Question:
I listened to two wonderful derashos of the Rav about Tu B’Av, and Baruch Hashem, this has given me much meaning and inner content to this day, which I never had much knowledge or connection to. I heard many points the Rav said about Tu B’av, such as the fact that it is the “light of the future”, the festival of the future which shines even now, that it is a day of absolute unity, a day of baseless love (ahavas chinam), etc. QUESTION 1: My main question is: What is the inner avodah on this day, and how can I connect to this day on a practical level? Which action can I do, together with an inner thought, so that I can connect to the light of Tu B’Av? Especially since it is barely recognizable on this day of how great this day is, and the world behaves as usual on this day, and it is just that we don’t say Tachanun. Besides for this, I do not see anyone doing anything for this day. Understandably, not saying Tachanun isn’t enough to connect to the festival of Tu B’Av. Is it that when I don’t say Tachanun I should concentrate on the power of absolute unity found on this day, and connect to this concept through inner, deep focusing, as the Rav has said, that it is a day of ahavas chinam? Or should I just daven for shidduchim for others, as many do – and I should do so with added inner concentration? What exactly is the avodah of this day, on a practical level, so that I can connect to the inner essence of this awesome day, the light of the future, the festival of Tu B’Av? QUESTION 2: I also want to know: Is the power of ahavas chinam (baseless love) on Tu B’Av the same thing as the power of “unconditional love”, or is it a different power? QUESTION 3: I also want to know: We find several times throughout the year in which the light of the future shines even now. Examples include Tu B’Av, Lag B’Omer, Purim, Chanukah. Why do we need so many days a year in which we celebrate this light of the future, and why isn’t one day enough? Is it because we are in exile and therefore we need to draw forth much light from the future in order to survive in the now?Answer:
ANSWER 1: Firstly one should identify where the power of ahavas chinam (baseless love) is, in his personal soul. Going further than this, one should focus [on this] with inner, deep concentration, as phrased in the question. Finally, one should actualize the potential of this love, on a practical level in the areas of prayer and action, from a desire to expand his love. These are the three garments of the soul – thought, speech and action.
ANSWER 2: It [ahavas chinam – baseless love] is a higher power than “unconditional love”. The gematria of ahavah (love) is echad (one) as is well-known. There are [altogether] three levels: 1) Conditional love, 2) Unconditional love, 3) Echad – oneness.
ANSWER 3: Just as Avraham Avinu had four entrance ways, so are there are many different entrance ways which are conceptually different from each other, and each person should examine which of the entrance ways are particularly relevant to the root of his [personal] soul.
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