Pre-Prepared Pathways of Light (MB)

Topic: Kabbalistic Concepts | 

In general, the conversation and story in the portion Behar revolves around what’s called shmita, the cycle in which land is worked for six years, but on the seventh year, it is not, there is a rest. So, they ask the question - what are we going to eat in the seventh-year? Naturally, someone would be worried; the first six years you work and have food to eat. But in the seventh-year, if you don't work, you won't have food. Which means, also, you wouldn’t have food in the eighth year, because you didn't prepare during the seventh year. The Creator answers their question of what they are going to eat by saying, “Don’t worry. I will send out a special blessing, so that there is food available for you, miraculously, in the seventh and eighth year.” That's the basic story. The Creator tells us there's a reason we don't work the seventh year, but not to worry about what we’re going to eat in the seventh and eighth year, because there will be additional blessings sent which will allow there to miraculously be food for us and our families during those times.

The great kabbalist Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk quotes a fundamental powerful teaching from his brother, Rav Zusha of Hanopoli. He says that when the Creator created this world, in the moment of creation, the conduits and channels of Light needed to fill every single need that every single person would possibly ever have were created. Meaning, that the way the world is set up, if there's something we need, whether it's in the area of family, business, health, or so on, the channel to get that healing, sustenance, or assistance has been there for us since the moment of creation. That's the way the world is structured, with all the conduits and channels of Light and blessings set up for every single person, and it is the nature of these channels to constantly be flowing to every single person for every single need they could ever have. However, when an individual falls, which means he has lost certainty or has fear and doubt, then that thought of doubt, fear, and worry goes up to the conduits of perfect assistance, and blocks them; the thoughts of worry, fear, and doubt are what cause the blockages in these prepared pathways of blessings.

Before we even came into this world, the channel for every single need we will ever have was already created. But when we awaken worry, doubt, or fear, that thought blocks the Light from continuing to flow, and we weaken not the essence of the Light, but the Light that is meant to come to us. And then there's a problem, because now the blockage is there. So, the sustenance, healing, or blessing that we were supposed to have is blocked, and then we have to open up and create a new pathway.

Therefore, in asking the original question of how we are going to eat in the seventh year, and the Creator answering, “Don't worry. I will send down my blessing,” we learn that had we not had any doubt or worry, the Light would have simply flowed as it was setup to from the time of creation. But because we awakened doubt and fear, we blocked that original pathway of Light and blessing. However, if we reawaken ourselves and understand where we’ve fallen, the Creator creates a new pathway for us. And therefore, the question and answer here in the portion is the revelation of the secret, which is knowing without any doubt, fear, or worry that the pathways are already set up for all the assistance, blessings, and help that we need.

It's all set up for us; it is the worry and doubt which starts putting blockages in each one of these pre-prepared pathways of blessings and assistance, and then has to create a new pathway, which indicates more work. Because now, even if we are able to draw down the Light, a new pathway has to be created. And that is the teaching; this portion is meant to teach us that a person has to awaken complete certainty all the time, never even raising the question or doubt of what he is going to eat, or how he is going to find the blessing or assistance, because in awakening that doubt and asking that question, we are blocking the Light and assistance and forcing the Light of the Creator to now find a new way to allow that blessing or assistance to come down to us. And, the Creator is telling us on this Shabbat to please not behave in this way.

If we are able to awaken complete certainty all the time, then the Light of the Creator will flow in the originally prepared pathways and there will never be any lack. This is one of the most powerful teachings concerning the idea of certainty; before we came into this world, there were pathways prepared for every single lack or need that we will ever have. But when we awaken fear, worry, or uncertainty in the Light of the Creator, then those pathways become blocked, and a new pathway has to be created, which is a lot of work. The Creator is telling us to please not awaken doubt, worry, or fear, and simply allow the pre-prepared pathways to work. It is one teaching from this portion that I always have in mind.