Tazria[1]

1^st Mamar “Isha Ki Tazria …”

1. Isha Ki Tazria:[2]

See Volume 1 of our Chassidishe Parsha Torah Or Series under Parshas Tazria where we covered the following matters of this Mamar in detail:

1. The question
2. Men are from Chesed-Women from Gevurah
3. Understanding marital harmony
4. Understanding the Sefiros
5. Women express Chesed, men express Gevurah
6. Making a child
7. The gender of the child is based on the first contribution

2^nd Mamar “Olam Liachsadra Hu Domeh …”

2. Olam Liachsadra Hu Domeh:[3]
3. Why African natives have black skin color and why Africa is a hot desert?

The reason for why there are Black people in Africa is because the southern hemisphere of the world is very hot. It is likewise for this same reason that there are very little settlements in the southern hemisphere as it is difficult for people to live in the heat.[4] However, in the northern hemisphere people are white, and the bulk of the human race resides there. [In other words, the skin of people in the southern hemisphere are darker, in order to protect them from the sun, and for the same reason it is not as settled as the northern hemisphere, because it was difficult for people to live in the sun.] The Kabalistic reason behind is phenomena will be explained next:

1. The heat of the southern hemisphere and the coldness of the northern hemisphere:

South is Gevura Shebichesed: South is kindness, Chesed, while north is severities, Gevura. Now, it is known that kindness and severity are incorporated within each other, and there exists severity within kindness and kindness within severity. It is for this reason that the south, which is kindness, contains severity. This severity is expressed in the intense heat that is experienced in the southern hemisphere, and therefore makes living conditions difficult. This intense heat itself comes due to the contractions of the hemisphere, which prevents the heat of the sun from spreading throughout the whole world, and rather intensifies to a specific area. These contractions are the result of severities.

North is Chesed Shebgevura: However, the north is Gevura, severities, and includes the aspect of kindness, which is expressed in the north. Therefore, it is colder in the north as coldness comes from kindness. However, the intensity of the coldness comes from severity and for this reason there is snow and ice and extremely cold climate conditions. This coldness is the result of the sun spreading its light and heat in an uncontracted and wide manner, unlike in the south. Likewise, it is for this reason that there is a lot of water in the north, as water comes from wisdom, which is the source of Chesed. This is in contrast to the south, in which there is dryness, although nonetheless, even in the south, there are rivers.

1. The location of the Garden of Eden:[5]

The garden of Eden resides by the equator, in the center between the kindness of the North and severity of the South, however the Garden of Eden is intrinsically from kindness. [This refers to the spiritual Garden of Eden, as the Garden of Eden is not found in the physical world on this planet. It is rather spiritual, and this spiritual aspect resides in the equator.[6]]

1. The brilliance of making the world with incorporation:

A general rule of how G-d created the world is that he imbued it with incorporation of opposite aspects. This is a great benefit for the world and for its stability, that even severities contains kindness and even kindness contains severities. Without this, the world would not be able to exist at all. What would be if the North was intrinsically the aspect of severities without incorporation of kindness? The answer is that the North would not be inhabitable due to the dire heat. For this reason G-d imbued within it the aspect of kindness, so it can express kindness which is a cold climate that cools off the heat of its severities.

Each level expresses its opposite: Based on the above it ends up that whichever aspect one intrinsically belongs to, whether kindness or severity, not only does it incorporate the opposite aspects, but it actually expresses the opposite aspect. So kindness expresses severity and severity expresses kindness. This is similar to the idea explained in the first discourse that when a woman gives seed first she has a male child while when a man gives seed first they have a female child, as each one expresses the opposite aspect.

• The divine lesson: From the above teaching we can learn a very important lesson regarding our personalities and qualities. One should never feel that he is the epitome of perfection in his character and qualities, as everyone contains a different quality that is not contained in another. Hence, we should always be ready to incorporate within ourselves character traits and qualities found in other people. Incorporation of others is the only way to reach true completion and stability, just as we learn above regarding the world. At the same time, one should also never feel that he has no advantages over others and contains no good qualities, as in truth, certainly even he contains qualities that others don’t have. From the above we also learn that even if a person has a specific very strong personality trait nonetheless, he should not resort to being locked into that trait, and he can work on himself to incorporate other traits as well. Thus, even one who is naturally very mean can do nice things and become nice, and even one who is naturally very nice can incorporate becoming severe and serious when necessary. As the saying goes, “You are not what you are, but rather you are what you work to become.”

