“Let's Reintroduce the Principle of Light!” p:173

AyinBase / Ayin Beis with R' Paltiel ThursdayNight 15 Kislev 5772 

Page 173/קעג

3rd line from the end of the page – (line starts, 'huray hu...') For text, see picture below.

The point from this morning was to understand the words, 'drawn from the light that precedes the contraction'. What does it mean? It means that down here we have a representation of the light that precedes the tzimzum/contraction.

Even though it is after the contration and relative to the 'worlds', it if drawn from the light that precedes the contraction/tzimzum.

What is the significance of this term, 'drawn from that light' – isn't everything from Him? It means that there is an element that initiates from above. The light is sourced above.

We need to focus on the concept of light/ohr. What is it? Let's reintroduce the principle of light!

Light comes from an essence. What is essence? We could start there, but there is not much we can say about essence...

Let's focus on 'essence'. Let's relate to it. Here's how, 'it means essence, and not dependent on some kind of functional effect or benefit. The real essence in our world is the human being. 'He is created in Our image' says G-d. The human contribution to the world is fundamental. Without the human being the world is worthless...! This statement is sensed by the soul, not logic. In the world there is a discussion of which is superior animal or human! But for us it is clear that the human is fundamental.

This is not for explanation. It is to be recognized. For example a person in the last moments of life is considered by halacha to be 'fully alive'. This is because man is an essence. A reality in and of itself, beyond any contribution. He gets this from G-d. He represents Him.

So what about light? The human presence is not limited to him, himself. His presence is recognized all around him. He has a name. The name can be applied to property.

Ownership is an example of your presence spreading beyond yourself. This is called 'name'... this is called 'ohr/light'... and only a human being can have that quality.

Only the human being possesses that reality. Only the human being can understand this reality. This is the real intellect. The ability to relate to this. This is chochmah/wisdom.

This is like sight – reality itself.

The animal also sees. The sight of the animal identifies what is tangible. For the human being tangibility identifies something that is visible. Visibility is our reference point. The human looks to, “significance and the 'why is it here'”

This seeing of reality is a flash. It is sensed continually, but cannot be grasped. Where does a person get it from? This is a G-dly spark in the human being. Because only G-d is a real presence.

An essence has light.

The principle we want to identify in light, 'no matter where it is found, it is a reflection of its source'. It always retains its essential quality.

To pin it down: if we strip our common perception and think of the sun, we can see it as an 'essential illuminator' (a Chassidic description of the sun). The sun does not run out of fuel. It pours out light over thousands of years. It is a G-dly creation to enable us to have a sense of 'essence'. When we have daylight, our own perception tells us 'it is not light but sun'. The sun element is light through and through as opposed to candle light that burns up a wick and fuel.

Light in the real sense of the word is bringing the truth of the essence to wherever it reaches.

Why is there light? There is light because there is an essence illuminator. And in the presence of an essence of illumination there cannot be darkness...

Why does a human home look like a home, because it cannot be any other way.