Free translation of Maamor ‘HaBoim Yashreish Yaakov’ delivered by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Shemos, 23rd Teves, 5747. Published in www.dvarmalchus.org for Parshas Shemos 5775. Translation republished for Shabbos Parshas Shemos 5780. Translated by Mendy Levy, authored by Menachem Mendel Levy, typeset by Mendel Levy, published by Menachem Levy, funded by Menachem Mendy Levy.
Special thanks to the following websites whose information has been vital in preparing this Maamor: chabad.org, chabad.org.il, chabadlibrary.org, likkuteitorah.com, beverlyhillschabad.com, google.co.uk, shulchanaruchharav.com, chabadpedia.co.il, insidechassidus.org, sefaria.org, he.chabad.org, otzar770.org, haoros.com, torahweb.org, myjewishlearning.com, hebrewbooks.org, judaism.stackexchange.com, wikisource.org, simplychassidus.com, morfix.co.il, lexilogos.com, abc770.org, kabbalah.org, nakdan.com, strangeside.com, wordhippo.com, kabbalahoftime.com, translate.google.co.uk, Lmaanyishmeu.com.
This Maamor is dedicated in the merit of מרת רעכיל צפרה בת מלכה שתחי׳ for a complete & speedy recovery רְ פוּאָה שְׁ לֵימָה וּקְ רוֹבָה בְתוֹךְ שְׁ אַר חוֹלִי יִש ְרָאֵ ל רְ פוּאַת הַנֶפֶ שׁ רְ פוּאַת הַגּוּף.
Introduction to the Possuk and Its Context
There is a Possuk in this week’s Haftorah that states: הַבָּאִים יַשְׁרֵש יַעֲקֹב יָּצִיץ וּפָּרַח יִשְׁרָּאֵל וּמָּלְׁאוּ פְׁנֵי תֵבֵל תְׁנוּבָּה – “Those who came, whom Yaakov caused to take root, Yisroel flourished and blossomed and they filled the face of the world with fruitage.”
The commentaries explain that the word הַבָּאִים of our Possuk bears reference to the same word used at the very beginning of Sefer Shemos, where the Possuk states: יִשְׁרָּאֵל הַבָּאִים מִצְׁרָּיְׁמָּהוְׁאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְׁנֵי – “And these are the names of the B’nei Yisroel who came to Mitzrayim.” This implies that our Possuk הַבָּאִים יַשְׁרֵש also discusses the coming of the B’nei Yisroel to Mitzrayim.
The Alter Rebbe and the Maamor
The Baal HaHilulah, the Alter Rebbe, delivered a Maamor [which has been transcribed] in the Sefer ‘Torah Ohr’ [in which he has provided an elucidation of this Maamor, and thereafter there is further elucidation], and further elaboration in Chassidic discourses delivered by Chabad Rebbeim of subsequent generations, clarify what is the association between these two Pesukim. Specifically; the affiliation of the word הַבָּאִים (the coming to Egypt) and the taking root (יַשְׁרֵש יַעֲקֹב Yaakov will take root).
Three Levels in the Possuk
In this Possuk there appear to be three unrelated concepts and they signify three different levels; starting with the level of ‘taking root’, continuing with the level in which ‘Yisroel will bud and blossom’, and thereafter ‘will fill the face of the earth like fruit’.
Another question posed is: when discussing ‘taking root’ why does the Possuk first use the name of ‘Yaakov’ and thereafter use the name ‘Yisroel’ who will ‘bud and blossom’?
The Descent of the Neshomoh
Notwithstanding the above, this Possuk is generally referring to the descent of the Neshomoh into a physical body which is an incredibly great descent; from ‘A high roof to a low pit’ metaphorically speaking. The extent of this descent is from a lofty place that is so much higher than the metaphoric roof, descending to a lower place which is so much lower than the metaphoric pit; in other words, a drastic descent to a place which is utterly incomparable to its origin.
The purpose of this descent is to benefit an ascent that follows; for specifically this lowly world is connected to the essence and very being of HaShem Blessed be He, that He has no pretext or cause that preceded Him G-d forbid, as is detailed in several places in Chassidus.
The Concept of Taking Root
This is the concept of הַבָּאִים יַשְׁרֵש ‘coming, to take root’, that specifically in Egypt, in the very lowest place of all, where there is no lower, the underbelly of civilisation, and the most corrupt and depraved of all civilisations does the root and the Principal exist, and in the words of the ‘Zohar’ דְׁכֹלָּא וְׁשֹרְׁשָּא עִיקָּרָּא ‘The principal and the root of everything’.
This means that in this, there are two issues; one that it is ‘the root of everything’, and secondly, that even after everything has been brought into existence it is still the Principal of everything.
Avodah and Its Principal
This idea also exists in more detailed form in the Avodah of the Neshomoh below, for the primary virtue of Avodah is in the lowest form of Avodah, the lower state of ‘Yiroh Tato’ah’ and ‘Kabbolas Ohl’, and as it is explained in ‘Tanya’ that ‘Yiroh’ and ‘Kabolas’ Ohl, are the beginning of ‘Avodah’ as well as its principal and its root.
It can be said that also within these two previously-mentioned matters; besides that which it is the root and source of everything, from which all the details are drawn, afterwards as well, but when all the details of the Avodah have been worked out, the ‘Yiroh’ remains to be the primary principal of all matters.
And in the aforementioned words of the Zohar: “The principal and the root of everything”, is not just the root of everything, but the principal of everything too, and therefore as a result of this Avodah can one draw down HaShem’s very essence and HaShem’s very being, blessed be He.
The Name Yaakov and Its Significance
This is also hinted in the name יַעֲקֹב which can be read as the letter ‘י’ (Yud) עָּקֵב (Okeiv) which means ‘heel’ (as in the heel of the foot), alluding to the ‘Yud’ of the lowest low, the ‘Yud’ of the heel.
This can be explained: that specifically the lower form of ‘Yiroh’ is the root and principal of everything, for besides the fact that there is the rule that ‘The higher from which something falls, the lower it descends’ it is thus known that all the levels in Yiroh are interconnected with each other, so it transpires that the most internal point of יִרְׁאָּה תַתָּאָּה the lower form of the letter ‘Yud’ is the same state of the upper form of the letter ‘Yud’, יִרְׁאָּה עִילָּאָּה.
Even though the letter ‘Yud’ (of ‘Yiroh’) is the principal and root of all else, nevertheless, in order to complete the ultimate intention, as the Medrash says: “Hakodosh Boruch Hu desired to have a dwelling place in the lower realms”, that the concept of ‘dwelling’...
