לִקּוּטֵי מוֹהֲרַ״ןLikutei Moharan · Shiurim
Likutei Moharan I:14 · תּוֹרָה י״ד✓ watched

תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֶּסֶא וְכוּ'

Honor, Awe and Peace

To draw peace into the world, Hashem's honor must be raised to its root, which is awe. Honor rises when people far from holiness come close through a Torah of kindness, Torah learned in order to teach, and Torah is earned only through humility. Awe brings inner peace between body and soul, inner peace makes prayer possible, and prayer brings peace to all the worlds. The Rebbe finds this path in 'Blow the shofar at the new moon', in two tales of Rabbah bar bar Chanah, in Ashrei, and in the Chanukah light at the door.

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🎧 Listen to the full shiur audio · 40 min 34 s · 18.6 MB

1-minute recap 1 min 7 s · 5.8 MB

Explainer 9 min 36 s · 59.1 MB

Full shiur 40 min 34 s · 68.1 MB

Watch or download in 9 parts
  1. Part 1: Peace Begins with Honor 4 min 59 s▶ Play⬇ 8.3 MB
  2. Part 2: Springs Flowing Outward 3 min 57 s▶ Play⬇ 6.6 MB
  3. Part 3: The Wild Ox as Big as Tabor 4 min 20 s▶ Play⬇ 7.3 MB
  4. Part 4: Taking Off the Soiled Garments 3 min 31 s▶ Play⬇ 6.0 MB
  5. Part 5: Honor, Awe and Two Kinds of Peace 3 min 39 s▶ Play⬇ 6.2 MB
  6. Part 6: Where Heaven and Earth Kiss 4 min 31 s▶ Play⬇ 7.6 MB
  7. Part 7: Blow the Shofar at the New Moon 5 min 54 s▶ Play⬇ 9.8 MB
  8. Part 8: The Chanukah Light at the Door 4 min 56 s▶ Play⬇ 8.4 MB
  9. Part 9: Humility Before Honor 4 min 49 s▶ Play⬇ 8.0 MB
הַמָּקוֹר · Original text 2,821 words
א׳

לְשׁוֹן רַבֵּנוּ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֶּסֶא וְכוּ' (תהלים פא).

א לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם צָרִיךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת כְּבוֹד הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־ הוּא לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, הַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (דברים כ״ח:נ״ח): לְיִרְאָה אֶת הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד:

ב׳

ב וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת הַכָּבוֹד אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹרַת חֶסֶד, וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד – אָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סוכה מט:): זֶהוּ הַלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה עַל־מְנָת לְלַמְּדָהּ, כִּי זֶה עִקַּר כְּבוֹדוֹ, כַּמּוּבָא בַּזֹּהַר (יתרו דף סט.): בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּשְׁאָר עַכּוּ"ם אָתְיַן וְאוֹדָן לְקֻדְשָׁא־ בְּרִיךְ־הוּא, כְּדֵין אִסְתַּלֵּק וְאִתְיַקֵּר שְׁמָא דְּקֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא עֵלָּא וְתַתָּא, כְּמוֹ גַּבֵּי יִתְרוֹ: בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר יִתְרוֹ: עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי גָדוֹל ה' מִכָּל הָאֱלֹקִים, כְּדֵין אִסְתַּלֵּק וְאִתְיַקֵּר שְׁמָא דְּקֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־ הוּא.

נִמְצָא, זֶהוּ כְּבוֹדוֹ, כְּשֶׁבְּנֵי־אָדָם שֶׁהֵם מִחוּץ לַקְּדֻשָּׁה מְקָרְבִין אֶת עַצְמָן לִפְנִים מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה, הֵן גֵּרִים שֶׁמְּגַיְּרִין, הֵן בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה, שֶׁגַּם הֵם הָיוּ מִבַּחוּץ, וּכְשֶׁמְּקָרְבִין וּמַכְנִיסִים אוֹתָם לִפְנִים – זֶהוּ כְּבוֹדוֹ:

וְעַכְשָׁו הַכָּבוֹד בַּגָּלוּת, כִּי עִקַּר הַכָּבוֹד אֵצֶל הָעַכּוּ"ם, וַאֲנַחְנוּ בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁפָלִים וְנִבְזִים, וְלֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה כְּבוֹדוֹ מִבֵּין הַחשֶׁךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו מ׳:ה׳): וְנִגְלָה כְּבוֹד ה' וְכוּ', כִּי אָז יַטּוּ כֻּלָּם לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד, אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה בְּאוֹר ה' (שם ב). וְכָבוֹד נִקְרָא אוֹר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (יחזקאל מ״ג:ב׳): וְהָאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבוֹדוֹ:

ג׳

ג וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְקָרֵב אֶת הַגֵּרִים עִם בַּעֲלֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (משלי ה׳:ט״ז): יָפוּצוּ מַעְיְנוֹתֶיךָ חוּצָה, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַשְׁקוֹת אוֹתָם שֶׁהֵם מִבַּחוּץ, לְהוֹדִיעַ לָהֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ יֵלְכוּ בָהּ.

וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (אבות ו): אֵין כָּבוֹד אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה. וְזֶהוּ (ירמיהו ט״ו:י״ט): אִם תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל, וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ב"מ פה.): אֵלּוּ שֶׁמְּקָרְבִין בְּנֵי־אָדָם לַעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ; כִּי זֶהוּ נִקְרָא מוֹצִיא יָקָר, הַיְנוּ כָּבוֹד, מִזּוֹלֵל – מִזִּילוּתָא דְּגָלוּתָא.

וְזֶה (תהילים קי״ג:ד׳): רָם עַל כָּל גּוֹיִם ה'; הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁהָעַכּוּ"ם מוֹדָן וּמְשַׁבְּחִין לֵהּ, אֲזַי: עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ – אֲזַי נִתְעַלֶּה הַכָּבוֹד מֵהַחשֶׁךְ.

וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לָבוֹא לְהִתְעוֹרְרוּת הַתְּשׁוּבָה, הֵן לְרִשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֵן לַגֵּרִים, אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁמְּאִירִין לָהֶם אֶל מָקוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: יָפוּצוּ וְכוּ' חוּצָה, חוּצָה דַּיְקָא, כִּי הַתּוֹרָה הֵם שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא אוֹתִיּוֹת, כְּנֶגֶד שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת, וְיֵשׁ לְכָל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֹׁרֶשׁ לְמַעְלָה בְּמַּחֲשָׁבָה דְּקֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא, כִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלוּ בַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה (ב"ר פרשה א).

וְעַל־יְדֵי זִוּוּג הַנְּשָׁמוֹת נִבְרָאִים נִשְׁמוֹת גֵּרִים, וּכְשֶׁנִּתְעוֹרְרִים הַנְּשָׁמוֹת עַל־יְדֵי אוֹתִיּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהוֹצִיא מִפִּיו וּמִתְנוֹצְצִים זֶה לָזֶה, זֶה בְּחִינַת זִוּוּג, שֶׁזֶּה מְקַבֵּל הֶאָרָה מִזֶּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַזִּוּוּג שֶׁל הִתְנוֹצְצוּת הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֶׁבַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה נִבְרָאִים נִשְׁמוֹת גֵּרִים.

גַּם הַפּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁשֵּׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרָא עָלָיו (כִּי נִקְרָא פּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, נִמְצָא שֶׁשֵּׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרָא עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים עָלָיו עֲדַיִן, מֵאַחַר שֶׁנִּקְרָא פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁחָטָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא (סנהדרין מד.); יֵשׁ לוֹ אֲחִיזָה וְשֹׁרֶשׁ בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה עֶלְיוֹנָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַהִתְנוֹצְצוּת הִתְנוֹצֵץ גַּם שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ בֵּין שְׁאָר הַשָּׁרָשִׁים, וּמַגִּיעַ הֶאָרָה לְזֶה הַפּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, וְעַל־יְדֵי הֶאָרָה הַזֹּאת חוֹזֵר בִּתְשׁוּבָה:

ד׳

ד וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (נדרים פא.): מִפְּנֵי מָה תַּלְמִידֵי־חֲכָמִים אֵין בְּנֵיהֶם תַּלְמִידֵי־חֲכָמִים – מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה; שֶׁצָּרִיךְ כָּל אָדָם, וּבִפְרָט תַּלְמִיד־ חָכָם, לְבָרֵךְ וּלְהָאִיר בְּלִמּוּד תּוֹרָתוֹ בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, הַיְנוּ בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה, כִּי שָׁם שָׁרְשֵׁנוּ.

נִמְצָא, כְּשֶׁמֵּבִיא הֶאָרָה וּבְרָכָה לְתוֹךְ תְּחִלַּת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה, וְעַל־יָדוֹ מִתְנוֹצְצִין וּמִתְבָּרְכִין הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, נִמְצָא כְּשֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ נְשָׁמָה לִבְנוֹ, בְּוַדַּאי הוּא מַמְשִׁיךְ נְשָׁמָה בְּהִירָה וְזַכָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה גַּם בְּנוֹ יִהְיֶה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם;

אֲבָל כְּשֶׁאֵין מֵאִיר וּמְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַתְּחִלָּה עַל־יְדֵי לִמּוּדוֹ, אָז כְּשֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ נְשָׁמָה לִבְנוֹ, הַנְּשָׁמָה הִיא בִּבְחִינַת (שיר השירים ה׳:ב׳): אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה, וְאֵינָהּ מְאִירָה, מִפְּנֵי זֶה לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּנוֹ תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם, וְזֶה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה, הַיְנוּ שֹׁרֶשׁ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, בִּבְחִינַת: יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלָה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה:

ה׳

ה וְאֵין אָדָם זוֹכֶה לְתוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי שִׁפְלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עירובין נד): וּמִמִּדְבָּר מַתָּנָה – שֶׁיְּשַׁבֵּר גַּאֲוָתוֹ מֵאַרְבַּע בְּחִינוֹת שִׁפְלוּת, כִּי צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם לְהַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ לִפְנֵי גְּדוֹלִים מִמֶּנּוּ, וְלִפְנֵי בְּנֵי־אָדָם כְּעֶרְכּוֹ, וְלִפְנֵי קְטַנִּים מִמֶּנּוּ, וְלִפְעָמִים, שֶׁהוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ קָטָן שֶׁבִּקְּטַנִּים, וְצָרִיךְ לְהַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּנֶגֶד מַדְרֵגַת עַצְמוֹ, וִידַמֶּה בְּעֵינָיו שֶׁהוּא לְמַטָּה מִמַּדְרֵגָתוֹ, בִּבְחִינַת (שמות ט״ז:כ״ט): שְׁבוּ אִישׁ תַּחְתָּיו:

וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר־חָנָה:

לְדִידִי חָזֵי לִי הַאי אוּרְזִילָא בַּר־יוֹמָא, דַּהֲוֵי כְּהַר־תָּבוֹר. וְהַר־תָּבוֹר כַּמָּה הֲוֵי, אַרְבָּעָה פַּרְסֵי. וּבֵי מַשְׁכָא דְּצַוְּארֵהּ תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי, וּבֵי מַרְבַּעְתָּא דְּרֵישֵׁהּ פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָּא. וּרְמָא כּוּפְתָּא וְסָכְרָא לְיַרְדְּנָא.

אוּרְזִילָא בַּר־יוֹמָא – הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת כָּבוֹד, שֶׁהוּא בָּעַכּוּ"ם, בְּזִּלוּתָא. וְזֶה: אוּר זִילָא. אוּר הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת כָּבוֹד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהָאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבוֹדוֹ. וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא בַּר־יוֹמָא – כִּי לֹא יִתְגַּלֶּה הַכָּבוֹד אֶלָּא בְּבִיאַת מְשִׁיחֵנוּ, וּכְתִיב בֵּהּ: אֵימָתַי יָבוֹא מַר – הַיּוֹם; הַיּוֹם אִם בְּקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ (כמשארז"ל סנהדרין צח.); וּבְכָל יוֹם מוּכָן הַכָּבוֹד לָצֵאת מִזִּילוּתָא.

וַהֲוָה כְּהַר־תָּבוֹר – שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁהַעֲלָאַת הַכָּבוֹד תָּלוּי בָּזֶה שֶׁאָדָם מְשַׁבֵּר גַּאֲוָתוֹ; כְּפִי הִשְׁתַּבְּרוּת גַּאֲוָתוֹ, כֵּן הוּא הַעֲלָאַת הַכָּבוֹד, כִּי כְּבוֹדוֹ נִתְעַלֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַתּוֹרָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְאֵין אָדָם זוֹכֶה לַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי שִׁפְלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וּמִמִּדְבָּר מַתָּנָה. וְזֶה: הַר תָּבוֹר – הַר לְשׁוֹן גַּדְלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים ל׳:ח׳): הֶעֱמַדְתָּ לְהַרְרִי עֹז, וְתָבוֹר לְשׁוֹן שְׁבִירָה.

וְהַר תָּבוֹר כַּמָּה הֲוָה אַרְבַּע פַּרְסֵי – הַיְנוּ אַרְבַּע בְּחִינוֹת שִׁפְלוּת הַנַּ"ל, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַקְטִין לִפְנֵי צַדִּיקִים, בֵּינוֹנִים, רְשָׁעִים, וְלִפְנֵי מַדְרֵגַת עַצְמוֹ, וְשֶׁיִּדְמֶּה בְּעֵינָיו כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא עֲדַיִן לִפְנֵי מַדְרֵגָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא בָּהּ. וְזֶה: הַר־תָּבוֹר אַרְבַּע פַּרְסֵי – שֶׁשְּׁבִירַת הַגַּדְלוּת הֵם בְּאַרְבַּע בְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל.

וּמַשְׁכָא דְּצַוְּארֵהּ תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי – זֶה בְּחִינַת הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי־אָדָם לְהִתְגַּדֵּל בָּהֶם, הֵם שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים, וְצָרִיךְ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מֵהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ירמיהו ט׳:כ״ב): אַל יִתְהַלֵּל חָכָם בְּחָכְמָתוֹ וְכוּ', וְהֵם שָׁלשׁ בְּחִינוֹת: חָכָם, גִּבּוֹר, עָשִׁיר. וְהַגַּדְלוּת נִקְרָא מַשְׁכָא דְּצַוָּארָא, בִּבְחִינַת (תהילים ע״ה:ו׳): תְּדַבְּרוּ בְצַוָּאר עָתָק.

וּמַרְבַּעְתָּא דְּרֵישֵׁהּ פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָּא – זֶה בְּחִינַת זִוּוּג, הַנַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה. מַרְבַּעְתָּא – לְשׁוֹן זִוּוּג, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם קלט): אָרְחִי וְרִבְעִי; וְעַל־יְדֵי זִוּוּג הַזֶּה נַעֲשֶׂה פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָּא; פַּרְסָה, זֶה רֶמֶז עַל הַמְשָׁכַת הַנְּשָׁמוֹת לִבְנֵיהֶם, זֶה מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם פַּרְסָה שְׁלֵמָה; וְהִתְנוֹצְצוּת שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמוֹת מִתְנוֹצְצִין וּמְאִירִין וּמְעוֹרְרִין אֶת הַפּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּמוֹלִידִין נִשְׁמוֹת גֵּרִים, זֶה מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם פַּלְגָּא,

כִּי עֲדַיִן רְחוֹקִים מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה מְאֹד וְיָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת לָהֶם מְנִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת, וְצָרִיךְ לָהֶם יְגִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁיט מֵהֶם הַבְּגָדִים צוֹאִים שֶׁהִלְבִּישׁוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (זכריה ג׳:ד׳): הָסִירוּ הַבְּגָדִים הַצֹּאִים; כִּי אֵלּוּ הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים הֵם מוֹנְעִים אוֹתָם מִלַּחֲזֹר לַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, וְהֵם מַפְסִיקִים כְּמוֹ נָהָר הַמַּפְסִיק, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַהֲלֹךְ דֶּרֶךְ אוֹתוֹ הַנָּהָר, וְצָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים. וְזֶה:

רְמָא כּוּפְתָּא וְסַכְרָא לְיַרְדְּנָא – עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמַּפְשִׁיטִין וּמַשְׁלִיכִין מֵעֲלֵיהֶם הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים, נִתְבַּטְּלִים כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהַמָּסַכִים הַמַּבְדִּילִים בֵּינָם לְבֵין הַקְּדֻשָּׁה. וְזֶה:

וְסַכְרָא לְיַרְדְּנָא – כִּי הַיַּרְדֵּן מַפְסִיק בֵּין קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְחוּץ־ לָאָרֶץ. וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָאִים בְּשֵׁם פַּלְגָּא, כִּי עֲדַיִן צָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ מֵהֶם הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים, כְּדֵי לְהָסִיר הַמַּפְסִיקִים וְהַמּוֹנְעִים וְהַמָּסַכִּים הַמַּבְדִּילִים בֵּינָם לְבֵין הַקְּדֻשָּׁה. אֲבָל, אֵלּוּ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֶׁתַּלְמִידֵי־חֲכָמִים מַמְשִׁיכִין לִבְנֵיהֶם כַּנַּ"ל, זֶה מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם פַּרְסָה שְׁלֵמָה, כִּי אֵין לָהֶם מָסַכִים הַמַּבְדִּילִים.

וְזֶה: וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ – כַּבְּדֵהוּ בִּכְסוּת נָקִי, (כְּמוֹ שֶׁדָרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה עַל פָּסוּק: וְלִקְדֹשׁ ה' מְכוּבָּד וְכוּ'). כְסוּת נָקִי – הַיְנוּ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים, כִּי זֶה עִקַּר כְּבוֹד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, אִם תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל, לְהַחֲזִיר בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ נִשְׁמוֹת הַגֵּרִים.

וְגֵרִים שֶׁמִּתְגַּיְּרִין הֵם בָּאִים תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָא גֵּר־צֶדֶק (כמובא בהקדמת הזוהר דף ו). וְזֶה שֶׁמּוּבָא בַּזֹּהַר (יתרו ברעיא מהימנא דף צג.): כְּסוּת נָקִי דָּא כַּנְפֵי מִצְוָה, הַיְנוּ שְׁכִינָה, הַנִּקְרֵאת מִצְוָה, בִּבְחִינוֹת (תהילים קי״ט:קע״ב): כָּל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ צֶדֶק. וְזֶהוּ: וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ; שֶׁזֶּה עִקַּר כְּבוֹדוֹ, שֶׁיַּכְנִיס גֵּרִים תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה כַּנַּ"ל:

ו׳

ו וְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ יָכוֹל לֵידַע הַעֲלָאַת הַכָּבוֹד לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה. לְפִי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד אֶת יִרְאֵי־הַשֵּׁם, כֵּן עָלָה הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, כִּי שָׁם שֹׁרֶשׁ הַכָּבוֹד, בִּבְחִינַת (שם טו): וְאֶת יִרְאֵי ה' יְכַבֵּד. כִּי כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַכָּבוֹד הוּא בַּגָּלוּת, כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ, הוּא מְזַלְזֵל בְּיִרְאֵי ה', וְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי תִּקּוּנוֹ אֶת הַכָּבוֹד, כֵּן הוּא מְכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה':

ז׳

ז וְעִקַּר הַדָּבָר – שֶׁיְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה' בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (קידושין לב:): דָּבָר הַמָּסוּר לַלֵּב, נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹקֶיךָ; וְשָׁם עִקַּר הַכָּבוֹד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו כ״ט:י״ג): בִּשְׂפָתָיו כִּבְּדוּנִי וְלִבּוֹ רִחַק מִמֶּנִּי:

ח׳

ח כְּשֶׁמַּחֲזִיר הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, הַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְאָז נִשְׁלָם פִּגְמֵי הַיִּרְאָה, וְאָז זוֹכֶה לְשָׁלוֹם.

וְיֵשׁ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי שָׁלוֹם: יֵשׁ שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, כִּי תְּחִלָּה צָרִיךְ אָדָם לִרְאוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, כִּי לִפְעָמִים אֵין שָׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהלים לח): אֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמַי מִפְּנֵי חַטָּאתִי; וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה, זוֹכֶה לְשָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר (יתרו דף עט.): בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִית דְּחִילָא, תַּמָּן תִּשְׁתַּכַּח שְׁלִמְתָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם לד): כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו.

כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, אָז יָכוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל. כִּי עִקַּר הַתְּפִלָּה עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה, בִּבְחִינַת (משלי לא): אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת ה' הִיא תִתְהַלָּל, כִּי הַתְּפִלָּה בִּמְקוֹם קָרְבָּן, וּבְקָרְבָּן כְּתִיב בֵּהּ (ויקרא כא): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ מוּם לֹא יִקְרָב; וּכְשֶׁאֵין בּוֹ מוּם, הַיְנוּ בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִית דְּחִילָא, אֲזַי יִקְרַב לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ תַּמָּה.

וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּחַנָּה (שמואל־א א): וְחַנָּה מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל לִבָּהּ – עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה זָכְתָה לִתְפִלָּה, כִּי עִקַּר הַיִּרְאָה הוּא בַּלֵּב כַּנַּ"ל,

וְעַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּה זוֹכֶה לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, הַיְנוּ שְׁלֵמוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת, כִּי עַל שֵׁם זֶה תְּפִלָּה נִקְרָא קָרְבָּן, עַל שֵׁם קֵרוּב הָעוֹלָמוֹת לִשְׁלֵמוּתָן:

ט׳

ט וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר־חָנָה: אֲמַר לִי הַהוּא טַיְעָא: תָּא וְאַחַוֵי לָךְ הֵיכֵי דְּנַשְּׁקֵי אַרְעָא וּרְקִיעַ בַּהֲדָדֵי. אֲזַלִי וַחֲזָאֵי, דְּעָבִיד כַּוֵּי כַּוֵּי. שַׁקְלִית לְסַלְתָּאִי וְאַנַּחְתִּיהָ בְּכַוְתָא דִּרְקִיעָא. בַּהֲדֵי דִּמְצַלֵּינָא בָּעוּתָא וְלֹא אַשְׁכְּחִיתָהּ. אֲמְרֵי: אִיכָּא גַּנְבֵי הָכָא. אֲמַר לִי: גַּלְגַּלָּא דִּרְקִיעַ הוּא דְּהָדַר. נְטַר עַד לְמָחָר כִּי הַשְׁתָּא, וּמַשְׁכַּח לָהּ:

דְּנַשְׁקֵי אַרְעָא וּרְקִיעָא – זֶה בְּחִינַת שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו. אַרְעָא זֶה בְּחִינַת גּוּף, רְקִיעָא זֶה בְּחִינַת נְשָׁמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהלים נ): יִקְרָא אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל – זֶה הַנְּשָׁמָה; וְאֶל הָאָרֶץ – זֶה הַגּוּף (סנהדרין צא:).

וּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ בֵּינֵיהֶם שָׁלוֹם, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: עֲבִידֵי כַּוֵּי – עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה תְּפִלָּה, כַּנַּ"ל, בִּבְחִינַת (דניאל ו): וְכַוִּין פְּתִיחָן לֵהּ בְּעִלִּיתֵהּ.

וְשַׁקְלֵית לְסַלְתָּאִי וְאַנַּחְתִּיהָ בְּכַוְתָא דִּרְקִיעַ – סַלְתָּא זֶה פַּרְנָסָה, כְּמוֹ מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פַּת בְּסַלּוֹ (יומא עד:),

הַיְנוּ שֶׁלֹּא רָצָה לַעֲסֹק בְּשׁוּם עֵסֶק מֵעִסְקֵי עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, רַק בִּשְׁבִיל נִשְׁמָתוֹ. גַּם כָּל תְּפִלּוֹתָיו לֹא הָיוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל לְקַשֵּׁר נִשְׁמָתוֹ, אֲפִלּוּ אֵלּוּ תְּפִלּוֹת הַמְפֹרָשִׁים בַּתְּפִלָּה שֶׁהֵם לְצֹרֶךְ הַגּוּף, כְּגוֹן רְפָאֵינוּ וּבָרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ וּשְׁאָר צָרְכֵי הַגּוּף, לֹא הָיָה כַּוָּנָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבָּה בַּר בַּר־חָנָה בִּשְׁבִיל גּוּפוֹ, אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל נִשְׁמָתוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה מְכַוֵּן לְפַרְנָסַת נִשְׁמָתוֹ וְלִרְפוּאָתָהּ. וְזֶה:

וְשַׁקְלֵית לְסַלְתָּאִי וְאַנַּחְתִּיהָ בְּכַוְתָא דִּרְקִיעַ – שֶׁשָּׁקַל לַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁהוּא לְצֹרֶךְ הַגּוּף, וְאַנְחָהּ בִּתְפִלָּה, הַכֹּל לְצֹרֶךְ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, כִּי מִמֵּילָא כְּשֶׁנִּתְקָן שָׁם בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת, נִתְקָן גַּם בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת.

וְעַד דִּמְצַלֵּינָא בָּעוּתִי לָא אַשְׁכְּחָה – הַיְנוּ אַחַר־כָּךְ לֹא מָצָא כְּדֵי פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁתִּקֵּן בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן לֹא נִמְשַׁךְ לוֹ שֶׁפַע בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת.

אָמַר: אִיכָּא גַּנְבָא הָכָא, שֶׁגּוֹנְבִים הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁלִּי. הֵשִׁיב לוֹ:

גַּלְגַּלָּא דִּרְקִיעַ דְּהַדְרָא – הַיְנוּ גִּלְגּוּלִין דְּנִשְׁמָתִין, הִיא הַגּוֹרֶמֶת שֶׁאֵין לַצַּדִּיק כְּדֵי פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב גַּבֵּי רַבִּי פְּדָת (תענית כה.): אִי בָּעִית דְּאִחְרוּב עָלְמָא, וְאֶפְשָׁר דְּאִיבְרֵית בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּמְזוֹנָא:

וְזֶה (בראשית ו): קִנִּים תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה. אִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (ב"ר פרשה לא): מַה קִּנִּים מְטַהֲרִין אֶת הַמְצֹרָע, אַף תֵּבָתְךָ מְטַהַרְתְּךָ. הַמְצֹרָע, זֶה: נִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף (משלי טז), וּמַפְרִיד בֵּין אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב (ערכין טז.), וְקִנִּים מְטַהֲרִים אוֹתוֹ; אַף תֵּבָתְךָ, הַיְנוּ תֵּבַת הַתְּפִלָּה, מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת וְעוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, שָׁלוֹם בְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת. וְזֶה שֶׁמְּסַיְּמִין הַתְּפִלָּה בְּשָׁלוֹם:

י׳

י וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ

תִּקְעוּ – לְשׁוֹן שָׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו כ״ב:כ״ג): וּתְקַעְתִּיו יָתֵד בְּמָקוֹם נֶאֱמָן.

בַּחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר – בְּהִתְפָּאֲרוּת חָדָשׁ, הַיְנוּ הִתְעַלּוּת כְּבוֹדוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הִתְקָרְבוּת הַגֵּרִים אוֹ בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה.

בַּכֶּסֶא – זֶה בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ הַכָּבוֹד; וְכֶסֶא לְשׁוֹן הִתְכַּסְיָא, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת: "דָּבָר הַמָּסוּר לַלֵּב, נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹקֶיךָ", שֶׁזֶּה הַדָּבָר מְכֻסֶּה מֵעֵין כֹּל.

לְיוֹם – זֶה בְּחִינַת שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת, כִּי יוֹם הוּא בְּחִינַת אוֹר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית א׳:ה׳): וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹקִים לָאוֹר יוֹם, וְאוֹר הוּא שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת כג:): נֵר־שַׁבָּת קוֹדֵם לְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם, כִּי שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת קוֹדֵם.

חַגֵּנוּ – זֶה בְּחִינַת תְּפִלָּה, עֲבוֹדָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (פסחים קיח.): לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָּרָשַׁת עַכּוּ"ם לְמוֹעֲדִים, לוֹמַר: כָּל הַמְבַזֶּה אֶת הַמּוֹעָדוֹת, כְּאִלּוּ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים. נִמְצָא, שְׁמִירַת הַמּוֹעֵד זֶה בְּחִינַת עֲבוֹדָה תַּמָּה, וְאֵין עֲבוֹדָה אֶלָּא תְּפִלָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּה יָבוֹא לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי כַּנַּ"ל.

נִמְצָא, מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, צָרִיךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, הַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה הוּא זוֹכֶה לִשְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת, וְעַל־יְדֵי שְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת הוּא זוֹכֶה לִתְפִלָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּה הוּא זוֹכֶה לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי:

י״א

יא זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה שַׁיָּךְ עַל פְּסוּקִים אֵלּוּ (תהילים קמ״ה:ט׳): טוֹב ה' לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו וְכוּ'.

טוֹב ה' לַכֹּל – זֶה בְּחִינַת תְּפִלָּה, שֶׁמַּאֲמִין בַּה', שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא טוֹב לַכֹּל – הֵן לִרְפוּאָה, הֵן לְפַרְנָסָה, הֵן לְכָל הַדְּבָרִים. כְּשֶׁמַּאֲמִין כָּךְ, בְּוַדַּאי יִהְיֶה עִקַּר הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתוֹ בָּתַר קֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא, וְלֹא יִרְדֹּף אַחַר תַּחְבּוּלוֹת רַבּוֹת; כִּי מִי שֶׁאֵין מַאֲמִין בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל אַחַר תַּחְבּוּלוֹת רַבּוֹת. לְמָשָׁל, כְּשֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִרְפוּאָה, צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל אַחַר עֲשָׂבִים רַבִּים, וְלִפְעָמִים אֵלּוּ עֲשָׂבִים הַצְּרִיכִים לוֹ אֵינָם בַּנִּמְצָא בִּמְדִינָתוֹ, וְהָעֲשָׂבִים הַנִּמְצָאִים אֵינָם טוֹבִים לְמַכָּתוֹ. אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא טוֹב לְכָל הַמַּכּוֹת לְרַפְּאוֹתָם, וְהוּא בַּנִּמְצָא תָּמִיד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (דברים ד׳:ז׳): מִי כַּה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ בְּכָל קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו.

וְעַל־יְדֵי הַתְּפִלָּה זוֹכֶה לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי. וְזֶה: וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו; הַיְנוּ שֶׁרַחֲמֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ יִתְמַשֵּׁךְ עַל כָּל הַבְּרוּאִים, וְכָל הַבְּרוּאִים יְרַחֲמוּ אֶחָד עַל חֲבֵרוֹ, וְיִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו י״א:ו׳): וְגָר זְאֵב עִם כֶּבֶשׂ וְנָמֵר עִם גְּדִי וְכוּ', לֹא יָרֵעוּ וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתוּ, כִּי יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם. וְזֶה: וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קנא:): כָּל הַמְרַחֵם עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, מְרַחֲמִין עָלָיו מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְנָתַן לְךָ רַחֲמִים וְרִחֲמֶךָ.

וְאַחַר־כָּךְ מְפָרֵשׁ הַפָּסוּק אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה לִתְפִלָּה – עַל־יְדֵי שְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת יְהֵא שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, בֵּין גּוּפוֹ וְנַפְשׁוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה: יוֹדוּךָ כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ. מַעֲשֶׂיךָ זֶה בְּחִינַת עֲשִׂיָּה, בְּחִינַת גּוּף;

וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרְכוּכָה – חֲסִידֶיךָ זֶה בְּחִינַת נֶפֶשׁ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (משלי י״א:י״ז): גֹּמֵל נַפְשׁוֹ אִישׁ חֶסֶד.

וְאַחַר־כָּךְ מְפָרֵשׁ הַפָּסוּק, אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה לִשְׁלוֹם־ בַּיִת – עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה כְּבוֹד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה, הַנִּקְרָאִים גְּבוּרוֹת. וְזֶהוּ: כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ – שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה כְּבוֹדוֹ וְיִתְעַלֶּה לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ; וְזֶהוּ: וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּרוּ. וּגְבוּרָה זֶה בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות נט.): וֶאֱלֹקִים עָשָׂה שֶׁיִּירְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו – אֵלּוּ רְעָמִים, וּכְתִיב (איוב כ״ו:י״ד): וְרַעַם גְּבוּרוֹתָיו מִי יִתְבּוֹנָן: (מִסִּימָן יב עַד כָּאן – לְשׁוֹנוֹ זַ"ל)

י״ב

יב וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מִצְוַת נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁמִּצְוָתָהּ לְהַדְלִיק סָמוּךְ לְפֶתַח הַבַּיִת. כִּי הַדְלָקַת הַנֵּר הוּא בְּחִינַת הֶאָרַת הַכָּבוֹד, בְּחִינַת: וְהָאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבוֹדוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן מִצְוָתָהּ לְהַדְלִיק סָמוּךְ לְפֶתַח הַבַּיִת – דָּא פִּתְחָא עִלָּאָה, בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, הַיְנוּ לְהַחֲזִיר הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל.

וְאֵימָתַי עוֹלֶה הַכָּבוֹד, כְּשֶׁמַּחֲזִירִין בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה וְעוֹשִׂין בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה וְגֵרִים, שֶׁזֶּה עִקַּר כְּבוֹדוֹ כַּנַּ"ל.

וְזֶהוּ שֶׁזְּמַן הַדְלָקַת נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁהוּא הֶאָרַת הַכָּבוֹד, הוּא מִשְּׁעַת יְצִיאַת הַכּוֹכָבִים, עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק (שבת כא: ובשו"ע סי' תרעב). יְצִיאַת הַכּוֹכָבִים זֶה בְּחִינַת (דניאל י״ב:ג׳): מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים; דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁהֵם מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים וְעוֹשִׂין בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה וְגֵרִים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מֵאִיר הַכָּבוֹד וְחוֹזֵר לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, שֶׁהוּא הַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זוֹכִין לְשָׁלוֹם, וְנִתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת כַּנַּ"ל.

וְזֶהוּ: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק (הַשּׁוּק הוּא מְקוֹמוֹת הַחִיצוֹנִים). רֶגֶל זֶה בְּחִינַת: נִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף הַנַּ"ל, דְּהַיְנוּ בַּעֲלֵי לְשׁוֹן הָרָע וּמַחֲלֹקֶת, הַהוֹלְכִים וּמְרַגְּלִים וּמְדַבְּרִים רְכִילוּת וְלָשׁוֹן הָרָע וְעוֹשִׂין מְרִיבָה וּמַחֲלֹקֶת בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ וּבֵין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, בְּחִינַת (תהילים ט״ו:ג׳): לֹא רָגַל עַל לְשׁוֹנוֹ.

