תּוֹרָה לט - וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב

V'Nosati Aisev — "And I Will Give Grass" · Opening: Deuteronomy 11:15 · Likutay Moharan Part I, Toirah 39

When a person feels some hunger — that the desire to eat overpowers him — let him know that he has enemies. As our Sages of blessed memory said: "as soon as a person becomes poor below — he becomes poor above" [Sanhedrin 103a]. Therefore one must plough and break his animal nature [ bahemiyus ] that desires to eat — for the primary hunger is of the animal nature. And through this he will be saved from enemies. [And this is what our Sages of blessed memory said on the verse: "He Who sets your border as peace" [Bava Metzia 59a] — "and accordingly" etc.]

Hunger is also strife — in the aspect of: "the shame of hunger" [Ezekiel 36:30] — that is, through the desire to eat comes strife — people shame and disgrace him — and likewise the reverse. And this hunger is the aspect of the foreskin [ arlah ] — as it is said: "for it is a disgrace to us" [Genesis 34:14]. And that is the three husks that surround the covenant of peace [ bris shalom ]. And when one breaks the foreskin — the aspect of the disgrace [ cherpa ] — the aspect of the desire to eat — then the covenant of peace is revealed. And one merits peace below — and then there is also above peace in His heights. And then satiety [ sova ] is greatly revealed and increased in the world — as it is said [Psalms 147:14]: "He Who sets your border as peace — and satisfies you with the finest wheat."

When your union [ zivug ] is in holiness — and you break your desiring soul — that is, the animal soul — and it seems to you as if a demon is forcing you — through this you will have enduring children [ bnay kayama ]. For the death of children, G-d forbid, comes on account of the animal soul.

And one must also ensure that the primary time of union be on the eve of Shabbos — so that one's children be living and enduring. 📜 Translator's Summary — Toirah 39 [from the Translator] Central theme: The desire to eat is the animal soul's primary expression — it signals enemies above and below. Breaking it reveals the covenant of peace and produces both earthly satiety and enduring children. The three husks around the bris shalom (§2): The desire to eat is identified as the foreskin of the bris — one of three husks. Breaking it removes the source of strife (since shame and conflict come from hunger/craving) and allows the inner covenant of peace to emerge. The verse is elegantly decoded: peace at the border → satisfaction with finest wheat — both are fruits of the same inner rectification. The union on Shabbos eve (§4): A practical instruction of great importance — that the primary time of marital union be Friday night. This is elaborated extensively in the full Likutay Moharan.