Once on Simchas Torah the Rebbe, Menachem Mendel of Horodok, stopped as he prepared to say “Ata Hariasa” prior to hakafas. When asked why he hesitated, he answered that he could see one hundred explanations of atah haraisa that he had not yet understood in depth, therefore he was not prepared to say the prayer.
The Alter Rebbe, who was there, told him that even if he plumbed the depth of those hundred explanations, he would see more explanations he had not yet comprehended. And even if he could reach the depth of those, as deep as he could possibly delve, there would be an unlimited new depth, higher and higher without end.
The Alter Rebbe’s words comforted the Horodoker, to the point that he was able to say the Ata Haraisa prayer.
Our Rebbe asks, how did the Alter Rebbe’s comment affect the Horodoker to the point that he could now say Atah Haraisa?
At first glance, those words should have had the opposite effect on him. After all, he originally hesitated because of all the explanations he had not yet attained. Then he was told there are deeper and deeper explanations, higher and higher without end. So how was this explanation of the Alter Rebbe able to comfort him?
