New, improved Kabbalah Series

Chapter 13 Part 7


Previous

Enlarge

Next

This series is a continuation and should be read in order. If you are not familiar with previous posts you may have trouble understanding later ones.

And now Chapter 13 Part 7

This is also the meaning of what is written elsewhere - that the Point, i.e. the Reshimu, which is likened to a single point or dot into which everything was compressed - contains within itself the qualities of both concealment and revelation - two opposites. It hides all that is comparatively above it and simultaneously It specifically reveals everything to those who receive from It.

This revelation is the kav (line), which is drawn out from the reshimu (impression),which this revelation of the kav out from the reshimu is symbolically like the form of the Hebrew letter Vav u, whose head is the Hebrew letter Yud h (in other words a line coming out of a dot) and it continues and is drawn downwards, as this symbolism is explained elsewhere at length. So that, just as the letter u begins as a single point and then a line is drawn downward from it, so too, symbolically is the relationship between the kav and the reshimu. The reshimu includes the entire original Light in a completely concealed and condensed manner as if it where reduced to a single point and then from it the entire original Light is drawn out to the recipients who are of a lower level than the original Light and the reshimu that contains It and so this revelation is referred to as drawing "down."

From all of this it is understood the general concept of the tzimtzum of the "empty place" and the reshimu and kav, that it is only a limitation within the Essence in order that everything should be drawn into revelation. This being the meaning of the verse "For with You is the source of life and from Your - (the Mittler Rebbe adds in explanation) Essential - Light is seen light" - a born light - the repetition of the word light indicating that it is not the original Light of G-d’s Essence that is seen, but rather a second new light that is "born" out of the original Light, which this is the kav, and as the concept of the kav will be explained in the following chapters with the help of G-d. In addition, as was mentioned at the beginning of chapel twelve it is essential to work to achieve a complete understanding of the concept of the tzimtzum and reshimu in particular and the entire hishtalshellus (chaining down) in general, for this is the entire purpose of man - to deeply contemplate on all of this and other similar concepts, for it is specifically from this that one comes to the true union with G-d, with the binding of the soul within the Life of all supernal Life, which is the actual Essence of the Infinite Light, for the reason mentioned previously (that when one will come to the realization that everything is absolutely as nothing in relation to the Essence of the Infinite Light of G-d, for it all is only coming from an infinitely small revelation of the Infinite Light’s potential for revelation and even once revealed it is in truth still only the revelation of G-d’s Essence and is not at all separate from Him. Specifically then will all things both physical and spiritual be truly worthless in one’s eyes in the face of the infinite light of G-d and so the revelation of G-dliness within one’s soul and the world at large will be one’s sole desire and one will work for this with complete devotion with physical and even spiritual self sacrifice in order to achieve this goal, for nothing else will have any value what-so-ever. This is not to say that one should become an ascetic only that the value of physical and even spiritual things will not be valued as ends in themselves, but only as a means of achieving a G-dly revelation. For, G-d created everything and it all has value and purpose, only that the purpose of creation is for G-d to have a dwelling place within the lower realm, meaning for G-d’s Essence to be revealed within the physical world and when one has this perspective on things then automatically one’s priorities will not be confused and one will be able to make use of even the lowest physical things in this goal without them distracting one from the ultimate purpose and goal of achieving a G-dly revelation. So that physical wealth and power as well as great spiritual achievements will not cause one to become proud and arrogant or to act in any manner contrary to the will of G-d.) and this explanation will suffice for the understanding.


Previous

Enlarge

Next

The material in this series is copyrighted by Rabbi Yossi Markel