ADAPTED FROM HIS AUDIO SHIURIM ON SICHOS HARAN #131 AND EIN YAAKOV – MESECHTA SHABBOS

PURIM

Rebbe Nachman speaks about the mitzvah of rikudim and hamcha’as kaf, dancing and clapping hands, which accomplishes hamtakas dinim, mitigating decrees (Likutey Moharan I:10). Intense tefillah to HaShem can remove harsh decrees; and that comes about through dancing and clapping hands.

Rebbe Nachman said Torah Yod just before Purim 5563. At that time, there were whisperings about harsh decrees coming from the Russian government, very reminiscent of today’s times. Rebbe Nachman told his followers not to worry because it would soon be Purim. On Purim it is customary to dance and clap hands and this, he said, will nullify any potential decrees by the evil government.

After he taught this torah, Rebbe Nachman added emphasis with the statement, “This is what I said.” Reb Noson explains this to mean that Rebbe Nachman’s words are directed to every single Jew. According to the Kabbalah, hamtakas ha’dinim comes about through certain sefiros: Tiferes, Da’as, Chokhmah, and Binah always deal with the merging of chasadim and gevuros, which brings about hamtakas ha’dinim. An ordinary person reading this torah might think that it relates only to very great tzaddikim who can rise up to the Heavens and bring about the merging of these sefiros to achieve hamtakas ha’dinim.

Rebbe Nachman said what was said in that torah refers to the secrets of Kabbalah; however, he added, “I said it for every single Jew.” A person should not think that he is too insignificant to make an impression. Clapping hands and dancing refer to the sefiros: the hands are Chessed and Gevurah; the feet are Netzach and Hod. By obeying this mitzvah properly, dancing and singing, even the simplest Jew can make an impact in the highest of the Heavens.

Any decree issued from Heaven due to the sins of the Jews comes about because of a kitrug, a complaint of the satan, of the angels above. They can be nullified and removed by the simplest act of an ordinary Jew. By dancing and clapping hands with the right kavanah, with feeling, he can remove all harsh decrees.

Every lesson that Rebbe Nachman gave, including those that seem very ethereal, reaching the highest of the Heavens, was not geared solely for great tzaddikim, but also for every single Jew. No matter how difficult, complex, or lofty the topic, it should always be brought down to the level of the Jew who is learning it. Therefore, Reb Noson says, go and learn Rebbe Nachman’s sefer. Look into the words and find yourself in them. When it says that a Jew should perform a certain mitzvah or make a certain tikkun — that means you. Rebbe Nachman’s teachings refer to every single Jew, from the greatest to the smallest. Rebbe Nachman’s words reach above the greatest and reach the very bottom of the lowest. Everyone is included, just as the entire Torah can be found in every torah of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings.

PARSHAT KI SISA

The Gemara says that when Moshe Rabbeinu went up to Heaven to receive the Torah, the angels (malachim) all rose up to battle against him, trying to stop him from taking the Torah away from them. Until then, the Torah was in Heaven, and they wanted to keep it there. They turned to Hashem and said, “What is this human being, flesh and blood, born from a human, doing among us, between us?” Hashem said, “He came to receive the Torah.” The malachim said, “This desirable treasure, which has been here for 2,000 years before the world was even created, should be given to a human being—flesh and blood? He is worthless! This beauty belongs in Heaven, where it is pure and remains untainted.”

Hashem said to Moshe Rabbeinu, “Hachzir lahem teshuva“—return to them an answer. Moshe Rabbeinu said, “Hashem, I’m afraid that they will consume me with the fire that comes from their mouths—a heavenly fire that can destroy me.” Hashem said to Moshe Rabbeinu, “Hold on to My heavenly throne, and you will be saved from the fire of the angels. Then give them a teshuva—an answer.” Moshe Rabbeinu then replied to the angels, “The answer is very simple: The Torah cannot be fulfilled in Heaven. It is not possible for angels to fulfill the mitzvot. The very first commandment says, ‘I am Hashem your G-d, who took you out of Egypt from slavery.’ Did you go down to Egypt as slaves? Did you suffer there? No! What does this commandment have to do with you? The Torah says, ‘Observe the Shabbat; do not do work.’ Do you do any work in Heaven? The Torah says, ‘Honor your parents.’ Do you have parents? The Torah says, ‘Do not steal.’ Do you have business dealings? Do you have any desire to steal? This Torah is meant to be fulfilled and obeyed. Just to keep it in Heaven, without it being used or carried out, is worthless. Therefore, the Torah belongs on earth.” Every one of the angels accepted Moshe Rabbeinu’s words, and they became so friendly toward him that they gave him the Torah and each gifted him something.

Rebbe Nachman’s Insight

The angels said to Hashem, “What is this human being doing between us?” What was their question? How could Moshe Rabbeinu, a human being, be closer to Hashem than angels? If he had simply come to Heaven to be equal to them, that would be one thing, but “between us” implied that he was drawing closer to Hashem than they were. So why should the Torah be given to him? He is merely a human being!

Of course, they knew that the Torah couldn’t be fulfilled in Heaven—it could only be fulfilled on earth. The angels were intelligent; they understood this. But their claim was: It is better to have this holy treasure remain in Heaven, where it will remain pure and untainted. As long as the Torah is in Heaven, no law is ever broken. But if it is sent down to earth, humans—who have the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and commit evil deeds—will defile it! What will happen to the Torah? The holiest of all treasures will become defiled, trampled on, and transgressed. It is not worth sending the Torah down to earth! This was their claim, and it was a mighty one.

Rebbe Nachman says that Hashem told Moshe Rabbeinu: “Give them an answer.”

Hashem gave Moshe Rabbeinu a hint. He didn’t say “Answer them” (Aneh lahem), but rather, “Return to them an answer” (Hachzir lahem teshuva). The Torah will be fulfilled on earth, and it will be complete. It will be perfect. Even though humans have evil inclinations and will fall into sin, the gate of teshuva is always open. When they do teshuva, they will become pure once again, as if nothing had ever happened. The mitzvot will remain intact, and their observance will continue. This was the answer to the angels’ claim. “How can You send the Torah down to humans who are weak by nature?” The answer: Teshuva!

When Jews are united!

But Moshe Rabbeinu was afraid. How could he argue against the angels, who had such a strong claim and a fiery nature? Hashem told him: “Hold on to My throne.” The angels had the power to unite and, chas v’shalom, destroy a Jew. But if all Jews were united as one, no force in Heaven or earth could harm them. Where do all Jewish neshamot (souls) originate? From the Kisei Hakavod, the Throne of Hashem. Hashem told Moshe, “Hold on to My throne”— meaning, attach yourself to all 600,000 Jewish neshamot as one. When Jews are united, no angel has power over them. Moshe did this, gave his reply, and the angels conceded.

Ketoret gifted to Moshe Rabbeinu

The angels accepted his answer and became friendly toward him. Each angel gifted him something. Even the Malach Hamavet (Angel of Death), who is generally the enemy of the Jews, gave Moshe a gift—a secret. What was this secret? The knowledge that ketoret (incense) has the power to stop a plague. This knowledge later saved the Jewish people when a magefa (plague) broke out. Moshe Rabbeinu told Aharon HaKohen to quickly take ketoret and spread it among the people, forming a protective barrier.