260728.Vaetchanan v001

260728.Vaetchanan v001

Vaetchanan: Verse 1

"And I besought Hashem at that time, saying, Adonai Elohim, You began to show Your servant" (Devarim 3:23-24). Rabbi Yosi opened with, "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to Hashem" (Yeshayah 38:2). Come and see how powerful is the force of the Torah and how superior it is to anything else. For whoever is occupied with the Torah does not fear the higher or lower beings, nor fear evil incidents in the work, because he is attached to the Tree of Life, WHICH IS THE TORAH, and eats from it daily.

Vaetchanan: Verse 2

For the Torah teaches man to walk the path of truth and gives him counsel how to repent before his Master. Even when he is sentenced to death, everything is repealed and gone from him, not to rest upon him. Therefore he should be occupied with the Torah day and night and not move from it. This is the meaning of, "but you shall meditate therein day and night" (Yehoshua 1:8). If he removed the Torah from himself or separates from it, it is as if he separated from life.

Vaetchanan: Verse 3

Come and see, there is advice for man. When he climbs into his bed at night, he should accept upon himself the yoke of the kingdom of heaven wholeheartedly and hasten to give Him the deposit of his Nefesh. It was explained that this is since every man tastes AT NIGHT the taste of death, because the tree of death rests upon the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And all the spirits of people come out, rise and hide in it, IN MALCHUT. Since they are GIVEN as a deposit, they all return LATER to their place.

Vaetchanan: Verse 4

Come and see, when the north wind awakens at midnight, the crier comes out and the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to the Garden of Eden to be delighted in the spirits of the righteous, and all the members of the Queen's household and all the members of the chamber are roused to praise the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. Then the deposits of the spirits handed to her, TO MALCHUT, are all returned to their owners. Most people awaken from their sleep at that time, and their deposits are returned to them all.

Vaetchanan: Verse 5

The members of the highest chamber, WHO SERVE HASHEM, take resolve and awaken to be occupied with the praises of the Torah. They join the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, until daylight. When morning comes, he, together with all the members of the King's chamber, comes to the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. They are called the children of the King and Queen. This was already explained.

Vaetchanan: Verse 6

When morning comes, one should clean himself in every respect, THE CLEANLINESS OF BOTH BODY AND SOUL, put on his arms, NAMELY THE TZITZIT AND TEFILIN, and endeavor by the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN, since at night he endeavored by the Queen. Now IN THE MORNING he comes with the Queen to join her to the King.

Vaetchanan: Verse 7

He comes to the synagogue, cleanses himself by reciting the offerings, and sings the praises of King David. Fastened with Tefilin on his head and Tzitzit at the corners of his garment, he recites "A praise of David" (Tehilim 145). It was explained that he who prays before his Master should stand when praying like the supernal angels and join those who are called 'those who stand by,' as it is written, "I will give you access among these who stand by" (Zecharyah 3:7). IT BEHOOVES HIM to concentrate his will before his Master and submit his petition.

Vaetchanan: Verse 8

Come and see, when man rises at midnight from his bed to be occupied with the Torah, a crier announces over him, saying, "Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem, who stand by night in the house of Hashem" (Tehilim 134:1). Now IN THE MORNING, when he stands in prayer before his Master, the crier proclaims about him saying, "I will give you access among these who stand by."