The Power of In-Depth Study: The Secret of the 370 Lights and the Subjugation of Enemies

Lesson No. 259 | Cassette 259 Tuesday morning, Parashas Re'eh, 21 Menachem Av 5760 - at the Yeshiva / Wednesday morning, Parashas Re'eh, 22 Menachem Av 5760 - at the Yeshiva Thursday morning, Parashas Re'eh, 23 Menachem Av 5760 - at the Yeshiva / Monday morning, Parashas Shoftim, 27 Menachem Av 5760 - at the Yeshiva*

In-depth Torah study is the key to meriting a "shining face" and the Shasa Nehorin (the 370 supernal lights of Divine grace), through which one can subdue all evil traits and the nations of the world. This article explains how Avraham Avinu, King Chizkiyahu, and King Shaul won their wars without physical weapons, but solely through the power of their toil in Torah.

"When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh, my tormentors and my foes against me, it is they who stumble and fall" (Tehillim 27:2).

Hashem created the world with the Torah, as it is stated: "For with Yah, Hashem formed the worlds" (Yeshayahu 26:4). The letter Yud symbolizes the intellect, representing in-depth study (iyun), while the letter Hei symbolizes breadth of knowledge (bekius), representing the letters of the Five Books of the Torah. A person must spend most of the day studying in-depth and part of the time studying for breadth, because if he does not study in-depth, he will not understand the breadth of the material either.

The title "Adam" (Man) is truly attributed only to one who studies Torah. One who does not study Torah remains in the fog, existing merely as a shadow. Our Sages expounded on the verse, "And this is the Torah that Moshe set [before the Children of Israel]" (Devarim 4:44): If one merits, it becomes an elixir of life for him; if he does not merit, it becomes a deadly poison for him.

What is this "elixir of life"? It is Anpin Nehirin—a shining face. When a person studies Torah in-depth, he receives a shining face. Conversely, if he only studies for breadth without deep analysis, his face does not yet shine, which is the aspect of Anpin Chashuchin (a darkened face) and a deadly poison. Only through in-depth study does a person fulfill the verse, "A man's wisdom illuminates his face" (Koheles 8:1).

The Secret of the 370 Lights and Subduing Evil Traits

Hashem is called "Kel Rachum V'Chanun" (Almighty, Merciful, and Gracious). The word "Kel" (אֵל) has a numerical value of 185 when its letters are spelled out (Aleph = 111, Lamed = 74). Two times 185 equals 370, which is the secret of the Shasa Nehorin (the 370 supernal lights of Divine grace). Whoever studies Torah in-depth merits to draw these tremendous lights upon himself.

Why do the nations of the world sometimes rule over us? Because we lack in-depth study. When a person casts off the yoke of Torah—which is the yoke of in-depth study—he is immediately burdened with the yoke of the government and the yoke of worldly struggles. The nations draw their sustenance from evil character traits, but a Jew truly has no evil traits. A Jew is far removed from all seventy evil traits, and any flaw in character stems solely from mixing with the nations and learning from their deeds. Only in-depth study extracts a person from the control of the seventy darkened faces and restores to him the 370 shining lights.

Who is a True Son?

The book Binah L'Itim brings the sermon of Emanuel regarding the Talmudic story about Rabbi Bana'ah. Rabbi Bana'ah possessed Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) and merited to see the graves of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs—Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivkah, Yaakov and Leah. However, when he wanted to see Adam HaRishon, a Heavenly voice emerged and said: "You do not have permission to look at the creation of My own hands."

This same Rabbi Bana'ah found himself in mortal danger when he was slandered to the government. The Talmud tells of a man who bequeathed all his assets to one son out of several, but they did not know who the true son was. Rabbi Bana'ah ruled that they should go and strike their father's grave until he revealed to them whom he meant. While the other sons rushed to strike the grave in order to win the massive inheritance, the true son refused. A true Jew is incapable of striking and disgracing his father, because he is far removed from the evil traits of cruelty and greed. The modest ones withdraw their hands, and whoever studies Torah in-depth cleanses himself of every blemish.

Victory in War Without Sword or Spear

How did Avraham Avinu merit to overcome the four kings? And how did King Chizkiyahu overcome Sancheriv, who came against him with a massive army of 2.6 million commanders? The Megaleh Amukos explains that they possessed the power of the 370 lights. Chizkiyahu managed to strike down 185,000 troop commanders merely through one "face" of the Divine Name "Kel" (which equals 185).

Chizkiyahu planted a sword at the door of the study hall and declared: "Anyone who does not engage in Torah study will be pierced by this sword." He did not prepare horses, swords, or spears. He knew that only by accepting the yoke of in-depth Torah study can one remove the yoke of foreign governments.

So too was it in the days of King Shaul. The verse states:

"And it was on the day of battle, that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people... but they were found with Shaul and with Yonasan his son" (Shmuel I 13:22).

The Midrash asks: If there was no sword in the entire Land of Israel, how were they found with Shaul and Yonasan? The answer is that Shaul and Yonasan did not manufacture weapons in secret. They went out to war with complete faith and trust, armed only with Torah study. Merely for the sake of honor, a sword for Shaul and a spear for Yonasan descended to them from Heaven.

It is impossible to subdue the haters and the wicked except through in-depth Torah study. When a person delves into and understands the wisdom of the Torah, he merits a "shining face," and all subjugation, lusts, and evil traits are nullified on their own.

Part 1 of 4 — Lesson No. 259

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