Parshat Noach
Adapted from a discourse of Rabbi Shneur Zalman" by
Rabbi Yossi Marcus
And G-d said: “There is
one nation of one tongue…and now shall they be allowed…?”
[1]
In Akudim: All the sefirot
are one and indistinguishable—akud, “tied” in one vessel. They
are not yet divided into ten sefirot. In this world they are called “the
ten hidden sefirot.”
<[The
hidden sefirot are also compared to: 1) a flame as it exists hidden within
the coal (see Sefer Yetzirah 1:7); 2) the abstract power
of intellect as opposed to applied intellect. Derech Mitzvotecha
182a-183b.]
In Nekudim: The sefirot
undergo further concealment and become more concretized. Chochmah, wisdom,
of this stage can be called a wisdom that is knowable. They are now divided
into ten. They are nekudim, mere “dots”—each sefirah is discrete,
lacking the full configuration and amalgamation of the other sefirot within
it. In this stage each sefirah can be compared to an individual letter
of a word independent from its identity as a part of the whole word.
[See our essay on Vayishlach.]
In Berudim: The ten
discrete sefirot are united and share energies. This is also known as
the world of Tikkun, Correction. An amalgamated sefirah is called a partzuf,
a face. So Chochmah in the world of Berudim is called partzuf abba,
the face of father. [Father refers to Chochmah
since wisdom is the progenitor of emotion.]
Ma”h. Mah means “what?”—as in Moses’
statement “and what are we?” i.e., we are naught. Thus mah, or
what, symbolizes selflessness. And it is selflessness and nullification
to the Infinite that creates unity.
Divine Names
Kail is in Chesed (kindness),
Elokim is in Gevurah
(strength), and
Havayah (Y-H-V-H) is
in Tiferet (harmony).
all sefirot, however,
is Havayah. And in Tiferet, harmony, even the vessels are of Havayah.
<[Lights and
vessels can be understood by a simple analogy of the power of sight and
the eye. The power of sight is the light, the eye is the vessel. Intellect
is the light, the brain is the vessel etc.]
which, as mentioned, finds a home in unity. So although the world of Tikkun
in general is a world of unity, it is Tiferet (harmony), the middle column,
that creates this unity. Thus Jacob, who embodied Tiferet, drew forth
the three levels of Akudim, Nekudim and Berudim, i.e., he channeled the
sublime energy of Akudim even into Berudim through the Name of Ma”h.
yesh (“something”) to ayin (“nothingness”).
Backstage Pass
Let us make for us a name
i.e., let us draw from Name of Havayah.
Lest we become dispersed
i.e., lest we receive from the lower level, the back of Elokim.
).
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