חלק ב — תורה 5

3. Now, it takes an understanding individual to draw out and reveal the water—i.e., the counsel, as in “The counsels in man’s heart are deep waters, yet a man of understanding can draw them out.” This is the meaning of what is written: “For they are a nation devoid of counsel, and there is no understanding among them” (Deuteronomy 32:28). This is because when there is no understanding, one’s counsel is lost, for counsel is revealed by means of an understanding individual.

An understanding individual is someone who has a soul, as in “the soul from Shadai (the Almighty) enables them to understand” (Job 32:8). It is necessary to refine and burnish the soul. This is accomplished by drawing Godly spirit into constrictions, the concept of Shadai, which is itself an aspect of constriction: Shadai—on account of His having said to the world, “Dai! (Enough!)” (Chagigah 12a). Through this, one burnishes the soul. This is the meaning of “the soul Shadai enables them to understand.” Through the concept of Shadai—i.e., drawing Godly spirit into constrictions—one burnishes the soul and becomes an understanding individual.

This is because drawing Godly spirit into constrictions—i.e., into physical forms—causes one’s livelihood to multiply and increase. Drawing Godly spirit into constrictions/physical forms is the concept of creation. At the moment Godly spirit is joined with the physical form and constriction, a new creation is made. This is the essence of the creation. And then, as soon as something is created, God immediately gives it livelihood. For God nourishes [everything] “from the horns of the oryx to the eggs-of-lice” (Avodah Zarah 3b).

As soon as a thing is created, God immediately provides livelihood. For the soul alone has no need of livelihood, and likewise the body alone has no need of livelihood. The primary need for livelihood is only when the soul binds with the body. That is to say, with the partnering of soul and flesh, livelihood becomes necessary. Therefore, drawing Godly spirit into constrictions and physical forms—i.e., creation, the partnering of soul and flesh—increases and multiplies one’s livelihood. This is because as soon as there is a creation, God provides livelihood. {Anyone who makes the name of Heaven a partner in his distress, they double his livelihood for him, as is stated (Job 22:25): “When Shadai is in your distress, then double money is yours” (Berakhot 63a).}

And this is the meaning of “Anyone who makes the name of Heaven a partner in his distress”—in other words, he draws Godly spirit and partners it with the constriction, which is the concept of distress—“they double his livelihood for him”—because this increases livelihood, “as is stated: ‘When Shadai is [included] in your distress, then double money is yours.’” Shadai signifies constriction, the drawing of Godly spirit into the constriction—as in “[he] makes the name of Heaven a partner in his distress.” As a result, “then double money is yours”—i.e., increased livelihood, as discussed above.

And through livelihood he burnishes his soul, for the tzaddik eats only for the sake of his soul, as it is written “A righteous man eats to satiate his soul” (Proverbs 13:25). Satiating the soul is the concept of Tzachtzachot— that he burnishes (tzachtzei’ach) his soul through his eating, as in “He will satiate your soul with Tzachtzachot (Splendors)” (Isaiah 58:11).

And when a person burnishes his soul, he becomes an understanding individual, as in “the soul Shadai enables them to understand.” This reveals counsel and causes faith to grow, as discussed above.