Nachal novea; makor chochma -
A flowing river; the source of wisdom (Mish. 18:4)
Rav Noson, the main student of Rabbi Nachman, points out that the common thread which connects the Hebrew month of Elul (which begins thirty days prior to the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana), Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Festival of booths), and the concluding holiday of this period, Shemini Atzeret is the recital of Psalm 27 on all of these occasions. The theme of this Psalm, as illuminated by verse four, "One thing I (King David) request of Hashem (G-d), [only] that [thing] shall I seek: that I may sit in the House of Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of Hashem, and to meditate in His Sanctuary" (Psalms 27:4), alludes to the main purpose and goal of all of the observances, practices and rectifications of the above mentioned occasions--to activate the chosum d'k'dusha (seal of holiness). The chosum d'k'dusha works much like a spiritual vacuum cleaner, gathering lost souls that have fallen away to the realm of holiness. The spiritual energies released from the rectified chosum d'k'dusha influence estranged Jews to return to Hashem, and trigger those Gentiles who are predestined to enter the realm of holiness through converting to Judaism, in fulfillment of the verse, "And if you bring forth the precious [lost souls] from the vile." (Jeremiah 15:19) The spiritual power of the chosum d'k'dusha to accomplish these things is derived from the spiritual energies of faith. The spiritual energies of faith are created when the Jews gather together during the above mentioned holidays in group prayer. Those energies of faith which are unleashed through the group prayers are, in turn, derived from the spiritual energies of the Torah which are created through the Torah study of true Tzaddikim with their inner circle of holy students. Such Torah study is the true definition of "sitting in the House of Hashem" (and is the origin of the term "Yeshiva" -- study hall -- from the Hebrew 'to sit'). Spiritual connection to this holy convocation is what we aspire to, as the verse says, "I (King David) rejoiced when they said to me, "To the House of Hashem let us go."' (Psalms 122:1)
Conversely, it is incumbent upon the students and all those who seek
Hashem and pity their eternal souls to travel from place to place until
they stumble upon the House of Hashem. This is why, during this time of
year, we recite the phrase, "May I dwell [sit] in the House of Hashem
all the days of my life." (Psalms 27:4) The ensuing verse applies to
those seekers who have not as yet discovered the House of Hashem, "For
He (Hashem) will hide me in His booth (Sukkah) on the day of evil."
(Psalms 27:5) As long as one has not discovered the truth of Hashem
through Torah study in the House of Hashem, his days are
considered to be full of evil and misfortune, because he has not truly
experienced the sweet taste of Divine intimacy, as the verse says, "Is
it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come
upon me?" (Deut. 31:17) [Note: A clear and true perception of Hashem
and His ways is a very high level, which goes far beyond a superficial
understanding and relatively unenthusiastic practice of ritual. It is a
level on which one's behavior reflects an almost tangible awareness of
Hashem's Presence in all of his daily activities -- an intimate and
enthusiastic relationship with Hashem. One can attain such a level only
through one's association with a mentor who himself is on such a level
and who reflects and incorporates part of the image of his Creator].
The verse mentions that Ya'akov first built a house in order to draw
forth the spiritual energies of the holy Torah into the world through
his intensive Torah study in the House of Hashem. Ya'akov soon realized
that this practice was insufficient for the masses. Only a limited
number of individuals could be inculcated with faith from the recesses
of the remote study hall. Ya'akov then realized that in order to get
more people into the House of Hashem, which is the most effective way
for those on the outside to connect themselves to Hashem, he had to
personally go outside to bring the masses in, which related to the
aspect of the Sukkah. Ya'akov named the place Sukkot to emphasize and
indicate that the only way to build the House of Hashem is through the
aspect of the Sukkah, as the verse says, "Sacred stones are scattered at
every street comer!" (Lam. 4:1) The "sacred stones" refers to the
estranged souls which "are scattered at every street corner". That is
where the Tzaddikim must find them, in order to use them as the building
blocks for the House of Hashem.
Rabbi Nachman provides an additional reason why we read the beginning of
the Torah at the very time we the read its conclusion. This world is
compared to a house, as indicative by the very first letter of
the Torah, the section which recounts the creation of the world. As
mentioned above, the first letter or the Torah is the Hebrew letter
bayt, which is associated with the word for house bayit.
The letters of the very first word in the Torah, beraishit
can be arranged to spell the two words rosh bayit, the leader or
head of the house, referring to the leading Tzaddik of the generation.
This indicates that all of the houses and institutions of the Jews are
sustained through the rosh bayit, the leading Tzaddik. The last
words of the Torah "...before the eyes of all Israel." (Deut 34:12)
are connected to the beginning of the Torah, "In the beginning ..."
(Genesis1:1) which is why they are read together on Simchat Torah. Their
connection teaches that the rosh bayit, the leading Tzaddik,
opens the spiritual eyes of all Israel so they become more sensitive to
perfecting their characters (2 Lekutai MoHaran 67), which is to
emphasize the central role and importance the Tzaddik has in bringing
the masses closer to Hashem. This means that the leading Tzaddik has
the ability to inculcate the world with his spiritual energies of
faith. May Hashem guide us to the House of Hashem and reveal to us
the rosh bayit who will help us perfect our faith. Amen!
Special Appeal:
One is held accountable to utilize the power of one's authority and
influence in the service of Hashem. Due to the current perilous
situation in Israel we appeal to all Jews to exert their awesome power,
and recite at least one Psalm daily to enlist Hashem's help, as the
Talmud says, "Upon whom can we rely? Upon our Father Who is in Heaven!"
(Talmud: Sotah 49a)
In the town of Ponivezh, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahanneman arranged for the
burial of boxes of old torn holy books and Torah scrolls. The members of
the community arrived with bowed heads a solemn demeanor, as is
customary at these occasions. But to the utter astonishment of the
assemblage, Rav Kahanneman requested that the people sing as they would
at the dedication of a new Torah scroll. After burying the holy works,
the Rav delivered an inspiring speech, explaining this unusual practice.
"You must be wondering why we rejoiced at this occasion? Let me first
give you an analogy. Image children playing, running and jumping,
falling and getting up and falling again, until their shoes and clothing
are torn. When these children return home, their mother is upset. Torn
shoes! Ripped clothing! What a waste! Does this situation call for tears
or joy? There are, unfortunately, parents who buy clothing and shoes for
their children, and the garments continue to look new. Why? Because
their children are crippled and are confined to their beds -- children
who are unable to run around and rip their clothing during play. So,
which mother should be sad the mother whose child's garments are ripped
or the mother whose child's clothes always look brand new? We have a
similar situation here today. Several years ago, the members of our
community bought all sorts of holy books. Over time these were used and
handled, studied from and prayed out of, until the pages were torn and
the books began to fall apart and they reached the point where they had
to be buried. What joy! These holy books have helped Israel fulfill
Hashem's will. Therefore, we must not be sad and mournful, but joyful.
Let us rejoice, and let us pray that we will have the privilege of
tearing many more holy books through constant use.FINDING THE "HOUSE OF
HASHEM"SUKKAH: THE WEAPON AGAINST THE PREVENT ATIVE FORCES
HOLINESS MUST BE BROUGHT OUT TO THE MASSES
SHEMINI ATZERET: INCULCATING THE YEAR WITH FAITH
Through sitting in the House of Hashem, one can come to achieve Hashem's
purpose...