The Ari z"l lines up the twelve months
with the twelve tribes. Today is Rosh Chodesh Iyar, which means the beginning
of the Jewish month of Iyar. The month of Iyar lines up with the tribe
Issachar. The tribal energy of this month is one of Torah, as it states,
"Rejoice...Issachar in your tents" (Deut. 33:18); which the Medieval
Biblical commentator Rashi notes means the "tents of Torah study".
Why is the imagery of "tents" used to depict the places of Torah study. The Torah has two aspects that which the mind can grasp and that which is beyond the mind. The aspect beyond the mind, requires "Emunah" to process.
Why is the imagery of "tents" used to depict the places of Torah study. The Torah has two aspects that which the mind can grasp and that which is beyond the mind. The aspect beyond the mind, requires "Emunah" to process.
“Emunah” is loosely translated as
"faith", but really it's the phenomena of the soul sending signals
that it knows what can't be logically explained to the mind. Unlike the
conventional understanding of the word “faith”, “Emunah” tends to be aroused
from within and not imposed from without.
This mix of “Emunah” and logical cognition is tent-like. Tents are temporary. They're something temporarily "above one's head". Eventually, either through vigorous intellectual work or by moving into more spiritually enlightened times, what was once "above one's head" can be grasped; demonstrating that the whole experience was temporary.
Of course every answer leads to new questions. So, once the old questions are answered there will be fresh layers of mysteries spread out like tents over our heads. However, the main lesson is to identify the repeating pattern pointing to that "Emunah" is as much a part of the Torah study process as cognition is.
Therefore, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov emphasizes the value of balancing "Emunah" and cognition when we approach life's big questions. He advises that what the mind can grasp, it must work towards grasping. What the mind cannot grasp, it must accept with "Emunah". (see LM I 62)
Happy Chodesh Iyar!
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This mix of “Emunah” and logical cognition is tent-like. Tents are temporary. They're something temporarily "above one's head". Eventually, either through vigorous intellectual work or by moving into more spiritually enlightened times, what was once "above one's head" can be grasped; demonstrating that the whole experience was temporary.
Of course every answer leads to new questions. So, once the old questions are answered there will be fresh layers of mysteries spread out like tents over our heads. However, the main lesson is to identify the repeating pattern pointing to that "Emunah" is as much a part of the Torah study process as cognition is.
Therefore, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov emphasizes the value of balancing "Emunah" and cognition when we approach life's big questions. He advises that what the mind can grasp, it must work towards grasping. What the mind cannot grasp, it must accept with "Emunah". (see LM I 62)
Happy Chodesh Iyar!
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