חלק א

Gate Five

The Level of a Chassid

In explanation of matters that are constant, are very important and need great caution, as clarified from the words of our sages of blessed memory, in Talmud, Midrash, in the Tractate on fear of sin (Yirat Cheit), the Tractate on upright behavior (Derech Eretz) and in Zohar: It was explained in previous chapters that there are three levels:

1) The acquisition of good character traits in one’s elemental soul until they become completely natural to him. 2) Desisting from the evil of the 365 negative mitzvot, in the intellectual soul. 3) Fulfilling the 248 positive mitzvot that are called, “Do good.”257Psalms 34:15 – “Turn away from evil, and do good (סור מרע ועשה טוב).” Now, there also is an intermediate level, which is the acquisition of character traits that are close to desisting from doing the negative commandments. These are gleaned from the words of the Prophets and the words of Scripture.

A) Character traits that are particularly serious and despicable, which obstruct a Jew from cleaving to HaShem-יהו"ה, blessed is He, are arrogance, anger, impatience, depression, hatred, jealousy, lust, covetousness, lording over others, seeking honor, and boasting. Their opposites are lowliness to the endth degree, to never become angered even with members of your household, to never be pedantic and demanding of others, to be insulted without returning insults, to always be happy even in times of trouble, to love everyone including non-Jews, to not be jealous over anything, since after all, our days on earth are like a passing shadow, to despise all the vanities of this world, to live a life of Torah and mitzvot even if it means eating bread with salt and only drinking water, not to desire any of the vanities of this world, to flee from a position of power, which puts a person into an early grave. Also, do not be demonstrative of your righteousness, for by doing so, not only will you lose your reward in the coming world, but you also will be punished over it in purgatory.

B) Desisting from forbidden character traits. These are speaking badly of others, gossiping, embarrassing others, calling your fellow by a negative nickname, mockery, speaking lies, flattery, deceit, idle chatter, pointing out a person’s faults to others, delighting in the downfall of others, causing strife amongst brothers, profiting from the honor of the Torah, and looking at nakedness.

C) Desisting from committing severe negative mitzvot that are accompanied by the cutting off of the soul, death by the hands of heaven or death by the hands of the earthly court. Of these, profaning the Name HaShem-יהו"ה is the worst of all. It is written,258Numbers 32:22 “You shall be clean to HaShem-יהו"ה and to Israel,” specifically clean of marital relations with a menstruating woman or any type of physical closeness to her. Keeping Shabbat with all its details, cleaning the forbidden sinews and fats from meat, avoiding seminal emission, even involuntary emission, not making use of HaShem’s-יהו"ה holy names, for whosoever who makes use of the crown will be destroyed, not to disgrace a Torah scholar, for a person such as this is called a heretic (“Apikorus”), to desist from incriminating and slandering others, especially to non-Jews. Other severe prohibitions are swearing in the Name of HaShem-יהו"ה, even about the truth, false testimony and any type of oath, and desisting from eating any forbidden food.

D) Fulfilling the positive mitzvot of Tzitzit, Tefillin, reciting the Shema twice daily, honoring the Shabbat in all its details, circumcision of male offspring, doing acts of lovingkindness, visiting the sick, welcoming guests into your home, bringing peace between people, praying the Amidah prayer with complete focus and joy, bringing merit to those who are unmeritorious, conducting one’s business affairs honestly, giving charity to the poor, giving charity in an unpretentious and hidden manner, and setting of times for the study of Torah day and night, for the study of Torah is commensurate to them all.

E) Fulfilling Torah customs; reciting the Shema before retiring to bed at night, rising at midnight to mourn for the exile of the Indwelling Presence of HaShem-יהו"ה (the Shechinah) and the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and to be occupied in the study of Torah until dawn, the fear of HaShem-יהו"ה should always be upon your face and keep you far from sin, know HaShem-יהו"ה in all your ways, your soul should always cleave to HaShem-יהו"ה, blessed is He, without stopping for even a moment.