🔥Daily Chassidus: Why did G‑d cause the soul to descend below?

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🔥Daily Chassidus: Why did G-d descend the soul below:[1]

We need to understand the main purpose of the chainlike descent of the soul below. As explained previously, the soul goes through a major descent below and demotion from its original place of holiness, to the lowliest of places. To return the soul back to its original source and group, takes much effort, and it is not even certain that one will be successful in doing so, as “Kol Haderachim Bechezkas Sakana/All of the roads are filled with danger,” and hence why did G-d place this challenge before the soul. [This means as follows: All travel retain some element of danger, hence the requirement to recite the travelers prayer prior to commencing on a journey. It is always safer to stay home rather than to travel. The same applies also spiritually, that the traveling of the soul from above to below makes it susceptible to danger from the journey. The soul faces many spiritual challenges, and as we all know, does not successfully pass all of them, often succumbing to sinful behavior. How then is it possible for one to be successful in returning the soul back to its root, despite this arduous journey which contains many stumbling blocks? This question is reminiscent of the dispute that  took place between the Academy of Shamaiy and Academy of Hillel regarding if it is worthwhile for man to have been created or not [i.e. Noach Lo Liadam Shenivra Oa Lo Nivra], and the conclusion of this debate was that the Academy of Hillel agreed to the Academy of Shamaiy that indeed it would have been better if man was not created to begin with.[2] The reason for this is because all the roads are filled with danger and there is no guarantee that man will be successful in his mission below.] So, the answer to this question will be elaborated later in the Mamar where we will explain the slingshot effect of Torah and Mitzvah’s to catapult the soul to the infinite light of G-d, which is a much higher union than that which existed prior to the souls descent.

[1] Likkutei Torah Ahcrei Mos

[2] See Likkutei Torah Parshas Re’eh p. 26b

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.