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* * *
IV. Serving for HaShem's sake
4. 'Make for yourself two
silver trumpets...' (Bamidbar 10.2)
It is certain that each Jewish person should see to it that his service
to HaShem should be for His Name's sake, and he should have no
extraneous thoughts or self serving desires. It should be done for
HaShem alone, to fulfil His will.
The truth is that if a person will consider that he is only half a form.
[See above teaching.] A small portion from the source of life. How is it
possible for him to do anything with a self-serving motive?
This is like the limbs of ones body. It is not possible to say that one
of the limbs does something for itself, and not because of [the desire]
of the heart, which is the source of the strength in all the limbs. The
same thing is with the person. If he realizes that he is only half a
form. A small spark from the source of life. How is it possible for him
to do anything for a self-serving motive? He is only a spark from the
life, and HaShem is the source of life.
This is the meaning
of the verse:
'Make for yourself.' You
should see to it that you rectify that level of 'yourself.' Which refers
to those things that are for your own good and your own desires. The
meaning being that there should not be mixed with your kavonos* while
serving HaShem any extraneous thoughts for your own good, or to fulfil
your own desires. It should be done
for HaShem alone.
How are you able to rectify this level of 'yourself'? 'Two trumpets.'
You should know and understand that you are on the level of half a form
[as explained in the previous teaching.] You contain a portion of G-d
above. (p. 263 sefer Imrei Elimeilech teachings of Rebbe Elimeilech of
Grodzisk a grandson of the Koznitzer Maggid.)
* * *
V. Serving with fear
5. 'When the Ark would
journey, Moshe said, "Arise HaShem And let your foes be scattered"' (Bamidbar
10.35)
Rashi explains that the Talmud says that the Torah* makes signs before
[this verse] and after [this verse.] They indicate that this is not the
proper place for this verse. We need to understand why the signs are
specifically [the Hebrew letter] 'nun'. And also why this letter is
reversed. Also, what is the meaning of the explanation of Rashi [on the
words 'Arise HaShem'] "because [the ark] went before them [for three
days] Moshe said, 'stand' and don't go further." We also need to
understand the idea of 'And let your foes be scattered.'
We say [in the prayer before the blessing of the kohanim] 'May it be
pleasant before you... and there we will serve You with fear.' We need
to understand this [prayer.] It would appear that now in the exile and
[with] the sufferings [that we have,] we are more able to serve with
fear [then after the redemption.] Why does it say that specifically when
HaShem will save us and redeem us from exile, THEN we will serve Him
with fear?
[The answer is that] even though we now have fear because of the many
oppressions and sufferings [in the exile,] it is still difficult to
serve HaShem with fear. [The reason] is that they simply do not let us
live in tranquility. Also our hearts and spirits are broken. On the
other hand when HaShem will save us and we will be redeemed, we
will be able to serve Him with fear.
The person who, even in his suffering, serves HaShem as much as he is
able. Due to his desire, HaShem will help him with his burdens, and
he will then be able to serve Him more. His desire helps him, so that he
turns over [HaShem's] anger to compassion. And this brings upon him help
[from HaShem. The reason for this is that] the Jewish people
bless the name of HaShem in both a revealed and hidden language. As we
say in every blessing, 'Blessed are you HaShem' which is a revealed
language. 'Who has sanctified us' which is a hidden language. [It is
hidden because the prayer doesn't say explicitly who
is sanctifying. While in the first case HaShem is specifically
mentioned.] 'Blessed is He' that we say in the blessing Baruch Sh'omar
is a hidden language. And the 'Blessed are You' [said later in that
prayer] is a revealed language. However the angels bless
only in a hidden language. [They say] 'Holy Holy Holy...' 'Blessed is
the glory of HaShem from His place.' Both of which are in a hidden
language.
The reason for this
[difference] is that 'Israel rises up in His thought' i.e. they are
hidden. They are also revealed, in this world of action. Therefore they
bless HaShem, who is above all understanding, in a hidden language. Also
when he is revealed in
action [they bless Him.]
