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Showing posts from March, 2021

Trust is infused in the Torah

  "Prove Me now in this" (Malachi) "Trust in GD forever and ever"(Yishyahu)  One who studies Torah and internalize it's messages will be infused with trust in H'shem. pg456 "The entire Torah , down to its smallest detail was given by GD to Moshe on Sinai." as it says in the Midrash "When the Holy One, blessed be He, appeared on Sinai to give the Torah to Moshe, He related to Moshe Scripture, Mishnah, Halacha and Aggada-even the quetions a student asks his rebbi. Gate Four, Chapter 6 pg 143

Appreciation equals trust

 "Whoever fails to appreciate the Creator's compassion for His creatures, His protection of them, His providence dominion, and control over them will not be confident in Him and will not rely on Him".  pg 465 Nefesh Hachaim  The Zohar teaches that GD's will is the same as GD and Halacha is His Will.  This means if something turns from pure to unpure, kosher to unkosher, permitted or prohibited, it is GD's Will. When one learns Torah, Gemara, Halacha, Mishna.. he is connecting himself to GD.  Gate Four, Chapter 6 pg 143

You owe a debt

 One who asks for advanced payment only does so on products or services he can guarantee.  This would be impossible for a man and the Creator as "He is not even certain that he will be able to pay his old debts much less the new ones, man can meet his obligations ..only by means of the help that GD extends to him". 463 Nefesh Hachaim To make one's Torah study holy and pure he should reflect on his behaviors and confess on his sins before beginning to learn.  His intention in learning should be that it will bring him closer to H'shem  Gate Four Chapter 6 pg 142

He has done it again and again

One would not demand a contract or pledge from someone he was certain would fulfill his obligations even earlier than required and with more than expected.  We have seen the Creator of the World perform this for us again and again with tremendous chesed and kindness.  To ask GD for pledges and guarantees when he has shown us these characteristics is reprehensible.  pg 463 Nefesh Hachaim Yirat Shamayim is the key to gaining and holding on to wisdom and Torah.  The more Yirat Shamayim the more capacity he has for wisdom and understanding.  Gate 4 Chapter 5 141/142

Material gain will never make you happy

 The security in asking H'shem to "provide you in advance with all your needs" so that you will have peace of mind is false.  One never knows what he will face in life and material gain will never give him peace of mind or satisfaction. " The more possessions the more worry" Avos 463 Nefesh Hachaim Yirat Shamayim is the key to wisdom and success in Torah learning.  The more one has fear of Heaven the more wisdom he will retain and succeed in his learning.  Gate Four, Chapter Four pg 141

The portal to Emunah

 A contract is written up between two parties out of fear that one will not be able to hold up his end of the deal, as in the case of impoverishment death, or forfeit.  While this practice may be recommended between two people when it comes to GD none of the above concerns applies.  pg 461 Nefesh Hachaim   Waiting to learn Torah and serve GD until one is engulfed in the love of GD with perfect concentration and intentions is discouraged as it will lead to neglecting one's obligations.  On the other hand "Fear of Heaven is the portal to Emunah, the foundation that the entire world rests on and the root of all the other mitzvot". says, Rebbe Shimon.  Without fear of heaven, one cannot serve GD, attain kedusha, learn Torah, or do mitzvot. "One who lacks the fear of Heaven has nothing at all" Shemos Rabbah. Gater Four Chapter 4 pg 140/141  

Do not asks before its time

 "Just as He (GD) does not demand service from you before its time, so should a sense of shame restrain you from asking (for the granting) of provisions before its time".  We are guilty of asking H'shem for support and security of things we do not have yet, when He has never asked us for service before its time.  pg 461 Nefesh Hachaim Reb Eliezer says: Have the purest of intentions as possible to bring about a Tikkun in the higher worlds for the sake of your Maker.  The important thing of doing a mitzvah is its performance the purrer the intention the greater the tiikkunim is and cherished in the higher worlds.  The purpose of Torah learning is to develop a greater insight and understanding into Halacha Gate Four Chapter 3 pg 139