The Two Levels of Expression and the Torah of the Metzora
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The Two Levels of Expression and the Torah of the Metzora

Lessons in Likutay Torah | June 27, 2025

After the Metzora comes to the Kohen, (meaning that his “Yearning” becomes elevated to the higher recognition of Hashem of Chochma), then the Kohen comes to the Metzora. This means that this higher awareness and self-nullification to Hashem comes down and is expressed on two levels.

First, it means that the selfless dedication to Hashem permeates one’s way of thinking (one’s understanding and Bina). This is expressed in the fact that his “yearning” comes together with an actual result - that he yearns to connect to Hashem and then realizes that he must do something tangible in Torah and Mitzvos for that connection to occur.

Second, it means that this is expressed in his feelings and actions. He should feel that he needs to do something, and he actually does something (unlike the first level, where he only understands that he must do something).

This is the meaning of "אך יצא יצא יעקב" – the simple meaning is that Yaakov had just gone out and left his father’s tent after he received all the blessings, prior to Eisav entering the tent to request the blessings. The deeper meaning of the verse is that יצא יצא - Yaakov went out twice. This is a reference to the revelation of Chochma (here referred to as Yaakov) in Bina and then into Z’eir Anpin and Malchus (into feelings and action).

The maamar will continue to answer one of the questions asked previously on the verse: בּוי הֶזךֶרֶּד לַעְון גַּ ם כּ ן עִּנְי ן "זֹא תַׁת ִּ הְּיֶַׁהַַׁׁתּוֹרַ ת הַמְּ צוֹר :"ע Also, with this we can explain the meaning of “this תִּּהְיֶ ה' - shall be’ the teaching of the Metzora.”

As mentioned above, the Alshich asks a question - why does it say “This shall be the teaching of the Metzora,” when it could have said, “This is the teaching of the Metzora.” The word תִּּהְיֶ ה'-shall be’ seems superfluous.

הַיְינוּ ש ֶכַּאֲש ֶ ר "וְהוּב א אֶ ל הַכֹּה ן כוּ' ," בְּחִּינַת תְּ ש וּב ה – "תּ ש וּ ב ה' לְגַבּ י יוּ'' ,"ד א ז אַחַר ֶיְהִּּתךַּכה תּוֹר תוֹ ש ְל ימ ה,

The meaning of this: When “He will be brought to the Kohen” - which is the idea of Teshuva (return) - returning the ה' to the י' , then, afterwards, his Torah study “shall be” complete (in a continuous, lasting fashion), which is through drawing down the י' (Chochma) to the ה' (Bina), and also into the letters ו"ה (emotions and actions) from above to below.

מַה ש ֶּא ין כּ ן ֶדֹו קִּמם הַתְּ ש וּב ה. This is not the case (i.e., there is no continuity to his Torah study), however, before this Teshuva process. Thus, the meaning of “shall be” is that it shall continue to be. This is the idea of continuity. In this context, “This shall be the Torah of the Metzora” means that the Torah study of the Metzora has continuity throughout his purification process.

Before his purification, his Torah study could not last, since his Chochma was not revealed in him. This Chochma is the “Mighty” revelation of the deep connection of his soul to Hashem. If this is not revealed, one’s Torah study is limited. Once this revelation of Chochma comes down, though, his Torah study will last and be strong and reveal Hashem properly in the world.

After the Metzora comes to the Kohen, (meaning that his “Yearning” becomes elevated to the higher recognition of Hashem of Chochma), then the Kohen comes to the Metzora. This means that this higher awareness and self-nullification to Hashem comes down and is expressed on two levels.

First, it means that the selfless dedication to Hashem permeates one’s way of thinking (one’s understanding and Bina). This is expressed in the fact that his “yearning” comes together with an actual result - that he yearns to connect to Hashem and then realizes that he must do something tangible in Torah and Mitzvos for that connection to occur.

Second, it means that this is expressed in his feelings and actions. He should feel that he needs to do something, and he actually does something (unlike the first level, where he only understands that he must do something).

This is the meaning of "אך יצא יצא יעקב" – the simple meaning is that Yaakov had just gone out and left his father’s tent after he received all the blessings, prior to Eisav entering the tent to request the blessings. The deeper meaning of the verse is that יצא יצא - Yaakov went out twice. This is a reference to the revelation of Chochma (here referred to as Yaakov) in Bina and then into Z’eir Anpin and Malchus (into feelings and action).

The maamar will continue to answer one of the questions asked previously on the verse: בּוי הֶזךֶרֶּד לַעְון גַּ ם כּ ן עִּנְי ן "זֹא תַׁת ִּ הְּיֶַׁהַַׁׁתּוֹרַ ת הַמְּ צוֹר :"ע Also, with this we can explain the meaning of “this תִּּהְיֶ ה' - shall be’ the teaching of the Metzora.”

As mentioned above, the Alshich asks a question - why does it say “This shall be the teaching of the Metzora,” when it could have said, “This is the teaching of the Metzora.” The word תִּּהְיֶ ה'-shall be’ seems superfluous.

הַיְינוּ ש ֶכַּאֲש ֶ ר "וְהוּב א אֶ ל הַכֹּה ן כוּ' ," בְּחִּינַת תְּ ש וּב ה – "תּ ש וּ ב ה' לְגַבּ י יוּ'' ,"ד א ז אַחַר ֶיְהִּּתךַּכה תּוֹר תוֹ ש ְל ימ ה,

The meaning of this: When “He will be brought to the Kohen” - which is the idea of Teshuva (return) - returning the ה' to the י' , then, afterwards, his Torah study “shall be” complete (in a continuous, lasting fashion), which is through drawing down the י' (Chochma) to the ה' (Bina), and also into the letters ו"ה (emotions and actions) from above to below.

מַה ש ֶּא ין כּ ן ֶדֹו קִּמם הַתְּ ש וּב ה. This is not the case (i.e., there is no continuity to his Torah study), however, before this Teshuva process. Thus, the meaning of “shall be” is that it shall continue to be. This is the idea of continuity. In this context, “This shall be the Torah of the Metzora” means that the Torah study of the Metzora has continuity throughout his purification process.

Before his purification, his Torah study could not last, since his Chochma was not revealed in him. This Chochma is the “Mighty” revelation of the deep connection of his soul to Hashem. If this is not revealed, one’s Torah study is limited. Once this revelation of Chochma comes down, though, his Torah study will last and be strong and reveal Hashem properly in the world.

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