Good morning Bitachon of the day ❤️
There's a paradoxical relationship between the body and soul:
- Your soul, your essence, consciousness, and inner being, is transcendent, spiritual, and infinite. It's something you can't perceive with your physical senses. You'll never see someone else's inner world.
- Your body, on the other hand, is finite, limited, and physical. While your soul is eternal, your body ages, deteriorates, and eventually succumbs to decay.
If the soul and body are diametrically opposed, how do they manage to stay connected? One would expect them to repel each other like two opposite sides of a magnet.
The purpose of Torah obligations and the general message of Judaism are generally represented in Jewish writings as aiming to increase man’s dedication to matters that enhance his spirit and downgrade the significance of his body. As phrased in the Chasidic classic Tanya, “the foundation and root of the entire Torah to raise up and elevate the soul over the body, higher and higher...”
I actually disagree with this statement. I truly believe that our soul and body are completely connected and rely on each other to function fully and for your soul to fully achieve a higher level.
If you neglect your body, you can't function properly, which means your soul can't reach its full potential. Yesterday, we met a 90-year-old woman who was still working, sharp, and full of life. She radiated happiness and positivity, inspiring us with her vitality. I blessed her to live to 120 as healthy as she is at 90, she was so appreciative, she attributed her longevity to staying active and have a purpose in life.
In my view, our physical body and soul are closely connected. If someone feels old, sick, or immobile, their soul can be affected too. Their mind may be preoccupied with their physical condition rather than connecting with Hashem freely and reaching your true potential.
Also, your soul is expressed through your body, radiating into the external world. People can perceive the energy of your inner soul. For instance, today my daughter went to the Kotel and a woman approached her, drawn to her positive energy. She felt compelled to talk to her. It turned out to be the sister of a very close friend of ours. But we never met because she moved to Israel over 20 years ago and became really religious.
How did she spot my daughter at the Kotel, amid the busy crowds of people focused on prayer and not on meeting others? It demonstrates that when your soul is deeply connected to your body, you emit an energy that sets you apart.
Hashem has given us bodies to utilize in our journey through life. It's up to us to use them wisely and for higher purposes.
May we all radiate our souls through our bodies to the outside world, spreading positivity and happiness wherever we go. Amen. 🙏
Wishing you all a wonderful day ❤️