The Alter Rebbe explained at the conclusion of the previous chapter that through teshuvah ila’ah, the higher level of repentance, the soul is totally cleansed and purified. It then ascends and cleaves to G‑d with the same degree of unity that it enjoyed before it descended into the body. Furthermore, the Alter Rebbe quoted the Zohar to the effect that teshuvah ila’ah involves studying Torah with awe and love of G‑d.

In the fourth chapter, however, he explained that teshuvah ila’ah involves reinstating the higher letter hei of the Tetragrammaton. What possible connection does this have with studying Torah out of love and fear of G‑d, when these two spiritual emotions are related to the letter vav?

In order to resolve this seeming anomaly, the Alter Rebbe will now explain that the love and fear discussed in the present chapter are generated intellectually: they result from meditation upon G‑d’s greatness, and are thus the offspring of Binah. It is specifically this kind of love and fear that unites the hei and the vav — the intellect with the resulting emotions.

וביאור הענין, כמו שכתוב בזוהר הקדוש ותיקונים בכמה מקומות

The explanation of this subject — which levels of love and fear are related to the upper hei — is as discussed frequently in the Zohar and Tikunnim

דבינה איהי תשובה עילאה

that Binah is the higher level of teshuvah,

והאם רובצת על האפרוחים וכו’

“the mother crouching over the chicks….1”

I.e., Binah is the mother of her offspring — the love and fear of G‑d.

דהיינו שעל ידי שמתבונן בגדולת ה’ בהעמקת הדעת

One ought to meditate profoundly and with concentration on the greatness of G‑d

ומוליד מרוח בינתו דחילו ורחימו שכליים

and through his comprehension arouse a sense of intellectual awe and love

ובטוב טעם ודעת

on rational grounds.

כענין שנאמר: לאהבה את ה’ אלקיך משום כי הוא חייך וגו’

This love is that of the verse,2 “To love the L-rd your G‑d…. because He is your life….” — a love based on a reason.

ולא די לו באהבה טבעית המסותרת לבד וכו’

He will not be content with the endowed, latent love alone….

This is concealed in the heart of every Jew and needs but to be revealed; such a worshipper, though, creates instead a love of G‑d through his own intellectual endeavor.

וכן ביראה ופחד

So too with fear and terror of G‑d

או בושה וכו’ כנודע

or shame…. as is known.

This is a deeper form of awe in which one feels abashed in G‑d’s presence, hence fearing to rebel against Him by sinning.

When one’s spiritual emotions of love and fear are born in the mind, then]:

אזי נקראת האם רובצת על האפרוחי’ וכו’

this is termed “the mother crouching over the chicks….” Binah has given birth and hovers over her offspring — the love and fear of G‑d.