AS WATER MIRRORS THE FACE TO THE FACE

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Mendel Kehaty on his upcoming birthday next week. Wishing you a year of much hatzlachah Mendel, and lots of Chassidishe nachas from your Family, with much joy.

In this coming week's Pirkei Avot (4:2) it says "Ben Azai would say: Run to pursue a minor Mitzvah, and flee from a transgression...."

Why run, why a minor Mitzvah, why flee?

And I thought that this week's Tanya throws more light on the matter.

In Chap 46 of Tanya (Likutei Amarim), it says to take to heart the meaning of the verse (Proverbs 27:19) 'AS WATER MIRRORS THE FACE TO THE FACE, SO DOES THE HEART OF MAN TO MAN.'

Ie the features of the face which a man presents to the water, are reflected back to him with an identical face, from the water.

This can be seen:

• When a person has a LOVE for another person and shows him loyalty and affection, this awakens a loving response in the HEART of his friend, and they come to love each other loyally. This happens even when the 2 parties have equal status.
• How much more so is this case, if a great and mighty king displays his great and intense love for a commoner who is despised and lowly among men. Yet he comes down from his place of glory together with his retinue, to meet this simple man, and bring him back to his palace, and to his most innermost chambers, with close companionship.How much more so will be aroused of itself, a doubled and redoubled love in the heart of this common and humble individual, with true attachment of spirit from heart and soul, from the infinite depths of his heart..and his soul will pour itself out like water with soulful longing for the love of the king.
• And how much more so, to an even much greater degree, doubled and redoubled, infinitely more than the above parable, has our G-d dealt with us.........in order to bring us near to Him in true closeness and unity, with a real attachment of soul, so that the Jew's soul will be truly bound up with the Almighty...............................

The chapter goes on to explain, that when we do a Mitzvah, it may be that we are not conscious of the sanctity that resides in us at that time.

This would be due to the barrier of his bodily grossness within which the soul dwells which has as yet not been refined, and which dims the eyes of the soul..........

Gut Shabbos to all!