Kabbalists On The Torah And Commandments, Part 5
Dear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. The commentaries in brackets are mine.
The Essence of the Work in Torah and Mitzvot
These were the words of our sages (Beresheet Rabba 44) when they asked, “Why should the Creator mind whether one slaughters at the throat or at the back of the neck?” After all, the Mitzvot were given only to cleanse [from egoism and unite] people, and that cleansing means the cleansing of the turbid [egoistic] body [desire], which is the purpose that emerges from the observation of all the Torah and Mitzvot.
– Baal HaSulam, “The Revelation of Godliness (Matan Torah),” Item 12
As our sages said, “The Torah and Mitzvot were given only so as to cleanse [unite] Israel [anyone who aspires to the Creator, the property of bestowal].” This is the cleansing of the body [from egoism] until one attains a second nature defined as “love for others,” meaning the one Mitzva: “Love thy friend as thyself,” which is the final aim of the Torah, after which one immediately attains Dvekut with Him.
– Baal HaSulam, “The Revelation of Godliness (Matan Torah),” Item 15
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Related Material:
Kabbalists On The Torah And Commandments, Part 4
Kabbalists On The Torah And Commandments, Part 3
Kabbalists On The Torah And Commandments, Part 2
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