{"id":85,"date":"2016-06-05T14:01:40","date_gmt":"2016-06-05T14:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/?p=85"},"modified":"2016-06-05T14:01:40","modified_gmt":"2016-06-05T14:01:40","slug":"daat-tevunot-18-40-continued","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/2016\/06\/05\/daat-tevunot-18-40-continued\/","title":{"rendered":"Da\u2019at Tevunot 1:8 (# 40 [continued] )"},"content":{"rendered":"

Da\u2019at Tevunot<\/em>\u00a01:8 (#\u00a040 [continued] )<\/p>\n

1.<\/p>\n

Indeed, \u201call flaws” like evil, injustice and the like “will be undone once G-d\u2019s Yichud<\/em> is fully displayed, and everything will be rectified by virtue of the fact that His goodness alone will reign supreme\u201d in the end [1].<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s consider the ramifications of that. It means, among other things, that all such flaws are and have always been meant to be \u201ctemporary\u201d [2] and to be undone.<\/p>\n

2.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s explained that they’re derived from the phenomenon known as G-d \u201chiding His countenance\u201d from the world or an individual: from His not wanting to \u201creveal His countenance\u201d initially so that the world not be perfected from the first but rather in the end [3].<\/p>\n

But it was never G-d\u2019s intention to keep His countenance hidden \u2013 He always intended to reveal it eventually and to undo the wrongfulness brought on by it [4]. So He established a structure to accomplish just that: the mitzvah-system. Follow it and you\u2019ll enjoy eternity, we’re assured, the \u201cobscured light\u201d will shine upon you, you\u2019ll \u201cbask in the light of life\u201d [5], and you’ll witness the revelation of G-d\u2019s countenance for yourself.<\/p>\n

There are other options, though, if one doesn’t take advantage of that, since G-d\u2019s Yichud<\/em> will inevitably be made manifest, one way or another. One option is to experience the consequences of one’s own sins [6] and the other is to repent [7].<\/p>\n

3.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s yet another implication to the fact that G-d\u2019s Yichud<\/em> will inevitably manifest itself. It\u2019s that free will -\u2013 which enables us to decide to either perfect ourselves or not — will be <\/em>undone, <\/em>Ramchal points out, at the end of the six-thousand years given humanity to serve G-d [8]. We\u2019ll thus be angelic [9] and freed from the ties of the yetzer hara <\/em>and everything associated with it.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the whole point of manifesting G-d’s rule will be to show just how all-encompassing it has always been. For while life is stormy, and evil and injustice seems to reign without impediment and in full throttle, in the end G-d will be proven to reign supreme.<\/p>\n

This in fact is the foundation of our faith as Jews and what has always kept our hearts strong in the long and bitter course of exile — the idea that while wrongdoing and injustice has had the wherewithal to do what it will, it will ultimately be undone and G-d’s Yichud<\/em> will eventually manifest itself [10].<\/p>\n

Footnotes:<\/p>\n

[1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As Ramchal put it elsewhere, \u201cwrongdoing will actually turn back into good … all harm will be rectified, and all evil turned back into actual good … (once) G-d\u2019s\u00a0Yichud<\/em>\u00a0is revealed\u201d.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve grown so used to wrongdoing and injustice that we tend to take it in stride. Children, on the other hand, are flabbergasted by it and say things like, \u201cThat\u2019s not fair! It shouldn\u2019t be like that!\u201d They know that wrong is just \u2026 wrong and that things shouldn’t be that way. They\u2019ll have been proven to be right when G-d\u2019s goodness and fairness will have full reign — when we sad, weathered adults will have been proven too cynical.<\/p>\n

See Klach Pitchei Chochma<\/em>\u00a04, and refer to R\u2019 Shriki\u2019s thorough treatment of the role and undoing of evil in pp. 314-328 of his edition.<\/p>\n

[2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I.e., a “passing phase”. See 3:20 below.<\/p>\n

All wrongdoing will prove to have been nothing other than a straw-man — a huge and daunting artifice\u00a0apparently<\/em>\u00a0given the power to oppose G-d Almighty Himself, but not actually so.<\/p>\n

[3]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See Numbers 6:25-26: \u201cMay G-d shine His countenance upon you and favor you, (and) may G-d raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace”.<\/p>\n

The contrast between G-d\u2019s hiding and revealing His countenance will factor into other phenomena as well, as we\u2019ll see in 1:14 and 3:3 below. Also see Derech<\/em> Hashem<\/em> 1:4:10.<\/p>\n

[4]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Understand of course that G-d didn\u2019t disclose His Yichud<\/em> from the first for a good reason: it would have foiled His intentions for us to perfect ourselves, as we\u2019d seen in 1:1:2. So He held Himself back, if you will, and granted us the opportunity to allow Him to reveal His countenance on our own.<\/p>\n

[5]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I.e., in G-d’s own light. See Ch. 1 of Messilat<\/em> Yesharim<\/em> and Derech<\/em> Hashem<\/em> 1:4:10.<\/p>\n

[6]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Either in life or afterwards.<\/p>\n

[7]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There\u2019s a world of things to be said about these three options (mitzvah-observance, repentance, or retribution) whose implications are vast, but we\u2019ll limit ourselves to the following.<\/p>\n

The most important implication is that each and every one of us is sure to experience the Divine up close; no one will be forsaken (see 1:15 below, Adir<\/em> Bamarom<\/em> p. 211, and Ramchal’s Peirush HaZohar Reish<\/em> Mishpatim<\/em> pp. 277-278). Some of us will come to it willingly while others will come to it \u201ckicking and screaming\u201d, if you will, but all will be accommodated.<\/p>\n

[8]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t underestimate the primordial shift involved in the undoing of free will. After all, as Rambam puts it, \u201cthe human species is unique in the world and unlike any other (in this way specifically) …. in that man, of his own volition, consciously and with his own mind, can distinguish between good and evil, and can (freely) do whatever he wants to do, either good or evil, without anyone stopping him\u201d (Hilchot Teshuva<\/em> 5:1); and, \u201cthe ability to willfully do either good or bad things at any time is an essential part of our beings<\/em>\u201d (Sh\u2019mone<\/em> Perakim<\/em> Ch. 8). So in a sense, we\u2019ll no longer be human when G-d\u2019s Yichud<\/em> is revealed; we\u2019ll be \u201cangelic\u201d, as Ramchal words it in our text.<\/p>\n

Notice, too, that the necessity<\/em> for free will was brought up just before this, in 1:7. The point is that, indeed, it will be necessary for the meanwhile, but not forever: like evil, it too will prove to be “temporary”.<\/p>\n

[9]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I.e., given that angels don\u2019t have free choice.<\/p>\n

[10]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The revelation of G-d\u2019s Yichud<\/em> will be the instance par excellence of everything falling into place and of all vexing contradictions being solved in one fell swoop undoing all chaos.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(c) 2016 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n

———————————————————-<\/p>\n

AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n

You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n

Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Da\u2019at Tevunot\u00a01:8 (#\u00a040 [continued] ) 1. Indeed, \u201call flaws” like evil, injustice and the like “will be undone once G-d\u2019s Yichud is fully displayed, and everything will be rectified by virtue of the fact that His goodness alone will reign … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,3,4,5,6,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hashkapha","category-jewish-thought","category-kabbalah","category-luzzatto","category-ramchal","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iqo7-1n","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85\/revisions\/90"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}