The Alter Rebbe explained at the conclusion of the previous chapter that through teshuvah ila’ah, the higher level of repentance, the soul is totally cleansed and purified. It then ascends and cleaves to G‑d with the same degree of unity that it enjoyed before it descended into the body. Furthermore, the Alter Rebbe quoted the […]

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והנה עיקר האהבה היא אתדבקות רוחא ברוחא Ahavah, the love of G‑d, is primarily the cleaving of spirit to Spirit,3 כמו שכתוב: ישקני מנשיקות פיהו וגו’ כנודע as the verse expresses it,4 “He kisses me with the kisses of his mouth….” A physical kiss unites the inner breath or spirit of two individuals. Similarly, the […]

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ולפי שפגם הברית בהוצאת זרע לבטלה Since the violation of the covenant through wasteful emission, ואין צריך לומר בעריות, או שאר איסורי ביאה דאורייתא או דרבנן to say nothing of incestuous relations, or other unions prohibited by the Torah or the Sages (כי חמורים דברי סופרים וכו’) (12 for13 “the words i.e. the prohibitions of […]

The theme of the previous chapter was teshuvah ila’ah and how it finds expression in the “cleaving of spirit to Spirit” — through Torah study, tzedakah and acts of lovingkindness. והנה תשובה עילאה זו, דאתדבקותא דרוחא ברוחא על ידי תורה וגמילות חסדים This higher level of teshuvah, the cleaving of spirit to Spirit through the […]

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וכן לקיים כל המצות   He must also perform all the mitzvot,   כמו שכתוב: אשר קדשנו במצותיו   as it is written,9 “He has sanctified us with His commandments.”   כמו הרי את מקודשת לי   This [sanctification] has the same sense as in the phrase,10 “You are sanctified unto me” — i.e., separate […]

וכן לקיים כל המצות   He must also perform all the mitzvot,   כמו שכתוב: אשר קדשנו במצותיו   as it is written,9 “He has sanctified us with His commandments.”   כמו הרי את מקודשת לי   This [sanctification] has the same sense as in the phrase,10 “You are sanctified unto me” — i.e., separate […]