וְזֶהוּ שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהָאִיר וּלְהַדְלִיק נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה סָמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח, דְּהַיְנוּ לְהָאִיר הַכָּבוֹד וּלְהַחֲזִירוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל, עַד שֶׁיִּזְכֶּה לְשָׁלוֹם וִיבַטֵּל וִיכַלֶּה הַ"נִּרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף". וְזֶהוּ: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק – שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל בַּעֲלֵי לְשׁוֹן הָרָע וּרְכִילוּת, אֲשֶׁר רָגַל עַל לְשׁוֹנָם, וְיִתְרַבֶּה הַשָּׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם:

וְעַל־יְדֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם זוֹכִין לִתְפִלָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־ זֶה זוֹכִין לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, שָׁלוֹם בְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת. וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁזּוֹכִין לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, אֲזַי יִתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן מִן הָעוֹלָם, כִּי כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הוּא מֵהֶעְדֵּר הַשָּׁלוֹם, כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רְצוֹן הַמּוֹכֵר וְהַקּוֹנֶה שָׁוֶה, כִּי זֶה רוֹצֶה לִמְכֹּר וְזֶה רוֹצֶה לִקְנוֹת, וְאִם הָיָה רְצוֹנָם שָׁוֶה, לֹא הָיָה אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נַעֲשֶׂה שׁוּם מַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן.

נִמְצָא, שֶׁכָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן וְהַסְּחוֹרוֹת הוּא רַק עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת מַחֲלֹקוֹת, שֶׁאֵין שָׁלוֹם בֵּין הָרְצוֹנוֹת. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (בראשית י״ג:ז׳): וַיְהִי רִיב בֵּין רֹעֵי מִקְנֵה אַבְרָם וּבֵין רֹעֵי מִקְנֵה לוֹט, וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי אָז בָּאָרֶץ. כְּנַעֲנִי, בְּחִינַת סוֹחֵר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י עַל פָּסוּק (הושע י״ב:ח׳): כְּנַעַן בְּיָדוֹ וְכוּ', הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת רִיב וּמַחֲלֹקֶת, בְּחִינַת: וַיְהִי רִיב וְכוּ', עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי אָז בָּאָרֶץ – עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יֵשׁ סוֹחֲרִים וּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן בָּעוֹלָם;

אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַשָּׁלוֹם הַמֻּפְלָא בָּעוֹלָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְגָר זְאֵב עִם כֶּבֶשׂ וְנָמֵר עִם גְּדִי; אֲזַי יִתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (זכריה י״ד:כ״א): וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כְּנַעֲנִי עוֹד כַּנַּ"ל.

וְזֶהוּ גַּם כֵּן בְּחִינַת: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק, הַיְנוּ שֶׁמִּצְוָה לְהַדְלִיק נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הַחֲזָרַת הַכָּבוֹד כַּנַּ"ל, עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק – שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁאֵר שׁוּם רֶגֶל בַּשּׁוּק, כִּי יִתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא־וּמַתָּן עַל־יְדֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם כַּנַּ"ל:

י״ג

יג שַׁיָּךְ לְעֵיל:

לְפִי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה', כֵּן עָלָה הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ. כִּי כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַכָּבוֹד הוּא בְּגָלוּת, כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ, כֵּן הוּא מְזַלְזֵל בְּיִרְאֵי ה', וְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי תִּקּוּנוֹ אֶת הַכָּבוֹד, כֵּן הוּא מְכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה' וְכוּ',

וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה', שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת הַחֲזָרַת הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זוֹכִין לְשָׁלוֹם, כַּמְבֹאָר לְעֵיל הֵיטֵב.

וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת קיט:): הַמְבַזֶּה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם, אֵין רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּתוֹ; כִּי הַמְבַזֶּה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם וּמְזַלְזֵל יִרְאֵי ה', נִמְצָא שֶׁפּוֹגֵם בַּכָּבוֹד, וְאֵינוֹ מַחֲזִירוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה, וַאֲזַי אֵין זוֹכֶה לְשָׁלוֹם, וְעַל כֵּן אֵין רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּתוֹ,

כִּי כָּל הַחוֹלַאַת בָּאִין עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת מַחֲלֹקֶת, כִּי כָּל הַחוֹלַאַת הֵם בְּחִינַת מַחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁאֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, וְהַיְסוֹדוֹת מִתְגַּבְּרִין זֶה עַל זֶה וְאֵין מִתְנַהֲגִים בְּשָׁלוֹם, בַּמֶּזֶג הַשָּׁוֶה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בָּא חוֹלַאַת, כַּיָּדוּעַ.

וְעַל כֵּן כְּשֶׁמְּבַזֶּה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם וּפוֹגֵם בַּשָּׁלוֹם, עַל כֵּן אֵין רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּתוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עִקַּר הָרְפוּאָה – עַל־יְדֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם כַּנַּ"ל, בִּבְחִינַת: שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב אָמַר ה' וּרְפָאתִיו (ישעיהו נ״ז:י״ט):

גַּם בְּעֵת אֲמִירַת הַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל הִזְכִּיר רַבֵּנוּ זַ"ל מַאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: אֵין מַסְפִּידִין בַּחֲנֻכָּה (שבת כא: ובשו"ע סי' תר"ע), וְאֵינִי זוֹכֵר מַה שֶּׁפֵּרֵשׁ בּוֹ. (וְהַנִּרְאֶה לַעֲנִיּוּת דַּעְתִּי, כִּי הַהֶסְפֵּד הוּא בִּשְׁבִיל לְתַקֵּן הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַכָּבוֹד, שֶׁנִּפְגַּם עַל־יְדֵי הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַצַּדִּיק הַזֶּה, שֶׁהָיָה מַצְדִּיק אֶת הָרַבִּים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה עִקַּר הֶאָרַת הַכָּבוֹד כַּנַּ"ל, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: הֶסְפֵּדָא יְקָרָא דְּחַיֵּי אוֹ יְקָרָא דְּשָׁכְבֵי (סנהדרין מו:). וְעַל כֵּן בַּחֲנֻכָּה אֵין מַסְפִּידִין בּוֹ, כִּי אָז מֵאִיר הַכָּבוֹד עַל־יְדֵי נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה כַּנַּ"ל).

לְעֵיל:

וְזֶהוּ: וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה (משלי ט״ו:ל״ג); כִּי עַל־יְדֵי עֲנָוָה זוֹכִין לְכָבוֹד, כַּמְבֹאָר לְעֵיל, שֶׁעִקַּר הִתְעַלּוּת הַכָּבוֹד הוּא עַל־יְדֵי גֵּרִים וּבַעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁעוֹשִׂין, וְזֶה זוֹכִין עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹרַת חֶסֶד וְכוּ', וְלַתּוֹרָה אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִזְכּוֹת, כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי עֲנָוָה וְכוּ', כַּמְבֹאָר לְעֵיל. נִמְצָא, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לִזְכּוֹת לְכָבוֹד דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי עֲנָוָה, וְזֶהוּ: וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה כַּנַּ"ל: יְסוֹד הָעִנְיָן – חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים: לְהַחֲזִיר כָּבוֹד לַיִּרְאָה, וְיִרְאָה אֶל הַלֵּב, וְשָׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, וְשָׁלוֹם הַפְּרָטִי: לְהַחֲזִיר בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת אִם תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל כַּנַּ"ל – הוּא תִּקּוּן קֶרִי, אַתְוָן דְּדֵין כְּאַתְוָן דְּדֵין:

Hebrew text: Likutei Moharan - rabenubook.com via Sefaria (Public Domain) · Sefaria. Names of Hashem are written in the customary form.

Transcripts

1-minute recap

Likutey Moharan, Torah fourteen: Tik'u Vachodesh Shofar, blow the shofar at the new moon.

To bring peace into the world, Hashem's honor must be raised to its root, which is awe.

Honor rises when those far away come close, and that happens through a Torah of kindness: learning in order to teach.

Torah comes only through humility. Rabbah bar bar Chanah's wild ox, as big as Mount Tabor, hints at pride being broken.

Awe brings peace within, between body and soul. With that inner peace a person can pray, and prayer brings peace to all the worlds.

That is why the Chanukah light is lit at the doorway, from when the stars come out until the market empties: honor shining, and strife coming to an end.

Our own reflection: honor those who fear Hashem with a whole heart, and help one more person come close.

Explainer

Likutey Moharan, Torah fourteen: Tik'u Vachodesh Shofar. Blow the shofar at the new moon. This Torah is about one thing: how peace comes into the world.

Rebbe Nachman opens with the goal. To draw peace into the world, a person must raise the honor of Hashem to its root. And the root of honor is awe, yirah, as the verse says: to fear the honored Name.

How is honor raised? Only through a Torah of kindness, which the Sages explain as learning Torah in order to teach it. The Zohar says that when people from outside come and acknowledge Hashem, His Name is raised and honored above and below.

So this is His honor: when those who stood outside holiness come inside, whether converts, or baalei teshuvah, Jews returning from far away. But today honor is in exile among the nations. In the future it will be revealed out of the darkness, and the nations will say: come, let us walk in the light of Hashem.

And the only way to bring them close is Torah: your springs will spread outward. Those outside must be given to drink, and shown the way to walk. The Sages say there is no honor but Torah; and those who bring people to serve Hashem are the ones who bring out the precious from the worthless: honor, out of the lowliness of exile.

Why can Torah reach so far? The Torah has six hundred thousand letters, matching the six hundred thousand root souls of Israel, each rooted in Hashem's first thought. When a person speaks words of Torah, the souls are stirred and shine to one another. From that shining, says the Rebbe, the souls of converts are born, and a Jew who has sinned receives a ray of light from his root and comes back.

This explains a puzzling Gemara: why are the children of Torah scholars not always scholars? Because they did not bless the Torah first. A scholar's learning should bring light and blessing to the first thought, the root of souls. Then the soul he draws down for his child is bright and pure. Without that, the soul is like 'I am asleep', and does not shine.

But Torah comes only through humility. A person must make himself small in four ways: before greater people, before his equals, before those below him, and even before his own level, feeling that he has not yet truly reached the place where he stands.

Here the Rebbe brings a tale of Rabbah bar bar Chanah: I saw a wild ox, a day old, as big as Mount Tabor. Tabor is four parsas; its neck was three; its head a parsa and a half; and it cast a lump that dammed the Jordan.

Rebbe Nachman reads it piece by piece. Ur zila: light in disgrace, honor in exile. A day old: honor can come out any day, for Mashiach comes today, if you listen to His voice. Har Tavor: the mountain of pride, broken. Four parsas: four kinds of humility. And the neck, three parsas long, is the three things people are proud of: wisdom, strength and wealth.

The head, a parsa and a half, is the joining of souls in the first thought. A whole parsa: the pure souls scholars draw down for their children. Half a parsa: converts and returning sinners, still far away. They must first shed their soiled garments, which block them like a river. That is the lump that dammed the Jordan: once the garments are thrown off, the barrier falls.

That is how the Sages read 'and honor it', about the holy day: honor it with clean clothing. Clean clothing means throwing off the soiled garments, bringing people back. And the Zohar calls clean clothing the wings of the mitzvah, the Shechinah, under whose wings converts come.

How can a person tell how far he has raised honor? By how much he honors those who fear Hashem. While honor is in exile, each person in his own way belittles them; as he repairs honor, he honors them. And the main thing is to honor them with a whole heart, because awe lives in the heart. Of lip service the verse says: with his lips he honored Me, but his heart was far.

When honor returns to awe, a person comes to peace, and there are two kinds. First, peace in his own bones: there is no peace in my bones because of my sin. Awe brings it, for the Zohar says: where there is awe, there is wholeness. With inner peace he can pray, like Chanah, who spoke on her heart: through awe in the heart she came to prayer. And prayer brings the second kind, universal peace, the wholeness of all the worlds.

Rabbah bar bar Chanah tells: a merchant said to me, come, I will show you where heaven and earth kiss. I saw it was made of windows. I put my basket in a window of heaven, and after I prayed I could not find it. I said: there are thieves here. He told me: it is the wheel of heaven turning; wait until tomorrow at this time and you will find it.

Earth is the body, heaven the soul. When they kiss, there is inner peace, and windows open: prayer, like Daniel's open windows. The basket is livelihood. Rabbah bar bar Chanah set even his prayers for the body in heaven's window: he meant them all for his soul, knowing that what is repaired above is repaired below. Yet he did not find his livelihood. Not thieves, says the Rebbe: the wheel of heaven, the turning of souls through lifetimes, can leave a tzaddik short.

And Noah was told: make nests for the ark. The Midrash says: as the birds purify the metzora, so your ark purifies you. The metzora is the gossip who parts friends, and husband from wife, so he must sit alone. Teivah, ark, also means word: the words of prayer heal strife and make peace in all the worlds. That is why prayer ends with peace.

Now the opening verse. Tik'u, blow, also means fixing firmly, like a peg in a sure place: peace. Bachodesh, at the new moon: a new splendor, honor rising as people come close. Bakeseh, the hidden moon: awe, given over to the heart. Leyom, for the day: day is light, and light is peace in the home. Chageinu, our festival: prayer, true service. Awe, inner peace, prayer, and universal peace.

Rebbe Nachman finds the same path in Ashrei, read from the end back to the start. Hashem is good to all: someone who believes this puts his effort into Hashem, not into endless schemes, for Hashem heals every wound and is there whenever we call. His mercies on all His works: prayer brings peace, until creatures have mercy on each other, the wolf with the lamb. All Your works will thank You, Your devoted ones will bless You: body and soul at peace. The honor of Your kingship, and Your might: honor raised to awe.

This is the Chanukah light. It is lit at the doorway of the house, because the flame is the shining of honor, and the doorway is the upper gate, awe: honor returning to its root. Its time begins when the stars come out: those who bring many to righteousness shine like the stars.

And it burns until the foot is gone from the market. Regel, the foot, hints at the one who goes about with gossip, setting friend against friend and husband against wife. The light burns until that strife is gone. In the end, says the Rebbe, peace will end trade itself, for buying and selling exist only because two wills differ; in the future there will be no more Canaanite, no more trader.

A closing note: whoever shames a Torah scholar has no cure for his wound. By belittling those who fear Hashem he damages honor and loses peace; and every illness is a lack of peace, the elements fighting in the body. Healing comes through peace: peace, peace, to the far and to the near, and I will heal him. And so, humility comes before honor.

Our own reflection: honor those who fear Hashem with a whole heart. And before you pray, make peace inside yourself, and in your home.

Full shiur

— Part 1: Peace Begins with Honor —

Likutey Moharan, Torah fourteen: Tik'u Vachodesh Shofar. A shiur in nine parts. Part one: peace, honor, and the Torah of kindness.

A word on method. Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan, Torah fourteen. Grey is a verse or a teaching of the Sages that he quotes. Green is our own explanation, not a quotation. The Hebrew on screen is the public-domain text from Sefaria, and the English is our own paraphrase, kept close to the Hebrew.

Here is the map. Sections one to four: peace comes when Hashem's honor is raised, and Torah is what brings people close. Section five: humility, and a tale of a wild ox as big as Mount Tabor. Sections six to eight: honoring those who fear Hashem, and two kinds of peace. Section nine: a place where heaven and earth kiss. Sections ten and eleven: the opening verse, and a verse from Ashrei. And sections twelve and thirteen: the Chanukah light at the door, and honoring Torah scholars.

The Torah opens with a verse from Tehillim, chapter eighty-one, which we say on Rosh Hashanah: Blow the shofar at the new moon, at the hidden moon, for the day of our festival.

Rebbe Nachman begins: To draw peace into the world, one must raise the honor of the Holy One, blessed be He, to its root, that is, to awe, as it is written: to fear the honored Name.

Our explanation. Two words carry this whole Torah. Kavod, honor, is Hashem's glory as it is seen and recognised in the world. Yirah, awe, is its root. When honor is lifted back to awe, the Rebbe says, peace comes. The rest of the Torah explains how honor is raised, and how awe turns into peace.

Section two. And honor can be raised only through a Torah of kindness. The Sages say a Torah of kindness is learning Torah in order to teach it, for this is His main honor, as the Zohar says: when the other nations come and acknowledge the Holy One, His Name is raised and honored above and below, as with Yisro: when Yisro said, now I know that Hashem is greater than all the powers, His Name was raised and honored.

He draws the conclusion: So this is His honor: when people who are outside holiness bring themselves inside it, whether converts who convert or baalei teshuvah, who were also outside; when they are drawn close and brought in, that is His honor.

But now honor is in exile, for the main honor is with the nations, and we, Israel, are low and despised. In the future His honor will be revealed out of the darkness, as it says: and the honor of Hashem will be revealed. Then all will turn to serve Him together, and the nations will say: come, let us walk in the light of Hashem. And honor is called light, as it says: and the earth shone with His honor.

Our explanation. A Torah of kindness is Torah that does not stay with the one who learns it. It is learned in order to be taught. That is what reaches people standing outside, whether born far away or Jews who drifted. And when they come close, the Rebbe says, that is Hashem's honor rising out of exile.

Section three. And converts and baalei teshuvah can be brought close only through Torah, as it is written: your springs will spread outward. Those outside must be given to drink, and told the way in which they should walk.

