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The Joy of Repentance\Guilt-Free
Based on Tomer Devorah by the Holy Ramak
Authored and Published by the Salant Foundation
Distributed by Feldheim
All Its Branches Are Destined to Be Sweetened
וְכָל עֲנָפָיו עֲתִידִין לְהִתְמַתֵּק וְהֵם שָׁבִים וּמִתְמַתְּקִים, וְהַיְּנוּ מַמָּשׁ מִן הַטַּעַם שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִי, שֶׁהָאָדָם מַשְׁרִישׁ בְּעַצְמוֹ סוֹד הָרָע, וּמְמַתְּקוֹ וּמַכְנִיסוֹ אֶל הַטּוֹב. לְפִיכָךְ הָאָדָם מְטַהֵר יֵצֶר הָרַע, וּמַכְנִיסוֹ אֶל הַטּוֹב. וְהוּא מִשְׁתָּרֵשׁ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה לְמָעְלָה.
(21) But all its branches are destined to be sweetened, and they will return and become sweetened. And this is precisely due to the reason I previously explained: a person implants within himself the Secret of Evil and sweetens it and gathers it into goodness. Therefore, one purifies the Negative Impulse and gathers it into goodness, and he becomes implanted in Exalted Holiness.
Then Our Mouths Will be Filled with Joy
The Ramak reveals that ultimately, the Holy One, Blessed Be He will reveal the absolute Goodness shrouded within even the most inscrutable evil. In the Messianic era “the branches are destined to be sweetened and they will return and become sweetened.” At that time, the bitter offshoots – the “branches” – precipitated so very long ago will finally be rectified. It is worthwhile stressing the Ramak’s assertion that all is dependent on Man’s initiative. Our performance of Teshuvah Elyonah (Exalted Repentance) will effect the sweetening of the “branches” by reconnecting them to their source in Binah (Divine Enlightenment).
The Secret of Evil: All Is Good!
As we’ve seen, the Secret of Evil is that in reality, all evil is rooted in absolute goodness! Of course, this notion is counterintuitive! Our minds perceive “evil as evil,” so how can evil be rooted in goodness? Yet, the Torah testifies upon the completion of Creation (Beresheis 1:31): “And Elokim saw all that He created, and behold it was very good!” The Ramak explains the Secret underlying this verse is that the root of everything God made is perfectly good!
By engaging in Teshuvah Elyonah, a person purifies not only himself and his deeds; but even the Negative Impulse itself. By intending to ascend to his sweet root preserved in Binah, he uncouples from the Negative Impulse’s noxious influence. In turn, Binah is aroused to cast Her radiance upon him, assisting him to attach himself to his sweet root and thereby transform to pure goodness, holiness and refinement. Binah even enrobes his Negative Impulse with its irresistibly blinding splendor, transforming it to virtue as well. Ultimately, once he purifies his Negative Impulse, “he becomes implanted in Exalted Holiness,” exponentially increasing and enhancing his sanctification.
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