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Kabbalah World Center - "Breaking the Iron Wall"

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<strong>Breaking</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Iron</strong> Wall<br />

An Introduction to Ten Sefirot<br />

Rabbi Y. Ashlag (1882-1955)<br />

1) I have found a great need to break down from before me <strong>the</strong> iron wall which separates us from <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>.<br />

This concealment that started from <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> destruction of <strong>the</strong> Second Temple continuing until now weighs very<br />

heavily on us ; it is <strong>the</strong> source of <strong>the</strong> pain and grief of all mankind, and has aroused within us a fear least this wisdom will<br />

be completely forgotten. For this reason <strong>the</strong> author of <strong>the</strong> "Sulam" wrote his work, "Study of <strong>the</strong> Ten Emanations", which is<br />

<strong>the</strong> primary book for a fundamental understanding in <strong>Kabbalah</strong>.<br />

Whenever I begin to speak to <strong>the</strong> heart of a person concerning this study, <strong>the</strong> first question which immediately arises is :<br />

"Why do I need to know about heavenly angels and <strong>the</strong>ir names? Can I not fulfill <strong>the</strong> entire Torah with all its laws and<br />

details without this knowledge? ". Underlying this question is <strong>the</strong> impression and premise that <strong>Kabbalah</strong> has no relevance<br />

to our daily lives, and that it is remote and an abstract form of mysticism and magic.<br />

A second basic question also arises: "Haven't our sages already established that one needs to learn <strong>the</strong> entire revealed<br />

Torah before one learns <strong>Kabbalah</strong>. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, who can deceive himself to say that he has already completed <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

revealed Torah and he is only lacking <strong>the</strong> hidden Torah?"<br />

And afterwards, <strong>the</strong> third question: "Already many people have strayed away from <strong>the</strong> path of Torah because of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

involvement in <strong>Kabbalah</strong>. Why should I bring problems upon myself? Why should I enter into such danger without any<br />

clear purpose?". (It is conventional to think that those who begin studying <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> automatically become<br />

weakened in Torah because <strong>the</strong>y become overly concerned with intention of <strong>the</strong> command and disregard <strong>the</strong> performance<br />

of <strong>the</strong> command.)<br />

Then <strong>the</strong>y ask a fourth and fundamental question: "All those who are devoted solely to Torah in our days have nothing to<br />

do with this concealed wisdom, and if one asks about <strong>Kabbalah</strong> he is always told to leave it alone and just study revealed<br />

Torah".<br />

2) All <strong>the</strong>se reasons for people not to learn <strong>Kabbalah</strong> stem from <strong>the</strong>ir lack of understanding in what was <strong>the</strong> purpose of<br />

creation. Thus <strong>the</strong>y come with such questions as: "What is <strong>the</strong> meaning of life? What is <strong>the</strong> reason for my pains and<br />

anguish? What is <strong>the</strong> purpose of my life?". Despite <strong>the</strong> fact that throughout history great philosophers have tried to answer<br />

<strong>the</strong>se question, still <strong>the</strong>se very questions bo<strong>the</strong>r our minds to this day, and yet leave us humiliated, pained, and without<br />

answers. The general solution given to such questions is that <strong>the</strong>y should be forgotten, and that one should just lose<br />

himself in <strong>the</strong> natural flow of life. However, <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> is for those who relentlessly ask and seek to find<br />

answers to such questions.<br />

3)But <strong>the</strong> solution to all <strong>the</strong>se questions is stated clearly in our Torah as it says "Come taste and see that <strong>the</strong> Creator is<br />

good". Only through an understanding of <strong>the</strong> Creator, with a closeness, a bonding, and a clinging to Him can a person<br />

come to all that is good, absolutely perfect, and eternal.<br />

Reaching a level when one has a feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator it is only possible through emulating Him, that all a person's<br />

impulses and thoughts should be like those of <strong>the</strong> Creator. This is called, "The fulfillment of Torah and Mitzvot as<br />

commanded". And only <strong>the</strong>n can a person feel that <strong>the</strong> Creator created everything for his good and for his merit, him in a<br />

life filled with happiness.<br />

4)The Creator himself brings a person to good by giving him pleasure and serenity in this life, which is normally filled with<br />

pain, and emptiness, forcing a person to constantly seek refuge from a life that is harder than death itself.<br />

Where is <strong>the</strong> freedom of choice for a person? Does it not say in our Torah: "You should choose life". The choice of a person


is exclusively in his ability to control to fix his desires and thoughts, making <strong>the</strong>m similar to <strong>the</strong> desires and thoughts of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator.<br />

This fixing of a person's thoughts and desires is called purification of <strong>the</strong> body, because <strong>the</strong> body is called "will and<br />

thought", so that a person should be entirely involved "to fulfill <strong>the</strong> Torah and its mitzvot as commanded."This excludes a<br />

devotion that is only for pleasure, it means a devotion that is in order to give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong> same way that<br />

Creator wants to give pleasure to a person. This is also what is referred to as "<strong>the</strong> fulfillment of Torah for its own sake" or<br />

"complete service".<br />

Only through this way that a person doesn't think of himself, but ra<strong>the</strong>r only of <strong>the</strong> Creator does he merit to a life of<br />

fulfillment. Before a person reaches this stage of purity he still thinks primarily of himself ; this is <strong>the</strong> time when <strong>the</strong>re is a<br />

place for freedom of choice. At this stage, a person has <strong>the</strong> option to choose from many available paths and methods to<br />

streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> purification of his "wills and thoughts" and to protect himself from falling on <strong>the</strong> way. The Creator<br />

intentionally brings distractions to a person in order that he should overcome <strong>the</strong>m, streng<strong>the</strong>n himself, and reach a feeling<br />

of completeness and calm.<br />

5)The purification of <strong>the</strong> body means "<strong>the</strong> ability (to intend) to receive in order to give", that he thinks not of himself, but<br />

of <strong>the</strong> good of his Creator, this is called "for <strong>the</strong> purpose of heaven". This alone is called "<strong>the</strong> fulfillment of Torah and<br />

mitzvot". This process of purification of <strong>the</strong> body (desires) is referred to as "we shall do" and <strong>the</strong> receiving of <strong>the</strong> perfection<br />

as "we shall understand".<br />

In all of Creation <strong>the</strong>re is only <strong>the</strong> Creator and his creature, man. "Man" means, <strong>the</strong> inner man, his "desires and thoughts",<br />

not his physical body. The spiritual world is pure will and desires without physical bodies. In <strong>the</strong> spiritual world, <strong>the</strong> will<br />

itself is called <strong>the</strong> "body" or "<strong>the</strong> vessel of <strong>the</strong> soul". The pleasure that fulfills <strong>the</strong> will is called <strong>the</strong> "Creator", or "<strong>the</strong> light"<br />

or "<strong>the</strong> soul".O<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong>se two components, <strong>the</strong>re is nothing else existant, in <strong>the</strong> entire Creation.<br />

The Creator made an egoistic will that wants only to receive pleasure and nothing else.But this egoistic will is very limited,<br />

not able to receive eternal perfection, because at <strong>the</strong> same time that <strong>the</strong> will is filled with <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> pleasure, it<br />

becomes extinguished by <strong>the</strong> pleasure, and without <strong>the</strong> desire for pleasure <strong>the</strong> pleasure is not felt. But without <strong>the</strong> feeling<br />

of pleasure it is impossible to live, and life becomes like death itself. Therefore a created being always needs to make new<br />

desires in order to fulfill <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

