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Reader Otzar HaYirah Translator's Summary — Hischazkus Complete (Sections 1–134)
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Translator's Summary — Hischazkus Complete (Sections 1–134)

Translator's Summary — Hischazkus Complete (Sections 1–134)

אוצר היראה - Otzar HaYirah

1

עִנְיַן מַעֲלַת וְאֵיכוּת הַבִּטָּחוֹן - עַיֵּן "מָמוֹן וּפַרְנָסָה" אוֹתִיּוֹת י

1

Israel stands above nature, for nature did not make it necessary that Avraham our father bring forth the seed of Israel into the world. It was only because Hashem, blessed be He, said to him: "Go forth from your star-sign!" and raised him above the heavens — as our Sages of blessed memory taught — meaning He raised him above nature — that he merited to father children. It emerges that the essential drawing-forth of the seed of Israel at its root was drawn from a realm above nature, from the light of His divine providence [hashgachah] alone.

2

עִקַּר הַפַּרְנָסָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהַמַּלְכוּת מְקַבֵּץ כָּל הַבִּטְחוֹנוֹת שֶׁל כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם, שֶׁכֻּלָּם מִסְתַּכְּלִים וּמְצַפִּין עַל הַפַּרְנָסָה, וְעוֹלָה עִם אֵלּוּ הַבִּטְחוֹנוֹת אֶל הַיָּדַיִם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָם־הַחָכְמָה וּמִשָּׁם מְקַבֶּלֶת הַפַּרְנָסָה. אַךְ מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהָרוּחַשׂ שְׁטוּת מְבַלְבֵּל הַדַּעַת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּמוֹנֵעַ מֵעֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְהָעִקָּר עַל־פִּי־רֹב עַל־יְדֵי טִרְדַּת הַפַּרְנָסָה, כְּאִלּוּ יֶשׁ כֹּחַ בְּיָדָיו לְהַמְשִׁיךְ פַּרְנָסָה, בְּחִינַת: "וְאָמַרְתָּ בִּלְבָבֶךָ, כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי עָשָׂה לִי אֶת הַחַיִל הַזֶּה". עַל־כֵּן צְרִיכִין לִרְחֹץ יָדָיו בְּמַיִם קֹדֶם הָאֲכִילָה, כְּדֵי לְהַמְשִׁיךְ מֵימֵי הַדַּעַת שֶׁל יָם־הַחָכְמָה בִּכְדֵי לְטַהֵר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִכָּל הַטֻּמְאוֹת שֶׁבָּאִין עַל־יְדֵי הָרוּחַ־שְׁטוּת הַנַּ"ל, וְלֵידַע שֶׁהַפַּרְנָסָה הוּא רַק עַל־יְדֵי טָהֳרַת הַיָּדַיִם בְּמַיִם עַד שֶׁנִּכְלָלִין בְּהַיָּדַיִם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָם־הַחָכְמָה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם כָּל הַפַּרְנָסָה, כִּי הַיָּדַיִם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הֵם בְּחִינַת בִּטָּחוֹן, שֶׁמְּרִימִין יָדָיו לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בִּבְחִינַת: "פֵּרַשְׂתִּי יָדַי אֵלֶיךָ", "שִׁטַּחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ כַפָּי", כִּי אֵין לִי שׁוּם בִּטָּחוֹן בְּכֹחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי, כִּי אִם בְּךָ לְבַד בָּטָחְתִּי. וְעַל־כֵּן נִקְרָא נְטִילַת־יָדַיִם בְּמַיִם רְחִיצָה (כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּסַדְּרִין בְּסִימָנֵי הַהַגָּדָה: "וּרְחַץ", "רָחְצָה") מִלְּשׁוֹן בִּטָּחוֹן, כְּמוֹ: "בֵּהּ אֲנָא רָחִיץ". וְעִקַּר שְׁלֵמוּת הַבִּטָּחוֹן, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁהָאָדָם בַּעֲנִיּוּת וּבְדַחְקוּת גָּדוֹל וּפַרְנָסָתוֹ מְצֻמְצֶמֶת מְאֹד וְאֵין לוֹ כִּי אִם מְעַט יָרָק - אַל יְהַרְהֵר אַחַר מִדּוֹתָיו, רַק יֹאמַר: הֲלוֹא גַּם זֶה הַמְעַט יָרָק הוּא חֶסֶד נִפְלָא מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְעַל־כֵּן אֲנִי בּוֹטֵחַ בּוֹ כִּי הָאֱלֹקִים הָרֹעֶה בִּמְעַט יָרָק, הוּא יָכוֹל לְפַרְנְסֵנִי בְּכָבוֹד וְעשֶׁר גָּדוֹל, כִּי לֹא מִמּוֹצָא וּמִמַּעֲרָב וְכוּ', כִּי אֱלֹקִים שׁוֹפֵט זֶה יַשְׁפִּיל וְזֶה יָרִים, וְהוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ הַמַּגְבִּיהִי לָשָׁבֶת, הַמַּשְׁפִּילִי לִרְאוֹת וְכוּ', מְקִימִי מֵעָפָר דָּל וְכוּ' לְהוֹשִׁיבִי עִם נְדִיבִים וְכוּ', מוֹרִישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁיר מַשְׁפִּיל אַף מְרוֹמֵם, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת כְּלָלִיּוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת, שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ כּוֹלֵל וּמְחַיֶּה אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת וְאֶת כָּל הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת בְּיַחַד בִּבְחִינַת גַּלְגַּל הוּא הַחוֹזֵר בָּעוֹלָם, וְהַגַּלְגַּל הַזֶּה הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ בְּחִינַת כְּלָלִיּוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת, בְּחִינַת הַמַּקִּיפִין הַמְּאִירִין בְּיָם־ הַחָכְמָה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם נִמְשָׁךְ הַפַּרְנָסָה. וְעַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיּוֹדְעִין כָּל זֹאת, יְכוֹלִין לִזְכּוֹת בִּשְׁעַת אֲכִילָה לְהֶאָרַת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁזֶּה עִקַּר קְדֻשַּׁת הָאֲכִילָה (הל' נט"י לסעודה, הל' ו, אות כו).

