Proceeding on this sacred journey, we will continue to elaborate on the notion of the Kedushas Levi that every Jew is privileged to see a vision of the third Beis HaMikdash on Shabbas Chazon. Before learning Pirkei Avos, it is customary to recite the following Mishnah (Sanhedrin 90a): "כל ישראל יש להם חלק לעולם הבא, שנאמר ועמך כולם צדיקים לעולם יירשו ארץ נצר מטעי מעשה ידי להתפאר"—all Yisrael has a share of Olam HaBa, as it says (Yeshayah 60, 21): “And your people are all tzaddikim; they shall inherit the land forever; they are the stem of My plantings, My handiwork, in which to take pride.” The commentaries ask how is it possible to say: “All Yisrael has a share of Olam HaBa.” After all, there are total reshaim, who have forfeited their share of Olam HaBa due to the extent of their wickedness.
It appears that we can explain the matter based on what the Avodas Yisrael writes in parshas Ha’azinu (Devarim 32, 1):
“Hearken, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.” When a tzaddik wishes to return the people of his generation to good standing and is constantly speaking words of “mussar” to them; yet, his words fail to penetrate their hearts, because their hearts are made of stone, due their numerous transgressions; and they have become attached to the klipah, chas v’shalom, G-d help us; it is advisable that he speak “mussar” to the root of their neshamos, where the klipah has no hold. This is the meaning of “Hearken, O heavens, and I will speak”—that is, to the root of the neshamos, which are called “heavens”; as a result, “the earth will hear the words of my mouth”—referring to man’s material being.
He is teaching us a vital, fundamental principle. The root of every Jew’s neshamah remains unblemished in the heavens above. Therefore, even a sinner “with a heart of stone, who has become attached to the klipah, chas v’shalom,” can nevertheless consult with a tzaddik and request that “he speak words of mussar to the root of his neshamah, where the klipah cannot affect it.”
We can now conjecture that this is the meaning of the Mishnah: "כל ישראל יש להם חלק לעולם הבא". Where the roots of the neshamos—their pure, pristine portions that have not descended into man’s physical bodies— reside in the heavenly spheres, there every Jew possesses a portion of Olam HaBa, since the taint of sin does not reach them.
He substantiates this fact from the statement: "ועמך כולם צדיקים לעולם יירשו ארץ". This implies that every Jew is potentially a tzaddik who deserves to participate in the parceling of Eretz Yisrael le’asid la’vo. After all, a sinner is only tainted and considered wicked on account of the part of his neshamah down below on earth. With regards to the part of his neshamah in the heavens above, he is an unblemished, consummate tzaddik.
This, however, might prompt a person to think that there is no reason to strive to sanctify and refine the part of the neshamah in his body. After all, the root of his neshamah above is perfect. To allay this misconception, HKB”H adds: "נצר מטעי מעשה ידי להתפאר". HKB”H created the neshamah as a piece of G-d that remains in the heavens pure and untainted, untouched by man. Man’s primary goal is to also rectify and sanctify the part of his neshamah down below that resides in his body.
With immense joy, we can now comprehend the sacred insight of the Kedushas Levi. On Shabbas Chazon, HKB”H shows every Jew a vision of the third Beis HaMikdash. As we learned from the Zera Kodesh, the third Beis HaMikdash is being built constantly from the mitzvos and good deeds that we perform daily. Hence, the avodah performed by Eliyahu HaNavi in the Beis HaMikdash above is inseparable and intimately related to the Beis HaMikdash that will ultimately descend from the heavens. Therefore, HKB”H shows the pure part of the neshamah above of every Jew who mourns the current fate and state of Yerushalayim the joy of the third Beis HaMikdash. This enables the heavenly part of the neshamah to influence its earthly counterpart to console it, encourage it, and uplift it with the promise of the ultimate geulah.
