T40 (Tinyana) PNC - One Who Tasted Eretz Yisrael Recognizes Who Was with the Tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah

One who knows from Eretz Yisrael — who has truly tasted the taste of Eretz Yisrael — can recognize in another whether he was with a tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah, whether that tzaddik is great or small, whether he is a true tzaddik, even whether the man himself is a tzaddik. Because the taste of Eretz Yisrael can be depicted before anyone who knows the taste of seichel. Only an ish bur (an ignoramus) cannot grasp this; but anyone who knows from seichel — lomdim who feel some taste of seichel in pshat-and-kashya, or scholars in other wisdoms who feel the taste of seichel — can understand the taste of Eretz Yisrael. 'Avira de-Eretz Yisrael machkim' — the air of the Land of Israel makes wise (Bava Basra 158; Zohar Pinchas 245; Tikkun 22). The taste of chochmah and seichel is precious, but the main virtue of Eretz Yisrael's holiness is from Hashem's hashgachah: He gazes on Eretz Yisrael always — 'tamid einei Hashem Elokecha bah me-reishis ha-shanah ve-ad acharis shanah' (Devarim 11:12); through this, Eretz Yisrael is sanctified and its air makes wise. Eyes are named for chochmah — 'va-tipakachna einei shneihem' (Bereshis 3) which Rashi explains: said regarding chochmah. So Hashem's gazing on Eretz Yisrael with His eyes makes its air make wise. Where does this gazing come from above? From Israel's neshamos, in which Hashem glories — 'Yisrael asher becha espa'ar' (Yeshayah 49:3). From this glorying, the form of tefillin (called pe'er, Sukkah 25) is made; tefillin are mochin, entering inward and bursting forth in the eyes. From that, Hashem's hashgachah is made (kivyachol), and from that, Eretz Yisrael's holiness is made — avira de-Eretz Yisrael machkim through the einei hashgachah. That is why it is called Eretz Yisrael — the land receives its kedushah from 'Yisrael asher becha espa'ar.' But not all times are equal. Sometimes one of Israel becomes distant from Hashem, and then the Shechinah cries out 'kallani me-roshi, kallani mi-zro'i' (Sanhedrin 46) — 'me-roshi, mi-zro'i' specifically, the form of tefillin (head and arm). When one of Israel draws close, and another joins, and more and more join who want to serve Him, then His glorying is increased and added — He glories in His people who draw close. Through that glorying, tefillin-mochin are made, and from that the kedushas Eretz Yisrael — avira de-Eretz Yisrael machkim — through einei hashgachah. But who can see this glorying? The one who sees the true tzaddik, who brings people close to His service, and who is himself the principal kirvas Yisrael to their Father in Heaven — he himself is the very glorying Hashem glories with. The one who gazes upon him at the time of gathering, when people gather to hear the word of Hashem (and especially on Rosh HaShanah, the great gathering) — then the glorying is greatest, because many gather who desire to draw close, and the tzaddik's pe'er ve-yofi is increased. The one who truly gazes on this true tzaddik also receives that glorying; tefillin-mochin are made for him too; his eyes too become like einei Hashem; and wherever he gazes, the form of avira de-Eretz Yisrael machkim is made. 'Melech be-yofyo techezenah einecha' (Yeshayah 33:17) — when you merit to see the king in his beauty (the tzaddik in his pe'er, at the gathering, when his beauty is manifest) — through this, 'einecha tirenah eretz merchakim,' the form of Eretz Yisrael, the form of avira de-Eretz Yisrael machkim. Chochmah is called merchakim — 'amarti echkamah ve-hi rechokah mimeni' (Koheles 7:23). One who has yearning for Eretz Yisrael, especially one who has tasted the true taste, when he meets a person who was with a true tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah, is obligated to feel then the taste of Eretz Yisrael — because through that person this air becomes the form of Eretz Yisrael, and his yearning for Eretz Yisrael ought to be aroused, each according to his level. The main thing is that it be in truth and simplicity.

There is also the form of abundant wealth — 've-chesef to'afos lach' (Iyov 22:25) — the language of doubling. With this abundance, his will is fulfilled, since it is doubled (and Rebbe Nachman did not finish the thought; see Likutey Halachos OC Birkat HaMazon 4:16 for a suggested completion).