Day Thirty
Absolute Positivity
It’s important to realize that the Ramak presents only the positive option: “Elevate!” The Ramak is telling us that regarding true Teshuvah (Repentance) there is only one sure path to success: by focusing on the positive; on elevating ourselves. Similar to the way a fragile mail parcel is clearly labeled: “This side up”; or how a “one-way” street sign is clearly marked with an arrow indicating the proper direction, the Ramak advocates only a positive perspective of HaShem and His absolute compassion. This is the essential meaning underlying the concept of “Knowing HaShem,” for the Upper Realm, in which Binah (Divine Enlightenment) resides, is total compassion and kindness, and at that level our Teshuvah is always accepted (and “never rejected”!) Therefore, a person should always incline himself to ascend to his holy root, for in that place, he is always welcome in the Holy One’s presence.
In keeping with this, we find Rabbi Akiva’s exclamation (Yoma 85b):
Fortunate are you, O Israel! Before Whom are you purified, and Who purifies you? Your Father in Heaven, as it states (Yechezkel 37:28): And I sprinkled purifying waters upon you and purified you, and (Yermiyah 17:13): A mikveh for Yisrael is HaShem: Just as a mikveh purifies the impure, so does HaKodesh Baruch Hu purify Yisrael.
Let us state again, clearly: not only does Teshuvah Elyonah (Supernal Repentance) rectify every sin, no matter how bitter and toxic, it also elevates every person to the source of his goodness, and there are absolutely no exceptions to the truth of this rule. As HaShem said unequivocally to Kayin: “Surely if you will make yourself good – Elevate!”
The Moment of Truth
We mentioned above that Kayin was Evil from his origin. If so, why did HaShem only reveal to him the Secret of Teshuvah Elyonah (Supernal Repentance) after his intensely negative response to having his offer rejected? Why didn’t He inform him from the beginning that there was hope for his defilement to be cleansed, even though it pervaded his entire being? The answer is, prior to this visceral rejection, Kayin was only dimly aware of his negativity, which lay quiescent in the deep recesses of his subconsciousness.
After being jolted by the unpleasant reality of HaShem rejecting his offering – while accepting his brother’s – did Kayin experience the true bitterness of his impurity. The intense pain of this wrenching test inflamed the latent toxicity that crouched at the entranceway to Kayin’s heart. After the venom of the Nachash (primordial serpent) blazed within him, he perforce acknowledged the true extent of his inner corruption. Now the time was ripe for HaShem to reveal to Kayin that the power to transform himself to goodness lay within his own heart, if only he would choose to utilize it.
The Endless Journey
The Holy One beckons us to journey upwards higher and higher to the sacred realm of Binah (Divine Enlightenment), where the root of our souls are stationed. The root of our soul’s journey extends upwards — forever — as it interfaces with the infinite Heavenly Light. Our intention to ascend is celebrated with new levels of joy, as we discover new worlds of Holiness.
