| "You shall cut away the barrier of your heart" (Devarim 10:16)
The Ramban explains: "Your heart should be open to know the truth. Do not be mistaken to think there is benefit in serving intermediate forces, such as angels, idols, or the planets."
After Klal Yisrael witnessed the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, why would they attribute power to anything other than HaShem, Master of the universe?
The answer lies in the nature of this world. The radiance of HaShem is concealed within the material realm. No matter how clearly HaShem reveals Himself, once the moment of revelation passes, the soul can be plunged into a spiritual darkness. In that state, a person becomes vulnerable to temptation, reaching for any force that appears powerful enough to help him.
Out of His special love for Klal Yisrael, HaShem granted us the clarity to recognize the emptiness of these so-called powers. Despite the false comfort in trusting planets, angels, or “superstars,” the Jewish soul is endowed with an inner consciousness: all these intermediaries are utterly subject to the Divine Will.
This spiritual sensitivity allows us to discern truth from falsehood. We acknowledge this gift each morning in our prayers: "Blessed are You… Who has separated us from those who stray from the truth."
Deep within, we already know the truth. Yet we must open our hearts to connect to this innate awareness. Thus the Torah commands: "Cut away the barrier of your heart." We must see beyond the smokescreen, reject deceptive influences, and free ourselves to embrace the eternal Torah and its everlasting truth.
Today: Envision the gates of your heart swinging open, and HaShem flooding it with light. (Based on Da’as Torah of Rav Yerucham Levovitz)
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