אות - קל

When I wrote before him (263) the Torah "And these are the laws" [V'aileh HaMishpatim] (Likutay Moharan, section 10, Part One), which begins: "When there are severe decrees, Heaven forbid, against Israel — through dancing and clapping of hands the harsh decrees are sweetened" etc. — he said to me: I said it thus — that now decrees are heard, Heaven forbid, against Israel (264), and behold the days of this Purim are coming near (for this Torah was said near Purim), and Israel will dance and clap hands, and through this the decrees will be sweetened. And he repeated his words and said them again emphatically. And his intent was to arouse our hearts — that we should know and understand that all the words of his holy Torah, even though it contains very great and awesome depth, and supreme mysteries, and secrets of secrets that are deep and wide beyond measure in every single word — even so, his primary intent is that we hear and receive his holy words with simplicity, to observe and do and fulfill all the words of his Torah in simplicity and wholeness. Just as for example this holy Torah — that it was said there that through clapping and dancing the decrees are sweetened — his intent was literally as its plain meaning: that they strengthen themselves to be joyful in times of joy, such as Purim, Chanukah, festivals, or a wedding and the like (265) — all kinds of joyous mitzvos — that they strengthen themselves with great joy until they merit to be aroused to dancing and clapping of hands, and through this the decrees will be sweetened. For all words of Torah — "it is not in the heavens" to say that only great men of ascent can merit to sweeten the decrees through clapping and dancing. Rather every individual of Israel has this power when the words are fulfilled literally in truth and sincerity. And similarly in all the matters stated in that holy Torah mentioned, and similarly everything stated in every Torah — for "not the learning is the main thing but the doing" (Avos 1:17). And look very carefully at every Torah, and direct your heart to understand in every place the practical matters, the advice, the moral teaching, and the arousal that emerge from there according to the plain meaning of the words. And ask of Hashem Yisburach that He illuminate your eyes to merit to this — to understand the matters well for practice. For all his words o.b.m. are all necessary and required for practical advice and good counsel to serve Him blessed He. And even in some places where at first glance it is not well understood how the matter relates to practical service according to one's level — even so, in truth there is wondrous advice there and an awesome arousal to return to Him blessed He from whatever place one is. And if you set your eye and heart there well, you will certainly find there too good advice and paths according to your level. For all his words o.b.m. are a great general principle — and every Torah and Torah comprises the entire Torah. And all people of every level and rank — from the ultimate highest extreme to the ultimate lowest extreme — meaning that with every Torah and discourse of his one can serve Hashem Yisburach who is great in the ultimate greatness; and similarly even the lowly and lowest in the ultimate lowest level can also return to Hashem Yisburach and find advice for his soul through that same Torah. For they are a wondrous generality. 263. RAK: This discourse was said a short time before Purim 5563 in Tirihovitza. 264. RAK: On Simchas Torah 5563 the Czar Alexander I commanded his government to prepare a series of laws aimed at solving "the Jewish problem." This compilation was published under the name "Regulations Concerning the Jews" — and among the Jewish people was called "Punkten." The main ones among them were a regulation concerning compulsory army conscription and a regulation concerning compulsory civil education. 265. RAK: In that year Rabbainu greatly increased his dancing, especially at the wedding of his daughter Sarah.