Questions for today:
Before I speak, before I feel, before I understand, there is a stimulant that starts it all. What is this spark that initiates everything that we tend to call “faith”?
We're starting the fourth book of the Tanya. In this book the author sends letters to the Jewish community to give them strength. The author also gives insight into some of the fundamentals of Judaism.
The first letter gives insight into the study of Torah and prayer.
The letter starts off explaining the fundamentals of faith.
Most people translate ‘faith’ as: ‘not as strong as intellect’. Perhaps, something that ‘we hope to be true’.
Judaism understands faith in the opposite way.
Our ‘intellect’ is only as strong as we are. However, if I ‘see’ an airplane fly, even if I don't understand that it's flying, the clarity is absolute.
And that's what we mean when we say faith, an absolute clarity in our awareness of the Creator that comes because of the illumination and inner awareness of our soul.
And that acts like the ‘thighs’ that are the foundation, on which the head rests.
This then develops an understanding of how the creator is in every iota of the universe, with specificity; every time, every space, every identity.
Separately the Creator is also ‘above everything’ equally, regardless of what they are.
And this understanding develops a love and awe that inspires everything that we do.
221 01 Tanya Menachem Av 3 ~ m249 01 Menachem Av 7
Tanya book 4, Essay 1, pt1
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=8/4/2022
See today’s video: