Levushim
The Levushim, "garments," of the soul are three innate tools that the souls uses to conscisouly tap into and express the soul and its facultites. The three tools, or garments, of the soul are thought, speech, and action.
These tools are analogous to garments becasue just as garments are not the person themselves but rather enclothes and can express the person, so to these tools they are not the person rather a tools he uses to express and tap into his essence. And just as one can remove different articles of clothing when desired and change to different clothing, so too with the soul's garments - a person can at any time change and replace the garments of their soul. I.e. he can change from one thought to another and one form of speech or action to another. When it comes to action and speech, he may at times, wish not to encloth himself in them altogether.
The Garments
Thought
Machshavah, thought, is the innate tool a person uses to consciously tap into his ability to process intellect. "Thought," is the innermost garment which is most united and attached to the soul and its faculties and is always in use.
Speech
Dibbur, speech, is an innate tool a person has to express his thoughts and soul faculties to others. It is the soul's tool used to communicate and is predominantly used in speech.
Action
"Action" is an innate tool the soul uses to express his faculties through physical action. Although action is the lowest "garment," and is the most disconnected from its source, it is the most important tool. Through this tool the soul accomplishes its goal and fulfills the reason that it was descended into this world.
The Advantage of Levushim
Though these three tools are merely tools and not the essence of the soul, they have a great advantage over the attributes of the soul. For the soul and its faculties, though they can have a much greater insight of G-dliness,[1] they can never grasp G-d, Who is essentially ungraspable. However, when the soul enlothes itself in these "garments," it can comprehend, speak in, and perform the teachings and laws of the Torah, which is G-d's Wisdom. G-d's wisdom and G-d are one[2]. In this way, the soul, which is enclothed in these garments, can attach itself to G-d and thus unite with Him.[3]
External Links
- Rabbi Tzemach David Waksman, The Virtue of the Soul's Garments over NRN] Hearos UBiurim, Ohalei Torah, Parshat Mishpatim-Shekalim 5783, page 38
- Shneur Ashkenazi, Why Does the Torah Make an Issue of Garments?, Lesson for Parshat Tetzaveh
- Shneur Ashkenazi, The Secret of Priestly Garments and Purim Costumes, Lesson for Parshat Tetzaveh
- ↑ Especially when they are not yet enclothed in a body, when there insight is not limited to our physical understandings. In this way, the Alter Rebbe, in the Tanya quoted below, explains the advantage of living in this world versus enjoying G-dliness in Gan Eden, for only in this world can we attach ourselves with G-d through these "garments."
- ↑ Rambam.
- ↑ Tanya, ch. 4.