2

The essential root of all forces of harm and strict judgment is from the aspect of nature — for it is from there that the essential judgments and afflictions, G‑d forbid, draw their power. Therefore, on the night of the Exodus from Egypt — when nature was nullified specifically at night — this was in order to nullify the aspect of night, which is the aspect of the wisdom of nature, and to reveal the light of providence. Therefore, that very night was guarded from all harmful forces and all strict judgments — for then the providence was revealed, and through this all forces of harm and all judgments were nullified.

3

צְרִיכִין לִבְטֹחַ בְּהַשֵּׁם מְאֹד, וְאָסוּר לַחְשֹׁב מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, כִּי הַבִּטָּחוֹן הוּא הַבִּשּׁוּל וְהַגְּמָר שֶׁל הַשֶּׁפַע, כַּמְבֹאָר בִּפְנִים, וְהַשֶּׁפַע יוֹרֵד בְּכָל יוֹם, כִּי כָל יוֹם וָיוֹם יֶשׁ לוֹ שֶׁפַע שֶׁלּוֹ. וְעַל־כֵּן אִם הוּא חוֹשֵׁב מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת פְּגַם הַבִּטָּחוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִפְגָּם בִּשּׁוּל הַשֶּׁפַע. וְזֶה שֶׁמּוּבָא בְּ"מָגֵן־אַבְרָהָם" בְּשֵׁם הַזֹּהַר, שֶׁאָסוּר לְבַשֵּׁל מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, כִּי עִקַּר הָאִסּוּר לַחְשֹׁב מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, שֶׁהוּא פְּגַם הַבִּטָּחוֹן, הוּא בְּיוֹתֵר בְּהַבִּשּׁוּל, כִּי הַבִּטָּחוֹן בְּעַצְמוֹ הוּא בְּחִינַת בִּשּׁוּל הַשֶּׁפַע וּשְׁלֵמוּתָהּ כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל־כֵּן הַמָּן, שֶׁעִקַּר יְרִידָתוֹ הָיָה בִּבְחִינַת בִּטָּחוֹן כַּיָּדוּעַ, שֶׁהַמָּן הוּא בְּחִינַת בִּטָּחוֹן, עַל־כֵּן הָיוּ צְרִיכִין בִּטָּחוֹן חָזָק מְאֹד וְהָיוּ אֲסוּרִים לְהַשְׁהוֹת כְּלָל מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, וְתֵכֶף שֶׁהָיוּ מַשְׁהִין אוֹתוֹ נִתְקַלְקֵל לְגַמְרֵי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: "וַיָּרֻם תּוֹלָעִים וַיִּבְאַשׁ". וְעַל־כֵּן גַּם עַכְשָׁו עַל־פִּי־ רֹב נִתְקַלְקֵל טַעַם הַמַּאֲכָלִים כְּשֶׁהֵם מְבֻשָּׁלִים וְשׁוֹהִין אוֹתוֹ מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, כִּי הַטַּעַם שֶׁבַּמַּאֲכָל, שֶׁהוּא הַחַיּוּת שֶׁבּוֹ, הוּא מְיֻחָד וּמְסֻגָּל לָזֶה הַיּוֹם דַּיְקָא שֶׁנִּתְבַּשֵּׁל בּוֹ, כִּי הוּא מִבְּחִינַת הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם. אַךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, כְּשֶׁהַטַּעַם מְלֻבָּשׁ בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּאֲכָל עַצְמוֹ, אֲזַי עֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ נִפְגָּם כָּל־כָּךְ, רַק כְּשֶׁנִּבְלָע בְּתוֹךְ הַכְּלִי שֶׁנִּתְבַּשֵּׁל בּוֹ, שֶׁבְּחִינַת זֶה הַטַּעַם הוּא נָמוּךְ בְּיוֹתֵר, כִּי הַכְּלִי הִיא טְפֵלָה לְהַמַּאֲכָל, וְעַל־כֵּן בֶּאֱמֶת זֶה הַטַּעַם הוּא נִפְגָּם תֵּכֶף אַחַר אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת מַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זַ"ל, שֶׁטַּעַם הַבָּלוּעַ בַּכְּלִי אֲזַי תֵּכֶף אַחַר מֵעֵתשׂלְעֵת הוּא נוֹתֵן טַעַם לִפְגָם. עַיֵּן פְּנִים (הלכות נותן טעם לפגם, הלכה א).

