עד - רוּמָה עַל שָׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים

[continued]

There are afflictions that come upon a person from the aspect of holy judgment [dina kadisha] — which is the aspect of afflictions of love — in the aspect of: ""whom Hashem loves He reproves"" [Proverbs 3:12]. Which is the aspect of distancing — which is the beginning of drawing close. And there are afflictions that come from the aspect of impure judgment [dina di-m'sa'ava] — G-d forbid. And a sign by which a person may know whether he is in the aspect of impure judgment or the aspect of holy judgment — the sign is prayer. When there is no nullification of prayer [bitul t'filah] — he knows that the afflictions are from the aspect of holy judgment — the aspect of afflictions of love.

Prayer is the aspect of the face (see the main text). And nullification of prayer is the aspect of the hiding of the face — G-d forbid — in the aspect of: ""You hid Your face — I was in turmoil"" [Psalms 30:8].

Through labouring in Torah until one merits to know and understand it — through this one heals one's soul and elevates it to the place of its root — and sweetens all the judgments. And one plants the Tree of Life above — from which all healing comes. Also one sustains and renews all the worlds — and reveals His honour, may He be blessed, in the world. Which is the primary purpose of all a person's service — so that His honour, may His Name be blessed, be revealed.

One who engages in Torah and cannot understand — even this is very good. For every word ascends above — and the Holy One, blessed be He, rejoices in them — and from them is made the aspect of "arvay nachal" [willows of the brook — one of the four species].

Hoshana Rabbah and Simchas Torah are the aspect of speech in Torah without understanding [da'as] — that one cannot yet understand. And speech with understanding — when one has merited to know and understand the wisdom of the Torah — which is the healing of the soul (see the main text).