“I think that I have heard from my Master the explanation of “{where} heaven and earth kiss” to connect and attach the physical deed with the spiritual vechulu. {It} is in the same spirit (al derech) that I have heard from him, or in his name, {the explanation of the verse Ecclesiastes 9:10} “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” that as {one} connects the physical deed with the spiritual, [through this] one achieves the union of KB”H {Tiferes} vechulu {and His Shechina, Malchus}. And the words of the wise are a charm, may the wise hear {this teaching} and increase learning {Proverbs 1:5}, and understand {what is really said here}.”
Toldos, Lech Lecho, 16c
“…this is Hillel the Elder, {who, once?} when he was saying goodby to his disciples, was walking (and was walking) with them.
His disciples said to him, “Rebbe, where are you going?
He said to them, “to do a Mitzveh”
They said to him, what Mitzveh?
He said to them, “I’m going to the bathhouse {to have a bath}”
They said to him, “is this {taking a bath} a mitzveh?”
He said to them, “yes {taking a bath is a mitzvah}, if those statues of kings that {they} place in theaters and circuses- he who is appointed on them, he scrubs and washes {the statues}, and they {the state} still pay him for it, and not only that, but he {also gets to} grow up with the great people {of} the kingdom- I who was created in the image and likeness, as it says “for in the image of god, he created man”, how much more so”
VaYikroh Raboh, 33, 4?
When one realizes oneself as the divine image animated, one notices how even taking a bath is of great service to the kingdom. As we see, this is a very ancient concept which appears in various forms in Talmud and Midrash, mostly from the schools of Hillel, R’ Akiveh etc., who seem to be doing away with the duality of body and soul. It all become one great cause. The gemoreh commenting on Hillel’s refraining from putting away the best meal for Shabbes, “for he had a different measure {of values} for all his deeds were for the sake of heaven” {Beitzeh 22?}.
The Besht resurrected this concept. In our text it appears in the following form: the intention of all mitzves is {as we say in prayer “le’yacheid kudeshoh BerichHu U’Shechintei”} to connect the higher and lower worlds {once again, this to the Besht all takes place in our psyche}. Now, this could be done with any material deed- Mitzveh or not!
We can accomplish {the unity} with taking a bath (or a shit, forgive me) just as much as we can with a mitzvah! Given that it is done with the right intention.
Instead of freaking out because you are being late for Mincheh, do the Yichud right there:
Know that what “you” are and do is Divine!
