לוֹ הַחַיּוּת שֶׁל חֵלֶק אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא מִכְּלָלוּת הָעוֹלָם
This [part of the world] depends on his vital soul for its elevation to G‑d through [the vital soul’s] own elevation.
הַתָּלוּי בְּנַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית, לְהַעֲלוֹתוֹ לַה' בַּעֲלִיָּיתָהּ,
This means that one elevates “his” portion of the world by his partaking of this world for the requirements of his body and vital soul in the service of G‑d. By using the objects of this world that one’s body and vital soul need for the sake of serving G‑d, one elevates his portion of the world.
דְּהַיְינוּ, בְּמַה שֶּׁמִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ מֵעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לְצוֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ וְנַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית לַעֲבוֹדַת ה',
For example: eating, drinking, and the like, one’s dwelling, and all his utensils.
כְּגוֹן, אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וְדוֹמֵיהֶם, וְדִירָה וְכָל כְּלֵי תַּשְׁמִישָׁיו.
But surely there are more than 600,000 souls; besides, it is quite impossible for one person to use a six-hundred-thousandth of the entire world.
These 600,000 particular souls, however, are “roots”; and, like a root from which grows numerous branches, each root-soul subdivides into 600,000 sparks, each spark being one neshamah.
אֶלָּא שֶׁשִּׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת פְּרָטִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ הֵן שָׁרָשִׁים, וְכָל שֹׁרֶשׁ מִתְחַלֵּק לְשִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נִיצוֹצוֹת, שֶׁכָּל נִיצוֹץ הוּא נְשָׁמָה אַחַת,
Similarly with the nefesh and ruach in each of the four Worlds—Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah. In each of these four Worlds are found all three soul-levels—nefesh, ruach, and neshamah.
וְכֵן בְּנֶפֶשׁ וְרוּחַ, בְּכָל עוֹלָם מֵאַרְבַּע עוֹלָמוֹת אֲצִילוּת־בְּרִיאָה־יְצִירָה־עֲשִׂיָּה.
Each spark did not descend into this world to perfect itself but to perfect the body and vital soul—as the Alter Rebbe will soon conclude.
וְכָל נִיצוֹץ, לֹא יָרַד לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה,
Having touched upon the subject of the soul’s descent, however, he adds a parenthetical comment emphasizing the magnitude of this descent. On entering this world, a soul may perhaps attain the loftiest heights of love and fear of G‑d that are experienced by a perfect tzaddik—but even this cannot compare to the love and fear that it experienced while in the spiritual worlds before its descent.
Though it is indeed a great descent, a veritable exile for the soul,
אַף שֶׁהִיא יְרִידָה גְדוֹלָה וּבְחִינַת גָּלוּת מַמָּשׁ,
for even if it becomes, in this world, a perfect tzaddik, serving G‑d with fear and delighting in an abounding love [of Him],
כִּי גַם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה צַדִּיק גָּמוּר עוֹבֵד ה' בְּיִרְאָה וְאַהֲבָה רַבָּה בְּתַעֲנוּגִים
it will not attain to the quality of its attachment to G‑d with fear and love that the soul experienced prior to its descent into this corporeal world nor even [to] a fraction of [its earlier fear and love].
לֹא יַגִּיעַ לְמַעֲלוֹת דְּבֵיקוּתוֹ בַּה' בִּדְחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ בְּטֶרֶם יְרִידָתוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַחוּמְרִי, לֹא מִינָּהּ וְלֹא מִקְצָתָהּ,
In fact, there is no comparison or similarity whatsoever between them—between the love and fear of G‑d experienced by a soul on earth and that of the soul above, [for] as is obvious to every intelligent man, the body could not bear, etc., a love and fear of such intensity as the soul experienced above in the spiritual realms.
