The Power of Garments

G-dly Soul and animal soul. Will and pleasure. Unity and disparity. Thought and action. In his monumental, classic work - the Tanya - Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) compares and contrasts everything from what goes on within a human being, to what's going on within G-d and his universe. Made up of 5 parts - A Collection of Sayings, The Gate of Unity, Letters on Repentance, Holy Letters, and The Final Collection of Sayings, the first book contains 53 chapters. Early on, in the 4th chapter, the author makes a point so profound - it's almost easy to read right through it and pass over the latent power behind his words. After discussing in Ch. 3 what we're made up of - a "divine soul" & an "animal soul" each made up of 10 faculties, in chapter 4 Rabbi Shneur Zalman discusses the "garments of the soul" which is thought, speech, and action. Surely when one thinks over a Torah thought or says a kind word, or even brings a glass of water to a parent, that's cute and everything, but surely less holy or powerful than the G-dly soul within us....right?

In the words of the holy Rabbi: "Now these 3 "garments," deriving from the Torah & its commandments, although they are called "garments" of the soul, their quality, nevertheless is infinitely higher & greater than that of the soul, as explained in the Zohar, because the Torah and G-d are one." Meaning, as great and as spiritually lofty as the souls within us are, they are still finite. But, when I choose to do, say, or think something from the Torah, I am connecting my soul and body to something truly infinite - because G-d and his wisdom, his Torah, are one and the same, it is connected to his Essence. The power in which Judaism places on proper action in life knows no bounds - it is ALL about this world! So many focus on the "world to come" - on "going to heaven" - but Judaism teaches that this is where it's at! Sure, in the next world, G-dliness is felt and comprehended easier and pleasure is therefore greater, but in terms of true spiritual attainment and accomplishment, nothing beats the opportunity we have in this physical world. There is a Jewish law that says men must tuck in their tzitzit - "fringes" on the sides of their garments, when walking into a cemetery. Why? So as not to arouse any jealousy in heaven, because of the fact that we can do physical mitzvot and they can't anymore!

The author continues: "Hence it has been said (in Ethics of our Fathers 4:17): Better is one hour of repentance & good deeds in this world than the whole life of the world to come" since in heaven one connects to a limited light, whereas G-d's Infinite Essence can be found only in Torah & Mitzvot. But wait a minute! How in the world can we say that G-d's Essence is found in the Torah, one that talks about monetary laws, rituals, holidays, laws of the temple!? By way of analogy, Rabbi Shneur Zalman concludes: "Although the Torah has been clothed in lower material things, it is by way of illustration, like embracing the king. There is no difference, in regard to the degree of closeness and attachment to the king, whether the king is then wearing one robe or several robes, so long as the royal person is in them." G-d is found in his Torah and Mitzvot completely, whether we feel it or not.

May we embrace the king whenever possible, in good thought, speech and deed, binding our small selves with the infinite.

Shabbat Shalom!

The Director

One of the most essential questions human beings wonder, regardless of time or place, is: "What brings happiness, and how do I avoid sadness?"


At first glance, the answer seems to lie on one simple idea: Avoiding pain and unpleasantness. "If I avoid pain, I won't be sad." But as can be seen in our life experiences, this can't be the true answer. Let's take a look at the most human, and most painful, of human experiences: Childbirth. And yet as painful as this experience is, it will be extremely difficult to find a mother who has just given birth, who isn't overcome with an indescribable feeling of joy and contentedness. Clearly, when pain has an underlying meaning and goal behind it, not only is sadness not an outcome; great joy can come! So what causes our sadness and hinders our joy?

To find our answer, let's take a look at the most obvious of sources: The Goliath ride at 6 flags magic mountain. As the ride rises higher and higher, the fear and trepidation mount. Then, at its peak, with a view of the entire Los Angeles skyline, the ride drops at an incredible pace! If you take a look at that moment at the faces of the participants, you will see an odd, paradoxical sight: Looks of sheer terror and joy! How can one possibly be happy at a time like this? Aren't they worried? Well, the ride goers know that there's rules & regulations in place to ensure the safety of the ride. They know that there's constant inspections and oversight, ultimately overseen by a director whose dedication to the well being of the ride goers is paramount.

So too in our lives. When one realizes that there is a Director, an overseer over each event of one's life, than hindrances to joy melt away. Pain, fear, aren't the problems. The problem is that we don't recognize that there is a plan behind it; that there's a director overseeing each aspect of our lives and our ultimate success. That therefore there is meaning behind every one of the challenges and painful experiences we encounter. When we internalize this recognition, when we put faith in trust in our Director, we allow joy to enter our lives, freeing us to ride the roller coaster of life with smiles on our faces.

Shabbat Shalom!

For A Piece of Bread

In this week's Torah portion, Korach, we read about a man who was dissatisfied with Moses and Aaron as the leaders of the Jewish people. Unlike other religious writings, the Torah is unique in its criticism of its "heroes." Moses and the Jewish people constantly mess up, and this is highlighted. There isn't much "sugar coating" going on. But as in life, it is important that one recognize the special qualities of those around us. Yes, Korach rebelled, but his sons repented.

Yes, the Jewish people constantly complained and rebelled, but they also displayed immense faith and trust in G-d by following his commands, like wandering into the dessert toward a distant Israel with barely food or drink. They displayed immense loyalty while enslaved in Egypt, keeping their language, Hebrew names & clothing in a foreign, threatening environment. Indeed, nations claim that G-d has turned his back on the Jewish people because we are "stiff-necked", yet it is precisely because of our "stiff necks" - our stubbornness and unwavering loyalty to the truth, that has ensured our remaining a distinct nation, the trusted nation of G-d and his Torah.



Simon Wiesenthal, the famous Nazi-hunter, once spoke at a conference of European rabbis in Bratislava, Slovakia. The rabbis presented the 91-year-old Wiesenthal with an award, and he, visibly moved, told them the following story.

It was in Mauthausen, shortly after liberation. The camp was visited by Rabbi Eliezer Silver, head of Agudat Harabbanim (Union of Orthodox Rabbis of North America), on a mission to offer aid and comfort to the survivors. Rabbi Silver also organized a special service, and he invited Wiesenthal to join the other survivors in prayer. Wiesenthal declined, and explained why.

“In the camp,” Wiesenthal said to Rabbi Silver, “there was one religious man who somehow managed to smuggle in a siddur (prayer book). At first, I greatly admired the man for his courage—that he’d risked his life in order to bring the siddur in. But the next day I realized, to my horror, that this man was ‘renting out’ this siddur to people in exchange for food. People were giving him their last piece of bread for a few minutes with the prayerbook. This man, who was very thin and emaciated when the whole thing started, was soon eating so much that he died before everyone else—his system couldn’t handle it.”

He continued: “If this is how religious Jews behave, I’m not going to have anything to do with a prayer book.” As Wiesenthal turned to walk away, Rabbi Silver touched him on the shoulder and gently said in Yiddish, “Du dummer (you silly man). Why do you look at the Jew who used his siddur to take food out of starving people’s mouths? Why don’t you look at the many Jews who gave up their last piece of bread in order to be able to use a siddur? That’s faith. That’s the true power of the siddur.” Rabbi Silver then embraced him. “I went to the services the next day,” said Wiesenthal.

This beautiful true story illustrates the importance of seeing the good in each other, focusing on the positive. May we always succeed in seeing the good in our fellow Jew, which as our Sages say, is the ultimate source for bringing Moshiach.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel