011 - יא אלול,

11 Elul, Shabbat Parshat Tetze, 603.

At the table for the sanctification of the day, the tzt"z (Tzemach Tzedek) said: This world (Olam HaZeh) is a world of falsehood; therefore, even in good things there is mixed in some waste, and clarification is needed both from below to above and from above to below. The World to Come (Olam HaBa) is a world of truth—even matters in words of Torah that appear to be lacking, when learned in Gan Eden, are an elevation.

He began to sing and showed with his holy hand as a sign for others to sing with him. The sons of the tzt"z (Tzemach Tzedek) began to sing, and after them all the chassidim responded with voices in a song that inspired hearts.

When he finished singing, the tzt"z (Tzemach Tzedek) said: In this world, this is the meaning of the saying (Sanhedrin 99b), 'One who studies Torah intermittently'—that he learns Torah from time to time. In Gan Eden, it means that he learns Torah and the Torah takes him elsewhere; the words of Torah carry him.

Summary

This Hayom Yom teaches that our world requires refinement because truth is mixed with falsehood. In contrast, in Gan Eden even seemingly deficient Torah study becomes elevated and internalized—the words of Torah themselves uplift the soul.