וְאֵין עֵרֶךְ וְדִמְיוֹן בֵּינֵיהֶם כְּלָל, כַּנּוֹדָע לְכָל מַשְׂכִּיל, שֶׁהַגּוּף אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִסְבּוֹל כוּ',
Having concluded his comment on the formidable nature of the soul’s descent, the Alter Rebbe returns to his original point: The descent of the soul is not for its own sake—
but its descent into this world, to be clothed in a body and vital soul, is for the sole purpose of perfecting them
אֶלָּא יְרִידָתוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בַּגּוּף וְנֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית, הוּא כְּדֵי לְתַקְּנָם בִּלְבָד,
to separate them from the evil of the three impure kelipot by observing the 365 prohibitions and their “offshoots” i.e., by observing the Biblical and Rabbinic prohibitions,
וּלְהַפְרִידָם מֵהָרָע שֶׁל שָׁלשׁ קְלִיפּוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת, עַל יְדֵי שְׁמִירַת שַׁסַ"ה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וְעַנְפֵיהֶן,
and to elevate his vital soul, together with the portion of the world at large that relates to it,
וּלְהַעֲלוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית עִם חֶלְקָהּ הַשַּׁיָּיךְ לָהּ מִכְּלָלוּת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה,
binding and uniting them with the Ein Sof-light which he draws into them by performing all the 248 positive mitzvot through the agency of the vital soul,
וּלְקַשְּׁרָם וּלְיַיחֲדָם בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, אֲשֶׁר יַמְשִׁיךְ בָּהֶם עַל יְדֵי קִיּוּמוֹ כָּל רַמַ"ח מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה בְּנַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית,
since [the vital soul] is the one that performs all mitzvot involving action, as explained above in ch. 36—that the divine soul can activate the body in performance of the mitzvot only by way of the vital soul.
שֶׁהִיא הִיא הַמְקַיֶּימֶת כָּל מִצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת כַּנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל.
It is likewise written (in Etz Chaim, Portal 26) that the [divine] soul itself does not need perfecting at all…
וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב [בְּעֵץ חַיִּים שַׁעַר כ"ו], כִּי הַנְּשָׁמָה עַצְמָהּ אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה תִּיקּוּן כְּלָל כוּ',
and there is no need for it to be embodied in this world in a body and vital soul…except to draw down light to perfect them—the vital soul and the body…
וְלֹא הוּצְרְכָה לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְכוּ', רַק לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר לְתַקְּנָם כוּ',
and this parallels exactly11 the mystery of “the exile of the Shechinah,” whose purpose is to refine the sparks of holiness which fell into the kelipot; so, too, does the divine soul enter into exile within the body and vital soul in order to perfect them and to extract from them the sparks of holiness which they contain.
וְהוּא מַמָּשׁ דּוּגְמַת סוֹד גָּלוּת הַשְּׁכִינָה, לְבָרֵר נִיצוֹצִין וְכוּ'.
The foregoing discussion enables us to understand the particular virtue of mitzvot performed through action:
Creation, and the soul’s descent into the body, were both intended for the purpose of elevating the body and vital soul and thereby the entire world; moreover, this objective is reached primarily through the mitzvot involving action inasmuch as these mitzvot are performed by the body and vital soul; these mitzvot are therefore of primary importance.
In light of the above, where it was explained that the distinctive quality of the “active” mitzvot lies in their elevating effect on the body and vital soul, we can understand why our Sages so greatly extolled the virtue of charity, declaring it equal to all the other mitzvot together.12
וּבָזֶה יוּבַן מַה שֶּׁהִפְלִיגוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד בְּמַעֲלַת הַצְּדָקָה, וְאָמְרוּ שֶׁ"שְּׁקוּלָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִצְוֹת",
In all of the Jerusalem Talmud, charity is called simply “The Commandment,” for such was the idiomatic expression commonly used to refer to charity: “The Commandment,”
וּבְכָל תַּלְמוּד יְרוּשַׁלְמִי הִיא נִקְרֵאת בְּשֵׁם "מִצְוָה" סְתָם, כִּי כָּךְ הָיָה הֶרְגֵּל הַלָּשׁוֹן לִקְרוֹא צְדָקָה בְּשֵׁם "מִצְוָה" סְתָם,
because charity is the core of all the mitzvot of action and surpasses them all.
מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא עִיקַּר הַמִּצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת, וְעוֹלָה עַל כּוּלָּנָה,
For the purpose of all these mitzvot is only to elevate one’s animal soul to G‑d, since it is this vital soul that performs them and clothes itself in them,
שֶׁכּוּלָּן הֵן רַק לְהַעֲלוֹת נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית לַה', שֶׁהִיא הִיא הַמְקַיֶּימֶת אוֹתָן, וּמִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת בָּהֶן
so as to be absorbed into the blessed Ein Sof-light clothed in them.
לִיכָּלֵל בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא הַמְלוּבָּשׁ בָּהֶן,
Now, you will find no other mitzvah in which the vital soul is clothed to the same extent as in the mitzvah of charity.
