8553 —שתי הנשמות בכל יהודי ולימודים מפרשת תולדות

B"H, Erev Shabbat Kodesh Parshas Toldos, 5723.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter. As we stand in the week of Parshas Eleh Toldos, and based on the well-known saying "Maaseh Avos siman lebanim" (the deeds of the fathers are a sign for the children), there are many details in this parsha that can be interpreted and hinted at in the life of every Jew.

Every Jew—whether righteous or wicked—has two souls, which are two nefashos: one soul from the side of kelipah and sitra achra—Esav; and the second soul is a literal part of G‑d above—Yaakov. The first to emerge is Esav, which is the animal soul and yetzer hara that comes first (da'akdami ta'anita), a man of the field, outside our G‑d's city and its opposite. Yaakov is the G‑dly soul and yetzer tov, an "ish tam" (wholesome man), for even at the time of sin it remained faithful with him; he dwells in tents—as commanded: "Not for chaos did He create it (but) to be settled He formed it," which is accomplished by dwelling in tents—the tents of Shem and Ever, i.e., Torah Shebichsav and Torah Shebaal Peh. Through study one comes to action—positive commandments and prohibitions—which is primary: making a dwelling for Him below. Therefore Yaakov's hand holds Esav's heel because the descent of the G‑dly soul below and its enclothing in body and animal soul is as above—to refine them (by fulfilling the command "Go out to the field, hunt me game, make me delicacies") and make this lowest world—a dwelling for Him.

The teaching of the Baal Shem Tov is known: "When you see a donkey... you shall surely help with him"—to refine and purify the body rather than break it with mortifications. Nevertheless: "May G‑d give you from the dew of heaven and from the fatness of earth and abundant grain and wine," as our Sages interpret: this refers to Mikra, Mishnah, Talmud, Aggadah etc., as well as literally: dew of heaven, fatness of earth, abundant grain and wine.

May it be His will that all this be fulfilled in each individual even now—and for all Israel—with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu; may Hashem broaden our borders until fulfillment of "u'faratzta yamah vakeidmah v'tzafonah v'negba" (you shall spread out westward, eastward, northward, southward), so we multiply in the land.

Summary

This letter teaches that every Jew has both an animal soul (Esav) and a G‑dly soul (Yaakov), whose interplay reflects our mission to refine ourselves and our world through Torah study and mitzvos—ultimately preparing a dwelling for G‑dliness below.