Thus a person is constantly running after pleasure, as it is <strong>the</strong> light of life. Yet he will never actually grasp pleasure if he<br />

cannot awaken a new desire in order to enliven himself, he will die. Therefore, <strong>the</strong> desire to receive pleasure in a direct,<br />

egocentric form, such is as known to us, will never render a person real pleasure.<br />

Because <strong>the</strong> purpose of <strong>the</strong> Creator was to give pleasure to his creatures, he created within us a will to receive. But in<br />

order to receive <strong>the</strong> infinite divine pleasure this will to receive needs to be fixed in <strong>the</strong> following way:<br />

1)That <strong>the</strong> will shouldn't diminish at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> pleasure is received.<br />

2)The lacking of pleasure should remain also when <strong>the</strong> person is filled with pleasure, and that a person should constantly<br />

be able to increase his will and to fulfill it without losing his desire for yet more pleasure.<br />

3)The will should grow so much that a person should be able to receive <strong>the</strong> greatest pleasures in existence, in a complete<br />

and eternal form, without having to be filled with just momentary pleasures.<br />

However, in order to achieve <strong>the</strong>se levels of pleasure <strong>the</strong>re has to be in <strong>the</strong> person a lack o<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> lack of pleasure.<br />

Therefore <strong>the</strong> Creator endowed in a person a much greater capability than to just receive pleasure, ra<strong>the</strong>r we have <strong>the</strong><br />

ability to feel <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong> source of all pleasure. From this state of feeling <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong> giver of all pleasure, a<br />

person begins to feel shame for only wanting to receive pleasure, until he starts to hate his very own nature and desires a<br />

"a will to give", like that of his Creator.<br />

However since <strong>the</strong> Creator has no lack and <strong>the</strong> person has nothing to give <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong> person redirects <strong>the</strong> will for<br />

pleasure that he naturally has in a different form. He will only receive pleasure on <strong>the</strong> condition that his receiving of <strong>the</strong><br />

pleasure also gives pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator. Thereby a person is constantly receiving pleasure and also constantly giving<br />

pleasure.<br />

This form of receiving elevates a person to <strong>the</strong> level of <strong>the</strong> Creator, because he becomes a giver, like <strong>the</strong> Creator. The will


to give that <strong>the</strong> person acquires is not limited to his ability to receive, because his will to give entirely depends on how<br />

great <strong>the</strong> Creator is in his eyes. Since <strong>the</strong> greatness of <strong>the</strong> Creator has no bounds, a person is always able to increase in<br />

giving to his Creator and also <strong>the</strong> resultant receiving of pleasures increases, thus :<br />

The receiving of pleasure through his will to receive constantly grows, because without receiving pleasure he cannot give to<br />

his Creator.<br />

He receives pleasure by giving pleasure to his Creator, and this pleasure depends on <strong>the</strong> greatness of <strong>the</strong> Creator in his<br />

eyes.<br />

It follows that through fixing his desire to receive for <strong>the</strong> purpose of giving pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator, he elevates himself<br />

from <strong>the</strong> level of a person to that of <strong>the</strong> Creator, and becomes like <strong>the</strong> Creator Himself. Through this process <strong>the</strong> complete<br />

purpose of <strong>the</strong> Creator in creating <strong>the</strong> world becomes revealed for <strong>the</strong> whole purpose of <strong>the</strong> Creation is to bring man to this<br />

state.<br />

The process of transferring from wanting pleasure only for oneself to wanting only to give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator, is called'<br />

"purification of <strong>the</strong> body", because in spiritual terms <strong>the</strong> will means <strong>the</strong> body. The physical body has no relevance, because<br />

it is only animalistic material, but <strong>the</strong> will inside <strong>the</strong> body is called <strong>the</strong> actual "body". How is a person able to transform his<br />

will to receive if this is his natural state? How is it possible without any outside force o<strong>the</strong>r than his desire for pleasure, that<br />

he change his will to receive, <strong>the</strong> only will found in man?<br />

These questions require for us to understand how <strong>the</strong> entire world goes through two stages in order to reach its purpose<br />

which is "complete pleasure and eternal knowledge, similar <strong>the</strong> Creator":<br />

Stage 1-Repairing <strong>the</strong> will of man.<br />

Stage 2-receiving pleasure, which was <strong>the</strong> original intention of <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

The stage of repairing <strong>the</strong> will includes a chain of small reparations. The action of fixing is called "mitzvah". After being<br />

repaired, when <strong>the</strong> will has become conditioned to receive in order to give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> creator, a person receives<br />

pleasure called "light" or "Torah". Therefore <strong>the</strong> stage in which a person fixes his will is called "<strong>the</strong> way of Torah", and <strong>the</strong><br />

stage in which a person receives <strong>the</strong> pleasure of <strong>the</strong> purpose of creation is called "a life of pleasure and tranquility" or<br />

"Torah".<br />

On how to fix <strong>the</strong> body it is written: “Thus is <strong>the</strong> way of Torah: Bread and salt you should eat, water in measure you should<br />

drink, on <strong>the</strong> ground you should sleep., a life of affliction you shall live, and in Torah you should labor. If you do this happy<br />

are you and you shall have good. Happy are you in 'this world' and happy are you in <strong>the</strong> 'world to come' ". From here it is<br />

clear that this world is <strong>the</strong> stage of "<strong>the</strong> fixing of <strong>the</strong> will to receive" and <strong>the</strong> "world to come" is <strong>the</strong> receiving of pleasure<br />

with a complete and fixed will.<br />

But from here arise <strong>the</strong> questions: "What is <strong>the</strong> difference between Torah and all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r wisdoms like physics,<br />

chemistry, ma<strong>the</strong>matics, and o<strong>the</strong>rs wisdoms which don't require any afflictions, just some effort, in order to understand<br />

<strong>the</strong>m? Why does Torah require both effort and also afflictions?". The next question is: "Maybe in <strong>the</strong> world to come" I'll<br />

have good but in this world that I deny myself, how could <strong>the</strong> Sages say "happy are you in this world""?<br />

6) The purpose of purifying <strong>the</strong> body is in order that a person should be conditioned not to receive for his own pleasure.<br />

Even in things permissible and necessary to maintain <strong>the</strong> body like: eating, drinking, and sleeping he should remove<br />

himself from any pleasure until he lives literally a life of pain.<br />

Then, after he has become accustomed to this, <strong>the</strong>re is no longer a desire to receive pleasure left in his body, he is able to<br />

toil in Torah and mitzvot in order to give pleasure to his Creator, and this is called "for it's own sake". And when he reaches<br />

this level he merits to taste a life filled with wealth, filled with good without any blemish of pain, a life that is embedded<br />

with <strong>the</strong> labor of Torah and mitzvot "for <strong>the</strong>ir own sake".<br />

On this it is written "Come taste and see because <strong>the</strong> Creator is good", this taste is referring to <strong>the</strong> taste of labor in Torah<br />

and mitzvot "for <strong>the</strong>ir own sake", and <strong>the</strong> seeing refers to see <strong>the</strong> purpose of creation which is only "to give good to His<br />

creatures ; it is <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> God to do good". Then one is happy in <strong>the</strong> life <strong>the</strong> Creator gave him, and for him <strong>the</strong>


creation is worthwhile.<br />

7)From here we see two levels of involvement in Torah and mitzvot:<br />

Level A- "Path of Torah": The period of preparation where a person needs to fix his will to receive, his labor in Torah and<br />

mitzvot is "not for its own sake", ra<strong>the</strong>r he still has a mixture of his own pleasures and motives. This stems from <strong>the</strong><br />

person still not being able to purify his will and rid himself of <strong>the</strong> vanities of this world. At this stage he has to "live a<br />

difficult life and labor in Torah".<br />

Level B-"A life of pleasure and tranquility": The stage occurs after he has finished and completed <strong>the</strong> "way of Torah" and<br />

purified his will to receive, enabling him to fulfill <strong>the</strong> Torah and mitzvot "for <strong>the</strong>ir own sake", in order to give pleasure to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator. Now he has come to <strong>the</strong>" life of pleasure and tranquility" which is <strong>the</strong> reason behind creation as His will is to<br />

