The Rebbe's Rambam | Marking the completion of the entire set

Hilchos Melachim | Ch 12

mikln zekld

458

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as dust. And [165] [166] the sole occupation of

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Pardes Hamelech

which will be uncovered in Torah, due this unique manner of study. 3. “Grasp the knowledge of their Creator” refers to yet a deeper level of hidden matters; grasping matters of G-dliness, as Hashem is hidden from human under standing. 529 4. The words “according to human capacity” comes not to place a limit on our understanding, but rather to emphasize the wholeness of our effort; being that this will be our sole occupation, we will maximize our full human potential. 530 All of this is reinforced by the verse “The earth will be filled…,” which again emphasizes how this occupa tion will envelope our entire existence. This also explains the ending of the verse, “like the waters cover the seabed”: Even if our sole occupation will be to ‘know Hashem,’ it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be the core essence of our existence. By adding these words, the Rambam emphasizes that it will indeed become our very identity, just as waters cover the seabed — everything in the sea is concealed, and water seems to be the entire existence. This explanation will be especially appreciated ac cording to the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel in the Talmud, who maintains that sea creatures are not a barrier to the water (with regard to Mikvah immersion etc.) as their existence is water as well. 531 In other words, the waters of the sea do not conceal the creatures within; rather, they reveal their true nature, water. So too, in the era of Moshiach; the knowledge of Hashem will be the true existence of creation itself, and this will be visible to all. Hadran 5745. Likkutei Sichos vol. 27 pg. 237 166. “The sole occupation of the entire world” This language seems to include all of humanity, including gentiles. This is also evident from the fact that in this sentence, when describing how we will all become ‘great sages,’ the Rambam finds it necessary to specify that this applies to the Jewish nation specifi cally. .524 î"ñë äàø) äæá è"å÷ùä äòåãéå .é¯ç â"ô ú"ú 'ìä .î"ëàå .(ãåòå .íù .525 .â"ôñ úåòã 'ìä .526 .(9 äøòä íù ïîñðä äàøå) êìéàå 402 'ò æ"éç ù"å÷ì äæá äëåøàá äàø .527 .é"ñåñ á"ô æ"äãàì ú"ú 'ìä äàø .(êìéàå à"òñ ,äî÷) å"ëñ ÷"äâà .(æ"ñ) 263 'ò ä"ëç ù"å÷ì äàøå .528 .(á ,î î"á) "éø÷éà àøâú ïéáæå ïåáæ"

165. “The sole occupation…” Several details in this final passage seem to be unnecessary elaboration: 1. Why the emphasis of sole occupation? The Ram bam emphasizes this twice, with the words “ lo . . . ela,” and again with the word “ bilvad. ” Having already stated that physical delights will be insignificant, what other occupation can one possibly have? 2. What is the emphasis of “according to human capacity”? Isn’t that self understood? 3. Why does the Rambam quote the end of the verse, which compares the knowledge to water which covers the seabed? The explanation: The Rambam states in Hilchos Talmud Torah that even one who devotes his life to Torah study is still obligated to earn a living. 524 The focus of the work, he says, should be to enhance one’s Divine service, and that will turn the very work itself into a form of Divine service. 525 The Rambam seeks to exclude this form of behavior with the words “ sole occupation”; when Moshiach comes, earning a living as a form of Divine service will no longer be practiced, and we will study Torah exclusively. The Rambam takes this one step further by adding the additional emphasis of ‘ bilvad ’: With this word, he indicates that the study of Torah itself will be solely for its own sake, without any further goal. 526 Even the goal of knowing practical halachah will not be relevant, as this knowledge will be learned quickly and permanently. 527 Our Torah study will thus be solely to gain a deeper understanding. This is also hinted in the words “sole occupation ”: the study will be likened to a business, whose goal is to grow the investment and earn a profit; 528 our Torah study will be focused on growing our understanding and discovering novel insights. This explains several other details: 1. The term “ great sages”; this is due to the form of study, which will be focused on gaining deeper insights. 2. The “hidden matters” refer to the new depth

.529 .ãåòå .êìéàå è"ä à"ô ú"äåñé 'ìä .530 .à"òø ,æñ úåáåúë äàø

.531 ä"ãá 'úð) åúåîë äëìä ïéàù àìà ¯ .á"î á"ô íéãé .æ"î å"ô úåàå÷î øáëå íù .(à ,áë) íéçáæã àäá 'éúååë ïðé÷ñô éøä ìáà ¯ (á"ñøú ,éðà éúéàøå øåáéç .íù úåéìò úåìåâ 'ñá äæá êéøàäå .íù úåàå÷î è"éåúá äæá è"å÷ù .î"ëàå ,ãåòå .(à÷éçã àéåðùá ã"ðòôì) åôåñá 'á ììë úåàå÷î 'ìä äøäèì