Hora’ah – הוראה – Teaching
“The concept of “the word of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us” (John 1:14) is, (in alternate terminology), actually well known, and embraced in Judaism. However, this concept as originally spoken of, and understood in Judaism, is not what is embraced by Christianity today.”
Can a Torah Faithful, Orthodox Jew Believe that Jesus was (or will be) the Messiah of Israel? Ariel Bar Tzadok
“Every disciple, when he is fully trained will be like his teacher (Lk.6:40). This does not apply just to the tzaddikim but to every individual. All of one’s doings should reflect the light and the ideals found within the Torah (Seder Hadorot Hechadash, pg.45 [21a]). Many Hassid’s call this, becoming a living and breathing Torah. “Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, too, said of his master, the Maggid of Mezhirech: elsewhere own learns to master the Torah, i.e., how one is to study Torah; in Mezhirech, however, one leans to let the Torah master you, i.e., how the Torah teaches man to become a Torah himself.”
Likutey Diburim, vol 2, 492 – R. Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch
“For the chasid, his rebbe is his whole life, and he will give his life, literally, for his rebbe. To him, the rebbe is a living Torah. Just as if a sefer Torah, G-d forbid, were about to be burned in a fire, one would jump into the fire, jeopardizing his life, so too with the “living Torah,” the rebbe.”
To Be Chasidic, Chaim Dalfin, p. 217
“Thus just to meet and see the tzaddik is itself already a profound lesson in Torah-study and Torah-conduct. Rabbi Leib Sarah’s, therefore, would travel far to see the Maggid just to observe how he ties and unties his shoelaces (Seder Hadorot Hechadash, p.45 [21a]). For the true tzaddik is an altogether holy personality, the personification of “Let all your deeds be for the sake of Heaven” (Avot 2:17). He personifies the ideal of “Know Him in all your ways” (Pro.3:6): “da’eihu (know Him) is a word signifying attachment,”
TIkuney Zohar 69:99a; Likutey Amarim, sect.236; Or Torah, sect.369
“The great tzaddikim don’t just study the Torah, they are themselves a living Torah. And so this too is man’s purpose, in all one’s doings, everything thought, motion, speech and act, must reflect and personify the Torah.”
Seder Hadorot Hechadash, p.45 [21a]
“The true tzaddik helps man achieve this goal, for he is a Torah made flesh. He is essentially a guide, mentor, and teacher. He is a soul-doctor and a role-model who helps and inspires his followers and ignites their souls with the fire of reverence and love for G-d. He unites their souls with the soul of the Torah, and thus with G-d. It is important that each individual is obligated to strive after spiritual perfection, Hasidim caution that one is not to make oneself completely dependent on the tzaddik – to the point of being paralyzed. One is not to rely on him altogether. Everyone must also take the initiative on his own and assume responsibility for the goal of achieving self-elevation. Each one must learn to stand on his own two feet, work on himself, and not rely on the merits and blessings accruing through the tzaddik. For this is the actual greatness of the tzaddik, that he can raise up great and strong disciples who mirror him. Thus taught the Baal Shem Tov: “In a certain land there was a mighty warrior, and all the people of the land put their trust in him. They did not themselves learn how to wage war because they relied on this mighty warrior. But once there was a war, and the enemy cunningly stole the weapons of that warrior, one by one, until he had nothing left to fight with. Thus even as he was seized, so were all the others who had relied on him… This is the meaning of, “Happy are the people who know the blowing of the teru’ah -” (Psalm 89:16): when people will not rely on the warrior, but will themselves know the teru’ah of war, then “they shall walk in the light of Your countenance, G-d” (Ps.ibid). For they do not rely on the great ones alone.”
Keter Shem Tov, sect.33 and 261
NEW TESTAMENT
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14