Tanya — Igeret HaKodesh אִגֶּרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, Chapter 18

כְּתִיב: ״מַה יָּפִית וּמַה נָּעַמְתְּ, אַהֲבָה בַּתַּעֲנוּגִים״.

EIGHTEEN. It is written: “How fair and how pleasant are you, ahavah betaanugim.”

הִנֵּה ב׳ מִינֵי אֲהָבוֹת הֵן, הָאַחַת – ״אַהֲבָה בַּתַּעֲנוּגִים״, דְּהַיְינוּ, שֶׁמִּתְעַנֵּג עַל ה׳ עוֹנֶג נִפְלָא בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וַעֲצוּמָה, שִׂמְחַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּכְלוֹתָהּ, בְּטָעֲמָהּ כִּי טוֹב ה׳ וְנָעִים, נְעִימוּת עֲרֵיבוּת עַד לְהַפְלִיא, מֵעֵין עוֹלָם־הַבָּא מַמָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּהֱנִין כוּ׳, וְעַל זֶה כְּתִיב: ״שִׂמְחוּ צַדִּיקִים בַּה׳״; וְלֹא כָּל אָדָם זוֹכֶה לָזֶה.

There are two kinds of love. I:12a. See also above, Epistle 6 (notes 24 ff.) and end of Epistle 15. One is ahavah betaanugim (love with delights), meaning that one is in a state of wondrous delight over G–d, with a great and immense joy [the joy of the soul and its yearning as it discerns that the L–rd is good and delightful as wondrously sweet delights]. It is truly in the mode of the World to Come where “they take delight….” 17a; Maimonides, Hilchot Teshuvah, ch. 8.

וְזוֹ הִיא בְּחִינַת ״כַּהֲנָא בִּרְעוּתָא דְלִבָּא״ שֶׁבַּזּוֹהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר: ״עֲבוֹדַת מַתָּנָה וְגוֹ׳ וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב וְגוֹ׳״, כִּי אֵין דֶּרֶךְ לְהַשִּׂיגָהּ עַל־יְדֵי יְגִיעַת בָּשָׂר, כְּמוֹ הַיִּרְאָה, שֶׁשּׁוֹאֲלִין עָלֶיהָ: ״יָגַעְתָּ בְּיִרְאָה״, וְ״אוֹי לְבָשָׂר שֶׁלֹּא נִתְיַיגֵּעַ בְּיִרְאָה״, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּ״רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה״, וּכְתִיב בְּיִרְאָה: ״אִם תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה כַכָּסֶף וְגוֹ׳״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁצְּרִיכָה יְגִיעָה רַבָּה וַעֲצוּמָה כִּמְחַפֵּשׂ אַחַר אוֹצָרוֹת.

And of this it is written: “Rejoice, tzaddikim,, Part I, for the meaning of this term, esp. chs. 1, 10, 14, 35). in the L–rd,” and not everyone merits this. only.—See Chovot Halevovot, Shaar Ahavat Hashem, ch. 4; Likkutei Amarim, Author’s Introduction to Part II. This is the rank the sacred Zohar III:39a; ibid., 88b and 177b, in the light of Zohar II:25b. Cf. also Zohar II:57a, and see Sefer Hamaamarim 5710, pp. 4 ff. and 54 ff. refers to as ka-hana bi’reuta deliba, and of which it is said: “A service of gift…) which comes by way of a gift. See comment. of Rashi and Nachmanides, ad loc. See Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 14. and the stranger that comes close….”, Numbers, sect. 119), and an elevated position of sanctity (see Maharal, Derech Chaim, on Avot 4:13), thus the state of ahavah rabbah, or ahavah betaanugim, which follows as a Divine gift and reward to the tzaddikim that are on this level. For there is no way to attain it by human efforts as (there is with) the awe (of G–d), of which it is asked “Did you labor with awe?” and “Woe to the person who did not labor with awe,” as mentioned in Reishit Chochmah. Of awe is also written, Part I, ch. 42.—“If you will seek it as silver…”; this shows that it requires a great and immense exertion, as when one searches for fortunes.

אֲבָל אַהֲבָה רַבָּה זוֹ [״אַהֲבָה בַּתַּעֲנוּגִים״], נוֹפֶלֶת לָאָדָם מֵאֵלֶיהָ מִלְמַעְלָה בְּלִי שֶׁיָּכִין וִיכַוֵּון לָהּ, אַךְ וְרַק אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְיַיגֵּעַ בְּ״יִרְאַת הָרוֹמְמוּת״, וְהִגִּיעַ לְתַכְלִית מַה שֶּׁיּוּכַל לְהַשִּׂיג מִמֶּנָּה לְפִי בְּחִינַת נִשְׁמָתוֹ, אֲזַי מִמֵּילָא בָּאָה הָ״אַהֲבָה בַּתַּעֲנוּגִים״ מִלְמַעְלָה, לִשְׁכּוֹן וּלְהִתְיַיחֵד עִם הַיִּרְאָה, כִּי ״דַּרְכּוֹ שֶׁל אִישׁ לְחַזֵּר כוּ׳״, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּלִקּוּטֵי אֲמָרִים.

