Saturday, November 05, 2005

LESSONS IN TANYA: Sunday, November 6, 2005

B"H

Cheshvan 4, 5766 * November 6, 2005

===============================
L E S S O N S I N T A N Y A
===============================

Today's Lesson:

Iggeret HaKodesh
Epistle Twenty-Six
-------------------

[The letters that comprise Iggeret HaKodesh were written over many years and assembled in their present order by the sons of the Alter Rebbe after his passing, as they explain in their introduction ("Approbation") to Tanya (Vol. I, p. 19ff., in the present series).

It is clear from internal evidence, as the Rebbe notes, that they were not arranged chronologically.

Epistle XX, for example, was written just before the Alter Rebbe's passing in the year 5573 (1812), while Epistle XXVII was written after the passing of R. Mendel of Horodok, about the year 5549 (1789).

Instead, the Rebbe suggests, one can sometimes seek thematic connections to explain the sequence of letters.

The present letter, for example, manifests the following connection with Epistle XXV, the preceding one:

After the previous letter discussed how the Shechinah can sometimes be vested in kelipot, the present letter explains that this state of exile brings the Torah, too, to a state of concealment, as kelipot obscure its radiance. It is the task of the Jew to remove this concealment by toiling in the study of the Torah.

The above form of divine service in Torah study supplements another form - separating good from evil, the permitted from the prohibited, and the kasher from the pasul.

For the Torah, too, is vested within good and evil, and it is the task of the Jew studying Torah to separate and purify the positive element from each of these dual compounds, and to elevate it to the holy "side" of the universe.

Accordingly, the Alter Rebbe begins the present letter by explaining a statement of Ra'aya Mehemna in the Zohar, which can give the mistaken impression that the revealed portion of Torah stems from the Tree of Good and Evil, while the esoteric portion of Torah, which in the main will be revealed in the Time to Come (with the arrival of Mashiach), derives from the Tree of Life.[1]

The Alter Rebbe explains how this is truly not so, for the entire Torah is called the Tree of Life.

The intent of Ra'aya Mehemna is that the revealed portion of Torah descended and was vested within good and evil, and hence speaks of kasher and pasul, permitted and prohibited, and the like.

With the study of Torah, a Jew separates the good from the evil, and elevates it.]

On the verse, [2] "And the wise shall shine like the radiance of the firmament," Ra'aya Mehemna on Parshat Nasso [3] comments:

"With this work of yours, [i.e., of R. Shimon bar Yochai], which is the Book of the Zohar [lit., `the Book of Radiance'] from the radiance of Imma Ila'ah, which is teshuvah, - with those [who study this work] no trial is needed.

[Imma Ila'ah (lit., "the Supernal Mother") is another name for the Sefirah of Binah in the World of Atzilut. This Sefirah relates to teshuvah ila'ah, the higher level of repentance, as explained at the end of ch. 8 of Iggeret HaTeshuvah, [4] quoting the Zohar and Tikkunim.

The Zohar previously states that at the time of the final Redemption the Jewish people will be put to the test; those who belong to the "good side" of the universe will withstand it, while those who belong to the "side of evil" will not.

As it is written, [5] "Many will be refined and bleached and chastened, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand."

The Zohar then states (as above) that those who study the Tree of Life, the Zohar, which is "from the side of Binah" (lit., "understanding", alluding to the perception of the mystical essence of the Torah), will not be put to the test.]

Because eventually the Jewish people will taste of the Tree of Life, which is this Book of the Zohar, they will go out of exile with it, in mercy.

For them shall be fulfilled the verse, [6] `G-d alone will lead them, and there is no strange god with Him.'

[In seeking their Redemption they will not have to resort to the favors of the gentile nations, whose patron angels are known as "strange gods." Rather, G-d Himself will lead them out of exile and redeem them.]

And the Tree of [Knowledge of] Good and Evil, i.e., prohibition and permission, impurity and purity, will no longer dominate Israel.

For their sustenance will derive only from the side of the Tree of Life, where there is no problematic query, which emanates from the side of evil, and no contro-versy, which emanates from the spirit of impurity; as it is written, [7] `And the spirit of impurity I shall remove from the earth.'

Thus, the Torah scholars will not be sustained by illiterate people, but from the side of the good, who eat that which is pure, kosher and permitted; nor [will they be sustained] by the mixed multitude, who eat that which is impure, ritually unfit, and prohibited."

[The Zohar continues]: "While the Tree of Good and Evil dominates [the world],... these Sages, who are likened to the Sabbaths and festivals, [8] have nothing except what is given to them by those who are called `unsanctified ones,' just like the Sabbath day, which only has what has been prepared for it on a weekday.

However, when the Tree of Life will dominate, the Tree of Good and Evil will be suppressed, and the illiterate people will only have what the Torah scholars give them.

They will be subjugated to them, as if they did not exist in the world.

Accordingly, the prohibited and the permitted, the impure and the pure, will not be removed from the illiterate people.

As regards them, there will be no difference between the era of exile and the days of Mashiach, except for [the Jewish people's release from] servitude to the nations. [9]

For they will not have tasted of the Tree of Life, and will require the Mishnayot [which set out the laws] of prohibition and permission, impurity and purity."

Here ends the quotation from Ra'aya Mehemna.

Footnotes:

1. These Kabbalistic terms are borrowed from Bereishit 2:9.
2. Daniel 12:3.
3. Zohar III, 124b.
4. Vol. III, p. 1089, in the present work.
5. Daniel 12:10.
6. Devarim 32:12.
7. Zechariah 13:2.
8. Zohar III, 29a, b.
9. Cf. Berachot 34b.

