Don’t Say “Water, Water!” - Rebbe Nachman on Truth: Likutey Moharan I, 51 - Part III

Photo (c) Dovid Sears

Translation (bold) and Musings (tentative) by Dovid Sears

To read Part II, click here.

We left off with Rebbe Nachman’s statement that through truthfulness, we may draw God’s Providence upon ourselves, and attain the awareness, in the very midst of this apparently dualistic world, that all is one. Now the Rebbe returns to Rabbi Akiva’s warning to those who would venture into the prophetic mysteries (see Part I) and interprets Rabbi Akiva’s words according to the core ideas of this lesson.

This is [the meaning of] what Rabbi Akiva said: When you reach the stones of pure marble, don’t say, “Water! Water!” As it states, “One who speaks falsehood shall not endure before My eyes” (Psalms 101:7) (Chagigah 14b).

“Stones of pure (tahor) marble (shayish)”—this is the aspect of “after the Act”—i.e., after the act of creation—which is “yesh”—“somethingness,” a word-play on “shayish.”

In this context, “yesh” might also be rendered as “manifestation.” It is a fundamental belief of Judaism that God created the universe ex nihilo, “something (yesh) from nothing (ayin).” Another meaning of “yesh” is ego, which reflects an inner split—an issue to which this lesson alludes is the discussion of duality and non-duality. Rebbe Nachman discusses overcoming the ego through hisbodedus in Likutey Moharan I, 52, which is the very next lesson. Perhaps Reb Noson juxtaposed the two teachings for this reason.

Then it is appropriate to use the term “tahor” (pure), as we have said.

The next few lines make up one long, complex sentence, so hang on:

If you wish that it should be as before the Act [of creation], when it existed in potential, when “father and son were as one,” as indicated by [the phrase]:

“When you reach the stones (avney)”—this is the aspect of “father (av) and son (ben) as one,” which is the aspect of Before Creation, when it was in potential, when everything was one—

That is, the word avney (stones) may be homiletically understood as a combination of av (father) and ben (son), which the Rebbe previously related to Creator and creation…

“Shayish tahor” (“pure marble”) is the aspect of “after the Act,” which is the aspect of manifestation (yeshus) and purification (taharah)—if you wish to bring the “pure marble” (duality) to the “stones” (non-duality)…

“Do not say, ‘Water! Water!’ ” This is falsehood, as explained above. As it states: “One who speaks falsehood shall not endure before My eyes” (Psalms 101:7).

One must overcome the illusion of duality, which masks “True Reality,” which is the Divine Oneness. Then one may be said to “endure before My eyes.”

Through falsehood one deflects God’s Providence from himself, so that he is far from Oneness. However, through truthfulness, God’s Providence rests upon him; through Providence, all is one, as was the case before creation.

That is, through truthfulness one “lives with God,” Who is “One, True, Good, and Holy,” as the Rebbe stated at the beginning of the lesson. 

Therefore, the reward of the World to Come “no eye has seen it—only [that of] God alone’ (Isaiah 64:3; Berakhos 34b). Since everything will be one, there will not be an eye to see—that is, there will not be a subject-object split—only “God alone.”

In the “World to Come,” which is also a way of describing the transcendental plane, Divine Oneness prevails.

In conclusion, Reb Noson adds a paragraph which integrates the key concepts of this lesson:

This is why falsehood damages the eyes. Through falsehood one removes the “eyes” of God and damages the eyes, which are the aspect of Providence, as explained above.

Thus, the removal of Divine Providence, or “God’s eyes,” goes hand-in-hand with damage to the eyes of the person—“both physically and spiritually,” as the Rebbe states in the beginning of this lesson.

For falsehood stems from an estrangement from Oneness; this is where impurity has its grasp—[impurity] which is evil and falsehood. And because of this itself,—i.e., the estrangement from Oneness—by means of falsehood one “damages” Providence and removes God’s watchfulness from himself.

Through Divine Providence, all is one, After Creation is like Before Creation; but through falsehood one “damages” Oneness, since falsehood is distant from Oneness.

That is, the manifestation of Divine Providence and the perception of Oneness are eclipsed.

