The Secret of the Cleft of the Rock Revealed Only to Moses and Elijah the

The following daily chizuk (spiritual strengthening) from our teacher, the holy Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), reveals deep layers in the path of Avodas Hashem (service of God), focusing on the secret of "Nikrat HaTzur" (the cleft of the rock) and the laws of Tefillin (phylacteries). The article draws a clear line between the unique spiritual greatness of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our Teacher) and the doubts of Korach, discusses the special conditions that allow for supreme spiritual elevation, and dives into the hidden secrets of the mitzvah (commandment) of Tefillin as they were known to Moses alone.

Entering the Cleft of the Rock

Stripping away the physical body as a way to ascend

The scriptures mention "Nikrat HaTzur" (the cleft of the rock) and state that only Moses and Elijah could enter it, because it requires a total stripping away of the physical body. Rabbi Tzadok of Lublin writes that only one who completely strips away his physicality, similar to Moses and Elijah who fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, is capable of meriting this entrance.

The Secret of "Behold, there is a place with Me"

Fasting and purity: The conditions for entry

"Nikrat HaTzur," described as "Behold, there is a place with Me," is the secret of the cleft of the rock. A person cannot enter the cleft of the rock unless they fast for 40 days and 40 nights. Moshe Rabbeinu did this three times to reach this level.

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Moses's Request

"Mouth to mouth": The limits of perception

Afterward, Moses asks: "What are You doing here?" He yearns to speak "mouth to mouth" ("Mouth to mouth I will speak with him"), a level of reception and perception that is unattainable for any other human being.

Wonders regarding the Mitzvah of Tefillin

The importance of the four parshios

Korach challenges Moses with various questions and tells him: "You don't know how to make Tefillin. Why must exactly four parshios (scriptural sections) be written in the Tefillin? Why aren't the Ten Commandments placed inside the Tefillin housings? And why isn't Tefillin a positive commandment within the Ten Commandments?"

Korach's questions on the choice of sections

Korach had a million questions: Why were these specific verses chosen? Why not include the Song of the Sea or the Song of Deborah? After all, it is written that the prayer of Hannah is considered greater than the Song of the Sea. Korach continues and suggests including other significant passages.

Revealed Wonders of the Torah

Korach refers to Sarah giving birth at age 90 and argues that there are millions of verses that could have been included in the Tefillin. He asks about the choice of verses and placing them "inside the wall" (the leather housing), suggesting they could have been displayed more magnificently, such as on a beautiful glass plate (rather than inside leather housings).

The Depth of Korach's Questions

Reb Noson (Rabbi Nathan of Breslov) states that Korach had a million questions about every single mitzvah (commandment). Only Moses knows how to perform them perfectly. A person cannot reach Moses's level of understanding without the required spiritual readiness.

Details of the Laws of Tefillin

The order of writing: Tefillin vs. a Torah Scroll

Only Moses knows the secret of preparing the Tefillin, including which parshios (sections) to insert, the four housings, the sinews for sewing, and the "missing" letters. Unlike a Sefer Torah (Torah scroll) which can be written out of order, Tefillin must be written "kesidran" (in their proper chronological order) with absolute precision.

The importance of order and precision in Tefillin

Tefillin must be written in order. If any mistake occurs, the parshios (sections) must be hidden away in genizah (sacred storage), and the entire process must start from the beginning. All these halachos (laws) were known to Moshe Rabbeinu alone, and not even to Elijah the Prophet.

Attaining the "Mouth of Moses"

The unique greatness of Moshe Rabbeinu