"How good are your Tents, Jacob, and your Tabernacles, Israel." (Num. 24:5)

The development of the one's inner soul is the purpose of life. When one becomes imbued with awe of G‑d or with love of G‑d, it should blaze inside one's soul. Yet one doesn't need to wear it on one's sleeve for the world to see. The most important part was what was underneath the tapestries…

This is alluded to in the above verse which makes a veiled reference to the Tabernacle of the desert. "Tents" refers to the multi-colored tapestries which covered the Tabernacle. These exquisite tapestries were visible from the outside. Nevertheless, the most important part was what was underneath the tapestries, the Tabernacle itself.

The name "Jacob" represents a lower aspect, while the name "Israel" represents a higher, more fully realized aspect; the inner aspect of the Jew. Therefore, in the verse "How good are your tents, Jacob…", Jacob is associated with tents, a simpler, still unrefined and external type of divine service. The principal service of G‑d is the higher service - that of Israel, i.e. "...and your Tabernacles Israel". The inner aspect is the more fully realized service, the essence of a Jew. He makes…no audible sounds, yet inside, his soul is ablaze with passionate connection, silently roaring out in prayer…

The goal is to achieve the state of "I shall place G‑d constantly before me" (Psalms 16:8). Therefore one may come to the level where he can eat fine foods and yet at the same time be afflicting himself with them. He might seem as if he is looking at everything in the world, yet not gaze outside of his four cubits of personal space. One can even speak about seemingly trivial subjects yet his mind is still totally focused on G‑d.

The same is true with prayer; one can be praying to G‑d - but an observer might not be able to know it. He makes no perceptible movements and no audible sounds, yet inside, his soul is ablaze with passionate connection, silently roaring out in prayer.

This is the Tabernacle, the sublime inner life, the inner aspect of all things, concealed by the tapestries. One must be taught to look behind the tapestries, for it is all too easy to believe that their exquisite beauty is sufficient to justify their presence.

[Based on Sefer Baal Shem Tov, parashat Balak #5, and parashat Bereishit #47;
First published in B'Ohel Hatzadikim, Balak 5759; www.nishmas.org]