Daily Tanya Tuesday 16th Elul Igeres Hakodesh 14 Part 2: Annual Renewal on Rosh Hashanah is dependent on our actions

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16th Elul

👁️ Divine Eyes – A Symbol of Wisdom and Watchfulness ✨📜

The phrase “Always the eyes of the Lord your God are upon it” refers to God’s constant attention and care over the Land of Israel. In this context, “eyes” are symbolic of divine wisdom and illumination. That’s why sages are called “the eyes of the congregation”—they guide with insight and clarity. Similarly, the saying “The air of the Land of Israel makes one wise” reflects the belief that simply being in the land enhances spiritual and intellectual understanding.

🌟 Continuous Divine Illumination

This Divine wisdom—known as Or Ein Sof (אור אין סוף)—radiates endlessly ✨. This boundless light perpetually elevates and illuminates the upper realms 🌌, sustaining celestial beings and divine structures with eternal brilliance.

🕊️ Annual Renewal of Spiritual Light

With each Rosh Hashanah 🍎📯, a new and loftier form of divine light descends into creation. The previous year’s illumination gracefully departs 🌅 on the eve of the New Year, making room for a fresh, unprecedented spiritual radiance 🌠. 

🙏 Role of Human Actions

The descent of this higher light is not automatic—it’s deeply intertwined with human effort 🤲. Through sincere deeds, heartfelt teshuvah (repentance) 💧, and spiritual merit during the Ten Days of Repentance 🕯️, we become vessels worthy of receiving this elevated illumination.

📜 Symbolism in Sacred Texts

Sacred verses whisper profound truths:

  • “The eyes of God are always upon it” 👁️—a reminder of divine attentiveness and cyclical renewal.
  • The missing Aleph in “Meireshit” (מֵרֵשִׁית) hints at divine concealment 🤫, making space for revelation anew 🌄. These textual nuances reflect the ebb and flow of spiritual light—hidden, revealed, and renewed.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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