Rabbi Itche Meyer Morgenstern: Parshas Ki Savo

The holy Zohar writes: “Who is the face of the Shechinah? Rashbi — Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.” In Likutei Moharan, Rebbe Nachman writes — and Reb Nosson elaborates on this in Likutei Halachos — that one’s main spiritual work is to connect to true tzaddikim. This is actually just the fulfillment of the very beginning of Shulchan Aruch:"שויתי ה' לנגדי תמיד שהוא כלל גדול בתורה ובמעלת הצדיקים אשר הולכים לפני האלקים"—“’I have placed Hashem before me always’ is a fundamental principle of Torah and it is an essential element of the greatness of the tzaddikim who go before Hashem…” As the Gra explains it: "וזה כל מעלת הצדיקים" –““This is the entire greatness of the tzaddikim.”

In this light, the Degel Machaneh Ephraim explains the verse in our parshah, "והיו חייך תלאים לך מנגד ופחדת יומם ולילה ולא תאמין בחייך"—“Your life will hang in suspense. Day and night, you will be so terrified that you will not believe that you are alive.” The word teluim [תלאים] means ‘hanging.’ the Degel explains: If the Source of all life [חי החיים] is always “suspended” before you, then you will merit fear of heaven by day and night, and you will not believe in your life—you will not place your faith in your own power to sustain your life. You will realize your dependence on Hashem and the influence of His tzaddikim.