The Secret of In-Depth Torah Study: The Power to Illuminate the Darkness and Nullify Decrees

Class No. 265 | Wednesday Morning, the 4th of Chol HaMoed Sukkos, 19 Tishrei 5761 at the Wall - Part 2

In order to merit the light of Hashem and escape the dominion of the nations of the world, superficial study is not enough; rather, one must study Torah in-depth (iyun) and with tears and supplications. When we study and turn to the Creator with enthusiasm, song, and joy, we nullify the claim of the nations that "you are thieves" and we illuminate the light of emunah (faith) to the entire world.

A person must connect himself to the wisdom and intellect found within everything, cleaving to them completely. Rebbe Nachman says that we must listen exactly to what he says, not invent "my own private Breslov," but rather follow the path written in Likutey Moharan. A person must look at the intellect of every single thing, until he has no other interest in life besides intellect and wisdom. He must always walk with a Gemara in hand and feel that he has no other taste or purpose in life.

When a person connects himself to the intellect and wisdom found in everything, the intellect illuminates for him like the sun. "The moment a person has this intellect, the light shines for him. He has wisdom and understanding, so he has such a spotlight; he already sees everything and all paths are illuminated for him." He automatically knows all the right advice, understands every second what he needs to do, and knows how to draw closer to Hashem, may He be blessed, through everything. This is the aspect of Yaakov who merited the birthright, the aspect of wisdom, which is the sun that illuminates a person's path in all his ways and prevents him from falling into despair.

The Secret of In-Depth Torah Study

The holy Rebbe Nachman writes in Lesson 101 on the verse:

"For in Yah, Hashem, is the Rock of eternity" (Isaiah 26:4).

The letter Yud symbolizes the intellect, which is in-depth Torah study (iyun), and the letter Hei symbolizes the letters, which is broad Torah study (bekius) (representing the Five Books of the Torah and the five origins of speech in the mouth). The main thing is the intellect of the Torah—to study the Torah with daas (knowledge) and in-depth analysis.

Our Sages, of blessed memory, expounded: "You are called 'Adam' (man), and the idolaters are not called 'Adam'." In the world, there are two forces: the 'seventy luminous faces' and the 'seventy dark faces'. It is impossible to overcome the evil inclination except through in-depth Torah study. If a person studies in-depth, the Torah becomes an elixir of life for him and he merits the 'luminous faces'. But if he does not study in-depth, he falls into the 'dark faces', in the aspect of "He has placed me in darkness like the eternally dead," and from there the nations of the world draw their sustenance.

Escaping the Yoke of the Nations

Every nation has one evil trait in which it is worse than all the others. The moment a person casts off the yoke of Torah, at that very moment the nations of the world rule over us. But when we accept the yoke of Torah—meaning in-depth study, to understand the wisdom of the Torah—we merit that "a man's wisdom illuminates his face." "The moment we study Torah in-depth, we will escape the yoke of the nations. The yoke of government and the yoke of worldly struggles are removed from him, because the subjugation and the lusts of their evil traits are nullified from him."

When our Torah study becomes brilliant and clear, we will merit to rule over all the nations spiritually. All the nations will want the Jews to rule over them and will want to draw sustenance from the light of the Jewish people, as it is stated:

"And nations shall walk by your light, and kings by the brilliance of your shine" (Isaiah 60:3).

This pure and wondrous light is received only through in-depth study. This is the fundamental difference between us and the nations of the world. Non-Jews and priests also study Gemara, but they do not possess the secret of in-depth study. Mere study without in-depth analysis does not extract a person from evil lusts.

Studying with Tears and Supplications

Rebbe Nachman reveals in Lesson 8 the secret of the terrible kelipah (impure husk) of Og, King of Bashan. Any spiritual work that is done without intention and without tears, Og takes it and throws it back at us, wanting to annihilate us with our very own deeds.

Rabbi Nathan explains why the nations of the world shout at us, "You are thieves." Why do they not accept the words of the first Rashi in the Torah, that Hashem created the world and gave us the Land of Israel? The answer is that we ourselves study the Torah and turn to Hashem without weeping, without an hour of Hisbodedus (secluded personal prayer), and without pleading for mercy. "When studying a tractate, the study must be dipped in tears. If not, everything goes to the *Sitra Achra* (the Other Side). Only through studying with tears does one merit the true light."

When there is no perfection in our Torah study, and we do it as a rote, forced, and compulsory act, we are, as it were, robbing and stealing the Torah. Therefore, the nations of the world shout, "You are thieves"—because in truth, there is an aspect of thievery within us regarding our own Torah.

The Power of Songs and Melodies

It is impossible to reveal emunah (faith) to all the inhabitants of the world as long as our Torah study is done by force. If even one of us had true emunah in the innermost chambers, it would spread throughout the entire world, and everyone would shout, "Hashem is God."

The tikkun (rectification) for this is the songs and dances, which are themselves an aspect of supplications. All the songs we sing are verses of supplication, asking to escape the evil inclination and merit the Torah. "We must now sing with the utmost enthusiasm, because without songs and melodies, the Torah is considered stolen in our hands. The songs and dances are the mercy and supplications that draw down the light."

By singing and playing melodies with the utmost enthusiasm until the morning light, we will merit the Torah of truth. Then the entire world will accept the words of Rashi; they will know that the Land belongs to us, and the verse, "And nations shall walk by your light," will be fulfilled. In this merit, we will merit salvation, the complete Geulah (Redemption), the nullification of all harsh decrees, and to see miracles and wonders, with the building of the Holy Temple and the resurrection of the dead, speedily in our days, Amen.

Part 3 of 3 — Lesson No. 265

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