A book really isn't one size fits all, and that is why you need a spiritual guide who can speak to you face to face, see you as the unique individual that you are, and give you guidance from that space of soul to soul connection. But this isn't a book. These are the transcripts of the deep, relatable answers that I gave  you personally, my beloved students. It's all in here –– all of the answers to all of the questions. Now you will no longer need to press for a private audience with me, because here you will find tranquility for your soul. And if you need help finding your personal answer in this book, seek guidance from the wise people in your community and they will assist you.

Now we explore the second meaning of "kideshanu" in the blessing for mitzvot. Hashem has literally made us holy with His intrinsic holiness, which is completely beyond the worlds. He becomes your G-d, His Essence manifesting through you, when you carry out a mitzvah, and thus we are obligated to stand up for someone who is fulfilling a mitzvah, even if they are ignorant and a boor.  In the act of a mitzvah, you become a chariot for the Divine just like Patriarchs. The only difference is, that their bodies were refined, so they felt it, and the rest of us are beset with the darkness of the body which obscures the incredible fusion that we experience. 

We are gifted with love as an inheritance: to realize that Hashem is truly my Life, to realize that Hashem is truly my Father. But just because it's innate doesn't mean it is automatic –– it takes effort on our part. That effort brings these loves to a space of "the heart's desire," and  brings the Torah and mitzvot produced by their motivation to a higher place than instinct, to the world of intellect, the world of Beriah. These loves encompass elements of instinct, intellect, and Divine gift. So, why should we work hard to cultivate intellectual love from the ground up? Because it ignites the flames of passion, and, moreover, it constitutes the very purpose of Man.

The Alter Rebbe opens his seminal work, which comes to explain a verse from the Torah, “for this matter is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, to do it.” The method of the book is “the long but short way,” and it is meant to take the place of a private audience with the Rebbe. Naturally, we resist this substitute for personal guidance! The Alter Rebbe speaks to us and tells us that he is fully aware of our resistance and deeply held reservations. Spiritual guidance must be personal, from teacher to student. How can a book accomplish this? There are so many inherent limitations to receiving spiritual guidance from a book. Firstly, what if you’re not in the right space to understand the message, either spiritually or intellectually? 

If you are truly acting for the sake of Hashem, your driving force is the emotions you hold for Him. Either you love Hashem and so you want to connect with Him or make Him happy; or, you are inspired by awe and reverence, and tremble at the thought of ever being separated from Him. Now we explore a third way to act for the sake of Hashem, and that is by feeling compassion upon the Spark of Divinity which has descended from total unity with its Source, become enclothed in the body which is called the “serpent’s skin,” and is dragged into unworthy thoughts, speech and deeds. How heart-wrenching! Harness the compassion that this thought engenders to fuel your Torah study and mitzvah performance.