Torah 286 · תורה רפ״ו

{A while back I heard in [Rebbe Nachman’s] name what he said concerning the portion “Shoftim V’shotrim (Judges and Police),” but most of it was forgotten. The following is the upshot of that [teaching], that which we still remember.}

There is a Garden of Eden. This is two aspects: Garden and Eden, which are the aspects of Upper Wisdom and Lower Wisdom. For the main pleasure of the Garden of Eden is the perception of Godly wisdom—i.e., Upper Wisdom and Lower Wisdom, which are the aspect of the Garden of Eden, as explained above.

Yet it is impossible to merit this without the gates. For there are gates—i.e., the aspect of the gates of the Garden of Eden—through which one merits entering the Garden of Eden—i.e., grasping Upper Wisdom and Lower Wisdom. However, these gates are hidden and concealed in the earth, the aspect of “Her gates have submerged into the earth” (Lamentations 2:9). This requires having someone in charge of the earth, someone to control the earth, who will be able to extract, erect and establish the gates that sank into the earth.

Know, too, that by studying the Codes a person merits being a king and a ruler of the earth. Then, he is able to erect and establish the gates that sank into the earth. This is the aspect of “Through justice, a king establishes the land” (Proverbs 29:4). Specifically “through justice”—i.e., by means of justice, which is the judgments and laws of the Torah, namely the study of the Codes, which clarify the judgments and laws of the Torah. Through this a person becomes “a king” and ruler. This enables him to establish the land, and then he establishes, erects and uncovers the gates that sank into the earth, by means of which one merits the Garden of Eden, as explained above.

And this is: “Judges and police you shall appoint for yourselves in all your gates… for SheVaTekha (your tribes)” (Deuteronomy 16:18). SheVeT is an acronym of “Tav’oo Baaretz She’ arehah (Her gates have submerged into the earth)”— {i.e., the gates that sank into the earth}.

This is: Judges and police you shall appoint for yourselves—for the judges and police are the aspect of leaders and rulers of the earth. This is “judges,” specifically, for in the main [rulership] is by means of the judgments of Torah/Codes, the aspect of “Through justice, a king establishes the land.” Through this the gates that sank into the earth are uncovered. And this is the explanation of “appoint for yourselves in all your gates… for your tribes,” for the judges and police erect the gates that sank into the earth.

And this is: in all your gates… for SheVaTekha—for they erect and uncover the gates that have disappeared, the aspect of “Tav ’oo Baaretz She’arehah .” They erect them through their justice—i.e., the study of Codes, the aspect of “Through justice, a king establishes the land,” as explained above.

Blessed be the One Who gives strength to the weary and the hopeless, Who in His abundant compassion has helped us to begin and complete this awesome work, Likutey Moharan. In this work are recorded the earlier teachings of [Rebbe Nachman of Breslov]—thirteen rivers of pure afarsimon (balsam) oil; a revealer of the hidden, in which all hidden matters are revealed and clarified. Like the paths of Nahardea, so the paths of true wisdom, God-fearingness and holy counsel shine for him. Can there be another like him, in whom there is the spirit of the Lord, revealing to him that which is hidden? All his words are like burning coals, fiery sparks and consuming flames.

Arise and bless God your Lord from this world to the next, for He has enlightened us. He has been the eternal Helper of our forefathers, a shield and savior for them and their children for generations after them. Let us bow and pray before the Compassionate One that He should come to our aid to begin and complete Likutey Moharan Tinyana (Volume II). Please, God, help us. And just as we have merited to publish [these teachings], may we merit to fulfill them, until we return to Zion amidst rejoicing. Then speedily in our day will be fulfilled: “Come gaze from the peak of Amanah.” Amen. So may it be His will.

Chazak! Chazak! Ve’nitchazek!