\u201cIsh Tam\u201d \u2013 simple, innocent, wholesome man \u2013 that\u2019s how Torah calls our forefather Yaakov.<\/p>\n
\u201cTam\u201d is also used in Haggadah to describe the third son, where it sometimes interpreted as \u201csimpleton\u201d.<\/p>\n
However Haggadah gives us a key into the real meaning in that context as well:<\/p>\n
The third son\u2019s question is \u201cMah Zot?\u201d \u2013 What is that?<\/p>\n
Normally in Hebrew we ask \u201cMah Ze?\u201d \u2013 for generic and male subjects.<\/p>\n
\u201cMah Zot?\u201d however signifies female subject \u2013 and beautiful explanation tells us that Tam sees Shehinah \u2013 Hashem\u2019s presence (which is linguistically and kabbalistically female),<\/p>\n
However he doesn\u2019t exactly understand what he sees\u2026<\/p>\n
So our task here is to understand what is that we see\u2026 with our eyes and our soul \u2013 and use it to reach our goal of coming to this world – to get closer to our Source and help our dear brothers and sisters.<\/p>\n
Simplicity and need to be down-to-earth practical \u00a0is also\u00a0emphasized by\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cLo bashamaim Hee\u201d (Devarim 30:12)\u00a0\u2013 Torah \u201cis not found in heaven\u201d<\/p>\n
– in the last book of Torah (Deuteronomy), \u00a0Moshe Rabbeinu tries to explain the new generation of Jewish people who are about to enter the Land of Israel, that all the laws and mitzvoth they received are very close to their everyday life and needs:<\/p>\n
“For that (the\u00a0Torah) is your life\u00a0and the length of your days” (Devarim 30:20) \u2013 this is not some abstract set of rules for mythical reward and punishment \u2013 it\u2019s very down-to-earth manual on \u201cHow to avoid shooting-yourself-in-a-leg\u201d and live happy prosperous life if nothing more.<\/p>\n
Practical Torah Spirituality is very simple (Tam in Hebrew) \u2013 simple in the sense of being harmonious, holistic truth, which can be practiced by any Jew (the principles are applicable to all people, but not all the mitzvot)<\/p>\n
This practice doesn\u2019t require esoteric knowledge of Kabbalah (which with all my respect became too theoretical and detached from practical application),<\/p>\n
It only needs a simple picture of \u201cHow things work\u201d which is developed step-by-step through practice.<\/p>\n
In a sense it requires a change of thinking (most people have dominant left brain and under-used right brain) to start perceiving things in all their totality (in parallel – right brain thinking) instead of million of separate details (serial \u2013 left brain thinking).<\/p>\n
I’ll try to keep the style of articles on this site short and practical \u2013 in spirit of<\/p>\n
\u201cSimple Torah Spirituality\u201d \u2013<\/p>\n
please let me know if I\u2019m succeeding \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n