Thus, one removes Providence through falsehood, and causes a division, God forbid, between After Creation and Before Creation, whence impurity primarily derives. However, through truth, which is the paradigm of “entirely one, entirely good”—as the Rebbe stated earlier (see Part II)—one elicits Divine Providence, and then all is one. For through Providence, After Creation becomes reincorporated in Before Creation.

This is the explanation of “Rabbi Akiva said…” And with this the discourse is integrated well, the beginning with the end, and the end with the beginning, and likewise the middle; understand this well.

The S’fas Emes (Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger), in his droshos on parshas Shoftim, observes that the word “emes (truth)” is made of the first (alef), middle (mem), and last (tav) letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Thus, the very word for truth embodies the principle that truth must be consistent—as Reb Noson suggests here, “the beginning with the end, and the end with the beginning, and likewise the middle.”

With these parting words, Reb Noson points out that like the word “emes,” Rebbe Nachman’s teaching on “emes” is internally consistent. Thus, it intrinsically exemplifies the subject it describes.

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Don’t Say “Water, Water!” - Rebbe Nachman on Truth: Likutey Moharan I, 51 - Part II

Translation (bold) and Musings (tentative) by Dovid Sears

To read Part I, click here.

Rebbe Nachman now turns to discuss the process of purification (taharah) and the restoration of the lost unity that prevailed prior to creation—right here in this world. The key to this is eliciting Divine Providence, which is accomplished through truthfulness.

Before creation, when creation existed in potentiality (so to speak), before it came forth into actuality, everything was entirely one (echad), entirely true (emes), entirely good (tov), and entirely holy (kodesh).

In Sichos HaRan 55 Reb Noson quotes the Rebbe as saying that we only call the reward of the World to Come “good” because we have no other way to describe it. However, the word is inadequate, because the World to Come transcends any limited conception. “The most we can say of the Future World is that it is good, but in truth, ‘no eye has seen it—only [that of] God alone’ (Isaiah 64:3, as quoted in Berakhos 34b).” (Reb Noson also alludes to this concept in his discussion of the “Supernal Delight (No’am HaElyon) and the “Supernal Eden” (Eden HaElyon) in Likutey Halakhos, Minchah 6:4.)

In the present lesson, the Rebbe uses all four terms in the nondual sense.

Even the term “tahor” (pure) would be inappropriate to use, since tahor only applies when there is tumah (impurity).

That is, purity and impurity are “two sides of the same coin.”

As it is written, “You will be purified of all your impurity” (Ezekiel 36:25).  However, when all is one, the aspect of “many intrigues,”—i.e., multiplicity— which is the prerequisite of evil and impurity, is not present.

For taharah/purity is the intermediary between the holy and the impure; through it, impurity is rectified, as it is written, “You will be purified of all your impurity” (ibid.).

This is the paradigm of free will (bechirah) which is an intermediary between two [opposite] things. This does not apply before creation, for then all was absolutely one. And in Oneness, there can be no free choice, which is the aspect of taharah/purity. 

Elsewhere, Rebbe Nachman observes, “This world was created only for the sake of free will (bechirah)” (Sichos HaRan 300). The Rebbe also discusses the paradox of free will vs. Divine foreknowledge in Likutey Moharan I, 21.

When the Holy One brought forth creation from potentiality to actuality, the aspect of taharah/purity immediately came into existence. For when He brought forth [creation] from potentiality to actuality, there were two things: the paradigm of the One and that of creation. Then there could be free will, which is the aspect of taharah/purity, which interfaces with Oneness, because it is close to it. 

Taharah is “close” to the Divine Unity because it is an extension of the good which characterizes the primordial reality.

It still hasn’t reached the state of “many intrigues,” which is evil and impurity. However, it contains an impression (reshimu)—that is, a predisposition—and an indication of its coming into existence (hishtalshelus), in that now it is able to devolve—thorough the hierarchy of the spiritual “worlds” down to this lowly “World of Action,” which is the arena for human free will—until it becomes evil and impurity. Thus, it is written in the Zohar (I, 48a, and elsewhere) that the primary “grasp” of impurity is from the “Left Side.”

The term “grasp” (achizah) is used throughout the Zohar and other kabbalistic texts to describe the relationship between the unholy and the holy, the external and the internal, etc.

