The Secret of Derech Eretz: Transforming the Body into the Light of the Sun

Lesson No. 270 | * Sunday, Parashas Noach, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5761 - Scholarship distribution party for those tested on Gemara tractates by heart at the "Shaarei Torah" Yeshiva

A profound discourse explaining the immense virtue of the trait of "Derech Eretz" (proper conduct and respect) which preceded the Tree of Life. Through the story of our matriarch Sarah, who illuminated Egypt, and the wondrous conduct of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, it is revealed how humility and lowliness are the key to transforming the material body into a spiritual vessel that shines like the sun.

A great foundation in the teachings of Breslov, as explained by Rebbe Nachman, is the concept of Derech Eretz. The Rebbe taught such a level of Derech Eretz that no other Rebbe or Admor was able to instill in his chassidim. Rebbe Nachman said that kings and emperors could send their sons to him in order to learn Derech Eretz.

The Sages teach us:

"Derech Eretz preceded the Torah" (Tanna D'Vei Eliyahu Rabbah, Chapter 1).

Adam HaRishon (the First Man) lost this Derech Eretz. From the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, he became so confused that he no longer knew how to distinguish between good and evil. Consequently, he was banished from the Garden of Eden, as it is written:

"So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the Tree of Life" (Bereishis 3:24).

This "way" (derech), guarded by the cherubim, is the Derech Eretz that preceded the Tree of Life. The entire reason a person comes into this world is to learn Derech Eretz, and the entire Torah was given to teach us Derech Eretz.

Eating Before a King

A person who possesses Derech Eretz does not push ahead and does not force the hour (try to prematurely force outcomes). He believes there is no need for this. Therefore, for example, it is forbidden to eat before prayer. Hashem sustains the entire world with grace, loving-kindness, and mercy, and gives bread to all flesh as a free gift.

When one merits to eat, they must eat with Derech Eretz. A person should eat as if he is sitting before a king, with royal conduct, even when he is sitting and eating all alone in his innermost chambers.

It is forbidden for a person to gluttonously devour, snatch, or eat in a state of confusion like Esav, who said, "Pour into me, now, some of that very red stuff." A person must eat slowly and with wonderful yishuv hadaas (peace of mind), as if exalted ministers are sitting around him in a royal palace.

To Shine Like the Sun

Our spiritual work is to transform the Tree of Knowledge into the Tree of Life. We received a body that desires lusts, but this body is not you. This is a body that became corrupted after the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, like a person clothed in evil spirits. The goal is to transform our body into "three hundred and seventy myriads of lights" (supernal lights).

We find this with our matriarch Sarah. The holy Zohar relates that when Avraham and Sarah went down to Egypt, Avraham placed Sarah inside a chest. When the Egyptians opened the chest, the entire land of Egypt gleamed from her light. They thought that perhaps there was a diamond in the chest; they took it out and put it back in several times, searching for hidden rays illuminating the land.

Finally, they realized that the light was actually bursting forth from her. Sarah merited to completely transform her body, to the point that the body itself shone like the sun. This is our destiny: to shine like the sun, and to know that the material body which chases after lusts is not our true body.

Humility and Lowliness: The Secret of the Kadkod Stones

Derech Eretz is harder to attain and even higher than the Tree of Life. Derech Eretz means humility and lowliness—not chasing after things and not pushing ahead. We see a clear example of this in the conduct of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, in the secret of the verse:

"And I will make your windows of rubies (kadkod)" (Yeshayahu 54:12).

The Midrash tells of a ship that was about to sink in the great sea. Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) revealed himself to a certain child on the ship and told him, "If you go on my mission to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and give him kadkod stones, I will save the ship in your merit." The child wondered how he could possibly approach Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, who was the leader of the generation, the Rosh Yeshiva in Lod, and surrounded by thousands of students.

Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) told him: "Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi never said 'no' in his life. He is at the pinnacle of humility and lowliness. Wherever he is taken, he goes."

The child came to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and asked him to accompany him outside the city to reveal a secret to him. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi did not ask any questions. He followed him a distance of three mil (miles) to a cave outside the city, a dangerous place filled with robbers. When they reached the cave, the child moved the stones, and a tremendous light illuminated the entire city of Lod as if it were midday, until the stones were swallowed into the earth out of sheer awe.

This is the conduct of true derech eretz (proper behavior) — absolute humility, nullification of one's own will, and walking in temimus (pure simplicity). This is the hardest spiritual work of all, yet it is precisely this that opens the door to all miracles and wonders.

Part 1 of 2 — Lesson No. 270

Next Part ←

All parts: Part 1 (current) | Part 2