וְאֵין לְךָ מִצְוָה שֶׁנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת בָּהּ כָּל כָּךְ כִּבְמִצְוַת הַצְּדָקָה,
For in all other mitzvot, only one faculty of the vital soul is clothed (e.g., the faculty of action in the hand donning tefillin or holding an etrog), and even this one faculty is clothed in the mitzvah only while the mitzvah is being performed.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַמִּצְוֹת אֵין מִתְלַבֵּשׁ בָּהֶן רַק כֹּחַ אֶחָד מִנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית בִּשְׁעַת מַעֲשֵׂה הַמִּצְוָה לְבַד,
In the case of charity, however, which one gives from the proceeds of the toil of his hands,
אֲבָל בִּצְדָקָה, שֶׁאָדָם נוֹתֵן מִיגִיעַ כַּפָּיו,
surely all the strength of his vital soul is clothed in (i.e., applied to) the effort of his labor or in any other occupation by which he earned this money which he now distributes for charity.
הֲרֵי כָּל כֹּחַ נַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית מְלוּבָּשׁ בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלַאכְתּוֹ אוֹ עֵסֶק אַחֵר שֶׁנִּשְׂתַּכֵּר בּוֹ מָעוֹת אֵלּוּ,
Thus, when he gives to charity this money to which he applied all the strength of his vital soul, his entire vital soul ascends to G‑d. Hence the superiority of charity over other mitzvot.
וּכְשֶׁנּוֹתְנָן לִצְדָקָה – הֲרֵי כָּל נַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית עוֹלָה לַה'.
But this seems to imply that if one does not invest all his strength into earning his livelihood, his charity lacks this quality, to which the Alter Rebbe rejoins:
Even he who does not earn his livelihood from his labors, nevertheless, since he could have purchased with this money that he gave for charity sustenance for the life of his vital soul, he is actually giving his soul’s life to G‑d in the form of charity. Thus, charity comprises and therefore elevates more energy of the vital soul than any other mitzvah.
וְגַם מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶהֱנֶה מִיגִיעוֹ, מִכָּל מָקוֹם, הוֹאִיל וּבְמָעוֹת אֵלּוּ הָיָה יָכוֹל לִקְנוֹת חַיֵּי נַפְשׁוֹ הַחִיּוּנִית – הֲרֵי נוֹתֵן חַיֵּי נַפְשׁוֹ לַה'.
This is why our Sages have said that charity hastens the Messianic redemption13:
וְלָכֵן אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה שֶׁ"מְּקָרֶבֶת אֶת הַגְּאוּלָּה",
For with one act of charity, one elevates a great deal of the vital soul, more of its faculties and powers, in fact, than he might elevate through many other active mitzvot [combined]. As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the Messianic Era is a result of our efforts in purifying and elevating the vital soul; charity, which effects this elevation in such great measure, thus hastens the redemption.
לְפִי שֶׁבִּצְדָקָה אַחַת מַעֲלֶה הַרְבֵּה מִנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית, מַה שֶּׁלֹּא הָיָה יָכוֹל לְהַעֲלוֹת מִמֶּנָּה כָּל כָּךְ כֹּחוֹת וּבְחִינוֹת בְּכַמָּה מִצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת.
We see, at any rate, that charity is superior to all other mitzvot, including Torah study. But here, one may object:
As for the statement of our Rabbis that Torah study outweighs all other mitzvot14—including charity—how can this be reconciled with what was said above?
וּמַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה שֶׁ"תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה כְּנֶגֶד כּוּלָּם",
This is because the study of Torah employs speech and thought, which are the inner garments of the vital soul—unlike action, which is external. Thus, only Torah study, and not other mitzvot, can suffuse the inner garments of the soul with the light of Torah.
הַיְינוּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁתַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה הִיא בְּדִבּוּר וּמַחֲשָׁבָה, שֶׁהֵם לְבוּשִׁים הַפְּנִימִים שֶׁל נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית.
Furthermore, the very substance and essence of the intellectual faculties of ChaBaD (chochmah, binah, daat) of the kelipat nogah in the vital soul are actually absorbed into holiness when one studies Torah with concentration and intelligence.
וְגַם מַהוּתָן וְעַצְמוּתָן שֶׁל בְּחִינוֹת חָכְמָה־בִּינָה־דַּעַת מִקְּלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ שֶׁבַּנֶּפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית – נִכְלָלוֹת בִּקְדוּשָּׁה מַמָּשׁ כְּשֶׁעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה בְּעִיּוּן וְשֵׂכֶל.
