# Torah 24 - The Middle Of The World

> מקור: https://rabenu.app/books/kitvey-en/24/torah-24/

a) Know that there is a light which is above the lower soul (nefesh), the spirit ( ruach) and the higher soul (neshama) of the human souls. This is the light of the Infinite, blessed be He. It cannot be attained through the intellect. Yet, the mind endeavours to chase after it. It is through performing mitzvoth with joy that we can become worthy of attaining this light. We chase after it, only to encounter "that which holds back". This is an aspect of we can "reach and yet not reach". In this way nine palaces are created which are neither lights nor spirits or higher souls. It is impossible to remain attached to them. They cannot be known. Happy is he whose thoughts chase after this awareness, even though the mind has not the power to attain it. This is the ultimate knowledge of everything; an aspect of "the goal of knowledge is to know that we know nothing."

b) By the joy of the mitzvot, the realm of holiness is completed and one raise the life-force and holiness from among the husks. This being so, when you perform a mitzvah with joy one raises the Shechinah from among the husks.

c) A person has to keep very, very far away from sadness for the husks are an aspect of sadness and the power of the harsh judgements. When sadness becomes strong this is the exile of the Shechinah, for the Shechinah is the joy of Israel, as it says, "The joyful mother of the sons." (Psalms,113). The main way to nullify the husks and to raise the realm of holiness is through joy.

d) By the offering of incense, we raise the sparks of holiness from among the husks and merit to joy, as it says, "…incense rejoices the heart." (Proverbs, 27:8) Therefore one has to recite the incense offering (passage in the morning and evening prayer) with great concentration, for the main way of raising all the holy sparks from the depths of the husks is by the incense offering, and by this one merits to joy, as mentioned.

e) When a person performs a certain mitzvah, this mitzvah has the power to go and arouse all the worlds to the service of G-d. This draws a blessing to all the worlds. The main blessing from Above is intellect; when it comes into the world below each person receives it according to his desire. Therefore, someone who is strong spiritually should concentrate on directing his desire to receive a blessing of intellect. He also has to draw faith into this blessing of the intellect, for one mustn't rely on the intellect alone, as is known.

f ) The inner essence of the blessings which are drawn down by the mitzvoth bring a blessing to that which arranges and steadies the brain. This is an aspect of Keter (crown) which comes from the word 'katar' meaning 'wait' like it says, "Wait (katar) for me a little" (Job,36:2). That is like when a person is asked some wisdom and he answers 'wait till I think calmly about it.' Then one also needs faith.

g) This power of 'waiting' stands like a barrier before the brain and acts to hold back the brain's chase after the lights, for the brain chases after the light of the Infinite One, blessed is He. This power of 'waiting' is what arranges and steadies the brain and acts as a barrier between the brain and the light of the Infinite One. Through these two aspects of chasing and holding back, the brains strike each other and create a barrier. This is what properly arranges the brain and steadies it making a 'crown' (waiting). As a result of this, the nine palaces are created through which one perceives the light of the Infinite in an aspect of "reaching and not reaching"; that is to say the brain chases and reaches a perception, yet it doesn't reach or perceive. The nine palaces are created by the three brains (Chochma, Binah and Da'at) becoming joined during their chasing and their striking that which restrains, as mentioned. Since there are three brains and each one is included in the others, and three times three make nine, referring to the nine palaces. All this one merits to by performing mitzvoth with joy, as mentioned.

h) The main way of raising the realm of holiness is by joy. In the future the husks will be nullified completely by the tremendous increase in joy. Israel will come out of exile through joy, as is written, "In joy they will leave…" ( Isaiah, 55). Through the nations themselves, against their will, all the husks will be nullified, for the nations themselves, and with their own hands, will lead the Jews out of exile through the great joy there will be, as it says, "Then the nations will say… we are glad." (Psalms, 127). May it be speedily in our lifetime. Amen.