Likutei Moharan II:116 · תּוֹרָה קט״ז✓ watched

סִפֵּר שֶׁכְּשֶׁהָיָה בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, סִפְּרוּ לוֹ שָׁם הַחֲשׁוּבִים

Holiness That Looks Ordinary

People who settled in the Land of Israel told Rebbe Nachman they had imagined it was another world; in truth it looks like any other land, yet it is awesomely holy. So too a tzaddik or a kosher person looks like everyone else yet is something else entirely. The eye sees no difference; only faith senses a little of it.

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הַמָּקוֹר · Original text 370 words

א׳

סִפֵּר שֶׁכְּשֶׁהָיָה בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, סִפְּרוּ לוֹ שָׁם הַחֲשׁוּבִים שֶׁהָיוּ שָׁם, שֶׁבָּאוּ מִמְּדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ וְקָבְעוּ דִּירָתָם שָׁם בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, כַּמְפֻרְסָם. וְסִפְּרוּ לוֹ, שֶׁקֹּדֶם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִים לְצַיֵּר לְעַצְמָן, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא עוֹמֶדֶת בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, וְהָיוּ סוֹבְרִים שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא עוֹלָם אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי, לְפִי גֹּדֶל קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמְבֹאָר בַּסְּפָרִים. וּמְפֹרָשׁ בְּתוֹרָתֵנוּ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה מַעֲלַת קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים, וְהַתּוֹרָה בְּעַצְמָהּ מְפָרֶשֶׁת כָּל גְּבוּלֵי אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְגֹדֶל מַעֲלָתָהּ וּקְדֻשָּׁתָהּ הֶעָצוּם וְהַנּוֹרָא מְאֹד מְאֹד. עַל־כֵּן לֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לְצַיֵּר לְעַצְמָן בְּעֵינֵיהֶם, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, עַד אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ לְשָׁם וְרָאוּ, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם מַמָּשׁ.

כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא כְּמוֹ מְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ, וַעֲפַר אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא בְּמַרְאֶה וּדְמוּת כְּמוֹ עֲפַר מְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ. כִּי מַה שֶּׁמְּבִיאִין לִפְעָמִים עָפָר לָבָן מִשָּׁם זֶהוּ רַק בִּמְקוֹמוֹת פְּרָטִיִּים, וְגַם בִּמְדִינָה זוֹ נִמְצָא עָפָר לָבָן וְעָפָר שֶׁל נֶתֶר בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת, אֲבָל עִקָּר הֶעָפָר בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא כְּמוֹ עֲפַר מְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ. כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת בִּדְמוּת וּתְמוּנָה אֵין חִלּוּק כְּלָל בֵּין אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵין שְׁאָר מְדִינוֹת, לְהַבְדִּיל, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הִיא קְדוֹשָׁה מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה עֲצוּמָה וְנוֹרָאָה מְאֹד. אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לַהֲלֹךְ שָׁם אֲפִלּוּ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וְכוּ', כַּאֲשֶׁר הִפְלִיגוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה וְכָל הַסְּפָרִים בְּעֹצֶם קְדֻשָּׁתָהּ הַגְּדוֹלָה וְהַנּוֹרָאָה:

ב׳

וְסִפֵּר רַבֵּנוּ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה זֹאת, כִּי הוּא עִנְיָן נִצְרָךְ מְאֹד לְכַמָּה עִנְיָנִים, שֶׁבְּנֵי־אָדָם נְבוּכִים בָּהֶם בְּטָעוּתִים. כִּי יֵשׁ טוֹעִים סוֹבְרִים, שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהַכִּיר אֶת הַצַּדִּיק אוֹ שְׁאָר דָּבָר שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה לְהַכִּירוֹ בְּפָנָיו בְּצַלְמוֹ וּדְמוּתוֹ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מְשֻׁנָּה בִּדְמוּתוֹ וּבִתְנוּעוֹתָיו דַּיְקָא,

וּבֶאֱמֶת לֹא כֵן הוּא. כִּי הַצַּדִּיק הוּא בִּדְמוּת וְצֶלֶם כְּכָל הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאֵין בּוֹ שׁוּם שִׁנּוּי, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הוּא עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי, וּשְׁאָרֵי בְּנֵי־אָדָם אֵינָם בִּדְמוּתוֹ כְּלָל בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר רַבֵּנוּ זַ"ל, שֶׁאִישׁ הַכָּשֵׁר נִדְמֶה שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ עִם כַּרְכָּשׁוֹת וְדַקִּין כְּמוֹ שְׁאָר בְּנֵי־אָדָם, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הוּא עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי.

