Likutay Moharan - Torah-teachings 44

Likutay Moharan Volume 1: Torah 44

“What one strikes palm to palm at the time of prayer”

[In the language of our master, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, of blessed memory]

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Our Sages, of blessed memory, said [Beraishis Rabbah 1]: Why does the Torah begin with Beraishis? So that when the nations say to us, “You are robbers, for you conquered the land of the seven nations,” [we reply that] He told His people the power of His works, that all the worlds are the work of His hands, and He gives to whomever He wishes. This is: “To give them the inheritance of nations” [Psalms 111:6], for everything is in His hand. All things are called the power of His works, corresponding to the twenty-eight letters of the Work of Creation, corresponding to the twenty-eight joints of the hands. It is known that the air of the land of the nations is impure [Shabbos 15b, Gittin 8a, Nazir 54b–55a], while the air of the Land of Israel is holy and pure, for G-d took it from the hand of the nations and gave it to us. But the land of the nations, which is outside the Land, has impure air. When we strike palm to palm, the twenty-eight letters of the Work of Creation, the power of His works, are aroused. It is found that it is in His hand to give us the inheritance of nations, for everything belongs to G-d. Through this, we have the power in our hands to purify the air of the land of the nations, for the land of the nations returns under G-d’s dominion, and it is in His hand to give to whomever He wishes, as it is written: “To give them the inheritance of nations.” Then the air of the place where the Israelite prays is purified, and he draws holy air as if in the Land of Israel.

Also, through striking palm to palm, the impure air [unholy spiritual atmosphere] is driven away. For through striking of hands, a sound is heard, and this sound is holy air from the twenty-eight letters of the Work of Creation, from the twenty-eight joints of the hands, as we see empirically that the air is driven away through striking of hands. Because of this, one must fix a place [consistent location] for his prayer [Brachos 6b]. As we see empirically, people who come to a province where they are not accustomed to its air weaken and die, even from an evil abode to a beautiful abode [Kesuvos 110b]. So it is with prayer: even when he stands to pray in a place where a tzadik (righteous person [saintly individual]) prayed, it is very hard for him to pray there, for he is not accustomed to the air of the place, all the more so from a beautiful abode to an evil abode.

Our Sages, of blessed memory, said [Brachos 6b]: “Anyone who fixes a place for his prayer, the G-d of Avraham is his help.” For through Avraham, the world is built anew. The building of the world is through Avraham, as it is written: “The world is built with chessed (kindness [divine attribute]).” [Psalms 89:3]

[And] This is what is brought in Tikunay Zohar [Tikkun 22:66a]: “With this power, Israel are strengthened over Edom.” Further: “One needs to raise this power to the side of chochmah (wisdom [divine attribute]).” This is the aspect of: “Anyone who fixes a place for his prayer, the G-d of Avraham is his help.” For Avraham is the right [attribute of chessed], and “one who wants to become wise should face south” [Bava Basra 25b] [south is the right side, as one typically faces east during prayer, making south the right]. Further, “the G-d of Avraham is his help,” for Avraham was the first to attain the Land of Israel, as brought in the Zohar [Lech Lecha 78b]: “He weighed with a scale [meticulous assessment] until it was revealed to him.”

This is the explanation of [Brachos 26b]: “Prayers correspond to the continual offerings [daily Temple sacrifices].” They instituted “continual,” the aspect of the Land of Israel [Shocher Tov, Psalm 105; Deuteronomy 11:12], as it is written: “Continually the eyes of Hashem your G-d are upon it.” [Deuteronomy 11:12] One must see that he prays his prayer in the air of the Land of Israel. This is the rectification of idolatrous thoughts [distracting thoughts] in prayer, which are aspects of “prayers opposite” [opposing proper prayer], as mentioned above. Their rectification is through “continual,” through aspects of the Land of Israel.

This is the explanation of: “And by the hand of the prophets I will be likened.” [Hosea 12:11] Through the hands, through striking of palm, the speeches are spoken in the land of holiness [Zechariah 2:16]. Prophets – a term of speaking [as explained in Rashi on Exodus 6:29, the root of “prophet” means moving of the lips in speech].