But this great love [the ahavah betaanugim] comes to man by itself, from above, without him preparing and attuning himself for it; rather, only after he has exerted himself in yirat haromemut I:11b; Maimonides, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 11:2 and 4:12; Ikkarim 3:32. and has attained the maximum he is able to attain of that according to the level of his soul, then, of itself, the ahavah betaanugim comes from above to dwell and to become united with the yirah., Shaar Ahavat Hashem, Intro., ch. 3, and end of ch. 4. For “It is the way of man to go…,” III:27a].—Kiddushin 2b; see next note.—Love, thus, comes where awe is to be found already. Cf. Zohar III:145a-b. as explained in Likkutei Amarim., Part I, ch. 43. See also Likkutei Torah, Va’etchanan 7d; Siddur Im Dach 188a.

וְהַשֵּׁנִית – הִיא אַהֲבָה וְתַאֲוָה, שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ מִתְאַוָּה וְאוֹהֶבֶת וַחֲפֵיצָה לְדָבְקָה בַּה׳, לִצְרוֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים, וְקִרְבַת אֱלֹהִים טוֹב לָהּ מְאֹד, וּבוֹ תַּחְפּוֹץ, וְרַע לָהּ מְאֹד לְהִתְרַחֵק מִמֶּנּוּ יִתְבָּרֵךְ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לִהְיוֹת מְחִיצָה שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל מֵהַחִיצוֹנִים מַפְסֶקֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.

The second (type). is a love and desire that the soul desires, loves, and wishes to cleave to the L–rd, “to be bound up in the bundle of life.”, Shelach 51d (and references, ad loc.); below, Epistle 29. The proximity to G–d is very dear to her, and that is what she desires. It is most grievous for her to become, Heaven forfend, removed from Him, blessed be He, by having an iron partition of the chitzonim, brought about by sin, separate man from G–d; see Isaiah 59:2; Zohar II:116b and Tikkunei Zohar 69 (108b). Cf. Sefer Habahir 58 (196). separating, Heaven forfend.

וְאַהֲבָה זוֹ הִיא מוּסְתֶּרֶת בְּלֵב כְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲפִילוּ בִּרְשָׁעִים, וּמִמֶּנָּה בָּאָה לָהֶם הַחֲרָטָה.

This love is latent in the heart of all Israel, even in the wicked ones, and from it derives their remorse., ch. 25; cf. Nedarim 9b); see Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 11.

אַךְ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מוּסְתֶּרֶת וְנֶעְלָמָה בִּבְחִינַת גָּלוּת בַּגּוּף, הֲרֵי הַקְּלִיפָּה יְכוֹלָה לִשְׁלוֹט עָלֶיהָ, וְזֶהוּ רוּחַ שְׁטוּת הַמַּחֲטִיא לָאָדָם.

Though, because it is latent and concealed, in a state of exile in the body, it is possible for the kelipah to dominate over it; and that is the “spirit of folly” which causes man to sin. 3a.

וְעַל כֵּן, עֲבוֹדַת הָאָדָם לְקוֹנוֹ הִיא, לְהִתְחַזֵּק וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הַקְּלִיפָּה בַּכֹּל מִכֹּל כֹּל, דְּהַיְינוּ, מִתְּחִלָּה לְגָרְשָׁהּ מֵהַגּוּף לְגַמְרֵי, מִמַּחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁבְּמוֹחַ וְלָשׁוֹן וְרַמַ״ח אֵבָרִים, וְאַחַר כָּךְ, יוּכַל גַּם כֵּן ״לְהוֹצִיא מִמַּסְגֵּר אַסִּיר״ בְּחוֹזֶק יָד, דְּהַיְינוּ, לִהְיוֹת חָזָק וְ״אַמִּיץ לִבּוֹ בַּגִּבּוֹרִים״, לִהְיוֹת הָאַהֲבָה הַמְסוּתֶּרֶת נִגְלֵית בְּגִילּוּי רַב בְּכָל כֹּחוֹת חֶלְקֵי הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁבַּגּוּף. דְּהַיְינוּ, הָעִיקָּר בְּשֵׂכֶל וּבְמַחֲשָׁבָה שֶׁבַּמּוֹחַ, שֶׁהַשֵּׂכֶל יַחְשֹׁב וְיִתְבּוֹנֵן תָּמִיד כְּפִי שִׂכְלוֹ וְהַשְׂכָּלָתוֹ בַּבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרֵךְ, אֵיךְ שֶׁהוּא חַיֵּי הַחַיִּים בִּכְלָל וְחַיֵּי נִשְׁמָתוֹ בִּפְרָט.