This is what the Sages said: there is no honor but Torah. And on the verse 'if you bring out the precious from the worthless', the Sages said: these are the ones who bring people close to the service of Hashem. For this is called bringing out the precious, that is honor, from the worthless, from the lowliness of exile.

And this is: Hashem is high above all nations. When the nations acknowledge and praise Him, then His honor is above the heavens: honor rises out of the darkness.

Our summary of the opening. To draw peace into the world, Hashem's honor must be raised to its root, which is awe. Honor rises when people outside holiness come inside. And what brings them is a Torah of kindness, Torah that is taught. In the next part, how Torah can reach so far.

— Part 2: Springs Flowing Outward —

Part two: six hundred thousand letters, souls that shine to each other, and blessing the Torah first.

He goes deeper: And no one, neither the wicked of Israel nor converts, can come to an awakening of teshuvah except through the Torah, which shines to them in the place where they are, as it says: your springs will spread outward, outward precisely. For the Torah is six hundred thousand letters, matching six hundred thousand souls, and all the souls have a root above in the thought of the Holy One, for Israel rose first in thought.

Our explanation. The Rebbe speaks of the Torah as six hundred thousand letters, one for each of the root souls of Israel. And all those souls rose first in Hashem's thought, before anything was made. So when a letter of Torah is spoken, it touches a soul at its root.

Through a joining of the souls, souls of converts are created. When the souls are stirred by the letters of Torah that a person brings out of his mouth, and they sparkle to one another, that is a joining: each receives light from the other. And through this joining, the souls sparkling in the thought, the souls of converts are created.

So too the sinners of Israel: as long as the name Israel is called on him (for he is called a sinner of Israel, so the name Israel is still on him), even though he sinned, he is Israel. He has a hold and a root in the upper thought. Through the sparkling, the root of his soul also sparkles among the other roots, light reaches him from his soul's root, and through that light he returns.

Our explanation. Picture the roots of all souls together in Hashem's thought. When someone speaks words of Torah, those roots light up and shine to one another. From that shining new souls come, the souls of converts. And a Jew who has wandered far still has his root up there, so a ray of that light reaches him wherever he is, and wakes him to return.

Section four. This is what the Sages said: why do Torah scholars not have sons who are Torah scholars? Because they did not bless the Torah first. Every person, and a Torah scholar most of all, must bless and bring light, through his learning, into the root of the souls, the first thought, for that is where we are rooted.

So when he brings light and blessing into the beginning of thought, and through him the souls sparkle and are blessed, then when he draws down a soul for his son, he surely draws a bright and pure soul, and his son too will be a Torah scholar.

But when he does not light up and bless the beginning through his learning, then the soul he draws for his son is like 'I am asleep': it does not shine, and so his son will not be a scholar. That is because they did not bless the Torah first, the root of the souls, as in: Israel rose first in thought.

Our explanation. In the Gemara, not blessing the Torah first means not saying the blessing before learning. The Rebbe reads the word first, techilah, as the first thought, where souls are rooted. A scholar whose learning lights up that root draws bright souls into the world, starting in his own home.

Our summary. The letters of the Torah match the souls of Israel. Torah spoken aloud makes their roots shine together, and that light creates the souls of converts, wakes those who have strayed, and gives a scholar's children bright souls. In the next part: Torah comes only through humility, and a wild ox as big as a mountain.

— Part 3: The Wild Ox as Big as Tabor —

Part three: humility, and a day-old wild ox as big as Mount Tabor.

Section five. And a person merits Torah only through lowliness, as the Sages said: and from the wilderness, a gift. He must break his pride in four kinds of lowliness: making himself small before those greater than him, before his equals, before those smaller than him; and sometimes, when he himself is the smallest of the small, he must make himself small against his own level, picturing himself below where he is, as in: let each man stay in his place.

Our explanation. The Gemara in Eruvin reads the verse 'from the wilderness, a gift' this way: one who makes himself like a wilderness, which everyone walks over, is given the Torah as a gift. The Rebbe spells out four directions of that humility: upward, sideways, downward, and toward oneself.

Now the Rebbe brings one of the wondrous tales of Rabbah bar bar Chanah. And this is what Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: I myself saw a wild ox, a day old, as big as Mount Tabor. And how big is Mount Tabor? Four parsas. The length of its neck was three parsas, and the resting place of its head a parsa and a half. It cast a lump and dammed the Jordan.

Our explanation. Rabbah bar bar Chanah's travel tales are some of the most puzzling passages in the Gemara. Rebbe Nachman often takes one and reads it phrase by phrase, finding in each detail a piece of the teaching. Watch how every number here finds its place.

A day-old urzila: this is honor, which is with the nations, in disgrace. That is ur zila: ur, light, is honor, as it says: and the earth shone with His honor. And why a day old? Because honor will be revealed only when Mashiach comes, and of him it is written: when will the master come? Today: today, if you listen to His voice. Every day the honor stands ready to come out of its disgrace.

As big as Mount Tabor: he saw that raising honor depends on a person breaking his pride. As far as his pride is broken, so far honor is raised, for His honor rises through Torah, as above, and a person merits Torah only through lowliness: from the wilderness, a gift. And this is Har Tabor: har, mountain, means greatness, as in 'You set my mountain firm', and tavor means breaking.

Our explanation. The name of the mountain says it all. Har, a mountain, is pride standing tall. Tavor sounds like the word for breaking. So the ox as big as Har Tavor is honor that grows exactly as large as the pride a person has broken.

And how big was Mount Tabor? Four parsas: the four kinds of lowliness above. He must make himself small before tzaddikim, before people in the middle, before the wicked, and before his own level, imagining he has not yet reached the level he is on. That is Har Tabor, four parsas: breaking pride in those four ways.

The length of its neck, three parsas: these are the things people usually grow proud through. There are three, and one must guard himself from them, as it says: let the wise man not boast of his wisdom, and so on; three kinds: the wise, the strong, the rich. And pride is called the length of the neck, as in: do not speak with a haughty neck.

Our summary so far. The day-old ox is honor in exile, ready to come out on any day. It is as big as Mount Tabor, because honor grows as much as pride is broken, in four directions. Its long neck is the pride of the wise, the strong and the rich. In the next part: the head, the half parsa, and the lump that dammed the Jordan.

— Part 4: Taking Off the Soiled Garments —

Part four: the head of the ox, the soiled garments, and the Jordan dammed.

He continues with the head of the ox: The resting place of its head, a parsa and a half: this is the joining that happens in the beginning of thought. Marbaata means joining, as in 'my path and my lying down'. Through this joining comes a parsa and a half. A whole parsa hints at drawing souls down for one's children. And the sparkling of the souls, which shine and wake the sinners of Israel to teshuvah and give birth to souls of converts, is called a half,

because they are still very far from holiness and may meet many obstacles. Great effort is needed to strip off the soiled garments they have put on, as it says: remove the soiled garments. These soiled garments keep them from returning to the Holy One; they cut them off like a river that cannot be crossed, and the soiled garments must be thrown off. And this is:

It cast a lump and dammed the Jordan: when they strip off and throw away the soiled garments, all the obstacles and screens that divide them from holiness fall away. And this is:

and dammed the Jordan: for the Jordan divides the holiness of the Land of Israel from outside the Land. That is why they are called a half: the soiled garments must still be thrown off them, to remove what blocks and divides them from holiness. But the souls that Torah scholars draw down for their children are called a whole parsa, for they have no dividing screens.

Our explanation. A soul born far away, or a Jew who has strayed, comes wrapped in soiled garments, the habits and deeds that cling to him. They stand between him and holiness like the Jordan between the Land and outside it. Teshuvah is taking them off. Once they are thrown away, the river is dammed, and the way across is open. A scholar's own children, the whole parsa, start with no such river to cross.

And this is 'and honor it': honor it with clean clothing, as the Sages expounded on the verse 'and the holy day of Hashem, honored'. Clean clothing means throwing off the soiled garments. For this is the main honor of Hashem: if you bring out the precious from the worthless, bringing people back in teshuvah and drawing down the souls of converts.

Converts who convert come under the wings of the Shechinah, and that is why one is called a righteous convert. This is what the Zohar says: clean clothing is the wings of the mitzvah, that is the Shechinah, which is called mitzvah, as in: all Your mitzvos are righteousness. And this is 'and honor it': this is His main honor, to bring converts under the wings of the Shechinah.

Our summary of section five. Torah, and so honor, comes only through broken pride. The scholar's Torah draws bright souls for his children, a whole parsa, and wakes the far ones, a half, who must still throw off their soiled garments. Clean clothing, bringing them under the wings of the Shechinah, is Hashem's main honor. In the next part: how to measure your own honor of Heaven, and two kinds of peace.

— Part 5: Honor, Awe and Two Kinds of Peace —

Part five: honoring those who fear Hashem, and two kinds of peace.

Section six. And each person, by his own level, can know how far honor has been raised to its root, awe. As much as he honors those who fear Hashem, so far honor has risen to its root, for that is the root of honor, as in: and those who fear Hashem he honors. For as long as honor is in exile, each person in his way belittles those who fear Hashem; and as each repairs honor, so he honors those who fear Hashem.

Our explanation. The Rebbe gives a practical measure. You cannot see honor rising in the upper worlds, but you can see how you treat people who truly fear Hashem. Belittling them is a sign that honor is still in exile within you; honoring them is the sign that it has begun to rise.

Section seven. And the main thing is to honor those who fear Hashem with a whole heart, as the Sages said: a thing given over to the heart, of it is said, and you shall fear your Elokim. There is the main honor, as it says: with his lips he honored Me, but his heart he kept far from Me.

Section eight. When he returns honor to its root, to awe, the flaws in awe are made whole, and then he merits peace.

And there are two kinds of peace. There is peace in one's own bones: first a person must see that there is peace within him, for sometimes there is none, as it says: there is no peace in my bones because of my sin. Through awe he merits peace within, as the Zohar says: where there is awe, there wholeness is found, as it says: there is no lack for those who fear Him.

Our explanation. Peace in the bones is peace inside a person, between his body and his soul. Sin puts them at war with each other. Awe of Hashem, says the Zohar, brings wholeness: shleimusa, from the same root as shalom. Later in the Torah the Rebbe will call this shalom bayis, peace in the house, and explain it as peace between body and soul.

When there is peace within him, then he can pray. For prayer comes mainly through awe, as in: a woman who fears Hashem, she shall be praised. For prayer stands in place of an offering, and of an offering it is written: anyone with a blemish shall not come near. When he has no blemish, that is, where there is awe, then he may come near to do his service whole.

And this is what is written of Chanah: and Chanah was speaking on her heart. Through awe she merited prayer, for awe lives mainly in the heart, as above. And through prayer one merits universal peace, the wholeness of the worlds; that is why prayer is called a korban, an offering, from kiruv, bringing the worlds close to their wholeness.

Our summary. You can measure how far you have raised honor by how wholeheartedly you honor those who fear Hashem. Honor raised to awe brings peace within, between body and soul. With that peace a person can pray, as Chanah did from her heart, and prayer brings the great peace of all the worlds. In the next part, another tale of Rabbah bar bar Chanah: where heaven and earth kiss.

— Part 6: Where Heaven and Earth Kiss —

Part six: where heaven and earth kiss, a basket left in heaven's window, and the nests of Noah's ark.

Section nine, and a second tale. And this is what Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: a certain merchant told me, come, I will show you where earth and heaven kiss each other. I went and saw that it was made of windows. I took my basket and set it in a window of the heaven. While I prayed I looked for it and did not find it. I said: are there thieves here? He told me: it is the wheel of heaven that turns. Wait until tomorrow at this time and you will find it.

Where earth and heaven kiss: this is peace in one's bones. Earth is the body, heaven is the soul, as it says: He calls to the heavens above, this is the soul, and to the earth, this is the body.

And when there is peace between them, then: it is made of windows. Through this prayer comes about, as above, as in: and he had windows open in his upper room.

Our explanation. Daniel prayed three times a day by open windows. The Rebbe hears in Rabbah bar bar Chanah's windows the same thing: when body and soul make peace, windows open between earth and heaven, and prayer can go up through them.

I took my basket and set it in a window of the heaven: the basket is livelihood, as in 'one who has bread in his basket',

meaning he wanted no dealings in this world's affairs except for his soul. Even all his prayers were only to bind his soul; even the prayers written for the body's needs, like 'heal us' and 'bless for us' and the other bodily needs, Rabbah bar bar Chanah did not mean for his body, but for his soul: he intended the livelihood of his soul and its healing. And this is:

I took my basket and set it in heaven's window: he took the prayer for the body's needs and set it into prayer that was all for his soul. For of itself, when it is repaired there in the spiritual, it is repaired in the physical too.

While I prayed I looked for it and did not find it: afterwards he did not find enough for his livelihood. Though he had repaired it spiritually, the flow of plenty still did not reach him physically. He said: there are thieves here, stealing my plenty. He answered him:

It is the wheel of heaven that turns: that is the turning of souls through lifetimes, which causes the tzaddik not to have enough for his livelihood, as is written of Rabbi Pedas: do you want Me to destroy the world? Perhaps you would be born in an hour of sustenance.

Our explanation. The Gemara in Taanis tells of a tzaddik who was terribly poor. When he asked about it, he was told: shall I destroy the world and make it again? Perhaps you would then be born in an hour of sustenance. The Rebbe reads heaven's turning wheel this way: a tzaddik's lack does not come from thieves, but from the turning of souls, a story longer than one lifetime.

And this is: make nests for the ark. The Midrash says: as the birds purify the metzora, so your ark purifies you. The metzora is the whisperer who separates friends, who parts a man from his wife, and so he must sit alone; and birds purify him. So too your teivah, the words of prayer, repair strife and make universal peace, peace in all the worlds. That is why we end prayer with peace.

Our summary of section nine. Heaven and earth kissing is body and soul at peace. Then windows open, and a person can pray, even setting his bodily needs into prayer for his soul; and if a tzaddik still lacks, that is the turning wheel of souls, not thieves. And the words of prayer heal strife and bring peace to all the worlds. In the next part, the Rebbe reads the opening verse, and a verse from Ashrei.

— Part 7: Blow the Shofar at the New Moon —

Part seven: the opening verse, word by word, and the same path in Tov Hashem Lakol.

Section ten. Now the verse. And this is the meaning: tik'u, blow, is a language of peace, as it says: and I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place.

At the new moon, bachodesh: in a new splendor, that is, His honor rising through converts or baalei teshuvah coming close.

At the hidden moon, bakeseh: this is awe, the root of honor. Keseh means covering, as in: a thing given over to the heart, of it is said, and you shall fear your Elokim. That thing is covered from every eye.

For the day, leyom: this is peace in the home. For day is light, as it says: and Elokim called the light day; and light is peace in the home, as the Sages said: the Shabbos lamp comes before the day's Kiddush, for peace in the home comes first.

Our festival, chageinu: this is prayer, service. As the Sages said: why is the passage of idolatry placed next to the festivals? To tell you that whoever scorns the festivals is as if he serves idols. So keeping the festival is whole service, and service means prayer, and through prayer one comes to universal peace, as above.

So one who wants to draw universal peace must raise honor to its root, awe. Through awe he merits peace in the home; through peace in the home, prayer; and through prayer, universal peace.

Our summary. Read this way, the verse holds the whole Torah. Tik'u: fixing peace firmly. Bachodesh: honor renewed. Bakeseh: honor raised to awe, hidden in the heart. Leyom: peace within, the light of the home. Chageinu: prayer. And prayer brings the peace of all the worlds.

Section eleven. This Torah also belongs to these verses: Hashem is good to all, and His mercies are on all His works, and so on.

Hashem is good to all: this is prayer, when one believes in Hashem, that the Holy One is good for everything, for healing, for a living, for all things. When he believes this, his main effort will surely go after the Holy One, and he will not chase after many schemes; for one who does not believe in the Holy One must chase after many schemes.

For example, when he needs healing he must hunt for many herbs, and sometimes the herbs he needs are not to be found in his country, and the ones that are found are no good for his wound. But the Holy One is good for every wound, to heal it, and He is always to be found, as it says: who is like Hashem our Elokim, whenever we call to Him.

And through prayer one merits universal peace. And this is: and His mercies are on all His works. Hashem's mercy will be drawn over all creatures, and all creatures will have mercy on one another, and there will be peace between them, as it says: the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid; they will not harm or destroy, for there will be peace between them.

And this, he says again, is His mercies on all His works, as the Sages said: whoever has mercy on creatures, Heaven has mercy on him, as it says: He will give you mercy and have mercy on you.

Our explanation. Notice the order: the verse begins with the goal and then works backwards. Tov Hashem lakol: a person who truly believes Hashem is good for everything turns to Him in prayer instead of chasing schemes. And His mercies on all His works: that prayer draws mercy over all creation, until creatures have mercy on one another and live in peace.

Then the verse explains how to merit prayer: through peace in the home there will be peace within, between his body and his soul, as above. And this is: all Your works will thank You. Your works, maasecha, is asiyah, doing, the body;

and Your devoted ones will bless You: Your devoted ones, chasidecha, is the soul, as it says: a man of kindness does good to his own soul.

Then the verse explains how to merit peace in the home: by raising the honor of Hashem to the root of awe, which is called gevuros, strengths. And this is: they will speak of the honor of Your kingship, His honor revealed and raised to its root; and this is: and tell of Your might. Might is awe, as the Sages said: and Elokim made it so that they would fear Him, these are the thunders; and it is written: the thunder of His mighty deeds, who can understand?

Our summary. Read from the end back to the start, the verses of Ashrei are the same path. The honor of Your kingship, and Your might: honor raised to awe. All Your works, and Your devoted ones: body and soul at peace. Hashem is good to all, and His mercies on all His works: prayer, and the peace of all creation. In the next part: the Chanukah light.

