In order to make the will of God paramount, and one's own will secondary, it is necessary to understand the fundamental principles of Torah which delineate the full depth of will of Hashem. This requires studying both the revealed as well as the hidden aspects of the Torah. The Torah is full of commandments, however, in order to properly do the will of God it is necessary to see the Torah holistically the way it truly is - as a tree, with a trunk, branches and leaves. Within the Mitzvoth and the will of God there are fundamental principles and there are corollaries which branch off from them.
If a person turns a branch into the trunk he has violated the will of Hashem. Giving too much weight to one thing comes at the cost of something even more important, creates a situation in which the harm is more than whatever good is accomplished. (מצוה הבא בעבירה) Just as one can't steal in order to give charity, and one can't cook of Shabbos in order to feed guests, so too it should be obvious to all that one may not create a Chillul Hashem or create animosity and separation within the Jewish Nation, in order to be extra scrupulous about a point of Halacha that is not truly a requirement. Hashem's desire that there be unity within the Jewish Nation is the tree, the trunk and the roots. Even though it is not a Mitzvah that has many carefully delineated details like the laws of Shabbos, it is still the foundation of the entire Torah. This is why our Sages teach us that even if the entire Nation is worshiping idols, if they are living in peace among themselves, they will be protected from their enemies.
These values and fundamental principles are not written at length in the revealed portion of the Torah. The revealed portion is primarily focused on detailing each Mitzvah and its rules. It is the secret portions, the inner Torah, that instills the fundamentals in a person's soul in their proper measure. It sees the entirety of the Mitzvos and gives each one its proper weight, and their relative value so that it paints a picture of a beautiful, large tree. From that there develops a proper sense of balance, to put each value in its place and to conduct oneself in the proper manner of actualizing the will of God.
Without studying the inner portion it is not possible to fully fulfill the will of Hashem as one is lacking in certain fundamentals. Just as it is forbidden to say that which is kosher is un-kosher and vice-versa, so too it is forbidden to say that which is primary is secondary and that which is secondary is primary. One who says that which is kosher is un-kosher can easily find his error, however, one who is confused about the fundamental principles of Torah and makes the secondary primary, and fights for that which is secondary and neglects that which is fundamental, thinks that he is doing the will of god. He walks with fiery righteousness after this own ideas, and is really just destroying the basic roots of Torah, and is completely oblivious of his error.
This is all a result of a lack of study if the inner portion of Torah which inspires within people to truly follow God. It instills love of every Jew within people's hearts, so they walk in holiness and kindness. It crowns them with the shine of the Schechina, and they always act in a pleasant manner while at the same time being scrupulous with every Halachic detail. The love bursts forth from his heart, and helps him feel a connection to every detail and experience of life. Other people begin to value him, and his approach and his principles and are open to his influence. They are impressed with his refined character and wish to emulate him, and God is proud of him as well.
ה"ו קפ"ה
If a person turns a branch into the trunk he has violated the will of Hashem. Giving too much weight to one thing comes at the cost of something even more important, creates a situation in which the harm is more than whatever good is accomplished. (מצוה הבא בעבירה) Just as one can't steal in order to give charity, and one can't cook of Shabbos in order to feed guests, so too it should be obvious to all that one may not create a Chillul Hashem or create animosity and separation within the Jewish Nation, in order to be extra scrupulous about a point of Halacha that is not truly a requirement. Hashem's desire that there be unity within the Jewish Nation is the tree, the trunk and the roots. Even though it is not a Mitzvah that has many carefully delineated details like the laws of Shabbos, it is still the foundation of the entire Torah. This is why our Sages teach us that even if the entire Nation is worshiping idols, if they are living in peace among themselves, they will be protected from their enemies.
These values and fundamental principles are not written at length in the revealed portion of the Torah. The revealed portion is primarily focused on detailing each Mitzvah and its rules. It is the secret portions, the inner Torah, that instills the fundamentals in a person's soul in their proper measure. It sees the entirety of the Mitzvos and gives each one its proper weight, and their relative value so that it paints a picture of a beautiful, large tree. From that there develops a proper sense of balance, to put each value in its place and to conduct oneself in the proper manner of actualizing the will of God.
Without studying the inner portion it is not possible to fully fulfill the will of Hashem as one is lacking in certain fundamentals. Just as it is forbidden to say that which is kosher is un-kosher and vice-versa, so too it is forbidden to say that which is primary is secondary and that which is secondary is primary. One who says that which is kosher is un-kosher can easily find his error, however, one who is confused about the fundamental principles of Torah and makes the secondary primary, and fights for that which is secondary and neglects that which is fundamental, thinks that he is doing the will of god. He walks with fiery righteousness after this own ideas, and is really just destroying the basic roots of Torah, and is completely oblivious of his error.
This is all a result of a lack of study if the inner portion of Torah which inspires within people to truly follow God. It instills love of every Jew within people's hearts, so they walk in holiness and kindness. It crowns them with the shine of the Schechina, and they always act in a pleasant manner while at the same time being scrupulous with every Halachic detail. The love bursts forth from his heart, and helps him feel a connection to every detail and experience of life. Other people begin to value him, and his approach and his principles and are open to his influence. They are impressed with his refined character and wish to emulate him, and God is proud of him as well.
ה"ו קפ"ה
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