Daily Tanya Tuesday 20th Marcheshvan Igeres Hakodesh 29: The Hidden Light of Delight: Understanding ‘Noam Hashem’ and the Role of Will”

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20th Marcheshvan

The Hidden Light of Delight: Understanding ‘Noam Hashem’ and the Role of Will”

Overview:

This passage delves into the mystical concept of the hidden light reserved for the righteous in the World to Come, described as “Noam Hashem” (the pleasantness of G‑d) and “Tzachtzachot” (radiant brilliance). It explains the difference between inner delight and outer will, and how these levels manifest in the soul and in the Divine, using analogies from human experience and Torah study.

Summary of Key Points:

  1. The Hidden Light and Its Levels
  • The light of Noam Hashem and Tzachtzachot is the ultimate delight of cleaving to G‑d.
  • It includes “400 worlds of longing” mentioned in the Zohar, symbolizing infinite spiritual pleasure.
  • This light has countless levels, descending step by step until a minimal radiance forms the spiritual garment for the soul.
  1. Inner Delight vs. Outer Will
  • In the soul, delight (oneg) is higher than intellect; it is felt when grasping profound wisdom.
  • Will (ratzon) is the external aspect of delight—desiring what brings pleasure and avoiding pain.
  • Similarly, in the Divine (by analogy), the supernal will is the external aspect compared to the inner delight of Noam Hashem.
  1. Why Torah Is the Path to Delight
  • Torah emerges from Chochmah, which encloses delight within wisdom.
  • When one understands Torah deeply, the hidden delight within wisdom is revealed.
  • This is why Binah (understanding) is called “Olam HaBa” in the Zohar—the future world of revealed delight through comprehension.
  1. Unity of Torah and G‑d
  • “Orayta me’Chochmah nafkat”—Torah comes from Chochmah.
  • Torah and the Holy One are completely one; through Torah study, the soul connects to the inner delight of G‑d.

Takeaway:

The ultimate pleasure of the righteous—Noam Hashem—is far beyond intellect, yet it becomes accessible through Torah, which encloses Divine delight in wisdom. This explains why deep Torah study is the gateway to eternal spiritual joy.

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.