תּוֹרָה מז - וַאֲכַלְתֶּם אָכוֹל וְשָׂבוֹעַ

Torah 985

One who is sunk in the desire to eat — it is known that he is far from truth — and it is known that judgments rest upon him. Also: this is a sign of poverty. Also: he will come to disgrace and shame — as it is written: ""according to the exaltation of the baseness of the sons of men"" [Psalms 12:9] — and our Sages of blessed memory said: ""one who is dependent on others — his face changes like the krum"" [Berachos 6b] — to many colours.

And one who breaks the desire to eat — the Holy One, blessed be He, performs wonders through him.

The illumination of the face is "tikun v'emes" [rectification and truth] — the seventh of the thirteen attributes of mercy — the aspect of Yaakov — as it is written: ""give truth to Yaakov"" [Michah 7:20]. Which is the aspect of "tefillin" — called "pe'er" [glory/beauty] — as it is written: ""bind your glory"" [Ezekiel 24:17]. For Yaakov is "Tiferes" — the totality of the colours — the aspect of truth — the aspect of life [chayim]. And from there is the primary wealth and all good influences — the aspect of "kushta ka'ay" [truth stands] [Shabbos 104a] — the aspect of: ""the standing property at their feet"" — ""this is his money which he stands upon"" [Pesachim 119a]. And when one blemishes "tefillin" — G-d forbid — poverty and disgrace come — and his life hangs before him — G-d forbid [Berachos 24a]. And likewise when one blemishes truth — poverty and shame come upon him. But one who holds to the attribute of truth — his livelihood is ample.

And therefore one sunk in eating is far from truth — which is the hiding of the face from the aspect of truth — the aspect of: ""and I will hide My face from them — and they will be for consuming"" [Deuteronomy 31:17]. And if Israel are careful not to eat excessively — but only to satisfy their soul — then they are in the aspect of: ""may Hashem lift up His face"" [Numbers 6:26] — that the Holy One, blessed be He, lifts His face toward them [Berachos 20a]. And they are nourished from the attribute of truth. And the reverse: even a Tzadik who has already departed from the desire — if he falls from his level and falls to the desire to eat — this is a sign that falsehood went out from his mouth — and there is judgment upon him above — and it is a sign of poverty.

And behold: all the world is nourished from the blessing of the Land of Israel [see Zohar Part II, 156b] — as is known. And the Land of Israel itself receives its blessing from truth — which is the attribute of Yaakov — the aspect of fire and water [shamayim] — the totality of the colours — the aspect of "tefillin" — which are called "chayim" [Menachos 44a]. Therefore the Land of Israel is called the Land of Life [Eretz Ha-Chayim]. Therefore it is written of it: ""the eyes of Hashem your G-d are always upon it"" [Deuteronomy 11:12]. For ""one who speaks falsehood will not stand before My eyes"" [Psalms 101:7]. But the Land of Israel — which is the attribute of truth — therefore ""the eyes of Hashem are always upon it."" And its praise is: ""not in poverty will you eat bread there"" [Deuteronomy 8:9] — that one does not eat bread there merely out of poverty — but out of the breaking and nullification of the desire to eat — because he is in the aspect of truth — and is stripped of the desire to eat — and chooses only bread to eat. [And when one blemishes truth — the totality of the colours — through this one comes to poverty and dependence on others — the aspect of shame — which is also the totality of the colours. As our Sages of blessed memory said [Berachos 6b]: ""when one is dependent"" etc. (Said the copyist: from this one understands why now most people of the Land of Israel are in the aspect of dependence on others — for now the aspect of the blessing of the Land of Israel is blemished.) And this is what our Sages of blessed memory expounded — this interpretation regarding prayer — for through being dependent on others his prayer is not complete.] (See §66.)

And when we eat the blessing of truth that comes through the Land of Israel — and afterwards we speak the praise of the Holy One, blessed be He — through this power we become like partners of the Holy One, blessed be He, in creating new heavens — the aspect of the face of Yaakov. And a new earth — the aspect of the Land of Israel — as it is written: ""and to say to Tzion — you are My people"" — do not read ""My people [ami]"" but ""with Me [imi]"" [Zohar Part I, 5a] — in partnership. It is found that we change the governance of the celestial spheres and the constellations — through holy and truthful words in prayer and Torah — in the aspect of: ""and you shall eat — eat and be satisfied"" [Joel 2:26] — that one eats only to satisfy the soul — and through this: ""and you shall praise the Name of Hashem"" — then you will be partners of the Holy One, blessed be He, in creating heaven and earth. And this is: ""which He has done with you"". And then: ""wondrously"" — for you will be able to perform wonders. ""And My people shall not be ashamed"" — for since you are in the aspect of truth — the totality of the holy colours — you need not be ashamed — which is the totality of the colours in the fallen attributes — the aspect of being dependent on others — whose face changes to many colours. (For red departs — which is the product of fire — and white comes — which is the product of water) (Maharsha there). And therefore: ""and My people shall not be ashamed forever.""

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