Daily Tanya Tueday 15th Iyar Chapter 48 Part 2: The contractions that allow the creation of limited entities

15th Iyar/(LY) 12th Iyar

1. The contractions allow the creation of limited entities:

• The purpose of the contractions: Now is not the time to discuss the details of the contractions done to create a limited world and being, such as what are the contraction and how they take place. However, in general, the concept of contractions is that it causes the Divine light to become concealed so that it does not become drawn down to the creations in its full glory and create them ex nehilo from that level. Rather, the contractions allow only a small glimmer of the light to shine forth into the creations so that when they are created, they have limitations and boundaries.
• A mere glimmer enters creation: Now, this small glimmer is so minute that it is like nothing in comparison to the infinite light that it was contracted from, and there is no ratio at all between them.
• Like a ratio of one to infinity: It is unlike the ratio of even 1:100000, as the 1 contains some part of the 100,000. However, regarding a number that is infinite, even 100,000 has no part within the infinite number, and is considered like naught.

(LY) 13th Iyar

• The ray is infinitely distanced from the infinite light: The same applies regarding the contracted Divine light that enters into the creations of both the upper and lower worlds to create them, that it is considered like naught in comparison to the infinite light that it was contracted from.

2. The infinite light encompasses the creations:

• The infinite light of Hashem is not invested in the worlds in a revealed fashion to enliven them, but rather encompasses them from above, and is called Soveiv Kol Almin.

3. The concept of Soveiv:

• Not literal: This concept of encompassing light is not to be taken literally Heaven forbid, that the light contains limitations of space and is only found around the physical creations and not inside them, as there is no concept of space regarding spiritual matters.
• Not comprehensible: Rather, its intent is that it does not shine within the creation and cannot be comprehended by it, as every light that reveals itself to the world is referred to as an investment, as the light invests itself within the worlds in a way that the creation is able to comprehend it. However, an encompassing light does not invest itself within the creations in a way that they can comprehend it, as it comes in a form of concealment.

4. The two lights found in creation-Soveiv and Mimalei:

• Mimalei: Based on the above it is understood that since the worlds contain limitations, it is a sign that the infinite light does not invest itself within the world in a revealed fashion, and only a very small, contracted glimmer enters into it for the sake of giving it a limited and defined life.
• Soveiv: The main light in its uncontracted state is referred to as Makif and Soveiv, as it remains in an unrevealed and encompassing state within the creations. They are unable to comprehend it being that the creations are limited and defined.