From this holiness, a sublime holiness issues forth upon man below, to assist him with a great and powerful aid in his service of G-d.

This is what our Sages meant when they said: [9] "If a man consecrates himself in a small measure here below, he is sanctified greatly from above."

This is apart from the fact that when one sanctifies himself in permissible matters, he thereby fulfills the positive commandment of the Torah: [10] "Sanctify yourselves, and be holy."

[Hence, apart from the consolation previously offered the Beinoni - that through "turning away from evil" by combating evil thoughts and desires, he affords G-d a pleasure that tzaddikim cannot - his battle with the sitra achra also contains a positive quality in the category of "doing good," that is likewise not present in the divine service of tzaddikim. [11]

This positive quality is the fulfillment of the mitzvah: "Sanctify yourselves...," which applies only to Beinonim, not to tzaddikim.

For the intention of the commandment is that even one's personal, permissible, and mundane matters should not be attended to out of the desire of one's animal soul, but for the sake of G-d.

This directive cannot apply to tzaddikim, who are unencumbered by desires of the animal soul, as the Alter Rebbe continues]:

The meaning of "Sanctify yourselves" is: "You shall make yourselves holy."

That is to say, although in truth one is not holy and separated from the sitra achra, for the sitra achra of his animal soul is still, as at birth, at its full strength and might, in the left part of his heart - [the seat of the animal soul and evil inclination], yet [if even while at this level] he subdues and masters his evil impulse and makes himself "holy", separate from the sitra achra, [then], "You will be holy."

[The world kedushah ("holiness") means "setting apart," i.e., separation from the unholy. [12]

The verse thus means:

One should sanctify himself even if he must yet make himself holy and separate from the sitra achra, for at his present level his heart still desires those things that derive from it.

The words "be holy" which, in their simple sense, voice a command, can also be understood as conveying a promise], meaning that ultimately he will be truly "holy" and removed from the sitra achra, through his being "greatly sanctified from above," [as quoted earlier from the Gemara], and through his being aided [from above] to expel [the sitra achra] from his heart, little by little, [so, that even in his heart, he will no longer have any desire for anything originating in the realm of the sitra achra].

   

Notes:

9. (Back to text) Cf. Yoma 39a.

10. (Back to text) Vayikra 20:7.

11. (Back to text) Based on a comment by the Rebbe Shlita.

12. (Back to text) Cf. Rashi on Vayikra 19:2.