Summary of Chapter 3:
Our belief in Hashem that He is “Soveiv Kol Almin-encompasses all worlds” is something that we need to establish in our consciousness and internalize. If we have simple faith in Hashem, but it is not developed within our psyche, then it is like the “earth” that is the foundation of everything but is also the lowest level. We need to make this “earth” into an “earth flowing with milk and honey.”
This means that we have to use it to develop our emotions into a revealed love and fear of Hashem (like milk develops a baby) and enjoy and rejoice in our faith in Hashem as something as sweet as honey.
How do we do this? Through the Torah and mitzvos that derive from Hashem as He is “Soveiv.”
In particular, there are three aspects to this:
- Torah is Hashem’s “Names.” When we learn Torah, we call to Hashem by name, so that He will come to us.
- Mitzvos are vessels for drawing down the level of “Soveiv” into our physical life.
- Prayer is when we awaken in ourselves a great yearning to truly experience Hashem as He really is, on the level of “Soveiv.” Specifically, when we recite Shema, we focus on the idea that we want Hashem – Havaya - Who is connected to the source of our souls on the level of “Soveiv” – Elokeinu - to become revealed and experienced as אֶחָ ד - as One in the seven heavens, the earth and the four directions (i.e., to be experienced in our physical life as well).
