Daily Tanya Monday 11th Kisleiv Kuntrus Achron 4: The Source of Halachic Wisdom and Spiritual Hierarchy

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11th Kisleiv

The Source of Halachic Wisdom and Spiritual Hierarchy

  1. The Role of Chochmah-Binah-Daat in Asiyah
  • ChaBaD of Asiyah (at the level of neshamah) is the source of vitality for ChaBaD of nefesh-ruach and their derivatives throughout creation.
  • From this source, all beings in the lower worlds come into existence—from nothingness to being—down to the physical realm (“the earth and all its hosts”).

  1. Halachic Wisdom and Its Root
  • The wisdom of halachot and their reasons originates in Malchut of Beriah and Yetzirah, which themselves are rooted in the vessels of Atzilut.
  • All reasons for mitzvot depend on the rectification of the Partzufim of Atzilut:
    • Positive commandments correspond to the Five Kindnesses.
    • Negative commandments correspond to the Five Severities.

  1. Descent into Creation
  • When halachic wisdom descends to be clothed in created beings, it remains connected to Malchut of Beriah-Yetzirah at the level of neshamah, not nefesh-ruach.
  • Even though ChaBaD of Beriah-Yetzirah (neshamah) is far superior to Malchut of those worlds, it still serves as the source for ChaBaD of nefesh-ruach—the angels.

  1. The Process of Spiritual Birth
  • Angels and souls emerge from a “drop” drawn from ChaBaD of neshamah, flowing into Yesod of Ze’ir Anpin and then to Nukva, resulting in spiritual “birth.”
  • Even if they originate from the radiance of Nukva’s vessels of Atzilut, they descend and become neshamah-level beings.
  • The essence of ChaBaD of neshamah extends into the six extremities of Ze’ir Anpin and Nukva—where the six orders of Mishnah and the Gemara reside.

Key Takeaway

Halachic wisdom is rooted in the innermost structure of Atzilut, far surpassing the created intellect of angels and souls. While angels and souls derive from external radiance, the laws of Torah connect directly to the essence of Divine wisdom as it manifests through the Partzufim of Atzilut, making halachic study a channel to the deepest levels of G‑dliness.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.