Description: Kirvas Elokim
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Volume I Pages 129-134
We are now learning the chapter entitled “Kirvas Elokim” – closeness to Hashem.
After all the levels we have worked on, the final level we will discuss is creating an awareness within ourselves, that Hashem is always close to us. This begins with clarifying the emunah that Hashem is really everywhere – as the song goes. This is something that requires constant reminding and thought, until it becomes a habit, something that we automatically take note of. When we are in a room, we realize, we are not alone. When we are walking in the street Hashem is with us.
The challenge actually is when we are not alone, when there are other people with us, to not lose the awareness that Hashem is here with us. This is the first Remah in Orach Chayim, as we have mentioned before, and something that we need to constantly repeat to ourselves, remind ourselves, and teach ourselves. ‘Shevisi Hashem li’negdi tamid.’
Naturally, we won’t feel Hashem’s presence, it’s something we have to work to make ourselves aware of. The point we are working towards, is that we can speak to Hashem in a direct manner, not as if He is not right here, where we would refer to Hashem as ‘Him,’ rather we would address Hashem directly – ‘You!’ Which is what we say in every brachah – ‘atah,’ but we are trying to really mean it – to feel it.
This is what Dovid Hamelech says in a perek we know so well, ‘Gam ki ailaich bi’gay tzalmavas lo irah rah ki atah imadi.’ Even when I am in the most dangerous situation, both physically and spiritually, I won’t fear evil because You are with me. This is the level we are trying to attain – the purpose of everything we have worked towards in this sefer.
This requires some time alone in thought. It is a product of gaining Ahavas Hashem, where Hashem has a ‘makom kavuah’ a permanent home in our hearts. This is referred to as ‘min hamikdash lo yaitzaih,’ we never leave the confines of the Bais Hamikdash, meaning the place where the Shechinah rests, which is our hearts – as it says, ‘vi’shachanti bi’sochem.’ The higher one rises in this, one feels totally connected to Hashem, that when you need to do something mundane, break your concentration from the spiritual world, it’s as if you are going down for a few moments to take care of something, and are on your way back up! Sort of like taking a nap on Yom Kippur – temporary break from full devotion. This is a high level, perhaps higher than we can even think about going, but good to acknowledge its existence!
When we sit and learn, we first acknowledge, Whom are we learning with. The Gemarah says whenever we learn, Hakadosh Baruch Hu yoshaiv v’shoneh knegdo, Hashem sits across from us and learns with us. When we lie in bed, is a wonderful time to contemplate the presence of Hashem. With effort and practice, it can become a second nature to feel Hashem’s presence at all times, and develop an amazing closeness to Him.
This concludes the chapter on Kirvas Elokim. The sefer Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, Chelek Aleph, has three more pages, titled Hiskalelus bo Yisbarach, but it’s largely a topic which is rooted in kabbalah and the secrets of the Torah, so I will consider us complete here – Mazal Tov! Next week we will review what we have learned throughout the sefer, and then iy”h we will begin a new sefer.
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Volume I Pages 129-134
We are now learning the chapter entitled “Kirvas Elokim” – closeness to Hashem.
After all the levels we have worked on, the final level we will discuss is creating an awareness within ourselves, that Hashem is always close to us. This begins with clarifying the emunah that Hashem is really everywhere – as the song goes. This is something that requires constant reminding and thought, until it becomes a habit, something that we automatically take note of. When we are in a room, we realize, we are not alone. When we are walking in the street Hashem is with us.
The challenge actually is when we are not alone, when there are other people with us, to not lose the awareness that Hashem is here with us. This is the first Remah in Orach Chayim, as we have mentioned before, and something that we need to constantly repeat to ourselves, remind ourselves, and teach ourselves. ‘Shevisi Hashem li’negdi tamid.’
Naturally, we won’t feel Hashem’s presence, it’s something we have to work to make ourselves aware of. The point we are working towards, is that we can speak to Hashem in a direct manner, not as if He is not right here, where we would refer to Hashem as ‘Him,’ rather we would address Hashem directly – ‘You!’ Which is what we say in every brachah – ‘atah,’ but we are trying to really mean it – to feel it.
This is what Dovid Hamelech says in a perek we know so well, ‘Gam ki ailaich bi’gay tzalmavas lo irah rah ki atah imadi.’ Even when I am in the most dangerous situation, both physically and spiritually, I won’t fear evil because You are with me. This is the level we are trying to attain – the purpose of everything we have worked towards in this sefer.
This requires some time alone in thought. It is a product of gaining Ahavas Hashem, where Hashem has a ‘makom kavuah’ a permanent home in our hearts. This is referred to as ‘min hamikdash lo yaitzaih,’ we never leave the confines of the Bais Hamikdash, meaning the place where the Shechinah rests, which is our hearts – as it says, ‘vi’shachanti bi’sochem.’ The higher one rises in this, one feels totally connected to Hashem, that when you need to do something mundane, break your concentration from the spiritual world, it’s as if you are going down for a few moments to take care of something, and are on your way back up! Sort of like taking a nap on Yom Kippur – temporary break from full devotion. This is a high level, perhaps higher than we can even think about going, but good to acknowledge its existence!
When we sit and learn, we first acknowledge, Whom are we learning with. The Gemarah says whenever we learn, Hakadosh Baruch Hu yoshaiv v’shoneh knegdo, Hashem sits across from us and learns with us. When we lie in bed, is a wonderful time to contemplate the presence of Hashem. With effort and practice, it can become a second nature to feel Hashem’s presence at all times, and develop an amazing closeness to Him.
This concludes the chapter on Kirvas Elokim. The sefer Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, Chelek Aleph, has three more pages, titled Hiskalelus bo Yisbarach, but it’s largely a topic which is rooted in kabbalah and the secrets of the Torah, so I will consider us complete here – Mazal Tov! Next week we will review what we have learned throughout the sefer, and then iy”h we will begin a new sefer.