Abolishing The Evil Decrees

A Torah from the Holy Noam Elimelech on his yahrtzeit:

And to a cubit finish it from above.
(Bereishis 6:16)


The Gemara in Shabbos (119b) says: “He who prays reciting the verse
‘Vayechulu...’ regarding the completion of the world’s creation with Shabbos
becomes a partner with Hashem in the act of creation, as it says, ‘Vayechulu...
— And Heaven and Earth were completed’ (Bereishis 2:1) — do not
read ‘vayechulu,’ completed, but rather read it as ‘vayichlu,’ they finished it
together [meaning to say that Hashem and man finished it together].”

This can be explained as referring to the Tzaddik, who nullifies harsh decrees
and judgments by elevating them back to their source, thereby sweetening
them.

[The source of everything is ultimately Hashem and His divine attributes.
Hashem is absolute good and mercy, so all decrees and judgments — even
those perceived as evil — are rooted in sources of holiness and good, as it says,
“All bitter things have sweet roots” (Ramak, Tomer Devorah, ch. 4). So, for
example, love of money and lust has an original source in love of good and love
of the divine. When a person overcomes his urges and desires and uses them for
a higher purpose, such as diverting those desires to love of Torah and Hashem,
he is elevating these attributes and returning them to their source. A decree is
also “sweetened” in this way.]

Thus, “one who prays reciting the verse ‘Vayechulu...’ ” refers to the Tzaddik
who prays to end and nullify the harsh decrees and judgments. [In Hebrew,
the word לכלות , “to end,” is spelled with the letters of the word [.ויכלו
In this way he becomes a partner with Hashem: G-d decrees and the Tzaddik
abolishes the decree, as it says: “Do not read ‘vayechulu,’ completed, but
rather read it as ‘vayichlu,’ they ended or were nullified.” The harsh decrees
and judgments are nullified by the Tzaddik who elevates them to the heavens,
back to their source in holiness.

Thus it says, “Make a tzohar for the teivah” — cause the words of your
prayers to sparkle with brilliance like the luster of a precious stone in order
to abolish the verdicts and decrees that have been pronounced against the
Jewish people. How can these judgments be eliminated? The Torah says:
“To a cubit finish it from above.” The word for “cubit,” אמה , also connotes ,אם
“mother.” Divine mercy is symbolized by the merciful mother bird hovering
above its young protecting them from all harm. Therefore, through divine mercy,
“techalenah” — finish it. End the decrees with the mercy of the divine mother
by elevating them back to their source above.

[We therefore read the verse “V’el amah techalenah milema’alah — To a cubit
finish it from above” as “Through the divine mercy of the mother we end and
abolish (the decrees) by elevating them to their source in holiness.”]

[From the sefer Mi'pninei Hanoam Elimelech]