175. And If the Way Be Too Far for You

I heard during a Shevat meal, portion Behar-BeHukotai, Iyar 22, May 21, 1949

“And if the way be too far for you, so that you are not able to carry it.”

He interpreted, Why is the way so far? Because “you are not able to carry it.” This is because he cannot carry the burden of Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], and hence he regards the way as far. The advice for it, says the verse, “Bind up the money in your hand.” Kesef [silver/money] means Kisufin [longing], to draw longing in the work. Thus, through the desire, the craving for the Creator, he will be able to carry the burden of Torah and Mitzvot. Kesef also concerns shame. This is because one is created for the goal of glorifying heaven, as it is written, “Blessed is… who created us for His glory.”

In general, Torah and Mitzvot are things that one does in order to be favored by Him. This is because it is the slave’s nature to want to be liked by his master, since then his master’s heart is for him. So it is here: The many actions and meticulousness that one becomes proficient in are but a means by which to be favored in His eyes, and then he will have the desired goal of Him.

And a person observes Torah and Mitzvot to be liked by people. And he turns the needs of heaven into a means. Meaning, through them he will be liked by people. And as long as one has not been rewarded with the Torah Lishma [for Her sake], he works for people.

Although one has no other choice but to work for people, he should still be ashamed of such servitude. Then, through this Kesef, he will be awarded the Kesef of Kedusha [holiness], meaning to want Kedusha.

“And bind up the money in your hand.” This means that even though the craving is not up to man, if he has no desire for it, he cannot do a thing. Nevertheless, he should show the desire for the Kisufin, the desire to want (and perhaps VeTzarta [bind] comes from the word Ratzita [wanted]). One needs to show a desire for it, to show the desire and the craving to want the Creator, meaning to want to increase the glory of heaven, to bestow contentment upon Him, to be favored by Him.

There is a discernment of Zahav [gold], and there is a discernment of Kesef. Kesef means having Kisufin [longing] in general, and Zahav [gold, made of the words “give this”] means that he wants only one thing, and all the longing and the craving that he had for several things are canceled in this desire. And he says “give this” only, meaning he does not want anything but to raise the Shechina [Divinity] from the dust. This is all that he wants.

It follows that even though one sees that he does not have the proper yearning and desire, he should still see and exert in deeds and thoughts to obtain the desire. This is called “And bind up the money in your hand.” One should not think that if it is in the hands of man, it is a small thing. Rather, “for oxen (with grace), or for sheep,” etc., for only by this will he be rewarded with the most sublime lights.