Lessons in Torah Or

The effect it will have on the person will stay with him the entire day, giving him the strength to perform all the mitzvos and to refrain from sin.

In Kuntres HaTefila (see ch. 9) the Rebbe Rashab says (paraphrased): Even when a person learns Chassidus and gets excited about what he learns, it still remains “encompassing” him, i.e., it remains an intellectual concept. Only when he thinks about that idea at the time of the morning prayers (i.e., for a man, when he is wearing is Talis and/or Tefillin before Shachris) is he able to truly internalize it emotionally, so that it permeates his entire being. This is because during the morning prayers there is a time of “Divine Favor Above and below,” which is a special time when we are empowered to absorb and internalize the good Light of Chassidus.

The verse continues: “and Yaakov travelled on his path”: The level of “י עֲקֹּב-Yaakov” which is the letters of “ד''

ויַַׁׁעָּקֵּב-the letter י'-Yud that descends until the heel” travels and is drawn down into the fulfillment of the Torah and Mitzvos, since our Sages say (Kidushin 2b) “the Torah is called a ‘path,’” and this will suffice for the intelligent.

The Mittler Rebbe explains (ibid. 180b): The level of Yaakov is the attribute of Mercy of Atzilus. He awakens the “Higher level of Mercy” from Hashem that transcends Atzilus, the “Loven HaElyon.” After he awakens this level of mercy from Hashem, he takes that revelation and brings it down to the level of Shevatim, and through them to the soul of every Jew in this physical world. This gives us strength to fulfill the Torah and mitzvos. The name Yaakov shows on this process: His name “יַעֲקֹב-Yaakov” is the letters of “יוּ''ד עָּקֵּב-the letter י'-Yud that descends until the heel.” The letter י' represents Chochma, including Chochma of Atzilus, the source of the Divine soul. The “heel” which is the lowest part of the body represents how the soul descended to the lowest possible level, into a physical body. The idea the Yud connecting to the heel is that the source of the Divine soul is revealed in the soul as it exists in the body, giving it the power to fulfill its mission in this world of fulfilling the Torah and Mitzvos. This is accomplished through the awakening of Hashem’s mercy that is the aspect of Yaakov. This is also why the Torah is called a ‘path,’ since it ‘travels’ from its source in Chochma of Atzilus until it reaches our intellect in this physical world.

Thus, the meaning of the verse “and Yaakov travelled on his path,” is that through the awakening of Hashem’s mercy, the aspect of Yaakov, Hashem’s Light travels down to us to give us the strength to fulfill the Torah and mitzvos in this world.

Summary

1. The Avos-forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov are a Merkavah-Chariot for Hashem on the level of Atzilus. They draw down and reveal the inner dimension of Hashem’s Kindness and Severity into our world, and awaken Hashem’s mercy from Atzilus and higher to come down into us.
2. However, this revelation from Atzilus that the forefathers revealed is too intense for the souls of regular Jewish people in the physical world to be able to handle.
3. The solution to this is that there is an intermediary level, the Shevatim (the 12 sons of Yaakov). They are the aspect of of the Merkavah-Chariot for Hashem on the level of Beriah (the beginning and highest of the created worlds that feel separate from Hashem). The souls of the Shevatim can receive the revelation of Atzilus from the forefathers. They then give over to their descendants, to every Jew, a revelation of Hashem that we can handle.
4. This is the meaning of the verse: “Return for the sake of Your servants, the Shevatim who are Your heritage.” We ask Hashem to return His revelation to us on a level that we can appreciate and use out to awaken a love and fear for You, and this is possible through the souls of the Shevatim, since they can take the revelation of Atzilus and “tone it down” to our level.
5. Now, there are the level of Yaakov, who is in Atzilus, is to awaken Hashem’s Infinite mercy as it transcends Atzilus and the entire Hishtalshelus-order of spiritual worlds. But how can we access that revelation if we can’t reach the world of Atzilus? This is also possible through the Shevatim. Since the word Sheivet also means tree branch. Pulling on a tree branch can bend over the entire tree trunk. Similarly, through the Shevatim, who are the “branches” of the forefathers, and their awakening mercy from Hashem, they can access the awakening of mercy on the level of Yaakov. This way, they can also awaken the Infinite Mercy of Hashem.
6. Not only are the Shevatim the “branches” of the forefathers, but all of their descendants, each and every Jew, is a “branch” of the forefathers. Therefore, every Jew is able to awaken the Infinite Mercy of Hashem, since every Jew is rooted in Yaakov of Atzilus, and can access that root that their own personal effort to awaken Hashem’s mercy.
7. However, for us to be able to awaken Hashem’s Infinity Mercy on a revealed level, Hashem first empowers us to come to this awakening. This empowerment is from a very lofty level called “Loven HaElyon-The Whiteness of Above.” White shows on something colorless, simple and indivisible, and refers to the Infinite Light of Hashem that transcends all the definable levels of Hishtalshelus.
8. This “Loven HaElyon” is revealed every morning, empowering us to awaken love and fear for Hashem, and awaken mercy on our Divine soul, in the morning Shachris prayer.
9. This is the meaning of “Lavan woke up in the morning and kissed his grandsons and daughters.” The Lavan-Loven HaElyon is revealed every morning, and “kisses,” i.e., lovingly empowers, the levels of Rochel and Leah of Atzilus, and the levels of the Shevatim of Beriah, and through them it reaches every Jew.
10. However, after the morning prayers, this revelation of Loven HaElyon ascends back to its source. Therefore, need to pray every day, since every day there is new opportunity to access the Loven HaElyon and to awaken love and fear for Hashem. Since every day our Yetzer Hara tries to conceal Hashem’s presence from us, and get us to focus on materialistic desires, we need to tap into this opportunity for Divine revelation every day, so that we will have the spiritual strength to serve Hashem throughout the day.
11. This is the meaning of “Lavan went on his way and returned to his place, and Yaakov travelled on his path.” After the morning prayers, the revelation of Loven HaElyon goes back to its source, and we take power from our inspired prayers to go on the path of Torah and mitzvos.