The Secret of the Holy Letters and the Power of Young Schoolchildren (Tinokot Shel Beis Rabban)

Monday, Parshas Vayigash, Zos Chanukah 5762 - A class for the children of the Talmud Torah

The fire of the Infinite Light (Ohr Ein Sof) enters the world through the holy letters. A fascinating article on how to feel Hashem everywhere, and on the immense power of the teachers of young children who instill the foundations of emunah (faith) and bring the Geulah (Redemption) closer.

Through the holy letters, the fire of the Infinite Light enters. The fire of Hashem enters us exclusively through the letters. This is the secret that Moshe Rabbeinu revealed to the world. The Gemara in Tractate Pesachim states that Avraham called the site of the Holy Temple a "mountain," as it is said, "On the mountain, Hashem will be seen," whereas Yitzchak called it a "field."

"And Yitzchak went out to converse in the field."

When one goes out to the field, into the bosom of nature, and sees the sky, it is easier to feel Hashem. Inside the house, it is difficult to feel Godliness, but when one goes out to the field, they feel it immediately. Yaakov Avinu accomplished that we should be able to feel Godliness even inside the house, whereas Moshe Rabbeinu accomplished that we can feel Hashem anywhere in the world. He ensured that wherever a person is, they can recite Tehillim (Psalms), Mishnayos, or Gemara, and thereby draw Godliness into every place.

Igniting the Heart with the Fire of Faith

The moment a person stops saying the holy letters, they immediately "fly off" and are tossed about, and who knows where they might end up. Therefore, one must always recite Tehillim, speak words of Torah, study the Sfas Emes, or engage in any holy matter. The moment a person utters holy letters from their mouth, it immediately returns them to Godliness and ignites their heart.

This is the secret of the eighth candle of Chanukah, the aspect of "And the house of Yosef shall be a flame." The letters ignite the heart of every person, in every situation in the world. If Hashem brought down such impurity into the world in our generation, it is specifically because this generation is the one that will bring Mashiach. The holy Arizal told Rabbi Chaim Vital that the final generation, which will be at the peak of impurity, is the one that will bring Mashiach. Whoever stands at the peak of impurity and succeeds in bringing emunah into this darkness—they are the ones who will bring the Geulah.

The Power of the Teachers of Young Children

Therefore, the Geulah depends specifically on the children of Israel and the teachers of young children. Regarding the teachers of young children, it is said:

"And the wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who bring the multitudes to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

The pure breath of the young schoolchildren (tinokot shel beis rabban) is on a higher spiritual level than all the tzaddikim and Rebbes, because the teachers instill the blazing fire of holiness into the children.

The Kotzker Rebbe once said: "I will stand up and honor only the one who taught me the Aleph-Beis. Not the one who taught me Gemara, and not the one who taught me Mishnah, but only the one who taught me the Aleph-Beis." The reason for this is that those teachers who teach a child the Aleph-Beis at a tender age are the ones who instill the foundations of emunah within them. According to the emunah instilled in the child now, so will they grow and live until the end of their days, and so will they be able to withstand all tests.

In the merit of this study, we can bring the Geulah. The supernal angels tremble from every single letter uttered by the children, and the Throne of Glory stands upon the blessings that we recite.

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