— Part 8: The Chanukah Light at the Door —

Part eight: the Chanukah light at the doorway, the stars, and the foot in the market.

Section twelve. And this is the mitzvah of the Chanukah light, which must be lit near the doorway of the house. Lighting the lamp is the shining of honor, as in: and the earth shone with His honor, as above. So its mitzvah is to light it near the doorway of the house: this is the upper doorway, awe, that is, returning honor to its root, awe, as above.

And when does honor rise? When people are brought back in teshuvah and baalei teshuvah and converts are made, for that is His main honor, as above.

That is why the time for lighting the Chanukah lamp, the shining of honor, is from when the stars come out until the foot is gone from the market. The stars coming out is: those who bring the many to righteousness, like the stars; they make many righteous, making baalei teshuvah and converts. Through this honor shines and returns to its root, awe, and through that we merit peace, and strife ends, as above.

Our explanation. The halachah sets the time for the Chanukah lights from nightfall, when the stars come out. Daniel compares those who bring many to righteousness to the stars. So the Chanukah flame, honor shining, begins with them: people who bring others close.

He adds that the market is the place of the outside forces. And this is: until the foot is gone from the market. The foot, regel, is the whisperer who separates friends: people of gossip and strife, who go about spying, speaking tale-bearing and evil talk, making quarrels and strife between a man and his fellow and between husband and wife, as in: who did not go about with gossip on his tongue.

That is why the Chanukah lamp must shine and be lit near the doorway: to light up honor and return it to the root of awe, until he merits peace and cancels and ends 'the whisperer who separates friends'. And this is: until the foot is gone from the market, until the people of evil talk and gossip, who go about with it on their tongues, are gone, and peace grows in the world.

And through peace we merit prayer, and through that, universal peace, peace in all the worlds. And when we merit universal peace, all buying and selling will cease from the world, for all trade in the world comes from a lack of peace: the will of seller and buyer can never be the same, for one wants to sell and the other wants to buy; and if their wills were the same, no trade could take place.

Our explanation. The Rebbe makes a surprising point. Every sale needs two people who want opposite things: one wants the money, the other the goods. If their wills were truly one, there would be nothing to trade. So commerce rests on a gap between wills; in the perfect peace of the future, that gap closes.

So all trade and commerce come only through a kind of strife, when there is no peace between the wills. This is: and there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Avram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle, and the Canaanite was then in the land. Canaanite means trader, as Rashi explains on 'Canaan, in his hand'. Through quarrel and strife, 'and there was a quarrel', comes 'the Canaanite was then in the land': traders and commerce in the world.

But in the future, when wondrous peace fills the world, as it says, the wolf will live with the lamb and the leopard lie down with the kid, then trade will cease, as it says: and there will no longer be a Canaanite, as above.

And this too is 'until the foot is gone from the market': the mitzvah is to light the Chanukah lamp until the foot is gone from the market, meaning peace, made by returning honor, until all trade ends. Until the foot is gone from the market: no foot will be left in the market, for all trade will cease through peace.

Our summary. The Chanukah lamp is honor shining, set at the doorway of awe. It is lit when the stars come out, the ones who bring many to righteousness. And it burns until the foot leaves the market: until gossip and strife are gone, and in the end even trade, when all wills are at peace. In the last part: honoring Torah scholars, healing, and humility before honor.

— Part 9: Humility Before Honor —

Part nine: shaming a Torah scholar, peace and healing, and humility before honor.

Section thirteen, a further teaching. Belonging to the above: as much as he honors those who fear Hashem, so far honor has risen to its root. For as long as honor is in exile, each person by his level belittles those who fear Hashem, and as each repairs honor, so he honors those who fear Hashem, and so on.

And through this, through the honor he gives those who fear Hashem, which is returning honor to its root, awe, through this we merit peace, as explained well above.

And this is what our Rabbis said: whoever shames a Torah scholar, there is no cure for his wound. For one who shames a Torah scholar and belittles those who fear Hashem damages honor and does not return it to the root of awe; then he does not merit peace, and so there is no cure for his wound,

for all illnesses come through a kind of strife. Every illness is strife, no peace in one's bones: the elements overpower one another and do not work together in peace, in an even balance, and through this illness comes, as is known.

So when he shames a Torah scholar and damages peace, there is no cure for his wound, as above, for healing comes mainly through peace, as in: peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says Hashem, and I will heal him.

Our explanation. The Rebbe ties health to the same chain. The body is made of elements that must stay in balance; illness is when they fight. Peace heals. And since peace comes from honor raised to awe, someone who shames a Torah scholar cuts off the very peace his healing needs.

Reb Noson, who wrote down the Torah, adds a note: Also, when this Torah was said, our Rebbe mentioned the saying of our Rabbis: we do not eulogize on Chanukah. And I do not remember what he explained about it.

He offers his own suggestion: And it seems to my humble mind that a eulogy is to repair the withdrawal of honor, damaged by the passing of the tzaddik who made many righteous, through whom honor mainly shines, as above; as the Sages said: is a eulogy for the honor of the living or the honor of the dead? So on Chanukah we do not eulogize, for then honor shines through the Chanukah lamp, as above.

The Torah closes by returning to its beginning. Above. And this is: and before honor, humility. Through humility one merits honor, as explained above: honor rises mainly through the converts and baalei teshuvah that are made, and this comes through a Torah of kindness, and Torah can be merited only through humility, as explained above. So it is impossible to merit holy honor except through humility. And this is: before honor, humility.

And a final summary: The foundation of the matter is five things: returning honor to awe; awe to the heart; universal peace; personal peace; and bringing people back in teshuvah, which is 'if you bring out the precious, yakar, from the worthless', as above. It is a repair for keri, a lapse in the holiness of the covenant, for the letters of the one are the letters of the other.

Let us review the whole path. To draw peace into the world, Hashem's honor must be raised to its root, awe. Honor rises when those outside holiness come close, through a Torah of kindness, Torah that is taught; and Torah comes only through humility, like the ox as big as Mount Tabor. Honor raised to awe, honoring those who fear Hashem with a whole heart, brings peace within, between body and soul. With that peace a person can pray, and prayer brings peace to all the worlds. The shofar of the new moon, the verses of Ashrei, and the Chanukah lamp at the door all tell the same story.

Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. Honor someone who truly fears Hashem, with your whole heart. Teach something you learned to someone else. And before you pray, make peace inside yourself, and at home.

This has been Likutey Moharan, Torah fourteen. Tik'u Vachodesh Shofar.

Sources for this Torah

Texts used

Hebrew: Likutei Moharan (Part I), Torah 14, edition 'Likutei Moharan – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan.14

English: our own paraphrase of the Hebrew, written for these videos. It is not copied from any published translation.

Verses and teachings of the Sages appear only as Rebbe Nachman quotes them inside this Torah.

How the text is shown

The Divine Name is shown as ה' and voiced as Hashem. Other Names are written in the customary form (אֱלֹקִים, קֵ-ל, קָהּ, שַׁ-דַּ-י, אֲדֹ-נָ-י, אֶקְיֶ-ה, צְבָקוֹת). No full Name is written or voiced.

Parenthetical source references inside the printed Hebrew are left off the screen to save space; the citation line names the source instead.

Long paragraphs are shown in consecutive pieces. Every Hebrew word on screen is from the edition above; nothing is reworded.

Cards labelled EXPLANATION (green), and every line marked 'our own reflection — not a quote', are our own words, not quotations.

Every on-screen quotation in the full shiur, by part

Part 1 — Peace Begins with Honor

Scene 4 · Tehillim 81:4, as quoted in LM I:14 · paragraph §1.1

תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֶּסֶא וְכוּ'.

EN (our paraphrase): Blow the shofar at the new moon, at the hidden moon, for the day of our festival.

Scene 5 · LM I:14 §1 · paragraph §1.2

לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם צָרִיךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת כְּבוֹד הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־ הוּא לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, הַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: לְיִרְאָה אֶת הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד:

EN (our paraphrase): To draw peace into the world, one must raise the honor of the Holy One, blessed be He, to its root, that is, to awe, as it is written: to fear the honored Name.

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §2 · paragraph §2.1

וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת הַכָּבוֹד אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹרַת חֶסֶד, וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד – אָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: זֶהוּ הַלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה עַל־מְנָת לְלַמְּדָהּ, כִּי זֶה עִקַּר כְּבוֹדוֹ, כַּמּוּבָא בַּזֹּהַר: בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּשְׁאָר עַכּוּ"ם אָתְיַן וְאוֹדָן לְקֻדְשָׁא־ בְּרִיךְ־הוּא, כְּדֵין אִסְתַּלֵּק וְאִתְיַקֵּר שְׁמָא דְּקֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא עֵלָּא וְתַתָּא, כְּמוֹ גַּבֵּי יִתְרוֹ: בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר יִתְרוֹ: עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי גָדוֹל ה' מִכָּל הָאֱלֹקִים, כְּדֵין אִסְתַּלֵּק וְאִתְיַקֵּר שְׁמָא דְּקֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־ הוּא.

EN (our paraphrase): And honor can be raised only through a Torah of kindness. The Sages say a Torah of kindness is learning Torah in order to teach it, for this is His main honor, as the Zohar says: when the other nations come and acknowledge the Holy One, His Name is raised and honored above and below, as with Yisro: when Yisro said, now I know that Hashem is greater than all the powers, His Name was raised and honored.

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §2 · paragraph §2.2

נִמְצָא, זֶהוּ כְּבוֹדוֹ, כְּשֶׁבְּנֵי־אָדָם שֶׁהֵם מִחוּץ לַקְּדֻשָּׁה מְקָרְבִין אֶת עַצְמָן לִפְנִים מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה, הֵן גֵּרִים שֶׁמְּגַיְּרִין, הֵן בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה, שֶׁגַּם הֵם הָיוּ מִבַּחוּץ, וּכְשֶׁמְּקָרְבִין וּמַכְנִיסִים אוֹתָם לִפְנִים – זֶהוּ כְּבוֹדוֹ:

EN (our paraphrase): So this is His honor: when people who are outside holiness bring themselves inside it, whether converts who convert or baalei teshuvah, who were also outside; when they are drawn close and brought in, that is His honor.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §2 · paragraph §2.3

וְעַכְשָׁו הַכָּבוֹד בַּגָּלוּת, כִּי עִקַּר הַכָּבוֹד אֵצֶל הָעַכּוּ"ם, וַאֲנַחְנוּ בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁפָלִים וְנִבְזִים, וְלֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה כְּבוֹדוֹ מִבֵּין הַחשֶׁךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְנִגְלָה כְּבוֹד ה' וְכוּ', כִּי אָז יַטּוּ כֻּלָּם לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד, אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה בְּאוֹר ה'. וְכָבוֹד נִקְרָא אוֹר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהָאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבוֹדוֹ:

EN (our paraphrase): But now honor is in exile, for the main honor is with the nations, and we, Israel, are low and despised. In the future His honor will be revealed out of the darkness, as it says: and the honor of Hashem will be revealed. Then all will turn to serve Him together, and the nations will say: come, let us walk in the light of Hashem. And honor is called light, as it says: and the earth shone with His honor.

Scene 11 · LM I:14 §3 · paragraph §3.1

וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְקָרֵב אֶת הַגֵּרִים עִם בַּעֲלֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: יָפוּצוּ מַעְיְנוֹתֶיךָ חוּצָה, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַשְׁקוֹת אוֹתָם שֶׁהֵם מִבַּחוּץ, לְהוֹדִיעַ לָהֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ יֵלְכוּ בָהּ.

EN (our paraphrase): And converts and baalei teshuvah can be brought close only through Torah, as it is written: your springs will spread outward. Those outside must be given to drink, and told the way in which they should walk.

Scene 12 · LM I:14 §3 · paragraph §3.2

וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: אֵין כָּבוֹד אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה. וְזֶהוּ: אִם תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל, וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: אֵלּוּ שֶׁמְּקָרְבִין בְּנֵי־אָדָם לַעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ; כִּי זֶהוּ נִקְרָא מוֹצִיא יָקָר, הַיְנוּ כָּבוֹד, מִזּוֹלֵל – מִזִּילוּתָא דְּגָלוּתָא.

EN (our paraphrase): This is what the Sages said: there is no honor but Torah. And on the verse 'if you bring out the precious from the worthless', the Sages said: these are the ones who bring people close to the service of Hashem. For this is called bringing out the precious, that is honor, from the worthless, from the lowliness of exile.

Scene 13 · LM I:14 §3 · paragraph §3.3

וְזֶה: רָם עַל כָּל גּוֹיִם ה'; הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁהָעַכּוּ"ם מוֹדָן וּמְשַׁבְּחִין לֵהּ, אֲזַי: עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ – אֲזַי נִתְעַלֶּה הַכָּבוֹד מֵהַחשֶׁךְ.

EN (our paraphrase): And this is: Hashem is high above all nations. When the nations acknowledge and praise Him, then His honor is above the heavens: honor rises out of the darkness.

Part 2 — Springs Flowing Outward

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §3 · paragraph §3.4

וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לָבוֹא לְהִתְעוֹרְרוּת הַתְּשׁוּבָה, הֵן לְרִשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֵן לַגֵּרִים, אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁמְּאִירִין לָהֶם אֶל מָקוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: יָפוּצוּ וְכוּ' חוּצָה, חוּצָה דַּיְקָא, כִּי הַתּוֹרָה הֵם שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא אוֹתִיּוֹת, כְּנֶגֶד שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת, וְיֵשׁ לְכָל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֹׁרֶשׁ לְמַעְלָה בְּמַּחֲשָׁבָה דְּקֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא, כִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלוּ בַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה.

EN (our paraphrase): And no one, neither the wicked of Israel nor converts, can come to an awakening of teshuvah except through the Torah, which shines to them in the place where they are, as it says: your springs will spread outward, outward precisely. For the Torah is six hundred thousand letters, matching six hundred thousand souls, and all the souls have a root above in the thought of the Holy One, for Israel rose first in thought.

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §3 · paragraph §3.5

וְעַל־יְדֵי זִוּוּג הַנְּשָׁמוֹת נִבְרָאִים נִשְׁמוֹת גֵּרִים, וּכְשֶׁנִּתְעוֹרְרִים הַנְּשָׁמוֹת עַל־יְדֵי אוֹתִיּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהוֹצִיא מִפִּיו וּמִתְנוֹצְצִים זֶה לָזֶה, זֶה בְּחִינַת זִוּוּג, שֶׁזֶּה מְקַבֵּל הֶאָרָה מִזֶּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַזִּוּוּג שֶׁל הִתְנוֹצְצוּת הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֶׁבַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה נִבְרָאִים נִשְׁמוֹת גֵּרִים.

EN (our paraphrase): Through a joining of the souls, souls of converts are created. When the souls are stirred by the letters of Torah that a person brings out of his mouth, and they sparkle to one another, that is a joining: each receives light from the other. And through this joining, the souls sparkling in the thought, the souls of converts are created.

Scene 5 · LM I:14 §3 · paragraph §3.6

גַּם הַפּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁשֵּׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרָא עָלָיו כִּי נִקְרָא פּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, נִמְצָא שֶׁשֵּׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרָא עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים עָלָיו עֲדַיִן, מֵאַחַר שֶׁנִּקְרָא פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁחָטָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא; יֵשׁ לוֹ אֲחִיזָה וְשֹׁרֶשׁ בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה עֶלְיוֹנָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַהִתְנוֹצְצוּת הִתְנוֹצֵץ גַּם שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ בֵּין שְׁאָר הַשָּׁרָשִׁים, וּמַגִּיעַ הֶאָרָה לְזֶה הַפּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, וְעַל־יְדֵי הֶאָרָה הַזֹּאת חוֹזֵר בִּתְשׁוּבָה:

EN (our paraphrase): So too the sinners of Israel: as long as the name Israel is called on him (for he is called a sinner of Israel, so the name Israel is still on him), even though he sinned, he is Israel. He has a hold and a root in the upper thought. Through the sparkling, the root of his soul also sparkles among the other roots, light reaches him from his soul's root, and through that light he returns.

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §4 · paragraph §4.1

וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: מִפְּנֵי מָה תַּלְמִידֵי־חֲכָמִים אֵין בְּנֵיהֶם תַּלְמִידֵי־חֲכָמִים – מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה; שֶׁצָּרִיךְ כָּל אָדָם, וּבִפְרָט תַּלְמִיד־ חָכָם, לְבָרֵךְ וּלְהָאִיר בְּלִמּוּד תּוֹרָתוֹ בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, הַיְנוּ בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה, כִּי שָׁם שָׁרְשֵׁנוּ.

EN (our paraphrase): This is what the Sages said: why do Torah scholars not have sons who are Torah scholars? Because they did not bless the Torah first. Every person, and a Torah scholar most of all, must bless and bring light, through his learning, into the root of the souls, the first thought, for that is where we are rooted.

