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"The righteous will flourish like the date palm..." (Tehillim 92:13)
Tomer Devorah [Palm Tree of Devorah] - an ethical treatise devoted to a Kabbalistic understanding of the commandment to imitate G-d based on the Torah verse "...you shall go in His ways" (Devarim 28:9) and "to go in all His ways" (11:22).
The Sifri ("Eikev") explains: just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, is called 'Compassionate,' you should be compassionate; just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, is called 'Gracious,' you should be gracious; just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, is called 'Righteous,' you should be righteous; just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, is called 'Pious,' you should be pious."
Expounding the verse "Follow HaShem, your G-d..." (Devarim 13:5), the Gemara derives the practical implications of this concept: "Emulate the attributes of the Holy One, Blessed Be He. Just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, clothes the naked...so should you; just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, visits the sick..so should you; just as the Holy One, Blessed Be He, consoles the bereaved, so should you..." (Sotah 14a)
In Tomer Devorah, the Thirteen Supernal Attributes of Mercy mentioned in Michah 7:18-20 are analyzed in detail.
The following are the words of the holy Sanzer Rebbi, the Divrei Chaim זצ"ל, as heard by his grandson, Rav Moshe Halberstam זצ"ל from the Satmar Rebbi זצ"ל:
“…the learning from the Sefer Tomer Devorah is a segulah against the terrible sickness…”
It is recommended to learn from the sefer Tomer Devorah once a week or at least once a month, even though this sefer is not easy to understand. This segulah follows the principle of middah keneged middah (measure for measure). If we emulate G-d’s Attributes and act like He does with patience, compassion, forgiveness, etc, HaShem will act towards us in the manner of middah keneged middah and be patient, compassionate and forgiving with us.
To be privileged to channel G-d's blessing and benefit into the world, man must emulate his Creator. It is insufficient that man is created in the Divine likeness - he must constantly, consciously, and willingly cleave to G-d by emulating Him in every way.
"Who is G-d like You, Who pardons iniquity and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not maintain His anger forever, for He delights in kindness. He will again show us compassion, He will vanquish our iniquities, and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Show faithfulness to Yaakov, kindness to Avraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old" (Michah 7:18-20)
Consequently, it is proper that these Thirteen Attributes should also be found in man.
Hitbodedut: "HaShem, I realize that I have no separate existence from you and therefore I yearn to be more like You. Please help me to rise above my nature and lead me in the path that I wish to go, which is to think, say and do only what is pleasing to You. May I merit to bring love and mercy to my interactions."
From Days of Old
This is the Attribute which which the Holy One, Blessed is He, conducts Himself towards the people of Yisrael when their merit and all else fail, and they are unworthy. What, then, does the Holy One, Blessed is He, do? The verse states, "I recall My kindness towards you in your youth, My love for you on the day of your marriage..." (Yirmeyahu 2:2). The Holy One, Blessed is He, recalls the days of old and the love He felt towards the people of Yisrael, and His compassion is aroused. This way, He remembers all the commandments they have fulfilled since their birth and all the good qualities with which the Holy One, Blessed is He, conducts His world. From all these, the Holy One, Blessed is He, fashions a special treasure with which to show them compassion. This Attribute includes all the others, as explained in the "Idra."
So, too, should a person improve his conduct towards others. For even if he cannot find a reason for showing love and compassion to his fellows from among those mentioned previously, he should say, "There was surely a time when they had not yet sinned, and in that time or in former days they were worthy." For their sake, he should recall the love of "...those just weaned from milk and torn away from the breast" (Yeshayahu 28:9). This way, he will not find a single person unworthy of kindness, prayers, or compassion.
Hitbodedut: HaShem, please help me to see something good in every person, their G-dly soul, that I can connect to and respect because they are Your creation.
RaMaK (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero
RaMaK (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero
