B"H
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*PLEASE NOTE*:
Due to Shabbat observance, the Shabbat edition of Lessons In Tanya is sent on Friday. Shabbat Shalom!
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Tishrei 19, 5766 * October 22, 2005
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L E S S O N S I N T A N Y A
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Today's Lesson:
Iggeret HaKodesh
(Middle of Epistle Twenty-Three)
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Indwelling, however, [i.e., that degree of indwelling of which it is written that "the Shechinah dwells among them]," is an intense radiation from the light of G-d, that radiates in it - [within the soul itself, and not within its inherently limited faculties] - without limit or end.
It cannot become vested [i.e., integrated and internalized] within a finite soul, but encompasses it from above, [like a transcendent (makkif) light], "[from its head to its foot]," so that all the levels and faculties of the soul, from the highest to th e lowest, are surrounded by this infinite Divine light.
As our Sages, of blessed memory, taught, (5) "The Shechinah hovers over every gathering of ten Jews" - over them, from above.
[Just as the Shechinah hovers over all Jews in an encompassing manner even when they are not studying Torah, so, too, even with regard to the indwelling of the Shechinah that is brought about by congregational Torah study: this illumination of the soul, being infinite, must be primarily transcendent].
Thus it is written, (28) "May the pleasantness of the L-rd our G-d be upon us; establish upon us the work of our hands"; i.e., [we ask] that the pleasantness of G-d which has appeared through the work of our hands, in [our] involvement in the Torah and the commandments (29) for (30) "the Torah and the Holy One, blessed be He, are entirely one" become established and rest upon us from above, [in an encompassing manner], for it is without limit and end, and does not become vested within our [finite] soul and intellect.
This is why we do not apprehend with our intellect the delightfulness and sweetness of "the pleasantness of G-d," and the unlimited splendor of the Shechinah, that is established and rests upon us through the work of our hands, in [our] joint study of the Torah and [our] joint fulfillment of the commandments.
[An infinite order of illumination is elicited only by collective Torah study and performance of mitzvot].
And of this our Sages, of blessed memory, said, (27) "In this world there is no reward for the [performance of the] commandments."
[Since this world is finite, it cannot be a receptor for the infinite revelation of Divine radiance that is called forth by the performance of the mitzvot].
For it is impossible for the world to attain it [i.e., the reward of infinite light] except when the soul is divested from the body [and unencumbered by it]; and even then, [the soul is able to receive this light only] by way of grace; as it is written, (31) "Kindness, O G-d, is Yours, for You render to every man according to his work." (32)
[I.e., granting every man an infinite degree of illumination according to his work in Torah and mitzvot is an act of kindness on G-d's part].
Thus our Sages, of blessed memory, taught (33) that the Holy One, blessed be He, gives the righteous the capacity [to receive their reward in the World to Come.
Even then this gift is needed, for even after the soul divests itself of its body it is finite, while the reward that it receives is infinite].
This is not so, however, with the angels, (34) [which are incapable of receiving an infinite degree of revelation]; as I heard from my masters, [viz., the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch], that if one (35) angel (36) were to stand in the presence of a gathering of ten Jews, even if there were no words of Torah between them, [yet still, since the Shechinah rests up on every gathering of ten Jews], such a boundless and infinite terror and dread would then befall him on account of the Shechinah that abides over them, that he would become utterly nullified.
[The sanctity of ten Jews congregating together, even if they are not engaged in Torah study, is so intense, than an angel would become utterly nullified when confronting the indwelling of the Shechinah that abides in the presence of ten Jews. (37)
In Sefer HaSichot 5704, (38) the Rebbe Rayatz relates that when his father taught him this letter for the second time, and they came to the above theme of the superiority of souls over angels, he noted that "As I heard from my masters" refers to both the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch; the phrase "I heard from my teacher" (in the gloss to chapter 35) refers to the Maggid of Mezritch.
The Rebbe Rashab went on to tell him that this theme is one of the laws that are studied in Gan Eden.
Then, having shared with him eight narratives regarding the laws studied in Gan Eden, he concluded: "And all this is discussed in Tanya in order to [encourage] the establishment of daily study groups in Ein Yaakov, concerning which the Alter Rebbe states that most of the secrets of the Torah are concealed in it, and that moreover it atones for man's sins.
At that time, too, the Rebbe Rayatz writes, (39) his father told him that chassidim of old used to include as part of their indispensable daily study sessions - in addition to Mishnayot, a page of Gemara, and Tanya - a passage of Ein Yaakov, and at least one law (of two paragraphs) in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. (40) If a paragraph was long, it was studied as one law, though usually one law is divided there into two paragraphs.
Footnotes:
28. Tehillim 90:17.
29. Note of the Rebbe: "The interpretation that the `work of
our hands' refers to the `study of the Torah' and the `fulfillment
of the commandments,' requires further examination."
30. Zohar II, 90b; see also II, 60a, and III, 73a.
31. Tehillim 62:13.
32. Note of the Rebbe: "Seemingly, where is the kindness if He
pays the individual according to his work? This question indicates
that G-d's kindness lies in His enabling a [finite] mortal to
receive [the infinite reward]."
33. Sanhedrin 100b.
34. Note of the Rebbe: "...for they were not granted this
capacity."
35. Note of the Rebbe: "Further examination is required to
understand the meaning [of `one angel']."
36. Note of the Rebbe: "This requires further examination, for
angels elevate even congregational prayers. [How, then, is this
possible if they become utterly nullified in the presence of ten
Jews?]"
37. Note of the Rebbe: "We must say that the reason why the ten
Jews themselves do not become nullified, etc., nor terrorstricken,
etc., is that [the Divine Presence] is not perceived even by their
mazal. [I.e., it is not perceived even superconsciously, by the
heavenly root of their souls.] (For if it were perceived, they
would no doubt be in a state of trepidation, as in our Sages'
description [Megillah 3a] of Daniel's friends.) Indeed, this
[state of unawareness] must exist, for withou t it free choice
would cease, as is to be understood from the disposition of
Daniel's friends.
"As to the benefit of the indwelling of the Shechinah: [i.e., if
this is totally concealed from the Jew, what possible benefit does
he derive from it?] - It grants him assistance, though concealed,
in his spiritual service."
38. Pp. 97-98.
39. P. 101.
40. Note of the Rebbe: "This is most likely a typographical
slip, for
(1) even in later generations the study of Kitzur Shulchan
Aruch was not widespread in Russia;
(2) most paragraphs contain one law each;
(3) it was first printed during the last years of the Tzemach
Tzedek, outside of Russia;
(4) the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch was published early in the
leadership of the Mitteler Rebbe, and from that time onward
regular sessions were surely set up for the study of its
clearly delineated laws. What possible reason would there
be to change this and replace it [by the study of Kitzur
Shulchan Aruch]?"
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