“There's a Crack in Everything” p: 8

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

“There's a Crack in Everything” p: 8

AyinBase / Ayin Beis with R' Paltiel Wednesday 12 Shvat 5773

Page 8

Lower third of page – (line starts, 'ha-yeshus...') For text, click here.

The shiur answered with a review of the foundation of knowledge/chochmah.

The Rambam explains that the basis of all knowledge is the awareness that 'there is a First Being, who creates everything'.

The wise man says, 'I choose the king'. Even though the king is above the ministers and addressing the man's individual needs. The wise man says there is first and foremost a reality to everything and an intent and hence he wants the king.

We have to relate to the world through our intellect. And the intellect realates to reality as the Rambam describes. Without this the intellect slides and falls to the lowest level, which cancels out the human perspective in life.

G-d made the world in a way that He is concealed. But he left cracks for us to get a glimpse of Him. Life is life, not an interaction of molecules! In our world are things that completely refute the physical/worldly reality...

The sun is a reference point for us to understand light – G-dly light.

Yes, faith/emunah is absolutely the basis of wisdom/sechel. Without this the mind becomes a prisoner to physicality. Your mind is not meant to be enslaved to the physical world. You are made in God's image, so you can rule and translate the world on the basis of your wisdom. Then you fulfill your purpose of being here.

“Due to your mission, I have given you great privileges, this world is about you, not the animals”, says God.

The First Being, does not lend itself to be grasped by sechel/mind. You cannot 'wrap your mind around it'.

He is above being and not being. Creations sense that they are beings that come from not being. He is above this.

We relate to Him and Torah through a direct, 'na-aseh ve nishmah' – we will do and we will understand. We will relate to truth by direct truth – by saying, 'I'm there, I'm in, I'm doing it'.

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The power of the name...

In everything there is how this thing pertains to itself and how it represents itself. This representation is really a secondary element in this presence – that it can be viewed from outside and that it represents itself. There is a deep element - you would think that we can represent ourselves any way we want – this is politics, but this is a perversion. Really there is an essential element in a person to represent himself. This is the power of a name – it is an external thing, but at the same time it touches his essence. A person has a body and soul – the purpose of the soul in the body is not for itself, but to express itself outside...! ~ Shiur Sunday 8.22.2010

Light Power

All that came into being...

...all the created worlds and all the ethereal entities that live in them, even the worlds that are mere emanations without tangible substance, even the worlds of thought and beyond to the realms of infinite light that preceded Creation...

--all this came to be only as a result of the thought of you, the earthly being, struggling in a world that only a infinitesimal glimmer of G-dliness has reached in its purity, bringing light where light could not be.

And so it follows, that with one simple act of beauty, all those worlds and realms of light find their purpose fulfilled, and so shine yet brighter--and reciprocate with a burst of illumination into our lowly world.

That is why the entire creation can be transformed with one simple, sincere deed.

Never underestimate the power of light.

From the wisdom of the Rebbe. Words by Tzvi Freeman

Tools of the trade (Glossary)

(… to be continued and developed…)

· Bechinat – aspect

· Keili – vessel/container

· Ohr – light (pl: Ohrot or Orot)

· Hitlabshut – enclothement

· Kodesh – holy (lit: removed)

· Shaichus - connection

· Madrega – level

· Etzem – essence

· Muvdal – removed/separated

· Koach – power (as in koach reiya – the power of sight. Pl: kochot)

· Dibur – speech

· Machshavah – thought

· Myseh – action

· Malchus – kingship

· Kesser – crown, encompassing level

· Etzem – essence

· Mekabel – recipient

· Mashpia – giver / mentor

· Misromem – exalted

· Oh ein sof – infinite light

· Melech – king

· Meturgeman – translator / intermediary

· Tammuz – a Hebrew month

· Rav – teacher

· Sechel – mind

In the world - Beyond the world - Exodus - Shattering and Refinement

Hayom Yom (25 Tevet):

"From my father's discourses we see that Exodus from Egypt means leaving limitations and bounds, and Chassidus is to enable man to leave the restrictions of the material world.

There is a difference: The Egyptian Exodus means shattering and then departure. We went away from Egypt.

The Chassidic Exodus means purification and correction, stepping out of worldly limitations and bounds while remaining in the the world.

This means, that while functioning within the world we must transcend its limitations. We are to remove the limitations and bounds, and perceive the truth - that the world per se is truly good, since, after all, the natural world is what G-d intended.

This is attained through the Avoda (work) of Chassidus."

Notes: When society and environment ("world" in chassidic usage) conflict with Torah, there may be a reaction of withdrawal from "world" and its affairs. Extreme monastic withdrawal is rejected by Torah.
Chassidus advocates being "within world," involvement in the normal routines of family and occupation for example, but refusing subservience to the values and principles of "world."

The Jew's values are to be Torah's while he functions in the marketplace or laboratory. He utilizes the opportunities and challenges of "world" to subordinate and use worldly affairs for Torah ideals, values and goals.

He will do this intellectually when confronting concepts that appear not to be consonant with Torah, and also by observing Mitzvot in inhospitable circumstances.

While functioning in this environment he is apart from it, refusing to be dominated or intimidated by it.

Stand, Walk and Jump - Daily Chassidus

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

“There's a Crack in Everything” p: 8

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