Questions for today:
How do the messages here, emphasizing our physical impact, jive with the many statements emphasizing the study of Torah – which we learn seems to encompass our action?
We are learning bold concepts here. For example, that G-d appreciates our physical action in this material world more than anything else.
These statements need to stand up not just to the intuitive logic we're describing here, but to every other statement in the Torah – every lesson is part of one true Torah.
Therefore, when the sages say that “when we study Torah it's compared to every other commandment”, it seems to fly in the face of everything we're learning - Isn't the study of Torah a spiritual pursuit?
Today’s Tanya says, no. We study Torah with our materialistic intellect, with our materialistic speech.
Not only are we refining those, we're refining a much more authoritative aspect of the animal soul.
In fact, the G-dliness that we tap into when we study Torah, unlike the G-dly life force in our fingers and our toes, is like the life force in G-d's brain - a much more inherent life force.
Also, when we study Torah, Torah is like water. Water comes down "as it is" and finds the "lowest plane".
099 Tanya Adar 28 ~ m120b Tanya Adar II, 20b
Tanya book 1, ch 37, Pt 8
Today we mourn the passing of a dear friend and teacher, Mr. Chaim Hein.
Mr. Hein taught my very rambunctious class math, and I still remember the classes fondly.
At the end of each of these videos, I sign off with the phrase "have a good one", a phrase that I picked up from a then young Rabbi Sholtiel Lebovik, who led our class to bring the Chanukah holiday spirit to the town of Mountain Lakes - organized by Mr. Hein. May his memory live on with the warmest blessings.
Today's Tanya explains how our discussion of -Gd's preference of material action fits with the statement of the sages, that the study of Torah is compared to all of the commandments.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=3/23/2022
See today’s video: