The Secret of Humility and Sweetening the Judgments: The Power of the Tzaddik to Bring Down Abundance to the World

Lesson No. 33 | Morning Lessons in the Yeshiva, Monday Morning, Parashas Masei, 26 Tammuz 5755

An in-depth article on the connection between Torah study, the Sefirah (Divine emanation) of Malchus (Kingship), and humility. Through the stories of Yerovam ben Nevat, Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, it is explained how the tzaddik, through true lowliness and the acceptance of suffering, sweetens the judgments, performs Yichudim (spiritual unifications), and brings down abundance and Geulah (Redemption) to the Jewish people.

A person who studies Torah will be able to resurrect the dead. Sometimes a person says, "I haven't progressed; nothing has come of me." The reason for this is a lack of study. Sit and learn! How hard is it to learn Yalkut Shimoni or Zohar Chadash? The Zohar contains beautiful stories and wonderful commentary, such as "HaSulam." In the past, people would study the Zohar with deveikus (deep attachment to Hashem) and enthusiasm, even if they did not understand every word, and rivers of tears would flow from their eyes. A person must understand what he is reading, and if he does not understand the first line, he will not be able to read the second line. For this reason, they did us a favor and divided the commentaries so that we can learn and understand.

There is a wonderful commentary on the Zohar called "Turei Zahav." What are "Turei Zahav" (Rows of Gold)? The commentary explains that this is the secret of the connection between the Written Torah and the Oral Torah, between Chochmah Ila'ah (Supernal Wisdom) and Chochmah Tata'ah (Lower Wisdom). Why does it speak of two rows? In order to connect the Supernal Wisdom with the Sefirah of Malchus.

All of our spiritual work is to draw the Wisdom down into Malchus, and Malchus is, first and foremost, lowliness and humility. In all the Sefiros (Divine emanations), there is a danger of self-deception and arrogance—a person can take pride in his Chesed (loving-kindness), in Gevurah (strength/discipline), or in Tiferes (harmony/truth). Even in Yesod (Foundation, representing purity) there can be arrogance, as was the case with Yerovam ben Nevat.

A Spark of Mashiach ben Yosef

Yerovam ben Nevat was on the level of a "new garment" without any flaw, above the Sefirah of Yesod. Hashem grabbed him by his garment and said to him, "Repent." Yerovam was a spark of Yosef HaTzaddik. The holy Arizal explains the verse spoken to the wife of Yerovam by the prophet Achiyah HaShiloni:

"And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him"

The intention here refers to Mashiach ben Yosef, for whom the entire land will mourn with a singular lamentation. Mashiach ben Yosef is destined to be a reincarnation of Yerovam ben Nevat himself, who will come at the end to complete the tikkunim (spiritual rectifications). In order to achieve this, one must draw the Supernal Wisdom down into Malchus, because a person cannot be truly humble without Da'as (Divine knowledge) and lowliness.

The Power of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi

Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz explains that this was the power of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi. The Gemara in Tractates Avodah Zarah and Bava Metzia relates that Antoninus, the Roman Emperor, dug a tunnel from his house to reach Rebbe (Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi). He would lie on the floor, serve Rebbe, and feed him and give him to drink. When Rebbe wanted to get into his bed, Antoninus would bend down and say, "Step on me." When Rebbe refused, Antoninus said to him, "Who will make me a mattress beneath you in the World to Come? I want to merit being beneath you in the World to Come."

The Gemara relates concerning Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Elazar, that in their merit, no person died before his time. The holy Arizal writes in Sefer HaLikutim regarding the verse in the Book of Yonah:

"What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call upon your God!"

When the Jewish people are in distress, suffering, and facing terrible decrees, a Heavenly voice emerges from above and asks the tzaddik: "What do you mean, you sleeper? Nineveh is overturning, the Land of Israel is overturning, and you feel nothing?" Rebbe Nachman explains that when there is a lack of Yichud (spiritual unification) between Zeir Anpin (the emotional attributes) and Malchus (Kingship), there are harsh decrees. Hashem brings very lofty souls down to the world, and the tzaddik is required to perform the Yichudim (unifications) in order to save the entirety of Israel, so that people will not have to die in sanctification of Hashem's Name. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai performed immense Yichudim, to the point that no person passed away before his time in his generation.

Sweetening the Judgments through Humility and Suffering

Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi also wanted to reach the spiritual level of Rabbi Elazar, and therefore he took upon himself terrible suffering. Out of sheer pain, the sound of his cries could be heard from a distance of three miles. Rebbe's horse-keeper was wealthier than Shapur Malka, the King of Persia. When Rebbe would begin to cry out, they would feed the horses so that their neighing would cover his voice, yet Rebbe's cries overpowered the noise of the horses, and even the seafarers heard his voice.

During those years of suffering, even though no rain fell, the earth was completely saturated with water up to the surface. If they uprooted a radish or a potato from the ground, the hole would immediately fill with water. Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz explains that Rebbe merited all of this solely in the merit of his humility, as it is known that "when Rebbe died, humility ceased."

One who is on the level of "Ayin" (absolute self-nullification) can sweeten the judgments and bring down immense abundance to the generation, even without clouds and without rain. Moshe Rabbeinu, who possessed perfect humility—"very humble, more than any man"—brought down Manna from heaven and brought the Clouds of Glory that defeated all the snakes and scorpions. Whoever merits this humility of Moshe Rabbeinu will certainly be able to bring the complete Geulah (Redemption) to the Jewish people, speedily in our days, Amen.

Part 3 of 4 — Lesson No. 33

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