וְכֵן אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּאֱמֶת הִיא מֻבְדֶּלֶת וּמֻפְרֶשֶׁת לְגַמְרֵי מִשְּׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת בְּכָל עִנְיָנֶיהָ וּבְחִינוֹתֶיהָ. וְאָמַר רַבֵּנוּ זַ"ל, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהּ רָקִיעַ אַחֵר מִשְּׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת, וְכַמּוּבָן בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ פָּרָשַׁת תְּרוּמָה. אַךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת לְפִי מַרְאֵה עֵינֵי הָאָדָם אֵין רוֹאִים שׁוּם שִׁנּוּי בֵּין אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת, כִּי אִם מִי שֶׁזּוֹכֶה לְהַאֲמִין בִּקְדֻשָּׁתָהּ, יָכוֹל לְהַבְחִין קְצָת הַהֶפְרֵשׁ.

כְּמוֹ־כֵן הַצַּדִּיק וְהָאֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים לְעֵרֶךְ שְׁאָר הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁבֶּאֱמֶת הֵם דּוֹמִים בְּכָל תְּנוּעוֹתֵיהֶם כִּשְׁאָר בְּנֵי־אָדָם בִּדְמוּתָם וְצַלְמָם, וְאֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם הֶפְרֵשׁ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת לְכָל מַרְאֵה עֵינֵי בָשָׂר, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים שֶׁהֵם מֻפְרָשִׁים וּמֻבְדָּלִים לְגַמְרֵי. כִּי אִישׁ כָּשֵׁר הוּא עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי כַּנַּ"ל, מִכָּל־שֶׁכֵּן הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים. וְעִנְיָן זֶה נִצְרָךְ לְכַמָּה עִנְיָנִים, וְהָבֵן זֶה מְאֹד:

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

Transcripts

1-minute recap

Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah one hundred and sixteen: the Land of Israel looks like any other land.

Rebbe Nachman told that in the Land of Israel, people who had settled there said: before we came, we could not picture that the Land was in this world at all.

In truth, he said, the Land of Israel looks just like other countries, even its earth. And yet it is holy, utterly holy.

The same is true of a tzaddik. He looks like everyone else, no different at all, and yet he is something else entirely.

The eye of flesh sees no difference. Only one who merits to believe in their holiness can sense a little of it.

Our own reflection: holiness does not always look different. Faith is the eye that sees it.

Explainer

Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah one hundred and sixteen. A teaching about the Land of Israel, the tzaddik, and seeing holiness with faith.

Rebbe Nachman told that in the Land of Israel, distinguished people who had settled there from our countries said: before we came, we could not picture that the Land of Israel stands in this world at all.

They imagined it was another world entirely, because of the great holiness of the Land described in the holy books and in the Torah itself.

But in truth, the Rebbe said, it is just like our countries, and even its earth looks like the earth here.

And yet the Land is extremely holy. Fortunate is the one who merits to walk there even four cubits.

Why did he tell this? Some people mistakenly think a tzaddik, or anything holy, must be recognisable from the outside, strange in his looks or movements.

It is not so. The tzaddik looks like all people, and yet he is something else entirely.

So too the Land of Israel is truly set apart; the Rebbe said it has a different sky, as the Zohar on Terumah explains. Yet the physical eye sees no difference.

The same with tzaddikim and kosher people: they look like everyone, and yet we believe they are entirely set apart.

Our own reflection, not a quotation. Holiness can look completely ordinary. Faith is the eye that lets us sense the difference.

Full shiur

— Part 1: Holiness That Looks Ordinary —

Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah one hundred and sixteen. A shiur in one part: holiness that looks ordinary.

Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah one hundred and sixteen. Grey is a verse or teaching he quotes. Green is our own explanation. The Hebrew is the public-domain text from Sefaria; the English is our own paraphrase.

He told that when he was in the Land of Israel, the distinguished people there, who had come from our countries and settled in the Land of Israel, as is well known, told him that before they were in the Land, they could not picture to themselves that the Land of Israel stands in this world. They thought it was a different world entirely, because of the great holiness of the Land described in the holy books.

And the high level of the Land's holiness is stated in our holy Torah many times; the Torah itself spells out all the borders of the Land, because of its very great, awesome holiness. So they could not picture that the Land would be in this world, until they came there and saw that it is in this very world.