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §4 · paragraph §4.2

נִמְצָא, כְּשֶׁמֵּבִיא הֶאָרָה וּבְרָכָה לְתוֹךְ תְּחִלַּת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה, וְעַל־יָדוֹ מִתְנוֹצְצִין וּמִתְבָּרְכִין הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, נִמְצָא כְּשֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ נְשָׁמָה לִבְנוֹ, בְּוַדַּאי הוּא מַמְשִׁיךְ נְשָׁמָה בְּהִירָה וְזַכָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה גַּם בְּנוֹ יִהְיֶה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם;

EN (our paraphrase): So when he brings light and blessing into the beginning of thought, and through him the souls sparkle and are blessed, then when he draws down a soul for his son, he surely draws a bright and pure soul, and his son too will be a Torah scholar.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §4 · paragraph §4.3

אֲבָל כְּשֶׁאֵין מֵאִיר וּמְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַתְּחִלָּה עַל־יְדֵי לִמּוּדוֹ, אָז כְּשֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ נְשָׁמָה לִבְנוֹ, הַנְּשָׁמָה הִיא בִּבְחִינַת: אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה, וְאֵינָהּ מְאִירָה, מִפְּנֵי זֶה לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּנוֹ תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם, וְזֶה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה, הַיְנוּ שֹׁרֶשׁ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, בִּבְחִינַת: יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלָה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה:

EN (our paraphrase): But when he does not light up and bless the beginning through his learning, then the soul he draws for his son is like 'I am asleep': it does not shine, and so his son will not be a scholar. That is because they did not bless the Torah first, the root of the souls, as in: Israel rose first in thought.

Part 3 — The Wild Ox as Big as Tabor

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.1

וְאֵין אָדָם זוֹכֶה לְתוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי שִׁפְלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וּמִמִּדְבָּר מַתָּנָה – שֶׁיְּשַׁבֵּר גַּאֲוָתוֹ מֵאַרְבַּע בְּחִינוֹת שִׁפְלוּת, כִּי צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם לְהַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ לִפְנֵי גְּדוֹלִים מִמֶּנּוּ, וְלִפְנֵי בְּנֵי־אָדָם כְּעֶרְכּוֹ, וְלִפְנֵי קְטַנִּים מִמֶּנּוּ, וְלִפְעָמִים, שֶׁהוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ קָטָן שֶׁבִּקְּטַנִּים, וְצָרִיךְ לְהַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּנֶגֶד מַדְרֵגַת עַצְמוֹ, וִידַמֶּה בְּעֵינָיו שֶׁהוּא לְמַטָּה מִמַּדְרֵגָתוֹ, בִּבְחִינַת: שְׁבוּ אִישׁ תַּחְתָּיו:

EN (our paraphrase): And a person merits Torah only through lowliness, as the Sages said: and from the wilderness, a gift. He must break his pride in four kinds of lowliness: making himself small before those greater than him, before his equals, before those smaller than him; and sometimes, when he himself is the smallest of the small, he must make himself small against his own level, picturing himself below where he is, as in: let each man stay in his place.

Scene 4 · Rabbah bar bar Chanah, as quoted in LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.2, §5.3

וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר־חָנָה: לְדִידִי חָזֵי לִי הַאי אוּרְזִילָא בַּר־יוֹמָא, דַּהֲוֵי כְּהַר־תָּבוֹר. וְהַר־תָּבוֹר כַּמָּה הֲוֵי, אַרְבָּעָה פַּרְסֵי. וּבֵי מַשְׁכָא דְּצַוְּארֵהּ תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי, וּבֵי מַרְבַּעְתָּא דְּרֵישֵׁהּ פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָּא. וּרְמָא כּוּפְתָּא וְסָכְרָא לְיַרְדְּנָא.

EN (our paraphrase): And this is what Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: I myself saw a wild ox, a day old, as big as Mount Tabor. And how big is Mount Tabor? Four parsas. The length of its neck was three parsas, and the resting place of its head a parsa and a half. It cast a lump and dammed the Jordan.

Scene 6 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.4

אוּרְזִילָא בַּר־יוֹמָא – הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת כָּבוֹד, שֶׁהוּא בָּעַכּוּ"ם, בְּזִּלוּתָא. וְזֶה: אוּר זִילָא. אוּר הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת כָּבוֹד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהָאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבוֹדוֹ. וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא בַּר־יוֹמָא – כִּי לֹא יִתְגַּלֶּה הַכָּבוֹד אֶלָּא בְּבִיאַת מְשִׁיחֵנוּ, וּכְתִיב בֵּהּ: אֵימָתַי יָבוֹא מַר – הַיּוֹם; הַיּוֹם אִם בְּקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ; וּבְכָל יוֹם מוּכָן הַכָּבוֹד לָצֵאת מִזִּילוּתָא.

EN (our paraphrase): A day-old urzila: this is honor, which is with the nations, in disgrace. That is ur zila: ur, light, is honor, as it says: and the earth shone with His honor. And why a day old? Because honor will be revealed only when Mashiach comes, and of him it is written: when will the master come? Today: today, if you listen to His voice. Every day the honor stands ready to come out of its disgrace.

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.5

וַהֲוָה כְּהַר־תָּבוֹר – שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁהַעֲלָאַת הַכָּבוֹד תָּלוּי בָּזֶה שֶׁאָדָם מְשַׁבֵּר גַּאֲוָתוֹ; כְּפִי הִשְׁתַּבְּרוּת גַּאֲוָתוֹ, כֵּן הוּא הַעֲלָאַת הַכָּבוֹד, כִּי כְּבוֹדוֹ נִתְעַלֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַתּוֹרָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְאֵין אָדָם זוֹכֶה לַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי שִׁפְלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וּמִמִּדְבָּר מַתָּנָה. וְזֶה: הַר תָּבוֹר – הַר לְשׁוֹן גַּדְלוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: הֶעֱמַדְתָּ לְהַרְרִי עֹז, וְתָבוֹר לְשׁוֹן שְׁבִירָה.

EN (our paraphrase): As big as Mount Tabor: he saw that raising honor depends on a person breaking his pride. As far as his pride is broken, so far honor is raised, for His honor rises through Torah, as above, and a person merits Torah only through lowliness: from the wilderness, a gift. And this is Har Tabor: har, mountain, means greatness, as in 'You set my mountain firm', and tavor means breaking.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.6

וְהַר תָּבוֹר כַּמָּה הֲוָה אַרְבַּע פַּרְסֵי – הַיְנוּ אַרְבַּע בְּחִינוֹת שִׁפְלוּת הַנַּ"ל, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַקְטִין לִפְנֵי צַדִּיקִים, בֵּינוֹנִים, רְשָׁעִים, וְלִפְנֵי מַדְרֵגַת עַצְמוֹ, וְשֶׁיִּדְמֶּה בְּעֵינָיו כְּאִלּוּ לֹא בָּא עֲדַיִן לִפְנֵי מַדְרֵגָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא בָּהּ. וְזֶה: הַר־תָּבוֹר אַרְבַּע פַּרְסֵי – שֶׁשְּׁבִירַת הַגַּדְלוּת הֵם בְּאַרְבַּע בְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): And how big was Mount Tabor? Four parsas: the four kinds of lowliness above. He must make himself small before tzaddikim, before people in the middle, before the wicked, and before his own level, imagining he has not yet reached the level he is on. That is Har Tabor, four parsas: breaking pride in those four ways.

Scene 10 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.7

וּמַשְׁכָא דְּצַוְּארֵהּ תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי – זֶה בְּחִינַת הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי־אָדָם לְהִתְגַּדֵּל בָּהֶם, הֵם שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים, וְצָרִיךְ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מֵהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: אַל יִתְהַלֵּל חָכָם בְּחָכְמָתוֹ וְכוּ', וְהֵם שָׁלשׁ בְּחִינוֹת: חָכָם, גִּבּוֹר, עָשִׁיר. וְהַגַּדְלוּת נִקְרָא מַשְׁכָא דְּצַוָּארָא, בִּבְחִינַת: תְּדַבְּרוּ בְצַוָּאר עָתָק.

EN (our paraphrase): The length of its neck, three parsas: these are the things people usually grow proud through. There are three, and one must guard himself from them, as it says: let the wise man not boast of his wisdom, and so on; three kinds: the wise, the strong, the rich. And pride is called the length of the neck, as in: do not speak with a haughty neck.

Part 4 — Taking Off the Soiled Garments

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.8

וּמַרְבַּעְתָּא דְּרֵישֵׁהּ פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָּא – זֶה בְּחִינַת זִוּוּג, הַנַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה. מַרְבַּעְתָּא – לְשׁוֹן זִוּוּג, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: אָרְחִי וְרִבְעִי; וְעַל־יְדֵי זִוּוּג הַזֶּה נַעֲשֶׂה פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָּא; פַּרְסָה, זֶה רֶמֶז עַל הַמְשָׁכַת הַנְּשָׁמוֹת לִבְנֵיהֶם, זֶה מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם פַּרְסָה שְׁלֵמָה; וְהִתְנוֹצְצוּת שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמוֹת מִתְנוֹצְצִין וּמְאִירִין וּמְעוֹרְרִין אֶת הַפּוֹשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּמוֹלִידִין נִשְׁמוֹת גֵּרִים, זֶה מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם פַּלְגָּא,

EN (our paraphrase): The resting place of its head, a parsa and a half: this is the joining that happens in the beginning of thought. Marbaata means joining, as in 'my path and my lying down'. Through this joining comes a parsa and a half. A whole parsa hints at drawing souls down for one's children. And the sparkling of the souls, which shine and wake the sinners of Israel to teshuvah and give birth to souls of converts, is called a half,

Scene 3 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.9

כִּי עֲדַיִן רְחוֹקִים מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה מְאֹד וְיָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת לָהֶם מְנִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת, וְצָרִיךְ לָהֶם יְגִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁיט מֵהֶם הַבְּגָדִים צוֹאִים שֶׁהִלְבִּישׁוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: הָסִירוּ הַבְּגָדִים הַצֹּאִים; כִּי אֵלּוּ הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים הֵם מוֹנְעִים אוֹתָם מִלַּחֲזֹר לַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, וְהֵם מַפְסִיקִים כְּמוֹ נָהָר הַמַּפְסִיק, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַהֲלֹךְ דֶּרֶךְ אוֹתוֹ הַנָּהָר, וְצָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים. וְזֶה:

EN (our paraphrase): because they are still very far from holiness and may meet many obstacles. Great effort is needed to strip off the soiled garments they have put on, as it says: remove the soiled garments. These soiled garments keep them from returning to the Holy One; they cut them off like a river that cannot be crossed, and the soiled garments must be thrown off. And this is:

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.10

רְמָא כּוּפְתָּא וְסַכְרָא לְיַרְדְּנָא – עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמַּפְשִׁיטִין וּמַשְׁלִיכִין מֵעֲלֵיהֶם הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים, נִתְבַּטְּלִים כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהַמָּסַכִים הַמַּבְדִּילִים בֵּינָם לְבֵין הַקְּדֻשָּׁה. וְזֶה:

EN (our paraphrase): It cast a lump and dammed the Jordan: when they strip off and throw away the soiled garments, all the obstacles and screens that divide them from holiness fall away. And this is:

Scene 5 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.11

וְסַכְרָא לְיַרְדְּנָא – כִּי הַיַּרְדֵּן מַפְסִיק בֵּין קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְחוּץ־ לָאָרֶץ. וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָאִים בְּשֵׁם פַּלְגָּא, כִּי עֲדַיִן צָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ מֵהֶם הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים, כְּדֵי לְהָסִיר הַמַּפְסִיקִים וְהַמּוֹנְעִים וְהַמָּסַכִּים הַמַּבְדִּילִים בֵּינָם לְבֵין הַקְּדֻשָּׁה. אֲבָל, אֵלּוּ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֶׁתַּלְמִידֵי־חֲכָמִים מַמְשִׁיכִין לִבְנֵיהֶם כַּנַּ"ל, זֶה מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם פַּרְסָה שְׁלֵמָה, כִּי אֵין לָהֶם מָסַכִים הַמַּבְדִּילִים.

EN (our paraphrase): and dammed the Jordan: for the Jordan divides the holiness of the Land of Israel from outside the Land. That is why they are called a half: the soiled garments must still be thrown off them, to remove what blocks and divides them from holiness. But the souls that Torah scholars draw down for their children are called a whole parsa, for they have no dividing screens.

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.12

וְזֶה: וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ – כַּבְּדֵהוּ בִּכְסוּת נָקִי, כְסוּת נָקִי – הַיְנוּ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ הַבְּגָדִים הַצּוֹאִים, כִּי זֶה עִקַּר כְּבוֹד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, אִם תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל, לְהַחֲזִיר בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ נִשְׁמוֹת הַגֵּרִים.

EN (our paraphrase): And this is 'and honor it': honor it with clean clothing, as the Sages expounded on the verse 'and the holy day of Hashem, honored'. Clean clothing means throwing off the soiled garments. For this is the main honor of Hashem: if you bring out the precious from the worthless, bringing people back in teshuvah and drawing down the souls of converts.

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §5 · paragraph §5.13

וְגֵרִים שֶׁמִּתְגַּיְּרִין הֵם בָּאִים תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָא גֵּר־צֶדֶק. וְזֶה שֶׁמּוּבָא בַּזֹּהַר: כְּסוּת נָקִי דָּא כַּנְפֵי מִצְוָה, הַיְנוּ שְׁכִינָה, הַנִּקְרֵאת מִצְוָה, בִּבְחִינוֹת: כָּל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ צֶדֶק. וְזֶהוּ: וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ; שֶׁזֶּה עִקַּר כְּבוֹדוֹ, שֶׁיַּכְנִיס גֵּרִים תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה כַּנַּ"ל:

EN (our paraphrase): Converts who convert come under the wings of the Shechinah, and that is why one is called a righteous convert. This is what the Zohar says: clean clothing is the wings of the mitzvah, that is the Shechinah, which is called mitzvah, as in: all Your mitzvos are righteousness. And this is 'and honor it': this is His main honor, to bring converts under the wings of the Shechinah.

Part 5 — Honor, Awe and Two Kinds of Peace

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §6 · paragraph §6.1

וְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ יָכוֹל לֵידַע הַעֲלָאַת הַכָּבוֹד לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה. לְפִי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד אֶת יִרְאֵי־הַשֵּׁם, כֵּן עָלָה הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, כִּי שָׁם שֹׁרֶשׁ הַכָּבוֹד, בִּבְחִינַת: וְאֶת יִרְאֵי ה' יְכַבֵּד. כִּי כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַכָּבוֹד הוּא בַּגָּלוּת, כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ, הוּא מְזַלְזֵל בְּיִרְאֵי ה', וְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי תִּקּוּנוֹ אֶת הַכָּבוֹד, כֵּן הוּא מְכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה':

EN (our paraphrase): And each person, by his own level, can know how far honor has been raised to its root, awe. As much as he honors those who fear Hashem, so far honor has risen to its root, for that is the root of honor, as in: and those who fear Hashem he honors. For as long as honor is in exile, each person in his way belittles those who fear Hashem; and as each repairs honor, so he honors those who fear Hashem.

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §7 · paragraph §7.1

וְעִקַּר הַדָּבָר – שֶׁיְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה' בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: דָּבָר הַמָּסוּר לַלֵּב, נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹקֶיךָ; וְשָׁם עִקַּר הַכָּבוֹד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: בִּשְׂפָתָיו כִּבְּדוּנִי וְלִבּוֹ רִחַק מִמֶּנִּי:

EN (our paraphrase): And the main thing is to honor those who fear Hashem with a whole heart, as the Sages said: a thing given over to the heart, of it is said, and you shall fear your Elokim. There is the main honor, as it says: with his lips he honored Me, but his heart he kept far from Me.

Scene 5 · LM I:14 §8 · paragraph §8.1

כְּשֶׁמַּחֲזִיר הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, הַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְאָז נִשְׁלָם פִּגְמֵי הַיִּרְאָה, וְאָז זוֹכֶה לְשָׁלוֹם.

EN (our paraphrase): When he returns honor to its root, to awe, the flaws in awe are made whole, and then he merits peace.

Scene 6 · LM I:14 §8 · paragraph §8.2

וְיֵשׁ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי שָׁלוֹם: יֵשׁ שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, כִּי תְּחִלָּה צָרִיךְ אָדָם לִרְאוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, כִּי לִפְעָמִים אֵין שָׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: אֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמַי מִפְּנֵי חַטָּאתִי; וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה, זוֹכֶה לְשָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר: בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִית דְּחִילָא, תַּמָּן תִּשְׁתַּכַּח שְׁלִמְתָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו.

EN (our paraphrase): And there are two kinds of peace. There is peace in one's own bones: first a person must see that there is peace within him, for sometimes there is none, as it says: there is no peace in my bones because of my sin. Through awe he merits peace within, as the Zohar says: where there is awe, there wholeness is found, as it says: there is no lack for those who fear Him.

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §8 · paragraph §8.3

כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, אָז יָכוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל. כִּי עִקַּר הַתְּפִלָּה עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה, בִּבְחִינַת: אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת ה' הִיא תִתְהַלָּל, כִּי הַתְּפִלָּה בִּמְקוֹם קָרְבָּן, וּבְקָרְבָּן כְּתִיב בֵּהּ: כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ מוּם לֹא יִקְרָב; וּכְשֶׁאֵין בּוֹ מוּם, הַיְנוּ בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִית דְּחִילָא, אֲזַי יִקְרַב לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ תַּמָּה.

