ועוד יש לכל נפש אלקית שלשה לבושים In addition [to its ten faculties — discussed in ch. 3], every divine soul (nefesh elokit) possesses three garments. The soul possesses three auxiliary powers, which are its instruments of expression. Like garments, they can be donned or shed at will. When the soul utilizes any of these […]

ועוד יש לכל נפש אלקית שלשה לבושים   In addition [to its ten faculties — discussed in ch. 3], every divine soul (nefesh elokit) possesses three garments.   The soul possesses three auxiliary powers, which are its instruments of expression. Like garments, they can be donned or shed at will. When the soul utilizes any […]

Until now it has been explained that the divine soul has three garments in which it clothes itself: the thought, speech and action of Torah and the commandments. The Alter Rebbe now goes on to state that, unlike physical garments, which are less important than their wearer, the garments of the divine soul are even […]

Until now it has been explained that the divine soul has three garments in which it clothes itself: the thought, speech and action of Torah and the commandments. The Alter Rebbe now goes on to state that, unlike physical garments, which are less important than their wearer, the garments of the divine soul are even […]

ואף דהקדוש ברוך הוא נקרא אין סוף, ולגדולתו אין חקר, ולית מחשבה תפיסא ביה כלל Although the Holy One, blessed be He, is called Ein Sof (“Infinite”), and5 “His greatness can never be fathomed,” and6 “No thought can apprehend him at all,” וכן ברצונו וחכמתו and so are also His Will and His wisdom (infinite […]

ואף דהקדוש ברוך הוא נקרא אין סוף, ולגדולתו אין חקר, ולית מחשבה תפיסא ביה כלל   Although the Holy One, blessed be He, is called Ein Sof (“Infinite”), and5 “His greatness can never be fathomed,” and6 “No thought can apprehend him at all,”   וכן ברצונו וחכמתו   and so are also His Will and […]

At the conclusion of the previous chapter, the Alter Rebbe depicted the study of Torah as a royal embrace: When one studies Torah, his intellect “embraces” and encompasses the Divine Will and wisdom — and thus he “embraces” the King of kings Himself, since “He and His wisdom are one.” In turn, the “King” (i.e., […]

At the conclusion of the previous chapter, the Alter Rebbe depicted the study of Torah as a royal embrace: When one studies Torah, his intellect “embraces” and encompasses the Divine Will and wisdom — and thus he “embraces” the King of kings Himself, since “He and His wisdom are one.” In turn, the “King” (i.e., […]

וזאת מעלה יתירה גדולה ונפלאה לאין קץ, אשר במצות ידיעת התורה והשגתה This is the distinctive, infinitely great and wonderful superiority of the mitzvah of knowing and comprehending Torah על כל המצות מעשיות, ואפילו על מצות התלויות בדבור, ואפילו על מצות תלמוד תורה שבדיבור over all the mitzvot involving action, and even over those performed […]

In the previous chapters the Alter Rebbe discussed the divine soul; its ten faculties — three intellectual and seven emotional — and its three garments by which it expresses itself, namely, the thought, speech and action of Torah and the mitzvot. He explained that the garments of the divine soul are actually on a higher […]