171- How Good Are Your Tents, Jacob – 1

“How good are your tents, Jacob.” Yaakov [Jacob] comes from the word Akevaim [heels] and “end.” That is, it is the worst state of lowliness that one feels, when he sees that there is nothing in the world from which he can derive pleasure.

He says, “But the purpose of creation is to do good to His creations, and it is written that the delight and pleasure are mainly in Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], yet he does not feel any flavor or delight in Torah and Mitzvot, although it is written ‘for they are your life and the length of your days.’” However, he does not see it.

Likewise, in corporeality, it is written that there is pleasure there because the Kedusha [holiness] illuminates in them in a tiny light, yet even this he does not feel now, in corporeality. Thus, he is in a state where he is fed up with life because he has no meaning in life.

At that time, one must believe that he was given this state on purpose from above, so he will have a lack, a reason to pray for the Creator to give him the filling for the lack. This is called “Your dwellings, Israel,” for Israel means that he feels that he would like to work for the sake of the Creator, called “Israel,” and if there is no deficiency, there is no filling.