Friday Menachem Av 5 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 29-34.
Tanya: "My sin is (p. 383) ...are passed over. (p. 385).

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.1

The Baal Shem Tov commented: Every physical object whose use is permissible possesses good and evil elements.* The material element is evil, and the G‑dly life-force that gives life to the physical is good. The person utilizing the physical object must "turn from evil" - not desire the physical pleasure which is in its materiality, and "do good," i.e. he should desire to be nourished and supported by the G‑dly vitality in that object. "Seek peace and pursue it": Whoever fulfills "turn from evil and do good" must seek and pursue means for making peace2 between the physical and the G‑dly life-force that vitalizes it.