However the angels are only on one level, on the level that is higher
then revelation. [Therefore the angels] bless him in a hidden
language only.
This is also [the source] of the power of the Jewish people to turn
compassion to anger on the wicked, and from anger to compassion on the
Jewish people. i.e. to make from what is revealed to what is hidden, and
from what is hidden to what is revealed. [Anger from HaShem is really
the withholding of his compassion. His compassion is hidden.] The reason
is that they are both hidden and revealed.
When Moshe went up to receive the Torah [Chazal* teach us] that he
argued with the angels. [In the end] they became friends of his and gave
to him gifts. Had it been that they were forced to agree to have the
Torah given why did they give to him presents? However with the princes
of the nations it is different. They considered the receiving
of the Torah as something that is not good for the Jewish people.
However the angels did not consider it as bad for the Jewish people.
Therefore they had so much love [towards them] that they gave presents.
In fact the argument that they had [with Moshe] was over the greatness
of the Jewish people. [It was with regards to their
being on a level] that they are able to turn anger to compassion, even
for the angels, who ended up giving them gifts.
Let us return to what I said above. 'And then we will serve Him with
fear.' Now, even though we have fear, it is still hard for us to serve
Him with complete fear.
This is the meaning
of the verse:
'When the Ark would
journey...' This is to say that it is not in it's place. Not just this,
but it is a remez for the other place. [Therefore] the Torah makes signs
with the reversed [Heb. hafchios] 'nun.' As the Talmud* says, 'A bent
over [Heb. kafifah] nun [means] forced [Heb. kofif] faith.' This means
when the Jewish people will have all good in this world and they will be
in submission to the service of HaShem. However if they are forced due
to their sufferings, that is the level of a reversed 'nun.' Then the ark
and
the Torah are hidden from Israel.
For this reason Moshe prayed, 'Arise HaShem And let your foes be
scattered and your enemies from before you.' These are the enemies of
the Jewish people. Then the Ark and the Torah are not hidden. The 'nun'
is not reversed. Their service to HaShem is with joy. (p. 53 sefer Aish
Kodesh teachings of Rebbe Kolonymus Kalman HY'D* of
Piasatzna, the son of Rebbe Elimeilech of Grodzisk)
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Glossary:
Bamidbar: Fourth
book of the Torah. Called in English Numbers
Beis HaMikdash: Heb. The Holy Temple
Chazal: Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (Our
sages
of Blessed memory) Used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud
derech: Heb 'way' refers to a path in serving HaShem
HaShem: Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Name
HY'D: Heb. HaShem Yimkom Domov: HaShem should avenge their blood.
Kavanah(Kavanos): Hebrew word for 'intention'.
Maggid: In Europe this was a person who would give sermons on
moral subjects. Many of the first Rebbes was Maggidim (pl. of Maggid).
Midrash: Rabbinical work with homiletic interpretations
mitzvah (mitzvos): One of the commandments of the Torah.
Rashi: The primary commentary on the Tenach.
Rebbe: Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher
remez: A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding hints in
the Torah for various concepts.
Talmud: An ancient work of Jewish law.
Talmud Chocham (Talmidei Chochomim): Hebrew for Talmud sage,
refers to one who is learned in Jewish legal texts.
Torah: a. First 5 books of the Jewish Bible
b. Also refers to
the whole of Jewish law
c. also common
term for a chassidic teaching
Tshuva: Hebrew word for repentance
Tzaddik (Tzaddikim): lit. Righteous. Another name for a Chassidic
Rebbe.
Yetzer: lit. Inclination. It is Jewish belief that every Jew has
both an evil and good inclination within him, that are at 'war' to see
which of them the person will follow.
Yetzer HaRah: Heb. Evil Inclination.
Yetzer Tov: Heb. Good Inclination
Zohar: Hebrew/Aramaic Rabbinical Kabbalistical work that is one
of the most important sources for Kabbalah, and was very influential
with Chasidim
**************************************************************
Copyright (c) 1997 by Moshe Shulman
(mshulman@virtual.co.il)
All rights reserved.
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