The “Left Side” is the force of din; it denotes the constriction of the unitary Divine light, severity and harsh judgment. The terminology of “right” and “left” describes the dialectical tension between opposite principles: light and darkness, chesed (loving-kindness) and din, expansion and contraction, giving and receiving, and all such pairs of opposites on all planes.

However, the Left Side is not inherently evil. Indeed, creation couldn’t take place without it. But because it represents the constriction of the Divine light, it is the metaphysical source of the evil and impurity found on the lower levels of creation.

For purity hints to the existence of impurity; it is an indicator of the chain of cause-and-effect that will culminate in impurity. Therefore, it is possible to refine and elevate the impure to a state of purity, since it developed from purity, as in “You will be purified of all your impurity” (loc. cit.).

Because the two opposites share a common point of origin, the positive can elevate and transform the negative to is own essence. This also implicitly tells us that the positive is primary, while the negative is secondary.

Along these lines, I seem to remember reading in the Rebbe’s name that if a person would only take a good look within himself, he would see that evil is not intrinsically part of his nature, but something external. I have not yet succeeded in locating this source, but it seems consistent with the discussion of the Evil Inclination in Likutey Moharan I, 72.

Thus, the main grasp of impurity comes from the aspect of purity, which is the aspect of free will, as mentioned above. And purity is the aspect of the “left,” which is the aspect of Levi, as in “And you shall purify the sons of Levi” (Numbers 8:6). For Levi is the aspect of the “left,” as is known.

The Zohar (III, 176b) relates the Kohanim to the right side, which corresponds to the sefirah of Chokhmah, and the Levites to the left side, which corresponds to the sefirah of Binah. Among other things, Binah is the source of holy melody. Thus, the Levites composed and played music in the Holy Temple, as part of the purification process accomplished by the sacrifices. Also see Likutey Moharan I, 226 and 237.

In a more esoteric sense, Chokhmah is unitary, thus it is represented by the letter yud in the Name YHVH, which is one simple point; Binah is the origin of duality, thus it is represented by the letter heh in the Name YHVH, which has two sections. (See Part I of this essay, in the discussion of silver and gold as aspects of Chokhmah and Binah.)

Therefore, the main grasp of impurity is derived from the aspect of the left, since the left is the aspect of purity; from there impurity derives its grasp.

And all of this—the aspect of the left / purity / free will, from which devolves the impure / evil and opposition / falsehood—all of this is drawn from the paradigm of “After Creation,” when creation came forth from potentiality to actuality. For then, so to speak, there were two paradigms, Oneness and creation, as mentioned above.

Perhaps the Rebbe says “so to speak” because even in the Vacated Space, which divides Before Creation and After Creation, God is hidden; see Likutey Moharan I, 64.

Thus, the main grasp of falsehood, which is impurity, is due to estrangement from Oneness; that is, from the paradigm of After Creation.

Yet through Divine Providence (hashgachah), even after the act with which God brought forth [the universe] from potentiality to actuality—all things remain in a state of unity with Him. [It is just that] evil derives nurture from the “residue” of Divine Providence, from “over the shoulder,” as is known.

That is, God’s guiding hand in creation remains present even in the realm of evil, but in a hidden manner; see Likutey Moharan I, 33. By contrast, the tzaddikim reveal God’s Providence in their lives openly. The Rebbe discusses Divine Providence in at least ten lessons, including Likutey Moharan I, 234 (which discusses the manifestation of Divine Providence in the lives of the tzaddikim).

The Zohar (III, 184a) uses the metaphor of giving something “over the shoulder” to describe how God relates to those whose intentions are evil or impure. One whose intentions are holy receive life and blessing in a manner described as “face to face.”

He is far from Oneness.

At the beginning of this lesson, the Rebbe stated that “falsehood damages the eyes, both physically and spiritually”—physically, in that the blood becomes turbid, causing tears that weaken one’s vision; spiritually, in that falsehood distances a person from God and the open manifestation of Divine Providence. He finds himself stranded in the predicament of disunity.

