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Rabbi Chaim Walkin

Sefer Da’at Chaim

34th Ma’amar

Hashem must be in a framework of “Matzah,” an honest and sincere
effort to completely remove from within it the “Chametz” that attaches
to it over the course of time, and to detach himself from all of the
external negative influences which interfere with a person’s service
and draws him away from a path that leads him to elevating himself
spiritually to come closer to Hashem \ to elevate himself to the “House
of Elokim,” and uncover the true source that is resident within the soul
of a person, as that source is literally “a part of Almighty Elokim,”
attached and bonded to The Holy One and His Shechinah. Rather, it
is only the external negative influences intermingling with his own
set of Torah values that interfere with this true service to Hashem.
And so when a person removes from himself these influences and
interferences he uncovers and releases his inner essence which is
bonded to Hashem with truth and wholesomeness.

In reality this foundation (i.e., this introspection to remove from
himself the external negative influences that interfere with his true
service to Hashem) is the life-blood of sefer ‘Mesilat Yesharim,” as
the Ramchal authors this theme in the beginning of the sefer (in the
Gateway to “A man’s obligation in his world”) which is the thread
that runs throughout the entire sefer, quoted as follows – “HaKadosh
Baruch Hu inserted man in a place where there are many influences that
work to distance him from Hashem Yitbarach. These are “desires” \
“wants” for materialism, and if he is drawn after them he will become
more and more distanced from the “true good.” In proportion to the
extent he conquers his Yetzer Hara and his addictions, and moves
away from those things that distance him from “the good” and he
works to attach himself to “good,” so too he will achieve those goals
and he will rejoice in them.” The words of the Mesilat Yesharim are
quoted up until this point. In the commentary on the Mesilat Yesharim
written by the Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna ZT”L, he explains the
wording used by Ramchal “HaKadosh Baruch Hu inserted man in an
environment where there are many influences that work to distance
him from Hashem Yitbarach \ from The Blessed One…,” meaning,
the environment is where there are many influences that work to
distance him, but man himself was created righteous, and within the
depths of his inner soul he is prepared to serve Hashem and bond to

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