Friday, November 29, 2013

Chanuka 5631 3rd Night First Ma'amar

The Talmud[1] mentions two opposing views regarding which side of the doorway to light the Chanukah candles.  The Sfas Emes explains this debate.  He notes the pasuk in Mishlei (3:16), “אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָה בִּשְׂמֹאולָה עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד/Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor.”  Right and left are common analogies for the principle aspect of something vs. a related aspect of secondary importance.  Consequently, Chazal[2] teach us that the first part of this pasuk refers to the next world while the second part of the pasuk refers to this world.  This world is a tool for us to reach the next world.  This world is subordinate to the next world.

“Left” also suggests pushing away.  Chazal[3] teach us regarding the relationship between a teacher and student or a mother and child that one should use the left hand to push away and the right to bring close.  If pushing away is called for, it should be done with the weaker hand.  Bringing close should be done with the stronger hand.  This world was created primarily to give us the opportunity to push away and subordinate the transient in favor of the holy.

Since the right represents strength and permanence, we place the mezuzah on the right side of the doorway.  This also explains the view that we light Chanukah candles on the right side of the doorway.  However, the halachah follows the other view of lighting on the left side of the entrance.  Why?  In order to understand this we must understand the main point of the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles.  The principle spiritual effect of this mitzvah is to displace spiritual darkness with spiritual enlightenment.  This was the effect of the original miracle and continues to be the effect of the mitzvah each year.  The left side represents spiritual darkness.  This is why we light specifically on the left side.  It is there that the spiritual power of this mitzvah is needed and is effective.  It is specifically in the spiritual darkness represented by the left side that there is room for us to rectify the world and ourselves.

Rashi explains the redundancy in the pasuk, “יְמִינְךָ ה' נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב/Your right hand, God, is most powerful; Your right hand, God, crushes the foe.” (Shmos 15:6)  Rashi says that when revenge is taken against the wicked even the “left” becomes the “right.”  The significance of the “left” becoming the “right” is spiritual light vs. spiritual darkness.  Adding to God’s honor and glory is symbolized by the “right.”  Lighting Chanukah candles on the left side of the doorway represents bringing spiritual light to the left side thereby turning it into the “right side.”

There is an obvious connection between the first half of the pasuk in Mishlei and the mitzvah of mezuzah.  The mezuzah is attached to the right doorpost and the pasuk in Mishlei states, “אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָה .../Length of days is in its right hand …”  Regarding the mitzvah of mezuzah the Torah states, “לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם ... /In order to lengthen your days …” (Devarim 11:21)  The mitzvah of mezuzah lengthens our days and is therefore on the right side which is also associated with a long life.  However, why does the pasuk in Mishlei associate the left side with riches and honor?
 
In order to answer this question we first need to understand what wealth means.  Chazal[4] teach us that a wealthy person is one who is happy with his lot.  The Maharal[5] explains that the mishnah is giving us a definition of a wealthy person.  A definition must relate only to the person and not to any external cause.  An external effect cannot be considered a integral definition.  This is why the mishnah does not say that a wealthy person is someone with lots of money.  Having lots of money, in and of itself, does not automatically define a person as rich.  He could have been born into a family with lots of money.  He could have won a lottery ticket.  In either case, the fact that he has a lot of money does not define him. It is an external effect which comes and goes.  Only that which comes from within us - our outlook and actions - can define us. The mishnah teaches us that this outlook is our attitude towards our assets.

This is why the mishnah brings as a proof the pasuk, “יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ/If you eat the toil of your hands, you are praiseworthy, and it is good for you.” (Tehillim 128:2)  A person can be defined as wealthy if he eats from the labor of his own hands.  A person who was born into wealth is not necessarily a wealthy person.  This is God given money.  God gives each of us exactly what we need.  Wealth is that which we have that is beyond our needs.

The Sfas Emes explains that this definition of wealth refers not only to money.  It applies to every aspect of our lives.  Every action that replaces spiritual darkness with spiritual light, every action that turns the “left” into the “right”, every action whose result is a rectification, adds to our “wealth and honor.”  This is why the end of the pasuk in Mishlei associates the left with riches and honor.  The riches and honor are the result of our actions, not what God gives us unconditionally.

May we all merit, through our actions, especially the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah lights to supplant darkness with light, to turn the “left” into the “right.”




[1] Shabbos 22a
[2] Sifri Eikev 48
[3] Sotah 47a
[4] Avos 4:1
[5] Derech Chaim 162a on Avos 4:1 starting with, “ve’amar eizehu ashir

Friday, November 22, 2013

VaYeishev 5632 Second Ma'amar

The Sfas Emes teaches that the source of all hischadshus/renewal that we experience comes from outside the physical world.  It comes from the spiritual.  If we seek renewal and newness within the physical, we will be frustrated in our efforts.  Nature belies renewal and novelty.  How can we merit renewal?

