Thursday 20 Adar I 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Ki Tissa, Chamishi with Rashi. Tehillim: 97-103. Tanya: Even in the (p. 137)...transgression, and so on. (p. 137).

Avoda (translated as "Service" and "striving") is not the striving that Avoda (service) itself be true; [1] rather, truth itself is an Avoda, that the "fingernails" be true. [2]

Why does that surprise you? He saw the attribute of Truth," the Talmud declares,[3] "and he prostrated himself."

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Not deceptive or illusory, that it be penetrating rather than superficial, enduring rather than transitory.

2. (Back to text) The "fingernails" are part of man but virtually lifeless. Truth is necessary not only in the "vital" elements of man, his thoughts, emotions, relations with others, etc. but even in the all-but-redundant, the furthest extremities.

3. (Back to text) Sanhedrin 111a. When G-d showed Moshe his Thirteen Attributes of Mercy - Sh'mot 34:6 - Moshe fell on his face, as told in verse 8. The Talmud asks which of the Attributes impressed Moshe so, and answers, the Attribute of Truth. See Supplementary Footnotes in the printed version, p. 125.

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Haftora: Va'y'hi Dvar Hashem...Dibarti V'assissi.

• Say Av Harachamim.

Shabbat Adar Sheini 20, Parshat Para 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Tzav, Shevi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 97-103. Tanya: In the light (p. 175)...explained (Ch. 23). (p. 179).

The Alter Rebbe related: Among the teachings my Rebbe (the Maggid) told me at Yechidus, there was one on the verse, "A constant fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not be extinguished." [1]

The Maggid taught: "Though fire descends from Above, spontaneously, it is a mitzva to bring from the `ordinary,' by man." [2]

"(Man's action is) an awakening from below which engenders an awakening Above. (For the nature of spirit is that) `spirit elicits (another, responding) spirit and in turn calls forth another, yet higher spirit.' The spirit from below elicits the spirit from Above, calling forth spirit from higher and still higher." [3]

"It is a positive mitzva to kindle fire on the altar. `Altar' refers to the `man who offers of you.' [4] The offering itself is insufficient. Man must kindle a fire on the offering that is `of you.' This fire, Lo Tichbeh (literally, `it shall not be extinguished'), shall extinguish (Tichbeh) the Lo (the `no,' the negative)."

My Master told me this teaching ten times to engrave it in the ten powers of my soul. "You, my pupil," he said to me, "are in need of this constant fire, for yours is the duty of extinguishing the great Lo (of the opponents of Chassidus). You shall extinguish the Lo, and G-d will transform the Lo to Hein (`yes'; assent, the positive).

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Vayikra 6:6.

2. (Back to text) Also in the literal sense: Both in the Mishkan - Desert Sanctuary and the Jerusalem Beit Hamikdash a miraculous heavenly fire descended which was subsequently kept burning for all sacrifices; yet it was a mitzva to bring ordinary physical fire too.

3. (Back to text) If Man's action (the "Awakening From Below") elicits only the Divine response ("Awakening From Above") on the same plane from which the fire from Above had descended - spontaneously, - what is the gain in Man's initiative? Hence the explanation that spirit from Below elicits spirit from Above, calling...etc. from higher and still higher. See Supplementary Footnotes, p. 125; see also Zohar III, p. 162b, and Or HaTorah for Chanuka, p. 286a.

4. (Back to text) See 12 Adar II.