Hey Teves,

For those old enough to remember that year (I am not…), those two words bring forth memories of an eruption of joy.

For Chassidim, two years of pent up concern, worry, and pain were suddenly released with the announcement of just two words: “Didan Notzach”!

This was well before the days of instant communication, but there was little need for it. The explosion of joy spread like wildfire.

For Chassidim the worry was clear-cut: The Rebbe was concerned, the Rebbe was pained, the Rebbe wanted the Seforim in 770.

But it was after Mincha that the Rebbe allowed us to understand what had truly occurred over that year and a half. And what had just been saved.

***

A short history of the world.

The Eibishter wanted to create a world of opposites. Where something that feels itself as real, can perceive that it is, in fact, just part of infinity.

The goal of creation being to perceive Elokus.

He created Odom Horishon to do the work needed to condition the world to be able to live with and ‘handle’ this understanding of reality.
This culmination is what we call in broad terms ימות המשיח.

Why the human? This is because; the world is defined by what the human perceives it to be.

It is the human who elevated a tree to become a table. A glass and wire to being a source of light. And a piece of plastic to allow me to communicate.

Point being that the human elevates the world merely by virtue of his understanding of the world.

The further the understanding of reality, the more the human creates a new reality.

Doctors can discover cures. Humans can function at night with electrical lights. We can fly, communicate etc etc.

This goes even further with Tzadikim, humans who have an even deeper understanding of true reality, can even tap into the energy shaping a reality and change it.

Back to the History.

He created man and wanted him to elevate himself and everything he sees by virtue of understanding the deeper reality (Known to us as אלוקות) and living within the laws of universe.
Hashem separated man from animal by giving him a different motivating biology than animals.
Whilst animals are motivated by ‘feeling’, man was motivated solely by intellect.
So, Odom was too smart to relate to nor care for the physical as we know it, and he was too intellectual to experience this animal thing called ‘feelings’.
That bothered ‘Odom’. He wanted to elevate that part of himself too.
He (mistakenly) thought that he couldn’t elevate the animal’s feelings if he couldn’t himself ‘feel’. He wondered how he could elevate the physical if he never experienced it in its lowest facet.
So, he ate a sweet fruit. The only fruit with such a mature taste that even a human living at that time, with his depth of understanding would actually care to taste.
Suddenly, He was no longer only ‘intellectual’. He now had ‘physical’ motivation too.

He now Felt ‘taste’. Felt ‘body’. Felt ‘physical’ pleasure.

We all know how real to us this animalistic, simplistic, lowest dimension of reality feels….

And with the feeling of physical, the ability for man to naturally rise above everything mundane was gone.
He was no longer in Gan Eden. Where the G-Dly energy was obvious. Now he had to live in the world like all other animals and elevate the world not by the sheer virtue of his being, rather by living within the constraints of the lowest levels of reality and elevating them within himself.
From now on the ability to see (perceive) אלוקות will no longer be natural – because it cannot be automatically comprehended by people who see the physical as reality.
Thus, it will only be attained by a select few via intense comprehension.

One important note about the matters he is studying: By understanding these deep levels of reality, he gets to figure out and understand the laws of nature. Those 613 levels of energy the world needs.

In other words, by understanding the ‘why’ he realizes the ‘what’.

For the rest of his life, Odom keeps exploring these deeper dimensions of אלוקות.
Odom teaches it to his son Sheis.
Sheis teaches his son how to comprehend these dimensions who passes on this skill to his son… and his son to his son…. until Noach
Noach teaches this to his son שם, who together with his grandson עבר open a Yeshiva to teach this to a larger – but very select group – of people.
Avraham passes this on to Yitzchak
Yitzchak to Yaakov
Yaakov to the Shevotim
After they move to Mitzrayim, Shevet Levi takes over, continuing to investigate this ultimate reality, and living in its ways.
This was the main Torah learning for those 2448 years until Matan Torah.
At which time, these deep dimensions of reality and “laws of how the world functions” is made accessible to everyone in the form of 613 commandments.
Everyone now has the ‘action facts’ on this understanding, what we call ‘Nigle’.

Now, the world begins in earnest to become ‘conditioned’ to live the life we naturally lead if we understood the reality of אלוקות.

In other words, though we don’t understand anything, we are getting used to that life by living that life at least in practice.

Getting our bodies, and the artefacts we use, used to the idea of קדושה.

Whilst now everyone knows the basic what to do. And that is what they spend all their time learning. Moishe Rabbeinu continues to teach the deeper understanding of this reality to Aharon Yehoshua and the Zekeinim.

Because to prepare the world for עתיד לבוא we need to condition not only the physical bodies via our actions, but also the minds and understanding of true reality, and with that the perception of what reality really is.

Thus, this Torah, known universally as ‘Kabolah’, (receiving) continues to be taught (almost entirely) orally (except for a few Seforim, and even those only accessible) within a small, select group of people.
Until רבי שמעון בר יוחאי.
On the day of his Histalkus, Rebbi Shimon takes his Talmidim to a cave on Mt. Meron, upon entering they notice a pre-arranged bed there, and looking at his holy Talmidim, Rebbi Shimon’s eyes settle on Rebbi Aba.
“Aba Kesov – Aba write” Rebbi Shimon orders, and he begins to teach this dimension known as “סוד” at a level of depth they had never heard before. He teaches until a fire surrounds the bed he lays on. And is Nistalek.
These teachings (known henceforth as the זוהר – “Radiance”) are kept as a closely guarded secret by his Talmdim and future generations of תנאים and אמוראים.
Until they are copied and published and disseminated by Rebbi Moshe DeLion.
Just over 200 years later, the אריז”ל tells his Talmidim מצוה לגלות זאת החכמה – thus validating for all the authenticity of the Zohar.
Despite this statement by the Arizal – Zohar (and Kabola in general) is still only learned by a select group of holy people.