The Sfas Emes answers that we can merit renewal by connecting to the spiritual.  How?  We find a pasuk in the chapter of Tehillim (30:2) that we read during Chanuka, “ארוממך ה' כי דליתני .../I will exult You, God, for you have lifted me up …”  The Chiddushei HaRim explains that the word דליתני/you have lifted me up alludes to דלות/meagerness.  It is not much of a kindness if God lifts us up and this causes us to become arrogant.  Therefore, the Chiddushei HaRim quoting the holy Rav of Parshischa explains that God lifts us up in a way in which we remain humble.  He helps us to connect to Him and, remaining humble, we stay connected.  Being connected to God is the only way to experience hischadshus/renewal and novelty in this world.

The Chiddushei HaRim also teaches that this is the meaning of the words that we say every morning, “מגביה שפלים .../He lifts up the lowly …”  When we think about this we are beset with questions.  Once He lifts them up, they are no longer lowly.  But to be of a low spirit is something for which we strive.[1]  Why, then, would God lift us away from lowliness of spirit?  This prayer must be understood differently.  When God “lifts” us up, He is not lifting us away from humility.  Rather, He is bringing us close to Him – connected to Him, as it were.  The Chiddushei HaRim explains that God lifts up those who will remain lowly even after He lifts them up.  He helps us to come close to Him and remain humble.  Again, being close to God, we are open to experience His hischadshus.

We find this concept in a Zohar[2] explaining the pasuk, “טוב ילד מסכן וחכם ממלך זקן וכסיל .../A poor and wise child is better than an old and foolish king …” (Koheles 4:13)  The Zohar says that the child represents the yetzer hatov/good inclination whereas the old king represents the yetzer hara/evil inclination.  The good inclination guides us to be wary of the suggestions of the yetzer hara, to realize that life is fraught with dangers – מסכן/poor has the same root as סכנה/danger – and to fear sin.  The yetzer hatov helps us to be wise.  What is חכמה/wisdom?  The Zohar[3] explains that חכמה comprises the same letters as כח מה'/strength (or potential) is from God.  The foundation of wisdom is to realize that all power and all potential are from God.  The pasuk states this explicitly, “ראשית חכמה יראת ה'/Awe of God is the beginning of wisdom.” (Tehillim 111:10)

When we tread carefully in this world and realize that everything is from God, we “connect” to Him and are able to experience renewal.  Things take on newness.  One who thinks that he is secure on his own experiences only staleness.

We can understand a pasuk in this week’s parsha according to this concept as well, “... והוא נער/… and he was a youth” (Breishis 37:2) referring to Yosef.  The word נער/youth, has the same root as the word התעוררות/revival.  Yosef always had hischadshus because he was always connected with God.
Our nation experienced a tremendous hischadshus on Chanukah as well.  At the time of the Chanukah story, we as a nation were on quite a low level.  The Assyrian Greeks has instituted terrible decrees forbidding us from keeping the mitzvos.  We cried out to God and He saved us through miracles and wonders.  Every miracle was a hischadshus that came from outside the physical world.  This is clearly alluded to in Tehillim (40:2-4), “קוה קויתי ה' ויט אלי וישמע שועתי: ויעלני מבור שאון מטיט היון ... ויתן בפי שיר חדש .../I have greatly hoped for God.  He inclined to m me and heard my cry.  He raised me from the pit of raging waters, from the slimy mud … He put a new song in my mouth …”  The word יון/slimy, in this pasuk alludes to יון/Greece.

May we merit God lifting us close to Him thereby experiencing hischadshus in our lives.



[1] Avos 4:4
[2] Zohar 1:179a
[3] Zohar 3:28a, Tikunei Zohar 69, 102b

Friday, November 15, 2013

VaYishlach 5633 First Ma'amar

... כי שרית עם א-להים ועם אנשים ותוכל/… for you have struggled with [angels of] God and with men and have prevailed.”  The ability to influence the world around us, both physical and spiritual, through our actions is a quality that Ya’akov Avinu passed down to his progeny.  Our actions have ramifications in all the spiritual realms.[1]  And the spiritual realms directly influence the physical world.  We find this concept in a Zohar in our parsha. 

The Zohar quotes a pasuk from Tehillim (91:11), “כי מלאכיו יצוה לך לשמרך בכל דרכך/He will command His angels concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.”  The Zohar says that the angels in the pasuk are referring to a person’s positive and negative inclination.  We generally think of our inclinations as a part of us – our desire to do good and our lusts to gratify ourselves.  We don’t personify them in the form of angels.  Why does the Zohar view our inclinations as angels?

