FOLLY AND MARRIAGE JOY

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

We have now entered the month of Shvat and the 10th of Shvat is the Yohrtzeit of the Frierdike Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson.

The last maaamer which he said was 'Basi Legani' - 'I came into my garden,' which we always learn at this time of the year

This week we made a little impromptu farbreng at home just for the family in Stamford Hill,(Mommy,Shmuly, Zalmy, Chava and me) and we learnt a section from this maamer relating to MARRIAGE.

It is deep and interesting, and I thought it would be a good time to share a small section of it.

The pillars of the Mishkan were made of cedar wood ie ATZEI SHITTIM, and the Frierdike Rebbe explains it's significance by looking at the root meanings of this word SHITTIM:

1. Literal meaning is cedar wood
2. Shitah, connected to the root, means DEVIATION
3. Shtus, connected to the root, means FOLLY
4. Tishteh, connected to root, meaning when a man's wife will 'TURN ASIDE' to commit adultery ie a 'Sota'
5. When the Jewish People committed idol worship and licentiousness in the desert, they were camped at a place called SHITTIM

So the main meaning is a DEVIATION - SHTUS - from the centre, and deviation could be either to the left or the right, ie either negative or positive.

FOLLY - negative deviation

Our Sages tell us (Sotah 3a) that a person doesn't sin unless a spirit of folly (shtus) takes control of him.

This causes a covering up of the light and Holiness within us, and a feeling of separation from G-d, in all its different forms and patterns, linked to the 'animal' side of our natures.

FOLLY OF HOLINESS - Shtus Dekedushah - positive deviation

Just as a man has the potential for a deviation from the middle path, lower than reason and understanding (where man sinks to the level of animal), similarly he has a potential for a deviation above wisdom and knowledge, and can approach self-transcendence.

We see an example of such behaviour (in Kesubos 17a), where R Yehudah bar Ilay would act like a clown at WEDDINGS, and would dance in front of the bride twirling a branch of myrtle, or juggling. Some people rebuked him for this saying that his behaviour did not befit a Torah Scholar, but R Yehudah understood that his acts transcended knowledge, and brought him and those around him, to a high and wonderous level

And why did he choose to do this at WEDDINGS?

Because the Sages were aware of the high level achieved in marriage, and therefore their rejoicing here was boundless.

Practically, when we find ourselves trapped by habitual negative behaviour, we will always also have the potential, to DEVIATE to the opposite extreme.

Then, just as the service in the Mishkan (or Bet Hamikdash) was the transformation of darkness to light through working with animal and incense etc, and the revelation of G-dly light for the whole world, so our work and service in this area with our animal natures, will produce similar results.

And especially, wishing all those who are not yet married, to find their 'bashert' soon.

Gut Shabbos to all.