Bridging The Gap Between The Intellect And Self-Transcendence
A Sign of Divine Approval
Yud-Tes Kislev commemorates the nullification of the capital
sentence against the Alter Rebbe, founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch
chassidic movement, and his liberation from imprisonment in the
year 5559 (1798).
The Alter Rebbe had been arrested by the czarist authorities for
spreading Chassidism throughout Russia, creating a movement which
they perceived as threatening the Czar's authority.
Like every event in the temporal world, the Alter Rebbe's arrest
was a reflection of events taking place in the spiritual realm.
While in prison the Alter Rebbe was visited by the souls of his
predecessors, the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, and his
successor, the Maggid of Mezritch. [1]
When he asked them why he had been arrested, they explained that
his manner of teaching chassidic thought had aroused a kitrug;
i.e., its legitimacy had been challenged in the Heavenly Court.
Before his imprisonment the Alter Rebbe had been teaching Torah's
mystical secrets openly to the masses, and the objection had been
raised that the world was not sufficiently refined to receive
these spiritual truths. This kitrug had resulted in the Alter
Rebbe's arrest.
When the Alter Rebbe heard this explanation, he asked whether
or not he should continue his teaching upon his release.
The Baal Shem Tov explained that if the Alter Rebbe were duly
released this would be a sign of Divine acceptance of his actions
and that he should continue "with greater intensity and power."
Shortly afterwards, the Russian government dropped the charges
against the Alter Rebbe and he was released on Yud-Tes Kislev.
Since then, this date has been commemorated as a major chassidic
holiday, a day from which to draw inspiration. [2]
A Point of Transition
Yud-Tes Kislev marked a turning point in the Alter Rebbe's
approach to teaching.
After his release, he began to deliver longer discourses and
to present chassidic thought within an intellectual framework,
rather than as brief articles of faith.
The Rebbe Rashab, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, held that the
fundamental service of "spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus
outward" began after the Alter Rebbe's release on Yud-Tes
Kislev. [3]
On one occasion, [4] the Rebbe Rashab stated that before Yud-Tes
Kislev, "Chassidus used to scorch the world": its transcendent,
spiritual nature could not be contained within the thought
patterns prevalent in the material world, and in fact,
contradicted them.
From Yud-Tes Kislev onward, however, the Alter Rebbe garbed
his teachings in a form that could be grasped intellectually,
enabling anyone, even a spiritually insensitive person, to
approach and comprehend the Torah's deepest mystical secrets.
The Alter Rebbe named his approach Chabad, an acronym for the
Hebrew words "wisdom, understanding, and knowledge," thereby
highlighting the intellect as a medium for connecting with G-d.
An Extension or a Departure?
At first glance, the Alter Rebbe's approach appears to depart
from the main thrust of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that [5] "G-d desires the heart." [6]
He extolled the simple faith and unreserved commitment of the
common man, and explained that these could establish a deeper and
more powerful bond with G-d than a scholar's endeavors.
The Alter Rebbe's emphasis on the importance of the mind appears
to be a change of course, a retreat from the vitality of the
heart to the reserve of the intellect.
The Alter Rebbe himself saw no contradiction between his
teachings and those of the Baal Shem Tov. On the contrary, he
would refer to himself as the Baal Shem Tov's grandson. [7]
When challenged by R. Baruch of Mezhibuzh, the Baal Shem Tov's
biological grandson, the Alter Rebbe replied, "You may be his
grandson in a physical sense; I am his grandson in a spiritual
sense."
The Alter Rebbe's perception of himself as the spiritual heir
of the Baal Shem Tov sheds light on the connection between Chabad
Chassidism and the Baal Shem Tov.
While the essence of parents is manifested in their children,
children do more than passively receive. They contribute to the
legacy received from their parents, enhancing it with their own
powers.
The Alter Rebbe received the essence of the Baal Shem Tov's
teachings but also contributed to them, extending their scope
to include the realm of intellect as well as the realm of the
heart.
An Expression of the Soul's Infinity
Given the apparent contradiction between head and heart, how can
the spiritual emotions encouraged by the Baal Shem Tov be
reconciled with the intellectual approach of Chabad?
This question can be answered by an analysis of the potentials we
possess within our souls.
Certain of our potentials, such as our intellects and emotions,
are defined and limited.
The soul's essence, however, stands above these and all other
limits, for the soul is "an actual part of G-d," and just as G-d
cannot be defined or limited in any way, neither can our souls.
Accordingly, the soul cannot be reduced to being defined or
identified with any particular human quality.
By the same token, however, this potential cannot be defined as
completely transcending all our other potentials since this, too,
would constitute a limitation of the soul's powers.