1. Why the North does not contain a wall or divider:

The Talmud states that the world is similar to a three walled room which has one open side, as the northern direction does not have a divider or wall in contrast all the other directions which do.[7] The reason for this is as follows: A divider or wall derives from the aspect of severity. Now, since the northern side expresses kindness which is expansiveness of the aspect of wisdom, therefore it cannot have a wall or divider and needs to remain open. It is likewise for this same reason that the North is cold, being that the heat of the sun spreads out more unlike in the South.

3^rd Mamar “Sos Tasis Vesagel…”

3. Sos Tasis Vesagel:[8]
4. The concept of a woman giving seed first in the service of G-d:

It says in the verse, “When a woman conceives and has a male child.” The Sages state, based on this verse, that when a woman gives her seed first a male child is born, and when the male gives seed first a female is born. The mystical reason behind this phenomenon was explained in the first discourse. Below we will explain how this concept relates in service of G-d.

Jewish people are the wife: The general souls of Israel are considered the wife in the relationship while G-d is considered the husband. Now, just as physiologically when the wife gives seed first a boy is born, so too when the general souls of Israel initiate the providing of the seed of service of G-d, then a spiritual male is born, as we will explain.

Arousing Feminine waters: What does this refer to? The giving of seed refers to the arousal of a passionate love for G-d, as it states in the verse, “and to your husband shall be your passion.” In the words of Kabbalah this is called an elevation of waters from below, known as feminine waters, or Mayim Nukvim. This then draws back down an arousal from above and masculine waters which helps to conceive a male child.

Male child is masculine love: What is the male child? A masculine form of love of G-d, which is love on the level of Ahava Raba. This is the greatest and most passionate love that a soul can experience, in which a person desires to become incorporated and nullified within G-d. This feeling of love cannot be quenched with simply receiving a ray of G-d’s revelation, and rather desires G-d Himself even though it will cause the soul to expire as a result. This love is considered masculine being that it is much greater then the second type of love which suffices with a mere ray of G-dliness. This is similar to the advantage of a man over a woman, as women have a lack of Daas, as opposed to a male who has Daas. One who desires G-d Himself despite the fact that he will become nullified in existence as a result, shows that he has strong Daas, as he chooses G-d who is the primary and not his pleasure which is secondary. He is not willing to turn away uniting with G-d Himself simply in order so he can receive pleasure in the ray of G-d. This is the inner meaning behind the Mishneh which states that one should serve G-d without intent to receive a prize, which is called Peras. Peras means a piece, such as the piece of a cake, and refers to a ray of the divine presence. Hence, one who truly serves G-d does not serve Him in order to receive pleasure from the ray of G-d which is a mere piece, but rather in order to unite with G-d himself.

Female child is feminine love: Giving birth to a daughter spiritually corresponds to a lower level of love, in which the person desires his personal pleasures from G-d. Now being that he will not be able to experience this if he unites with G-d himself, as he will become nullified in his existence as a result, therefore he desires only a ray from G-d, in order so he can feel the pleasure. On this level, one serves G-d in exchange for reward, a Peras or Ray of His infinite light as one desires to personal feel the closeness to G-d. [In this level, it’s not that one loves G-d but rather that he desires to be loved by G-d and loves the warmth that G-d provides him. It is all about him and not G-d.] In contrast, by masculine love it’s all about G-d and not about him as he will become nullified in his existence within G-d similar to a flame of the candle becoming included and incorporated within the flame of a large torch.

Who arouses the love first: When the love comes to the person from his own effort then this is considered an arousal from below, feminine waters, and a woman who gives seed first which results in the receiving of a masculine love from G-d. As is well known, the love and fear that a man experiences in his soul is only a preparatory love for the love that he receives from above. Now, at times the love comes from above into the heart of the Jew spontaneously without him doing any effort to first arouse a love from below. This corresponds to masculine waters and a man who gives seed first. When this occurs the type of love that is born is female, which means that it doesn’t last and will leave just as it came.

A barren woman is one who does not experience love that is due to his own effort: An individual who does not experience love that comes from his own efforts he is considered to have not given birth and is as if he is barren. This applies even if he experiences spontaneous love from above, being it does not last. It is regarding this situation that the verse states that even the barren one will rejoice with the gathering of her children. Meaning, that one will merit masculine love that is permanent and lasting even without doing the divine service of arousal from below. How will this occur? Through serving G-d with joy. One who serves G-d with joy can break the barriers and limitations of masculine waters which only arouse feminine love, and instead arouse masculine love, as will be explained next.

