Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Work will make you more free!

Tonight I'm in Crown Heights for Shmuelie Raitman's Lchaim (he was my shliach in YOEC) and I'm too tired to write anything new and exciting, so here's a nice rehash from November 1, 2007, edited for clarity and whatnot. Enjoy.

The maamar I chose, totally at random, was "And Israel said to Joseph", said in Weisbaden by the Rebbe Rashab in 1911. This Maamar was (is) so cool that I figured I had to share it with you, so I will.

What is the difference between Shabbos and the rest of the week? On Shabbos we rest, while during the week we work. Or at least some of us do. Anyway, the spiritual difference is in how the G-dly soul is enclothed in the animal soul. See, there are two ways. The first is when the G-dly soul totally dominates, and the animal in all of us is totally nullified. So that's pretty cool, and it's what happens on Shabbos, and for Tzaddikim, all the time. Have you ever noticed how everything looks better on Shabbos, the food tastes better, people are nicer, your favorite sports teams win (unless of course someone else's favorite teams win), even the grass is greener (on your side)? This is all because the G-dly soul is dominating.

And on the weekday? Sure, the G-dly soul is enclothed in the animal one, but now it's not dominating at all. In fact, it's in exile. But it still retains some power, and let's say it causes the animal soul to learn a little, or to do a Mitzva. Then the animal soul becomes nullified on its own, because it understands how great G-d is, and it wants to participate. Isn't that beautiful? Ah, but like everything in life there's a caveat: two people can hear the same exact thing, but one of them gets it, and feels the almighty L-rd, and the other doesn't, so he just feels his own gross temporal existence. And this means that even the guy who gets it doesn't really get it, because he still feels himself, because he isn't nullified.

So what's the point of all this? Why not just have Shabbos all the time? In fact, when Moshaich comes, every day will be like Shabbos, in the sense that the G-dly soul will transform the animal soul, making it a partner in the fight for good and justice. Or something like that. But again, why not now? Why the long wait? Firstly, I have no idea. And secondly, man's whole purpose in this vale of tears is to transform this valley in the shadow of death into a place where you'll be happy to bring your kids up. That is of course if you have kids.

And how do we transform this world into a great place? By working hard. Through our struggle we can change the world.

Now, wasn't all the above inspiring? But it taught me at least one thing; that unless you get it you'll get nowhere, and the only way to get it is to try and get it. Deep, eh?

46 comments:

le7 said...

Deep as the Grand Canyon... or my imaginary bowl of chocolate pudding.

((There she goes again, steering the conversation towards food)).

Just like a guy said...

I prefer vanilla pudding.

le7 said...

I prefer chocolate, vanilla and caramel pudding.

Just like a guy said...

As in, all together?

le7 said...

Correct.

Just like a guy said...

Isn't that expensive?

bonne said...

Look! I'm being righteous! Look! Look! Ahem,
that was a lovely ma'amer. Very moving and I read it whilst eating asparagus so they're elevated now.

e said...

LE7 & TRS: you guys are cute. mottel (when he comes here): nya nya nya nya

le7 said...

I dunno. I was eating this during the Pre-Kosher-Elisheva-Era when I lived on my mother's tab...

Just like a guy said...

Sara: What does being righteous have to do with anything?

e: thanks.

Re: Mottel: I second that.

le7: Ahh.

e said...

The pig says, "look, i'm being righteous" as he sticks out his split hooves.

Just like a guy said...

Ouch!

bonne said...

I mentioned the ma'amer, der.
And e, I'm so righteous I don't even know what that is.

e said...

Damn! i clicked cancel on that last comment. i regretted being so nasty. apparanty it was too late. i feel like a toothpaste tube. sorry sarah.

Just like a guy said...

der?

le7 said...

You're a big toothpaste tube!

bonne said...

der is more original than duh.

I forgive you e. Now go brush your teeth.

Just like a guy said...

So now explain why this was a "duh" moment.

bonne said...

Doesn't mentioning a ma'amar, or at least attempting to steer conversation in it's direction make me righteous?

Just like a guy said...

Oh yes, I see your point now. Excellent. A righteous woman you are.

La-Z-Boy said...

What happened to your monologue on giant Freez-Pops and American spending habits? Not that I'm complaining... ;)

Modeh B'Miktsas said...

Let's talk about food and mashkeh. Or at the very least nigleh.

Just like a guy said...

La-Z-Boy: I've seen the light!

Modeh: What, toichen is too much for you to handle?

La-Z-Boy said...

I'm glad! Now that you have seen the light, I'm going to present you with your very own giant Freez-Pop. Does that mean that you'll stop hitting me with your twirling-keychain-of-death?

Altie said...

The animal soul is never fully nullified, even on shabbos.

Whats the source for the maamar?

Just like a guy said...

La-Z-Boy: Ahh, all is revealed. It's not a twirling keychain of death, it's a life-giving scepter of love.

Altie: Ever heard of ishapcha?

"And Israel said to Joseph", said in Weisbaden by the Rebbe Rashab in 1911. Go look it up.

e said...

laz-y-boy, are you a Morristown bochur?

Just like a guy said...

Depends what you define bochur as.

Mottel said...

Your title quotes the words of great men . . . yes, Arbeit macht frei.

Just like a guy said...

Yes, there's a word "intentional". Look it up.

e said...

guys, let's not fight. (I just left a nasty comment on my blog, but still.) Let's just hold hands and sing, while drinking our respective favorite beverages and be one big happy family.

Just like a guy said...

Workers of the world unite!!

e said...

the socialists are really active here in City College.

Just like a guy said...

And have you joined yet?

e said...

I have joined. I started getting food stamps and Pell grants.

Just like a guy said...

Excellent. Big Brother will be over later to draw blood and enter your DNA into the database...

Modeh B'Miktsas said...

E: Ah kalledge sheigetz?
TRS: Toichen: lit insides. Let's talk about what's inside me. That is to say not enough food and not nearly enough mashke.

Just like a guy said...

Modeh: You're such a snag. A Lubavitcher would solve these problems, especially the second, not complain about it the blogosphere.

e said...

modeh:

1. indeed I am.

2. My roommate's l'chaim (is it a "vort" in snagspeak?) is tonight. Come party with Mottel and me.

La-Z-Boy said...

@TRS: Life-Giving??? That's not what my fingers were saying! And Mikey has your ice-pop. I downgraded you to a size small one. Sorry... ;)

@E: TRS is on the right track. I pay (?) tuition and am physically located there. Who qualifies as a Bochur? And doesn't TRS hit anyone outside of mTown with his keys? What makes us special?

e said...

ha! I used to compulsively swing my key-endowed tzitzis bendel in my yeshiva days....

Just like a guy said...

La-Z-Boy: You gave Mikey the big one? Well I suppose he needs it to compensate for the lack of largeness associated with the rest of his existence.

Really? You (your parents, whomever...) pay tuition? I'm impressed!

Yitzchak said...

TRS:In publicly owned colleges we only drink off campus.

E:too late now. Maybe next occasion.

Just like a guy said...

A great pity.

Yeah, 9:53 AM is probably a little late...

Yitzchak said...

8:53 in this time zone. For a vort to end anyway.

Misconception ClarifierA vort is not snagspeak for l'chaim.
Among all bnei ashkenaz except Lubavitch a lchaim and a vort are two separate events. The lchaim is the one when the engagement is announced. This is reserved for the relatives of the parents and their closest friends. The vort is a slightly larger event where friends of the couple and all and sundry drop in to give mazel tov and say lchaim.

e said...

aha. Yeah, we used to have vorts back in the day.