Daily Tanya Wednesday 15th Sivan Shaar Hayichud Viemuna Chapter 5: The Attributes of Chesed and Gevurah in creation

Chapter 5: The Attributes of Chesed and Gevurah in creation

1.      The Process of Tzimtzum and Creation

  • Tzimtzum, the Divine contraction, enables creation by allowing created beings to perceive themselves as independently existing.
  • Initially, the world was conceived to be created through stern judgment (gevurah), but the attribute of mercy (chesed) was added to ensure its endurance.
  • Mercy manifests in the natural world through miraculous acts and the actions of righteous individuals (tzaddikim).

2.      Attributes of Chesed and Gevurah

  • Chesed represents kindness, while gevurah represents restraint or judgment. Both transcend human intellect and are unified with G-d in the World of Atzilut.
  • Even Moshe, in his prophetic vision, comprehended these attributes only when filtered through lower spiritual levels like netzach, hod, and yesod.

3.      The Role of Tzaddikim in Gan Eden

  • The souls of tzaddikim in Gan Eden experience the Divine life-force and light emanating from chesed and gevurah as their spiritual nourishment.
  • Their comprehension of this life-force is made possible by a spiritual firmament, referred to as the “secret of the Torah” (raza deorayta).

4.      The Mystical Dimension of the Torah

  • The Torah embodies elements of both chesed and gevurah, symbolized respectively by “His right hand” and “a fiery Law.”
  • This mystical dimension is expressed through the twenty-two Hebrew letters, which originate from a level beyond the rational aspect of the Torah.
  • The transcendental illumination, or dew, from the firmament provides esoteric knowledge to the souls in Gan Eden.

5.      The Torah and Its Role in the Afterlife

  • The Torah serves as the “food” of the souls in Gan Eden, while the mitzvot (commandments) act as their spiritual “garments.”
  • The dew of Divine knowledge, derived from the secret of the Torah, sustains the souls by granting them insight into the mysteries of the Hebrew letters.

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