The intellectual faculties applied to Torah study are absorbed in the holiness of the mitzvah of Torah study and thereby ascend from the realm of kelipat nogah (to which they previously belonged, being a part of the vital soul) to the realm of holiness.
Although it was explained in ch. 12 that the beinoni is capable of transforming to holiness only the garments of the animal soul, not the soul faculties themselves, there is no contradiction here: the latter statement applies only to the middot (the emotional attributes) of the animal soul. The beinoni is indeed incapable of transforming the middot to holiness; ChaBaD, however, can be transformed even by the beinoni. The Alter Rebbe now explains the difference between them.
Although beinonim are incapable of mastering the substance and essence of the middot—chesed, gevurah, tiferet, and so on—so as to transform them into holiness,
וְאַף שֶׁמַּהוּתָן וְעַצְמוּתָן שֶׁל הַמִּדּוֹת – חֶסֶד גְּבוּרָה תִּפְאֶרֶת כוּ' – לֹא יָכְלוּ לָהֶם הַבֵּינוֹנִים לְהַפְּכָם לִקְדוּשָּׁה,
this is because the evil of kelipah is stronger in the middot than in [ChaBaD:] the intellectual faculties, since on that level (of middot), they [the kelipot] draw more vitality from holiness than they do on the level of ChaBaD, as is known to the students of the Kabbalah.
הַיְינוּ, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁהָרָע חָזָק יוֹתֵר בַּמִּדּוֹת מִבְּחָכְמָה־בִּינָה־דַּעַת, מִפְּנֵי יְנִיקָתָן שָׁם מֵהַקְּדוּשָּׁה יוֹתֵר, כַּיָּדוּעַ לְיוֹדְעֵי חֵן:
The “shattering of the vessels,” which gave rise to the existence of kelipah, occurred primarily in the middot, and it is therefore more difficult to elevate the evil of middot. The evil of ChaBaD, however, can be transformed to good through intensive Torah study.
Thus, we have two reasons for the superiority of the mitzvah of Torah study: (a) it is practiced with the innermost soul garment—thought; (b) it transforms the actual soul faculties of ChaBaD themselves to holiness.
Aside from this, there is another, far more important, aspect to the superiority of Torah study over all other mitzvot,
זֹאת, וְעוֹד אַחֶרֶת, וְהִיא הָעוֹלָה עַל כּוּלָּנָה, בְּמַעֲלַת עֵסֶק תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה עַל כָּל הַמִצְוֹת,
based on the statement quoted above (ch. 23) from Tikkunei Zohar that “the 248 positive commandments are the 248 ‘limbs’ of the King (G‑d).”
עַל פִּי מַה שֶּׁנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל בְּשֵׁם הַתִּיקּוּנִים, דְּרַמַ"ח פִּיקּוּדִין הֵן רַמַ"ח אֵבָרִין דְּמַלְכָּא,
Just as a limb of the human body is a receptacle for a corresponding soul faculty, so is each mitzvah a receptacle for a corresponding expression of the Divine will.
Concerning Torah, however, it is written in Tikkunei Zohar: “Torah and the Holy One, blessed be He, are entirely one” (unlike mitzvot, which are merely “limbs”). The Alter Rebbe now elucidates the difference:
Just as, for example, in the case of a human being, the vitality in his 248 organs bears no comparison or similarity to the vitality in his brain—i.e., the intellect, which is divided into the three faculties of chochmah, binah, and daat—
וּכְמוֹ בָּאָדָם הַתַּחְתּוֹן, דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל, אֵין עֵרֶךְ וְדִמְיוֹן כְּלָל בֵּין הַחַיּוּת שֶׁבְּרַמַ"ח אֵיבָרָיו לְגַבֵּי הַחַיּוּת שֶׁבַּמּוֹחִין, שֶׁהוּא הַשֵּׂכֶל הַמִּתְחַלֵּק לְג' בְּחִינוֹת: חָכְמָה־בִּינָה־דַּעַת –
Every limb of the body is of course bound to the soul which provides it with life—yet, they are two separate entities which have been joined together. It is otherwise, however, in the relationship between one’s intellect and his soul. The intellect is an extension and a part of the soul itself: thus, its unity with the soul is not that of two separate entities which have been joined but of two components of a whole.
