Chapter 35

From this chapter onwards, the Alter Rebbe mainly explains the importance of the Mitzvot practices, that is, using the “Garment” of the soul of action (the “Garments” of the soul are thought, word and action, explained in chapter 4) fulfilling the Mitzvot to make this world a home for Hashem.

In discussing this topic, the Alter Rebbe explains many other matters, going all the way to the end of the first part of the Tanya, the Book of the “Middle Men” (Sefer shel beinoním).

Even after explaining several ideas about how to have joy and enthusiasm in service to Hashem, The “Average Man” may still have some questions that make him feel sad: What was I created for? After all, I will never be able to transform my Animal Soul into the good of a Righteous One, and on the other hand, if my Divine Soul was already before Hashem Before descending to this world and taking on an Animal Soul and a body, why did he descend? Now he's worse off than before!

To answer these questions, the Alter Rebbe gives an example from our sages.¹. They say that man is like an oil lamp: the body is the wick, the Mitzvot They are oil and fire; it is the revelation of Hashem (Shekhinah in Hebrew), that is, the presence of Hashem in a person's life (and that's why we always cover our heads (with the kippah), because we have Hashem about us and we must never stop paying attention to it).

This means that in order for Hashem If it is revealed in our lives, we have to fulfill it. Mitzvot practices. But why isn't having a Divine Soul enough for Hashem will it be revealed to us? Using the example of our sages: why are oils the Mitzvot Are practices enough, and is the Divine Soul not sufficient?

The answer is because Hashem He only reveals himself where there is complete surrender to him. It's like a teacher who wants to give a lesson when all the students are making noise. The teacher is in the same room as the students, but he is not revealed, that is, he is not teaching what he knows, because the students are not surrendering to the teacher; they don't let him speak. When the students surrender themselves, when they fall silent, only then does the teacher reveal himself and can teach.

The same applies to HashemHe only reveals Himself in those things that are completely separate from Him. The Divine Soul, despite being something very spiritual and close to Hashem, Even so, it is a soul, it is a creature of Hashem who loves Him and fears Him. In other words, if we could ask the soul if it exists, it would obviously answer yes, and it would also say that all it wants is to be with Hashem. It means that on one side there is the soul and on the other Hashem, as two separate entities.

But with the Mitzvot Something different happens. Every Mitzvah It is the Will of Hashem, He wants us to do this, or not to do that. So, in each Mitzvah, Hashem It's completely revealed, because the only reason we comply is because Hashem He said so. Otherwise, why would we put one? mezuzah on a door jamb, because it looks nice? Surely not. So, it's like saying that the Mitzvah is completely canceled Hashem.

However, the Alter Rebbe explains that there is a very big difference if the Mitzvah It is fulfilled with the “Clothing” of the soul of thought (like the Mitzvah of loving Hashem), with the word (like the Mitzvah of reciting the Shema Israel) or with the action (such as placing the mezuzah).

When the Mitzvah It is fulfilled with the “Garments” of the soul of thought and word, Hashem It is only revealed in the Divine Soul, because those "garments" of the soul are very close to it. But when a Mitzvah with the soul's "clothing" of action, Hashem It is also revealed in the Animal Soul and in the body. This happens because for the hand to extend with the aim of placing a mezuzah, The Divine Soul had to convince the Animal Soul so that it, in turn, could convince the body to extend its hand. It's such a rapid process that we don't realize it, but ultimately, that's what happens. That's why the Alter Rebbe says that now that we have fulfilled the Mitzvah practice, Hashem It is revealed in the Animal Soul and in the whole body, not only in the Divine Soul.

The Alter Rebbe ends the chapter explaining that the fact that Hashem The fact that He reveals Himself to different people and at different times does not mean that He changes, God forbid. It is like the example of sunlight shining through various windows: the sunlight does not change, regardless of which windows are open and which are closed. The same is true of the revelation of Hashem, He doesn't change regardless of who is fulfilling a Mitzvah Practice now and what person doesn't.