Questions for today:
What is it that is so – uniquely – potent about mitzvahs, that they welcome G-d’s very self into us, moreso than our love, awe, and even Torah learning, for G-d?
Worst. Date. Ever.
The guy spends an hour talking about himself and what kind of amazing quarterback he was in high school. He goes on about the tension of the last game and how he threw this clutch touchdown, it was unbelievable.
After an hour, he looks at his date and he and says, “you know, I haven't been asking you about your feelings. What do you think about me saving the whole school with that touchdown?”
It's not usually as extreme as this, but the truth is that anytime we're in a relationship with somebody we love and respect, there's some self-serving aspect.
The Tanya tells us that for our relationship with the Creator, we should focus on physical mitzvos which will help us turn our focus away from ourselves and towards the Creator.
When you look at a fire, the oil doesn't love the flame. Rather, it becomes nullified and one with the flame.
When I love the Creator emotionally, it’s about my emotions for the Creator. However, when I do physical actions, such as wrap myself in tefillin, light Shabbos candles, or give money to charity, it's not about me. Through doing mitzvos, I'm becoming transparent and humble to the Creator’s desire.
088 Tanya Adar 17 ~ m106 Adar II, 6
Tanya book 1, ch 35, Pt 3
When I love, it is still with a capital “I”. When we do G-d's commandments, we are humble and transparent, one with the Creator's desire.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=3/9/2022
See today’s video:
youtube.com/watch?v=laXngFqQB50&list=PLFZQPK6u-zSBls9Hwx3P5vKIBRnjBvHe&index=89