This difference between the limbs and the intellect illustrates the difference between the other mitzvot and Torah study, as the Alter Rebbe continues:
Just as it is in the case of a human being, so, too, by way of analogy—allowing for the qualification that any comparison between human and divine traits must be distant, however, by myriads of degrees—
כָּכָה מַמָּשׁ דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל, לְהַבְדִּיל בְּרִבְבוֹת הַבְדָּלוֹת לְאֵין קֵץ,
is it with regard to the illumination of the Ein Sof-light clothed in mitzvot of action, compared to the illumination of the Ein Sof-light [clothed] in the ChaBaD faculties [of one immersed] in the wisdom of Torah, an illumination commensurate with the level of each man’s intellect and his grasp of Torah. To the extent that his intellect grasps the Torah which he studies, it is united with G‑dliness with a unity comparable to that of one’s intellect with his soul.
בְּהֶאָרַת אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא הַמִּתְלַבְּשׁוֹת בְּמִצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת, לְגַבֵּי הֶאָרַת אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף שֶׁבִּבְחִינַת חָכְמָה־בִּינָה־דַּעַת שֶׁבְּחָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה, אִישׁ אִישׁ כְּפִי שִׂכְלוֹ וְהַשָּׂגָתוֹ.
Herein, then, lies the superiority of Torah study over other mitzvot, even over charity: Torah study effects a much higher level of unity with G‑dliness than do the mitzvot of action.
Although one grasps [Torah] only as it is clothed in physical terms (e.g., the law concerning “Two men who clutch a garment…”15 or “One who trades a cow for a donkey…”16), how, then, can it be said that through study of such laws, one attains this lofty level of unity with G‑dliness?
וְאַף שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַשִּׂיג אֶלָּא בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת,
Yet, the Torah has been likened to “water descending from a high place….” The water on the lower level is exactly the same as it was on the higher level. Similarly, the laws of Torah, although they have “descended” to deal with ordinary physical situations, still consist of G‑d’s will and wisdom. Thus, in studying Torah, one is united with G‑d’s will and wisdom and thereby with G‑d Himself, as explained above (ch. 4).
הֲרֵי הַתּוֹרָה נִמְשְׁלָה לְמַיִם, שֶׁיּוֹרְדִים מִמָּקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ כוּ', כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר לְעֵיל.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding the superior level of unity with G‑dliness attained only by Torah, our Sages have said: “The essential thing is not study but deed.”17
וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה: "לֹא הַמִּדְרָשׁ עִיקָּר אֶלָּא הַמַּעֲשֶׂה",
It is also written: “This day, i.e., during our life in this world, the all-important thing is to do them”18 (the mitzvot). And the Halachah rules that one must interrupt Torah study to perform a mitzvah of action when it cannot be fulfilled by others,
וְ"הַיּוֹם לַעֲשׂוֹתָם" כְּתִיב, וּמְבַטְּלִין תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה לְקִיּוּם מִצְוָה מַעֲשִׂיית כְּשֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים,
for “this (the active performance of mitzvot) is man’s entire purpose,”19 the purpose for which he was created and for which [his soul] descended to this world,
מִשּׁוּם, "כִּי זֶה כָּל הָאָדָם" וְתַכְלִית בְּרִיאָתוֹ וִירִידָתוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה,
so that G‑d may have an abode precisely in the lowest realms, to turn the darkness of this world into light of holiness,
לִהְיוֹת לוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ דִּירָה בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים דַּוְקָא, לְאַהֲפָכָא חֲשׁוֹכָא לִנְהוֹרָא,
so that G‑d’s glory fill specifically the entire physical world, and “all flesh will behold [G‑dliness] together,” as was discussed above (ch. 36).
"וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹד ה' אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ" הַגַּשְׁמִית דַּיְיקָא, "וְרָאוּ כָל בָּשָׂר יַחְדָּיו", כַּנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל.
Thus, the goal of making this world an abode for G‑d is achieved primarily through mitzvot of action. Therefore, when presented with the opportunity of performing a mitzvah that others cannot fulfill, one must fulfill this mitzvah even at the cost of interrupting his Torah studies so that G‑d’s desire for “an abode in the lower realms” be realized.
If, however, the mitzvah that clashes with one’s Torah study can be fulfilled by others, the choice is no longer between respecting or ignoring G‑d’s desire for “an abode…,” whether he suspends his Torah study to perform the mitzvah or continues his studies and leaves the mitzvah to others, this objective will be realized regardless. The choice is now between studying Torah and actively performing a mitzvah, and here, Torah study prevails because of the superior level of unity that it effects between the Torah student’s soul and G‑d.
