## Likutei Moharan Torah 115

###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:1
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:1)

וַיַּעֲמֹד הָעָם מֵרָחֹק, וּמֹשֶׁה נִגַּשׁ אֶל הָעֲרָפֶל אֲשֶׁר שָׁם הָאֱלֹֹקִים (שמות כ):

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
“*Vaya’amod Ha’am Meirachok* (The people kept their distance) and Moshe entered the mist where God was.” (Exodus 20:18)


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:2
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:2)

כִּי מִי שֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת כָּל יָמָיו, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְלַהֵב וְרוֹצֶה לֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, אֲזַי מִדַּת הַדִּין מְקַטְרֵג עָלָיו, וְאֵינוֹ מַנִּיחַ אוֹתוֹ לֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּמַזְמִין לוֹ מְנִיעָה.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
When a person who has spent all his days in materialism afterwards becomes inspired and wants to return and go in the ways of God, the attribute of judgment then denounces him and prevents him from going in God’s ways. It also arranges obstacles for him.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:3
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:3)

וְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ חָפֵץ חֶסֶד הוּא, וּמַסְתִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ כִּבְיָכוֹל בְּהַמְּנִיעָה הַזֹּאת (עַיֵּן לְמַטָּה). וּמִי שֶׁהוּא בַּר דַּעַת, הוּא מִסְתַּכֵּל בְּהַמְּנִיעָה, וּמוֹצֵא שָׁם הַבּוֹרֵא בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כְּמוֹ דְּאִיתָא בִּירוּשַׁלְמִי (תענית פ"א): אִם יֹאמַר לְךָ אָדָם: הֵיכָן אֱלֹקֶיךָ, תֹּאמַר לוֹ: בִּכְרָךְ גָּדוֹל שֶׁבַּאֲרָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֵלַי קֹרֵא מִשֵּׂעִיר. וּמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ בַּר דַּעַת, כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה הַמְּנִיעָה חוֹזֵר תֵּכֶף לַאֲחוֹרָיו.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
Yet, God “is one who desires kindness” (Micah 7:18) and He hides Himself, as it were, in this obstacle {see below}. Thus, someone who is wise will look at the obstacle and discover the Creator there. As we find in the *Yerushalmi* (Taanit 1:1): If anyone should ask you, “Where is your God?” answer him, “In the great city of Rome.” As is said, “One calls to Me from Seir” (Isaiah 21:11) as is brought elsewhere. But someone who is not wise, when he sees the obstacle, he immediately retreats.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:4
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:4)

וּמְנִיעָה הוּא בְּחִינַת עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל, כִּי עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל הַיְנוּ חֹשֶׁךְ, חֹשֶׁךְ הוּא לְשׁוֹן מְנִיעָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית כב): וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
Now, an obstacle corresponds to cloud and mist. This is because a cloud and a mist are darkness, [and] *ChoSheKh* (darkness) connotes an obstacle. As it is written (Genesis 22:16), “and you did not *ChaSaKh* (hold back).”


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:5
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:5)

וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ הַפָּסוּק:

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
This is the explanation of the verse:


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:6
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:6)

וַיַּעֲמֹד הָעָם מֵרָחֹק – כִּי כְּשֶׁרוֹאִין הָעֲרָפֶל, הַיְנוּ הַמְּנִיעָה כַּנַּ"ל, עוֹמְדִין מֵרָחֹק.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
**The people kept their distance—**For when they see the mist, the obstacle, they keep their distance.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:7
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:7)

וּמֹשֶׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינוֹת דַּעַת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל,

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
**and Moshe—**He corresponds to the *daat* (holy knowledge) of all Israel.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:8
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:8)

נִגַּשׁ אֶל הָעֲרָפֶל אֲשֶׁר שָׁם הָאֱלֹקִים – הַיְנוּ אֶל הַמְּנִיעָה, שֶׁבָּהּ בְּעַצְמָהּ נִסְתָּר הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ:

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
**entered the mist where God was—**In other words, into the obstacle, which is precisely where God is hidden.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:9
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:9)

עוֹד שָׁמַעְנוּ בָּזֶה מִפִּיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ, שֶׁהוֹסִיף לְבָאֵר הָעִנְיָן הַנַּ"ל, מַה שֶּׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּעַצְמוֹ מַסְתִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַמְּנִיעָה כַּנַּ"ל. וְאָמַר,

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
We heard more on this from [Rebbe Nachman’s] holy lips. He added an explanation of the earlier point, that God Himself hides Himself within the obstacle. He said:


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:10
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:10)