"bestow good to his creatures". This life of good means <strong>the</strong> most bountiful life in "this world" and <strong>the</strong> "world to come".<br />

8) This is <strong>the</strong> difference between Torah and o<strong>the</strong>r wisdoms: In o<strong>the</strong>r wisdoms a person doesn't have to fix his will to<br />

receive, effort alone suffices to achieve mastery and success, as with everything in <strong>the</strong> physical world. The purpose of<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r wisdoms is for <strong>the</strong> knowledge and concepts of that wisdom to be known and understood, as this is <strong>the</strong> pleasure that<br />

is to be derived from <strong>the</strong> wisdom. However, to improve and bring good to <strong>the</strong> life of a person and to bring him to <strong>the</strong><br />

completion for which he was created, is to receive perfection and eternal pleasure, this is only possible through fixing his<br />

will to receive.<br />

The purpose of labor in Torah and mitzvot is to prepare a person to be ready to receive all <strong>the</strong> good which is <strong>the</strong> intended<br />

by <strong>the</strong> Creator ; He wants " to give good to His creatures". This good is reserved not only for "<strong>the</strong> world to come" but also<br />

in this world as well. Therefore a person has to purify his will in order to be able to receive from his Creator in his lifetime.<br />

As long as a person doesn't fix his will to receive in his life in this world, he needs to keep returning to this world, until in<br />

one of his incarnations he fixes his will and accomplishes <strong>the</strong> purpose of creation.<br />

9)Therefore a bountiful life in this world only comes to one who completed <strong>the</strong> "path of Torah", who has gone through all<br />

<strong>the</strong> pains, struggles, and difficulties of this world, which are specific to <strong>the</strong> "path of Torah". After he has completed this<br />

period of "not for its own sake”, a life of pain and difficulty, he merits to a life of good and bounty in "this world" and <strong>the</strong><br />

"world to come".<br />

10) Life in complete perfection was created instantly and included life in this world in it's state of complete Goodness. The<br />

Creator created man in his final eternal state filled with pleasure and perfection from <strong>the</strong> very beginning. In order however,<br />

that a person should have free will, struggling on his own to reach perfection, <strong>the</strong> Maker set aside this state of perfection to<br />

be revealed only after a person purifies his will in this world.<br />

11)However <strong>the</strong> Sages of <strong>the</strong> Talmud were lenient concerning <strong>the</strong> level of "<strong>the</strong> path of Torah" saying that <strong>the</strong> learning of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Torah even with no alterior motive alone brings a man to "for its own sake", because <strong>the</strong> light that is in <strong>the</strong> Torah fixes<br />

a person. From here we see that <strong>the</strong>y changed <strong>the</strong> means to reach <strong>the</strong> purpose of creation to a much easier method.<br />

The sages of <strong>the</strong> Talmud made it easier to reach <strong>the</strong> truth, instead of afflictions <strong>the</strong>y gave us ano<strong>the</strong>r way to purify <strong>the</strong><br />

body (will):<strong>the</strong> light within <strong>the</strong> Torah", that it has <strong>the</strong> strength to fix a person and to bring him to learn "for its own sake".<br />

This means that it's enough to study Torah "not for its own sake", and <strong>the</strong> light that's in <strong>the</strong> Torah will fix a person, until he<br />

will have a pure will with which he will be able to labor in Torah in order to give pleasure to his Master, to "learn for its own<br />

sake".<br />

12) To learn Torah with ulterior motives means that a person: 1)Believes in <strong>the</strong> Creator 2)Believes in <strong>the</strong> Torah 3)Believes<br />

in reward and punishment 4)Labors in <strong>the</strong> Torah because <strong>the</strong> Creator commanded to labor in it 5)But he wants in <strong>the</strong> same<br />

action of studying to bring pleasure to himself as well as to <strong>the</strong> Creator, that also he will have a reward. Yet if after his<br />

labor it is known to him that he won't receive his reward, he regrets all his toil.<br />

Even after this leniency this <strong>the</strong> sages permitted to labor in Torah "not for its own sake" in <strong>the</strong> place of afflictions, only<br />

because by "from learning not for its own sake one comes to learning for its own sake", and excluded any labor for any<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r purpose. Because originally before <strong>the</strong> leniency of <strong>the</strong> sages of <strong>the</strong> Talmud it was forbidden to learn "not for its own<br />

sake", ra<strong>the</strong>r it was permissible to learn only after one reached <strong>the</strong> level of "for its own sake".


The sages of <strong>the</strong> Talmud permitted to labor in <strong>the</strong> Torah "not for its own sake" only for <strong>the</strong> purpose of transforming <strong>the</strong> will<br />

as only for this purpose <strong>the</strong>y made <strong>the</strong> decree that <strong>the</strong> Torah itself should be a medium that fixes a person instead of self<br />

denial. Therefore at <strong>the</strong> time of learning a person is not obligated that his intent should be to understand what is written in<br />

<strong>the</strong> works of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, but ra<strong>the</strong>r it should be to merit transforming his will and thoughts. Only when that a person's<br />

intents and thoughts are proper will <strong>the</strong> light of Torah transform his will. The sages decreed <strong>the</strong> Torah as a medium only on<br />

<strong>the</strong> condition that a person has <strong>the</strong> intent to repair himself at <strong>the</strong> time of learning, only in this form did <strong>the</strong>y permit to<br />

learn Torah "not for its own sake"!<br />

But if a person still doesn't believe in <strong>the</strong> Creator and in <strong>the</strong> Torah and lives with doubts, he will not be able to reach "for<br />

its own sake" through "not for its own sake", because <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah is only for those who believe. The greatness of<br />

<strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah comes according to one's faith in <strong>the</strong> Torah. Therefore without faith a person will receive "darkness"<br />

instead of "light". Without faith <strong>the</strong> only purpose in <strong>the</strong> Torah is to seek understanding and wisdom. The intellectual<br />

understanding is his pleasure and he has no intention to transform himself or to reach a revelation of <strong>the</strong> Creator, his real<br />

purpose from birth. In essence he is repulsed from learning <strong>the</strong> inner Torah. This type of learning brings him only<br />

intelectualities and a desire to display his knowledge in <strong>the</strong> eyes of o<strong>the</strong>rs. All <strong>the</strong>se results are called "darkness".<br />

13) Someone who merits perfect faith, is guaranteed that even if he learns Torah "not for its own sake" he will be<br />

enlightened by <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah. Without first practicing self denial or living a life of abstention, he will merit to come<br />

to Torah "for its own sake”. This results a life of bounty in this world and <strong>the</strong> next.<br />

Therefore if a person that learns with alterior motives sees that according to <strong>the</strong> amount he already should have long since<br />

reached <strong>the</strong> level of "for its own sake", he should to know that it stems from his lack of faith. For him who learns Torah<br />

"not for his own sake", <strong>the</strong> transformation to "for its own sake" depends on <strong>the</strong> light that he takes from <strong>the</strong> Torah, which is<br />

solely dependent on <strong>the</strong> amount of his faith.<br />

14) A Person’s level of faith is recognizable from his labor in Torah. If he believes with complete faith that <strong>the</strong> Torah brings<br />

him "life", he wil dedicate all his available time for it.<br />

15) Therefore only a person, who knows that he has merited <strong>the</strong> proper measure of faith in <strong>the</strong> Creator and his Torah, can<br />

expect that his labor in Torah "not for its own sake" will become "for its own sake". Only toge<strong>the</strong>r with this faith <strong>the</strong> light of<br />

