“A Different World” p: 172

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Friday 29 MenachemAv 5772 

Page 172 – 3rd line of the second paragraph of the page (line starts, 'ha-or...') For text, see picture below.

The main point is to explain how in ohr ein sof before the contraction/tzimzum there are 2 levels.

The light before the tzimzum is called, atzilus de klalus.

It is known that atzilus is distinct from what is above it due to the revelation aspect. Prior to that it is contained within its source. In kesser/crown there are no 10 sphirot per se. But atzilut reveals essence in the form of 10 sphirot.

The light has the aspect of being 'betzalmenu' – 'in our form'. This like seeing the person directly, as opposed to seeing his reflection in the mirror. Seeing the person is like seeing the essence in visible form – this is tzelem.

Spreading of the light is like a reflection of a reflection – ha-arah de ha-arah. Ie removed from the essence. So how do we say it is tzura atzmi? Still it is like the essence itself.

Before the world was created, 'there was He and His name alone'. His name corresponds to the ohr ein sof – infinite light.

Light like name is only a reflection of the thing itself. Think of a name... even at the most superficial level, what has a name? Every human being has a name. Animals don't have names. Giving a name to an animal is like having a 'pet rock'.

“Remain Essence, but Become Present” p: 172

Photos: Joel A in Sweden

AyinBase with R' Paltiel ThursdayNight 28 MenachemAv 5772 

Page 172 – 2^nd line of the second paragraph of the page (line starts, 'ha-or...') For text, see picture below.

In this lowly world the essence is more emphasized than in the higher worlds.

We talk about presence. In the metaphor of the host and the guest, he is there with you.

What about presence vs essence? Essence is beyond presence.

We have talked about the difference between union of different items and unity. The significance of the host, is that his essence hosts you. He is not performing a role. He is hosting you. It comes to a functional level by his presence. If he wants to host you, but is not presence, that is not good enough. The host gives you himself, through his presence.

Essence is into itself. The significance is that you are an essence, a real human being that has his own value, not just to entertain guests, and with this innate value is he hosting you.

Presence is the essence making itself present. It is not just coming out of itself. It remains essence, but becomes present. (18 min 30 seconds into the video)

Essence of the light is beyond our understanding even though it is a presence.

There is no function to being a host. His presence is the function. By being present, he declares you his guest.

Through revelation he gives the essence.

Going inside the text - 35^th minute of video. 

A human being consists of 613 parts. When we look at him we see one entity. We know that a human at concetption is nothing, but a drop. And this contains the whole human being. Body and soul and inclinations... This is the meaning of man/adam. He's a point that is the source for 613 different qualities. This is called primal man / adam kadmon. This is the world of briah. In this world there are qualities, even if included in one point. Above that there are no qualities – it is just Elokus...

And atzilus de klalis is the infinite light before the tzimzum. Atzilus is not a creation. It is an emanation. An appearance of what was there before the tzimzum/contraction.

Space is that which provides for things to be. Why do things need provision? The reason is because they are false – they are lies in themselves, so something has to hold them up. The space and earth holds up the house – without that it would be a pile of bricks and dust. Something that is real does not need a space.

Is there a limit to you sechel/mind? No. why? Because sechel is based on truth. Thus it does not need a place to be. It does not take up space.

This is in answer to Naftali's question. His question: We are talking about light. So there must be a place where it is revealed, saying that there was a place before the tzimzum? And the answer is that for some things space is not needed.

“Essential Form” p: 172

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Thursday 28 MenachemAv 5772 

Page 172 – 11th line of the page (line starts, 'be-olomots...') For text, see picture below.

Tzurah atzmi means an essential form. A from that cannot be separated from the essence. But there is no form in the essence.

So you could think of it as the light that cleaves to the essence. Cleaving means that it is totally initiated from the essence and is like the essence. How is it like essence if it is a tzurah/form? Because in this there is the koach/power of the essence. It does not stand in the position of being a revelation from the essence, but being that it has the will of essence, thus it has the manner of being totally united with the essence.

