אות-ד

The reason most people err regarding themselves, thinking that their souls are not holy at their root and that it is difficult for them to return to Hashem to be truly righteous or truly upright like other Tzadikim and upright men — as it is common parlance, when people tell of a righteous or truly G-d-fearing man and thoughts of teshuvah begin to stir within them to draw close to Hashem as well (for all Israel are filled with thoughts of teshuvah and drawing close to Hashem at all times) — but they immediately say: "Who can compare to that righteous man? He had a holy soul from his youth!" As if the righteousness of the Tzadikim and the upright is only due to the holy soul they have from birth — but in truth it is not so. For the essence of the Tzadik's righteousness is only through his toil and labor in His service, may He be blessed, through many, many days and years. He strengthened and fortified himself each time, not allowing himself to fall in any manner, and multiplied prayer and supplication until he merited what he merited. And every person can be like them, for free will is free — as our Sages of blessed memory said: "The crown of a good name is lying there [for whoever wishes to take it]." And in truth, this error — of thinking their souls are not holy at their root and therefore not strengthening themselves to act as Tzadikim — all of this derives from the aspect of the Palaces of Substitution, from which comes the substitution where the prince was exchanged for the servant's son, as explained in the "Stories" [Sipuray Ma'asiyos]. In truth, each person must know and believe that the soul of every single Jew is very, very lofty and precious — and all of them are in the aspect of children of kings, and can merit very high and holy levels like all the Tzadikim and upright men — for they too had such thoughts of weakness and faintheartedness. But they were wise enough not to allow themselves to be misled, and strengthened and fortified greatly until they merited what they merited. Fortunate are they! And this is the aspect of: "And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Hashem" [II Chronicles 17:6]. (Halachos of Morning Blessings, Halacha 3, Ois 6) One must know that "the whole earth is full of His glory" [Isaiah 6:3], and there is no place empty of Him, and He fills all worlds and encompasses all worlds. And even one who is engaged in business and commerce with non-Jews cannot excuse himself and say it is impossible to serve Hashem because of the coarseness and materiality that constantly falls upon him from his constant dealings with them — for in all material things and in all the languages of the nations he can find His divinity [elokuso], for without His divinity they have no life or existence at all. Only that the lower the level, the more His divinity there is contained and clothed in more garments. (ibid., Ois 33)