Summary of the Maamar

Summary of the Maamar

Introduction:

The verse from Shir Hashirim (8:7) says: “Many waters cannot extinguish the love, and rivers cannot flood it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house in place of this love, they would ridicule him.”

1. The “many waters” are referring the burdens of acquiring a livelihood, and worry about material matters. Despite how distracting these worries and responsibilities are, they cannot extinguish the love of the Divine soul for Hashem. This is because its fiery love for Hashem is stronger than anything in this world, even stronger than the fire of Gehinom (hell). (As described in the previous verse in Shir Hashirim, 8:6, with Rashi.) This fiery love comes from the fact that the Divine soul is a “part of Hashem Above.” Thus, its love of Hashem is Divine and beyond all the limitations of this world. It yearns to reunite with its True Source and True Being. This is similar to how a fire naturally rises up to return to its source.
2. The Great Flood, the Mabul, is called “מֵי נֹחַ—the waters of Noach,” since its purpose was to purify the world, bringing about “נַיחָא דְרוּחָא—a relaxed/satisfied spirit,” as it brought rest to the world from the violence and unholiness and satisfaction to Hashem that now the world can function properly. We must say that the purpose of the Great Flood was to purify the world, since if the purpose was just to destroy the wicked, Hashem could have done that in one moment. The purpose of the forty days of rain was to purify the world, similar to the forty se’ah of a mikveh that purify people and vessels. Similarly, the “many waters” of the distractions and responsibilities of material needs are there to purify our souls. By having reveal our love of Hashem to overcome those “many waters” we become spiritually purified.
3. The Great Flood not only purified the world, but it also elevated the Teiva—Ark of Noach—to great heights, above the tallest mountains. This represents how the many challenges not only purify us spiritually, but they actually elevate us to much higher level than we had before.
4. What is the deeper meaning of “if a man would give all the wealth of his house in place of this love, they would ridicule him?” This “Man” refers to Hashem, and the “wealth of His house” refers to the rich revelations of Hashem in Gan Eden. This “love” refers to the love of Hashem as expressed in actual mitzvah performance, which can be very difficult at times and can require great self-sacrifice to always fulfill all the mitzvos in all situations. If a person would choose to experience the rich revelations of Hashem in Gan Eden instead of expressing his love for Hashem in the physical performance of mitzvos, then this person will be ridiculed. This is because Hashem’s revelations in Gan Eden are only a minute expression of His Light as it shines into the created worlds. However, through the physical performance of mitzvos, which requires loving dedication and self-sacrifice, a Jew connects to the very Essence and Being of Hashem Himself, on a level infinitely deeper than through the ray of Light that shines in Gan Eden.