The light did not come as an answer to an external need. It was initiated from above and thus has the koach/power/faculty of atzmus/essence.

This is like the soul dressed in the body. It gives life to the body and imbues the body with life. This life is connected to the soul. If the body is damaged, it can heal because it draws life from the soul that cannot be damaged. So in the body there is koach haneshamah / a soul faculty. The lifeless body comes to life. This is like the light that is cleaving to the essence, and thus has life from it.

And because of this it is called a tzurah atzmis – an essential form.

It is critical to understand tzurah atzmi to know that souls and Torah are essential. Otherwise you may think they are worldly.

It is known that there are levels in the light that precedes the tzimzum/contraction. You might think it is one permeating reality without levels. But no. the reason there are levels are because there is the essence of light and the spreading of the light. Think essence, but in the state of light/ohr.

“Emptiness and Presence” p: 172

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Wednesday 27 MenachemAv 5772 

Page 172 – 5th line of the page (line starts, 'be-olomots...') For text, see picture below or see link top right of the blog (needs update).

The Rebbe is explaining that the fact that the worlds are made from G-dliness, does not capture the essence of G-dliness – it only has to do with the ohr/light level and does not say anything definitive about Essence.

In truth there is in Essence many aspects that do not express themselves in revelation at all.

We have no knowledge at all regarding what Essence is unto itself. The inherent 'capabilities' are not known to us.

The definition of light is that it points back to its source.

Light is not a separate product from the sun – it is totally reflective of what sun is. So why is there such a thing as sunlight? Because the sun is a presence. The sun cannot conceal its presence. This is the miracle of creation: that we have a physical item yet it has essential qualities.

Essence creates ohr. This light represents the presence of Essence.

We look at the world per se. And you learn something in contrast to the 'scientific' model, where you just have 'cause and effect', without any essential element. This is all that is seen in the world and it is just a reflection. But we were given the power to discern a G-dly element that is reflected by the world.

Thus in Torah and Souls that are rooted in essence of light, there it is appropriate to say, 'they have everything' and we do not really know the power and merit of torah and souls as they are in their essential state. Their true presence do not fit into the worldly context.

“A human being knows not its measure” is said about Torah, and “I don't know my own self” is said about the soul, since it cannot be known.

In the time to come, there will be a revelation of this.

In the time to come we will live in His presence. In the presence of Essence.

This brings us back to the original question of how can there be a tzurah atzmi / essential form. The answer is that there is no form in Essence, but it is the light that cleaves to the essence – and this light is like the essence.

“Knowing Would be a Step Down” p: 171

AyinBase with R' Paltiel Tuesday 26 MenachemAv 5772  

Page 172 – 2^nd line of the page (line starts, 'she-aynum...') For text, see picture below or see link top right of the blog (needs update).

We're back to looking at the main topic of etzem ha-ohr – the essence of light.

On the previous page we saw that the creation of light is not like any other creation.

This is in contrast to vessels, which only appear in the world of atzilus.

The difference is that light is bedveykut – cleaving to its source. This means it has the qualities of the essence. And just as essence cannot be understood, so too the light cannot be understood.

The essence of G-dliness / His light, is not that he makes worlds. 16:30 in video, 3^rd line of text p 172.

And what we know of infinity from revelations is just the inyan of the ohr – ie what is revealed in the worlds.

We are contrasting light with essence. Light is from essence and reflects essence. Both cannot be understood. Essence, transfers itself and makes light. Nothing except the fact of light has changed.

What is the light? It is a statement of presence – 'I am here'.

We can know things from revelations. And what can we know of G-dliness? Only the light that is revealed in the world. Not the essential element.

Think of a human being. You know your toe, not 'cos you see the toe, or feel it. It is a case of, 'you know yourself, you know your toe'. And there is the element that 'you are knowable', and this is like the 'light' that makes a statement of your presence. You don't know yourself, by this process, you just know yourself. Essence is the level of 'it is not even know to yourself', but this is an merit, not a lacking. Knowing would be a step down.