In the Alter Rebbe’s words:
On the other hand, if [the mitzvah] can be performed by others, one does not interrupt Torah study to perform it, even though the whole Torah is, after all, only an explanation of the mitzvot of action.
מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן כְּשֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים – אֵין מְבַטְּלִין תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה, אַף שֶׁכָּל הַתּוֹרָה אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא פֵּירוּשׁ הַמִּצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת,
This is because the Torah is the level of ChaBaD of the blessed Ein Sof, and hence, when one is engaged in [studying] it, he draws upon himself an infinitely greater illumination of the blessed Ein Sof-light—greater both in its illuminative power and in its higher quality—than the illumination and influence that one draws upon his soul through mitzvot, which are [merely] “organs” of the King.
וְהַיְינוּ, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת חָכְמָה־בִּינָה־דַּעַת שֶׁל אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, וּבְעָסְקוֹ בָּהּ – מַמְשִׁיךְ עָלָיו אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא בְּיֶתֶר שְׂאֵת וְהֶאָרָה גְדוֹלָה לְאֵין קֵץ מֵהֶאָרָה וְהַמְשָׁכָה עַל יְדֵי פִּקּוּדִין, שֶׁהֵן אֵבָרִין דְּמַלְכָּא.
What emerges from this discussion is that the effect of mitzvot consists primarily of the elevation of one’s body and the physical world in general; the effect of Torah study, on the other hand, is to unite the soul with G‑d. Accordingly, the Alter Rebbe explains the following Talmudic statement:
This is what Rav Sheshet meant when he said, “Rejoice, my soul! For you do I study Scripture; for you do I study Mishnah,”20
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: "חֲדָאִי נַפְשָׁאִי, לָךְ קָרָאִי לָךְ תָּנָאִי",
For the soul, the unity with G‑d attained through Torah (Scripture and Mishnah) is greater than that attained through mitzvot; he therefore addressed these words to it: “For your sake I learn….”
as is explained elsewhere at length.21
כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר בַּאֲרִיכוּת:
Until here, the Alter Rebbe has discussed the superiority of Torah study over other mitzvot in terms of its greater influence on the soul. He now begins to describe a far greater quality found in Torah study. Of all the mitzvot, only Torah study is described as “calling to G‑d, as one calls to his friend, and as a son calls his father,” as the Alter Rebbe will state shortly. Whereas mitzvot have the effect of drawing the light of G‑d (i.e., of His will) upon the soul, Torah study “calls” G‑d’s essence to man as is implied in the analogy of one who calls to his friend: the friend will turn with his entire “essence” to face his caller.
Furthermore: As a means of “calling” G‑d, Torah study is superior even to prayer. For this reason, in the verse, “G‑d is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him in truth,” the first part of the verse refers to prayer and the latter to Torah.
The difference between the two forms of “calling G‑d” is that prayer effects a change in material matters: healing, prosperity, etc., whereas the effect of Torah is in the soul, on the spiritual plane.
In the Alter Rebbe’s words:
This influence and illumination generated by one’s Torah study, which man draws from the radiance of the Ein Sof-light upon his soul and upon the souls of all Israel,
וְהִנֵּה, הַמְשָׁכָה וְהֶאָרָה זוֹ שֶׁהָאָדָם מַמְשִׁיךְ וּמֵאִיר מֵהֶאָרַת אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא עַל נַפְשׁוֹ, וְעַל נַפְשׁוֹת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל,
(meaning, as will be explained later, that the light is drawn into the spiritual level known as “the Shechinah, Knesset Yisrael”—the source of all the souls of Israel—and thereby, the Ein Sof light reaches not only the soul of the person studying Torah but also that of every Jew)—
הִיא הַשְּׁכִינָה, כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, מְקוֹר כָּל נִשְׁמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר לְקַמָּן,
This illumination which one draws through his Torah study is referred to as “calling” [as in the Talmudic expression] (concerning a Torah student) קוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה (usually translated as “one who reads (studies) the Torah” but reinterpreted here as “one who calls [G‑d] through the Torah”).
עַל יְדֵי עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה – נִקְרֵאת בִּלְשׁוֹן "קְרִיאָה" –
Just as calling in its usual sense means that the caller causes the person being called to come to him, to turn to him with his entire being, similarly in the context of “calling through Torah”:
This [phrase] means that in Torah study, one calls G‑d to come to him, so to speak,
"קוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה", פֵּירוּשׁ, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה קוֹרֵא לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא לָבוֹא אֵלָיו, כִּבְיָכוֹל,
as a man calls to his friend to come to him or as a child will call his father to come and join him and not to part from him, leaving him alone, G‑d forbid.