Torah tranfigure him and bring him to <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Creator which will change him toward <strong>the</strong> good.<br />

The lack of faith while one labors in Torah reverses <strong>the</strong> light to darkness ; <strong>the</strong> Torah which is <strong>the</strong> giver of life becomes <strong>the</strong><br />

giver of death. Such a scholar masters only <strong>the</strong> simple understanding of Torah lacking all desire to grasp <strong>the</strong> inner Torah,<br />

<strong>the</strong> real light of <strong>the</strong> Torah. Therefore first and foremost a person must consummate his faith.<br />

16) Therefore if a person labors in Torah because he believes in <strong>the</strong> reward, while yet combining his own interests along<br />

with his intent to give pleasure to his Maker, <strong>the</strong> light in <strong>the</strong> Torah will transfigure him and bring him "to its own sake".<br />

Even though he still isn't able to aim solely for <strong>the</strong> purpose of <strong>the</strong> Creator, it still considered that <strong>the</strong> time he spends<br />

learning fixes him. This is called "learning for <strong>the</strong> sake of fulfilling <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of learning Torah".<br />

But if a person toils in Torah "not for <strong>the</strong> sake of fulfilling <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of studying Torah", that is to say, not to fix himself,<br />

but ra<strong>the</strong>r just to give pleasure to himself so he can be called a "scholar" or a "Rabbi", in order to brag or satisfy his ego,<br />

his Torah becomes a "drug of death". The light in <strong>the</strong> Torah has been turned to darkness, which is not able to stand <strong>the</strong><br />

light of <strong>the</strong> Torah, its inwardness - <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>.<br />

17) Therefore a person needs to first acquire faith in his Creator and His supervision of reward and punishment, that is,<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Creator will pay reward, and that his reward will be that he will receive more faith in his maker This should be a<br />

person’s intent, prior to studying ; to merit <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah and to come to study for "its own sake". There is no<br />

better advice for reaching faith, than to direct his heart and mind during learning toward faith in <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

So if a person sees that he has an evil inclination, which is his desire only to receive, <strong>the</strong> only solution is learning Torah.<br />

"Learning Torah" means learning for <strong>the</strong> purpose for which <strong>the</strong> Torah was given : to make him good. If he's only acquiring<br />

intellectual concepts for his own pleasure, he's not learning Torah, only plain wisdom. The word "Torah" is refers to <strong>the</strong><br />

"<strong>the</strong> inner light in <strong>the</strong> Torah that brings him to good", which brings him to his Creator, e.g. a revealment of his Creator. It<br />

follows from this that <strong>the</strong> proper type of study brings a person two things:1) faith and 2) <strong>the</strong> level of "for its own sake".


18) Every person has <strong>the</strong> ability to repair himself because <strong>the</strong> same Creator that made <strong>the</strong> evil inclination also created <strong>the</strong><br />

Torah to fix it. Therefore <strong>the</strong> Torah has <strong>the</strong> power to fix <strong>the</strong> desire that's in a person, <strong>the</strong> evil inclination. He who labors in<br />

Torah and doesn't succeed in correcting his evil inclination, has been slack and did not put out ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> sufficient "amount<br />

of effort" or <strong>the</strong> "quality of effort".<br />

"The Amount of effort" is determined by <strong>the</strong> amount of his available time that he spends studying Torah.<br />

"The Quality of effort" is determined by how much of his mind and heart he devotes at <strong>the</strong> time of his study in order to<br />

merit <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah, that brings faith to a person ; That he not labor in Torah without any intention to fix himself,<br />

and not that he begins to learn in order to fix himself but at <strong>the</strong> time of learning removes his mind from this and wants just<br />

to understand <strong>the</strong> text. The main factor is his quality of effort, because <strong>the</strong> evil inclination is not opposed to acquiring<br />

wisdom, but when a person has <strong>the</strong> intent to kill his evil inclination, <strong>the</strong>n his entire nature rises and interferes with him to<br />

prevent him from thinking of fixing himself. Therefore a person has to streng<strong>the</strong>n mainly his quality of effort.<br />

But only according to <strong>the</strong> degree that a person feels that his inclination is evil in not allowing him to reach good and<br />

perfection to <strong>the</strong> degree that he hates his nature which doesn't allow him to reach his Creator, to this degree only will he<br />

be able to repair himself at <strong>the</strong> time of studying.<br />

19) It is written in <strong>the</strong> Talmud that he who labors in <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah five years and doesn't reach <strong>the</strong> level of "for its<br />

own sake" will never reach it. Therefore if in <strong>the</strong> beginning it is difficult for a person to labor in <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah, it is<br />

better that he involves himself in <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> while in <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah he should only learn <strong>the</strong> relevant day<br />

to day laws. This is not because its easier to learn <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> than <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah, but that<br />

through <strong>the</strong> learning of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> it's easier to bring out <strong>the</strong> light of Torah which fixes a person.<br />

20)Why is a person obligated to abandon <strong>the</strong> learning of <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah, to learn only relevant day to day laws, and<br />

<strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> time to be involved only in <strong>Kabbalah</strong>?<br />

21)The Torah is only attained through "fear of <strong>the</strong> Creator and "fulfillment of <strong>the</strong> mitzvot".<br />

22)The purpose of life is to fight <strong>the</strong> evil inclination. The intermediary to accomplish this is <strong>the</strong> intent to repair oneself<br />

during learning Torah. <strong>Kabbalah</strong> books as well as in <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah, indeed all books of Torah, speak exclusively of <strong>the</strong><br />

revelation of <strong>the</strong> Maker to his creatures. For this reason <strong>the</strong> Torah is referred to as "<strong>the</strong> names of <strong>the</strong> Creator". According<br />

to <strong>the</strong> level that a person grasps Torah, that is, how <strong>the</strong> Creator is revealed to him, how <strong>the</strong> person feels <strong>the</strong> Creator<br />

before him, on this level he designates Him with a name.<br />

All of scripture was written down by those who understood <strong>the</strong> Creator. They conveyed <strong>the</strong>ir knowledge in different<br />

linguistic styles : <strong>the</strong> language of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, <strong>the</strong> language of <strong>the</strong> Torah and <strong>the</strong> prophets, <strong>the</strong> language of aggadah<br />

(legends), and language of halachah. But in whatever idiom, <strong>the</strong>y only wrote according to what <strong>the</strong>y grasped in <strong>the</strong> upper<br />

worlds, that is how <strong>the</strong>y felt <strong>the</strong> Creator. In this respect <strong>the</strong>re is no difference between any of <strong>the</strong> styles. This is also <strong>the</strong><br />

way that Moses received <strong>the</strong> Torah. He merited an understanding from <strong>the</strong> Creator of all <strong>the</strong> upper worlds, meaning a<br />

complete knowledge of how <strong>the</strong> Creator is revealed to man and he wrote <strong>the</strong> Torah from <strong>the</strong> Creator, and afterwards, all<br />

<strong>the</strong> different ways of understanding of <strong>the</strong> Creator put forth our holy books. They were all written by people that grasped<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator and wrote what <strong>the</strong>y felt in Torah, in Prophets, in Writings, in aggadah, in Talmud. Toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are called<br />

Torah because <strong>the</strong>y were all written through divine revelation to man.<br />