EN (our paraphrase): When there is peace within him, then he can pray. For prayer comes mainly through awe, as in: a woman who fears Hashem, she shall be praised. For prayer stands in place of an offering, and of an offering it is written: anyone with a blemish shall not come near. When he has no blemish, that is, where there is awe, then he may come near to do his service whole.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §8 · paragraph §8.4, §8.5

וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּחַנָּה: וְחַנָּה מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל לִבָּהּ – עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה זָכְתָה לִתְפִלָּה, כִּי עִקַּר הַיִּרְאָה הוּא בַּלֵּב כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּה זוֹכֶה לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, הַיְנוּ שְׁלֵמוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת, כִּי עַל שֵׁם זֶה תְּפִלָּה נִקְרָא קָרְבָּן, עַל שֵׁם קֵרוּב הָעוֹלָמוֹת לִשְׁלֵמוּתָן:

EN (our paraphrase): And this is what is written of Chanah: and Chanah was speaking on her heart. Through awe she merited prayer, for awe lives mainly in the heart, as above. And through prayer one merits universal peace, the wholeness of the worlds; that is why prayer is called a korban, an offering, from kiruv, bringing the worlds close to their wholeness.

Part 6 — Where Heaven and Earth Kiss

Scene 2 · Rabbah bar bar Chanah, as quoted in LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.1

וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר־חָנָה: אֲמַר לִי הַהוּא טַיְעָא: תָּא וְאַחַוֵי לָךְ הֵיכֵי דְּנַשְּׁקֵי אַרְעָא וּרְקִיעַ בַּהֲדָדֵי. אֲזַלִי וַחֲזָאֵי, דְּעָבִיד כַּוֵּי כַּוֵּי. שַׁקְלִית לְסַלְתָּאִי וְאַנַּחְתִּיהָ בְּכַוְתָא דִּרְקִיעָא. בַּהֲדֵי דִּמְצַלֵּינָא בָּעוּתָא וְלֹא אַשְׁכְּחִיתָהּ. אֲמְרֵי: אִיכָּא גַּנְבֵי הָכָא. אֲמַר לִי: גַּלְגַּלָּא דִּרְקִיעַ הוּא דְּהָדַר. נְטַר עַד לְמָחָר כִּי הַשְׁתָּא, וּמַשְׁכַּח לָהּ:

EN (our paraphrase): And this is what Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: a certain merchant told me, come, I will show you where earth and heaven kiss each other. I went and saw that it was made of windows. I took my basket and set it in a window of the heaven. While I prayed I looked for it and did not find it. I said: are there thieves here? He told me: it is the wheel of heaven that turns. Wait until tomorrow at this time and you will find it.

Scene 3 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.2

דְּנַשְׁקֵי אַרְעָא וּרְקִיעָא – זֶה בְּחִינַת שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו. אַרְעָא זֶה בְּחִינַת גּוּף, רְקִיעָא זֶה בְּחִינַת נְשָׁמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: יִקְרָא אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל – זֶה הַנְּשָׁמָה; וְאֶל הָאָרֶץ – זֶה הַגּוּף.

EN (our paraphrase): Where earth and heaven kiss: this is peace in one's bones. Earth is the body, heaven is the soul, as it says: He calls to the heavens above, this is the soul, and to the earth, this is the body.

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.3

וּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ בֵּינֵיהֶם שָׁלוֹם, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: עֲבִידֵי כַּוֵּי – עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה תְּפִלָּה, כַּנַּ"ל, בִּבְחִינַת: וְכַוִּין פְּתִיחָן לֵהּ בְּעִלִּיתֵהּ.

EN (our paraphrase): And when there is peace between them, then: it is made of windows. Through this prayer comes about, as above, as in: and he had windows open in his upper room.

Scene 6 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.4

וְשַׁקְלֵית לְסַלְתָּאִי וְאַנַּחְתִּיהָ בְּכַוְתָא דִּרְקִיעַ – סַלְתָּא זֶה פַּרְנָסָה, כְּמוֹ מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פַּת בְּסַלּוֹ,

EN (our paraphrase): I took my basket and set it in a window of the heaven: the basket is livelihood, as in 'one who has bread in his basket',

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.5

הַיְנוּ שֶׁלֹּא רָצָה לַעֲסֹק בְּשׁוּם עֵסֶק מֵעִסְקֵי עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, רַק בִּשְׁבִיל נִשְׁמָתוֹ. גַּם כָּל תְּפִלּוֹתָיו לֹא הָיוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל לְקַשֵּׁר נִשְׁמָתוֹ, אֲפִלּוּ אֵלּוּ תְּפִלּוֹת הַמְפֹרָשִׁים בַּתְּפִלָּה שֶׁהֵם לְצֹרֶךְ הַגּוּף, כְּגוֹן רְפָאֵינוּ וּבָרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ וּשְׁאָר צָרְכֵי הַגּוּף, לֹא הָיָה כַּוָּנָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבָּה בַּר בַּר־חָנָה בִּשְׁבִיל גּוּפוֹ, אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל נִשְׁמָתוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה מְכַוֵּן לְפַרְנָסַת נִשְׁמָתוֹ וְלִרְפוּאָתָהּ. וְזֶה:

EN (our paraphrase): meaning he wanted no dealings in this world's affairs except for his soul. Even all his prayers were only to bind his soul; even the prayers written for the body's needs, like 'heal us' and 'bless for us' and the other bodily needs, Rabbah bar bar Chanah did not mean for his body, but for his soul: he intended the livelihood of his soul and its healing. And this is:

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.6

וְשַׁקְלֵית לְסַלְתָּאִי וְאַנַּחְתִּיהָ בְּכַוְתָא דִּרְקִיעַ – שֶׁשָּׁקַל לַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁהוּא לְצֹרֶךְ הַגּוּף, וְאַנְחָהּ בִּתְפִלָּה, הַכֹּל לְצֹרֶךְ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, כִּי מִמֵּילָא כְּשֶׁנִּתְקָן שָׁם בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת, נִתְקָן גַּם בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת.

EN (our paraphrase): I took my basket and set it in heaven's window: he took the prayer for the body's needs and set it into prayer that was all for his soul. For of itself, when it is repaired there in the spiritual, it is repaired in the physical too.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.7, §9.8

וְעַד דִּמְצַלֵּינָא בָּעוּתִי לָא אַשְׁכְּחָה – הַיְנוּ אַחַר־כָּךְ לֹא מָצָא כְּדֵי פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁתִּקֵּן בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן לֹא נִמְשַׁךְ לוֹ שֶׁפַע בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת. אָמַר: אִיכָּא גַּנְבָא הָכָא, שֶׁגּוֹנְבִים הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁלִּי. הֵשִׁיב לוֹ:

EN (our paraphrase): While I prayed I looked for it and did not find it: afterwards he did not find enough for his livelihood. Though he had repaired it spiritually, the flow of plenty still did not reach him physically. He said: there are thieves here, stealing my plenty. He answered him:

Scene 10 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.9

גַּלְגַּלָּא דִּרְקִיעַ דְּהַדְרָא – הַיְנוּ גִּלְגּוּלִין דְּנִשְׁמָתִין, הִיא הַגּוֹרֶמֶת שֶׁאֵין לַצַּדִּיק כְּדֵי פַּרְנָסָתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב גַּבֵּי רַבִּי פְּדָת: אִי בָּעִית דְּאִחְרוּב עָלְמָא, וְאֶפְשָׁר דְּאִיבְרֵית בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּמְזוֹנָא:

EN (our paraphrase): It is the wheel of heaven that turns: that is the turning of souls through lifetimes, which causes the tzaddik not to have enough for his livelihood, as is written of Rabbi Pedas: do you want Me to destroy the world? Perhaps you would be born in an hour of sustenance.

Scene 12 · LM I:14 §9 · paragraph §9.10

וְזֶה: קִנִּים תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה. אִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ: מַה קִּנִּים מְטַהֲרִין אֶת הַמְצֹרָע, אַף תֵּבָתְךָ מְטַהַרְתְּךָ. הַמְצֹרָע, זֶה: נִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף, וּמַפְרִיד בֵּין אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב, וְקִנִּים מְטַהֲרִים אוֹתוֹ; אַף תֵּבָתְךָ, הַיְנוּ תֵּבַת הַתְּפִלָּה, מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת וְעוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, שָׁלוֹם בְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת. וְזֶה שֶׁמְּסַיְּמִין הַתְּפִלָּה בְּשָׁלוֹם:

EN (our paraphrase): And this is: make nests for the ark. The Midrash says: as the birds purify the metzora, so your ark purifies you. The metzora is the whisperer who separates friends, who parts a man from his wife, and so he must sit alone; and birds purify him. So too your teivah, the words of prayer, repair strife and make universal peace, peace in all the worlds. That is why we end prayer with peace.

Part 7 — Blow the Shofar at the New Moon

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §10 · paragraph §10.1, §10.2

וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ תִּקְעוּ – לְשׁוֹן שָׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וּתְקַעְתִּיו יָתֵד בְּמָקוֹם נֶאֱמָן.

EN (our paraphrase): And this is the meaning: tik'u, blow, is a language of peace, as it says: and I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place.

Scene 3 · LM I:14 §10 · paragraph §10.3

בַּחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר – בְּהִתְפָּאֲרוּת חָדָשׁ, הַיְנוּ הִתְעַלּוּת כְּבוֹדוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הִתְקָרְבוּת הַגֵּרִים אוֹ בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה.

EN (our paraphrase): At the new moon, bachodesh: in a new splendor, that is, His honor rising through converts or baalei teshuvah coming close.

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §10 · paragraph §10.4

בַּכֶּסֶא – זֶה בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ הַכָּבוֹד; וְכֶסֶא לְשׁוֹן הִתְכַּסְיָא, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת: "דָּבָר הַמָּסוּר לַלֵּב, נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹקֶיךָ", שֶׁזֶּה הַדָּבָר מְכֻסֶּה מֵעֵין כֹּל.

EN (our paraphrase): At the hidden moon, bakeseh: this is awe, the root of honor. Keseh means covering, as in: a thing given over to the heart, of it is said, and you shall fear your Elokim. That thing is covered from every eye.

Scene 5 · LM I:14 §10 · paragraph §10.5

לְיוֹם – זֶה בְּחִינַת שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת, כִּי יוֹם הוּא בְּחִינַת אוֹר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹקִים לָאוֹר יוֹם, וְאוֹר הוּא שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: נֵר־שַׁבָּת קוֹדֵם לְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם, כִּי שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת קוֹדֵם.

EN (our paraphrase): For the day, leyom: this is peace in the home. For day is light, as it says: and Elokim called the light day; and light is peace in the home, as the Sages said: the Shabbos lamp comes before the day's Kiddush, for peace in the home comes first.

Scene 6 · LM I:14 §10 · paragraph §10.6

חַגֵּנוּ – זֶה בְּחִינַת תְּפִלָּה, עֲבוֹדָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָּרָשַׁת עַכּוּ"ם לְמוֹעֲדִים, לוֹמַר: כָּל הַמְבַזֶּה אֶת הַמּוֹעָדוֹת, כְּאִלּוּ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים. נִמְצָא, שְׁמִירַת הַמּוֹעֵד זֶה בְּחִינַת עֲבוֹדָה תַּמָּה, וְאֵין עֲבוֹדָה אֶלָּא תְּפִלָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּה יָבוֹא לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי כַּנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): Our festival, chageinu: this is prayer, service. As the Sages said: why is the passage of idolatry placed next to the festivals? To tell you that whoever scorns the festivals is as if he serves idols. So keeping the festival is whole service, and service means prayer, and through prayer one comes to universal peace, as above.

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §10 · paragraph §10.7

נִמְצָא, מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, צָרִיךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, הַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה הוּא זוֹכֶה לִשְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת, וְעַל־יְדֵי שְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת הוּא זוֹכֶה לִתְפִלָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּה הוּא זוֹכֶה לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי:

EN (our paraphrase): So one who wants to draw universal peace must raise honor to its root, awe. Through awe he merits peace in the home; through peace in the home, prayer; and through prayer, universal peace.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.1

זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה שַׁיָּךְ עַל פְּסוּקִים אֵלּוּ: טוֹב ה' לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו וְכוּ'.

EN (our paraphrase): This Torah also belongs to these verses: Hashem is good to all, and His mercies are on all His works, and so on.

Scene 10 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.2

טוֹב ה' לַכֹּל – זֶה בְּחִינַת תְּפִלָּה, שֶׁמַּאֲמִין בַּה', שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא טוֹב לַכֹּל – הֵן לִרְפוּאָה, הֵן לְפַרְנָסָה, הֵן לְכָל הַדְּבָרִים. כְּשֶׁמַּאֲמִין כָּךְ, בְּוַדַּאי יִהְיֶה עִקַּר הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתוֹ בָּתַר קֻדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא, וְלֹא יִרְדֹּף אַחַר תַּחְבּוּלוֹת רַבּוֹת; כִּי מִי שֶׁאֵין מַאֲמִין בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל אַחַר תַּחְבּוּלוֹת רַבּוֹת.

EN (our paraphrase): Hashem is good to all: this is prayer, when one believes in Hashem, that the Holy One is good for everything, for healing, for a living, for all things. When he believes this, his main effort will surely go after the Holy One, and he will not chase after many schemes; for one who does not believe in the Holy One must chase after many schemes.

Scene 11 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.2

לְמָשָׁל, כְּשֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִרְפוּאָה, צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל אַחַר עֲשָׂבִים רַבִּים, וְלִפְעָמִים אֵלּוּ עֲשָׂבִים הַצְּרִיכִים לוֹ אֵינָם בַּנִּמְצָא בִּמְדִינָתוֹ, וְהָעֲשָׂבִים הַנִּמְצָאִים אֵינָם טוֹבִים לְמַכָּתוֹ. אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא טוֹב לְכָל הַמַּכּוֹת לְרַפְּאוֹתָם, וְהוּא בַּנִּמְצָא תָּמִיד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: מִי כַּה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ בְּכָל קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו.

EN (our paraphrase): For example, when he needs healing he must hunt for many herbs, and sometimes the herbs he needs are not to be found in his country, and the ones that are found are no good for his wound. But the Holy One is good for every wound, to heal it, and He is always to be found, as it says: who is like Hashem our Elokim, whenever we call to Him.

Scene 12 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.3

וְעַל־יְדֵי הַתְּפִלָּה זוֹכֶה לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי. וְזֶה: וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו; הַיְנוּ שֶׁרַחֲמֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ יִתְמַשֵּׁךְ עַל כָּל הַבְּרוּאִים, וְכָל הַבְּרוּאִים יְרַחֲמוּ אֶחָד עַל חֲבֵרוֹ, וְיִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְגָר זְאֵב עִם כֶּבֶשׂ וְנָמֵר עִם גְּדִי וְכוּ', לֹא יָרֵעוּ וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתוּ, כִּי יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם.

EN (our paraphrase): And through prayer one merits universal peace. And this is: and His mercies are on all His works. Hashem's mercy will be drawn over all creatures, and all creatures will have mercy on one another, and there will be peace between them, as it says: the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid; they will not harm or destroy, for there will be peace between them.

Scene 13 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.3

כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: כָּל הַמְרַחֵם עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, מְרַחֲמִין עָלָיו מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְנָתַן לְךָ רַחֲמִים וְרִחֲמֶךָ.

EN (our paraphrase): as the Sages said: whoever has mercy on creatures, Heaven has mercy on him, as it says: He will give you mercy and have mercy on you.

Scene 15 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.4

וְאַחַר־כָּךְ מְפָרֵשׁ הַפָּסוּק אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה לִתְפִלָּה – עַל־יְדֵי שְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת יְהֵא שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, בֵּין גּוּפוֹ וְנַפְשׁוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה: יוֹדוּךָ כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ. מַעֲשֶׂיךָ זֶה בְּחִינַת עֲשִׂיָּה, בְּחִינַת גּוּף;

EN (our paraphrase): Then the verse explains how to merit prayer: through peace in the home there will be peace within, between his body and his soul, as above. And this is: all Your works will thank You. Your works, maasecha, is asiyah, doing, the body;

Scene 16 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.5

וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרְכוּכָה – חֲסִידֶיךָ זֶה בְּחִינַת נֶפֶשׁ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: גֹּמֵל נַפְשׁוֹ אִישׁ חֶסֶד.

EN (our paraphrase): and Your devoted ones will bless You: Your devoted ones, chasidecha, is the soul, as it says: a man of kindness does good to his own soul.

Scene 17 · LM I:14 §11 · paragraph §11.6

וְאַחַר־כָּךְ מְפָרֵשׁ הַפָּסוּק, אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה לִשְׁלוֹם־ בַּיִת – עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה כְּבוֹד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה, הַנִּקְרָאִים גְּבוּרוֹת. וְזֶהוּ: כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ – שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה כְּבוֹדוֹ וְיִתְעַלֶּה לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ; וְזֶהוּ: וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּרוּ. וּגְבוּרָה זֶה בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וֶאֱלֹקִים עָשָׂה שֶׁיִּירְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו – אֵלּוּ רְעָמִים, וּכְתִיב: וְרַעַם גְּבוּרוֹתָיו מִי יִתְבּוֹנָן:

EN (our paraphrase): Then the verse explains how to merit peace in the home: by raising the honor of Hashem to the root of awe, which is called gevuros, strengths. And this is: they will speak of the honor of Your kingship, His honor revealed and raised to its root; and this is: and tell of Your might. Might is awe, as the Sages said: and Elokim made it so that they would fear Him, these are the thunders; and it is written: the thunder of His mighty deeds, who can understand?