כְּאָדָם הַקּוֹרֵא לַחֲבֵירוֹ שֶׁיָּבֹא אֵלָיו, וּכְבֵן קָטָן הַקּוֹרֵא לְאָבִיו לָבֹא אֵלָיו לִהְיוֹת עִמּוֹ בְּצַוְותָּא חֲדָא, וְלֹא לִיפָּרֵד מִמֶּנּוּ וְלִישָּׁאֵר יְחִידִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
The former analogy pertains to those Jews designated as “brethren and friends” of G‑d; when they study Torah, they call their “friend.” The latter analogy pertains to those designated “children of G‑d”; when they study Torah, they are calling their “father.”
This is the meaning of the verse: “G‑d is near (a)22 to all who call Him, (b) to all who call Him in truth,”23 and “There is no truth but Torah,”24 indicating that [one “calls G‑d with truth”] as opposed to simply “calling G‑d,” only by calling G‑d through Torah study,
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב: "קָרוֹב ה' לְכָל קוֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאוּהוּ בֶאֱמֶת" – "וְאֵין אֱמֶת אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה", דְּהַיְינוּ, שֶׁקּוֹרֵא לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא עַל יְדֵי הַתּוֹרָה דַּוְקָא,
in contrast to one who does not call Him through Torah study but merely cries: “Father, Father!”
לְאַפּוּקֵי – מִי שֶׁקּוֹרֵא אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא עַל יְדֵי עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה, אֶלָּא צוֹעֵק כָּךְ: אַבָּא! אַבָּא!
This refers to the service of prayer, in which one calls G‑d out of love for Him, saying “Father…!” Such a call is not considered “calling with truth,” and thus, the illumination of G‑dly light generated by this call cannot compare with that generated by Torah, as explained above.
Over he who thus calls G‑d the prophet laments: “There is none who calls by Your Name,”25 as explained elsewhere.
וּכְמוֹ שֶׁקּוֹבֵל עָלָיו הַנָּבִיא: "וְאֵין קוֹרֵא בְשִׁמְךָ כוּ'", וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר.
Since he does not say simply: “There is none who calls You,” his intention must be that although there are indeed those who “call” G‑d, yet they do not do so “by His Name,” meaning through Torah, “whose words throughout are the Names of G‑d” (Ramban, Introduction to his commentary on the Torah, based on the Zohar).
By dwelling on this matter, the intelligent person will derive means of drawing upon himself a great awe [of G‑d] when he engages in Torah study, as explained above (in ch. 23).26
וּמִזֶּה יִתְבּוֹנֵן הַמַּשְׂכִּיל, לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלָיו יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה בִּשְׁעַת עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר לְעֵיל [פֶּרֶק כ"ג]:
There it is stated that one’s Torah study must be permeated with awe of G‑d (despite the apparent incompatibility between the intellectual boldness that characterizes study and the constraint engendered by awe); this awe, moreover, is the goal of Torah study, while study is merely the “gateway.”
The thought that in Torah study, one “calls” G‑d to himself, just as, for example, one calls his friend to come to him, will surely arouse in the student a feeling of intense awe of G‑d.
See Shabbat 108a.
Berachot 20b
Bava Metzia 90b
Psalms 35:10.
Eruvin 54a.
The Rebbe asks the following question: We are speaking here of the vital soul’s energy, which is clothed in the letters of Torah study, prayer, and the performance of divine commandments. This energy comes from the person’s food and drink, which is under the dominion of kelipat nogah. And it is through the vitalizing soul that the life-force of kelipat nogah is transformed and absorbed into holiness. Moreover, the Alter Rebbe is now about to explain more specifically how the vitalizing soul (and through it the general vitality of this world) is united with G‑d’s will and infinite light through the performance of both the positive and prohibitive commands of the Torah. This being so, why does the Alter Rebbe interpolate the phrase, “When the whole neshamah, the divine soul in all of Israel,” when we are in reality speaking of the vitalizing soul? The Rebbe says that the answer may possibly lie in the fact that a certain number of the 613 commandments are carried out through a person’s thought processes. The effect of the vitalizing soul, however, is felt mostly in those matters that relate to speech and action inasmuch as the vitalizing soul is bound up with the corporeal limbs and organs. These are utilized for those commandments that are performed through action or speech. Conversely, the commandments performed through the person’s thought are for the most part carried out by the divine soul without the intermediacy of the vitalizing soul. The term “divine soul” is therefore used here, for the ultimate source of power that enables a person to perform all the commandments is the divine soul.