The revealed Torah on a simple level discusses mundane things like <strong>the</strong>ft, damages, and o<strong>the</strong>r monetary laws. It is difficult<br />

to see divine revelation in <strong>the</strong>se things.<br />

Therefore it is difficult to direct one's mind to <strong>the</strong> Creator and, <strong>the</strong>refore, to <strong>the</strong> purpose of his learning, namely, to merit<br />

faith while delving into <strong>the</strong>se laws. Therefore, if after five years of learning <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah a person hasn't fixed<br />

himself, <strong>the</strong> Torah itself obligates him to abandon <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah and instead to toil in <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>. In<br />

<strong>Kabbalah</strong> it is much easier to extract <strong>the</strong> light of Torah and to direct his thoughts and heart to <strong>the</strong> Creator and to <strong>the</strong><br />

purpose of his learning. The wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> openly and clearly speaks of <strong>the</strong> actions of <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

23) It is written in <strong>the</strong> Talmud itself that if a person doesn't reach "for its own sake "within five years of learning Torah <strong>the</strong><br />

reason only stems from <strong>the</strong> lack of intention in his heart, and not from his lack of skill or ability. The Torah doesn't require<br />

skill only proper intentions of <strong>the</strong> heart. Only according to one's desire to repair himself (not according to his intellect) will


<strong>the</strong> Torah enlighten him. The sages determined that five years is sufficient time to reach <strong>the</strong> level of "for its own sake",<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore a person is obligated to move promptly to <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> in order to succeed in reaching <strong>the</strong> level of "for<br />

its own sake".<br />

24) Every person is obligated to learn <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah, in order to know practical laws. This is possible from studying<br />

<strong>the</strong> short abridged works. Rav Yosef Karo wrote halachah in a shorter fashion in <strong>the</strong> "Shulchan Aruch" because he studied<br />

<strong>Kabbalah</strong> with <strong>the</strong> Kabbalist Ari Za"l, and saw that <strong>the</strong> process of clarification of halacha doesn't allow us time for <strong>the</strong> study<br />

of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>.<br />

25)It follows that a person doesn't need to learn <strong>Kabbalah</strong> in two instances:<br />

First, if he fulfills <strong>the</strong> Torah "according to halacha" meaning "for its own sake" in order to give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator than<br />

he will automatically receive <strong>the</strong> light of Torah without any need from outside books. Second, if he still hasn't devoted five<br />

years to <strong>the</strong> study of revealed Torah he still has time to develop <strong>the</strong> level of for "its own sake".<br />

If however, he learns Torah "not for its own sake" for more than five years, <strong>the</strong> Talmud itself warns him that he will not<br />

reach <strong>the</strong> level of "for its own sake". At this point, he must learn <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, because during <strong>the</strong> time he's learning <strong>Kabbalah</strong><br />

it is easier to bring his heart to <strong>the</strong> Creator, it will help him to reach spirituality.<br />

26)Therefore <strong>the</strong> meaning of what is written in <strong>the</strong> Talmud (that a person must fill himself with revealed Torah), is that<br />

ei<strong>the</strong>r he's learning for its own sake or he has not completed five years of study. But <strong>the</strong> holy Ari Za"l writes that in our<br />

times only through <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> is it possible for a person to fix himself and to reach <strong>the</strong> purpose for which he<br />

was born, and <strong>the</strong>re is no need for studying first five years, ra<strong>the</strong>r immediately he should begin studying <strong>Kabbalah</strong>.<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator created <strong>the</strong> person with a will to receive pleasures. If he uses his will to receive for himself, for his own<br />

pleasure, <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself from <strong>the</strong> person.But if he uses his will to receive in order to give to his Creator, <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator reveals Himself to <strong>the</strong> person.<br />

The will to receive is referred to as a "black spot" because this willl isn't able to receive light or to feel <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

Therefore if a person wants only to receive pleasure in his learning he will not merit to feel <strong>the</strong> Creator, because <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator as far as he is concerned is not existent.According to his level of repairing his will to receive on <strong>the</strong> condition to<br />

give, this black spot expands and starts receiving into <strong>the</strong> light, meaning it fills up with a feeling for <strong>the</strong> Creator. The light<br />

that fills this dark spot is called <strong>the</strong> "neshama(soul) of man."<br />

The will to receive that enables him to receive <strong>the</strong> light is called "partzuf" (aspect), meaning "partzuf (aspect)" is <strong>the</strong> will to<br />

receive, when it's completed with <strong>the</strong> intention "of receiving in order to give" than it is called "for its own sake"The entire<br />

aspect includes <strong>the</strong> "head" and <strong>the</strong> "body". The "head" reveals all <strong>the</strong> light. In <strong>the</strong> "body" <strong>the</strong>ir is only <strong>the</strong> receiving of a<br />

portion of that light that <strong>the</strong> told “aspect” decides it is able to receive in order to give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

All that a person feels in this world and in <strong>the</strong> world to come is <strong>the</strong> feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator. The difference is that in <strong>the</strong><br />

"world to come" he just feels <strong>the</strong> Maker, who is revealed to man, and in "this world" a person feels <strong>the</strong> Creator in physical<br />

garments hidden from man. "This world" is called what one feels with his unfixed "will to receive". The "world to come"<br />

refers to after a person has fixed "his will to receive". The wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> teaches a person how to achieve revelation<br />

of <strong>the</strong> Creator to man, and how to pass from a feeling "of this world:" called "faith" to <strong>the</strong> “world to come" "world to come"<br />

called understanding.<br />

27) When <strong>the</strong> point of will to receive receives a fixing to receive not for itself but ra<strong>the</strong>r in order to give to <strong>the</strong> Creator, it<br />

expands, that is it attains ten different wills to give in different paths. These ten wills are called "ten sefirot (emanations)".<br />

Therefore in every spiritual partzuf( a will to receive in order to give) <strong>the</strong>re are ten sefirot (emanations): Keter, Chochmah,<br />

Binah, Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut.. The first three sefirot: Keter, chochmah, and binah<br />

are called <strong>the</strong> "head of <strong>the</strong> partzuf". The seven lower sefirot: chesed, gevurah. tiferet, netzach, hod, yesod, and malchut<br />

are called <strong>the</strong> "body of <strong>the</strong> partzuf".<br />

All <strong>the</strong> feelings that a person feels he receives with <strong>the</strong> same will to receive. But with <strong>the</strong> will to receive for its own sake, a<br />

person is able to understand only a tiny portion of <strong>the</strong> existence which he calls "my world".<br />

When a person through his study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> decides no longer to use his will to receive, ra<strong>the</strong>r to attain and to use only


<strong>the</strong> will to receive in <strong>the</strong> condition to give, similar to <strong>the</strong> Creator, in this measure of fixing his will, he begins to feel <strong>the</strong> real<br />

existence that surrounds him. This existence is called "revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator."<br />

All of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> teaches a man to reach a feeling of true existence, It discusses <strong>the</strong> revelation of <strong>the</strong> Creator to man. Both<br />

in <strong>the</strong> revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator to man, and in <strong>Kabbalah</strong> <strong>the</strong>re are two parts:<br />

"Hidden Torah"- What is revealed in <strong>the</strong> first three sefirot: Keter, chochmah, and binah, or in <strong>the</strong> head of <strong>the</strong> partzuf. This<br />

portion includes "<strong>the</strong> maaseh mercavah" (<strong>the</strong> divine chariot) and "maaseh beraishit" (act of creation) and is permitted only<br />

to be revealed through hints from <strong>the</strong> master to <strong>the</strong> student.<br />

