Chapter 18

In this chapter the Alter Rebbe explains another word from the verse¹ of the Torah which expresses the essence of Tania: “Because this thing is very close to you in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.” We have already learned that there is a love for Hashem that feels in the heart and arises from thinking about the greatness of Hashem, and a love that think with the brain, despite not being felt in the heart (“Heart's Thought”). Be that as it may, in order to reach any level of love, it is necessary to think about Hashem, ...and sometimes a long time, and that's not something "very close"... Why does she say the Torah that love is “very close” to Hashem?

To explain this, the Alter Rebbe tells us that there is another kind of love Hashem, which is called “Hidden Love” (ahava mesoteretThis is a type of love that every Jew possesses; it's innate. Unlike the previous two, which must be cultivated (in the heart or mind), this one is inherent in every Jew.

Where does this love come from? HashemThe Alter Rebbe explains that we have it as an inheritance from our patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who, as they loved so much Hashem, He gave them a very special gift: the ability to pass that love on to their children and grandchildren for all generations. That is the “Hidden Love” to Hashem that every Jew has.

If we manage to reveal and feel that "hidden love" (that is, make it cease to be hidden), it can help us feel excited by Hashem and have a strong desire to fulfill Torah y Mitzvot. Since it is a love we already have, the Alter Rebbe says it is "very close" to feeling love for Hashem, It's a matter of revealing what we already have.

What is this love for HashemTo understand this, the Alter Rebbe explains what Wisdom is (Chokhmah) and what is Understanding (biná), two tools of the soul. The idea is this: we can think in something, and we can understand Thinking about something doesn't mean we understand it.

As soon as an idea arises in the mind, that idea is at the level of Wisdom. But then we have to understand That idea, with all its details, must then descend to the level of Understanding. It follows, then, that Wisdom is above Understanding; it is a level of the soul where ideas are not yet understood, only perceived. they know. Furthermore, the Alter Rebbe explains that the level of Wisdom permeates all the other "Tools" and levels of the soul. The level of Wisdom energizes all parts of the soul.

A simple example of this idea is a small child who knows that a certain person is his father, despite not understanding what that means, not understanding how he was born to his father, nor how his father loves and cares for him and gives him food, clothes, a home, etc.

As Hashem It is also beyond understanding; that is, it is so great, so powerful, it is nothing less than infinite, and we cannot comprehend it. It merges with this level of Wisdom that represents that which is incomprehensible. Let's imagine: if Hashem It resides in the Wisdom of the soul, and that Wisdom spreads throughout all the other "Tools" and parts of the soul!Hashem It is in all the other "Tools" and parts of the soul!

This union of Hashem The level of wisdom of the soul is what gives all Jews faith in Hashem (emunah), even if they don't understand anything about Hashem. When Hashem It reveals itself in a place, and automatically, everything in that place feels His presence, and is incapable of sensing anything else. The presence of Hashem It is so powerful that it leaves no room to feel anything else except Him.

Therefore, when a Jew, whoever he may be, even if he knows nothing about Judaism, is asked to do something that, if he does it, knows that will disconnect from Hashem, He won't. He'll even be capable of sacrificing his life (this is called mesirut nefesh) so as not to disconnect from Hashem, without needing to think about it or meditate on it, and without needing to understand Why is he sacrificing his life for Hashem, as if he couldn't deny Hashem.

This is because Hashem It is at the level of Wisdom of the soul and, through that, in the rest of the soul, and as the Tool of Wisdom is a level that is beyond what can be understood, when it is revealed, it makes us do good things, even if we do not understand them.