However, through truthfulness, God’s Providence is manifested upon a person; as it is written, “My eyes are upon the faithful of the earth” (Psalms 101:6). And through falsehood, which is evil, one removes God’s Providence from himself; as it is written, “One who speaks falsehood shall not endure before my eyes” (ibid. 101:7). He derives vitality only from “over the shoulder.”

Thus we see that one who desires—after “somethingness” (yeshus) [came forth from nothingness (yesh me-ayin)] and after the act that brought forth [the universe] from potentiality to actuality—that everything should be absolutely one; that “father and son”—i.e., Creator and creation—should be as one, as previously, when everything existed in potentiality—he should guard himself from falsehood. Through this, God’s Providence will be upon him, and everything will be entirely one.

***

We hope to complete Part III, which will be the conclusion of this teaching, in the near future, with Hashem’s help.

Andy Statman Becomes National Heritage Fellow

The Breslov Center wishes a hearty "mazal tov" to Andy Statman, who is one of our founders and a fellow Uman-traveler. May this well-deserved recognition by the National Endowment of the Arts lead to more brilliant concerts and recordings by a true "mayan ha-misgaber" (fount of creativity), thus to raise the musical consciousness of this and future generations.

From NEA.gov:

2012 NEA National Heritage Fellow - Andy Statman

In the words of the New Yorker, "Andy Statman, clarinet and mandolin virtuoso, is an American visionary." The culmination of decades of creative development, his music expands the boundaries of traditional and improvisational forms.

Born in 1950 into a long line of cantors, composers, and both classical and vaudeville musicians, Statman grew up in Queens, New York. His early musical influences included klezmer records played at family gatherings, Tin Pan Alley and Broadway show tunes, his rabbi in Hebrew school singing Hasidic songs, rock and roll, big band jazz, and classical music. When Statman's older brother started bringing home bluegrass records, Statman took up the guitar and banjo, eventually switching to mandolin under the tutelage of David Grisman.

He was soon performing with local bands at multiple venues and on Sunday afternoons in Washington Square Park. At age 17 -- after hearing Albert Ayler -- Statman began to study saxophone, which he played in free jazz, funk, rock, and Chicago blues bands while expanding his mandolin playing in similar directions. In 1970 he joined the experimental bluegrass group, Country Cooking, followed by a stint with David Bromberg's band, and then another experimental group, Breakfast Special.

Still broadening his horizons, Statman took up the clarinet and studied Greek, Albanian, and Adzerbaijani music. In 1975, he sought out the legendary klezmer clarinetist and NEA National Heritage Fellow Dave Tarras. Statman became Tarras' protégé, for whom the master wrote a number of melodies. Tarras wanted Statman to carry on his legacy, and bequeathed four of his clarinets to the younger virtuoso.

In the late 1970s Statman recorded his first albums; Jewish Klezmer Music, a recording that became a touchstone for the 1970s klezmer revival; and Flatbush Waltz, a mandolin masterpiece of post-bebop jazz improvisations and ethnically inspired original compositions.

As a clarinetist, Statman began to zero in on the sublimely ecstatic, centuries-old Hasidic melodies that lie at the heart of klezmer music -- melodies that were embedded in the religious path he had come to follow. This led to his galvanizing klezmer music with the spiritually oriented jazz of John Coltrane and Albert Ayler and other musics he had explored.

Statman has appeared on more than 100 recordings, including 20 under his own name. He has recorded and/or toured with the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Ricky Skaggs, Béla Fleck, David Grisman, Itzhak Perlman, Vassar Clements, Stéphane Grappelli, Paul Shaffer, and Kenny Werner. A Grammy nominee, Statman has been the subject of dozens of feature articles, from the New York Times to Billboard toRolling Stone. He gives master classes in colleges and music camps, and has authored several music books and instructional DVDs.

Don’t Say “Water, Water!” - Rebbe Nachman on Truth: Likutey Moharan I, 51 - Part I

Photo (c) Sandra L. Grenier

Translation (bold) and Musings (tentative) by Dovid Sears

This is not only a lesson about truth, but one of Rebbe Nachman’s seminal teachings about duality, non-duality, and spiritual purification. (Some others that explore these themes from different vantage points are Lesson 4, particularly section 9; Lesson 33; Lesson 64; Lesson 65; and the story of the Water Castle in the “Tale of the Seven Beggars,” among other sources.)

