Tanya: Chapter 5

Here we drive home the concept that performing the mitzwoth, whether through speech or action, enclothes us in HaShem's divine Will. This echoes the concept of being hugged by HaShem mentioned in the previous chapter. Later on towards the end of the sefer he describes more of the metaphysics involved. That each of the 613 Torah ordinances and the 7 Rabbinic ordinances make up one of the 620 (gematriah of Keter) columns of pure light radiated from Keter. (the highest of the Sefirot) Each one of these columns of light enclothes one aspect of the soul's 613 limbs and sinews. These columns of light are the clothes of our soul in the world to come.

Still, the focus of this chapter is a deeper even more unique relationship that can be had with HaShem. Through the speech of one's lips during Torah study these spiritual clothes are formed, yes. But, through the depth of our understanding of the Torah's system of thought, our mind is impregnated with HaShem's divine Will. Torah learning, in this way, creates a union otherwise impossible in this physical world: To be totally encompassed AND encompass something to be touched and be touching every part of something simultaneously. This experience is possible only through Torah study.

[Intellectually] Grasping HaShem's Torah fills us with HaShem's Will, and just like food, it becomes a part of us, and makes us a part of Him. (We learned elsewhere [see a waxing wellspring: if you cant join em beat em] that food has the power either to become more like you or make you more like it. In the case of God's Will as food, I have to conclude that the relationship always works to make you more like God and not vice versa.) This Torah, the Baal HaTanya explains, is the food of the world to come.

For this reason, Torah needs to be read aloud when learning. The reading aloud is the action and the action itself becomes the clothes of our soul in Gan Eden. The lesson we internalize, the thought becomes the food of our soul in Gan Eden. The Zohar/Arizal explains that this is the essence of learning Torah "l'shmah" for its own sake - learning Torah for the sake of the soul.