Parshas Pinchas
The first Izbycyer Rebbe, founder of the Izbyce-Radzyn Dynasty in his classical work, sefer Mey HaShiloach gives the following insight;
It says in the Pasuk (25:18) ” key tzorarim heim lachem benichleyhem” ( “because they harassed you with their (evil ) conspiracy …” )
A Jewish heart in itself is clean and free of all impurities, and has no such tendencies. If we sometimes see otherwise, it is due to the evil koach ( forces ) of the umos ( nations of the world ) that come to them. This concept is hinted in this Pasauk, as with a play on words it can be read to mean, “because they made you have a ( evil ) inclination with their (evil) conspiracy ” And once the nations will be destroyed, then the Jewish heart will be able to be bound to HaShem.
What is he telling us?
The Baal HaSulam teaches us that the entire world is like a adam gadol ( big man ), and that each man is like a olam katan ( small world ) .
Just like the world consists of a Am Yisrael ( Jewish Nation ) with 70 umos ( nations of the world ) surrounding it, so too, each individual Jew has within him a bechinah ( concept ) of a Am Yisrael with the 70 Umos surrounding it.
The Am Yisrael in every Jew is referring to his Neshama ( soul ).
This Neshamah is an extension of HaKadosh Baruch Hu (The Holy One may He be Blessed) yesh meyesh (something from something), and by nature is only mashpiah ( altruistic) and therefore Tahor (pure).
The 70 umos in every Jew is referring to his guf gashmey ( physical body ).
This guf gashmey was created new by Hakadosh Baruch Hu, yesh meyaiyan ( something from nothing ) and by nature is only mekabel (egoistic) and therefore tamey ( impure ).
The Neshama manifests itself in the individual Jew as the Yetzer Tov (good inclination), or as according to our studies the Ratzon LeHashpia ( will to only give out to others ).
The guf gashmey manifests itself in the individual Jew as the Yetzer HaRah (evil inclination) or as according to our studies the Ratzon Lekabel ( will to only receive for itself).
Although by nature the Am Yisrael that is within us is pure, as long as it is surrounded by the 70 umos they will continually conspire to influence it ,and indeed succeed in doing so.
And according to our understanding of Avodah ( service [ of HaShem] ) this is what the Izbycer Rebbe wants us to learn from this Pasuk. That in order to come to true everlasting Devakus BaHashem (attachment to HaShem) one must see to it to totally eradicate ones ratzon lekabel, and only then, when ones Ratzon LeHashpia is totally pure ( like that of HaShem ) will he have a complete Hashavas HaTzurah (equal form) with HaShem, and in Ruchnias ( Spirituality), Hashavas HaTzurah is Devekos.
In other words: ( total lack of ratzon lekabel = pure ratzon lehashpia ) = Ratzon of HaShem.
And in Ruchnias 2 equal ratzonos ( a pure mashpia & that of HaShem) equal Devekos!!
The Baal HaSulam teaches us that the way to eradicate our Ratzon LeKabel is by changing it to a Ratzon LeHashpia. And the only way that it is possible to do this is by keeping Torah and Mitzvos with the proper intensions for the sake of HaShem.
By trying to the best of our abilities to come to keeping Torah and Mitzvos with the proper kavanos (intentions) of LeHashpia (each person at his own level), may we merit through the light of our Torah & Mitzvos that HaShem should give us the ability to free ourselves of the Rotzon LeKabel and acquire in its place a pure Ratzon LeHashpia and come to eternal Devakus BaHaShem.
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2 Responses to “Parshas Pinchas”
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Dear Rav,
Can you please elaborate on what does it mean to keep Torah and Mitzvos based on “each [person's] own level”? Especially, for someone who was brought up secular?
Thank you.
Kalman,
First lets go back and reexamine what I wrote, as I believe you missread what I meant to say.
I did not mean that “each at his own level” applies to keeping Torah & Mitzvos.
“each at his own level” is reffering to trying with the best of our abilities to keep the Torah & Mitzvos with the proper kavonos (intentions) of LeHashpiah.
The Baal HaSulam discusses in the Mamer LeSeyum HaZohar that just like anyone who is drowning, can grab on to a rope that is thrown to them, so too every Jew regardless who he is, can so to speak grab on to the rope of Torah & Mitzvos that HaShem throws to us. The minimum obligation of keeping Torah & Mitzvos even without the desired kavonos of LiShmah is within every Jews reach.
And just like there are levels in how tight the drowning man grabs onto the rope, so to there are many levels of how strong we grasp onto our obresvance of Torah & Mitzvos, some with more of the proper kavonos, some with less.
An example: An adult foreigner immigrates to the USA. He must learn the English language. The more diligent and resourceful he will be, the sooner he will be speaking it. This is all totally within his ability.
As far as speaking English with a pure American accent, being that this requires actually changing his nature……that is something else!!
The lesson: Each and every Jew regardless of his upbringing is expected to learn about, and keep Torah & Mitzvos. Every Jew can learn about Torah & Mitzvos. The more diligent and resourceful he will be, the sooner he will be properly observing Torah & Mitzvos. This is all totally within every Jews ability (assuming he was properly presented with such an option at some time in his life).
As far as keeping Torah & Mitzvos with the pure kavonos of LeHashpiah, being that this requires actually changing his nature…….that is something else.
In other words keeping Torah & Mitzvos is a given, that it is required of every Jew.
The “Avodah” (the “job” in service of HaShem)is keeping Torah & Mitzvos with the proper Kavonos.
Fievel Okowita