688. Raise a Contribution for Me – 2

February-March

“Raise a contribution for Me,” meaning Tarum [raise] Hey [the letter], which is Malchut. This is the meaning of Teshuva [repentance], of which The Zohar said Tashuv Hey [the Hey will return] to the Vav, namely the unification of the Creator and the Shechina [Divinity].

In other words, the whole of Israel is regarded as the assembly of Israel, which is about reception. We must make a unification with the Creator, who is regarded as the Giver.

“Raise a contribution for Me.” From where? “From every man whose heart is willing, you shall take My contribution.” The question is, From whom can we take the contribution, meaning that he is able to lift himself up to the Creator? He replies about this, “from every man whose heart is willing.”

The Zohar said that it is he who is a man, meaning a man of war, the war against the evil inclination. In other words, every person who wants to enter the war, as it is written, “One should always vex the good inclination over the evil inclination” (Berachot), meaning wage war against it.

“Man’s inclination … unless the Creator helps him, he cannot overcome it.” Hence, if the Creator must help, then any person can be awarded … and from the perspective of the Creator, there is no difference between a great help and a small help.