3

Nature itself is also the providence of Hashem, blessed be He, for He, blessed be He, created nature, guides it, and rules over it as He wills. Only — for the sake of free choice — Hashem, blessed be He, created nature in the world, so that it would be possible for people to err, G‑d forbid, as though nature were primary. And when one severs nature from providence, one thereby denies the living G‑d, G‑d forbid, and descends to the lowest depths. But if one wishes to truly choose life, one connects nature to providence — knowing and believing that everything is only in His providence, blessed be He, and that even nature itself is governed by His providence, blessed be He. It emerges that nature and providence are truly one — for the root of nature and providence is drawn from the Name of G‑d [Havayah] and the Name "Elokim" — which has the same numerical value [gematria] as the word "nature" [ha-teva] — and in truth both are one, for "Hashem is G‑d" [Melachim I 18:39].

4

עִקַּר עַצְבוּת וְדַאֲגוֹת הַפַּרְנָסָה הוּא מֵחֲמַת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בִּטָּחוֹן בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְעִקַּר פְּגַם וְחֶסְרוֹן הַבִּטָּחוֹן נִמְשָׁךְ רַק מִבְּחִינַת הַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם. כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ מַשְׁפִּיעַ שִׁפְעוֹ הַטּוֹב תָּמִיד בְּלִי הֶפְסֵק רֶגַע, רַק כְּשֶׁהַשֶּׁפַע בָּאָה בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם הַגַּשְׁמִי שֶׁהוּא בְּמָקוֹם וּזְמַן, אֲזַי מֻכְרָח הַשֶּׁפַע לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּמָקוֹם וּזְמָן. וְעַל־כֵּן אֵין הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁל פַּרְנָסָה וַעֲשִׁירוּת נִמְשֶׁכֶת כִּי אִם בְּמָקוֹם וּזְמַן יָדוּעַ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּרְאֶה בְּחוּשׁ, שֶׁיֵּשׁ זְמַן שֶׁהָאָדָם מַרְוִיחַ וְיֵשׁ לְהֵפֶךְ; וְכֵן בְּמָקוֹם, שֶׁבְּמָקוֹם זֶה מַרְוִיחִין וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר לְהֵפֶךְ. וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה עִקַּר דַּאֲגַת הַפַּרְנָסָה מֵחֲמַת שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים נִתְעַכֵּב שֶׁפַע פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, עַל־כֵּן עוֹלָה דַּאֲגַת פַּרְנָסָתוֹ עַל לִבּוֹ וְדוֹאֵג מַה יֹּאכַל לְמָחָר, וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה הוּא רוֹדֵף אַחַר פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בִּיגִיעוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, וְסוֹף כָּל סוֹף אֵינוֹ מַשִּׂיג פַּרְנָסָתוֹ כִּי אִם כְּשֶׁיָּבוֹא עִתּוֹ וּזְמַנּוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה לוֹ שֵׂכֶל אֲמִתִּי וְהָיָה מַאֲמִין בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁהַכֹּל מִמֶּנּוּ יִתְבָּרַךְ, רַק שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהַמְתִּין וּלְיַחֵל לְהַשֵּׁם עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹא זְמַנּוֹ וְעִתּוֹ, אָז לֹא הָיָה רָץ וּמִתְיַגֵּעַ אַחַר פַּרְנָסָתוֹ כָּל־כָּךְ, כִּי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ יִתֵּן לוֹ פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בְּעִתּוֹ בְּסִבָּה קַלָּה, כִּי אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהַהֶכְרֵחַ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה הָאָדָם אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא קַלָּה בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָה, כְּמַאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זַ"ל עַל פָּסוּק: "וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה", כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הַשֶּׁפַע בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי כֵּלִים, וְעַל־כֵּן מֻכְרָחִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֵסֶק וּמַשָּׂא־וּמַתָּן, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה עוֹשִׂין כֵּלִים וְצִנּוֹרוֹת לְקַבֵּל הַשֶּׁפַע; אֲבָל בֶּאֱמֶת אֵין הָעֵסֶק עִקָּר כְּלָל, רַק עִקַּר הַפַּרְנָסָה מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וּבְהַשְׁגָּחָתוֹ לְבַד, כִּי אֵין אָדָם יוֹדֵעַ בַּמֶּה מִשְׂתַּכֵּר. וְעַל־כֵּן אָסוּר לְהָאָדָם לִדְחֹק אֶת הַשָּׁעָה, לִרְדֹּף אַחַר הַפַּרְנָסָה בִּיגִיעוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, כְּאִלּוּ, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, הַפַּרְנָסָה תָּלוּי בָּזֶה לְבַד, כִּי אַדְּרַבָּא עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְמַעֵט פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, כִּי כָּל הַדּוֹחֵק אֶת הַשָּׁעָה - הַשָּׁעָה דּוֹחַקְתּוֹ, כִּי אֵין צֹרֶךְ לוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת מַשָּׂא־וּמַתָּן וְעֵסֶק, רַק לָצֵאת יְדֵי מִצְוַת עֲשִׂיַּת מַשָּׂא־ וּמַתָּן בֶּאֱמוּנָה כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל הַהַשְׁפָּעָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְכָל מַה שֶּׁיַּעֲשֶׂה יוֹצֵא בָּזֶה. וְזֶהוּ: "וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה", הַיְנוּ - בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲשֶׂה, יִהְיֶה מַה שֶּׁיִּהְיֶה, אֲפִלּוּ דָּבָר קַל וְקָטָן, יְבָרֶכְךָ ה'. כַּאֲשֶׁר נִרְאֶה בְּחוּשׁ בְּרֹב בְּנֵישׂ אָדָם, שֶׁכַּמָּה פְּעָמִים שֶׁהֵם רָצִים וְרוֹדְפִים מְאֹד אַחַר הַפַּרְנָסָה כַּמָּה זְמַנִּים בִּיגִיעוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, וְאֵין עוֹלֶה