This speaks of one who does not bind himself to a true tzaddik. Such a person may appear to serve God, but all his devotion is like the contortions one uses when trying to mimic another. He is like an ape trying to mimic a man.185Cf. Zohar II, 148b; Likutey Moharan I, 64:6; ibid., II, 15.
“A man’s own folly perverts his way”: Because of his folly, all his devotion “perverts his way.” He perverts and contorts himself, in imitating others.
The reason is because “he casts his grudge upon God.” The Talmud teaches that God asks, “Who rules over Me?” and answers that it is the tzaddik (Moed Katan 16b; Shabbat 63a).
“He casts his grudge upon God”: The tzaddik is “upon God,” for he can even rule over God. “He casts his grudge” upon the tzaddik, the one who is “upon God.” He is hostile and does not draw near to the tzaddik. Therefore, he “perverts his way” and contorts himself in a vain attempt at true devotion.
אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ וְעַל ה' יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ (מִשְׁלֵי יט).
It is written, “A man’s own folly perverts his way, and he casts his grudge upon God” (Proverbs 19:3).
פֵּרוּשׁ: מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְקֻשָּׁר וּמְקֹרָב לְצַדִּיק אֲמִתִּי, אֲזַי כָּל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ הוּא רַק כְּמוֹ מִי שֶׁמְּעַקֵּם עַצְמוֹ וּמִתְדַּמֶּה לַחֲבֵרוֹ כְּקוֹף בִּפְנֵי אָדָם.
This speaks of one who does not bind himself to a true tzaddik. Such a person may appear to serve God, but all his devotion is like the contortions one uses when trying to mimic another. He is like an ape trying to mimic a man.185Cf. Zohar II, 148b; Likutey Moharan I, 64:6; ibid., II, 15.
וְזֶהוּ: "אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ". הַיְנוּ שֶׁהָאָדָם עַל־יְדֵי אִוַּלְתּוֹ כָּל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ הִיא רַק בִּבְחִינַת תְּסַלֵּף דַרְכּוֹ, כְּמוֹ מִי שֶׁמְּסַלֵּף וּמְעַקֵּם עַצְמוֹ אַחַר חֲבֵרוֹ כַּנַּ"ל.
“A man’s own folly perverts his way”: Because of his folly, all his devotion “perverts his way.” He perverts and contorts himself, in imitating others.
וְהַטַּעַם כִּי "וְעַל ה' יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ" הַיְנוּ לְהַצַּדִּיק שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת "עַל ה'" כִּי "מִי מוֹשֵׁל בִּי צַדִּיק".
The reason is because “he casts his grudge upon God.” The Talmud teaches that God asks, “Who rules over Me?” and answers that it is the tzaddik (Moed Katan 16b; Shabbat 63a).
"יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ" הַיְנוּ שֶׁחוֹלֵק עַל הַצַּדִּיק וְאֵינוֹ מְקֹרָב אֵלָיו עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה "תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ" שֶׁהוּא רַק כְּמִי שֶׁמְּעַקֵּם עַצְמוֹ כַּנַּ"ל.
“He casts his grudge upon God”: The tzaddik is “upon God,” for he can even rule over God. “He casts his grudge” upon the tzaddik, the one who is “upon God.” He is hostile and does not draw near to the tzaddik. Therefore, he “perverts his way” and contorts himself in a vain attempt at true devotion.
כִּי אֵין מַמָּשׁ בַּעֲבוֹדָה כִּי־אִם עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיק הָאֲמִיתִּי כַּמּוּבָא בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר.
What he does not know is that true devotion is impossible except through a true tzaddik (see “His Wisdom” #296; Likutey Moharan I, 2:6, 9:4).