Shabbat Sivan 16 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Beha'alotecha, Shevi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 79-82. Tanya: Ch. 5. Concerning (p. 299)...Shaar 44, ch. 3). (p. 301).

The early sages, who were like angels [1] (may their merit protect us) have already determined that the healing of the soul is like the healing of the body:

The crucial first step is to identify the location of the illness, whether it is caused by the crassness, grossness and corruption of his physical body or by a failing in his soul-powers, the person being inclined to undersirable traits like arrogance or falsehood and the like. Or, the source of the malady may be habit - inadequate rearing or unwholesome environment having brought on bad habits.

Without ascertaining the specific site of the illness and the cause of infection, it is impossible to embark on a cure. One can only prescribe an orderly proper conduct in all matters, what to do and what to avoid.

To "do good" [2] in terms of observing mitzvot, designating times for Torah-study and acquiring good character traits - and also to "turn away from evil." [3]

Most urgent of all, however, is that the patient make himself aware of two things:

1. to know that he is ill, and desire most fervently to be cured of his malady;

2. to know that he CAN be cured, with hope and absolute trust that, with G-d's help, he WILL indeed be cured of his sickness.

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Allusion to the Talmudic statement: "If the first (or early ones, i.e. our predecessors) were like angels, then we are like men; if they were like men, we are like donkeys."

2. (Back to text) Tehillim 34:15.

3. (Back to text) Ibid.