Kabbalah/Chassidut

CHANUKAH TWILIGHT

Free translation and adaptation of a discourse by
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Chanukah 5714 (1953)

This maamer elaborates a discourse by
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dov Baer Schneerson
Chanukah 5654 (1893)

by Rabbi David Rothschild

 

Part 2 (of 2)

 

C

Contemporary Sun-Worship

Bowing to the sun finds expression even today. A person's mind can be totally consumed in making a living. His head, so to speak, bows before the sun - a spiritual form of sun worship.

Pagans worship the sun because they consider it to be the source of their well being. Therefore it becomes them to honor the sun. In truth, their life-force comes from G-d. It's just that G-d relegated the planets and constellations as intermediaries -- an ax in the hands of someone felling a tree. Just as it is ludicrous to praise an ax, so too to ascribe power to the planets. But non-Jews consider the planets as their provider; so they worship them.

A person sunk in business affairs puts his whole mind to his work. He considers his business to be the cause of his livelihood. In truth, though, "G-d nourishes the world in His Goodness, Kindness, and Mercy." Business is but a vessel in which to receive G-d's sustenance. It is unnecessary to submerge his intellect into business; if he does, it is modern day sun worship.


Soul Searching

The way to correct this problem is through soul searching. Then a person won't even desire unneeded possessions. This is because when he recognizes his spiritual inadequacy, how could he possibly consider he deserves something.

How does one reach this self-awareness? In order to be a receptacle for G-d's blessings a person has to refine his character until he becomes devoid of extraneous desires. He must make himself into "an empty vessel." For a "full vessel" [already loaded with desires and pride] has no room to receive.

A person has to nourish his body with food and drink. Only with a healthy body can one serve G-d. But the well being of his body isn't dependent on pleasure and desire in food. When a person contemplates his preoccupation in satiating unnecessary desires, he realizes his unworthiness. Now he is an empty vessel.


Faith Meditation

Liberation from spiritual sun worship can also be accomplished by strengthening one's faith. G-d, after all, provides sustenance for the entire universe. G-d is likewise capable of providing his particular livelihood. His anxiety concerning his livelihood is unnecessary. For G-d can sustain him in an altogether different manner. Although he may not understand from where this alternative source of income will materialize, nevertheless he must strengthen his faith that this is truly the case.

Primordial Thought

A person's insufficient comprehension about G-d's ways needn't weaken his faith. The Zohar writes, "No thought can grasp G-d." This "thought" refers to the primordial mind of Adam. In Kabbala, this thought is the first manifestation of creation, albeit in potential. At the initial point of creation, G-d created a vision which encompassed the totality of space and time. Everything that would ever exist was contained in this first thought.

Being that even this highest of all possible thoughts can't understand G-d, it isn't at all surprising that an individual, possessing but meager human intelligence, fails to understand G-d's ways. He should rather strengthen his faith in the realization that G-d can provide his needs in some other manner. In doing so he'll escape the tribulations of falling head over into business - modern sun worship.


Ancient Example

The Greeks waged spiritual war against the Jews. Their aim was to force the abandonment of Torah and mitzvahs. The Greeks, who worshiped the sun shield, wished to eliminate G-d's presence from the world. Victory was attained due to the Hashmanites' strengthened faith. Likewise in the battle against spiritual sun worship - excessive reliance on one's success in business -- the solution is increased faith in
G-d.


D

Foolish Greeks

King Solomon says in Proverbs, "The lips of the wise adorn knowledge; but the hearts of the foolish do not" (15:7). The Midrash identifies "the lips of the wise" as Israel [who embody the truth of the holy Torah]. The [secular members of the] world's nations are "fools" because they consider the world to be abtumtous. This Greek term translates as self-moving, self-growing and spontaneous.

The Midrash explains the end of Proverb's verse, "do not." Jews look upon every creature and declare "It is thus." G-d does create the world! [At the end of each of the six days of Creation G-d said, "It is thus."] But when non-Jews view creation they posit, "It is not. Rather, the world is abtumtous." They regard the universe as separate from G-d.

[Even though G-d may have originally created the universe, He is no longer involved. The world operates independent of G-d, i.e. Nature.]

"Foolishness" refers to the wisdom of the secular, non-Jewish world. When the Greeks (the embodiment of this wisdom) entered the Temple they deliberately defiled ritual olive oil. On a spiritual level, this act implies the contamination of wisdom, which oil symbolizes. They Greeks designed to replace Torah wisdom with their own. They and their successors do possess wisdom. But Proverbs call it foolishness.

