The Light of Judaism

The name of our current parshah is Bechukotai meaning “by my decrees.”  This section speaks of the tikkun (rectification which will occur if the mitzvoth are observed in one’s life and in the general life of the Jewish community. The entire book of Vayikra (Leviticus) deals with teachings concerning religious observance, health guides, and social decrees. The pnimiyut Torah (Inner Teaching) is concerned with the spiritual application of these mitzvoth (correction of desires). The spiritual nature of the mitzvoth are the means of fulfilling the Divine Imperative of existence and elevating existence by manifesting this Imperative in the material world (Assiyah). Only spiritual work is eternal as all physical acts have only  temporal benefits whereas the inner work of the mitzvoth elevate both the physical and the spiritual essence of the world. We correct our internal desires by recognizing the physical limitations and the structured order of the microcosm via the teachings of the macrocosm. Reality is only as real as our perceptions and the mitzvoth alter our perceptions to a higher level of consciousness known as mochin d’gadlut. In this manner Divine ideals or expanded perceptions are set in the mind and form the context for more objective existence which brings into manifestation the perfection that forms in the ideal. To serve the Creator correctly is to keep the mitzvoth in the right context or frame of thought (kavanah) as men become the object of their thought which leads to devekut- this is the reason for Torah study.