Daily Tanya Sunday 17th Tamuz Igeres Hateshuvah Chapter 5 Part 1: Understanding Kares

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Chapter 5

1.      The Origin and Descent of the Divine Soul

  • The human soul is drawn from the innermost level of Divine speech, referenced as the “upper breath” and symbolized by the lower Hei of the Divine Name.
  • The soul’s descent into the physical body is likened to breath and to a cord which is connected from the body to the soul above.

2.      Unbroken Divine Connection

  • Just as one’s breath is blocked from reaching the other side if there is an interference in front of the area that one is blowing so too with regards to the level of breath of the soul which can be blocked if something interferes.
  • However, this interference does not truly separate the soul from God’s presence is nothing interferes between God. No physical or spiritual barrier can fully block God’s connection, as God’s presence fills all worlds and transcends all things.
  • Rather sins create separation between the individual and the Divine through opposing God’s will.

3.      The Concept of Kares(Spiritual Excision)

  • The term “kares” refers to the cutting off of the soul’s connection to its Divine source, specifically the flow from the lower Hei of the Divine Name.
  • Scripture emphasizes this severance with the phrase, “that soul shall be cut off from before Me— I am the Lord.”

4.      The Effect of Transgressions

  • Other sins, even if not punishable by karea, still cause damage to the soul, compared to a thick cord made up of 613 finer strands—each mitzvah being a strand. Breaking a commandment severs one strand, weakening the overall connection.
  • Even after kares or death penalties, a residual spiritual imprint (reshimu) remains, allowing life until age 50 or 60.

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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