1. Why the punishment for not serving G-d with joy:

It states in scripture that the various punishments that are listed in Parshas Ki Savo will come as a result of not serving G-d with joy and gladness of heart. This implies that even if an individual serves Hashem and obeys his commands, nonetheless, if he does not do so with joy, then he is liable for punishment to the severity listed in Parshas Ki Savo, in which one is punished with serving one’s enemies. Now, this does not make much sense as why should someone receive such a bitter punishment simply for not serving G-d with a smile? The explanation is as follows: No man is free of sin, as it states in the verse, “there is no righteous man who does good and does not sin.” The cause of punishment are the sins that man commit, and not the commands that he fulfills without joy. Nonetheless, when a man serves G-d with joy, then it arouses joy above in heaven, and when G-d is in a state of joy, He does not punish people for their sins, as joy nullifies judgment as within the light of G-d is life. In contrast, when a person does not serve G-d with joy, then the punishment is drawn down onto the sins that he has committed as there is no righteous man on earth. Now, what does it mean to serve G-d with joy? To perform Mitzvah’s with great and tremendous joy over the fact that one is able to attach to G-d. It is this joy that arouses joy above, and when this joy is aroused, not only does man not receive punishment for his sins, but furthermore it arouses him with a masculine love that is permanent and lasting even though he did not precede it with feminine waters of love from below due to his own effort.

• A parable from life: When an individual is not in a good mood they tend to become very petty and make issues about anything and everything. This can be seen on fast days when people can become irritable due to the lack of energy and weakness associated with lack of eating food. The same applies in relationships, that when the love has become lost in the relationship, then spouses tend to become very picky with their partners, and make issues about things that they would normally ignore or not even notice. However, when an individual is in a good mood he pays less attention to petty matters, and when he is in love with a spouse he tends not to see or make an issue of things that may normally bother others, or that may bother him at other times. This is the experience above in heaven, that when God’s joy with the Jewish people is aroused then he ignores and pays no attention to sin and the fact that it may deserve punishment. In contrast, when the joy is not aroused above in heaven, then God acts in a more exacting manner towards sin.

1. Not serving G-d with joy is the beginning of all descents in service of G-d:

As stated above, Scripture states that one who does not serve G-d with joy gets punished with serving his enemies. Spiritually, this refers to that he falls and succumbs into lust and passions for matters of the physical world. All this is a result of not serving G-d with joy and hence not serving G-d with joy is the beginning of all spiritual downfalls to the point that one becomes a slave to his animalistic lusts and desires. One who serves G-d for his own benefit and gains and not out of true joy to attach to Him, is essentially serving himself and will eventually succumb to doing whatever provides him pleasure and gratification.

• The divine lesson – Serving God with innocence and simplicity: Sometimes we may think that in order to make a difference to God and give Him satisfaction we have to cross rivers and seas, and do groundbreaking spiritual service. In truth, there’s nothing more precious to God than the innocent divine service that one performs simply for the sake of giving God satisfaction. When a person performs a mitzvah out of simple desire to attach to God and give Him gratification, there is nothing higher or greater that can be done. In a lengthy Chassidic discourse[9] on the subject, the Mittler Rebbe emphasizes this point and explains that not only is the joy of the mitzvah of great importance, but it is of even greater value than the mitzvah itself. In the discourse, he brings a story with an ignorant Jew [from the holy city of Tzefas] who out of pure innocence desired to re-provide God with the satisfaction and gratification He would receive from the showbread that existed in temple times. So, he had his wife bake loaves every Erev Shabbos which were then placed by him inside of the holy ark together with the Torah scrolls. They were then told that God had not had this much satisfaction and gratification since the times of the temple and the times of Moshe and the tabernacle, and that these loaves were equivalent to God to the actual showbread.

[1] Likkutei Torah p. 19b-24b

[2] Likkutei Torah p. 19b

[3] Likkutei Torah p. 19b-20a

[4] The majority of the world’s population resides in the Northern Hemisphere. Approximately 87% of Earth’s population lives in this half of the globe, which stretches from the equator (0° latitude) to the North Pole (90°N latitude)123. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere, encompassing the region from the equator (0° latitude) to the South Pole (90°S latitude), is home to only about 10% of the global population.

[5] See also Sefer Hamamrim 5655 p. 960 in name of Sefer Hagemul of the Ramban; Or HaTorah Nach 3 1,307

[6] Sefer Hamamrim 5655 p. 960

[7] Seemingly, this refers to a portion of the atmosphere, or perhaps refers to the northern part of our galaxy or universe, or perhaps is something mystical and not physical at all.

[8] Likkutei Torah p. 20a-20b

[9] Derushei Chasuna of Mittler Rebbe p. 445; See also Toras Moshe of the Chasam Sofer Parshas Pinchas