The soul must be capable of pervading the entire realm of
conscious human potential, revealing its unlimited power within
this limited context Otherwise, the existence of this limited
framework would appear to be a barrier to the boundless essence
of the soul. [8]
On this basis, we can understand the transition from the
teachings of the Baal Shem Tov to the philosophy of Chabad
Chassidism.
The Baal Shem Tov stirred the essence of the Jewish soul,
revealing a realm of experience beyond the range of our conscious
powers.
Once revealed, however, this transcendent essence of the soul
needs to be internalized and integrated within our conscious
powers as well - and this process begins with our intellectual
faculties.
This was accomplished through the Alter Rebbe's teachings,
especially through the new approach to his teachings that
followed his release on Yud-Tes Kislev.
Above, But Not Beyond
However, the focus of Chabad on intellectual endeavor does not
limit Chassidus to the constraints of human thought.
Instead, it shows how the study and practice of Chassidus can
transform the nature of our thoughts and expand our intellectual
potential to the point where it can relate to essential
G-dliness.
Intellect allows people to grow and communicate.
By developing an intellectual framework for chassidic thought,
the Alter Rebbe made it possible for the Baal Shem Tov's
teachings to permeate the full scope of our personalities and
to be shared with other people.
In light of this, we can understand the choice of oil as a
metaphor for Chassidus.
Oil has two distinctive qualities: it does not mix with any other
liquid and it can penetrate all matter. The same is true of the
teachings of Chabad Chassidism. It reveals the essence of our
souls, the highest of our potentials.
The Alter Rebbe's contribution enables this potential to
influence and affect the functioning of all our powers, and
thus be expressed in every aspect of our lives.
Precipitating the Redemption
With this in mind, we can understand why the coming of the
Redemption is related to the revelation and spreading of
Chassidism. [9]
In the Era of the Redemption, G-d's purpose in the creation
of the world will be revealed. [10] And why did G-d create
the world? - Because He "desired a dwelling in the lower
worlds." [11] It is at home that a person reveals his true self.
Hence, in describing G-d's desire for a dwelling as the purpose
for creation, our Sages implied that He desires that His essence
be revealed. [12]
Furthermore, He desires that this revelation take place "in the
lower worlds," i.e., in our physical world. Hence, it is
important that this revelation be perceived and understood by
man, a critical element of this lower realm.
In the Era of the Redemption, both of these desires will be
realized: G-d's essence will be revealed and that revelation
will pervade the entire creation. In order to hasten those
revelations, we must manifest similar qualities in our present
divine service, for the Torah's rewards are granted "measure for
measure." [13]
On the human level, this means making use of the Baal Shem Tov's
revelation of the essence of the soul, and making use of the
Alter Rebbe's revelation of our ability to internalize this
essence by intellectual effort.
Through these teachings, we and our environment can become
a "dwelling for G-d," and prepare for the extension of that
dwelling throughout the world with the coming of Mashiach.
May this take place in the immediate future.
Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IV, Chai Elul;
Kuntreis Inyanah shel Toras HaChassidus
Footnotes:
- (Back to text) See Beis Rebbe, Vol. I, ch. 16, note 2; see also the
explanation of this concept in Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXX,
p 170ff.
- (Back to text) The Previous Rebbe quotes the Alter Rebbe as saying that
Yud-Tes Kislev "will be established as a festival of
continuing [relevance] among the Jewish people." It is
a day when "thousands of Jewish hearts will be aroused to
teshuvah and heartfelt divine service" (Likkutei
Dibburim; English translation (Kehot, N.Y., 1987), Vol.
I, p 45).
- (Back to text) Toras Shalom, p. 112.
- (Back to text) Ibid., p. 26.
- (Back to text) Sefer HaMaamarim 5711, p. 311.
- (Back to text) Cf. Sanhedrin 106b; Zohar II, 182b.
- (Back to text) See HaTamim, Vol. II, p. 56.
- (Back to text) Similarly, speaking of the essence of G-d's infinite
light, the Avodas HaKodesh (Vol. I, ch. 8) states: "The
Or Ein Sof is the quintessence of all perfection. Just as
it has an infinite dimension, it has a finite dimension.
For were one to presume that it has an infinite
dimension, but no finite dimension, one would detract
from its perfection."
- (Back to text) See the letter of the Baal Shem Tov to his brother-in-
law, R. Gershon Kitover (reproduced in part in Keser Shem
Tov, sec. 1), which teaches that the coming of Mashiach
depends on the dissemination of the wellsprings of
Chassidism to the outermost limits.
- (Back to text) Tanya, ch. 36.
- (Back to text) Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Bechukosai, sec. 3, cited in
Tanya, loc. cit.
- (Back to text) Sefer Mamaarim 5565, Vol. I, p. 489, and other sources.
- (Back to text) Sanhedrin 90a.