Therefore man’s service to his Maker needs to be in strengthening himself and to prevail over the kelipah by all means. That is, first to expel it completely from the body—from the (faculties of) thought, speech, and action that are in the brain, tongue, and the 248 organs. After that he will also be able to “bring out the captive from prison”I.e., this love, from the dominion of the kelipah. with a strong hand. That is, “his heart is strong and steadfast among the valiant,” so that the love will become revealed in a state of great manifestation in all the powers of the parts of the soul in his body, i.e., mainly in the mind and in the (faculty of) thought of the brain, so that corresponding to its intellect and understanding the mind will constantly think and contemplate on the Creator, Blessed be He, how He is the Fountainhead of life in general, and of the life of his soul in particular.

וְעַל כֵּן יִכְסוֹף וְיִתְאַוֶּה לִהְיוֹת דָּבוּק בּוֹ וְקָרוֹב אֵלָיו, כּוֹסֶף טִבְעִי, כְּבֵן הַכּוֹסֵף לִהְיוֹת תָּמִיד אֵצֶל אָבִיו, וּכְמוֹ אֵשׁ הָעוֹלָה לְמַעְלָה תָּמִיד בְּטִבְעָהּ לִמְקוֹרָהּ. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁיַּתְמִיד לַחֲשׁוֹב בְּשִׂכְלוֹ כּוֹסֶף זֶה כָּכָה יִתְגַּבֵּר וְיִתְפַּשֵּׁט כּוֹסֶף זֶה גַּם בְּפִיו וּבְכָל אֵבָרָיו לַעֲסוֹק בְּתוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת, לְדָבְקָה בָהֶם בַּה׳ מַמָּשׁ, דְּ״אוֹרַיְיתָא וְקוּדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא כּוּלָּא חַד״.

Consequently, he will yearn and desire to become attached to Him, and near to Him, by an intrinsic yearning as that of a child that yearns to be constantly near his father, and as fire which by its very nature always rises upward to its source. And the more he continues to set his mind on this yearning, this yearning becomes correspondingly stronger and will extend even to his mouth and all his organs—to occupy himself with Torah and the commandments in order to truly cleave, through them, to G–d, for “the Torah and the Holy One, blessed is He, are entirely one.” II:90b; see also ibid., 60a and Kitzurim V’Hearot, p. 104 f. Cf. Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 23.

וְעַל כּוֹסֶף זֶה שֶׁבְּגִילּוּי רַב כְּתִיב: ״צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי וְגוֹ׳״, כְּאָדָם הַצָּמֵא לְמַיִם וְאֵין לוֹ תַּעֲנוּג עֲדַיִין כְּלָל.

Of this yearning, as it is in a state of great manifestation, it is written: “My soul thirsts…,” 4:6. like a person who thirsts for water, and, as yet, has no delight whatsoever.

וְגַם עַל כּוֹסֶף זֶה וְאַהֲבָה זוֹ הַמוּסְתֶּרֶת בָּנוּ, אָנוּ מַעְתִּירִים לַה׳ לִהְיוֹת בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ, לְהוֹצִיאָהּ מִמַּסְגֵּר, וְשֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַלֵּב מָלֵא מִמֶּנָּה לְבַדָּהּ, וְלֹא תִכָּנֵס צָרָתָהּ בְּבֵיתָהּ שֶׁהִיא תַּאֲוַת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, רַק שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הִיא עֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת לִמְשׁוֹל בְּצָרָתָהּ וּלְגָרְשָׁהּ הַחוּצָה מִמַּחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה עַל כָּל פָּנִים, הֲגַם שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְשַׁלְּחָהּ לְגַמְרֵי מִלִּבּוֹ, עַל כָּל פָּנִים תִּהְיֶה הִיא מוּסְתֶּרֶת בִּבְחִינַת גָּלוּת וְעַבְדוּת לַעֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת גְּבִרְתָּהּ, לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהּ לִדְבָרִים הֶכְרֵחִים לָהּ לְבַד, כַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, כְּדִכְתִיב: ״בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ״:

Also, of this yearning and of this love concealed in us we pray to G–d to aid us in bringing it out from imprisonment, and that the heart be full of it alone; and that its “rival-wife,” i.e., the mundane desires, do not enter its house., Teitzei 37d ff. for this homily of the “two wives” as corresponding to the divine and the natural souls. Rather, (this yearning and love) be the mistress of the house, to rule over her “rival-wife” and to expel her at least from one’s thought, speech, and action. Though one cannot expel her altogether from one’s heart, she should at least be hidden, in a state of exile and servitude to the mistress of the house, her mistress to make use of her for her own essentials only, as eating and drinking, as it is written: “In all your ways, know Him.” 3:2 ff.: “Whether engaged in commerce or in manual labor for profit, one’s heart should not be solely set on the accumulation of wealth, but he should do these things in order to obtain therewith his bodily needs…. Likewise, when he eats or drinks, his purpose should not be to secure physical gratification, etc., but solely to maintain his body in health and vigor, etc. Man should aim to maintain physical health and vigor in order that his soul may be upright, in a condition to know G–d…by all your ways know Him.”—See also the comment. by R. Levi Gersonides, and Tzavaat Harivash, on this verse.