בְּיָדָם שׁוּם רֶוַח וּמְאוּמָה לֹא יִשְׂאוּ בַּעֲמָלָם, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ מְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וּמַזְמִין לָהֶם פַּרְנָסָה, וְלִפְעָמִים אֲפִלּוּ עֲשִׁירוּת גָּדוֹל בְּסִבָּה קַלָּה מְאֹד, שֶׁהִיא כִּמְעַט בְּלִי שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע, וְכָל הָעוֹלָם מָלֵא מִמַּעֲשִׂיּוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ, שֶׁהֵם שְׁכִיחִים מְאֹד בָּעוֹלָם כִּמְעַט בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שֶׁעוֹסֵק בְּמַשָּׂא־וּמַתָּן. וְאִם הָיָה לוֹ שֵׂכֶל וְהָיָה סוֹמֵךְ עַצְמוֹ בִּתְחִלָּה עַל הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְלֹא הָיָה דּוֹאֵג כְּלָל, אֲזַי לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ כְּלָל יְגִיעוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בְּחִנָּם, וּכְשֶׁהָיָה מַגִּיעַ הַזְּמַן, הָיָה מַזְמִין לוֹ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בְּסִבָּה קַלָּה כַּנַּ"ל, וְלֹא דַי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַרְוִיחַ כְּלָל עַל־יְדֵי דַּאֲגָתוֹ וְעִצְּבוֹנוֹ וִיגִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת וּטְרָחוֹת עֲצוּמוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ, אַדְּרַבָּא הוּא מַפְסִיד שֶׁפַע פַּרְנָסָתוֹ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה. כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת עִקַּר שֶׁפַע הַפַּרְנָסָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת מִבְּחִינַת לְמַעְלָה מֵהַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם, רַק שֶׁבְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם מֻכְרָח הַפַּרְנָסָה לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בִּזְמַן וּבְמָקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר מֵחֲמַת זֶה צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֵסֶק וּמַשָּׂא־ וּמַתָּן בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָה, כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלִי שֶׁתּוּכַל הַשֶּׁפַע לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל־כֵּן כְּשֶׁהוּא מַאֲמִין שֶׁהַכֹּל מִלְמַעְלָה, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְקַשֵּׁר הַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם לִבְחִינַת לְמַעְלָה מֵהַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם, וַאֲזַי יֶשׁ לוֹ פַּרְנָסָה בְּשֶׁפַע, כִּי הוּא מְקֻשָּׁר לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַהַשְׁפָּעוֹת עַל־יְדֵי אֱמוּנָתוֹ וּבִטְחוֹנוֹ בְּהַשֵּׁם. אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהוּא רָץ אַחַר פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בִּיגִיעוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, אֲזַי הוּא נִמְשָׁךְ וְנִתְקַשֵּׁר בְּיוֹתֵר לִבְחִינַת מָקוֹם וּזְמַן וּמַפְרִיד בֵּין הַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם לְבֵין בְּחִינַת לְמַעְלָה מֵהַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְרַחֵק מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ הַהַשְׁפָּעוֹת, וְעַל־כֵּן קָשֶׁה לוֹ לִמְצֹא פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לוֹ מְעַט פַּרְנָסָה, בְּהֶכְרֵחַ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה בִּיגִיעָה גְדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה מְאֹד. וְזֶה: 'כָּל הַדּוֹחֵק אֶת הַשָּׁעָה - הַשָּׁעָה דּוֹחַקְתּוֹ', כִּי כָּל מַה שֶׁנִּמְשָׁךְ אַחַר הַזְּמַן בְּיוֹתֵר וְדוֹחֵק אֶת הַשָּׁעָה, הוּא נִתְקַשֵּׁר וְנִתְאַחֵז בְּיוֹתֵר בִּבְחִינַת זְמַן וּמָקוֹם וְנִתְרַחֵק בְּיוֹתֵר מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ הַהַשְׁפָּעָה, שֶׁהוּא בִּבְחִינַת לְמַעְלָה מֵהַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם, וְעַל־כֵּן הַשָּׁעָה דּוֹחַקְתּוֹ - 'הַשָּׁעָה' דַּיְקָא, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁנִּתְקַשֵּׁר בְּיוֹתֵר לִבְחִינַת שָׁעָה וּזְמַן, וְעַל־כֵּן יֶשׁ לוֹ דֹּחַק יוֹתֵר, כִּי נִתְרַחֵק פַּרְנָסָתוֹ לִזְמַן רָחוֹק וּלְמָקוֹם רָחוֹק בְּיוֹתֵר, עַד שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים צָרִיךְ לָנוּד עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לִמְקוֹמוֹת רְחוֹקִים בְּיוֹתֵר וּבְהֶמְשֵׁךְ הַזְּמַן הַרְבֵּה בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָתוֹ. אֲבָל הַנִּדְחֶה מִפְּנֵי הַשָּׁעָה וּמַאֲמִין שֶׁהַכֹּל מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּבוֹטֵחַ בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁוַּדַּאי יִתֵּן לוֹ פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בִּזְמַנּוֹ בְּסִבָּה קַלָּה, אֲזַי הוּא מְקֻשָּׁר בְּיוֹתֵר לִבְחִינַת לְמַעְלָה מֵהַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם, וְאָז הַשָּׁעָה נִדְחֵית מִפָּנָיו, כִּי זוֹכֶה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לְמַעֵט וּלְבַטֵּל בְּחִינַת הַזְּמַן וְהַמָּקוֹם, וְשׁוֹלֵחַ לוֹ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בְּמִעוּט זְמַן וּבְקֵרוּב מָקוֹם. וְאִם הָיָה זוֹכֶה הָאָדָם לְבִטָּחוֹן חָזָק מְאֹד, אֲזַי לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם סִבָּה בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָה, וְהָיָה נַעֲשֶׂה הַכְּלִי וְהַצִּנּוֹר שֶׁל פַּרְנָסָה עַל־יְדֵי הַבִּטָּחוֹן בְּעַצְמוֹ, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי בִּטָּחוֹן נַעֲשֶׂה כְּלִי לְקַבֵּל הַשֶּׁפַע הַיּוֹרֵד מִלְמַעְלָה, כַּמְבֹאָר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (הלכות ריבית, הלכה ג).