Zechariah 13.2.
Numbers 14:21.
Deuteronomy 4:35.
The Rebbe explains how “the mystery of ‘the exile of the Shechinah’” relates to the subject at hand. On the surface, the soul’s descent into this world, and its concomitant suffering, is truly inexplicable. The soul is an entity which is truly a part of G‑d Above, emanating, as it does, from supernal wisdom, which is wholly at one with G‑d Himself. That such a holy being should descend into this world merely to rectify the vitalizing soul and the body, whose source is in kelipat nogah, strains the bounds of credulity. For even after the divine soul completely rectifies them—as in the divine service of a consummate tzaddik—the body is still unable to harbor the same love of G‑d which the soul felt prior to its descent. Why, then, did the soul descend into this world? The Alter Rebbe addresses this question, writes the Rebbe, by stating that the soul’s descent parallels exactly the mystery of the exile of the Shechinah, whose purpose is to refine the sparks of holiness which fell into the kelipot. We shall soon learn that the Shechinah is the source of the divine soul. Furthermore, all things found within this world were created from the sparks of holiness, including the body and the vitalizing soul. Hence the parallel. The soul, whose source is the Shechinah, descends into this world to refine the body and vitalizing soul, whose source is the holy sparks. And just as the exile of the Shechinah is deemed a mystery, for its descent defies logic, so, too, is the soul’s descent into the body and vitalizing soul a mystery: it defies mortal reason.
Bava Batra 9a.
Ibid. 10a.
Peah 1:1.
Mishnah, Bava Metzia 1:1.
Ibid. 8:4.
Avot 1:17.
Deuteronomy 7:11.
Pesachim 68b.
The Rebbe notes: “Possibly this alludes to the discourse in Torah Or, beginning of Parashat Mishpatim.”
The division into (a) and (b) is by the Rebbe, who notes that this accords with the explanation given in Sanhedrin 39b and in the Siddur [with Chasidic commentary] on this verse.
Psalms 145:18.
Jerusalem Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 3:8. Cf. Berachot 5b.
Isaiah 64:6.
Note by the Rebbe: Why does the Alter Rebbe refer the reader back to ch. 23, when arousal of great reverence is achieved only by meditating on this chapter and not ch. 23? Here, the Alter Rebbe emphasizes that through Torah study, one can elicit G‑d Himself, as it were, like a person calling his friend to come to him. In ch. 23, however, we find only that Torah study enables one to elicit supernal will and light; it mentions nothing of eliciting G‑d Himself. Why, then, does the Alter Rebbe connect ch. 23 to the present discussion? We must therefore say that the Alter Rebbe meant to emphasize that great reverence is indispensable during Torah study. Since fear is an emotion that leads to withdrawal and contraction, it would seem to be inimical to Torah study, which requires openness and expansiveness. The Alter Rebbe therefore cites ch. 23, wherein he explained that great reverence must be felt during one’s study of Torah. Furthermore, the Alter Rebbe indicates that one should ponder the statement there that Torah study is “secondary” to reverence and serves to arouse it. This is the meaning of the verse, “And G‑d commanded us [to obey] all these statutes in order to fear G‑d….” This, explains the Alter Rebbe at the end of ch. 23, implies that (a) the ultimate purpose of the Torah—“commanded us”—is “in order to fear G‑d;” (b) that the Torah is called “a gateway to the dwelling” of fear. Thus, the Torah in relation to fear is a matter of secondary importance, a mere gateway to the house itself. This is discussed in ch. 23, and is what the Alter Rebbe intended to convey with the reference.
In the previous chapter, the Alter Rebbe explained that the statement of the Sages that “G‑d desired an abode in the lower realms” refers to our physical world. This is the lowest of worlds in terms of the degree of revelation of the divine creative power: it is hidden in this world as it is in no other world. G‑d desired precisely this world, pervaded as it is with “doubled and redoubled darkness,” as His “abode,” where His presence would ultimately be revealed to a greater degree than it is revealed in the higher worlds without any concealing “garments” whatsoever.
This will come to pass in the Messianic era, the period for which the world was originally created, when G‑dliness will be manifest throughout the world so that all the nations on earth will experience divine revelation.