Rebbe Nachman begins with a citation from the Gemara, which he will interpret according to the core ideas of his lesson:

Rabbi Akiva said: When you reach the stones of pure marble, don’t say, “Water! Water!” As it states, “One who speaks falsehood shall not stand before My eyes” (Psalms 101:7) (Chagigah 14b).

Rabbi Aviva’s warning appears in a section of the Gemara that deals with the prophetic mysteries of the Ma’aseh Merkavah (“Work of the Chariot”), which today we would call the mystical experience. The term “Merkavah” is taken from the vision described in the first chapter of Ezekiel.

Falsehood damages the eyes, both physically and spiritually, as in “roving eyes (mesakros eynayim)” (Isaiah 3:16).

In its original context, this phrase describes how the daughters of Zion would flirt with their eyes. “Mesakros” contains the same Hebrew consonants (shin-kuf-reish) as “sheker,” meaning “falsehood.” Thus, the Rebbe interprets the phrase homiletically as “deceiving eyes.”

For when the eyes are weak, they falsify, in that they do not see an object as it is. For example, something large appears as if it were small and one as if it were two, the opposite of the truth.

Note the two examples the Rebbe gives. The first relates to size (or perhaps value), while the second refers to number. And in the Rebbe’s cosmology, which is that of Chazal and the Kabbalists, the primordial reality is described as incomparably greater in size than whatever derives from it; and unity is primary, while multiplicity is secondary. So distorted vision alludes to estrangement from the Divine essence of all things.

For the eyes become weak from tears. As our Sages state: “The clouds return after the rain” (Ecclesiastes 12:2)—this is the vision, which departs after weeping (Shabbos 151b).

The Sages (loc. cit.) speak of the grief that accompanies old age, as one’s eyes become weak from tears.

And tears come from the excesses of the “black humor” (marah shechorah); the body naturally expels them through the eyes. 

The Rebbe alludes to the science of his day, which was rooted in that of the ancient Greeks (among others) and the theory of the “four humors” or fluids that animate the body—black, white (or clear), red and yellow. The “black humor” is also related to depression. Recent scholarship considers it likely that the Rebbe was familiar with Rabbi Pinchos Eliyahu Horowitz of Vilna’s Sefer HaBris, first published in 1797, which attempted to reconcile 18^th century science with the Kabbalah. This work was widely admired by Chassidim and non-Chassidim alike. However, the theory of the four humors was commonly accepted by all, even during the Talmudic period.

Many members of the Breslov community take the scientific ideas in Likutey Moharan at face value, while those who are more favorably disposed toward contemporary science read these ideas as metaphor. They are part of the setting the Rebbe creates in which to place the jewel of wisdom he wishes to reveal.

And the “black humor “is derived from the turbidity of the blood—and the turbidity of the blood is the result of falsehood. For one cannot speak deceitfully until his blood has become turbid, and one cannot speak truth until his blood has been purified.

This appears to be a bit of a conundrum. First the Rebbe states that the turbidity or impurity of the blood results from falsehood, and immediately he reverses the order. This is a pattern that recurs in Likutey Moharan. Perhaps it may be understood according to the principle given at the end of Lesson 1, that the Evil Inclination first comes in the guise of a mitzvah; only after succumbing to this spiritual “wolf in sheep’s clothing” can a person be vulnerable to undisguised evil. Similarly in the present lesson, first one must speak falsely with no intention to do so; only then, when his blood has been adversely affected by this untruth, can he yield to outright lying.

For the essence of speech is the nefesh (vital soul), as it is written, “My nefesh went out as he spoke” (Song of Songs 5:6). And the nefesh is identified with the blood, as it is written, “For the blood is the nefesh” (Leviticus 17:11). 

That is, blood is the medium of the life force.

Thus, when one speaks falsehood, he experiences turbidity of the blood, and from this comes the “black humor.” An excess of the black humor tears produces the tears, and this causes the eyes to become dimmed. This is the aspect of “They pluck the saltwort (malu’ach) among the bushes (siyach)” (Job 30:4). “Malu’ach” alludes to tears, which are salt water and which come from sichah (speech, a word-play). This is the paradigm of “Don’t say, ‘Water! Water!’ “ which is a warning about falsehood.

