Friday Menachem Av 5 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Devarim, Shishi with Rashi. Tehillim: 29-34. Tanya: "My sin is (p. 383)...are passed over. (p. 385).

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. [1]

The Baal Shem Tov commented: Every physical object whose use is permissible possesses good and evil elements. *

The material element is evil, and the G-dly life-force that gives life to the physical is good.

The person utilizing the physical object must "turn from evil" - not desire the physical pleasure which is in its materiality, and "do good," i.e. he should desire to be nourished and supported by the G-dly vitality in that object.

"Seek peace and pursue it":

Whoever fulfills "turn from evil and do good" must seek and pursue means for making peace [2] between the physical and the G-dly life-force that vitalizes it.

   

Notes:

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

2. (Back to text) I.e. bringing harmony.

   * See Supplementary Footnotes, (p. 128 in the printed version).