4

In truth there is no such thing as "nature" at all in the world — only Hashem, blessed be He, guides His world according to His will, "and He does as He wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of earth" [Daniel 4:32]. The essential aspect of what is called "nature" is what Hashem, blessed be He, established when He created the world with this specific structure and order — so that all the celestial spheres, the formations of heaven and earth and all their host, and all the upper and lower worlds, would all be dependent upon the human being who possesses free choice in this lowly world: to rectify or — G‑d forbid — to damage. For when a person rectifies his deeds and accumulates commandments and good deeds, he thereby brings great illumination and great rectification to all the worlds. And conversely — through evil deeds, G‑d forbid, he damages and blemishes all the worlds. This is called the natural order of governance — for with this "nature" Hashem, blessed be He, created the entire creation from beginning to end: that everything should be governed through the holy Torah entrusted into our hands. And when a person deviates from the ways of the holy Torah, G‑d forbid, this brings blemish and damage to all the worlds, G‑d forbid. But repentance [teshuvah] preceded the world — for repentance is in an aspect above all the worlds — and in the aspect of repentance, which is the aspect of the World to Come [olam d'ase], no blemish of any transgression reaches there. Therefore repentance is effective for all transgressions in the Torah — for through repentance one attains the aspect of the World to Come, which is the root of repentance, and there no blemish reaches, and there all sins are transformed into merits. And this is the aspect of the governance of the future — when nature will be entirely nullified and the world will be governed through wonders above nature — meaning that in the future it will be entirely Sabbath, entirely repentance, and then all sins will be transformed into merits. This is the aspect of governance through wonders above the aspect of nature as mentioned. And then a new song will awaken — a song of wonders — from which all the holy songs of the present are also drawn. And this is why our Sages of blessed memory said regarding the Song of Devorah: that through her song their sins were forgiven — for this is the aspect of willful sins being transformed into merits that will occur in the future, when the holy song awakens, the song of wonders. Therefore the one who merits the voice of this song — through his rebuke he adds and gives a good fragrance to souls, for through the voice of his rebuke he draws upon them illumination from the aspect of the World to Come, where all sins are transformed into merits — this is the aspect of wonders as mentioned.

5

חֶסְרוֹן הַבִּטָּחוֹן הוּא בְּחִינַת פְּגַם הַיִּרְאָה, בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה נְפוּלָה, שֶׁדּוֹאֵג וּמִתְיָרֵא מַה יֹּאכַל לְמָחָר. אֲבָל הַיָּרֵא מֵהַשֵּׁם, בּוֹטֵחַ בּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵינוֹ דוֹאֵג כְּלָל עַל יוֹם הַמָּחֳרָת, כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו (הל' בכור בהמה טהורה, הל' ד, אות כב).

5

This is the essence of holiness — when one knows that there is no such thing as nature in the world at all, for nature itself is from Hashem, blessed be He. Sometimes He guides the world through what appears to be "nature" in order to test people — so that there be free choice in the world. And to demonstrate that nature is in His hands, He therefore changes the course of nature many times, as we have already seen in His awesome signs and wonders at the Exodus from Egypt and the Giving of the Torah etc. And in truth nature itself is also His providence — for everything is from Him alone — for the word "nature" [ha-teva] has the same numerical value as "Elokim" [the name of G‑d], for nature itself is from the living G‑d and King of the universe.

