Infinitely finite
As mentioned above, the idea of transcending the bounds of logic through going “in His ways” is twofold:
A) Man’s limited service can indeed reach the infinite.
B) After all the ascents and attaining the infinite, man still remains finite.
Since, as stated above, all of man’s accomplishments come through his own efforts, it is understood that this second point of remaining finite after touching the infinite, comes as well through man’s own abilities.
This can be understood as follows:
The true life force of a Jewish person is from his G-dly soul. This means to say, that in every Jew there is a dichotomy at play: On one hand, he has a physical body that is limited, and on the other, he has a soul which is “literally a portion from G-d, above.” Instead of the soul breaking the body and nullifying it, the soul enlivens it. The life force of the physical body is the G-dly soul.
This life force from the G-dly soul though, is hidden. It is man’s objective through his service of G-d to bring it to light. His purpose is to reveal the soul to the point that within the limbs of his body is felt the life force of his G-dly soul.
When a person wants to do something, there is no delay between the time when the physical energizing soul expresses that desire and the point at which the body executes it.
Text 9
The organs of the human body are a garment for its soul and are completely and utterly surrendered to it, as evidenced from the fact that as soon as a person desires to stretch out his hand or foot, they obey his will immediately and forthwith, without any command or instruction to them and with no hesitation whatever, but in the very instant that he wills it.
Tanya, Ch. 23
In the same way that it is regarding one’s natural soul, so too must it be concerning one’s G-dly soul. A Jew is to remove all external things that cover over the soul. When he does so, he will feel that in truth, it is his G-dly soul that enlivens his body. At that point, his physical body will automatically express the soul.
Text 10
R. Minasya stated: “I appreciate my head, for when it reaches [the place] ‘Modim’ [in prayer,] it bows spontaneously.”
Jerusalem Talmud, Berachos 2:4
This sage’s body was so in tune with his soul, that it automatically fulfilled its wish.
When a Jew, through his service, causes the revealed connection between body and soul to the point that his finite body is expressive of the soul, he draws down, as a result, the G-dly expression, that he can reach the highest levels of “walking” in G-d’s ways and nevertheless remain finite.
