A friend asked me to translate a recent series of posts, which I did [in an imperfect way...]. The Torah and growth from the following should be לעילוי נשמת He-chaver Reb Jack Tarzik z"l who tragically passed away recently. May his dear and special family [including his son, my beloved friend R' Corey] have a Nechama and find the strength to deal with this devastating loss.
On the pasuk at the beginning of Parshas Emor that says אמור וכו' ואמרת Chazal expounded in explaining the tautology ["double lashon"] "to warn the adults about the children" [tell the adults to tell the children that they shouldn't become Tamei]. This concept can be explained both on a general and a particular plane. On the general plane it should be understood on a simple level, namely that the adults of the Jewish people, those who are 13 years old and up, must watch the younger children [Kohanim] to make sure that they remain pure. In particular, every individual Jew should make sure that the "adult" aspect of the person i.e. the intellect, watches over and controls the "child" and "lower energies" within himself which is the general idea of "גדול תלמוד שמביא לידי מעשה" - Great is learning that it brings to action.
Regarding these two matters it is understood that we can learn from one to the other - like all Torah matters that can be learned from matter to matter even in different matters and certainly regarding two matters on one topic.
Regarding להזהיר גדולים על הקטנים - as it is in every Jew personally, the power of the intellect must be involved with the power of action. It is known that when the intellect descends and is involved with deeds there is an elevation of the intellect. The Rabbis say that "אין למדין הלכה לא מפי למוד כו' עד שיאמרו לו הלכה למעשה" - We don't learn Halacha merely from what we learn in theory until we are told that it is practical Halacha. It is true that even when an issue is not applicable practically, every person can toil with his intellect but that can't compare to the toil and effort that are aroused in a person when the matter is practically relevant.
Specifically when it comes to to Avoda of a person in the matter of Yiras Shomayim - when the matter is practical he is fearful that he shouldn't transgress the Divine will and do what may not be done and this fear arouses within a person the need to toil much more until it reaches the root and source of the intellect.
And to note also the statement of the Rabbis on the pasuk והוי"ה עמו - G-d is with him, which the Rabbis [see Sanhedrin 93b referring to Dovid Hamelech] interpreted as meaning that the Halacha follows him, meaning that the root of Halachos comes from the name of הוי"ה which is higher than the name of א-להים. Now in the soul of man, the name א-להים relates to בינה which relates to understanding and perception while the name of הוי"ה relates to the source and root of the intellect. And in line with the rule that the higher a concept is, the lower it descends, that means that the name of הוי"ה descends to the [much lower] world of action!!
So it is with the Avoda of a person. The explanation of the Baal HaTanya is know on the pasuk "עקב אשר שמע אברהם בקולי" "Because Avraham listened to my voice". The word for "because" is עקב which can also mean "sole". This means that Avraham's listening penetrated even until the lowest part of himself - the sole of his foot! How do you know if a person is listening all the way to the depths of his being? If even the sole of his foot is spiritually disciplined!
And that is the meaning of the teaching of Chazal "גדול תלמוד שמביא לידי מעשה" - "Great is learning that beings to deed". How does learning become great? When it brings to deed!
This is alluded to in the phrase "להזהיר גדולים על הקטנים" - which literally means to "warn" the Gedolim about the Ktanim but can also mean that the older people should "shine" [as we find that various rabbis in the Gemara were asked "במאי הוה זהיר טפי" in what area were they most careful i.e. in what area did they shine] to teach about the light that is added to a person's intellect [which is the "Gadol" within him] through being involved with concrete action [the "Kotton" within him].
