“I Want You to Know” p: 163

AyinBase with R' Paltiel ThursdayNight 10 Sivan 5772 

Page 163 – at mid point of top paragraph (line starts, 'nitgaleh...') For text, see link top right of the blog. Or for text right click here.

Helem/concealment is a term relevant when there is the possibility (however remote) of revelation.

We can understand something of ohr/light by looking at the metaphor of teacher and student. One who sees his teacher's face, and how much more so if his teacher is addressing him, learns more deeply. It is like light that has a profound affect on the student even if he does not fully understand the content.

All revelation emanates from the helem/concealed level.

But the essence is above the entire arena of 'revealed and concealed'.  

“He” that we had in the verse, “He and His Name alone” has to do with helem/concealment, but not essence.

Ohr/light has 2 elements. One is that it is unified with the essence. And the second thing is that it talks to the recipient and says, 'this is what the essence is'. There is an element of light that is beyond the perception of the recipient. Yet it is still called ohr/light and the term helem/concealment is applicable there.

Then there is essence. This is truth itself. It is not at all involved with 'affecting' anything. This is like the host at a meal. He is very important. But for him to be significant, he has to be present. He is making his presence known, saying, 'I am here with you'. There are no qualities. Just, 'I am here'.

This declared presence provides a sense of reality, beyond just the presence.

With the giving of Torah, we have His declaration of being here with us – our Host. 'I am your G-d' . Before the giving of Torah there was just His presence, without the declaration. Heaven and earth were separated. After giving of Torah, the heaven and earth are interrelated and He says, 'I am here with you'. The things we do here on earth are before Him – they are 'in His face'!

So light is the way Essence declares Himself. But the level of essence, that is not at all in the framework of revelation, is also not in the framework of helem/concealed! It is above these! This is the level of 'You' – 'Atah'.

As the verse says, 'You are Him'. The fact that we say, 'You' does not mean He's in an actual level of revelation (received in vessels or terms of the recipient), but rather that He's beyond revelation and concealment.

This is like the saying, 'the G-dly name is commonly spoken'. Why is that? We don't know what we're talking about, so how can reference to Him be so commonplace?! The answer is because it is a reference to Him that transcends concealment and revelation.