Ta'amim of <strong>the</strong> Torah"- What is revealed in <strong>the</strong> lower seven sefirot of <strong>the</strong> face or <strong>the</strong> body of <strong>the</strong> face, this is permissible to<br />

learn and is a great mitzvah to reveal it to everyone.<br />

When a person reaches through <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, his first revelaltion of <strong>the</strong> Creator, his black spot expands and fills<br />

with an upper light. In his feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator, this widening already includes ten sections from <strong>the</strong> ten sefirot, which are<br />

called sefirot because <strong>the</strong>y give light.<br />

This partzuf that is born through a person's feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator is called "neshamah". The lights which are revealed in<br />

<strong>the</strong> body are called "Ta'amim" or "Ta'amei Torah", of which <strong>the</strong> reward for a person who receives <strong>the</strong>m has no limit.<br />

The will to receive of <strong>the</strong> "black spot", is called "<strong>the</strong> point of this world", in which it a person feels no existence of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator of <strong>the</strong> world. There are 125 levels of revelation of <strong>the</strong> Creator, in each of which <strong>the</strong> will to receive is fixed gradually<br />

until it reaches <strong>the</strong> proper will which is completely directed towards giving, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> Creator is entirely revealed. The levels<br />

of revealment are called "worlds" . There are five worlds from above to below. Adam Kadmon, Atzilut, Briah, Yetzirah,<br />

Asiyah. In each of <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re are five partzufim (pl. of Partzuf), in each partzuf <strong>the</strong>re are five sefirot. So in total <strong>the</strong>re are<br />

125 levels of reperation on <strong>the</strong> way to receiving a complete fixed will.<br />

The higher head level at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> "world of asiah" is already included in "hidden Torah", that is forbidden to reveal,<br />

and <strong>the</strong>" body" of <strong>the</strong> world of "atzilut" is included in "ta'amei ha Torah" that is permissible and fitting to reveal<br />

28) Kabbalists reveal only that which is permissible to reveal and hides that which is forbidden to reveal.<br />

A Kabbalist receives a reward for hiding "hidden Torah" from o<strong>the</strong>rs, and revealing "taamei ha Torah" to o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

30) Therefore in all works of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> <strong>the</strong>re is no mentioned of "hidden Torah" and all <strong>the</strong> printed books include only<br />

"taamei ha Torah" which is a great mitzvah to reveal. To <strong>the</strong> extent that upper lights are revealed to <strong>the</strong> public, revelation<br />

of <strong>the</strong> Creator increases in <strong>the</strong> world. This is called <strong>the</strong> "coming of Messiah". The "hidden torah" is given over only to<br />

individuals under very strict conditions.<br />

31) Why is <strong>the</strong> coming of <strong>the</strong> messiah dependent on <strong>the</strong> spreading of <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> to <strong>the</strong> masses?<br />

32)When a person is involved in Torah in order to receive a reward, that is, he anticipates a return for his effort, <strong>the</strong> fear<br />

and love in his labor of Torah and mitzvot becomes a medium in order to receive that reward. His fear is that he will not<br />

receive a reward ; his love depends on receiving a reward. If he does not receive <strong>the</strong> reward <strong>the</strong> love will cease.<br />

If a person conducts himself this way, he's not using <strong>the</strong> Torah for its purpose, because <strong>the</strong> Creator gave <strong>the</strong> Torah as a<br />

medium to fix <strong>the</strong> evil inclination and to achieve <strong>the</strong> ultimate purpose of creation.<br />

33)According to what is stated in point 11, it is forbidden to begin studying Torah "not for its own sake" with <strong>the</strong> intention<br />

of only to receive a reward. It is permissible only to engage in Torah when it's used as a intermediary to reach "for its own<br />

sake" <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah can fix him "and return him to good", to be similar to his Creator. Only on this condition is<br />

his activity of "not for its own sake" considered a intermediary and is called an aspect of "<strong>the</strong> world of asiah of kedushah<br />

(holiness)".<br />

However if his faith is not complete and his involvement in Torah is not for <strong>the</strong> reason that <strong>the</strong> Creator has commanded<br />

him, <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Torah is not revealed to him, and in place of "light", revelation of <strong>the</strong> Creator, he receives "darkness",


concealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator, and he enters <strong>the</strong> domain of <strong>the</strong> "klipot (evil husks)".<br />

That is, when a person wants only for his own good, <strong>the</strong> holiness of <strong>the</strong> Torah goes over to <strong>the</strong> side of evil, to <strong>the</strong> klipot.<br />

34)There are two orot(lights) in <strong>the</strong> partzuf (face)<br />

Ohr Chassadim (Light of bestowal)- <strong>the</strong> intention to give to <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

Ohr Chochmah-revelation of <strong>the</strong> Creator to man.<br />

The condition to merit to spirituality is that a person should bring upon himself <strong>the</strong> "Ohr Chassadim", which come through<br />

learning Torah “not on <strong>the</strong> condition to receive a reward”. Through <strong>the</strong> "Ohr Chassadim" a person brings upon himself <strong>the</strong><br />

"Ohr Chochmah, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> power of "moshiach" is revealed to him, that is "moshech" (brings him) from corporeality to<br />

spirituality. Therefore everything depends on his involvement in Torah "for its own sake" which can bring him to <strong>the</strong> "ohr<br />

chassadim" within which <strong>the</strong> "ohr chochmah" is enclo<strong>the</strong>d.<br />

35) At <strong>the</strong> time when one is spiritually exiled that he is still learning Torah "not for its own sake", if he learns with <strong>the</strong><br />

intent that his "not for its own sake" he will come "for its own sake", <strong>the</strong> Creator will help him. Then through <strong>the</strong> darkness<br />

he can come to a revelation of <strong>the</strong> Creator through his power of "moshiach", <strong>the</strong> ability to arouse him to <strong>the</strong> level of "for its<br />

own sake".<br />

If however <strong>the</strong> involvement in Torah is "not for its own sake", lacking faith and unable to bring to <strong>the</strong> level of "for its own<br />

sake", <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>re won't awaken in a person <strong>the</strong> desire to know his Creator. Because <strong>the</strong> purpose of his Torah is only for<br />

himself, he'll be satisfied merely with physicality. Since he isn't interested in learning "for its own sake" <strong>the</strong> power of<br />

"moshiach" will not be able to effect him, and his learning will remain purely physical. Though <strong>the</strong> power of "moshiach"<br />

brings a person from corporeality to spirituality, it is only if <strong>the</strong>ir learning "not for its own sake" is with intention to reach<br />

"for its own sake".<br />

There are many who learn revealed Torah, and despite that don't succeed in reaching "for its own sake", <strong>the</strong>y still don't<br />

begin learning <strong>Kabbalah</strong> which can bring <strong>the</strong>m to "for its own sake" which has been stated. The reason <strong>the</strong>y can't come to<br />

Torah "for its own sake" is not because <strong>the</strong> Torah lacks light which can arouse <strong>the</strong>m to this level, but ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y don't<br />

have <strong>the</strong> ability to bring this light out of <strong>the</strong> Torah.<br />

36) The condition that <strong>the</strong> Ohr Chassadim (light of kindness) will come to <strong>the</strong> person is only if he studies Torah not in order<br />

to receive a reward, ra<strong>the</strong>r only to give pleasure to his Creator. All <strong>the</strong> time of exile and pain that a person suffers are only<br />

in order to awaken him that he should work to merit to Torah "for its own sake". As soon as he merits this, right away he<br />

will merit "Ohr chesed and ahavah" (light of kindness and hapiness), which will bring him to a complete individual<br />

redemption.<br />

General mankind can reach <strong>the</strong> level "of for its own sake" only through <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, because only it is sufficient<br />

to help those of smaller intellect, since all of <strong>the</strong> layers of <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, directly describe <strong>the</strong> Creator. On <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r hand it's much harder to reach this level through revealed Torah, which one can only reach "for it's own sake"<br />

through great toil.<br />

Therefore he who thinks that he's learning <strong>Kabbalah</strong> to know worlds, sefirot, angels, partzufim,like someone in Torah that<br />

is just learning in order to increase his intellect, is making a very serious mistake. Through <strong>the</strong> <strong>Kabbalah</strong> a person reaches<br />

