The mitzvot requiring action were a major theme in Essay IV. There the Alter Rebbe explained how their observance extricates and elevates the sparks of holiness that originated in the World of Tohu and that are embedded in this material world, and thereby causes G‑dliness to descend there. The same, it was stated, is true […]

כי התפשטות חכמה עילאה היא בחינת אין סוף, המלובש בה בפועל ממש   For the extension of the Supreme Wisdom that is vested in the laws of Torah is infinite, since the Infinite is actually clothed in it.   וכל פרט הלכה הוא שער נמשך מחכמה עילאה   Every particular of the law is a […]

The last two Essays explained how the observance of the commandments seeks out the exiled sparks hidden in this world and thereby suffuses it with G‑dliness. They also pointed out that the same is true of the study of their laws. The present Essay goes one step further, and explains that the laws of the […]

אך מה שהיה משתבח בתהלת התורה במעלתה זו, ואמר: זמירות היו לי כו׳, נענש על זה   However, for extolling the Torah with this quality, saying,13 “[Your statutes] were songs for me,” he was punished.   ואמר לו הקב״ה: זמירות קרית להו   G‑d reproved him:14 “You call them songs?!”   משום שבאמת, מעלתה זו, […]

Being of absolutely no account relative to G‑d, all the worlds effect no change in Him. והלכך גם לפנימיות התורה אין לשבחה כלל בתהלת חיות כל העולמות, מאחר דלא ממש חשיבי Hence, the internal aspect of the Torah too (which is wholly united with G‑d) is not at all to be lauded as being the […]