The Spark in You: A Look at the Tanya 

By Hannah Kaplun 

 

The title page of the Tanya states that it is based on the verse “Ki karov elecha hadavar mi’od bificha ubilvavcha la’asoto,” (Devarim 30:14) which means: “For the matter of serving Hashem is very close to you, it is in your mouth and heart to fulfill it.” Woah. That’s a pretty strong statement. What does “close to you” even mean? Let’s unpack this. In chapter 2 of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe explains that our soul is a “Chelek Eloka M’mal Mamash,” which means that it is actually a part of Hashem. This is derived from a possuk in Iyov (19:26): “Mi’basari Echeze Eloka,” “From my flesh I envision.” This shows that the possuk in Devarim says “very close to you...to fulfill it” because there is literally a part (ki v’yachol) of Gd in each of our souls. Therefore, connecting to Hashem is connecting to the innermost part of yourself. 

 

Now, just because it is “very close to you” does not at all mean that it is easy. While our bodies are the vehicle through which G-dliness can be seen, we are, after all, souls in bodies; therefore, we have that internal struggle of G-dliness versus mundane, but that’s a whole other Tanya shiur in and of itself. Back to our topic. 

 

In preparation for this installation of “Yedid Nefesh” I spoke with a teacher of mine, Rivky Slonim, who explained that Kabbalah posits that Hashem, Torah, and Bnei yisrael are all one. There was always this idea that the Jews access G-d via Torah and mitzvot. The chidush that Chasidus brought down is that the connection between a Jew and Hashem is inviolable and inherent. It is not dependent on Torah and mitzvot. Because of your chelek eloka mimal mamish you are inherently connected to Hashem. Being connected to Hashem is not limited to the erudite, who know all of Torah forwards and backwards. Every Jew is connected to Hashem just by being a Jew. Have you ever heard of the idea of a “Pintele Yid?” THIS is where that comes from. A pintele yid means the essence of one’s Jewishness, that no matter how seemingly “disconnected” someone may be, there is always that inner drive to connect. The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shnerson, related in a Sicha that “when bombs would drop on Warsaw during WWII, all the Jews would go into hiding. Once, a whole group gathered in one room: the Rebbe, average people, simple people, and those who considered themselves to be completely disconnected from Judaism. When a bomb blew up nearby, they all yelled out in unison: ‘Shema Yisrael.’” What inspired this seemingly out of character act of faith? The fact that Hashem is a part of us makes it (connecting with Hashem) close to us.

 

So, what’s the first step in connecting to HaShem? Being you! Now, Tanya isn’t saying that Torah and mitzvot aren’t important, because they absolutely are. But if you’re feeling stuck in your relationship with HaShem, just remember that the spark is right inside of you.