The Power of In-Depth Study: The Path to Illuminating the Face and Breaking the Evil Inclination

Class No. 258 | Cassette 258 Sunday morning, Parshas Re'eh, 19 Menachem Av 5760 in the Yeshiva Monday morning, Parshas Re'eh, 20 Menachem Av 5760 in the Yeshiva, Class 1

In-depth study is not merely a tool for understanding the Torah, but the only way to build the intellect, illuminate the face, and break the evil inclination. This article explains why one cannot suffice with superficial study or spiritual remedies alone, and why uprooting bad character traits requires true toil in Torah.

Reb Noson explains based on Torah 101 in Likutey Moharan, on the verse: "For in Yah, Hashem is the Rock of worlds," that all the oppressors and enemies a person faces, whether spiritually or physically, stem from the fact that he still has the murky blood of desires. The only way to subdue them is through the Torah, which is alluded to in the letters Yud and Hei.

The letter Yud symbolizes the intellect, in-depth study (iyun), while the letter Hei symbolizes the study of breadth (bekius). There are those who only study bekius, and this is a terrible mistake. We need both bekius and iyun. Studying bekius alone is like reciting Tehillim (Psalms)—it is important, but it does not bring the complete benefit against the evil inclination. To truly break the evil inclination, one must study in-depth. Only in-depth study develops the intellect, expands the mind, and builds a person's daas (knowledge), which is akin to the building of the Holy Temple.

What Makes a Person a "Human Being"?

A person is called an "Adam" (human being) only through studying Torah in-depth. Whoever does not study Gemara in-depth does not yet possess the inner essence of an "Adam." Even the nations of the world study Tanach (the Hebrew Bible), and there are those among them who also study Gemara, but they lack the inner intellect and the Divine light of the Torah.

It is told that Rabbi Yonasan Eybeschutz zt"l once entered the yeshiva study hall and noticed a person sitting in the corner, studying without swaying. It was a brilliant priest who had decided to sit and study in the yeshiva for two years. When they tested him on a page of Gemara, he knew it perfectly, but Rabbi Yonasan saw that he was not swaying during his learning and immediately expelled him. He told him, "You are a non-Jew, you are not a Jew." A non-Jew can study Gemara, but the warmth and the Divine light contained within it—he will never be able to attain.

We receive the Divine intellect from the Torah. Therefore, it is said, "You are called Adam"—the title "Adam" belongs only to one who merits to illuminate himself with the intellect of the Torah.

A Person's Wisdom Illuminates His Face

When a person does not study Gemara in-depth, he walks around with a darkened face. His face reflects darkness and gloom. In contrast, the intellect of the Torah polishes the face like a mirror. Regarding this, it is said: "A person's wisdom illuminates his face."

A person's wisdom refers to the Gemara. The intellect of the Gemara illuminates the face to such an extent that anyone who looks at the face of such a person is immediately awakened to teshuvah (repentance), fulfilling the verse, "Those who fear You will see me and rejoice." To merit "Anpin Nehirin" (a shining, illuminated face), a person must study the seventy facets of the Torah—Rashi, Tosafos, Ramban, Rashba, and all the works of the Rishonim and Acharonim (early and later commentators).

True Leadership Begins with Torah Study

In Likutey Halachos (Yoreh Deah, 160), it is explained that it is an absolute obligation to know how to read the volumes of the Talmud with all the commentators: the Rif, the Rosh, the Rambam, the Tur, and the Shulchan Aruch. Unfortunately, today there are those who seek to be leaders and spiritual influencers, yet they do not speak from a foundation of studying Gemara and Halacha. They speak about philosophy, abstract ideas, and meditations, but in reality, they ignore the very foundation of Torah study.

Reb Noson writes (Even HaEzer, Hilchos Yibum 3) that the entire leadership of the world depends solely on Torah study. The letters of the chiddushim (Torah novellae) that a person utters from his mouth with awe and love—these are what guide and direct all of reality. Whoever wishes to lead others must first know how to lead himself, and this is impossible without deep Torah study and proper prayer.

Self-Work: You Cannot Change at the Push of a Button

Every person has seventy bad character traits, seventy bonfires of foreign fire. Instead of the fire of Torah, he has the fire of desires; instead of yishuv hadaas (peace of mind), he has laziness. He is submerged in the "treacherous waters" of the desires that wash over him. A person can be a Breslov Chassid for many years and not even realize that he needs to extract himself from this state.

One must understand: Uprooting bad character traits does not happen at the push of a button, nor does it happen merely by traveling to Uman. The journey to the tzaddik is a blessing; one receives a spark and Siyata Dishmaya (Heavenly assistance) there, but the tzaddik will not do the work for you!

There are people who think that if they fly to Uman, they will return completely cleansed of their bad traits. These are illusions that lead to spiritual downfalls. Rebbe Nachman explicitly said, "I do not do the work for you." You need to work on your character traits, on guarding your eyes, and on attaining humility and lowliness.

It is told of the Chassid, Rabbi Meir Blecher, that when he would arrive in Uman for Rosh Hashanah, he would sit for three consecutive days and study the entire work of the "Bayis Chadash" (the Bach) on the Shulchan Aruch, and only afterward would he go up to the holy Tziyon (gravesite). In contrast, there are people who go up to the Tziyon empty of substance, where the main thing for them is simply being able to say, "I was in Uman."

The mind and wisdom do not become illuminated merely by the act of traveling. The secret of the journey to Uman is a spiritual remedy and an atonement for sins, but the mind is developed only through toil in Torah. To break free from bad character traits, a person must sit and study Gemara in-depth, because only the light of the Torah can subdue the darkness.

Part 1 of 3 — Lesson No. 258

Next Part ←

All parts: Part 1 (current) | Part 2 | Part 3