In the language of the Zohar, the lower level of repentance entails returning the latter hei of the Four-Letter Name of G‑d to its rightful place — returning the Shechinah, which is the source of Jewish souls, from the exile to which it was banished by transgression. For when a man sins, the Divine vitality […]

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וכמו שכתוב: וישוב אל הוי׳ וירחמהו As the verse states:6 “He shall return to G‑d and He will have compassion for him”; i.e., the sinner shall return to G‑d and have compassion for Him. But how are we to understand the concept of arousing mercy for the Tetragrammaton? פירוש: לעורר רחמים על השפעת שם הוי׳ […]

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והב׳: לבטש ולהכניע הקליפה והסטרא אחרא The second element [in one’s preparation for a true and direct path to repentance] is to crush and subdue the kelipah and sitra achra, אשר כל חיותה היא רק בחינת גסות והגבהה whose entire being is simply grossness and arrogance; כמו שכתוב: אם תגביה כנשר וגו׳ as the verse […]

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והאיך נשברה רוח הסטרא אחרא, כשהלב נשבר ונדכה וכו׳ How is the spirit of the sitra achra broken? When the heart is broken and contrite….14 והאיך נשבר הלב ונדכה And how is the heart to be broken and humbled? הנה מעט מזעיר הוא על ידי סיגופים ותעניות Only a very minor part of this can […]

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להתבונן במה שפעל ועשה בחטאיו, בחינת גלות השכינה כנ״ל to contemplate how through his sins he has brought about the exile of the Divine Presence, as noted above, וגרם לעקור נשמתו ונפשו האלקית מחיי החיים ברוך הוא and caused his spirit and Divine soul to be uprooted from the Divine Source of all Life, והורידה […]