The Rebbe explains: For in truth the Land of Israel is just like our countries, and the earth of the Land looks and appears just like the earth here. The white soil that is sometimes brought from there comes only from particular places, and in this country too white soil and soda earth are found in a number of places.

But most of the earth in the Land of Israel is just like the earth of our countries. For truly, in appearance there is no difference at all between the Land of Israel and other countries, to make the distinction. And even so, it is holy, extremely holy, with the utmost holiness, mighty and very awesome.

Fortunate is the one who merits to walk there even four cubits, and so on, as our Sages, of blessed memory, and all the holy books spoke at length about its great and awesome holiness.

Our explanation. The Rebbe insists on both sides. On the outside, the Land looks like any other country, down to its soil. And yet its holiness is awesome, so much that four cubits there are precious.

Now the reason he told it. Our Rebbe, of blessed memory, told this because it is very much needed for several matters in which people are confused through mistakes. For some mistakenly think that one must recognise the tzaddik, or anything else of holiness, by his face and appearance: that he must be different in his looks and his movements.

But in truth it is not so. For the tzaddik looks like all people and has no difference at all, and even so he is something else entirely, and other people are truly not like him at all. As our Rebbe said: a kosher person seems to go about with an ordinary body like other people, and even so he is something else entirely.

And so too the Land of Israel is truly separate and set apart from other lands in all its matters and aspects. Our Rebbe said that the Land of Israel has a different sky from other lands, as is understood from the holy Zohar, parshas Terumah. Yet even so, physically, to the human eye, no difference is seen between the Land and other lands; only one who merits to believe in its holiness can discern the difference a little.

So too the tzaddik and kosher people compared to the rest of the world: truly they resemble other people in all their movements and appearance, with no physical difference to any eye of flesh. Yet in truth we believe they are entirely set apart, for a kosher person is something else entirely, all the more so true tzaddikim. This is needed for several matters; understand it well.

Our explanation. The same rule runs through the whole teaching. The eye of flesh sees no difference, whether in the Land, in the tzaddik, or in a kosher Jew. Faith is what lets a person sense a little of the holiness that is really there.

Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. We should not wait for holiness to look strange before we respect it. A holy land, a holy person, a holy moment, can look completely ordinary. Faith is the eye that lets us sense the difference.

This has been Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah one hundred and sixteen.

Sources for this Torah

Texts used

Hebrew: Likutei Moharan Tinyana (Part II), Torah 116, edition 'Likutei Moharan Tinyana – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan%2C_Part_II.116

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.

Notes

Part 1, scene 11: Zohar, Terumah.

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

Part 1 — Holiness That Looks Ordinary

Scene 3 · LM II:116 §1 · paragraph §1.1

EN (our paraphrase): He told that when he was in the Land of Israel, the distinguished people there, who had come from our countries and settled in the Land of Israel, as is well known, told him that before they were in the Land, they could not picture to themselves that the Land of Israel stands in this world. They thought it was a different world entirely, because of the great holiness of the Land described in the holy books.

Scene 4 · LM II:116 §1 · paragraph §1.1

וּמְפֹרָשׁ בְּתוֹרָתֵנוּ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה מַעֲלַת קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים, וְהַתּוֹרָה בְּעַצְמָהּ מְפָרֶשֶׁת כָּל גְּבוּלֵי אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְגֹדֶל מַעֲלָתָהּ וּקְדֻשָּׁתָהּ הֶעָצוּם וְהַנּוֹרָא מְאֹד מְאֹד. עַל־כֵּן לֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לְצַיֵּר לְעַצְמָן בְּעֵינֵיהֶם, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, עַד אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ לְשָׁם וְרָאוּ, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם מַמָּשׁ.

EN (our paraphrase): And the high level of the Land's holiness is stated in our holy Torah many times; the Torah itself spells out all the borders of the Land, because of its very great, awesome holiness. So they could not picture that the Land would be in this world, until they came there and saw that it is in this very world.

Scene 5 · LM II:116 §1 · paragraph §1.2

EN (our paraphrase): For in truth the Land of Israel is just like our countries, and the earth of the Land looks and appears just like the earth here. The white soil that is sometimes brought from there comes only from particular places, and in this country too white soil and soda earth are found in a number of places.

Scene 6 · LM II:116 §1 · paragraph §1.2

אֲבָל עִקָּר הֶעָפָר בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא כְּמוֹ עֲפַר מְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ. כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת בִּדְמוּת וּתְמוּנָה אֵין חִלּוּק כְּלָל בֵּין אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵין שְׁאָר מְדִינוֹת, לְהַבְדִּיל, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הִיא קְדוֹשָׁה מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה עֲצוּמָה וְנוֹרָאָה מְאֹד.

