Tanya In Simple English – Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Core Point – Torah Study Unites Man and G-d – Infinitely

“Grasping G-d”

To explain with greater clarity the terminology “grasping” that Elijah used when he said, “No thought can grasp G-d.”

Now it is known, that every brain, as it thinks about and comprehends an idea – at that time the brain is intellectually grasping and encompassing the idea, and the idea is grasped, encompassed, and within the mind that understands it and perceives it. Simultaneously the brain is placing itself into the idea while one is comprehending and grasping it.

For example, when a person understands and comprehensively learns a law from the Mishna or Gemarah – at that time his brain is grasping and encompassing the law and simultaneously his brain is placing itself within it.

Now as this law is the wisdom and will of G-d… for it arose in His will, that if Reuven would put forward such a claim…. and Shimoin would put forward his counter-claim… then the law for them would be adjugated in such and such a manner.

Now these laws apply, even if such a case never actually did nor ever will occur (in other words, it will never appear before a Jewish court for judgment) nevertheless, the very fact that it arose in G-d’s will and wisdom that if one person makes claim A. and the other claim B. the legal resolution should be C. – as such when a person knows and comprehends this law in his mind (as the law is written in the Mishnah or Gemarah or Poskim/Rabbinical Halachic Authorities) – then at that moment, he understands, grasps, and his intellect is enwrapping, the will and wisdom of G-d! upon whom it states, “No thought can grasp Him…!” nor His will, or his wisdom…. except as they descend into the clear elucidated laws as they are presented to us (in the Mishnah, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch – Code of Jewish Law, etc.)

Unity In Torah

Now at the same time, your mind has placed itself within this law – as such, this is a remarkable union! In fact, there is no greater unity found in the physical (realm) in that that two things can completely unite and literally become one, from every side and angel.

Greatness of Torah

This is a very great quality in the Mitzvah of comprehending Torah and understanding it, even infinitely surpassing the physical Mitzvos – and even over Mitzvos that are based on speech (such as prayers – blessings etc.) and even greater than the Mitzvah of studying Torah with speech; for through every Mitzvah in speech and action, G-d enwraps the soul, and enwraps it with the light of G-d from her head to her foot;   But when you study Torah, in addition to the fact that your mind is within the wisdom of G-d – simultaneously G-d’s wisdom is within you (in other words, when your brain comprehends, grasps, and encompasses what it is capable of grasping and understanding in the knowledge of Torah. (This applies to each person based on their intellectual capacity and ability to comprehend and understand each of the four sections of the Torah called PaRDeS.)

Torah’ Food

Now as when you know Torah, the Torah comes into man’s soul and His intellect, and is enwrapped in them… therefore Torah is called “bread” and “food for the soul.”

For just as physical bread nourishes the body when it comes into it and it is internalized/consumed in it… and there it transforms to become the blood and flesh of the individual, and then a person can live and survive, similarly, through knowing Torah and comprehending it, the soul of the man who studies it, who really delves into it, to the extent that he grasps it, and internalizes it (unifies with it) and they become one!… 

This Torah becomes the food for the soul and a life-force within it, from the source of all life, the infinite G-d – who is within the wisdom of the Torah, which is now within him.

And this is what it states, “And the Torah is in my inner body parts,” and as it is written in Eitz Chayim, Gateway 44 Chapter 3, that “The clothing of the souls in Gan Eden are the Mitzvos, and the Torah is the food for the souls whom worked on understanding Torah in this world (Lishmah – altruistically.”)
And as it states in the Zohar, Vayakhel Page 210.

Lishma – Studying Torah Altruistically

Now what is the definition of “Lishma?” This means, the intent of the Torah study is to unite one’s soul to G-d through the understanding of the Torah (each person according to his intellectual capacities) as is written in Pri-Eitz Chayim.

[Now the “food” refers to an internal light (that comes into the soul) and the “clothing” to an external light (like clothing that enwraps a person.) And therefore our sages taught, that the study of Torah is comparable to doing all the Mitzvos! For the Mitzvos are but clothing of the soul – but Torah is both the food and clothing for the intellectual soul that places itself within the Torah – when it concentrates on understanding and studies it. Now how much more so if one simultaneously says the words of Torah they are studying (aloud…) for the breath of his speech becomes an encompassing (enwrapping) light, as it is stated in Pri Eitz Chayim.]

 {In Summary:

A. Torah and G-d Are One.

B. When You Study Torah Your Mind And G-d Unite.

C. Whenever you do a Mitzvah the encompassing light of G-d wraps your soul (or body part, such as arm, when wearing Teffilin.)

D. The Greatness of Torah- when studied altruistically (Lishma) -is not only does it wrap you like clothing (especially if you say the words out loud) but furthermore it is ingested – become a life-force.

E. In Heaven, Torah is the food of the soul and Mitzvos are her garments.

F. Studying Torah altruistically means to desire to connect to G-d through the Torah study.}