[The Alter Rebbe now concludes what he began to elucidate (in chapter 51) concerning the statement of the Yenuka in the Zohar - that the light of the Shechinah which shines above the head of a person needs oil.

The Yenuka concludes, "...and these are good deeds" - the oil is the performance of the mitzvot.

In chassidic literature, however, oil traditionally refers to wisdom.

What is the connection between the performance of mitzvot - and wisdom, which is called oil?

The Alter Rebbe explains that the light of the Shechinah must garb itself in wisdom, which is oil.

For (as previously explained) wisdom, or intellect, is the vessel and "garment" for the light of the Shechinah, which is - Chochmah as it is garbed in Torah.

Yet, in order to draw down the light of the Shechinah so that it will shine upon the divine soul of the Jew, more than oil is necessary; one must also have a wick.

Oil is transformed into light through the medium of a wick. It is the wick, which itself is burned, which keeps the fire from being extinguished.

In spiritual terms the wick refers to the vivifying soul which provides the person with physical life. This wick is burned through Torah and mitzvot.

Just as the physical wick burns and is annihilated by the fire, so do the garments of thought, speech and action of the vivifying soul become burned in the light of the Shechinah through the Torah and mitzvot which a Jew studies and performs.

It is for this reason that the oil must also consist of "good deeds," mitzvot, which have their source in G-d's wisdom;

Torah alone (even though it is itself wisdom) does not suffice. For only through the action required by the mitzvot will the light of the Shechinah be drawn down into the wick - the vivifying soul.

This is accomplished when the vivifying soul is burned thoroughly in the light of the Shechinah which shines on one's head].

And this is what the Yenuka [in Zohar, quoted in chapter 35], meant when he said that "the Supernal light that is kindled on his [the Jew's] head, namely, the Shechinah, requires oil," that is, to be clothed in wisdom, which is called "the oil of the holy anointing" - [and "holy" signifies Chochmah, or wisdom], as is explained in the Zohar.

[Thus, the light of the Shechinah which is upon one's head is in need of oil, i.e., it must be garbed in Chochmah, for that is the vessel for the light of the Shechinah.

The Zohar then quotes the conclusion of the statement of the Yenuka]:

"And these are the good deeds," namely, the 613 commandments, which derive from His wisdom.

[Torah, which is itself oil, does not suffice; there must also be good deeds - the performance of the mitzvot, although they are only drawn down from wisdom].

Thereby the light of the Shechinah can cling to the wick, i.e., the vivifying soul in the body, which is metaphorically called a "wick".

For just as in the case of a material candle, the light shines by virtue of the annihilation and burning of the wick turning to fire, so does the light of the Shechinah rest on the divine soul, [which is the candle - "The soul of man is the candle of the L-rd"].

As a result of the annihilation of the animal soul and its transformation from darkness [of kelipah] to light [of holiness], and from bitterness of [kelipat nogah] to sweetness [of holiness], in the case of the righteous - [for tzaddikim (as mentioned in chapter 10) are those who transform the essence of the animal soul, its intellect and emotion, from evil into goodness and holiness].

Or at least through the destruction of its garments, which are thought, speech and action - [which previously were garments of the vivifying soul, which is a soul of kelipah], and their transformation from the darkness of the kelipot to the Divine light of the Ein Sof, which is clothed and united in the thought, speech and action of the 613 commandments of the Torah, in the case of the Beinonim.

[Beinonim, as explained in chapter 12, do not transform the essence of the vivifying soul into goodness and holiness.

Only the soul-garments of thought, speech and action are transformed to goodness through being utilized for the thought, speech and action of the Torah and the mitzvot.

In this sense the wick of the vivifying soul is annihilated, and is transformed into the light of holiness].

For as a result of the transformation of the animal soul, originating from kelipat nogah, from [the] darkness [of kelipot], to [the] light [of holiness], and so forth, there is brought about the so-called "ascent of the feminine waters" - the spiritual awakening on the initiative of the recipient, which in turn causes an arousal Above, to draw down the light of the Shechinah [not only like the oil of Chochmah and Torah which is but a vessel for receiving the light of the Shechinah, but actually drawing down the light of the Shechinah], i.e., revealed light of the Ein Sof, over one's divine soul principally dwelling in the brain of the head.

[This is why the Yenuka says, "The Supernal light that is kindled over one's head requires oil," for the light that is over one's head and "intelligence" is in need of the oil of the "good deeds]."

Thereby one may clearly understand the text, [9] "For the L-rd Your G-d is a consuming fire."

[Just as fire can only catch on an object when that object is being consumed by it, so, too, regarding the light of the Shechinah.

In order for G-d to become "your G-d," illuminating the Jew's soul, there must be consumption by fire - burning and annihilating the wick of the vivifying soul, so that this soul of kelipah be transformed into the fire of holiness.

As is explained elsewhere [10] - [that only when a Jew succeeds in nullifying himself to G-d in a manner where he ceases to exist as an independent entity, and is consumed in the flames of G-dliness, - only then will he draw down upon himself the light of the Shechinah].

   

Notes:

9. (Back to text) Devarim 4:24.

10. (Back to text) Note of the Rebbe Shlita: "This possibly refers to what appears in Likkutei Torah, beginning of Acharei."

Conclusion of The First Part [of the Tanya],
with the help of G-d, may He be blessed and exalted.

[With this we completed the first of the 5 parts of the Tanya.]