Question
Lately I have lost my inspiration when it comes to davening. I don’t think that my davening has any power. I have been learning sefarim where I felt connected to the teachings of certain tzaddikim of the past, but now I feel that I have just become conceited and brazen by thinking that I have any connection to these tzaddikim and these teachings.
It seems that in earlier generations, people became holier by connecting to tzaddikim and their teachings. Does this also need to be done in our times, in order to have true aliyah (spiritual growth)?
Answer
Our Sages teach that there two beginning points to start from: Keser and Chochmah. When one starts with Keser, it is by beginning from a simple bond with HaKadosh Baruch Hu without using any intermediaries. This is also known as the “illumination of Mashiach ben Dovid”. The other beginning point is Chochmah. When one begins with Chochmah, he connects to HaKadosh Baruch Hu through the wisdom of tzaddikim.
This is the “illumination of Mashiach ben Yosef ”. Every person needs both of these aspects in his avodas Hashem – but in the final generations, the main way of connecting to Hashem is through the illumination of Mashiach ben Dovid [by starting from Keser, which is to form a simple, earnest bond with Hashem].
