שבת Date: 15 Shevat, 5777 (2/11/17) – Bava Basra Daf 20 ~ Eliezer Guterman

REPAIRING RECEPTACLES

[20a top] Gemarah: An earthenware Kli (vessel) only contracts Tumah (impurity) from inside its airspace, whereas a metal Kli will contract Tumah even from its outside.
R’ Rosner quoting R’ Mersky quoting Kotzker Rebbe: A metal Kli has inherent value of the material itself plus its value as a Kli, but a vessel made from dirt only has value linked with its functionality. Since Tumah effects Value, metal is able to be made impure by its outside (material worth) and inside (functionality), whereas an earthenware container only contracts Tumah from within (since that is its only real worth). Additionally, since a rectification process [re-making Tahor (pure)] must maintain some self worth (in order to restore its purpose), a metal Kli (which has inherent value) may just be dunked into a Mikvah (to get cleansed), while an earthenware Kli must be completely shattered before being reformed anew in a fiery kiln.
This same idea can be applied to a person. Although we have both bodies and souls, our only real values comes from our souls inside (like an earthenware vessel). When, G-d forbid, our souls become Tamei (impure), the only complete way to become Tahor again is through breaking down of our ‘selves’ (and egos) in Teshuvah. “There is nothing is as COMPLETE as a BROKEN heart.”

D-E-ep Thoughts: Immersion in a Mikvah does help to cleanse our bodies from specific outward physical impurities. But, in order to cleanse our souls, we need to reach deep down inside. To re-connect and return to Hashem we must be absolutely real and sincere from our core.

Today’s P.I.P. (Put Into Practice) TIP: Take (at least) five minutes today to outwardly and honestly talk (aloud) to Hashem about how we thought, spoke, and acted today and how we plan to be better tomorrow. Teshuvah involves past acknowledgement, current regret, and future protection.