The Secret of Drawing Down Chassadim: The Power of Self-Nullification in the Home and on Simchas Torah
Lesson No. 113 | Cassette 113 Sunday Morning, 11 Tishrei 5758 - Lesson at the Yeshiva in the Old City Tuesday, Parshas Shoftim, 30 Menachem Av, First Day of Rosh Chodesh Elul 5757 - Opening Lesson at the Breslov Kollel for Young Men (Continued from 112)
This article reveals the deep connection between the days of the festival of Sukkos and Simchas Torah and the trait of bitul (self-nullification), particularly a person's self-nullification within his home and toward his wife. Through the secrets of the gematria (numerical value) of Moshe Rabbeinu and the Divine Name of M"H (45), it is explained how the dancing and joy work to sweeten all the harsh judgments and draw down immense chassadim (loving-kindnesses) for the entire year.
The Order of Drawing Down the Chassadim
Reb Nosson explains (in Likutey Halachos) that on Hoshana Rabbah, we draw down the chassadim. During the four days between Yom Kippur and the festival of Sukkos, the chassadim are drawn down in ascending order: today, the chesed of Hod; tomorrow, the chesed of Netzach; the day after, the chesed of Tiferes; and on the fourth day, the chesed of Gevurah, until the day of Sukkos arrives, when the chesed of Chesed will illuminate. During these days, we draw down all the lights of the "reshimu" (spiritual impression) from the Seven Shepherds.
The Pinnacle of Self-Nullification: Between Husband and Wife
The drawing down of all the chassadim is accomplished through the trait of bitul (self-nullification), and the primary bitul is revealed between a husband and his wife. When a person gets married, he should not expect that his wife will only serve and prepare things for him. On the contrary, he is the one who should prepare the cup of tea, fry the omelet, and cut the salad. When he returns at eight in the evening from the kollel, he goes and buys the bread from the grocery store.
This is the highest possible thing. Through this self-nullification within the home, a person merits reaching all the levels of true bitul. All the worries and burdens that a person endures become a means of self-nullification to the tzaddik, and through them, he merits reaching the highest spiritual levels.
The Secret of the Gematria of Moshe Rabbeinu
King Solomon says in Proverbs:
"The words of the wise are heard in gentleness (b'nachas)."
The word "b'nachas" (בנחת) has a gematria of exactly 450 (Tav-Nun = 450). The "Megaleh Amukos" (in section 112) writes that Moshe Rabbeinu merited ten times the Name of M"H (45 times 10 = 450). Therefore, the name of Moshe, when its letters are spelled out fully (Mem, Shin, Hei), equals exactly 450. The word "luchos" (Tablets) also has a gematria of 450.
Moshe Rabbeinu merited all ten times of the Name of M"H, and this is the secret of bitul. When the tzaddik merits this level of ten times M"H, he draws all the chassadim down to the world, and this light is clothed in the trait of Avraham Avinu, which is the trait of Chesed (loving-kindness).
The Completion of the Lights on the Festival of Sukkos
The Arizal explains the order in which the lights enter during the festival of Sukkos. Initially, the inner lights of chassadim enter from bottom to top (from Hod up to Chesed), and afterward, the surrounding lights (makifim) begin to illuminate from top to bottom. The process reaches its peak on the day of Hoshana Rabbah, when all the chassadim are included in the sefiros of Hod and Yesod.
On Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah, all five chassadim are included in the sefirah of Malchus. Then, the immense chesed of Simchas Torah is drawn down, through which the complete unification is made. On this day, a person can rectify the sin of Adam HaRishon and sweeten all the harsh judgments for the entire year.
Sweetening the Judgments Through the Dancing of Simchas Torah
If a person during these days will only dance, sing, hold the holy book in his hand, and pray word by word—he will be able to sweeten all the harsh judgments. During the seven days of the festival, he can rectify the blemishes of the entire year.
Everything depends on the trait of bitul. When a person is truly nullified, and particularly toward his wife, he can reach immense spiritual levels, even ascending to heaven like Eliyahu HaNavi, as explained in the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and Rebbe Nachman.
Through all these forms of self-nullification, when he reaches the ten nullifications of the secret of the Name of M"H, he merits the illumination of Simchas Torah. The circles and dancing of Simchas Torah are the pinnacle of bitul. Jews dance for hours upon hours, without stopping, during the Hakafos and with immense joy, until all the harsh judgments are completely sweetened. In this way, we will truly merit a year with no harsh judgment whatsoever, but only salvations, and the coming of Mashiach ben David speedily in our days, Amen.
Part 3 of 4 — Lesson No. 113