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will occur in the messianic future because of knowledge. Knowledge impossible to work on any issues in one’s life. To continue with
will increase and everyone will know Hashem. As a result of that the example of joy: a person learns Torah and hears Torah lessons
knowledge, they will be absorbed into His oneness, and they will on the subject of joy. Certainly, his will is triggered and he wants
live eternal life as He does, because by means of knowledge we are to strengthen himself with joy. Everyone wants to be joyful. We
included in Him. As the wise man stated: ‘If I would know Him, do not need to make a great effort to persuade ourselves that it is
I would be Him’” (Likutei Moharan I 21). And so life corresponds decidedly worthwhile to be happy and that the trait of joy is the
to wisdom (which is related to knowledge). As the verse states, foundation of life. But as with anything else, achieving this demands
“Wisdom gives life to those who possess it” (Ecclesiastes 7:12). work. That is to say, it demands the strong and strenuous work of
the will. As Rabbi Nachman states: “It is harder and more difficult
The third blessing, “He Who is holy,” alludes to knowledge, for a person to attain joy than to do any other work” (Sichot Haran
insofar as the kabbalah refers to mochin—i.e., wisdom, 20). That means that a person must devote half an hour every day,
understanding and knowledge—as “holy.” As Rabbi Nachman day after day, to attain intention and to be able to pray in a focused
teaches, “The level of supernal wisdom corresponds to the level and consistent manner until he acquires the trait of joy.
of the Holy of Holies, because intellect is called holiness” (Likutei 11
Moharan I 61 and et al.). Therefore, the Gemara teaches that holiness How can a person engage in this work if he does not understand
is connected to knowledge: “Why was the blessing requesting what he is working on? Such a person will not have the words to
understanding placed directly after the blessing requesting holiness? pray for half an hour a day, because he does not know what joy is.
It is because the verse states, ‘They will sanctify the Holy One He does not know how to attain joy. The work of the will to attain
of Jacob and revere the God of Israel’ (Isaiah 29:23), followed joy is a long-term project that demands much motivation, renewal
immediately by ‘and those erring in spirit will know understanding’ and inspiration. What will inspire a person? What will prompt him?
(ibid. 24)” (Megillah 17b). What will renew him? What will energize him? Only learning in
depth in the proper way (as I have explained).
“Who Knows if He Will Return and Reconsider” (Joel
2:14) Also, when a person does not have clear awareness, his evil
inclination can easily sell him “advice” to attain joy such as
persuading him to get drunk and act wild, which will completely
The fourth blessing, as discussed at length above, is “He Who distance him from Hashem and from joy. The entirety of the evil
graciously gives knowledge.” inclination with its entire gamut of enticements and cravings in all

of their hues constitutes this false “advice” on how to attain joy.
The fifth blessing, “He Who desires repentance” is entirely
about knowledge. As the Gemara states: “Why was the blessing Therefore, a person must first and foremost attain clear knowledge
about the particular details of the trait that he is working on in
requesting repentance placed directly after the blessing requesting order to know what to want.
understanding? It is because the verse states, ‘When his heart will
understand, he will repent and be healed’” (ibid. 29:10). Therefore, In addition, when a person does not engage in constant and
repentance depends on the blessing of “He Who graciously gives encompassing learning, although he may want to be joyful, he does
knowledge.” In order to repent, a person needs knowledge. And his not make it a primary goal in his life. Because he has not clearly
repentance is itself a return to knowledge, because all distance from realized that everything depends on joy, he eventually neglects the
Hashem is distance from knowledge, and when a person repents he work and does not invest the necessary time and energy to attain it.
returns to know Hashem. Therefore, in this blessing, we request, Therefore, it is no wonder that he will not see any change, because
“Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah,” and not “Teach (as we have learned) a person’s desire must be in consonance with