Dvar Torah for Parshat Lekh Kekha

Based on Likutey MoHaran I, 34

Everyone wants to have it good, perhaps, even, to want it all. We would like material success to complement our spiritual success. How can one receive the different types of good that he wants? Rebbe Nachman stresses again and again: You must pray.

Yet the Rebbe himself poses the following question: Since God knows our thoughts, why do we need to express our needs and desires by speaking them out? He answers that the words themselves are the receptacles for the bounty we hope to gain. Based on the verse, "My mouth speaks wisdoms, my heart contemplates understanding" (Psalms 49:4) the Rebbe explains that one's mouth is like a spring of water, one's heart a brook. Just as the brook has to be in proper condition in order to receive the life-waters of the spring, so too the heart must be able to hear the words of prayer that the mouth utters. If the heart is in love with God (His Torah, mitzvot and people) the receptacles get made allowing one to receive the bounty. If, God forbid, the heart is in love with the pleasures of this world, if it desires what is forbidden (or even an excess of what is permissible), then it is shattered and one is unable to receive the bounty he truly longs.

To fix the heart, to remove from it the wrong desires, one must develop his inner-tzaddik, the potential he has to be the best possible Jew that he can. To achieve this one must receive on a regular daily basis three different inner-tzaddik points: that of another Jew, his own, and of a tzaddik par excellence. Each Jew has within a certain something that makes him the only one in the world to be a tzaddik in that area. One must receive that from his friend by sharing religous insights as peers. One must talk to Hashem (God) about whatever is tugging at one's heart that day. But in order for sharing with a friend, and talking to God to be as productive as possible one must first receive the tzaddik-point of the tzaddik par excellence by studying his teachings.

We find that Avraham Avinu (Abraham our forefather) did each of these. As the leading tzaddik of his time he shared his universal-tazzik point with others: "...and he hurried his students..." (Genesis 14:14); he shared religious insights with friends: "They were Avraham's comrades" (ibid. :13; see Rashi); he spoke to God: "Shortly afterwards [Avraham spoke to God] (see Rashi) and] God's word came to Avraham..." (ibid. 15:1).

And as one's inner-tzaddik grows stronger and more beautiful, so too will his heart, his words and his receptacle. Amen!

Agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!