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Tanya As Divided for a Leap Year Tanya for 30 Adar I
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Chapter Thirty-Four
It is known that "the Patriarchs constitute the Divine Chariot." [1]Throughout their lives, they did not cease even momentarily from binding their mind and soul to the Master of the universe, with the aforementioned absolute surrender to His unity.
[I.e., their constant awareness of G-d's unity led them to be continuously in a state of self-nullification before G-d; and, as explained more fully in chapter 23, this self-nullification is what is meant by the term "chariot", a vehicle submissive to the will of its pilot].
After them came all the prophets who similarly nullified themselves before G-d's unity in varying degrees, each according to the level of his soul and his understanding.
The rank of our teacher Moses, peace be upon him, surpassed them all; of him our Sages said: [2] "The Shechinah (the Divine Presence) spoke out of Moses' throat."
[His was such a total surrender to G-dliness, that the very words he uttered were Divine speech; the relation of Moses' throat to Divine speech was that of one's throat to his own speech].
At Mount Sinai, Israel were privileged to experience a glimmer of this level of self-nullification.
But they could not endure it; as our Sages have said, [3] "At every Divine utterance their souls took flight," [and G-d resurrected them each time]. This [flight of their soul] actually represents the self- nullification spoken of previously. [4]
Therefore, [because they were unable to live with this feeling of self-surrender before G-d], He commanded them immediately to erect for Him a Sanctuary, in which would be the Holy of Holies, wherein His presence would dwell; i.e., there His unity would be revealed, as will be explained further. [5]
[The Alter Rebbe points out below that when one specific place is singled out as an abode for G-d's presence, despite the fact that "His glory fills the entire earth," the uniqueness of this site lies in the revelation of G-dliness which occurs there.
In contrast to the rest of the world, where G-d's unity as the sole existing being stands concealed, in "the abode of G-d's presence" it is clearly apparent that "there is naught besides Him."
We thus see that the revelation of G-d's unity which the Jewish people experienced at Mount Sinai, but which they could not endure, was continued by means of the Sanctuary].
Notes:
- (Back to text) See above, ch. 23.
- (Back to text) Cf. Zohar III, 232a; commentary of Rabbi David Luria on Shemot Rabbah, end of ch. 3.
- (Back to text) Shabbat 88b.
- (Back to text) See also below, end of ch. 36.
- (Back to text) Ch. 53.
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