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Tag: chassidus in english

Binah/ Hei Ila’ah/ Ima

Binah/ Hei Ila’ah/ Ima

Binah is usually translated as “understanding.” Binah is a type of cognition where limitation happened. Binah is analysis, breaking a creative idea (chochma) apart to get to the details while building a map. “Meyvin dovor mitoch dovor,” or “understanding one thing from something else,” is a characteristic of binah. Binah is also described in many places as “giluy hahellem,” or discovery. Binah is related to the first or higher hei of G-d’s name, Havaye. This is because it breaks apart…

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Yud/ Chochma/ Abba

Yud/ Chochma/ Abba

Like the shape of it’s font implies, yud is a point, a seed. It usually, if not always, refers to chochma. Chochma is usually translated as wisdom, but in Chassidus, it is usually referring to creative thought, or openness of the mind. An example of a manifestation of chochma is how the Rabbeim describe it. They call it, “borok hamavrik,” the flash of lightening. In the language of the prophet, “Chochma me’ayin timotze,” in English, “from where does wisdom come?”…

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Da’as Elyon / Da’as Tachton

Da’as Elyon / Da’as Tachton

This translation won’t cut it, but will have to do. Da’as elyon, or consciousness, is how existence is viewed pre-tzimtzum. Da’as tachton consciousness,is how we see the world, post-tzimtzum. For example in very small terms: da’as elyon is what you know and want to share, da’as tachton is what your friend hears you saying.

Right, Left and Center Columns

Right, Left and Center Columns

The right, left and center columns refer to a certain manner in which the sefiros relate to each other. The right column (chochma, chessed, netzach) are characterized by an outward expression, or hispashtus. The left column (binah, g’vura, hod) is characterized by limitation, discipline, and tzimtzum. The right column reflects masculinity. The left column reflects femininity. The middle column reflects the Infinite One who is the only one who can make opposites attract and remain united actually as one. See Z”a.

Kesser/ Kotzo Shel Yud (the thorn on the yud)/ Hishtalshelus HaK’ssorim

Kesser/ Kotzo Shel Yud (the thorn on the yud)/ Hishtalshelus HaK’ssorim

Kesser means “crown” and is defined as: 1. The initial revelation of light after the tzimtzum. This means, the initial point where we’re no longer in essence or core, but in expression or extraversion. It is the skull, or cranium (from the word crown) relative to the brain. 2.Kesser creates, so to speak, something from nothing. Kesser takes the initial expression which is beyond recognition and brings it into a recognizable state. Imagine your mind is blank cleared of all…

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Hispashtus (Hashpo’oh)/ Mashpia

Hispashtus (Hashpo’oh)/ Mashpia

Hispashtus, from the word poshut, which means simple, minimalist, etc., means spread. This word refers to expression, “light,” sharing, and influence. The same is true of hashpo’oh (hashpo’eh, depending who’s teaching the class). Hashpo’oh is how light exits a vessel to enter a second vessel, i.e., the way your idea makes its way out of your head into the other person’s head. Being mashpia is the process of having hashpo’oh. For example, one who gives over an idea, is being…

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Wage War With Love (but first know who you love)

Wage War With Love (but first know who you love)

This sicha can be found in Likkutei Sichos, Cheilek Beis, p. 338 I. Bil’om and Amoleik It says in sforim(1), that there is a connection between Bil’om and Amoleik. The remez: If we write the names Bil’om and Amoleik on two lines, one above the other, the right half of the two words read (from the top down), “Bil’om”: the “beis-lammed” from Bil’om, and “ayin-mem” from Amoleik. The left side of the words read (from the top down: the “ayin-mem” from…

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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Four; Tammuz 14, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Four; Tammuz 14, 5775

Continuing on the subject of returning the higher and lower “hei’s” of Havaye, the Alter Rebbe explains how and what the nature is of our being. We are a piece of G-d Himself and He blew within us a the soul of life. When one blows, it is from within, indicating to us the depth of our relationship with Hashem–we’re connected at the core.

Neshoma Klollis (Core Soul) / Neshoma (Soul)

Neshoma Klollis (Core Soul) / Neshoma (Soul)

A neshoma klollis is the soul of the leader of any particular generation or the yechida,some say the chaya-yechida.  Let’s start with basics in Jewish soul-logy: 1. A soul is an extension from G-d (Tanya ch. 2) revealed (a little) in a body. 2. There are 600,000 general souls that split into 600,000 more souls and each gets a body. There are five degrees of the soul: 1. Nefesh, gives life to the body. This is the “lowest” or most external…

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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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