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!