In this week’s parsha we have the prohibition of not wearing
clothes of the opposite gender. Rashi explains the reason as to prevent
comingling for the purposes of licentiousness. Reb Noson however in his
Likeutei Halachot is m’dayek on the passuk to bring a deeper idea. The passuk
states “there shall not be a man’s garment to a women and a man shall not dress
in a woman’s garment…” Reb Noson explains that spiritually speaking, “garments”
refer to a person’s seichel which clothes and surrounds his neshama.
Specifically the seichel corresponds to whatever level of understanding Hashem
that person has reached via their Torah learning and avodah. A person who has
reached a certain level of comprehension of heaven can obviously understand the
levels below his current one as well. However if he tries to reach too high
above his current level he may find he taps into a revelation that is too much
for his personal kelim to handle which can have a very damaging affect.
Therefore a person has to constantly be working on themselves via davening,
mitzvot and learning so as to always be building stronger kelim to eventually
take on the next higher level of divine light.
Kabbalistically speaking, when talking about any two
different levels of spirituality, the upper level is referred to as the “male”
while the lower is referred to as the “female.” Reb Noson says the passuk is
actually speaking in code, referring to two different levels of spirituality.
Someone who is on a lower level is in the aspect of “female” and the Torah is
warning them not to shoot too high for a level above their reach, i.e. “male
seichel” before they are ready for it. Therefore it specifically says “there
shall not be a male’s garment (higher seichel) to a women (lower seichel)”
because this person is not yet ready to attain it. However when describing the
second case the language is changed to “ a man (upper seichel) shall not dress
in a woman’s garment (lower seichel).” Reb Noson says that the Torah doesn’t
need to warn one who has achieved a higher level not to reach for a lower level
as it’s obvious that such a level is already within their grasp. However it
says not to dress oneself in it – i.e. not to involve oneself in a lower level
because even though one is able to do so we should always be working to achieve
new heights in our spirituality – not go lower.
May we merit to constantly elevate ourselves in our
relationship with Hashem in a safe and measured way.