Reb Noson adds in parentheses: “As the quote from the Gemara concludes, “One who speaks falsehood shall not stand before My eyes.”

“Water! Water!”—denotes falsehood, which is the aspect of tears, which are salt water. Because one who drinks water quenches his thirst. However, one who drinks salt water not only fails to quench his thirst but doubles his thirst, until he needs other water to quench his thirst. For this reason falsehood is called “water, water.”

That is, the repetition of the word “water” corresponds to these two levels of thirst—and the number two is related to falsehood, while the number one is related to truth, as the Rebbe will explain.

Hence, [Rabbi Akiva said:] When you reach the stones of pure marble, don’t say, “Water! Water!” As it states, “One who speaks falsehood shall not stand before My eyes.”

The mystical quest is the quest for truth, and as such depends on truthfulness.

The coming into existence of falsehood—which is evil, which is the impure—is due to the estrangement from Oneness. For evil is opposition. For example, whatever stands opposed to a person’s will is deemed evil. However, in Oneness, opposition does not apply; rather, it is entirely good.

That is, good with no opposite term.

This is as our Sages state: “ ‘On that day [i.e., the day of the Final Redemption] God will be One and His Name will be One’ (Zechariah 14:9)—everything will be “the Good, Who does good” (Pesachim 50a).

The Rebbe quotes the same teaching from the Gemara in Lesson 4, where he cites it in full: “And they asked: And is God not One right now? To which the Sages replied: At present, we bless God for the good with [the blessing that concludes] ‘the Good, Who does good,’ while for evil, with [the blessing that concludes] ‘the True Judge.’ But in the future, everything will be ‘the Good Who does good.’ ”

This is because in Oneness, evil has no place. Therefore, in the World to Come the verse will be fulfilled, “The lip of truth [i.e., the speech of truth] shall abide forever” (Proverbs 12:19). For then everything will be entirely one, entirely good.

Thus truth is eternal, while falsehood is transitory.

Now Rebbe Nachman allusively connects truth and falsehood to the state of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and their banishment from that idyllic realm.

Truth is one. For example, when they say of a silver vessel that it is silver, this is the truth. However, when they say that it is a golden vessel, this is false. Thus, the truth is one, because the only truth one can say is that it is a silver vessel and nothing else. But falsehood is manifold. For it is possible to say that it is a golden vessel, or a brass vessel, or to use any other term. Thus we see that falsehood is an aspect of “they chased after many intrigues” (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

The first part of the verse states, “God made Adam upright, but…” Rashi (ad loc,) comments that when God created Adam he was upright in the spiritual sense. But the shift to the third person singular (“they”) in the verse suggests that when Eve was created, the two began to pursue various intrigues. There is a shift from singularity and uprightness to multiplicity and error, which led to the exile from the Garden of Eden.

Another possible hint to this theme: in the Kabbalah, silver corresponds to the sefirah of Chokhmah / Wisdom, which is the dimension of unity represented by the letter yud in the Divine Name YHVH—a unitary point. Gold corresponds to Binah, which is the plane on which division begins. Binah is represented by the letter heh in the Divine Name YHVH, which has two parts; it is also associated with the vowel-point tzayre, which is indicated by two horizontal dots under the consonant—indicating duality.

Because of this—i.e., the primacy of truth and unity—in the World to Come, evil will be nullifed, opposition will be nullified, and tear will be nullified. As it is written, “They will do no evil and they will not destroy in all of My holy mountain” (Isaiah 11:9)—the nullification of evil. And it is written, “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the wildcat with the kid goat…” (ibid. 1:6)—the nullification of opposition. And it is written, “And God will wipe away the tears from all faces” (ibid. 25:8)—this being the nullification of tears, which are an aspect of falsehood, as mentioned above. For then “God will be One, and His Name will be One,” because [God] is absolute good, absolute truth.

The prevailing unity of the future world recapitulates that of the Garden of Eden at the very beginning of creation, before the sin of eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil—which engendered dualistic thinking and the conflicts that characterize the reality of exile.

 Therefore, impurity (tumah) will be eliminated in the World to Come; as it is written, “And I will remove the spirit of impurity from the earth” (Zechariah 13:2).

