The Role of Prayer and Eating in Refinement and Holiness
Lessons in Likutay Torah | January 24, 2024
Print This Article
View Original PDF

The Role of Prayer and Eating in Refinement and Holiness

Lessons in Likutay Torah | December 10, 2025

So too regarding refining our animal soul it is written (Mishlei 27:21): “A crucible is used to refine silver, and a furnace is used to refine gold, and a man is refined according to his praising Hashem.” “His praising” Hashem during prayer becomes his crucible of fiery love, where “impurities are removed from silver” (see Mishlei 25:4).

Meaning, one’s spiritual impurities are removed, and the refined aspects of the animal soul are incorporated in holiness, meaning that the animal soul itself comes to love Hashem, like it says in the Shema “you shall love Hashem with all the aspects of your heart,” i.e., with the emotions of both the animal and Divine soul.

The words לְבָבְך ל בְכָ are interpreted by our Sages to mean with emotions of both the Divine soul and the emotions of the animal soul. They learn this out from word “לְבָבְך-your heart” which usually has one letter ב' and is spelled לבך, the double letter ב' means double amount of feelings, the emotions of the Divine soul and of the animal soul.

So too regarding refining our animal soul it is written (Mishlei 27:21): “A crucible is used to refine silver, and a furnace is used to refine gold, and a man is refined according to his praising Hashem.” “His praising” Hashem during prayer becomes his crucible of fiery love, where “impurities are removed from silver” (see Mishlei 25:4).

Meaning, one’s spiritual impurities are removed, and the refined aspects of the animal soul are incorporated in holiness, meaning that the animal soul itself comes to love Hashem, like it says in the Shema “you shall love Hashem with all the aspects of your heart,” i.e., with the emotions of both the animal and Divine soul.

The words לְבָבְך ל בְכָ are interpreted by our Sages to mean with emotions of both the Divine soul and the emotions of the animal soul. They learn this out from word “לְבָבְך-your heart” which usually has one letter ב' and is spelled לבך, the double letter ב' means double amount of feelings, the emotions of the Divine soul and of the animal soul.

PDF Preview