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Category: Concepts In Chassidus

Will

Will

Will transcends the body. The proof is, that as soon as you want to put your foot in fire, for example, or jump in cold water, your body obeys despite the nature of the body. Will comes from above intellect (from kesser, it’s called higher will) and as a result of intellect (from da’as it’s called lower will). The first kind of will stands firm in the face of adversity. The second kind of will can be changed if the logic…

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Shviras Hakeilim / Shattering of the Vessels / What’s With Physicality?

Shviras Hakeilim / Shattering of the Vessels / What’s With Physicality?

Shviras HaKeilim, or the Shattering of the “Vessels,” refers to the shattering of the vessels of Tohu, chaos. Before the state of being we are in now, namely all of Hishtalshelus, there was (and because it transcends time, it still is) the world of chaos. In Tohu, everything exists in extremes; chessed exists as a polar opposite to g’vura and so forth. The issue with is they can’t exist at all. The reason is the “light,” or energy pumped into the “vessels”…

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Atzilus

Atzilus

Atzilus. This definition truly won’t do it justice. This is the world where the vessels are literally the same material as the G-dly energy which creates them. Think, “maximum revelation,” that if there was any more light, or if the vessels where any less light, the whole thing wouldn’t be. The Alter Rebbe was known to not be able to finish writing the aleph and tzaddik of the word before falling into trance.  

Malchus

Malchus

Malchus is the lowest sefira in any context. She is the universal recipient of any expression of any other (by definition higher) sefira: in the language of kabbala, “it has nothing to call its own.” Malchus manifests as the mouth, or speech, because the mouth expresses all of ones thoughts and emotions; speech, because words are little boxes (“teiva” means “word” in Loshon HaKodesh) to carry thoughts and emotions. Malchus manifests as earth and the womb since, like speech, they take a small…

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Tikkun

Tikkun

In Tikkun, however, there is an added element of Hiskal’lus, inter-inclusion. Since there is now compatibility and integration, polar opposites no longer exist. That being said, dichotomies only exist in our mind and are tools by which we can understand abstract concepts. In Tikkun, chessed contains within it, chessed, g’vura, tiferes, etc., and g’vura contains chessed, g’vura, tiferes, etc. This will have tremendous (positive) ramifications, but is not relevant to ourma’mer.

Tikkun / Seder Hishtalshelus

Tikkun / Seder Hishtalshelus

A characteristic of Tikkun, is Hishtalshelus. Hishtalshelus is related to the word, “shalsheles,” or “chain.” This refers to the process of organization, distribution and hierarchy of revelation of G-dly Light. The process of cause and effect; one spiritual rung leading into the lower and thereby becoming more and more limited and coarse (on the surface). When you see “Hishtalshelus,” think, “limitation,” “order,”“Tikkun,” “memale kol almin,” and the like.

Inspiration (Is’arusa D’L’Eyla, Is’arusa D’L’Tatta)

Inspiration (Is’arusa D’L’Eyla, Is’arusa D’L’Tatta)

Inspiration that comes from on High is energy. That energy trickles down and is filtered through Hishtalshelus until it “thickens” and becomes the inspiration in your surrounings. (Hakdama, Siddur Torah Ohr. V’Hinei Porach, [Parshas Korach] Likkutei Torah). An is’arusa d’l’eyla (literally, an awekening from Above) is an abstract term referring to this type of experience. It manifests itself in the form of, say, waking up in the morning feeling good, feeling energized during davening or doing a mitzvah, etc. The downside is: as…

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Elokeinu

Elokeinu

 Elokeinu is the type of relationship Hashem has with us. He chooses to relate to the world as a king, i.e., Melech Ha’Olam, He chooses to relate to us as a father as well. In Chassidus, and this is a general principle, Elokeinu means “our strength and our vitality.” In Loshon HaKodesh it’s “kocheinu v’chayuseinu,” which connotes our physical life itself, our energy, enthusiasm, life dedication, etc., as explained at length throughout Chassidus. For example: Reuven is a man. “Reuven,” is just…

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Tzimtzum

Tzimtzum

The translation of tzimtzum is, “to make small, minimize.” The description of tzimtzum throughout chassidus is, “ma’ale umastir,” “hellem,” “seiser,” etc. These are all terms that mean concealment and filtration yet they all have different connotations. Whenever “vessels (keilim),” “hishtaleshelus,” “quality (b’china),” degree (gedder),” etc. are mentioned i.e., limitation, it means that the underlying system is tzimtzum. Additionally, whenever “revelation (giluy)” (even if makkif), “expression/giving (hashpo’ah),” “experience (pnimius),” etc. or any other term that has to do with receiving or accepting…

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