To answer this question we need to understand what an angel is.  The Sfas Emes explains that our desires do not begin as a part of us and our makeup.  Rather, God sends them into us for a specific purpose.  They have a life of their own, as it were.  These desires are called angels.  In Hebrew the word for angel is, מלאך/mal’achMal’ach means messenger.  The desires that God implants in us are His messengers.  When we act because of a desire we have, God’s messenger is the spiritual force that underpins the action.

Sometimes the spiritual force underlying our actions is clear to us and to others.  At other times it is not clear at all.  Sometimes God is more revealed and sometimes less revealed.  Chazal use a metaphor of angels of chutz la’aretz/outside of Israel and angels of Israel to describe this clarity or the lack of it.  Angels of chutz la’aretz represent God’s influence in a concealed way whereas the angels of Israel represent His revelation.
A person sends a messenger when the mission that needs to be accomplished is far from him.  Likewise God sends us messengers/angels because we are far from Him.  He sends us messengers in the form of the mitzvos that we do and their spiritual underpinnings.  He sends us messengers in the form of desires to do good and bad.  The messengers/desires that He sends us help us to accomplish His will.

This is the meaning of the pasuk we brought earlier according to the Zohar.  The angels are His messengers.  They are the inclinations that He sends us and we have the ability to clarify and reveal those messengers, the spiritual and motive force within our actions.  When we accomplish this the messenger has fulfilled its purpose and returns to the One who sent it.  



[1] For a detailed discussion of this concept see Nefesh HaChaim 1:3,4

Friday, November 08, 2013

VaYeitzei 5632 Second Ma'amar

The beginning of this week’s parsha recounts Ya’akov Avinu’s trip to his uncle Lavan and the dream he had along the way. Ya’akov woke up upset that he had slept in such a holy place. He said, “... אָכֵן יֵשׁ ה' בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְאָנֹכִי לֹא יָדָעְתִּי/… Indeed, God is in this place and I did not know!” (Breishis 28:16)  Rashi explains that if he had known, he would not have slept there.

When we think about it we realize just how amazing this is. Ya’akov gained much from having slept in that place.  Rashi tells us that the place in which he slept was the site of the future Beis HaMikdash.  A miracle occurred and the sun set early specifically so that he would stop there.  As a result of having slept there, he had a prophetic dream in which God promised him Eretz Yisrael and also promised to protect him on his dangerous journey.  Yet, Ya’akov Avinu was upset that he slept there.  He would rather have forfeited the prophecy and God’s promise than to have slept on the holy ground!  Why?

A clue can be gleaned from the Zohar[1] on the words “וְאָנֹכִי לֹא יָדָעְתִּי/and I did not know.”  The Zohar poses the following question.  Why did Ya’akov berate himself for not knowing that God’s presence rested where he slept?  How was he to know?  The Zohar answers that knowledge in Tanach connotes connection[2].  Ya’akov Avinu knew that his primary purpose was to come close to God.  When Ya’akov Avinu said “לֹא יָדָעְתִּי/I did not know,” he was not berating himself for not knowing.  Rather he was berating himself for not being spiritually sensitive enough, not “connected” enough, to realize that the Shechina was in this place.  This, then, answers our question.  Ya’akov Avinu would have preferred to be in tune enough with God – “connected” to Him, as it were – to have felt the holiness of the site rather than to have slept there and receive the prophecy and promise.

Still, after the dream, he did recognize the holiness of the place.  He also realized that he received a special enlightenment from God in the form of the prophetic dream.  His sense of awe of God became more developed as a result of the dream.  He grew spiritually because of it.  We learn from Ya’akov Avinu to recognize any Godly enlightenment that we receive and let it affect us bringing us closer to God.

Many times we have a new thought or a solution to a problem which comes to us in a flash.  In some mysterious way, some problem that we were struggling with becomes clear.  These new thoughts, clarity and solutions, are messages from God.  The Sfas Emes teaches us that their very purpose is for us to recognize them as such.  God sends them to us to give us a means for strengthening our awe of Him and coming closer to Him.  If we do not recognize them as God-sent but rather chalk these thoughts up to “flashes of inspiration,” then they haven’t fulfilled their purpose and were wasted.  May we merit recognizing God’s messages to us, as Ya’akov Avinu did, and coming closer to Him through them. Amen!



[1] Zohar 1:150a-b
[2] We find, for example, “And Adam knew his wife Chava …” (Breishis 4:1) He connected with her. Another example from last week’s parsha is when God says, referring to Avraham Avinu, “For I have known him …” (Breishis 18:19) Rashi explains that this is an expression of God's love for Avraham Avinu because loving implies drawing someone near and knowing that person.