The Depth of Serving Hashem in the Teachings of the Baal HaTanya: Enthusiasm, Crying Out, and Devotion
Class No. 181 | * Wednesday, Parashas Tetzaveh, Eve of 10 Adar 5759 - Class in Pardes Katz
A fascinating class on the firm demand of the Baal HaTanya to invest time and effort in serving Hashem. The Rav (Rabbi Berland shlit"a) explains why true tzaddikim demand internal spiritual work and Torah study from their followers, and do not settle for merely distributing blessings.
It is finalized and decreed at the very last second of the end of the day. In Heaven, they think all is lost, and suddenly a Jew stands before his Creator with deep intention, gives charity, and shows mercy to someone. For this act alone, it is worthwhile to recreate the day anew, at the very last second when the day is coming to a close. This man of loving-kindness gives the gift of a new day. It is not at all a simple matter that there is a new day; every day is created anew through the morning prayers and Torah study. If not, the day can become corrupted. Children fall and get hurt, and people run to emergency rooms. Hashem does not want to punish parents who study Torah, but when intention and effort are lacking, the spiritual protection is compromised.
The Warning of the Baal HaTanya: Do Not Rush
The Baal HaTanya brings a severe warning in Igeres HaKodesh (the Holy Epistle), demanding that one dedicate no less than an hour and a half to the morning prayers. He establishes that under no circumstances should a person who rushes and shortens this time be allowed to lead the prayers at the amud (cantor's podium). Hashem waits to see who will fulfill this guidance. This is what the Baal HaTanya writes in Chapter 1 of Igeres HaKodesh:
"And so, now I add... a double request, laid out and spread before all of our fellowship, both near and far, to uphold that on all weekdays, those who do not have time should not step before the ark to lead the prayers."
Businessmen who have no free time, the Baal HaTanya requests, should not approach the ark at all. Only those who can prolong their prayers for about an hour and a half, no less. On weekdays, people rush to the kollel or to work, but on Shabbos and Yom Tov, one must prolong the prayers as much as possible. Shabbos is entirely song, a day of melodies. On Shabbos, one must extend their prayers with deep intention, with heart and soul to Hashem, with even greater strength and vigor. The six days of action are a preparation for Shabbos, but the seventh day is entirely for Hashem.
Spies in the Shtiebels (Small Synagogues)
The Baal HaTanya does not settle for a letter alone. He warns that he is going to secretly send "spies" to all the minyanim (prayer quorums) of our fellowship. He announces that everyone must know that in every shtiebel (small synagogue), there is someone watching and reporting on anyone who has the ability to prolong and delve into his spiritual work but is lazy.
He warns that whoever does not prolong their prayers will be judged with distancing: "I will distance all of these people... and when they come here to hear the words of the Living God, they will not be allowed to enter." Whoever does not know how to prolong and invest in their prayers will not be able to enter to hear sermons and words of Torah from the Rebbe.
Not a Health Clinic for Distributing Blessings
In Chapter 22 of Igeres HaKodesh, the Baal HaTanya turns to the Chassidim with immense pain and seeks to uproot a mistaken perception:
"My beloved brothers and friends, I speak to you with hidden love and open rebuke, please go..."
He begs the Chassidim to stop coming solely to receive blessings. What is this place, a health clinic? A distribution center for blessings? One comes to the Rebbe to serve Hashem, to hear the words of the Living God, not to receive blessings. A person needs to ask Hashem directly, recite a chapter of Tehillim (Psalms), and shed a few tears, and through this, he will have the blessing. The home where a person eats and drinks in holiness is a blessed home.
Where have we heard of such a thing among the Rishonim (early commentators) and Acharonim (later commentators)? Did people stand in line by the Rashba, the Ramban, the Beis Yosef, or the Rema to receive blessings? People traveled to them to hear their novel Torah insights! Even among the Tanna'im and Amora'im (sages of the Mishnah and Talmud), we do not find that people stood in lines to receive blessings, except by Shmuel HaNavi (Samuel the Prophet), which was an extraordinary exception in all generations.
Renewing the Cry of the Soul
The Baal HaTanya continues and writes out of pain about the fact that people stopped serving Hashem with enthusiasm and crying out:
"Due to the magnitude of my burdens that have surrounded me together and encircled me like water all day and all night, never silent, I cannot express all that is in my heart."
He testifies that he cannot bear the quiet and silence that have taken over. Once, the spiritual work of Chassidus was done with cries reaching the heart of Heaven, voices that would pierce the skies. Chassidim would stand for long hours, roaring in the fields and crying out to the heart of Heaven. Today, he laments, everyone whispers into their siddur (prayer book) and falls asleep.
What is Chassidus? To serve Hashem with enthusiasm, with strength, with a loud voice! The Baal HaTanya seeks to renew the spiritual work with a loud voice, to strengthen oneself greatly with all might and power against all those who prevent and interfere, from within and without, with a strong hand. For the cry is above wisdom and understanding; the cry of the soul to Hashem is above everything.
Part 2 of 2 — Lesson No. 181
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