Knowing one’s own greatness is part of G-dly service and the beginning of it. Yet it must be coupled with the knowledge that if another was endowed with the same great qualities, he would be greater.
The Tzemach Tzedek related that on his first Rosh Hashana in this world, his grandfather the Alter Rebbe delivered the discourse Mashviim Oso [Before descending to the world a soul is administered an oath “Be righteous and don’t be wicked”]. The discourse later became the first three chapters of Tanya.
The first part of that discourse later became chapter one of Tanya and referred to the four levels of Torah interpretation known by the acronym “PARDES.” Pshat “Simple;” Remez “Hinted;” Drush “Homiletic” and Sod “Mystical” interpretation. All four levels are included in the fifth level of Torah interpretation, “Chassidus.”
Through the administration of the initial oath, the soul of the Tzemach Tzedek was satiated with Torah to the point that he would become a Rebbe who unified Chassidus and Kabbala with the revealed Torah and Jewish philosophy. He also gave authoritative opinions in Jewish law in response to inquiries from rabbis worldwide. In addition, he defended traditional Jewish education at hostile government conferences to the point of putting his freedom and even his life at risk.
Given all these revealed powers and talents, he needed to know the lesson that the Alter Rebbe taught him that the way to avoid falling because of haughtiness is by following the first Rebbe, Moshe who utilized the small aleph - the power of humility.
[Motzie Shabbos Tzav 5726]
The Hebrew word for “swear an oath” could be read as “Satiated.”