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DAILY MITZVAH (Maimonides): Sunday, November 6, 2005

B"H

Cheshvan 4, 5766 * November 6, 2005

==================================================
D A I L Y M I T Z V A H (M A I M O N I D E S )
==================================================

Today's Mitzvot (Day 65 of 339):

Positive Mitzvah 153
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Positive Mitzvah 153: The New Moon - Calculating the Months and Years

-Exodus 12:2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months"

Have you noticed how the moon changes its shape throughout the
month?

At times, it shines brightly like a cream-colored ball.

Other times, we can compare it to a slice of honeydew. On some
nights, it looks like a split banana! Sometimes, you can't see
it at all!

While in bed watching the moon, take a peek through your window,
shut your eyes for a moment and imagine a scene taking place many
years ago in Eretz Yisrael.

In the Great Beit-Din, the chief Rabbi sits in his honored place,
greeting the Jew who just arrived in the court.

"I saw the moon last night, Rabbi, and I believe it is the beginning
of a new month," reports the Jew.

The Rabbi motions to a chart with many different moon shapes hanging
on the wall. "Is this the shape you saw?" asks the Rabbi, pointing
to a particular shape.

The man who witnessed the moon would be questioned until the judges
were satisfied. When the judges heard proper testimony from at
least two witnesses, they would declare that a new month had arrived.

Determining the new month is very important to the Jewish calendar.

HaShem commands us to celebrate specific holidays in their set seasons
and on particular dates. In order to fulfill these commandments, we
must know when a new month begins and count the days accordingly.

This way, we will be assured of celebrating the holiday on the
correct date.

The Great Beit-Din (Sanhedrin) in Eretz Yisrael is commanded to
determine and calculate the counting of the months.

The Rabbis knew when the moon would first begin to shine again. They
informed the people to be alert and immediately report their findings.

Proper eye-witness testimony would serve as proof of the new month's
arrival. Afterwards, news of the new moon would be spread promptly
enabling all Jews to count the days of the month in a unified manner.

In this way, the Jewish calendar was set and followed.

In addition, HaShem commanded that the holidays of Pesach and Sukkot
be celebrated in the spring and fall.

The Jewish calendar is a "Lunar Calendar" which means that it follows
the phases of the moon. However, the seasons change according to the
sun's yearly cycle.

There is an eleven and a quarter day difference between the cycle
of the sun and the twelve lunar months.

Because of this, we might reach the proper Hebrew date for Passover,
but the spring season will not yet have arrived!

There is a way to overcome this problem.

If such a situation arises, the Rabbis would foresee it and the Beit-
Din would declare a leap-year.

The last month of the Hebrew calendar - Adar, would be doubled,
(First-Adar and Second-Adar) and Pesach would then arrive in the
spring time!

The Torah commands the Beit-Din to calculate the months and declare
the necessary leap years. The manner in which it was done, as
described above, applies only to the time of the Great Beit-Din in
Eretz Yisrael.

Today, we follow the Jewish calendar which was established by Rabbi
Hillel HaNasi, a descendant of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.

He calculated the precise arrivals of the new moon and the years
which would be considered leap years.

We rely on this calendar until the arrival of Mashiach, when we
will return to the original method of the eye-witness report.

* * *

PLEASE NOTE: The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily
study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are
instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively
while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth
track.

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"TODAY'S DAY": Sunday, November 6, 2005

B"H

Cheshvan 4, 5766 * November 6, 2005

=======================
"T O D A Y ' S D A Y"
=======================

Tuesday, Cheshvan 4 5704

Torah lessons: Chumash: Lech L'cha, Shlishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 23-28.
Tanya: XXVI. In R'aya (p. 549)... R'aya Mehemna.
(p. 551).

Torah-study every day is crucial to life itself.

This applies not only to the soul of the one studying but also to the souls of his family.

For then (through Torah-study), the atmosphere of the home becomes an atmosphere of Torah and piety.

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Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe. Note: day of week and Torah lessons indicated are from 5703 (1943).

For a glossary of terms used in "Today's Day" please click here:
http://chabad.org/article.asp?AID=95867

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TODAY IN JUDAISM: Sunday, November 6, 2005

B"H

Cheshvan 4, 5766 * November 6, 2005

=================================
T O D A Y I N J U D A I S M
=================================

* Laws * Customs * Jewish History * Daily Quote * Daily Study *

Today is: Sunday, Cheshvan 4, 5766

===========
Daily Quote
===========

My rainbow I have placed in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Myself and the earth

- Genesis 9:13

===========
Daily Study
===========

Chitas and Rambam for today:

Chumash: Lech-Lecha, 1st Portion Bereishit 12:1-12:13 with Rashi
• English Text:
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/rashi/default.asp?tDate=11/6/2005&src=ds

Tehillim: Chapters 23 - 28
• Hebrew text:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/tehillim.asp?tDate=11/6/2005&Lang=HEB
• English text:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/tehillim.asp?tDate=11/6/2005

Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 26
• Lesson in Tanya:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tDate=11/6/2005
• RealAudio:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/audio.asp?what=tanya&tDate=11/6/2005&format=rm
• Windows Media:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/audio.asp?what=tanya&tDate=11/6/2005&format=m3u

Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/seferHamitzvos.asp?tDate=11/6/2005
• 1 Chapter: Genevah Chap. 5
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/rambam.asp?tDate=11/6/2005&rambamChapters=1
• 3 Chapters: Kiddush haChodesh Chap. 15, 16, 17
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/rambam.asp?tDate=11/6/2005&rambamChapters=3

Hayom Yom:
• English Text:
http://www.chabad.org/dailystudy/hayomyom.asp?tDate=11/6/2005

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