Part 8 — The Chanukah Light at the Door

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.1

וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מִצְוַת נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁמִּצְוָתָהּ לְהַדְלִיק סָמוּךְ לְפֶתַח הַבַּיִת. כִּי הַדְלָקַת הַנֵּר הוּא בְּחִינַת הֶאָרַת הַכָּבוֹד, בְּחִינַת: וְהָאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבוֹדוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן מִצְוָתָהּ לְהַדְלִיק סָמוּךְ לְפֶתַח הַבַּיִת – דָּא פִּתְחָא עִלָּאָה, בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, הַיְנוּ לְהַחֲזִיר הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): And this is the mitzvah of the Chanukah light, which must be lit near the doorway of the house. Lighting the lamp is the shining of honor, as in: and the earth shone with His honor, as above. So its mitzvah is to light it near the doorway of the house: this is the upper doorway, awe, that is, returning honor to its root, awe, as above.

Scene 3 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.2

וְאֵימָתַי עוֹלֶה הַכָּבוֹד, כְּשֶׁמַּחֲזִירִין בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה וְעוֹשִׂין בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה וְגֵרִים, שֶׁזֶּה עִקַּר כְּבוֹדוֹ כַּנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): And when does honor rise? When people are brought back in teshuvah and baalei teshuvah and converts are made, for that is His main honor, as above.

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.3

וְזֶהוּ שֶׁזְּמַן הַדְלָקַת נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁהוּא הֶאָרַת הַכָּבוֹד, הוּא מִשְּׁעַת יְצִיאַת הַכּוֹכָבִים, עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק. יְצִיאַת הַכּוֹכָבִים זֶה בְּחִינַת: מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים; דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁהֵם מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים וְעוֹשִׂין בַּעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה וְגֵרִים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מֵאִיר הַכָּבוֹד וְחוֹזֵר לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, שֶׁהוּא הַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זוֹכִין לְשָׁלוֹם, וְנִתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת כַּנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): That is why the time for lighting the Chanukah lamp, the shining of honor, is from when the stars come out until the foot is gone from the market. The stars coming out is: those who bring the many to righteousness, like the stars; they make many righteous, making baalei teshuvah and converts. Through this honor shines and returns to its root, awe, and through that we merit peace, and strife ends, as above.

Scene 6 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.4

וְזֶהוּ: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק. רֶגֶל זֶה בְּחִינַת: נִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף הַנַּ"ל, דְּהַיְנוּ בַּעֲלֵי לְשׁוֹן הָרָע וּמַחֲלֹקֶת, הַהוֹלְכִים וּמְרַגְּלִים וּמְדַבְּרִים רְכִילוּת וְלָשׁוֹן הָרָע וְעוֹשִׂין מְרִיבָה וּמַחֲלֹקֶת בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ וּבֵין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, בְּחִינַת: לֹא רָגַל עַל לְשׁוֹנוֹ.

EN (our paraphrase): And this is: until the foot is gone from the market. The foot, regel, is the whisperer who separates friends: people of gossip and strife, who go about spying, speaking tale-bearing and evil talk, making quarrels and strife between a man and his fellow and between husband and wife, as in: who did not go about with gossip on his tongue.

Scene 7 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.5

וְזֶהוּ שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהָאִיר וּלְהַדְלִיק נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה סָמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח, דְּהַיְנוּ לְהָאִיר הַכָּבוֹד וּלְהַחֲזִירוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל, עַד שֶׁיִּזְכֶּה לְשָׁלוֹם וִיבַטֵּל וִיכַלֶּה הַ"נִּרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף". וְזֶהוּ: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק – שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל בַּעֲלֵי לְשׁוֹן הָרָע וּרְכִילוּת, אֲשֶׁר רָגַל עַל לְשׁוֹנָם, וְיִתְרַבֶּה הַשָּׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם:

EN (our paraphrase): That is why the Chanukah lamp must shine and be lit near the doorway: to light up honor and return it to the root of awe, until he merits peace and cancels and ends 'the whisperer who separates friends'. And this is: until the foot is gone from the market, until the people of evil talk and gossip, who go about with it on their tongues, are gone, and peace grows in the world.

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.6

וְעַל־יְדֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם זוֹכִין לִתְפִלָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־ זֶה זוֹכִין לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, שָׁלוֹם בְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת. וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁזּוֹכִין לַשָּׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, אֲזַי יִתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן מִן הָעוֹלָם, כִּי כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הוּא מֵהֶעְדֵּר הַשָּׁלוֹם, כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רְצוֹן הַמּוֹכֵר וְהַקּוֹנֶה שָׁוֶה, כִּי זֶה רוֹצֶה לִמְכֹּר וְזֶה רוֹצֶה לִקְנוֹת, וְאִם הָיָה רְצוֹנָם שָׁוֶה, לֹא הָיָה אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נַעֲשֶׂה שׁוּם מַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן.

EN (our paraphrase): And through peace we merit prayer, and through that, universal peace, peace in all the worlds. And when we merit universal peace, all buying and selling will cease from the world, for all trade in the world comes from a lack of peace: the will of seller and buyer can never be the same, for one wants to sell and the other wants to buy; and if their wills were the same, no trade could take place.

Scene 10 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.7

נִמְצָא, שֶׁכָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן וְהַסְּחוֹרוֹת הוּא רַק עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת מַחֲלֹקוֹת, שֶׁאֵין שָׁלוֹם בֵּין הָרְצוֹנוֹת. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: וַיְהִי רִיב בֵּין רֹעֵי מִקְנֵה אַבְרָם וּבֵין רֹעֵי מִקְנֵה לוֹט, וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי אָז בָּאָרֶץ. כְּנַעֲנִי, בְּחִינַת סוֹחֵר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י עַל פָּסוּק: כְּנַעַן בְּיָדוֹ וְכוּ', הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת רִיב וּמַחֲלֹקֶת, בְּחִינַת: וַיְהִי רִיב וְכוּ', עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי אָז בָּאָרֶץ – עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יֵשׁ סוֹחֲרִים וּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן בָּעוֹלָם;

EN (our paraphrase): So all trade and commerce come only through a kind of strife, when there is no peace between the wills. This is: and there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Avram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle, and the Canaanite was then in the land. Canaanite means trader, as Rashi explains on 'Canaan, in his hand'. Through quarrel and strife, 'and there was a quarrel', comes 'the Canaanite was then in the land': traders and commerce in the world.

Scene 11 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.8

אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַשָּׁלוֹם הַמֻּפְלָא בָּעוֹלָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְגָר זְאֵב עִם כֶּבֶשׂ וְנָמֵר עִם גְּדִי; אֲזַי יִתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כְּנַעֲנִי עוֹד כַּנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): But in the future, when wondrous peace fills the world, as it says, the wolf will live with the lamb and the leopard lie down with the kid, then trade will cease, as it says: and there will no longer be a Canaanite, as above.

Scene 12 · LM I:14 §12 · paragraph §12.9

וְזֶהוּ גַּם כֵּן בְּחִינַת: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק, הַיְנוּ שֶׁמִּצְוָה לְהַדְלִיק נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הַחֲזָרַת הַכָּבוֹד כַּנַּ"ל, עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק – שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁאֵר שׁוּם רֶגֶל בַּשּׁוּק, כִּי יִתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הַמַּשָּׂא־וּמַתָּן עַל־יְדֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם כַּנַּ"ל:

EN (our paraphrase): And this too is 'until the foot is gone from the market': the mitzvah is to light the Chanukah lamp until the foot is gone from the market, meaning peace, made by returning honor, until all trade ends. Until the foot is gone from the market: no foot will be left in the market, for all trade will cease through peace.

Part 9 — Humility Before Honor

Scene 2 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.1, §13.2

שַׁיָּךְ לְעֵיל: לְפִי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה', כֵּן עָלָה הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ. כִּי כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַכָּבוֹד הוּא בְּגָלוּת, כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ, כֵּן הוּא מְזַלְזֵל בְּיִרְאֵי ה', וְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי תִּקּוּנוֹ אֶת הַכָּבוֹד, כֵּן הוּא מְכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה' וְכוּ',

EN (our paraphrase): Belonging to the above: as much as he honors those who fear Hashem, so far honor has risen to its root. For as long as honor is in exile, each person by his level belittles those who fear Hashem, and as each repairs honor, so he honors those who fear Hashem, and so on.

Scene 3 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.3

וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה', שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת הַחֲזָרַת הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ לַיִּרְאָה, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זוֹכִין לְשָׁלוֹם, כַּמְבֹאָר לְעֵיל הֵיטֵב.

EN (our paraphrase): And through this, through the honor he gives those who fear Hashem, which is returning honor to its root, awe, through this we merit peace, as explained well above.

Scene 4 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.4

וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: הַמְבַזֶּה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם, אֵין רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּתוֹ; כִּי הַמְבַזֶּה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם וּמְזַלְזֵל יִרְאֵי ה', נִמְצָא שֶׁפּוֹגֵם בַּכָּבוֹד, וְאֵינוֹ מַחֲזִירוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַיִּרְאָה, וַאֲזַי אֵין זוֹכֶה לְשָׁלוֹם, וְעַל כֵּן אֵין רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּתוֹ,

EN (our paraphrase): And this is what our Rabbis said: whoever shames a Torah scholar, there is no cure for his wound. For one who shames a Torah scholar and belittles those who fear Hashem damages honor and does not return it to the root of awe; then he does not merit peace, and so there is no cure for his wound,

Scene 5 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.5

כִּי כָּל הַחוֹלַאַת בָּאִין עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת מַחֲלֹקֶת, כִּי כָּל הַחוֹלַאַת הֵם בְּחִינַת מַחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁאֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמָיו, וְהַיְסוֹדוֹת מִתְגַּבְּרִין זֶה עַל זֶה וְאֵין מִתְנַהֲגִים בְּשָׁלוֹם, בַּמֶּזֶג הַשָּׁוֶה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בָּא חוֹלַאַת, כַּיָּדוּעַ.

EN (our paraphrase): for all illnesses come through a kind of strife. Every illness is strife, no peace in one's bones: the elements overpower one another and do not work together in peace, in an even balance, and through this illness comes, as is known.

Scene 6 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.6

וְעַל כֵּן כְּשֶׁמְּבַזֶּה תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם וּפוֹגֵם בַּשָּׁלוֹם, עַל כֵּן אֵין רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּתוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עִקַּר הָרְפוּאָה – עַל־יְדֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם כַּנַּ"ל, בִּבְחִינַת: שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב אָמַר ה' וּרְפָאתִיו:

EN (our paraphrase): So when he shames a Torah scholar and damages peace, there is no cure for his wound, as above, for healing comes mainly through peace, as in: peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says Hashem, and I will heal him.

Scene 8 · LM I:14 §13 (Reb Noson's note) · paragraph §13.7

גַּם בְּעֵת אֲמִירַת הַתּוֹרָה הַנַּ"ל הִזְכִּיר רַבֵּנוּ זַ"ל מַאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: אֵין מַסְפִּידִין בַּחֲנֻכָּה, וְאֵינִי זוֹכֵר מַה שֶּׁפֵּרֵשׁ בּוֹ.

EN (our paraphrase): Also, when this Torah was said, our Rebbe mentioned the saying of our Rabbis: we do not eulogize on Chanukah. And I do not remember what he explained about it.

Scene 9 · LM I:14 §13 (Reb Noson's note) · paragraph §13.7

וְהַנִּרְאֶה לַעֲנִיּוּת דַּעְתִּי, כִּי הַהֶסְפֵּד הוּא בִּשְׁבִיל לְתַקֵּן הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַכָּבוֹד, שֶׁנִּפְגַּם עַל־יְדֵי הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַצַּדִּיק הַזֶּה, שֶׁהָיָה מַצְדִּיק אֶת הָרַבִּים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה עִקַּר הֶאָרַת הַכָּבוֹד כַּנַּ"ל, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: הֶסְפֵּדָא יְקָרָא דְּחַיֵּי אוֹ יְקָרָא דְּשָׁכְבֵי סנהדרין מו: וְעַל כֵּן בַּחֲנֻכָּה אֵין מַסְפִּידִין בּוֹ, כִּי אָז מֵאִיר הַכָּבוֹד עַל־יְדֵי נֵר־חֲנֻכָּה כַּנַּ"ל.

EN (our paraphrase): And it seems to my humble mind that a eulogy is to repair the withdrawal of honor, damaged by the passing of the tzaddik who made many righteous, through whom honor mainly shines, as above; as the Sages said: is a eulogy for the honor of the living or the honor of the dead? So on Chanukah we do not eulogize, for then honor shines through the Chanukah lamp, as above.

Scene 10 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.8, §13.9

לְעֵיל: וְזֶהוּ: וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה; כִּי עַל־יְדֵי עֲנָוָה זוֹכִין לְכָבוֹד, כַּמְבֹאָר לְעֵיל, שֶׁעִקַּר הִתְעַלּוּת הַכָּבוֹד הוּא עַל־יְדֵי גֵּרִים וּבַעֲלֵי־תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁעוֹשִׂין, וְזֶה זוֹכִין עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹרַת חֶסֶד וְכוּ', וְלַתּוֹרָה אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִזְכּוֹת, כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי עֲנָוָה וְכוּ', כַּמְבֹאָר לְעֵיל. נִמְצָא, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לִזְכּוֹת לְכָבוֹד דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי עֲנָוָה, וְזֶהוּ: וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה כַּנַּ"ל:

EN (our paraphrase): Above. And this is: and before honor, humility. Through humility one merits honor, as explained above: honor rises mainly through the converts and baalei teshuvah that are made, and this comes through a Torah of kindness, and Torah can be merited only through humility, as explained above. So it is impossible to merit holy honor except through humility. And this is: before honor, humility.

Scene 11 · LM I:14 §13 · paragraph §13.9

יְסוֹד הָעִנְיָן – חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים: לְהַחֲזִיר כָּבוֹד לַיִּרְאָה, וְיִרְאָה אֶל הַלֵּב, וְשָׁלוֹם הַכְּלָלִי, וְשָׁלוֹם הַפְּרָטִי: לְהַחֲזִיר בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת אִם תּוֹצִיא יָקָר מִזּוֹלֵל כַּנַּ"ל – הוּא תִּקּוּן קֶרִי, אַתְוָן דְּדֵין כְּאַתְוָן דְּדֵין:

EN (our paraphrase): The foundation of the matter is five things: returning honor to awe; awe to the heart; universal peace; personal peace; and bringing people back in teshuvah, which is 'if you bring out the precious, yakar, from the worthless', as above. It is a repair for keri, a lapse in the holiness of the covenant, for the letters of the one are the letters of the other.

Hebrew phrases in the Explainer

Scene 2 · §1.2: לְיִרְאָה אֶת הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד:

Scene 3 · §2.1: הַלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה עַל־מְנָת לְלַמְּדָהּ,

Scene 4 · §2.3: וְעַכְשָׁו הַכָּבוֹד בַּגָּלוּת,

Scene 5 · §3.1: יָפוּצוּ מַעְיְנוֹתֶיךָ חוּצָה,

Scene 6 · §3.4: שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא אוֹתִיּוֹת, כְּנֶגֶד שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת,

Scene 7 · §4.1: שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה;

Scene 8 · §5.1: וְאֵין אָדָם זוֹכֶה לְתוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי שִׁפְלוּת,

Scene 9 · §5.3: לְדִידִי חָזֵי לִי הַאי אוּרְזִילָא בַּר־יוֹמָא, דַּהֲוֵי כְּהַר־תָּבוֹר.

Scene 10 · §5.7: שָׁלשׁ בְּחִינוֹת: חָכָם, גִּבּוֹר, עָשִׁיר.

Scene 11 · §5.9: הָסִירוּ הַבְּגָדִים הַצֹּאִים;

Scene 12 · §5.12: כַּבְּדֵהוּ בִּכְסוּת נָקִי,

Scene 13 · §7.1: שֶׁיְּכַבֵּד יִרְאֵי ה' בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם,

Scene 14 · §8.2: וְיֵשׁ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי שָׁלוֹם:

Scene 15 · §9.1: דְּנַשְּׁקֵי אַרְעָא וּרְקִיעַ בַּהֲדָדֵי.

Scene 16 · §9.2: אַרְעָא זֶה בְּחִינַת גּוּף, רְקִיעָא זֶה בְּחִינַת נְשָׁמָה,

Scene 17 · §9.10: שֶׁמְּסַיְּמִין הַתְּפִלָּה בְּשָׁלוֹם:

Scene 18 · §10.2: וּתְקַעְתִּיו יָתֵד בְּמָקוֹם נֶאֱמָן.

Scene 19 · §11.1: טוֹב ה' לַכֹּל

Scene 20 · §12.3: מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים;

Scene 21 · §12.4: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק.

Scene 22 · §13.9: וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה;

Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap

Scene 2 · §1.2: לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם צָרִיךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת כְּבוֹד הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־ הוּא לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ,

Scene 3 · §2.1: הַלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה עַל־מְנָת לְלַמְּדָהּ,

Scene 4 · §5.1: וְאֵין אָדָם זוֹכֶה לְתוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי שִׁפְלוּת,

Scene 5 · §10.7: וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה הוּא זוֹכֶה לִשְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת, וְעַל־יְדֵי שְׁלוֹם־בַּיִת הוּא זוֹכֶה לִתְפִלָּה,

Scene 6 · §12.1: לְהַדְלִיק סָמוּךְ לְפֶתַח הַבַּיִת.

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