Rashi (ad loc.) understands this term to denote the Evil Inclination. This reflects the view of our Sages that in the End of Days, God will “slaughter the Evil Inclination” (Sukkah 52a).

For then everything will be entirely one; as it is written, “Who can render the pure from the impure—not one” (Job 14:4).

That is, the Rebbe interprets this verse to mean: “Whoever would render the pure from the impure exists in the paradigm of ‘not-one’ ”—estranged from unity. Because unity by definition transcends all dualism.

***

We will continue with Parts II and III in the next weeks, with the help of Hashem. 

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The Baal Shem Tov on “Truth”

The Baal Shem Tov's Shul (Original)

From The Path of the Baal Shem Tov

“Truth will sprout from the earth” (Tehillim 85:12), When one is like the earth, which allows everyone to walk upon it, the seed of truth can sprout.

The Baal Shem Tov also remarked on this verse, “If someone sees something valuable lying on the ground, he immediately picks it up. Why doesn’t anyone pick up [the truth]? Really, everyone wants to—but no one is willing to stoop so low” (Geulas Yisrael).

*

The Baal Shem Tov once told his disciples: “My children, you only need to be very careful not to lie, and you will surely become good people” (Imrei Pinchos 878).

*

Our master, the Baal Shem Tov, pointed out that the eye fools a person. [Regarding a Heavenly vision], the Gemara states, “I see an upside-down world: the above is below, and the below is above” (Pesachim 50a). The same thing may be seen in this world: the “above” is not truly superior, and the “below” is not truly inferior (Sefer HaMaamarim 5710, cited in Kesser Shem Tov, Hosafos, Masechtas Pesachim, 75).

*

There is a popular saying: “With the truth, a person can go all over the world.” The Baal Shem Tov explained, “That’s because he will get thrown out of one place after another” (Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Bo, 46b, cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Vayeira 10).

*

During the period of opposition to the Baal Shem Tov, a woman once attempted to pick up a rock in order to throw it at him. Due to the stone’s heaviness, she was unable to lift it.

“Master of the World,” she prayed aloud, “May it be accounted before You as if I had thrown it at him.”

The Baal Shem Tov said, “In Heaven, this woman’s sincerity has caused great delight” (Siach Sarfei Kodesh III, 641).

Rav Arush's "Emunah Men"

Received by email from Eric Fuchs

God’s Seal is Truth

By Dovid Sears

I have been reading a wonderful book lately, “The Quest for Authenticity: The Thought of Reb Simchah Bunim” (Urim 2008) by the late Rabbi Michael (Mickey) Rosen. In the second chapter (“The Holy Rebellion,” page 34), he quotes a well-known anthology of teachings from the Polish rebbes called “Siach Sarfei Kodesh” (not to be confused with the Breslov collection that shares the same name), 5:22, no. 8:

“R. Simcha Bunim once asked the Yehudi, ‘The ultimate goal is for a person to know that one is nothing (ayin). But what sort of goal is it to know that one is nothing, when in fact one is indeed nothing!’ And our teacher replied, ‘The seal of God is truth [Shabbos 55a], and if man really knows that he is nothing, then he is attached to the truth, and therefore attached to God whose seal is truth. And that is the ultimate goal: to be attached to the truth.”

 The author adds that other sources indicate that R. Simcha Bunim asked this question of the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin, who was the teacher of both the Yehudi and R. Simchah Bunim. It is the Chozeh who replies: “For via this (knowing that one’s service is nothing) one is attached to the truth.” (Rabbi Rosen cites Hashavah LeTovah 121: “The seal of God is truth, and if a person thinks that he has attained something himself, that is false.”)

Thinking and speaking the truth is essential to connecting to the Divine quality of truth, as we see in many rabbinic works, especially those of the Chassidic masters and the Lithuanian Mussar masters. In this spirit, we plan to create several postings during the next few weeks on the subject of truth from the Baal Shem Tov and from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. May they enable us to arrive at the truth along the path of truth.

Rav Mottel Zilber Shiur - June 19

On Tuesday, June 19/ Evening 30 Sivan, at 8:00 p.m., HaRav Mottel Zilber, Shlita, will give the second part of his Derech HaChasidus Shiur in the upstairs Bais Medrash in Congregation Aish Kodesh.

