Daily Tanya – Chapter 23 Part 3: The great fear of G-d which should be experienced during Torah study (Shabbos, 13th Shevat)

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  • Why Torah study is greater than all the Mitzvahs: Based on the above it can be understood why the study of Torah is considered much greater than all the other Mitzvahs, including even greater than the Mitzvah of prayer which involves the unity of the upper worlds [as by Torah study one actually unites with the will of G-d].
  • Why one must stop Torah study to fulfill a Mitzvah: Now, despite the above we still rule that unless a person studies Torah as his full occupation, he must stop his Torah study for the sake of fulfilling a Mitzvah. This however is only because he in any event stops and nullifies his Torah study for other purposes as well.

 

(LY) 23rd Shevat

  1. The great fear of G-d which should be experienced during Torah study:
  • Taking all the above into account, a person who is in the midst of Torah study should draw upon himself a great fear of G-d after contemplating the fact that his soul and its garments in his mind and mouth are actually united with an absolute unity to the Divine will, and that the infinite G-d Himself is revealed within them, to which all of the upper and lower worlds are considered like naught and nothingness before Him.
  • A unique experience not found in the upper worlds: This experience is not even felt in the upper worlds, as the Divine will of G-d does not become actually invested within them, but rather simply encompasses them to give them their basic vitality of existence, and for this purpose shines to them a mere ray of the Divine will which becomes invested within them, in accordance to that which they are able to handle and not become nullified in their existence.
  • A wisdom that leads to fear: It is regarding such fear that the sages state that if there is no wisdom there is no fear, as this fear is created through the study of G-d’s wisdom. Regarding this fear, the Torah is considered the gate that leads one to the fear.
  • Even if not consciously experienced it leads to observance: Nonetheless, not every mind is capable of consciously experiencing this fear. However, even those who are not capable at all to consciously experience it to any measure or amount due to the low root and source of their G-dly soul in the ten Sefiros of the world of Assiya, nonetheless, this lack of conscious feeling does not prevent them from fulfilling and observing the Torah and Mitzvahs as a result of it.

Topic

Description

Why Torah study is greater than all the Mitzvahs

By Torah study one actually unites with the will of G-d; considered much greater than other Mitzvahs, even prayer

Stopping Torah study to fulfill a Mitzvah

Unless Torah is one’s full occupation, one must stop study to fulfill a Mitzvah, as study is stopped for other purposes as well

23rd Shevat (LY)

Mentioned as a date or reference

Great fear of G-d during Torah study

One should draw upon themselves a great fear of G-d, knowing their soul and its garments unite with the Divine will

Unique experience not found in upper worlds

Divine will is not actually invested in upper worlds, but only encompasses them, shining a ray in accordance to their capacity

Wisdom that leads to fear

Fear is created through the study of G-d’s wisdom; Torah is the gate to this fear

Even if not consciously experienced

Lack of conscious fear does not prevent fulfillment and observance of Torah and Mitzvahs

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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