BS’D
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the hatzlocha of my husband Avraham Avi ben Ruth on his 45th birthday today. May Hashem bless him with health, happiness and a long life and enable him to continuously perform mitzvot and good deeds, Amen!
Tomorrow, 24th of Tevet, is the yahrtzeit of the holy Ba’al HaTanya, the Alter Rebbe, Reb’ Shneur Zalman of Liadi ztk’l. As a Talmudist, Rabbi Shneur Zalman endeavored to place Kabbalah and Hasidism on a rational basis. In his seminal work, Tanya, he defines his approach as “מוח שולט על הלב” (“mind ruling over the heart/emotions”). He chose the name “Chabad” for this philosophy—the Hebrew acronym for the intellectual attributes (sefirot) Chochma (“wisdom”), Bina (“understanding”), and Da’at (“knowledge”). Both in his works and in his sermons he “indicated an intelligent and not a blind faith” and assumed an intellectual accessibility of the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah. This intellectual basis differentiates Chabad from other forms of Hasidism. May his zechut protect us and all of Klal Yisrael, Amen!
The 24th of Tevet is also the yahrtzeit of Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, ztk’l. One well known idea of his, expounded on in Michtav m’Eliyahu, is the Nekudas Habechira (point of free will). He states that everyone has a point in his service to G-d where he has to fight his evil inclination and other points where he there will be no battle, some where he will always give in to his evil inclination and some where he will always win over his evil inclination, and that this point moves as he learns to overcome his evil inclination or as he give in to it. May he serve as an advocate for Klal Yisrael, Amen!
One of the ways to hold on to the holy light of Shabbat Kodesh is by cleaning our internal vessels. How? For the Torah-observant Jew, this can be attained by keeping Shabbat at the forefront of his consciousness all week long. For others, it may be to simply review the laws of Shabbat and familiarize themselves with the intricate nuances of the halachot.
During the long workweek, the Divine forces of revelation are separated. The Shechina (the female manifestation also called Malchut) is in exile, disconnected from HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the male expression called Zeir Anpin). She is lonely and wishes to unite with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Every erev Shabbat, we go out to greet her – the bride – by singing Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah and escort her to her groom.
When the Beit HaMikdash was standing, there was unification of these Divine aspects. However, they broke apart when it was destroyed, and since then, HaKadosh Baruch Hu has become more concealed and separated from His children. Up on high as well as here below in this world, we experience this painful disconnection.
Nonetheless, we can actively take part in reuniting the groom – HaKadosh Baruch Hu – and the bride – the Shechinah – every Shabbat. When we prepare for Shabbat, we adorn the bride and prepare for her much anticipated meeting with her groom. The Shabbat table is likened to the altar in the Beit HaMikdash. The traditional kiddush, eating of the challah and singing of Shabbat songs are part of the service in the holy temple.
This Shabbat while we rejoice at the table, let us remember that Hashem is ‘revealing’ His unified presence to the world as was felt in the days of the Beit HaMikdash. B’H with this lofty impression kept in mind, we will genuinely elevate our Shabbat experience!
Wishing everyone a beautiful Shabbat!
