The only way to reveal the Middos (Godly traits embodied in the Sefirot) is to embody them oneself. If a person is difficult and acts towards others in a tough manner, it is almost impossible for him to awaken the Godly trait of Chesed (unbounded kindness) from above. Even if the person prays to God that He should conduct himself with Chesed, the person's own soul is very distant from Chesed, and Chesed cannot manifest itself within him. Furthermore, as he is lacking refined character, and he likes a kind eye and mercy towards others, he has no understanding whatsoever of the nature of Chesed and good. When he is praying to awaken Chesed from above, he cannot picture in his mind what Chesed is, what it is that he is requesting, as in his own life he is far from Chesed and its ideals. His prayer will likely be superficial and ineffective.
A person should keep the following in mind, the primary means by which a person can reveal heavenly kindness and mercy is by trying to be merciful and kind himself. At the very least he should want and try to embody these principles. By attempting to come close to these ideals he connects himself to these spiritual traits and can awaken them more and more.
The Reishis Chochma shares that he heard from other that our Sages teach us that when God taught Moshe the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, "God wrapped himself like a Chazzan and showed Moshe, and said to him, "Anytime the Jewish people do this order before Me, I will forgive them." Despite this Godly assurance, there are many time when we recite the Thirteen Attributes and are not answered. Why is this?
Notice that he said "Anytime the Jewish people do this order." Why did he say "do"? Shouldn't he have said "say this order?" The answer is that wrapping oneself in a Tallis is not enough. We have to embody in our own lives, in our interpersonal relationships these Thirteen Attributes, then God will embody them Himself and offer forgiveness.
A person should keep the following in mind, the primary means by which a person can reveal heavenly kindness and mercy is by trying to be merciful and kind himself. At the very least he should want and try to embody these principles. By attempting to come close to these ideals he connects himself to these spiritual traits and can awaken them more and more.
The Reishis Chochma shares that he heard from other that our Sages teach us that when God taught Moshe the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, "God wrapped himself like a Chazzan and showed Moshe, and said to him, "Anytime the Jewish people do this order before Me, I will forgive them." Despite this Godly assurance, there are many time when we recite the Thirteen Attributes and are not answered. Why is this?
Notice that he said "Anytime the Jewish people do this order." Why did he say "do"? Shouldn't he have said "say this order?" The answer is that wrapping oneself in a Tallis is not enough. We have to embody in our own lives, in our interpersonal relationships these Thirteen Attributes, then God will embody them Himself and offer forgiveness.
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