6

כָּל הַחֶסְרוֹנוֹת וְהָעֲנִיּוּת וְהַדַּחְקוּת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָאָדָם הוּא רַק מֵחֲמַת חֶסְרוֹן הַבִּטָּחוֹן. כִּי אִם הָיָה לוֹ בִּטָּחוֹן שָׁלֵם בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, לֹא הָיָה דּוֹאֵג כְּלָל וְלֹא הָיָה חָסֵר דָּבָר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: "בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּה' וְכוּ', וּבִשְׁנַת בַּצֹּרֶת לֹא יִדְאָג". וְעִקַּר הַבִּטָּחוֹן הוּא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁמָר מִירָאוֹת הַנְּפוּלוֹת וְאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם יִרְאָה נְפוּלָה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְיָרֵא מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר רַק מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, אָז הוּא בְּוַדַּאי בּוֹטֵחַ בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי זֶה עִקַּר הַבִּטָּחוֹן, שֶׁלֹּא יִירָא וְלֹא יִפְחַד מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר רַק מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְבַד, בִּבְחִינַת "אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד", בְּחִינַת "בַּה' בָּטַחְתִּי לֹא אִירָא, מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה בָשָׂר לִי", הַיְנוּ, שֶׁיֶּשׁ לוֹ בִּטָּחוֹן שָׁלֵם בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם יִרְאָה נְפוּלָה וְשׁוּם פַּחַד כְּלָל, וְאֵינוֹ דּוֹאֵג כְּלָל מַה יֹּאכַל לְמָחָר, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת יְרָאוֹת נְפוּלוֹת, שֶׁזֶּהוּ עִקַּר הָעֲנִיּוּת, כִּי כְּשֶׁיֶּשׁ לוֹ יְרָאוֹת נְפוּלוֹת הוּא בְּוַדַּאי עָנִי מַמָּשׁ אֲפִלּוּ אִם יֶשׁ לוֹ כָּל הוֹן דְּעָלְמָא, כִּי אֲפִלּוּ אִם הוּא עָשִׁיר גָּדוֹל, הוּא מָלֵא דְּאָגוֹת וָצַעַר וְיִסּוּרִים וּפְחָדִים תָּמִיד וְכָל יָמָיו כַּעַס וּמַכְאוֹבוֹת, וְאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם נַחַת וּמְנוּחָה וְשׁוּם חַיּוּת כְּלָל, וְהוּא חַי חַיֵּי צַעַר יוֹתֵר מִכָּל הָעֲנִיִּים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם נִתְחַדְּשִׁין לוֹ דְּאָגוֹת וּפְחָדִים חֲדָשִׁים מֵאֲדוֹנִים וְשָׂרִים וְכוּ' וּמִכַּמָּה וְכַמָּה מִינֵי הֶפְסֵדוֹת הַשְּׁכִיחִים וְשֶׁאֵינָם שְׁכִיחִים, וְגַם מִצְטַעֵר בְּכָל עֵת עַל רִבּוּי הַהוֹצָאָה שֶׁבְּבֵיתוֹ, כִּי נִדְמֶה לוֹ כִּי הַהוֹצָאָה יְתֵרָה עַל הָרֶוַח, וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה רַבּוּ מִסְּפֹר רִבּוּי הַדְּאָגוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּפְרָטִיּוּת בְּלִי שִׁעוּר בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה, וְאֵין רֶגַע בְּלִי פֶגַע, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שפא זַ"ל: מַרְבֶּה נְכָסִים - מַרְבֶּה דְּאָגָה, וְכָל זֶה מֵחֲמַת יְרָאוֹת הַנְּפוּלוֹת, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בִּטָּחוֹן שָׁלֵם בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי אִם הָיָה לוֹ בִּטָּחוֹן בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, בְּוַדַּאי לֹא הָיָה מִתְפַּחֵד כְּלָל, כִּי בְּוַדַּאי הַכֹּל בְּיַד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְהָעשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד מִלְּפָנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְאִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עָנִי, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם - בְּוַדַּאי לֹא יוּכַל לִשְׁמֹר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִזֶּה בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן, וְכֵן לְהֵפֶךְ, רַק הוּא מְחֻיָּב לַעֲסֹק בְּאֵיזֶה עֵסֶק וּמַשָּׂא־וּמַתָּן, וְהַשֵּׁם הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיו יַעֲשֶׂה, וּמָאן דְּיָהֵב חַיֵּי יָהֵב מְזוֹנֵי. נִמְצָא, כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בִּטָּחוֹן בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵינוֹ דּוֹאֵג כְּלָל מַה יֹּאכַל לְמָחָר - זֶהוּ עִקַּר הָעֲשִׁירוּת, בִּבְחִינַת "אֵיזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר - הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ", כִּי אֵין לוֹ שׁוּם דְּאָגָה וָפַחַד כְּלָל, כִּי הוּא בָּטוּחַ בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ כִּי בְּוַדַּאי לֹא יַעַזְבֶנּוּ לְעוֹלָם (הל' הרשאה, הל' ג, אות כ).

6

One must believe very strongly in His individual providence [hashgachah pratis] — that He, blessed be He, gazes and looks to the end of all generations and upon each and every individual specifically. And whatever happens to each and every person throughout all the days of his life — all of it is in His providence alone, and all of it is for the sake of his choice. For one person's choice is to be poor, and another's — to be wealthy, and so on. And everything that happens to each individual specifically each day is only for the sake of his particular choice, according to what Hashem, blessed be He, has assessed in His wisdom. The essence of free choice is in the aspect of after the creation — for in the aspect of before the creation there is no free choice at all, for there all is one, all is good, all is holy. Yet even so, every person must believe that specifically through his good choice after the creation he will merit to be included in the aspect of before the creation — and this is the essential purpose of every individual, for which he was created in the world. Therefore the essential rectification is truth [emes] — for through truth, His providence is drawn and then the aspect of after the creation becomes included in before the creation, and all is one. And this itself is the essence of truth — that one must believe in truth that even now all is one, for through His providence, blessed be He, after the creation is included in before the creation and all is one. Through this one can cleave to Hashem, blessed be He, and be included in Him from wherever one stands — in the aspect of what King David, peace be upon him, said [Tehillim 139]: "Such knowledge is too wondrous for me, too lofty — I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your spirit... If I ascend to the heavens, You are there..." — meaning, he marveled within himself: how did creation emerge from potential to actuality? And from His simple unity, blessed be He, such vast multiplicity was drawn forth and unfolded — which is the aspect of distancing from the One. And at the very beginning of creation's emergence from potential to actuality, the distancing was only in the aspect of walking [halikhah] — in the aspect of "Where can I go from Your spirit?" — and afterward, as creation unfolded further and further, until the grip of falsehood increased, G‑d forbid, then the matter became the aspect of actual fleeing — as people flee and distance themselves from Him, blessed be He — in the aspect of "where can I flee from Your presence?" But King David, peace be upon him, merited to believe in truth — that everything emerged from the source of unity and everything must return to unity, and even now after the creation everything is one. Therefore he declared truthfully: "Where can I go from Your spirit... If I ascend to the heavens, You are there..." — for although it is impossible to understand all this — how creation emerged from potential to actuality and yet all is unity — nonetheless I believe in truth in His providence, which surrounds and guides from the highest of all levels to the very lowest, and through this in truth even now all is unity. And through this I hold myself to Hashem, blessed be He, at all times, wherever I am.

