Episode 536 - 21 Iyar (Regular Year) - Is Lovesickness Fatal?
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In this episode of the It Is Taught Tanya Podcast, host Sarit Switzer explores a profound and often overlooked dimension of love in Jewish mysticism: a radical, consuming form of love that arises not from the right side of giving and closeness, but from the left side of severity and self-annihilation. Drawing from Chapter 50 of Likutei Amarim in The Tanya, she contrasts the familiar 'silver' love—characterized by longing and yearning, associated with the Kohanim and the right side—with a higher, 'gold' love rooted in the supernal Bina and Gvurah, symbolizing a soul’s fiery desire to expire in God. To illustrate this intense spiritual state, she shares a poignant story from Haruki Murakami’s *Men Without Women*, about a man who dies of anorexia after being consumed by unrequited love. Though tragic, the story serves as a powerful metaphor for the soul’s yearning to dissolve entirely into the Divine. Switzer emphasizes that unlike human love, divine love is safe and eternal—God will never abandon us. Yet, this transformative love must be grounded in fear of sin and ethical commitment, ensuring that self-annihilation is not a flight from responsibility but a sacred ascent. The episode concludes with a call to deep meditation and inner reflection, inviting listeners to access this hidden spiritual light through sincere introspection.
True spiritual love can involve self-annihilation, not just closeness—this 'gold' love comes from the left side of severity and is rooted in the soul’s desire to expire in God.
The story of the lovesick surgeon illustrates the intensity of this love, but unlike human love, divine love is safe and eternal—God will never betray us.
This higher love must be grounded in ethical commitment and fear of sin; it cannot be pursued without a foundation of mitzvah observance.
The Levites, traditionally associated with song and music, symbolize this fiery, upward-moving love that seeks to return to its source.
The soul’s yearning for God is not passive—it is a deep thirst, a 'tzaman ha-nafshi,' that drives the soul to transcend itself.
Introduction to the Episode and the Theme of Love
Sarit Switzer introduces the podcast and sets the stage for today’s exploration of love in The Tanya, noting that this episode will delve into a radical, self-consuming form of love that comes from the left side of the Kabbalistic sefirot.
The Contrast Between Silver and Gold Love
The episode contrasts the familiar 'silver' love—longing and closeness—with the higher 'gold' love, which is fiery, self-annihilating, and rooted in the supernal Bina and Gvurah. This distinction is drawn from the Tanya’s allegory of precious metals.
The Story of the Lovesick Surgeon as a Metaphor
“He literally becomes so consumed that he withers away both emotionally and intellectually and even physically where he stops going to work, he stops taking care of his clothes, he stops taking care of his apartment and he stops eating. He stops nourishing himself and then unfortunately he dies at the end.”
The Spiritual Source of Consuming Love: Bina and Gvurah
The episode explains that this intense love originates from the left side—Bina and Gvurah—where the soul contemplates the greatness of God and desires to dissolve into His infinite presence, like a flame rising from a wick.
The Role of the Levites and the Fire of the Soul
The Levites are linked to this fiery, upward-moving love, symbolized by song and music that rise and fall. This reflects the soul’s natural desire to transcend itself and return to its source, like a flame seeking its origin.
“He literally becomes so consumed that he withers away both emotionally and intellectually and even physically where he stops going to work, he stops taking care of his clothes, he stops taking care of his apartment and he stops eating. He stops nourishing himself and then unfortunately he dies at the end.”
“But this should be proceeded with the meditation of not wanting to sin, of having fear of sin to move away from evil with completion.”
“This is the type of love that we're talking about, the type of love that could literally lead a person to losing themselves in the beloved.”
Host
Sarit Switzer
person
The Tanya
book
Gvurah
other
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
person
Levites
other
Bina
other
Likutei Amarim
book
Kohanim
other
Men Without Women
book
Haruki Murakami
person
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