The crowd of thousands was enthralled by the Nigun.
Gently swaying from side to side, the Chassidim sang in unison, their hearts elated, their minds focused, their eyes trained on one spot.
The place where the Rebbe sat.
But one young Bochur’s mind began to wander.
“What would I do if I was called upon to defend the Rebbe’s Kovod?” He imagined.
Eyes closed, singing the Nigun swaying with the crowd, he was oblivious to his surroundings, as his imagination took his mind on a trip, envisioning all he would do, with whom he would argue, and what he would say… if the need arose.
His minds adventures were abruptly ended when he feels a sharp Nudge from behind. No sooner did he snap out of his reeve when he realises in horror that the Rebbe had been observing him all this time.
His thoughts refocussed, the Rebbe’s gaze shifts to the rest of the room, responding to the assembled Chassidim’s wishes of Lechaim.
He understood the message well.
Stop thinking about foolish unbecoming things.
I know the Bochur (a grandfather by now…) and this is just another story in thousands of how the Rabbeim could read thoughts.
***
Did you know, that in theory, anyone can read thoughts?
Thoughts are things, and if one can only tap-in to the “dimension of thought”, one would be able to read minds.
But though it is trough that in theory anybody can do it.
The actual ability to read thoughts, is very much dependent on the refinement of the body.
Because, like in so many other things in this world, the less the body is tied to the mundane dimensions, the more the body is able to live to live in the subliminal dimensions of the world.
(We have discussed this in the past, and we will discuss this more at length another time IYH).
***
“Make Tzitzis”, Hashem commands us. “And when you will see them you will remember the Mitzvos”.
For that reason the Alter Rebbe in Shulchan Oruch writes, that one should be careful to wear their Tzitzis on top of (on the outside of) their garments, so that we should always be able to see them and remember the Mitzvos.
Seeing the strings reminds us that we have commandments to fulfil.
Seeing them at a time where we want to do something we shouldn’t, will remind us that we really should not be doing/saying/thinking that.
The reasoning seems simple,
So why then did the Arizal wear his Talis Koton under his clothes?
The reason, explains His chief Talmid R’ Chaim Vital, is because the source of the Talis Koton (meaning the energy creating the Talis Koton, thus the energy we subsequently receive from wearing it) is an internal energy, [Pnimiyus of Netzach, Hod, Yesod of Olam HaYetzira], therefore it works from within the wearer, effecting them in who they are.
To explain: In the dimension of absolute Pnimiyus, what goes on outside of the person has absolutely no affect. At that absolute level seeing Tzitzis, will do nothing for person.
But in that case how will we remember the Mitzvos?
Simple, explains Reb Chaim Vital, by the sheer action of putting/having Tzitzis on our body, the body feels this holy energy, and that causes us automatically to be less inclined to do Aveiros.
In other words, the effect of our Tzitzis it is about the ability of the Tzitzis to affect our body, simply by being on it.
To summarise thus far:
- All agree that a Talis Godol must be worn on top of our clothing. Because 1) We need to see the Tzitzis, and 2) It itself is the physical manifestation of Chitzoniyus, and so the only way it can affect us is by us using our senses – seeing something outside of us that reminds us.
- A Talis Koton on the other hand, is the physical manifestation of Pnimiyus, therefore really, it affects us simply by wearing it. The mere fact that the body has it on, instinctively discourages the body from doing Aveiros.
So hold on a minute.
If that is the case, than why do we today wear our Tzitzis strings outside?
This, the Rebbe explains, is because unfortunately not all of us are able to actually instinctively feel something spiritual, merely because of what we are wearing.
Because, as above, the ability to fully feel our surroundings, is based on how refined our bodies are.
(Note: Everything around us affects us see here. But because Tzitzis needs to affect us to the extent that it alone will withhold us from doing Aveiros the affect has to be very strongly felt).
True, theoretically the body should be refined enough, that it can be reminded of the Mitzvos merely by having Tzitzis on it.
But unfortunately, we are not as refined as we should be, so we need to be practical and have that physical reminder – seeing the strings.
Despite the fact that theoretically it should be unnecessary. Furthermore, despite the fact that it actually is out of place on the outside.
Pnimiyus in the world of Yetzira, belongs in the Pnimyus in the world of Asiya. In the view of the ‘Olamos’ it looks as if the brain is on the outside of the head…
Nevertheless, because Hashem wants action in this world, we need to do what works in this physical mundane world, despite how funny it may look in ‘Olamos Ruchaniyim’. Therefore, if we – at our stage in Avodas Hashem – still need that physical reminder, if we cannot feel the effect of Tzitzis on our body without seeing the strings, than we need to ensure that we keep the strings of our Tzitzis on the outside of our clothes itself, so that we can see them.
(Note: The energy in the Beged of the Tzitzis itself is so high that it is impossible for us to grasp in our physical understanding. For that reason its holiness does not manifest into this physical world. [Which, by the way, is why they can be thrown out and don’t need to be put in Sheimos]. But despite its inability to be felt in this world, it still is part of the Tzitzis, and has a massive effect in the higher realms, hence we can achieve the Pnimiyus effect in a small way by at least wearing the Beged itself under our clothes).
***
For the next two weeks, let us take extra care when changing our Tzitzis and preparing to make a Brocha on them, remember to separate all the strings, and check the knots, strings, and the connection to the Beged.
And as you put on the Tzitzis realise the power of just having that cloth on you.