7

עִקַּר הַפַּרְנָסָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת רַק מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְבַד, וְעַל־כֵּן צְרִיכִין רַק לִבְטֹחַ בְּהַשֵּׁם. וּמַה שֶּׁצְּרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֵסֶק בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: "וּבֵרַכְךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה" וּכְמוֹ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זַ"ל, כָּל זֶה הוּא רַק בִּשְׁבִיל לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה רוּחָנִיּוּת אֱלָקוּת לְתוֹךְ צִמְצוּמִים, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וּמְלֶאכֶת מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מַמְשִׁיכִין שְׁכִינַת אֱלָקוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ לְמַטָּה בָּאָרֶץ בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, עַד שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִמְשָׁךְ פַּרְנָסָה וַאֲכִילָה בְּאֹפֶן כָּזֶה שֶׁתִּתְגַּדֵּל וְתֻשְׁלַם הָאֱמוּנָה עַל־ יְדֵי הָאֲכִילָה וְהַפַּרְנָסָה, כַּמְבֹאָר בִּפְנִים. וְזֶה: "בְּטַח בַּה' וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב, שְׁכָן־אֶרֶץ וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה". עַיֵּן פְּנִים (הלכות הפקר ונכסי־הגר, הל' ד, אות ג).

7

Israel is a holy people standing above nature — for they are not entrusted to any angelic minister and are not governed by the order of the celestial constellations, but rather by His providence alone. Therefore they are commanded not to inquire of the signs of the heavens, not to practice cloud-divination, and not to practice omen-reading. For in truth the two are intertwined — when Israel does not seek after the lies and false imaginings of those who divine clouds, read omens, gaze at stars, and the like, through this they subdue the pollution of the serpent and cleave themselves to the holy faith. And then through faith they merit the aspect of the renewal of the world — the aspect of the Land of Israel — and then their governance is through providence alone, in the aspect of wonders above the nature of the celestial order. Then they certainly have no need to fear the signs of the heavens at all, since they stand above them — for they are governed by providence alone. It emerges that through the very act of distancing themselves from these things, they thereby have no need to fear them. But the nations, who inquire of diviners and sorcerers drawn from the pollution of the serpent — who have no complete faith in Hashem, blessed be He — thereby stand far from the aspect of the Land of Israel, from the aspect of providence, and are governed by nature. Therefore they certainly have cause to fear the signs of the heavens, precisely because they inquire of them and have no holy faith whatsoever. And this is what is written to holy Israel: "And of the signs of the heavens be not dismayed, for the nations are dismayed by them" [Yirmiyahu 10:2] — as described above.

8

עִנְיַן מַה שֶּׁעִקַּר הַשֶּׁפַע וְהַפַּרְנָסָה נִמְשָׁךְ רַק עַל־יְדֵי אֱמוּנָה וּבִטָּחוֹן, בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְבַד, וּמַה שֶּׁאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן צְרִיכִין אֵיזֶה עֵסֶק וְהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָה - עַיֵּן "מָמוֹן" קעג קעד.

8

In truth, even nature is governed by His providence — only the providence is hidden and concealed in the aspect of concealment, in the aspect of strict judgment [din]. For the word "nature" [ha-teva] has the same numerical value as "Elokim" — which is the aspect of the attribute of strict judgment. And when the providence is revealed, then it is entirely good, entirely kindness — which is the aspect of the renewal of the world, the aspect of "the world is built on kindness" [Tehillim 89:3]. For then the world is governed through providence alone, and it becomes revealed that all is one — for in truth even nature is providence, for "Hashem is G‑d". Therefore we, the holy people, are commanded even now to attach our thought to the World to Come [olam d'ase], and to draw the aspect of the World to Come — the aspect of providence — even now into this world, for this is the essence of our service: that this world be included in the aspect of the World to Come, that all be one. Therefore we are commanded not to inquire of the signs of the heavens, not of diviners or cloud-readers — only to believe in Hashem — in order to merit through this the aspect of providence, the aspect of the World to Come. And this is what is written, immediately after the warning "there shall not be among you one who practices cloud-divination or omen-reading" etc.: "Be wholehearted [tamim] with Hashem your G‑d" [Devarim 18:13]. "Hashem your G‑d" — this is the aspect of the World to Come, as is known, the aspect of providence and the nullification of nature — for nature is included in providence as well. And this is the meaning of "tamim" [wholehearted, complete, perfect] — for this is the essence of perfection and completeness that has no deficiency, for all deficiencies are drawn from the aspect of nature, which draws its sustenance from the aspect of strict judgment as mentioned. But in the aspect of providence — the aspect of the World to Come — there is no deficiency and no strict judgment at all, for there all is entirely good as mentioned.

