Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Avrohom Avinu's Path: Truth

הלכות גניבה ה"ה

(Painting by Miriam Schulman)

Avrohom Avinu was the first to reveal the truth of Hashem's oneness in the world. Therefore, he merited everything included in Torah 9 of the second volume in Likutei Moharan (and Torah 7 in LM I).  There, the Rebbe explains that through truth one is able to acquire Eretz Yisroel, prayer, faith in Hashem, and miracles.  Avrohom merited these items through his sincerity and simplicity, for Avrohom always conducted himself with simplicity and with truth, as our sages say, "The one who walks with simplicity - this is Avrohom." (Makos 24b)  Because of these traits that he possessed, Hashem commanded Avrohom to go to Eretz Yisroel.  And, by going to Eretz Yisroel Avrohom then meritted perfected prayer and faith in Hashem to the point that he was worthy of being included in every Shmoneh Esrei, as in "Elokei Avrohom, etc."  As such, anyone who desires to have perfect faith in Hashem and to pray to Him will say, "Elokei Avrohom."    

The Torah relates that "Lot went with him [Avrohom]," (Bereishis 12:4) to explain that by definition darkness will always be bound to holiness, for Lot always followed after Avrohom to create darkness for him.  Thus, we are taught that this is the main longing and service of the holy tzaddikim.  The tzaddikim must work to reveal the truth hidden within the darkness of falsehood.  This is the reason why Avrohom told Lot to separate from him - "If you go to the left I will go to the right."  Avrohom was indicating to Lot that he did not want to walk in his path, for if Lot wanted to confuse Avrohom via the left side, which is related to evil desires and thoughts, then he would go to the right, which is the path of Torah and truth.  However, if Lot preferred to go to the right, which in this case is the place of the evil inclination under the guise of mitzvos, then Avrohom conceded that he would go to the left, for nothing is worse then this falsehood of the "right".  

This is why Hashem told Avrohom to "go for himself" (לך לך).  Hashem implied that Avrohom should go to "himself" alone, to the essense of truth, which is Avrohom's essense and vitality.  

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Perfect Faith In Oneself

ל"ה - הלכות נחלות ד:ג

(Painting by Marc Chagall)

One must have perfect faith in Hashem - believing that He is the Creator of everything, that He controls and watches over everything, and that He has the power to change the course of events in any way He wishes and bless us with everything good.

And, just as one must have perfect faith in Hashem, so too must one have perfect faith in oneself.  One must have perfect faith that Hashem listens and attends to every single word spoken by every single Jew - even the lowest of the low.  Every single Jew has the power to accomplish what he needs through praying to Hashem truly and sincerely, as it is written, "Hashem is close to all who call Him." (Psalms 14:18)