"For the True Tzaddik, at Every Single Moment of His Life

Presented before you is an article written by our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, a few days ago regarding Torah 76 in Likutey Moharan:

With the help of Heaven, 16th of Cheshvan, 5784

An Article on Torah 76

"And it came to pass after these things, that G-d tested Abraham"

There is Ohr Yashar (Direct Light) and there is Ohr Chozer (Reflected Light). The true tzaddik (righteous person) who merits both Direct Light and Reflected Light does so because he merits the fulfillment of the verse, "My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You." For the true tzaddik is always in a state of thirst and kissufim (intense longing) for Hashem, to the point that he is in danger of being consumed by the intensity of the light and the infinite, endless longing.

The true tzaddik is like those at the Yam Suf (Red Sea) who jumped into the sea and did not look at any meniah (obstacle) or delay. For the true tzaddik, at every single moment of his life, truly practices mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) for Hashem, to be included within Hashem and to completely strip away the physicality of the body. This is as brought in the Zohar (Parshas Vayigash), that Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet), of blessed memory, due to his intense longing for Hashem, ascended in a chariot of fire and horses of fire to Hashem. Out of his great thirst for Hashem, he was completely nullified within Hashem, and there in Gan Eden (Paradise), he completely sheds his physical body. Avraham Avinu (Abraham our Father) also merited this, as he completely stripped away his physicality.

This is the meaning of "Magen Avraham" (Shield of Abraham)—that Abraham merited hispashutus hagashmiyus (the stripping away of physicality). This is achieved through the verses of prayer in the Siddur (prayer book); specifically through them, one merits to completely transcend the physical and to burn like a flaming fire for Hashem.

With the blessing of the Torah,

And with great love,

Eliezer Berland