9

עִנְיַן הִתְחַזְּקוּת בְּבִטָּחוֹן, וְשֶׁלֹּא לַחְשֹׁב מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ כְּלָל, וְעַל פַּרְנָסַת יוֹם זֶה בְּעַצְמוֹ יִבְטַח בְּשֵׁם ה', כִּי בְּוַדַּאי מָאן דִּבְרָא יוֹמָא בְּרָא מְזוֹנָא - עַיֵּן "יִרְאָה" אוֹת קמו, "מָמוֹן" אות קפה.

9

All the sufferings a person has, G‑d forbid, come only from a deficiency of knowledge [da'as] — meaning: because one does not know at every moment that everything is under individual divine providence, and attributes it to nature, G‑d forbid. For one who knows with complete knowledge that everything is from Him, blessed be He, has no suffering — for he knows that certainly everything is for the good. And moreover, through this very act of knowing that everything is from Him, blessed be He, one can nullify the sufferings at any time one wishes — for in truth there is no such thing as nature in the world, as nature itself is providence, as explained elsewhere. For Hashem, blessed be He, sustains and gives life to all things through His wisdom, which is the vitality of all things, as it is written: "Wisdom gives life" [Koheles 7:12] and "Hashem founded the earth with wisdom" [Mishlei 3:19]. And this is what is explained elsewhere — that nature is governed by knowledge [da'as] and is subject to knowledge — meaning: the essential vitality and sustenance of the natural governance of every thing is through the knowledge [da'as] of the Creator, blessed be He, Who guides every thing through His wisdom and knowledge, as it is written: "You made them all with wisdom" [Tehillim 104:24]. And the true Tzadik — like Daniel, of whom it is written that "no mystery was too difficult for him" [Daniel 4:6] — is included in his own knowledge within the knowledge of the Creator, blessed be He. For this is the perfection of the great elevated Tzadikim — that they nullify themselves to Him at all times until they become included in His knowledge, and through this they know the nature of every thing — meaning they know the essential vitality of the natural existence of every thing, which is the knowledge that gives life, sustains, and governs that thing. And then certainly, in accordance with this knowledge, the nature of the world is submitted and subjugated beneath them. And this is what is written about Daniel [Daniel 6:23]: "My G‑d sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions" — for every thing has an angel appointed over it, and the nature of every thing is governed by its appointed angel. The angels are intellective beings as is known, and they receive their intellect and vitality from higher and higher levels, until they receive from His unity, blessed be He — where all is in complete unity without any separation. But the angels, though they continually receive new vitality from above themselves in the aspect of "and the living creatures ran and returned" [Yechezkel 1:14], can only receive the vitality according to each one's aspect and appointment — according to the vitality it must draw for the particular thing it oversees — and cannot change itself at all. But the human Tzadik, who possesses free choice, can nullify himself from the reality of this world through his choice — and then he ascends to the place he ascends and becomes included in Him, blessed be He. And he can draw from there Torah at all times — which is the wisdom and knowledge that gives life, sustains, and governs all the world, for "the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world with the Torah." And then he can draw vitality to all the angels and all the things governed by them as he wills — according to the Torah and knowledge he draws from the nullification. Therefore the human being stands higher than the angels and rules over them and can guide the world as he wills. And this is the aspect of the miracle of Daniel — who was saved from the lions' den. As explained elsewhere, this occurred through his knowing the nature of the lion. The intention is not that he knew the nature of the lion as understood literally, in the manner of natural scientists — G‑d forbid, for by such knowledge it is certainly impossible to be saved from a lion, as is obvious to all. Rather the intention is the true knowledge mentioned above — that he knew the root of the vitality of the nature of every thing at its root — meaning in His knowledge and wisdom, which gives life, sustains, and governs all of nature. And Daniel — through constantly nullifying himself in the Light of the Infinite and drawing from there the knowledge of Torah, from which comes all the power, vitality, and governance of the lion at the root of its nature — for even the angel, which is the intellect that governs the lion in its nature, draws and receives its vitality and intellect from the letters of the Torah, which is the true knowledge that is the root of all — this itself was the aspect of "My G‑d sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions". For this very angel that governs the lion in its nature was receiving its vitality from the knowledge that Daniel merited to attain — therefore Daniel certainly ruled over it. [And through this you can understand the interpretation of what is written in the book Sefer Ha-Middos under the entry "Knowledge," regarding the miracle of Daniel.] It emerges: to whatever degree the person nullifies himself to Him and draws from there Torah — through which he finds consolation from suffering — through this very act he can entirely nullify the sufferings as mentioned, for he rules over the nature of the sufferings through his knowledge, which is the Torah he draws from the impression of the nullification as mentioned. Therefore our Sages of blessed memory truly said: if one has a sick person in his household, let him go to a sage and seek mercy on his behalf — for not everyone merits this ability to rule over nature through his knowledge, only the true wise Tzadik who can nullify himself as mentioned. Therefore all the power of the Tzadik to nullify suffering and illness, G‑d forbid, is through prayer — for the essence of the nullification mentioned occurs at the time of prayer. And so it was with the miracle of Daniel who was saved from the lions' den — all of it was through his abundant prayers, for he greatly multiplied his prayers. Even at the time he was handed over to the king because he prayed to Hashem, blessed be He, he nonetheless did not leave his place and prayed even then, as explained in Scripture. Through this he merited the nullification mentioned in perfection — and through this the miracle occurred as mentioned.

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