Chapter Ten

[The theme of the previous chapter was teshuvah ila'ah and how it finds expression in the "cleaving of spirit to Spirit" - through Torah study, tzedakah and acts of lovingkindness].

This higher level of teshuvah, the cleaving of spirit to Spirit through the study of Torah and the performance of acts of kindness, is a matter of eliciting from Above.

[Neither Torah study nor acts of lovingkindness elevate a person solely as a result of his own initiative and Divine service. Rather, he is aided from Above to reach an infinitely higher level than he would have attained alone].

So that the word of G-d shall actually be in one's mouth, [this too is a Divine gift].

As Scripture states,[1] "I have placed My words in your mouth."

[Torah study thus accomplishes much more than what man could attain on its own. Similarly], [2] "His right hand embraces me," through man's acts of kindness, for [3] "`kindness is the [Supernal] right arm...."

[With every act of lovingkindness one draws down Divine benevolence: one is embraced by a far loftier level of holiness than he could possibly aspire to by dint of his own spiritual service].

But mortal man must ascend from stage to stage towards this higher level of teshuvah and this "cleaving of spirit to Spirit" through the heart's devoted worship, particularly during Shema and its blessings, so that he might in perfect truth say [during the recitation of the Shema], [4] "You shall love [the L-rd your G-d] with all your heart and with all your soul....."

Likewise: [5] "These words [which I command you today] shall be [upon your heart]..... And you shall speak of them....."

[All the above verses speak of the study of Torah]. [6]

The word of G-d must truly be in his mouth, [which is the case when one's mouth serves as a vessel for G-d's word], and [7] "there is no truth [but Torah]." [8]

He must also perform all the mitzvot, as it is written, [9] "He has sanctified us with His commandments."

This [sanctification] has the same sense as in the phrase, [10] "You are sanctified unto me" - [i.e., separate from all others and wholly sanctified unto G-d through the performance of His commandments].

This is the level of Kodesh HaElyon "[Supernal Holiness", which one draws upon himself through the performance of the mitzvot].

"Kodesh" [translated "holiness"] connotes something apart, or transcendent], that cannot be contained within the created worlds, [permeating each of them with Divine life-force commensurate with its particular capacity], since [11] "everything is considered as naught before Him."

[Relative to this transcendent level, the differing levels of spirituality of the various created beings are of no consequence].

Rather, this is a level [of holiness] that transcends [lit., "encompasses"] all worlds, [and hence affects them all equally from afar, so to speak]; this is [the level of] the Supreme Will, and so on, [which is drawn down into this world through the performance of mitzvot], as discussed in [the first part of Tanya], Likutei Amarim, chapter 46.

After prayer as well, we say, [12] "To You, O G-d, I lift my soul," [referring to the initiative of the worshiper below in raising his soul upward to its Source], so that [through the performance of mitzvot] spirit will cleave to Spirit throughout the day.....

All this is brought about through meditation on the grandeur of the Infinite One, concentrating the mind deeply during the two blessings preceding Shema and during [the preparatory hymns of praise known as] pesukei dezimrah, as is known.

[Meditating in this fashion gives birth to a love for G-d, which is translated into the study of the Torah and the performance of mitzvot.

This form of Divine service is teshuvah ila'ah that takes the direction called milmata lemala; it works its way upward from the initiative taken by the enterprising worshiper who elevates himself by his own bootstraps].

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Yeshayahu 51:16.

2. (Back to text) Shir HaShirim 2:6.

3. (Back to text) Introduction to Tikkunei Zohar.

4. (Back to text) Devarim 6:5.

5. (Back to text) Ibid. 6:6-7.

6. (Back to text) Note of the Rebbe Shlita: "`For Scripture speaks [here] of the study of the Torah' (Berachot 13b). See [Tanya,] Part I, end of chapter 49."

7. (Back to text) Tanna devei Eliyahu Zuta, ch. 21.

8. (Back to text) Note of the Rebbe Shlita: "See [Tanya,] conclusion of ch. 37."

9. (Back to text) From the blessing recited before the performance of certain mitzvot.

10. (Back to text) Kiddushin 5b; from the betrothal ceremony.

11. (Back to text) Zohar I, 11b.

12. (Back to text) Tehillim 25:1.