Also, killing and destruction [calamities] are nullified from the world. For the hands are aspects of: “Let there be light and there was light,” [Genesis 1:3] representing the right [attribute of chessed] and left [attribute of gevurah (strength [divine judgment])]. It is written: “And G-d saw the light, etc., and He separated between the light.” [Genesis 1:4] This is Aharon [Zohar Tikkunim 30:71b], who brought peace and separated between good and evil. This is the aspect of: “And I will give peace in the land and a sword shall not pass through your land.” [Leviticus 26:6]

“You stand this day” [Deuteronomy 29:9]: There is no standing but prayer [Brachos 6b]. “Before Hashem your G-d,” this is the aspect of the Land of Israel, as our Sages, of blessed memory, said [Kesuvos 110b]: “Anyone who dwells in the Land of Israel is like one who has a G-d.” Through what will you merit that your prayer be in the air of the Land of Israel? “Your heads, your tribes,” etc., counting ten aspects, the aspect of striking palm to palm.

“Prayers correspond to continual offerings,” the aspect of the Land of Israel. Through striking palm to palm, idolatrous thoughts are nullified. For anyone who dwells outside the Land is like one who has no G-d, and anyone who dwells in the Land of Israel is like one who has a G-d. Through striking palm to palm, he dwells in the air of the Land of Israel, and he has a G-d, and idolatrous thoughts are nullified. As it is written: “And his hands were faith until the sun came,” [Exodus 17:12] and its Targum: “Spread in prayer.” Opposite faith are the denials [heretical thoughts], idolatrous thoughts of nations. Their rectification is through continual offerings, through the Land of Israel, through striking palm to palm.

This is the explanation of: “And you shall be a crown of tiferes (splendor [divine harmony]) in the hand of Hashem.” [Isaiah 62:3]

Through the hand of Hashem, through striking palm to palm—that the hands of G-d are aroused, as mentioned above—through this, the thoughts of nations [idolatrous influences] are rectified. For through nations, he damages tiferes, as it is written: “As the tiferes of a man to dwell in the house.” [Isaiah 44:13] When he rectifies his thoughts, through this a crown of tiferes is made, that tiferes is crowned with the crown that his mother crowned him [Song of Songs 3:11].

Another explanation: “Prayers opposite”—that is the idolatrous thoughts that oppose, which confuse his prayer, called a flood [overwhelming distraction] that confuses his prayer. Their rectification is that he give tzedakah (charity [righteous giving]) to the Land of Israel. Through this, he is included in the Land of Israel, about which it is said: “A land that is not rained upon on the day of wrath.” [Isaiah 30:23] [Z’vochim 113a] [protected from negative influences]. Through this, he is saved from idolatrous thoughts. This is “continual offerings,” their rectification through the Land of Israel, upon which it is said: “A land which continually the eyes of Hashem your G-d are upon it.” [Deuteronomy 11:12] Also, the air of the Land of Israel makes one wise [Bava Basra 158b]. Through this, the brain [mind] is purified, which is his thought. As it is written: “And I will see it to remember the bris oalum (everlasting covenant [spiritual bond]).” [Genesis 9:16] “And I will see it” through aspects of the Land of Israel. Through this, the bris oalum is aroused and rectified. This applies to aspects of prayer, the eighteen brachoas (blessings [of the Amidah]), and the tzadik, who is the life of worlds [sustainer of creation].

Another explanation: “Prayers opposite”—through prayer, the secrets of the Torah, called the furnaces of the world, the lambs of the Merciful One, are revealed, as it is written: “And lambs for your clothing.” [Proverbs 27:26] [Chagigah 13a, the secrets of the Torah are the furnaces of the world]. Continual offerings are lambs, as it is written: “The one lamb you shall offer in the morning.” [Numbers 28:4] [Zohar Pinchas 226b]. Through prayers, the secrets of the Torah are revealed, as brought on the verse: “When you pass through the waters, I am with you.” [Isaiah 43:2] [see Likutay Moharan 73 and 15].

[All this matter from the beginning of Torah 44 until here is connected together. We heard many of these things in one exposition. But in his holy writing, he divided them a little, and so was his way several times, and I did not know his reason.]