King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastics, "I saw an advantage of wisdom over nonsense." The Zohar depicts this "nonsense" as the Greek-type wisdom of the nations.


Wisdom Refines

Non-Jewish secular wisdom produces division whereas Torah wisdom engenders nullification. The Torah informs us how everything in the universe is continuously recreated. Not only does a spiritual light from G-d first bring objects into existence, their continued state of existence is also animated by this light. Should the light be withdrawn for only an instant, the object would vanish into thin air. The very existence of the object is in fact the light.

That's why the wisdom of Torah induces nullification. The object knows it is completely dependent on G-d for its very existence. This realization not only informs and subsequently humbles the intellect, it acts on emotions as well. Emotions usually feel themselves as independent powers. A person who experiences love would say, "I love." Nevertheless, Torah wisdom also refines and nullifies one's feelings.


High-brow Debauchery

The exact opposite is true for secular non-Jewish wisdom. Their knowledge examines a creation devoid of a sustaining spiritual light. The world is seen as a separate existence not dependent on G-d. They just see the world. Its components are broken down and analyzed into smaller and smaller parts. The subject of their wisdom is a self-existing existence. The greater their wisdom, greater is their own self-existence.

This methodology influences their already self-feeling emotions to become utterly narcissistic and ultimately evil. Many intellectual giants of the non-Jewish world were not only immoral, but also wicked. Their vast knowledge couldn't help them. The explanation is that non-Jewish wisdom increases ego and separation from spirituality.

King Solomon quotes their approach in his Proverbs. When beholding the world, they declare "It is not!" There is no G-d who sustains creation. It is their very thought process which forces this conclusion. That's why Solomon called them fools.

In constant, Torah wisdom beholds the spiritual light continuously recreating the world. It effects a humbling self-nullification toward G-d. The unity of G-d and all of creation is understood.


Soul Glitter

An intellectual appreciation of G-d, though, is insufficient. One can comprehend G-d's constant presence in the world. But spirituality isn't actually seen. It can't be. In the Future Era this light will be revealed for all to behold. For the time being, though, it can't possibly be perceived by finite beings. That's why Solomon said, "The lips of the wise crown knowledge."

A crown encompasses the head from above. Wisdom resides in the brain. Crown refers to the spiritual capacity which operates above intellect. Jewish souls possess an innate faculty whose boundlessness forestalls its entering the body. This trait, distinct to Jews, is called faith.

[Jewish souls originate from the vessels of the World of Emanation. This world is above the source of creation. Souls descend from there to enter physical bodies. Only the "finite" properties of the soul make the plunge. The "infinite" properties, so to speak, stay behind. They influence the body from above. As this aspect of the soul remains in its original position - a place above the source of creation - it observes the continuous act of recreation taking place below it. This perception is above finite letters of thought. It is cognizant, though, as faith.]

One can become muddled in private affairs to the extent that G-d disappears from the picture. A person could deduce his success or failings are the consequence of his personal ability, shortcomings or luck. He'll forget the fact G-d directs everything that happens to him.

Solomon advises, "adorn knowledge": strengthen your faith. Meditate on the process of continuous re-creation. Faith then is both a necessity in general and a remedy for those befuddled by the Greek outlook.

[The Hebrew word for faith translates as "practice"; that is, repeat the meditation. Gradually, the crown of the soul above will succeed in its task. Its direct perception of G-d will sparkle below into the person's consciousness.]


E

Starlight

This explains why Chanukah candles are lit after sunset. The lights strengthen one's faith in G-d. Faith, in turn, causes "the setting of the sun:" the abandonment of the erroneous Greek tenet that the universe exists independent of G-d. For eight days the menorah radiates light. This is identical to the holiday of Succot, which also lasts eight days.

A succah isn't kosher if more sunlight penetrates the roof than shade. Elimination of sunlight is analogous to the spiritual effect to Chanukah.

The roof's branches, though, must be sufficiently thin to allow starlight to shine between them. Stars are embedded in the eighth firmament, illustrating a level which transcends the world. [The seven days of the week correspond to the seven seferahs which enact creation.] In a Jewish soul, this eighth level is the crown of faith. Faith causes the sun to set. That's why both Succoth and Chanukah last eight days.


Chanukah Messiah

By observing these mitzvahs which embody the transcendence of reality, the ultimate transcendence of G-d's Essence is revealed. In the merit of strengthening one's faith, the Messiah will arrive. The Messiah himself is called the "unique one" in relation to the Eight Shepherds of Israel. Then he will consummate G-d's desire to be revealed in this world.

 


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