This means that there are still only a select few who have been given the right to condition the world via deeper understanding of reality. Almost everyone else is focussed solely on conditioning via action – the most physical.

Rebbi Eliyahu Baal Shem opens a Yeshiva teaching תורת הקבלה. He is also the leader of the צדיקים נסתרים. These Tzadikim travel from place to place helping the Yidden with whatever they need.
Upon his Histalkus Rebbi Yoel Ba’al Shem takes over.
Followed by Rebbi Odom Ba’al Shem, (whose real name was Reb Zushe), and after him the Ba’al Shem Tov.
The Ba’al Shem Tov founds Chassidus. His teaching – a deeper dimension than even ‘סוד’ itself – is taught to only 60 select people the holiest of the holy.
The Magid of Mezritch teaches this new dimension to 120 people.
They institute מנהגים for everyone – even those who cannot understand the Torah, so that they too can condition themselves and the world around them to be able to ‘handle’ even deeper levels of כח אלוקי.
They also teach how to connect to a Tzadik and how the Tzadik can condition you if you are connected to him.
His youngest Talmid the Alter Rebbe says that in order to make the ultimate Dira Betachtonim – we need to develop our own Ahava and Yira, and there is no way to do that without an understanding of Elokus. So the Rebbe begins to teach this Torah – this deep understanding of the infinite energy– in a manner that everyone can understand.
This causes the forces of Kelipa to complain, and the Alter Rebbe is arrested – not able to teach this Torah until it is decided upon high that he may continue.
53 days after he is forced to pause – the Beis DinShel Ma’ala allow him to continue. Thus, formally ushering in a new depth to human’s connection to Hashem.
The Ba’al Shem Tov and the Magid insist however, that now that permission has been granted, the Rebbe must broaden his Torah even further.
Furthering the worlds preparedness and thereby hastening the time when אלוקות will be obvious.
In the next generation, The Mittele Rebbe teaches, that even if you struggle to truly ‘feel’, focus on the understanding. The ‘Bittul’ of self, comes from focussing on the macro. Keep occupied with understanding גדלות הבורא and you will at very least realise that true reality is not the physical and mundane as you see it.
Each subsequent generation takes this further and further, with the Rebbe Rashab even bringing this to Talmidim.

Yet, whilst it was taught to whoever wanted it, it was still limited to a certain kind of person.

The Chossid.

The one that lived a life of relative קדושה.

The Alter Rebbe even taking an active side in a war because this Torah was still not ready for the ‘liberal world’.

In fact, even 110 years later the Frierdike Rebbe wrote to the Chassidim in America that the time still wasn’t right.

***

Enter ‘Dor Hashvi’i’

Chassidus is now taught everywhere.

It is no longer confined to the walls of the Shul and Yeshiva. No longer only taught to people with full beards who go to Mikva every day.

Chassidus is now taught far and wide and to Yidden of every level of practice,

bringing Ahavas hashem and Yiras Hashem to locations and people previously unheard of.

Not only that, but there is now full fusion in our עבודה in the world between the Action of Mitzvos and the learning of פנימיות התורה – the world is now at the stage of being conditioned and ready for the ultimate גילוי אלוקות.

Thus, bringing the Shechina deeper and deeper into the world, creating an even deeper Dira BeTachtoinim.

This again creates a challenge Lema’ala.

And this time that spiritual challenge is manifest by a complaint filed in court.

The claim? There is no such thing as being able to live within the world and yet not be confined to its limitations.

In simple terms: The previous Rebbe has been Nistalek, in the “real” world that is the end of His existence.

Furthermore, came the claim: If he was Nistalek – His Lubavitch is no longer active.

***

Tuesday, Hey Teves, 5747

In Beis Din Shel Ma’ala the ‘Psak’ is given; Hafotzas Hama’ayonus must continue.

No, the Rebbe stated on the Bima that afternoon. Not merely continue. Hafotzas Hama’ayonos must grow!

Its needs to grow both internally – making our homes, and dorm rooms into a place which radiates holiness.

The Rebbe called these: small Botei Chabad.

And externally – giving even more people the opportunity to make a Dira Betachtonim in their own minds and hearts.

For this week, let us focus on the first part. (I promised you that we will take this in small steps… so I had to pick only one).

***

Today, that Psak has come all over again.

And the energy we are given to make a Dira Betachtonim has once again been increased.

So, let’s use this opportunity to ensure that our rooms radiate Kedusha – as the Rebbe requested.

First of all, ensure that you have some Seforim near your bed.

(In addition to a Chitas).

Just being surrounded by Seforim will create for you an aura of Ruchaniyus. [As the Rebbe often stated regarding the Mivtza of Bayis Molei Seforim].

Second of all, make a Kevius to learn something in your room before bed – even for just two minutes.

Rabbi Moishe Herson, tells of the Nachas the Rebbe had when he told the Rebbe that he was learning the stories in the Sichos of the Frierdike Rebbe before he fell asleep, and the support the Rebbe gave him when others were telling him it was not a respectful way to learn.

Your room will morph from merely being “sleeping quarters” to being a Ruchaniyusdike place as well… furthermore, your sleep will be more holy… and you will wake up “אנדערש”.

יה”ר שיזכו להיות נרות להאיר, להאיר עצמינו ואת כל העולם כולו, ולהכין את העולם לקבל פני משיח צדקינו. ובעיקר שיזכו שיהי’ “ותחי רוח יעקב אביהם”, באופן ש”הוא בחיים” כפשוטו, בביאת משיח צדקינו ב”ב ממש.