<strong>the</strong> light that turns a person towards <strong>the</strong> good, <strong>the</strong> "Ohr mashiach (<strong>the</strong> light of messiah)" which brings a person to<br />

spirituality and an inner spiritual redemption.<br />

37)They say that from <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> a person can go crazy and abandon <strong>the</strong> fulfillment of mitzvot. These things<br />

happened in <strong>the</strong> past when people took <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> in a physical form, and consequently harbored all types of<br />

strange images in <strong>the</strong>ir minds.<br />

Since <strong>the</strong> works of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> are filled with spiritual concepts, <strong>the</strong> one who studies without <strong>the</strong> right intention imagines in<br />

<strong>the</strong>se spiritual ideas all types of physicality. Consequently many attempted to learn <strong>Kabbalah</strong> and afterwards abandon it<br />

without success.<br />

Therefore only <strong>the</strong> proper type of learning of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, that is from <strong>the</strong> writings of <strong>the</strong> Ari Za"l and from <strong>the</strong> writings of <strong>the</strong><br />

Ashlag, and only through <strong>the</strong> proper teacher can assure <strong>the</strong> learner that he will ga<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> spiritual concepts in <strong>the</strong> proper,


simple and clear form..<br />

38) Why is <strong>the</strong> involvement in Torah and complete and proper devotion called Torah "for its own sake" and devotion that<br />

isn't appropriate called "Torah not for its own sake"?If <strong>the</strong> reason is that a person who learns Torah is obligated to intend<br />

to give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> proper form of learning should be called "for His sake", instead of "for it's (<strong>the</strong><br />

Torah) own sake"?<br />

39) The Torah brings a person to spiritual life called "chayim" (life). If a person doesn't intend to learn Torah "for it's own<br />

sake" for life, and studies "not for it's own sake", this is called death. Therefore Torah which brings a person to spirituality<br />

is called "giver of life", but Torah which doesn't bring a person to spirituality is called <strong>the</strong> "giver of death".<br />

40) It's written " I have toiled and I have found' believe, I have not toiled and found- don't believe." At first glance it's<br />

difficult to understand this. Toiling means working in order to "acquire" something, where as "finding" implies receiving<br />

without any effort. Than how can it say "I have toiled and I have found"? Because if toil was involved it should have said "I<br />

have toiled and I've acquired" or "I have toiled and have merited" but not "I have toiled and I've found"?<br />

41) It is written that we find <strong>the</strong> Creator in <strong>the</strong> Torah ; <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah.Shouldn’t it be however that<br />

He hides himself in physical things, and reveals himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah. How is it written that Hashem hides himself<br />

specifically only in Torah? It's also written that <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself, such that one must pray for Him to reveal<br />

himself. Why does He hide himself? And why must we ask of Him to reveal himself?<br />

It's only possible to find <strong>the</strong> Creator in <strong>the</strong> places where He hides himself. If we say that <strong>the</strong> Creator only hides Himself in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Torah, than this is a sign that his place of concealment is only in <strong>the</strong> Torah.<br />

42) We don't understand <strong>the</strong> Creator's providence over us. This is <strong>the</strong> main cause of distance from Him, and causes us to<br />

transgress His Will ; and <strong>the</strong> cause of all our anguish and our stumbling into intentional or unintentional transgressions. If<br />

we were to remove this cause we would relieve ourselves of <strong>the</strong>se troubles and be able to truly cling to Him with all our<br />

hearts.<br />

43) If <strong>the</strong> Creator would reveal Himself to us in such a way that who ate something forbidden would immediately choke,<br />

and all who perform a mitzvah would have immediate pleasure, who would even consider transgressing knowing that his<br />

life is at stake? It would be like running into a blazing fire! Who would than abandon <strong>the</strong> Will of <strong>the</strong> Creator, that is mitzvot,<br />

ra<strong>the</strong>r we would fulfill <strong>the</strong> Torah quickly and zealously, like a person who's unable to separate himself from a physical<br />

pleasure that has been given to him. . If it were revealed before us <strong>the</strong> way that <strong>the</strong> Creator supervises <strong>the</strong> world we<br />

would all be completely righteous people!<br />

44) It is clear if <strong>the</strong> providence were to be revealed, we would all be completely righteous people clinging to <strong>the</strong> Creator<br />

with <strong>the</strong> greatest of love.<br />

Many try to cling to God and only a few individuals actually succeed. Because <strong>the</strong> reward of a Mitzvah is not revealed, and<br />

nei<strong>the</strong>r is <strong>the</strong> punishment of one who transgresses. Ra<strong>the</strong>r things appear quite <strong>the</strong> opposite. Therefore understanding <strong>the</strong><br />

providence of God is <strong>the</strong> reason for all <strong>the</strong> good, and <strong>the</strong> lack of understanding is what causes all <strong>the</strong> bad and evil.<br />

45)The feeling of providence comes to a person in two ways:<br />

"concealment" panim (hidden faces)" which is divided into two:<br />

single concealment or<br />

double concealments - that is, concealment within concealment "gilui panim (revealed faces)" divided into two:<br />

(Revelation of) Supervision of reward and punishment<br />

(Revelation of) Eternal providence.<br />

46) When <strong>the</strong> Creator hides His face a person feels this in <strong>the</strong> form of pain and difficulty as he has ei<strong>the</strong>r a single or a<br />

double concealment.


"Panim" of <strong>the</strong> Creator: When <strong>the</strong> Creator behaves with "revealed providence". He does good for a person. This is when His<br />

Face is revealed to him. He <strong>the</strong>n knows and understands his Creator, in that He's good and giving good, and recognizes<br />

Him like one who sees a close friend and can immediately identify Him.<br />

48) "Back” of <strong>the</strong> Creator: When He behaves toward a person with "hidden providence" a person receives pain because<br />

that face of <strong>the</strong> Creator, which is trustworthy to pay, is hidden from him. This is a person who sees his friend from behind<br />

and he is in doubt if this is actually his friend. There are two types of concealments or hidings "one concealment”: When a<br />

person receives pain and suffering, this means that <strong>the</strong> Creator is hiding Himself, namely His goodness, and only his<br />

behind is revealed. Than a person has to streng<strong>the</strong>n himself in faith, to be careful from sin, because it's hard to know <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator from behind.<br />

49) "Concealment inside of concealment" or "double concealment": The abundance of pains cause that even <strong>the</strong> behind of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't become recognizable to <strong>the</strong> person, that he doesn't believe that this is <strong>the</strong> Creator that is angry at him<br />

and is punishing him, ra<strong>the</strong>r he attest it to an event or nature. This person comes towards rejection of <strong>the</strong> providence of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator as <strong>the</strong> One who rewards and punishes, and this is already called "avodah zorah" idol worship.<br />

50) In "One concealment" a person still believes in <strong>the</strong> providence over reward and punishment and that all his suffering<br />

comes from that he's not clinging to <strong>the</strong> Creator.He still sees <strong>the</strong> Creator, but only from <strong>the</strong> way of behind, that has<br />

brought him suffering. Therefore it's called "one concealment" meaning concealment of <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator but not His<br />

behind.<br />

51) From here <strong>the</strong> two aspects of understanding hidden providence are felt in a person "once concealment" or<br />

