Chasidut para sa Mga Bilang 15:39

3. This is the aspect of tzitzit, for the general principle is that one must be very careful with garments so that the external threads do not catch hold of them. Their nature is to catch hold of garments, as our sages, may their memory be blessed, said (Berakhot 6): 'These ma'anei drabanan are more despised to them, for they are of a lower degree, and the external ones of holiness. There, their nature is to catch hold. Therefore, all the blemishes of all sins are recognized and recorded in them. Likewise, all the mitzvot are also recorded in them, for through the mitzvot, they are given a general aspect. The mitzvot serve as a garment and a covering for the soul so that they do not catch hold. When the garments are clean, it is a great protection, as explained elsewhere (Siman 127). Therefore, one must be very careful with the garments, as mentioned above. Therefore, the Torah commanded tzitzit, which are dependent on garments. Tzitzit serve as a protection for the garments so that the external threads do not catch hold. Through this, the entire Torah is safeguarded, both positive and negative commandments, as everything is recorded in them. And this is what is written (Numbers 15:39), 'And you shall see it and remember all the commandments of the Lord.' For through tzitzit, the brains are elevated, and from them, it extends to the building for all the fifty sinews, as in the aspect of (Ecclesiastes 9:8), 'Let your garments always be white.' 'Your garments' specifically, as stated there. Tzitzit are the aspect of general repair, the aspect of (Deuteronomy 32:11) 'like an eagle arousing its nest,' which metaphorically awakens the brains and extends from there to the building for all the fifty sinews, and so on. This is the aspect of thirty-eight threads of the tzitzit, as stated by our master (in Siman 8) and as our master stated (in Siman 7) that tzitzit are a safeguard against illicit relations. This is what our sages, may their memory be blessed, said (Shabbat 113), 'Let your garments always be white.' This refers to tzitzit. The wings of the tzitzit are the aspect of the wings of eagles, the aspect of (Exodus 19:4) 'And I bore you on eagles' wings,' symbolizing the arousing of the brains. From there, it extends to the building for all the fifty sinews. This is the aspect of thirty-two strands of the tzitzit, the aspect of the twelve warp threads of the tzitzit. Eagles are the aspect of the attracting of the lunar whiteness, which extends from the heart to all the fifty sinews, in the aspect of (Isaiah 1:18) 'Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool.' The sins are whitened in the aspect of tzitzit made of wool. This is the aspect of tekhelet, which hints that the blood has already been drained, and the blackness has turned to white. This is the aspect of tzitzit made of wool and linen, for garments are the aspect of kingship, and its principal construction and repair come through kindness, judgment, and so on, as mentioned above. This is the aspect of tzitzit made of wool and linen, for wool is the aspect of kindness, the aspect of the language of the shining that whitens sins. Linen is the aspect of might, as our sages, may their memory be blessed, said (Niddah 20), 'The black is red,' and so on. Techelet indicates that the blood has already been drained, and the blackness has turned to white. This is the aspect of tzitzit made of wool and linen. Therefore, the Torah commanded specifically wool and linen for garments (Menachot 39), as they are the foundation of the construction and repair of garments. They are specifically wool and linen, for they are kindnesses and mights, as explained above.

When you don the prayer shawl (Talit), “Observe the Techeilet-blue string.”⁴³Numbers 15:38 The explanation of this is that fear of HaShem should come upon you.⁴⁴Talmud Bavli, Menachot 43b: “Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai says: Anyone who is diligent in this Mitzvah-commandment merits receiving the Divine Presence. For with respect to the fringes-Tzitzit it is written, ‘That you may look upon it-u’Re’item Oto-וראיתם אותו’ (Num. 15:39) and it is written, ‘You shall fear HaShem, your God, and Him you shall serve-Et HaShem Elohecha Tirah, V’Oto Ta’avod-את ה׳ אלהי״ך תירא ואותו תעבוד.’ (Deut. 6:13).”

But his wife looked behind him: For the epitome of strength, which is the conquest of the [evil] impulse, is to close one's eyes from seeing evil. And that is why the letters of seeing are the same as the letters of fear, and likewise tzitzit, which hints to fear, as it is written in the Zohar, Shelach (175) [about tzitzit], "God's whip, etc., it's commandment is and you shall see it (Numbers 15:39)." For seeing the holy arouses fear, which is the opposite of the desire that is drawn out by seeing evil, as mentioned above in sections 35 and 42. And that is why Isaac merited holiness of sight. It is like [the sages], may their memory be blessed, said, that he saw the divine presence at [his] binding. And that is why his eyes had become dim (Genesis 27:1). Since with the strengthening of the spiritual, the physical is weakened. (And that is why Hagar, who was also from his level, as I have written in another place, since Hagar is the numerical equivalent of Isaac, said, Have I not gone on seeing after He saw me [Genesis 16:13]). And it has already been mentioned above, section 42, that the separating out of Sodom was through desire which is seeing the forbidden. However, Lot's wife was bad to people [which was a different shortcoming], like they, may their memory be blessed, said. However, she was not yet separated out. That is why her judgment was to be saved, until she looked behind him. For she did not exert the strength to conquer her eyes from seeing what she was warned [about]. Hence she died as part of Sodom, the land of which was burned by brimstone and salt, and she became a pillar of salt. And they, may their memory be blessed, said that Sodomite salt blinds the eyes, which is like the plague of blindness mentioned earlier in section 42. For salt are afflictions that sweeten. And that is the turning over of Sodom, meaning the exact opposite of the evil in strength was done, [there was] good strength to conquer the impulse, which is the blinding of evil eyes. And this is as mentioned above about had become dim. Therefore concluding water [to wash hands after the meal] is learned out from and you shall be holy (Leviticus 11:44), as it is written in the chapter [entitled] Kol HaBasar (107) and as it is written elsewhere, which is to say that it is upon the assistance from God, may He be blessed, after the first water, which is and you shall sanctify yourselves, like they, may their memory be blessed, said there, which is a person's preparation. And that is [the meaning of], "The first water is a commandment" (Chullin 105a), whereas the concluding water is something that is obligatory and necessary. It follows that once there is arousal from below, an arousal of holiness comes to him from above, so that there is no need for afflictions and Sodomite salt. Hence concluding water protects from Sodomite salt, as it is written (Eruvin 17b). And that is why a quarter kav-measure [of it] also goes into the incense. For the incense [ketoret] is a rectification of the plague that comes for the matter with Peor, which is sexual licentiousness, and the thick cloud of incense smoke darkens evil eyes. And likewise, it is stated about Sodom, the smoke [kitur] of the land like the smoke of a kiln (Genesis 19:28). And a quarter kav-measure is [the equivalent of] six eggs, meaning the six edges of desire, for the equivalent of an egg is the completeness of desire, as they, may their memory be blessed, said (Yoma 80a) [that] the esophagus can hold the equivalent of an egg; and sexual licentiousness is also referred to with an expression of eating — she eats and wipes her mouth (Proverbs 30:20).