Page 192 - BERESHIT

Hashem tells Avraham to leave his land and birthplace. This contains a 6
reference to the neshamah’s journey to this world. Initially, the neshamah
does not want to leave its source of origin. But Hashem commands it to
go, telling it that this is for its benefit. Only in this world can the
neshamah perfect itself by working the soil of human imperfection and
battling the elements of temptation.

This world is referred to as the World of Falsehood. The Yetzer Hara
distorts reality and alloys the truth with his counterfeit goods and their
illusive pleasures. He misleads man into buying his wares and falling prey
to his exploitations. Our job is to uncover the lie of falsehood and live a
life of truth. We need to combat the influence of the Yetzer Hara and let
the Torah, the guideline and doctrine of truth, be our guide.

The pasuk says, “In all of your ways recognize Hashem.” This refers to
our material and physical involvement with this world which can be used
to serve Hashem. When we do what we have to, in order to live and not
simply for pleasure’s sake, our bodily activities all become part of our
Divine service, and we can recognize Hashem, in all of our ways.

By absorbing the teachings of the Torah, we can attach ourselves to the
World of Truth and uncover the veneer of falsehood of this world. We
can begin to see secrets of the Torah that were otherwise inaccessible. In
the upper world of pure unadulterated truth, there is a tremendous clarity
of vision and many secrets of the Torah are revealed there. Moshe
Rabbeinu merited learning the secret of the parah adumah when he
ascended on High to accept the Torah.

This is the difference between Am Yisrael and the nations of the world.
The nations of the world see only the human logic of the mitzvot, which
can be so easily alloyed with falsehood and altered to fit the whims of
human desire. And so, their understanding and practice of truth is limited