Question for today: I can do or say things on command, but how do I love what I’m told to - or want to - love?
In Deuteronomy (30:14) there is a powerful and compelling verse. Speaking to an overwhelmed nation just waking up to the birth of their relationship with the creator and everything that it entails, Moses assures the people: “it is very close to you in your mouth, and in your heart, to do”.
This assurance, that not only we can live up to our responsibility to act and speak as we decide, but that we can actually determine our life’s compass – our inner love – has been life’s greatest enigma: Yes, Moses assures us, so clearly it’s accurate, but the path to this seems completely obscured.
Enter the Tanya:
What's a long and short path?
Today on the holiday the 19th of Kislev we study the opening page as well as various approbations to the Tanya.
On the opening page the author the first Rebbe of Chabad says that he's going to explain the verse where G-d says “it's very close to us” not just “to do”, not just “to say” - but “to feel in our hearts” - the commandments.
The Tanya is going to explain it in a long and short way.
The simple explanation of ‘long’ and ‘short’ is, that there's going to be a long explanation and a short explanation.
However, it reminds of a story in the Talmud. Rabbi Shimon Ben Chananya is told by a child of a path that city that's “short and long” and another that’s “Long and short”. He takes the short and long way and when he's almost by the city it's blocked by orchards.
This is what the alter Rebbe is saying. There are shortcuts to love G-d: You'll go to Jerusalem or stand by a righteous person and you will feel love of G-d… but you'll be blocked, because your questions will still be there.
Take the path of the Tanya.
Take the long explanation, detail by detail of every part of the soul and every part of G-d, and when we get that love all those questions will be gone.
Study the full text online: https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=11/23/2021
View today's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udJyt0vKpTQ&list=PLFZQPK6u-zSBls9Hwx3P5vKI_BRnjBvHe&index=2&t=0s