Wednesday Elul 22 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Revi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 106-107. Also 64-66. Tanya: And this is (p. 483)...will have rest... (p. 485).

Chassidic doctrine demands that before reproving another, one must pare his own "fingernails," in order not to gash the other.

"They (the forces of evil) seize by the fingernails"; every stab is K'lipa and Sitra Achra.

After the "nails" are pared there must be "laving the hands," as explained in Chassidus [1] - calling forth intellect into emotion. [2]

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Paralleling the physical reality, that after cutting one's fingernails - in the simple sense - he is required by Torah to lave his hands.

   Viz. Shulchan Aruch (HaRav) Orach Chayim 4:18.

2. (Back to text) See Supplementary Footnotes