Daily Tanya Shabbos 10th Shevat: Chapter 22 Part 2 – Why the Sitra Achra feels independent from G-d

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  1. Why the Sitra Achra feels independent from G-d:
  • No inner will by evil, and even the external will is encompassing: The inner supernal will of G-d is the source of life which enlivens all the world’s [with exception to the side of evil]. Now, since this inner will does not reside at all on the side of evil, and even the external supernal will of G-d is not actually invested within the side of evil and simply encompasses it from above, therefore, the side of evil is the place of death and impurity, may G-d protect us. [Although G-d represents only kindness and life, the side of evil does not receive this natural personality trait from the G-dly energy that enlivens it, and on the contrary enjoys causing death and cruelty and evil, being that it does not consciously experience the G-dly energy that is enlivening it.]
  • Divine energy is exiled within evil: This is because the minuscule amount of divinity and energy that the side of evil nurtures and receives from the external part of the holiness of above is in a state of actual exile within it, in the mystical secret of the exile of the Divine presence.
  • Summary: The reason the Sitra Achra feels independent of Hashem is because it has no Elokus shining inside of it in a revealed way, as a) It contains no revelation from Penimiyus of Ratzon/Elokus, not even in a Makif way and b) Even the Chitzoniyus of Ratzon which it does receive revelation of, is in a way of Makif and it only internalizes a mere glimmer of that revelation which is in a state of exile within it.

 

  1. The Side of evil is actual idolatry:
  • The side of evil denies G-d’s unity: The side of evil is referred to by the term “foreign G-ds” being that it is actual idolatry, being that it denies the unity of G-d, the king of all kings.
  • Not nullified to G-d or holiness: The reason for this is as follows: Being that the Divine light and energy from holiness is found in a state of exile within the side of evil, therefore the side of evil is not nullified at all to the holiness of G-d.
  • Arrogant and self-centered: On the contrary, the side of evil elevates itself arrogantly like an eagle who hovers above everyone else, having the feeling that it is the only existence in the world and that the world must surround around him and that he is responsible for his own existence, as it states in scripture regarding Pharaoh that he stated that the entire Nile belongs to him and that he created himself.
  • Arrogance is idolatry: It is for this reason that the sages teach us that arrogance is equivalent to actual idolatry as the main root and source of idolatry is the fact that a person feels himself as a separate entity from the holiness of G-d who is in truth responsible for his existence.
  • Idolatry is not a denial of the existence of G-d, but a denial of His sole existence: According to the above definition, it’s understood that idolatry does not mean that one completely denies the existence of G-d, but simply that he considers himself separate from G-d, as it states in the Talmud that even the side of evil calls G-d the G-d of all G-ds. Meaning, that even they agree that there is one ultimate G-d, although they believe that they also retain some importance and independent existence, and hence are called G-ds as well. This false belief of independence causes the side of evil to be separated from the holiness of G-d, as this causes them to not be nullified to G-d, and the supernal holiness only resides on that which is nullified to G-d, as explained above. It is for this reason that the Zohar refers to the side of evil as separate mountains, as they arrogantly elevate themselves like a mountain and separate themselves from G-dliness.
  • A denial of G-d’s unity: The above false belief of independency by the side of evil is a denial of G-d’s true unity, as in truth everything is considered like naught in His presence and is truly nullified in His perspective, as He is the one who enlivens them all and creates them something from nothing at every moment.

 

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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