- Why Does the Verse Say “Chasdei Hashem Ki Lo Tamnu”?
The prophet says:
“חסדי ה’ כי לא תמנו“
“The kindnesses of Hashem, for we have not been consumed.”
The Alter Rebbe notes that the verse does not say “His kindnesses have not ended” but rather “we have not been consumed.”
The implication is that Divine kindness is so powerful and infinite that, without restraint, creation could not withstand it.
- Two Levels of Divine Kindness
The Zohar speaks of two kinds of kindness:
- Chesed Olam – kindness measured and adapted to the worlds.
- Rav Chesed – infinite, supernal kindness beyond limitation.
This distinction helps explain how finite beings can receive Divine light.
- Why Torah Is Called “Strength”
The Torah is called:
“עוז“ (“strength”)
and Chazal say the Torah was given:
“מפי הגבורה“ (“from the Mouth of Gevurah”).
Although Torah originates in Divine kindness and revelation, it reaches us through Gevurah, meaning contraction and limitation.
- Infinite Light Must Be Limited
The purpose of Gevurah is not to hide Godliness completely.
Rather, it allows infinite Divine light to become contained within practical mitzvot such as:
- Tzitzit
- Tefillin
- Korbanot
- Tzedakah
Without this contraction, the Divine light would be too intense for the physical world to receive.
- Even Love and Fear Have Limits
Not only physical mitzvot are measured.
Even spiritual mitzvot such as:
- Love of Hashem
- Fear of Hashem
must exist within human limits.
A person cannot contain infinite love or infinite revelation while remaining in a physical body.
- The Proof from Mount Sinai
At Matan Torah, when Divine revelation was openly experienced, Chazal say:
“פרחה נשמתן“
“Their souls departed.”
The revelation was so overwhelming that the Jewish people could not naturally contain it.
This demonstrates why Divine light must be measured and clothed through Gevurah.
- The Balance of Chesed and Gevurah
The Alter Rebbe’s central point is:
- The source of Torah and mitzvot is Divine kindness.
- But that kindness must pass through Gevurah and tzimtzum.
- Only then can infinite Godliness be received by finite human beings and expressed through practical mitzvot.
Key Takeaway
Torah and mitzvot originate in Hashem’s infinite kindness, but they are filtered through Gevurah so that finite human beings can receive them. Without this Divine contraction, the revelation would be overwhelming, just as the souls of Israel could not naturally withstand the revelation at Sinai.