“V’haya Ekev Tishma’un (And it will be in the wake of your listening) to these laws, safeguarding and doing them….” (Deuteronomy 7:12)

When there are troubles, God forbid, whether public or private troubles, it is impossible to dance. For when judgments exist, they are given over to emissaries of judgment—called “runners” (Zohar I, 43a)—who are the aspect of feet. Then, the feet are heavy, because of the blood that extends to there—i.e., the judgments.

For blood is an aspect of judgment. And when the judgement is “born,” at that point the blood departs from the feet. Thus, at birth, the blood departs from the woman’s feet and her feet grow cold, as our Sages teach (Sotah 11b).

Now, the essence of birth is when the blood departs from the feet—i.e., the judgments depart from the feet. This is because the period of pregnancy is an aspect of judgment. As our Sages teach: At the time that You are filled with wrath against them like a pregnant woman (Berakhot 29b).

We find therefore that pregnancy corresponds to judgment, and birth corresponds to mitigating judgment. For then, at the time of birth, the blood departs from the feet—this being the essence of birth, as mentioned.

Therefore, at a time of judgment and trouble, God forbid, it is impossible to dance. It is then impossible to raise up the feet, for the feet are heavy at a time when the judgments abound. This is because the blood, which is an aspect of judgment, is drawn to the feet, as above. But when the blood/judgment departs from the feet, namely, when the judgments are mitigated, then the feet grow light. In that case, joy is able to extend to there, until one dances from joy.

2. Now, the way to mitigate judgment is by a person judging himself. That is, in whatever he does, he himself should judge and evaluate himself in every aspect: was that the appropriate way for him to behave? He should search his ways and properly rectify them, according to the judgment and law of the Torah.

Through this that a person judges and evaluates himself, he mitigates and eliminates the judgment Above. For when there is judgment below, there is no judgment Above (Devarim Rabbah 5:4).

Then, when the judgment is mitigated, the blood departs from the feet, in which case the joy is able to extend to the feet until one merits to dance.

3. And this is [the explanation of the opening verse]: {“And it will be in the wake of your listening to these laws, safeguarding and doing them….”} V’hayah (And it will be) ekev (in the wake of) your listening—“V’hayah” connotes joy; “ekev” alludes to the feet. That is, to be worthy of joy—to the point where the EKEVayim (the heels), which are the feet, hear the joy—this is achieved by:

**these mishpatim (laws), safeguarding and doing them—**You should safeguard doing the mishpatim (evaluations) and judgments by yourselves. Through this, the judgment from Above is eliminated, as mentioned.

Then, “V’hayah ekev your listening.” You will hear the joy in the feet, as a result of the judgments having departed from there.

4. In addition, I found the following: This corresponds to, “… then God will safeguard the Covenant for you.” For when you merit to joy, then God Himself will safeguard the brit for you. That is, He will assist you in guarding the holy brit. This is because the main blemish of the brit is through sadness, as is known.

For the blemish of the brit comes from the known evil force which is called LiLiT because it always m’yaLeLeT (wails)—the aspect of sadness.

Therefore, the main guarding of the brit is merited through joy. This is because through joy one merits to have God Himself assist him in guarding the holy brit, as above.