ABSTRACT Lekutei Sichos

Disregard a possible deficient quality and befriend a Jew

Even in a spiritual wilderness, make a home for G-d

Ahavas Yisrael, the essence of the soul, is the vessel for Shavuos (Torah), the giving of the Divine Essence

• (א) Quantitative increase may also enhance the status of the quality (minyan, counting, etc.)
• (יא) In a physical desert, we can and must establish a holy sanctuary
• (יג) The Jews encamped at the Har Sinai, in the singular, with unity (as if one person)
• (יד) Preparation for Matan Torah – Ahavas Yisrael as explained by the three leaders of Chassidus

Revealing the depth of the concept and the preciousness of each Jew

Baal Shem TovRevealed the love for a simple Jew
Comparison to G-d’s Tefillin: hand-Tefillin (good deeds) precedes the head-Tefillin (scholars)
Distinction based on knowledge, but if love G-d then love each JewThe MaggidIncluded love for a complete Rasha
They say on High to love a Rasha gamur just as a Tzadik gamur
Distinction based on good and bad, but love since the root of each Jew’s soul is a part of G-dThe Alter RebbeIncluded love for great and small
Love among brothers
No distinction, since Jews are a singular entity; not loving another but love toward oneself

Each must contribute to making the world more holy

Levites exemplify no distinctions due to age in serving G-d

• (א) G-d wants man to “flourish like a palm-tree”, producing good and sweet fruit (to another Yid)
• (ה) Count of Levites different than all other Jews, since their service was from among the Jews

הוספות

Two phases of preparation for the Giving of the Torah (fusion of the material and the spiritual):

1. Drawing down and revealing the essence of the soul – the census of the Jews
2. Cultivation of our conscious powers to be receptors – counting the Omer

Counting by HaShem expressing His Love, revealing the essence of each Jew

• אחר שיצא ממצרים Revealed the Jewish essence but did not have an ongoing effect
• אחר שנפל בעגל Overpowered and overwhelmed but did not permeate
• אחר הקמת המשכן Permeated and transformed the Jew’s powers and facilities

The Ark’s 3 covers represent coverings enveloping the soul during its journeys enabling the potential for reaching higher

• Encasement – the body
• Wool garment – animal soul
• Tachash – alien, external desires

Prior to being carried the Leviim were prohibited from seeing the vessels uncovered, and not even after placement in that vessel’s unique encasement; they could only see the vessels after being “swallowed” into a wool covering. And the Aron was also placed into a third cover, a loose-fitting tachash (skin) bag.