The Power of In-Depth Study: From the Secrets of Likutey Moharan to the Rectification of the Covenant

Lesson No. 17 | Friday, Parashas Nasso, 4 Sivan 5755 - Morning Lesson at the Yeshiva

The Gaon Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz zt"l and the "Minchas Elazar" of Munkatch zt"l testified to the immense power of the books of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov to open the mind, provided they are studied in holiness and purity. Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a explains how toiling in Torah and studying in-depth (iyun) are the keys to attaining supernal intellect (mochin), removing the rust from the mind, and being saved from all blemishes of the covenant (pegam habris).

The Gaon Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz zt"l said that when he wanted to deliver a lesson to his students, he would study the book "Likutey Moharan" to open his mind. A person who wants to receive expanded intellect before studying, who wants his mind to be opened, should study Likutey Moharan, because through the book of Rebbe Nachman, one can merit a great mind.

Immersion in the Mikvah Before Studying Rebbe Nachman's Books

It is told of the author of the "Minchas Elazar" of Munkatch zt"l, that a student once came to him and asked to borrow the book Likutey Moharan for ten days. Rabbi Elazar said to him: "I will give you the book, but on the condition that you do not study it without first immersing in a mikvah." It is forbidden to begin studying Likutey Moharan if one does not first go to immerse in a mikvah. When a person opens the book, he needs to immerse in order to wash away his impurities and foolishness. One does not study Likutey Moharan while drinking cups of tea and eating cakes.

Rabbi Elazar of Munkatch warned that one should not dare touch Likutey Moharan before immersing in a mikvah, just as one must immerse before studying the holy Zohar. Rabbi Elazar added and told that student: "I will certainly not leave Likutey Moharan with you, because you need to look at it every second. What I am willing to give you is the book 'Sipurei Ma'asiyot' (Rebbe Nachman's Tales), but even in that, do not look without first immersing in a mikvah."

One must read Sipurei Ma'asiyot day and night without interruption. Every single word in this holy book conceals great and exalted secrets. "If the world would begin to study Sipurei Ma'asiyot in-depth, Mashiach would come," said Rabbi Elazar of Munkatch. One should not just recite it like reading Tehillim (Psalms) superficially—if one wants to just read, it is better to say Tehillim, which is clearer—rather, one must study Sipurei Ma'asiyot with deep, in-depth analysis.

The Wars of Hashem: Activating the Mind in Torah

The holy Rebbe Nachman said about himself that he is constantly renewing himself. The Rebbe's mind worked like a propeller, like the sophisticated compasses of airplanes that spin hundreds of times a second so that the compass itself does not move. The Rebbe's mind spun an infinite number of times a second, and he achieved immense spiritual comprehensions at every moment. Therefore, one must know that the entire essence of Breslov Chassidus is Torah study. There is no such thing as a Breslov Chassid without in-depth Torah study. Sipurei Ma'asiyot in-depth, Likutey Moharan in-depth.

Regarding this, the verse states:

"Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of Hashem, 'Es Vahev in Sufah, and the valleys of Arnon'" (Numbers 21:14).

A person must study Torah through warfare. One should not study Gemara comfortably, but rather wage the wars of Hashem. Everyone must be a soldier of Hashem. The holy Zohar (Parashas Beshalach) explains the secret of "the valleys of Arnon." This is an awesome secret, the Fiftieth Gate, the "Unknowable Head" (Reisha d'Lo Etyada). This is the river that flows out of Eden. When a person studies Torah in-depth, his mind opens up and he begins to connect with the river flowing out of Eden, until he merits to hear the Ten Commandments.

"Arnon" is a supernal place, the "Supernal Coupling" (Zivuga Ila'ah), tremendous unifications in endearment that never separate. No sin or blemish can reach there. This is a unification that never ceases, filling the Torah with joyous song, poetry, and dancing.

Removing the Rust from the Intellect

The main thing is that a person should begin to study in-depth and activate his mind. So what if a person stays awake a little at night? Let him sleep for an hour and continue studying. They testify about the "Chofetz Chaim" zt"l that he would not sleep at night for more than fifteen minutes consecutively! He would doze for fifteen minutes, get up and study for six or seven hours, then doze again for fifteen minutes and continue studying. That is how one becomes the "Mishnah Berurah." You cannot write the "Mishnah Berurah" while drinking cups of tea. A person must activate his mind. Our minds have already gathered rust, and we need to start scrubbing them and removing the rust from them.

Rebbe Nachman said to a certain man in Uman who asked him about someone who had stumbled in severe sins: "Do you know the virtue of the holy Torah? Engaging in Torah is greater than guarding the covenant!" If a person studies Torah in-depth, he will not blemish the covenant. The moment one begins to activate the mind in Torah, the mind throws out all the blemishes and all the improper thoughts.

Therefore, Rebbe Nachman commanded and instructed everyone to innovate in Torah. Not just to study, but to study in-depth and create novel Torah insights (chiddushim). A person studies one Talmudic topic and then another, another Rashi and another Tosafos, and the concepts begin to combine into novel insights. Rebbe Nachman promises that studying Torah day and night will pull a person out of all the blemishes of the covenant and work miracles and wonders for him.

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