Perek 44
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Bentzion Meltzer
Jun 10, 2010, 6:46:37 PM6/10/10
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The letters of Torah study and prayer are the vehicles for dveikut
(union) with G•d. One must concentrate one’s thoughts and one’s
deepest being on the deepest spirituality that lies within the letters.
1 This is the meaning of the verse, “May He kiss me with the kisses of
His mouth.”2 This verse refers to the dveikut (union) of souls,3 as
alluded to in the verse, “If you lie down between the lips.”4 Thus,
when one extends the pronunciation of a word, this is a sign that one
has become one with it, since he does not want to leave that word.5
1 The Hebrew letters are actually symbols of the deepest spiritual
secrets in Creation, and serve as conduits to transmit those spiritual
energies into the world. All these different energies symbolized by
the different letters ultimately come from G•d, and are thus different
expressions of the One. If one is able to enter into a deep meditative
state where the letters and the words are experienced as different
expressions of the Divine wisdom and love, one then “unites” with G•d,
as if with a kiss, since his human mouth uttering those words is then
one with G•d's "mouth."
2 Song of Songs 1:2
3 Zohar II 124b. This refers to both the uniting of two human souls in
this manner, and to the uniting of man’s soul with G•d. The intense
experience of union on the human level is a metaphor for the union of
the human soul with G•d.
4 Psalm 68:14. This verse is interpreted this way in the Tikkunei
Zohar, quoted by Rabbi Moshe Cordevero, in his Pardes Rimonim 8:13.
5 Rebbe Nachman of Breslov expounds on this idea and says that while
one must continue from one word of prayer to the next, each word begs
the one who expresses it to remain with it in dveikut. The solution,
says Rebbe Nachman, is to make the entire prayer into “one,” which
means that the dveikuth state achieved with each word be maintained
throughout the prayers, so that even when has reached the last word,
one is still with the first (Likkutei Moharan I 65:2). This state of
consciousness can only be achieved when one has indeed reached a
certain level of “Oneness,” when one’s mind and entire being are “at
one” with G•d, and the individual letters and words are experienced as
different manifestations of the One, as said in note 1.
Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted
with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit
www.baalshemtov.com
Join a class on the Perekim from the Kesser Shem Tov: Shabbos
morning 9am in the Shteibel Minyan Beis Medresh
Also, write to Bent...@besht-yomi.org to receive the Teachings of the
Baal Shem Tov in your email inbox, visit and join a discussion group
on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov at http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en
Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov To Help Bring
Moshiach Right NOW!
(union) with G•d. One must concentrate one’s thoughts and one’s
deepest being on the deepest spirituality that lies within the letters.
1 This is the meaning of the verse, “May He kiss me with the kisses of
His mouth.”2 This verse refers to the dveikut (union) of souls,3 as
alluded to in the verse, “If you lie down between the lips.”4 Thus,
when one extends the pronunciation of a word, this is a sign that one
has become one with it, since he does not want to leave that word.5
1 The Hebrew letters are actually symbols of the deepest spiritual
secrets in Creation, and serve as conduits to transmit those spiritual
energies into the world. All these different energies symbolized by
the different letters ultimately come from G•d, and are thus different
expressions of the One. If one is able to enter into a deep meditative
state where the letters and the words are experienced as different
expressions of the Divine wisdom and love, one then “unites” with G•d,
as if with a kiss, since his human mouth uttering those words is then
one with G•d's "mouth."
2 Song of Songs 1:2
3 Zohar II 124b. This refers to both the uniting of two human souls in
this manner, and to the uniting of man’s soul with G•d. The intense
experience of union on the human level is a metaphor for the union of
the human soul with G•d.
4 Psalm 68:14. This verse is interpreted this way in the Tikkunei
Zohar, quoted by Rabbi Moshe Cordevero, in his Pardes Rimonim 8:13.
5 Rebbe Nachman of Breslov expounds on this idea and says that while
one must continue from one word of prayer to the next, each word begs
the one who expresses it to remain with it in dveikut. The solution,
says Rebbe Nachman, is to make the entire prayer into “one,” which
means that the dveikuth state achieved with each word be maintained
throughout the prayers, so that even when has reached the last word,
one is still with the first (Likkutei Moharan I 65:2). This state of
consciousness can only be achieved when one has indeed reached a
certain level of “Oneness,” when one’s mind and entire being are “at
one” with G•d, and the individual letters and words are experienced as
different manifestations of the One, as said in note 1.
Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted
with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit
www.baalshemtov.com
Join a class on the Perekim from the Kesser Shem Tov: Shabbos
morning 9am in the Shteibel Minyan Beis Medresh
Also, write to Bent...@besht-yomi.org to receive the Teachings of the
Baal Shem Tov in your email inbox, visit and join a discussion group
on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov at http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en
Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov To Help Bring
Moshiach Right NOW!
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