by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
LU - Lav
Lev is heart
and LU is 36, alluding to the 36 hidden tzaddikim,
w/out whose existence the world would cease to exist.
IOW, We must develop the heart of a hidden tzaddik.
The lulav (and esrog) helps us achieve that.
It is taught that the lulav/palm (itself) alludes to the spine.
The hadasim/myrtle allude to the eyes.
The aravos/willow allude to the lips.
The Tzaddik Nistar (hidden Tzaddik) is the one who has evolved to a state of being where:
He SEES the best in others.
He SPEAKS the best in others.
He has the BACKBONE to STAND UP for what is right.
And all three together are equal in measure to having a GOOD HEART (esrog).
Good Yuntiff!
© 1999-2008 by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
These words of Torah are written in the merit of my beloved father, Israel J. Melman, obm, Yisrael Yehoshua ben Harav Ya'aqov Hakohen ben Meir Yisrael Hakohen Melman, z"l
I was raised in the musar tradition of silence and meditative thoughtfulness, as were my father and grandfather before me.
http://seferchabibi.blogspot.com/2007/07/yahrzeit-of-my-father-27-tammuz.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506EEDC1630F93BA35754C0A9649C8B63
Chabibi stands for CHidushei Baruch Binyamin ben Yisrael Yehoshua
(a chidush, from the word chadash, means a new, original or fresh perspective)
Dedications are available.
Beautiful, something to aspire to! The Baal-Shem said "There are two kinds of love for G*D, love through study, prayer and the fulfillment of the mitvot, consummated in silence-and the love in the time in which one spends with G*D's people teaching and listening, yet in the secret of one's heart cleaves to G*D and does not cease to think of Him." Next year the Lulav and Estrog will have an even more special meaning.
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