Announcement from Nachal Novea Tsfat Fund

This Shabbat is the yahrzeit of the Tanna R' Yonatan ben Uziel.  Tradition has it that R' Yonatan ben Uziel promises to all those who are unmarried that prayer at his resting place will help one meet their true soul mate. Donate Now and we will daven for you at his gravesite in Amuka this Erev Shabbat.

Why We Travel to Tzaddikim

Reb Noson of Breslov, Likutey Halakhos, Hil. Shabbos 7:21 (abridged)

Translated by Dovid Sears 

The essential reason we travel to the true tzaddikim is in order to merit to teshuvah—to return to God—whatever our circumstances may be. However, if someone travels or goes to a Rebbe for any self-serving reason, such as to receive from him some sort of prestige or public position, he utterly fails to draw close to the tzaddik; for he is traveling there for his own glory. Rather, the essence of drawing close to the tzaddik is when one’s intention is for God alone—so that the tzaddik may draw him closer to God and bring him back from the spiritual straits into which he has fallen. This is why most [chassidim] travel to spend Shabbos [with the tzaddikim]: because the path of teshuvah primarily depends on the holiness of Shabbos.

Kestenbaum & Company: Judaica Auction - June 21

Kestenbaum & Company will conduct an early Summer auction of Fine Judaica on Thursday, June 21st at 3:00 pm at their New York City gallery located at 242 West 30th Street. Viewing will be held from Sunday, June 17th through Wednesday, June 20th. 


Click here to view the catalogue online.

Canfei Nesharim - Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably

Received via e-mail from Canfei Nesharim:

I am pleased to share with you the seventh set of resources – Holy Use: Relating to Resources Sustainably.  I have attached the summary article, longer article and the source sheet.  The video is available at http://youtu.be/TvETd2b4lfo and the podcast is available at 

http://canfeinesharim.podbean.com/2012/06/05/holy-use-relating-to-resources-sustainably/.

These materials are posted as part of Canfei Nesharim’s “Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment,” in partnership with Jewcology.com. 

Current Andy Statman Gigs

Received by email from Larry Eagle of The Andy Statman Trio:

Thursday 7 June @ 10 PM

Andy, Jim and Larry at Barbés (376 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215)

Sunday 10 JuneAndy & Jim double bill with our friends
Union Street Preservation Society
at the Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St NYC)
music starts at 7
tix available here

Tuesday 12 June @ 8:30

Andy, Jim and Larry with special guest
Jason Rosenblatt on harmonica
(of Montreal's superbe klezmer band Streiml)
53 Charles Street NYC NY

www.AndyStatman.org

www.youtube.com/derechamuno

twitter:  @rcanipper

Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim in Chassidic Thought

Received via e-mail from Dov ben Avraham, a close friend of the Breslov Center:

I am pleased to announce the release of a book that will enthusiastically be sought after by Jews who were not born Jewish, and those on the path to becoming Jewish. This book - full of teachings from Breslov literature - has received glowing approbations from Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern, Rabbi Lazer Brody, Sudilkover Rebbe, Bostoner Rebbe, Hornsteipler Rebbe, and Rabbi Dovid Meisels.

Unlike numerous books already published in English on conversion to Judaism, this book is not a personal narrative, how-to manual, digest of relevant laws, or academic historical overview.  This book presents the story behind the story — the mystical teachings found within Chassidic literature that illuminate the hidden inner world of the ger. 

Until now, these teachings were scattered in an unorganized manner throughout countless volumes and inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the Hebrew language. With this book, Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim in Chassidic Thought, relevant Chassidic teachings are collected, translated from Hebrew into English, organized topically, and further elucidated, when needed. Interspersed with these translated teachings, stories- both old and new - are included to help bring them to life. In addition, this book includes supplementary essays written by Rabbi Chaim Kramer, Rabbi Ozer Bergman, Rabbi Dovid Sears, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Bloomenstiel, and Mrs. Talya Lipshutz (based on conversations with Rav Elazar Mordechai Kenig of Tsfat).

Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim in Chassidic Thought is now available for purchase online at here and also on Amazon.com here.