RETRIEVING A SWALLOWED SOUL
Pinchas - Mattos - Three Weeks
This year, Parshas Pinchas is the first Shabbos of the Three Weeks. For the Haftorah we substitute the usual Haftorah with the Haftorah of Mattos, the first of the three Haftaros of retribution.
The last Posuk of the Haftorah reads קודש ישראל לה' ראשית תבואתו כל אוכליו יאשמו. “Yisroel is holy to Hashem, the first of His grain. All who devour him will bear guilt…”
In Likkutei Torah, the Alter Rebbe gives a deep explanation of the inner meaning of these words.
Yisroel is holy to Hashem: Every Jew is called Yisroel. he name Yisroel was given to Yakov after his wrestle with the angel of Eisav because “you have striven with Elokim… and prevailed.” Yisroel refers to the Neshama which prevails over the concealment of the animalistic soul and its desires. Concealment is associated with the Divine name Elokim, the dimensions of G-dliness which are hidden within Creation.
In contrast, the level of Yisroel which prevails over Elokim, is “holy to Hashem” - connected to the name י-ה-ו-ה which relates to transcendent levels of G-dliness. Through keeping Torah and Mitzvos, the Neshama draws these transcendent revelations of G-dliness into the world of Creation.
The first of His grain: Like a seed that is planted in the ground, the Neshama descends down into this world. Just as one plants a seed for the abundant produce that will grow, the Neshama generates abundance in the form of the additional G-dly light that it draws down through its service of Hashem.
All who devour him: This does not refer to the enemies of the Jewish people who seek to destroy us from without. Rather it refers to one who “devours” their own G-dly soul, their Yisroel. When we allow the negative drives of our animalistic soul to become dominant, our G-dly soul becomes swallowed up and unable to shine within us. This happens when we succumb to anger, arrogance and worldly desires.
יאשמו: What can we do when our Yisroel, the light of our Neshama is swallowed up? How can it be restored? The Novi teaches יאשמו, that they shall bear their guilt. The word יאשמו can also imply that they should bring a Korban Asham. A Korban Asham had to be brought for the sin of Me’ilah. Me’ilah is the misuse of holy items or property that was consecrated, for one’s own personal benefit.
Someone who committed Me’ilah and misused holy property, had to repay its principal value and add an additional Chomesh, literally one fifth.
Halacha calculates this fifth as being one fourth of the principal, so that the value of the Chomesh is a fifth of the combined value of the principal and Chomesh. For example, if the consecrated item was worth $80, the Chomesh would be $20, which is one fifth of the $100 total. The Chomesh is calculated as being “outside” or beyond the principal.
When one allows their Neshama (which is holy to Hashem) to be swallowed up by their animalistic self, they have committed an act of Me’ilah. Compensating for this misuse requires paying a spiritual Chomesh.
There are four lower levels of the Neshama which parallel the four Kabbalistic worlds. These levels of the Neshama are actualised and expressed in keeping Torah and Mitzvos on a day-to-day basis. They correspond to the four letters of Hashem’s name י-ה-ו-ה, to which the Neshama is connected.
When a person’s Yisroel is swallowed up, they committed Me’ilah on these four levels. They were not strong enough to prevail over the animalistic soul and they alone are no longer sufficient. One needs to reach deeper and access the fifth and deepest level of the Neshama, its essential bond and absolute unwavering devotion to Hashem, the Yechida.
The Yechida is our source of strength and Mesiras Nefesh to overcome all obstacles and challenges to our service of Hashem. When our Yechida is activated, our animalistic soul and its desires evaporate, redeeming the lower dimensions of our conscious soul and bringing us to true Teshuvah, return to Hashem.
The last Posuk of the Haftorah reads קודש ישראל לה' ראשית תבואתו כל אוכליו יאשמו. “Yisroel is holy to Hashem, the first of His grain. All who devour him will bear guilt…”
In Likkutei Torah, the Alter Rebbe gives a deep explanation of the inner meaning of these words.
Yisroel is holy to Hashem: Every Jew is called Yisroel. he name Yisroel was given to Yakov after his wrestle with the angel of Eisav because “you have striven with Elokim… and prevailed.” Yisroel refers to the Neshama which prevails over the concealment of the animalistic soul and its desires. Concealment is associated with the Divine name Elokim, the dimensions of G-dliness which are hidden within Creation.
In contrast, the level of Yisroel which prevails over Elokim, is “holy to Hashem” - connected to the name י-ה-ו-ה which relates to transcendent levels of G-dliness. Through keeping Torah and Mitzvos, the Neshama draws these transcendent revelations of G-dliness into the world of Creation.
The first of His grain: Like a seed that is planted in the ground, the Neshama descends down into this world. Just as one plants a seed for the abundant produce that will grow, the Neshama generates abundance in the form of the additional G-dly light that it draws down through its service of Hashem.
All who devour him: This does not refer to the enemies of the Jewish people who seek to destroy us from without. Rather it refers to one who “devours” their own G-dly soul, their Yisroel. When we allow the negative drives of our animalistic soul to become dominant, our G-dly soul becomes swallowed up and unable to shine within us. This happens when we succumb to anger, arrogance and worldly desires.
יאשמו: What can we do when our Yisroel, the light of our Neshama is swallowed up? How can it be restored? The Novi teaches יאשמו, that they shall bear their guilt. The word יאשמו can also imply that they should bring a Korban Asham. A Korban Asham had to be brought for the sin of Me’ilah. Me’ilah is the misuse of holy items or property that was consecrated, for one’s own personal benefit.
Someone who committed Me’ilah and misused holy property, had to repay its principal value and add an additional Chomesh, literally one fifth.
Halacha calculates this fifth as being one fourth of the principal, so that the value of the Chomesh is a fifth of the combined value of the principal and Chomesh. For example, if the consecrated item was worth $80, the Chomesh would be $20, which is one fifth of the $100 total. The Chomesh is calculated as being “outside” or beyond the principal.
When one allows their Neshama (which is holy to Hashem) to be swallowed up by their animalistic self, they have committed an act of Me’ilah. Compensating for this misuse requires paying a spiritual Chomesh.
There are four lower levels of the Neshama which parallel the four Kabbalistic worlds. These levels of the Neshama are actualised and expressed in keeping Torah and Mitzvos on a day-to-day basis. They correspond to the four letters of Hashem’s name י-ה-ו-ה, to which the Neshama is connected.
When a person’s Yisroel is swallowed up, they committed Me’ilah on these four levels. They were not strong enough to prevail over the animalistic soul and they alone are no longer sufficient. One needs to reach deeper and access the fifth and deepest level of the Neshama, its essential bond and absolute unwavering devotion to Hashem, the Yechida.
The Yechida is our source of strength and Mesiras Nefesh to overcome all obstacles and challenges to our service of Hashem. When our Yechida is activated, our animalistic soul and its desires evaporate, redeeming the lower dimensions of our conscious soul and bringing us to true Teshuvah, return to Hashem.