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problems is to spend a long amount of time on the blessing, will occur in the messianic future because of knowledge. Knowledge impossible to work on any issues in one’s life. To continue with
“He Who graciously gives knowledge,” because the root of all will increase and everyone will know Hashem. As a result of that the example of joy: a person learns Torah and hears Torah lessons
psychological problems is a lack of knowledge. This is clear and self- knowledge, they will be absorbed into His oneness, and they will on the subject of joy. Certainly, his will is triggered and he wants
evident. However, it may be understood on a deeper level. What is live eternal life as He does, because by means of knowledge we are to strengthen himself with joy. Everyone wants to be joyful. We
that deeper level? To know Hashem means to attain complete faith, 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
and Rabbi Nachman says that the soul and faith correspond to each 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
other (Likutei Moharan I 173). Thus, every flaw in the soul is a flaw in to wisdom (which is related to knowledge). As the verse states, foundation of life. But as with anything else, achieving this demands
faith. When a person recites the blessing, “He Who graciously gives “Wisdom gives life to those who possess it” (Ecclesiastes 7:12). work. That is to say, it demands the strong and strenuous work of
knowledge” at length and intends to know Hashem, he rectifies and the will. As Rabbi Nachman states: “It is harder and more difficult
fulfills his faith. Accordingly, he rectifies and heals his soul. 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,
There are many people who, although they are not categorized understanding and knowledge—as “holy.” As Rabbi Nachman day after day, to attain intention and to be able to pray in a focused
as being psychologically ill, nevertheless suffer greatly from teaches, “The level of supernal wisdom corresponds to the level and consistent manner until he acquires the trait of joy.
intense psychological problems. Anxieties, worries and fears are of the Holy of Holies, because intellect is called holiness” (Likutei 11
psychological diseases that affect many people on various levels. 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
Many people live with a feeling that something bad is going to is connected to knowledge: “Why was the blessing requesting what he is working on? Such a person will not have the words to
happen to them or to those dear to them—whether illness, accident understanding placed directly after the blessing requesting holiness? pray for half an hour a day, because he does not know what joy is.
or terrorist attack. Sometimes these feelings are so severe that they 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
lead to night terrors and paralysis. But even people who suffer of Jacob and revere the God of Israel’ (Isaiah 29:23), followed joy is a long-term project that demands much motivation, renewal
from low-grade anxiety suffer significantly from worries that bore immediately by ‘and those erring in spirit will know understanding’ and inspiration. What will inspire a person? What will prompt him?
through their minds for hours at a time. (ibid. 24)” (Megillah 17b). What will renew him? What will energize him? Only learning in
depth in the proper way (as I have explained).
A person who has knowledge and knows that there is no other “Who Knows if He Will Return and Reconsider” (Joel
than He is not afraid of anyone or anything in the world. A person 2:14) Also, when a person does not have clear awareness, his evil
who knows that Hashem is only good and does good is not afraid inclination can easily sell him “advice” to attain joy such as
that something bad will happen to him, because there is no evil in persuading him to get drunk and act wild, which will completely
the world. Therefore, a person who suffers from fears, even slightly, The fourth blessing, as discussed at length above, is “He Who distance him from Hashem and from joy. The entirety of the evil
must recite the prayer of “He Who graciously gives knowledge” at graciously gives knowledge.” inclination with its entire gamut of enticements and cravings in all
length and ask Hashem for knowledge. He must review the words of their hues constitutes this false “advice” on how to attain joy.
The fifth blessing, “He Who desires repentance” is entirely
many times and know that there is no other than He, and that there about knowledge. As the Gemara states: “Why was the blessing Therefore, a person must first and foremost attain clear knowledge
is no evil in the world. He must know that there is no independent about the particular details of the trait that he is working on in
reality in the world and that no one in the world can harm him, 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
because he is solely in Hashem’s hands. Because he currently
lacks this knowledge, he must recite “He Who graciously gives understand, he will repent and be healed’” (ibid. 29:10). Therefore, In addition, when a person does not engage in constant and
knowledge” a great deal and at length to complete his knowledge, 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
so that all of his fears will leave him. 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