EN (our paraphrase): But most of the earth in the Land of Israel is just like the earth of our countries. For truly, in appearance there is no difference at all between the Land of Israel and other countries, to make the distinction. And even so, it is holy, extremely holy, with the utmost holiness, mighty and very awesome.

Scene 7 · LM II:116 §1 · paragraph §1.2

אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לַהֲלֹךְ שָׁם אֲפִלּוּ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וְכוּ', כַּאֲשֶׁר הִפְלִיגוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה וְכָל הַסְּפָרִים בְּעֹצֶם קְדֻשָּׁתָהּ הַגְּדוֹלָה וְהַנּוֹרָאָה:

EN (our paraphrase): Fortunate is the one who merits to walk there even four cubits, and so on, as our Sages, of blessed memory, and all the holy books spoke at length about its great and awesome holiness.

Scene 9 · LM II:116 §2 · paragraph §2.1

EN (our paraphrase): Our Rebbe, of blessed memory, told this because it is very much needed for several matters in which people are confused through mistakes. For some mistakenly think that one must recognise the tzaddik, or anything else of holiness, by his face and appearance: that he must be different in his looks and his movements.

Scene 10 · LM II:116 §2 · paragraph §2.2

EN (our paraphrase): But in truth it is not so. For the tzaddik looks like all people and has no difference at all, and even so he is something else entirely, and other people are truly not like him at all. As our Rebbe said: a kosher person seems to go about with an ordinary body like other people, and even so he is something else entirely.

Scene 11 · LM II:116 §2 · paragraph §2.3

EN (our paraphrase): And so too the Land of Israel is truly separate and set apart from other lands in all its matters and aspects. Our Rebbe said that the Land of Israel has a different sky from other lands, as is understood from the holy Zohar, parshas Terumah. Yet even so, physically, to the human eye, no difference is seen between the Land and other lands; only one who merits to believe in its holiness can discern the difference a little.

Scene 12 · LM II:116 §2 · paragraph §2.4

EN (our paraphrase): So too the tzaddik and kosher people compared to the rest of the world: truly they resemble other people in all their movements and appearance, with no physical difference to any eye of flesh. Yet in truth we believe they are entirely set apart, for a kosher person is something else entirely, all the more so true tzaddikim. This is needed for several matters; understand it well.

Hebrew phrases in the Explainer

Scene 2 · §1.1: שֶׁקֹּדֶם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִים לְצַיֵּר לְעַצְמָן, שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא עוֹמֶדֶת בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם,

Scene 3 · §1.1: וְהָיוּ סוֹבְרִים שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא עוֹלָם אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי, לְפִי גֹּדֶל קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמְבֹאָר בַּסְּפָרִים.

Scene 4 · §1.2: כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא כְּמוֹ מְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ,

Scene 5 · §1.2: אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לַהֲלֹךְ שָׁם אֲפִלּוּ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת

Scene 6 · §2.1: כִּי יֵשׁ טוֹעִים סוֹבְרִים, שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהַכִּיר אֶת הַצַּדִּיק אוֹ שְׁאָר דָּבָר שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה לְהַכִּירוֹ בְּפָנָיו בְּצַלְמוֹ וּדְמוּתוֹ,

Scene 7 · §2.2: כִּי הַצַּדִּיק הוּא בִּדְמוּת וְצֶלֶם כְּכָל הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאֵין בּוֹ שׁוּם שִׁנּוּי, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הוּא עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי,

Scene 8 · §2.3: שֶׁאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהּ רָקִיעַ אַחֵר מִשְּׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת,

Scene 9 · §2.4: וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים שֶׁהֵם מֻפְרָשִׁים וּמֻבְדָּלִים לְגַמְרֵי.

Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap

Scene 3 · §1.2: וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הִיא קְדוֹשָׁה מְאֹד מְאֹד

Scene 4 · §2.2: כִּי הַצַּדִּיק הוּא בִּדְמוּת וְצֶלֶם כְּכָל הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאֵין בּוֹ שׁוּם שִׁנּוּי, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הוּא עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי,

Scene 5 · §2.3: כִּי אִם מִי שֶׁזּוֹכֶה לְהַאֲמִין בִּקְדֻשָּׁתָהּ, יָכוֹל לְהַבְחִין קְצָת הַהֶפְרֵשׁ.

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