"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."
Which You have Sworn to our Fathers
Some people are unworthy, yet the Holy One, Blessed is He, has compassion for all. On the verse " ...I will have mercy and show kindness to whomever I desire" (Shemot 33:19), the Talmud comments:
The Holy One, Blessed is He, says, "This storehouse is for those who are unworthy." But there is another storehouse - of grace - from which the Holy One, Blessed is He, bestows grace on the righteous as an unearned gift. For the Holy One, Blessed is He, said, "Behold, they have the merit of their fathers. I made an oath to the Patriarchs, so even if they are unworthy, they will merit, because they are the seed of the Patriarchs, to whom I swore. Therefore, I will lead them and guide them until they are perfected." (Berachot 7a; Shemot Rabbah 45)
This is also how a person should conduct himself. Even if he meets wicked people, he should not behave cruelly towards them or abuse them and so on. Rather, he should show them compassion, saying, "Ultimately, they are the children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. Although they may not behave properly, their fathers were upright and worthy. Hence, one who despises the sons despises the fathers, too. I do not wish their fathers to be despised because of me!" Thus, he should conceal their disgrace and improve them as much as he can.
Hitbodedut: HaShem please help me to be mevater, to not shame anyone or cause harm. Please help me to stretch myself in emulating Your Mercy so that I can heal from the harm experienced from their wickedness by serving You and serving as a counter-balance, for we are all Avraham's children and I desire to give nachas ruach to our forefathers and HaShem by loving His children.
RaMaK (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero)
