Chapter 50

In the last chapters, the Alter Rebbe explained several ways to awaken love in others. Hashem in the heart. In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe explains a level of love to Hashem which is quite different. To understand the difference, the Alter Rebbe uses the example of silver and gold. Gold is much more valuable than silver. All forms of love Hashem The things explained up to this point are like silver, while now the Alter Rebbe explains the form of love to Hashem compared to gold.

And how does this love awaken? HashemIn previous chapters, the Alter Rebbe gave the recipe, so to speak, for awakening each type of love, thinking that Hashem It is our life and our Father who loves us (chapter 44), to think that Hashem He takes us out of the garbage dump and brings us closer to Him (chapter 46), to think that He leaves everything for us (chapter 49).

This new level of love to Hashem, He who is like gold, wakes up thinking of the greatness of Hashem, ...in how, in reality, the entire universe is insignificant compared to Him (see chapters 20 and 21), and, being so, our soul will be set ablaze with ardor and fire to leave the body and simply be with Him HashemWhy do we want this material world if it's worthless compared to Hashem!?

This strong thirst for Hashem It feels as if the soul is consumed by the longing to be with Him (klot hanefesh), to the point that the soul separates from the body and physical life ends; the person who reaches this level literally dies of love for Hashem. In the words of our wise men¹, This feeling is called moving forward and getting closer to Hashem (ratzo).

But there's a problem. We learned in chapter 36 that the reason why Hashem The reason we create the entire universe is to have a "home" in this material world, and we learned that this is achieved through study. Torah and comply Mitzvot with enthusiasm. And that is the goal of all forms of love for Hashem that the Alter Rebbe has explained so far.

But the feeling this love generates, like gold, is different; it's a feeling of leaving this world, the opposite of studying. Torah and comply Mitzvot. So, what is the purpose of this form of love?Hashem He doesn't give us life so we can die!

To answer this problem, the Alter Rebbe explains that this new kind of love must be accompanied by another idea: whether we like it or not, the reason we exist is to be in this material world studying. Torah and fulfilling Mitzvot. Therefore, along with the feeling of wanting to leave this world, it should be clear that this is not what Hashem He doesn't want us to do anything for ourselves, but rather He wants us to project Him into this material world, to reveal His glory here below, and to make this world a dwelling place for Him. In the words of our sages², This idea is called returning to the material world and moving away from Hashem (shov).

These two feelings, the desire to move forward (ratzo) and the return (shov) are constantly combined, that is, whoever reaches this level of love to Hashem It has within it a constant movement of approaching Hashem and move away from Him. When He moves forward and draws near to Hashem, You must know that you will eventually have to return, but when you do, you must never become so involved with the material world that you forget about it. Hashem, but rather it must move forward and that is how the whole of life goes, moving forward and returning, moving forward and returning.