raising the roof

Every interaction of ours in this world, be it through thought, speech, or action is an oppurtunity to connect to the Godliness that permeates us. We are surrounded and submerged in God's emanations more thoroughly even than we are awash in the sun's electro-magnetic radiation. We are more tightly held than we are by the gravity of everything around us. There's no escaping God. But, we were created with the ability to be oblivious to it. Just as we rarely think about the oxygen we breathe, or the billions of cells that work together constantly to ensure a smooth solipsistic experience.

Whenever we make a choice in this world, that choice can bear within it the kernel of absolute Truth that acknowledges God's imminence or it may flaunt our God-given right to ignorance of the Truth. When we do choose to involve Godliness in our actions, to think in terms larger and less selfish than ourselves, we create a micro-haven for Godly revellation in our midst. The once-hidden Godliness in which we are all awash becomes a little more visible, a little harder to ignore.

The Maor Eynayim calls this work on creating a dwelling for God in this world: מלאכת המשכן - the labors of the Tabernacle. (Tabernacle (משכן) literally means 'dwelling place') This is the work that consumes us for the six days of the week. On Shabbath, if we did our work (during the week) adequately, we are only involved in הקמת המשכן - raising the Tabernacle.

On Shabbath, through our greater intellects, מוחין דגדלות, (limitless ahavah and yirah of da'ath) granted us on Shabbath, we can delight in the fruits of our labor, raise all of our weekly work up to its source in the supernal realms, heightening our enjoyment, ענג.

It occurs to me that the Tanya explains that children, who have small minds (without meaning to condescend) derive great joy from simple things, toys, candy and the like. From this we can apply the Maor Eynayim and learn deep lessons about ourselves. During the week, our intellects are greatly diminished and so, like children, we can find joy only in simple things. Things that are easier to grasp, like a joke, a workout, a movie, a bath, or more to our purposes: the presence of a loved-one. Only on Shabbath when our intellects grow without limit can we truly enjoy the divine presence, something far more rewarding (beyond compare) even than being with our most intimate soulmate during the week.

[Obviously when we relate to our soulmate, the connection with them on Shabbath is far beyond the connection with the very same person during the week--because during the week, we are (ourselves) smaller, we have less to give and are able to receive less.] (for your perusing pleasure, previous posts about shabbath)

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