Daily Tanya Thursday 14th Tamuz Igeres Hateshuvah Chapter 4 Part 2: The difference between the soul and angels, speech and breath

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1.      The Divine Origin of the Soul

  • The Jewish soul is described as a “portion of the Divine,” referencing the verse “For the Lord’s portion is His people.”
  • The soul’s origin is compared to the act of God “breathing” life into Adam, signifying an intimate and inner connection.

2.      Analogy of Breath and Speech

  • Just as the breath emitted through speech is more superficial, while the breath from exhaling forcefully comes from deep within, so too are there different levels of Divine vitality.
  • This analogy highlights the profound difference between regular creation (like angels or the universe) and the human soul’s connection to God.

3.      Difference Between Souls and Angels

  • Angels and the celestial hosts are created from the more external aspect of Divine energy, described as the “breath of God’s mouth.”
  • In contrast, the human soul is drawn from the innermost aspect of Divine vitality, emphasizing its unique spiritual stature.

4.      The Process of Spiritual Descent

  • Though the soul originates from the innermost level, it descends and is clothed in the physical body through the Divine utterance “Let us make man.”
  • This descent is necessary for the soul to inhabit the material world.

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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