ובזה יובן היות המצוות במלכות, ה׳ של שם הוי׳ It will now be understood — in terms of the Sefirot and the corresponding letters of the Divine Name — why the mitzvot are in Malchut, the [latter] hei of the Four-Letter Name of G‑d, והתורה בזעיר אנפין, וא״ו של שם הוי׳ while the Torah is […]

והנה כמו כן מזיווג זו״ן דבי״ע, נבראו מאין ליש כל הנבראים והנוצרים והנעשים Similarly, by the union of Za and Nukva of Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah, there were created — as yesh from ayin — all the beings that were created in the World of Beriah, formed in the World of Yetzirah and made in […]

וכן גם הקו בעצמו, המלובש בסיום וסוף נצח הוד יסוד דאדם קדמון The same is the case (not only with the ray of the Kav that is vested within the kelim of Atzilut, but) also with the Kav itself, which is vested in the conclusion and end of the Netzach, Hod and Yesod of Adam […]

ולא התפשטות והתלבשות החיות, להחיותם ולהוותם מאין ליש As to the presence in the worlds of the very essence and nature of the [infinite] Ein Sof-light, this is not by way of an extension and investment of the life-force, thereby animating them and bringing them into being from ayin to yesh. For even creation ex […]

ואין זאת אלא משום דרגלי דאדם קדמון מסתיימים בתחתית עשיה This is so only because the “feet” of Adam Kadmon culminate at the lowest level of Asiyah, The “feet” (i.e., the last and lowliest levels) of Adam Kadmon, the Primordial Thought that encompasses all the levels of creation, concludes in the lowest degrees of the […]

Part (a) In the present letter the Alter Rebbe bemoans the fact that his chassidim trouble him by seeking advice on physical matters, such as their livelihood s. Such advice, he argues, is within the province of prophets, not of Torah scholars. In conclusion he explains how one should accept physical suffering in such a […]

וכמו אב רחמן חכם וצדיק, המכה את בנו, שאין לבן חכם להפוך עורף לנוס למצוא לו עזרה, או אפילו מליץ יושר לפני אביו הרחמן והצדיק וחסיד This is analogous to a compassionate, wise and righteous father who hits his son. Surely a wise son should not turn his back to escape and find himself help, […]

וכמים הפנים אל פנים Then,28 “as in water face reflects face,” The verse goes on to say, “…so is the heart of man to man.” And the same is true of the heart of mortal man to Supernal Man: תתעורר האהבה בלב כל משכיל ומבין יקר מהות אהבת ה׳ אל התחתונים there will be an […]

Part (b) The following letter was placed here by the compilers of Iggeret HaKodesh — “after the first editions (see list) had been published,” as the Rebbe points out — as an addendum to Epistle XXII, Part (a). The connection, however, is not immedi-ately apparent. Perhaps it lies in the opening passage of Part (a), […]

ועוד זאת אדרוש ממעלתכם Furthermore, I earnestly ask of my esteemed listeners On the above matters between man and G‑d, the Alter Rebbe referred to himself as merely “repeating reminders.” Here, however, as he begins to speak of the relationship between man and man, he uses stronger terms. שלא להשליך דברי אחריכם, אשר ערכתי שיח […]