Rectifying a Blemish in One's Da'as Through Eating

ל:ה - הלכות נטילת ידים ב:טו

A vessel that once belonged to a non-Jew requires immersion in a mikveh before it is fit for a Jew to prepare food with it.  The akum, which corresponds to secularism and nature, are the basis of tumah.  And, a vessel will not depart from their ownership to Jewish ownership, which is kedusha, until it has been immersed in a mikveh.    The mikveh corresponds to Hashem's providence and da'as, which relates to, "The Earth will be filled with knowledge (דעה) of Hashem as the waters fill the sea." (Isaiah 11:9)  It is imperative that the food a Jew eats has tremendous kedusha.  And, the essence of a food's kedusha is through one's da'as, which reveals Hashem's providence [over the world].

Adam transgressed the prohibition of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  The Tree of Knowledge corresponds to secular wisdom, which confuses good and evil.  This is the da'as of the Other Side, which by definition is a blemish in Holy da'as.  And, the main aspect of this blemish was through the act of eating.  Now, the rectification of this blemish is specifically through faith, as in, "and cherish faithfulness" (Tehillim 37:3) like the Rebbe explains in Torah 62.  When a Jew does not eat with kedusha he has blemished his da'as, which relates to Hashem's providence, and he falls into the errors of secular wisdom, as is written, "lest you have eaten and will be satisfied and your heart will be lifted up and you will forget Hashem your God, etc.  And you will say in your heart that 'my power and the might of my hand earned this wealth." (Devarim 8)  This refers to when a person relies completely on natural occurrences, Heaven forbid, that is, for his livelihood, his strength, and the might of his own hands.  He never thinks to thank Hashem for any of these things.  This relates to a blemish of the hands - a blemish of the 28 knuckles and joints of the hands, which relate to the 28 letters in the first verse of the account of Creation.  Hashem watches and attends to everything at all times.  He gives strength (כ"ח - 28), literally 28, for Hashem watches and sustains the world through the 28 letters of Creation.  Therefore, every Jew must sanctify his food in holiness.

Purity is Rooted in Our Desires

ליקוטי הלכות: הלכות דם, הלכה א:יא

All of the impurities draw their energy from one's evil cravings, meaning that a person craves and yearns, Heaven forbid, for evil desires.  Every person needs to prevent the desires of his heart, and to accustom himself to always crave and long for holy desires, for Hashem, and serving Him.  And, this too is an aspect of the purity of the mikveh, for the mikveh is an aspect of the waters of kindness that are made through holy desires.  And, through them (holy desires) one is purified from all of the impurities, and is worthy of having Torah revealed to him, which is also an aspect of water as is known. 

(The Ari z"l's mikveh)

I hear time and time again that the point of Judaism is about the deed, and that one's thoughts have no consequence.  So many people think that while they must act in accordance with halacha and Jewish social norms, their minds are free to have a mental mardi-gras frat party.  There's nothing that could be further from the truth, because action, emotion, overall well being, and connection to Hashem are rooted in thought.

What's interesting about what Reb Nosson says is that tuma isn't nourished or perpetuated by one's evil actions. Rather, he says that tuma draws from one's thoughts.  The evil that exists in this world is fed by one's evil desires and cravings regardless of whether or not that person acts on such desires.  Even if he decides to ignore those thoughts the damage has been done. 

Reb Nosson stresses the importance of always thinking about spiritual matters and serving Hashem, because such thoughts have the power of a mikveh.  As soon as one begins to think about holiness all of the tuma that benefited from one's evil thoughts are now washed away, and one can return to Hashem.  Amazing.