כִּי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ אוֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט, וְגַם הוּא אוֹהֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל. אַךְ אַהֲבָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא אוֹהֵב אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, הִיא גְּדוֹלָה יוֹתֵר מֵהָאַהֲבָה שֶׁהוּא אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמִּשְׁפָּט. וְעַל כֵּן כְּשֶׁהַמִּדַּת הַדִּין מְקַטְרֵג עַל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, לִבְלִי לְהַנִּיחוֹ לִכְנֹס לְדֶרֶךְ הַחַיִּים, לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיק הָאֱמֶת וּלְדֶרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת. וְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ הוּא אוֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט, עַל כֵּן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ מֻכְרָח כִּבְיָכוֹל לְהַסְכִּים לְהַזְמִין לוֹ מְנִיעוֹת לְמוֹנְעוֹ מִדֶּרֶךְ הַחַיִּים, כְּפִי הָרָאוּי לוֹ לְפִי מַעֲשָׂיו הָרָעִים, עַל־פִּי הַדִּין וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט. כִּי הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִדְחוֹת אֶת הַדִּין, כִּי הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ אוֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט כַּנַּ"ל.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
God “loves justice” (Isaiah 61:8), and He also loves Israel. Yet, his love of Israel is greater than His love of justice (Zohar III, 99b). Therefore, when the attribute of judgment denounces someone who is not worthy of drawing closer to God and prevents him from entering the path of life so as to draw closer to the true tzaddik and the true path; and [what is more,] God Himself loves justice—when this occurs, God is obliged, as it were, to agree to arrange obstacles for him so as to keep him from the path of life. [These obstacles are] commensurate with what he deserves based on his evil deeds, in accordance with judgment and justice. For the Holy One cannot disregard the judgment, because God loves justice, as mentioned above.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:11
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:11)

אַךְ מֵאַחַר שֶׁבֶּאֱמֶת הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ אוֹהֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאוֹתָהּ הָאַהֲבָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא גְּדוֹלָה יוֹתֵר מֵהָאַהֲבָה שֶׁל הַמִּשְׁפָּט כַּנַּ"ל, מָה עוֹשֶׂה הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי הוּא מֻכְרָח כִּבְיָכוֹל לְהַסְכִּים עַל הַמְּנִיעוֹת לְמָנְעוֹ מִן הָאֱמֶת, מֵחֲמַת הַדִּין וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט שֶׁעָלָיו, כִּי הוּא אוֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט כַּנַּ"ל. אֲבָל אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בָּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ רְצוֹנוֹ וְחֶפְצוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן יִתְקָרֵב הָאָדָם אֵלָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי הוּא אוֹהֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מֵהַמִּשְׁפָּט כַּנַּ"ל.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
However, since in truth God loves Israel, and that love for Israel is greater than the love for justice, what is the Holy One to do? For He is obliged, as it were, to agree to the obstacles which keep the person from the truth, because of the judgment and the justice that is upon him—for He loves justice. This notwithstanding, the ultimate truth is that God’s will and desire is that this man nevertheless draw closer to Him. This is because, as mentioned, He loves Israel more than justice.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:12
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:12)

עַל כֵּן הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ נוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת לְהַזְמִין לוֹ מְנִיעוֹת, אֲבָל הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּעַצְמוֹ מַסְתִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ כִּבְיָכוֹל בְּתוֹךְ הַמְּנִיעוֹת, וּמִי שֶׁהוּא בַּר דַּעַת, יָכוֹל לִמְצֹא אֶת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּתוֹךְ הַמְּנִיעוֹת בְּעַצְמָן, כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אֵין שׁוּם מְנִיעָה בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל, כִּי בְּתֹקֶף הַמְּנִיעוֹת בְּעַצְמָן נִסְתָּר הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְעַל יְדֵי הַמְּנִיעוֹת בְּעַצְמָן דַּיְקָא יְכוֹלִין לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי שָׁם נִסְתָּר הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ כַּנַּ"ל.

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
Therefore, God grants permission for obstacles to be arranged for him. But He Himself hides Himself, as it were, within the obstacles. And one who is wise will be able to find God within the obstacles themselves. For the truth is that there are no obstacles whatsoever in the world. In the very force of the obstacles themselves, God is hidden. Thus, specifically through the obstacles themselves one is able to draw closer to the Holy One, for God is hidden there, as mentioned above.


###### Likutei Moharan 115:1:13
[Likutei Moharan 115:1:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Likutei%20Moharan/r/115:1:13)

וְזֶהוּ: וּמֹשֶׁה נִגַּשׁ אֶל הָעֲרָפֶל – שֶׁהוּא הַמְּנִיעָה, כִּי שָׁם הָאֱלֹקִים – כַּנַּ"ל:

**Likutey Moharan Volumes 12-15, trans. by Moshe Mykoff. Breslov Research Inst., 1986-2012:**
Thus, this is the meaning of: **and Moshe entered the mist**— the obstacle, **where God was** .