Daily Tanya Thursday 15th Marcheshvan Igeres Hakodesh 27: How a Tzaddik’s Spirit Connects After Passing: The Power of Love and Effort”

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15th MarCheshvan

How a Tzaddik’s Spirit Connects After Passing: The Power of Love and Effort

Overview:

This passage explains why disciples can receive greater spiritual influence from their Rebbe after his passing than during his lifetime. It describes the mechanism of this connection, rooted in the separation of the soul’s levels and the role of love and preparation in drawing down the tzaddik’s ruach.

Summary of Key Points

  1. During the Tzaddik’s Lifetime
  • His spiritual qualities—faith, awe, and love—were enclosed in a physical vessel (his body).
  • Disciples only received an external radiance through his words and thoughts.
  • Hence the saying: “One does not fully grasp his teacher’s mind until after forty years.”

  1. After His Passing
  • The nefesh remains at the grave, while the ruach ascends to Gan Eden.
  • Freed from physical limitation, the ruach can spread and influence disciples directly.
  • This is supported by teachings that Gan Eden’s atmosphere surrounds every person, recording their thoughts and deeds.

  1. Easier Access for Disciples
  • Now disciples can draw from the tzaddik’s essential ruach, not just its radiance.
  • This ruach continues to rise and unite with the neshamah in higher worlds, yet retains a presence in its original level to connect with disciples.

  1. Condition for Receiving
  • Connection depends on love and closeness during life and after death.
  • Spiritual influence flows only through great love and effort, as the Zohar says:
    “The spirit of heartfelt desire draws spirit from above.”
  • One must prepare intensely and strive to internalize the tzaddik’s three qualities—faith, awe, and love—following his guidance.
  • As the Sages taught: “If you toil, you will find—believe it.”

Takeaway:

After a tzaddik’s passing, his spiritual essence becomes more accessible to those bound to him in love and truth. This connection requires deep preparation and effort, enabling disciples to inherit and live by the tzaddik’s inner qualities.

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.