"concealment in <strong>the</strong> midst of concealment".<br />

One concealment or concealment means concealment of "panim" (faces) but revealed "achorayim" (behinds). A person<br />

believes that <strong>the</strong> Creator causes him his difficulty as a punishment for a sin, even though it's hard for him to always<br />

recognize his Creator from behind, and he comes to as a result to doubts and sins, he is still called a "rasha sheynoh<br />

gamor (not a complete wicked man)". We don't consider him completely wicked since <strong>the</strong>se sins come about as a result of<br />

great suffering, and <strong>the</strong>y are considered unintentional sins, and he still believes in reward and punishment, but since his<br />

pains are so great it causes him to have doubt. The concealment is in this that he doesn't see that <strong>the</strong> Creator is "good and<br />

gives good", but he believes that <strong>the</strong> Creator behaves with him with hidden providence.<br />

52) Double concealment: Even <strong>the</strong> behind of <strong>the</strong> Creator is hidden from <strong>the</strong> person, because he doesn't believe in reward<br />

and punishment. Then <strong>the</strong> sins are written as intentionally and he is considered a complete wicked man, because he thinks<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't supervise at all which constitutes idol worship. The concealment is so great that he doesn't even<br />

realize that <strong>the</strong> Creator has providence over <strong>the</strong> "concealment".<br />

53) All <strong>the</strong> service in fulfilling <strong>the</strong> Torah and mitzvot in <strong>the</strong> path of free will occurs essentially at a time of concealment. A<br />

person at this time must do everything in his power to behave as if <strong>the</strong>re is revealed supervision, to overcome, to choose<br />

to believe, and to choose that <strong>the</strong> Creator is watching him Since <strong>the</strong> providence isn't revealed and he sees his Creator as<br />

His face is hidden, like a person who sees his friend from behind that could easily have a doubt if it really is his friend, so<br />

too he may think that what has occurred in his life is from some random circumstance or event, and not from <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

Therefore <strong>the</strong> choice is always in <strong>the</strong> hand of a person: to do <strong>the</strong> will of <strong>the</strong> Creator or to transgress. Because <strong>the</strong> suffering<br />

that he receives brings him to doubt <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator on him. So a person is found in a state of great difficulty<br />

and struggle to believe in <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator. On this period of time it's written: "All that's in your power to do<br />

you should do", meaning specifically in this time when things are hidden a person must overcome his nature to streng<strong>the</strong>n<br />

his faith to accept that <strong>the</strong> Creator supervises <strong>the</strong> entire creation only in <strong>the</strong> way of "being good and giving good". Because<br />

a person merits to "Face revealment" to see completely clear how <strong>the</strong> Creator handles <strong>the</strong> world in <strong>the</strong> way "of being good<br />

and doing good", only after he has toiled and has done all that's in his power to believe from <strong>the</strong> position of free will, that<br />

that was <strong>the</strong> truth even during <strong>the</strong> period of "behinds". According to <strong>the</strong> greatness of anguish for a person that he needs to<br />

overcome in order to believe at <strong>the</strong> time of concealment, that <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator is always good. greater is his<br />

reward as <strong>the</strong> Creator reveals to him His face and all that is good.<br />

"Doubts",-that a person is in doubt if <strong>the</strong> Creator really handles <strong>the</strong> world in a good way? This who person has hardships<br />

needs to say to himself that <strong>the</strong> intention of <strong>the</strong> Creator in handling <strong>the</strong> entire world is only in <strong>the</strong> way of "being good and


giving good" and all of his hardships are only for <strong>the</strong> good..<br />

54) After <strong>the</strong> Creator has seen that a person has completed all his labor and all that was in his power to act with his<br />

freewill to streng<strong>the</strong>n himself in <strong>the</strong> belief that <strong>the</strong> Creator controls <strong>the</strong> creation constantly in a completely good way, than<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator helps him and he merits to open attention from <strong>the</strong> Creator,"Face revealment" This person sees that<br />

everything is run with absolute good, from this he's aroused to great love for <strong>the</strong> Creator, and than he merits complete<br />

repentance, that he can cling to <strong>the</strong> Creator with all his heart, and soul, all as a result from his realization of <strong>the</strong> open<br />

guidance of God.<br />

55) The revealed providence and complete repentance come to a person on two levels:<br />

56) The first level of revealed providence is <strong>the</strong> complete understanding of reward and punishment.<br />

Not only includes <strong>the</strong> understanding that all <strong>the</strong> reward for mitzvot is in <strong>the</strong> world to come, but also a realization of <strong>the</strong><br />

great pleasure one has in doing <strong>the</strong> mitzvot in this world. Not only does one realize <strong>the</strong> bitter punishment that comes from<br />

every sin after his death, but also feels <strong>the</strong> bitter taste of a sin that's done here in this world.<br />

Therefore, <strong>the</strong> one who merits to open providence certainly cannot sin anymore, similar to one who certainly wouldn't cut<br />

off his limbs and cause himself great suffering. Likewise he will take any opportunity to perform a mitzvah, as would any<br />

normal person partake in a great pleasure that is offered to him.<br />

57) Complete repentance is when <strong>the</strong> Creator Himself testifies that <strong>the</strong> person will no longer sin. Because a person cannot<br />

be certain that he won't sin until he merits to an understanding of reward and punishment, meaning <strong>the</strong> revealed hand of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator. This revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator 's ways is, "redemptions of <strong>the</strong> Creator" or "Testimonies". "Creator's<br />

redemption" refers to <strong>the</strong> revealing of <strong>the</strong> Creator to man. And when a person reaches an understanding of reward and<br />

punishment, he is guaranteed that he won't sin fur<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

58) This repentance is called "repentance from fear". For also <strong>the</strong> one who returns to his Creator with all his heart and<br />

soul, <strong>the</strong> guarantee that he won't sin fur<strong>the</strong>r comes from his feeling of <strong>the</strong> pain and suffering, that come from his sins.He is<br />

sure he won't sin because he doesn't want to cause to himself great hardship. Therefore his repentance comes only from<br />

fear of sin, and so it is called "repentance from fear".<br />

59) The one who does repentance from fear merits that all his intentional sins become unintentional, since <strong>the</strong> intentional<br />

sins resulted from <strong>the</strong> double concealment when <strong>the</strong> Creator had become completely hidden from <strong>the</strong> sinner.<br />

However <strong>the</strong> state of one concealment, when he believed in reward and punishment, but never<strong>the</strong>less from <strong>the</strong> great<br />

hardships he had at times sinful thoughts, can be compared to one who sees his friend from behind, and is likely to think<br />

that maybe it's not his friend. These sins are also considered unintentional since he didn't believe in reward and<br />

punishment.<br />

60) Therefore after he has merited to repentance from fear to a clear understanding of <strong>the</strong> system of reward and<br />

punishment, until he is certain that he won't sin, he becomes removed completely from <strong>the</strong> double concealment. Now he<br />

sees that <strong>the</strong>re is a system of reward and punishment, and it's clear to him that all <strong>the</strong> hardship and darkness that he<br />

experienced was a punishment for all of his sins.<br />

He sees that in <strong>the</strong> past he made a bitter mistake that he thought <strong>the</strong> Maker was not controlling <strong>the</strong> world and now he sees<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Creator was always managing <strong>the</strong> world in <strong>the</strong> way of "being good and doing good".<br />

Thusly he has uprooted his intentional sins, but not completely as <strong>the</strong>y are considered now unintentional. Similar to <strong>the</strong><br />

sins that he did at one concealment which are considered only unintentional, because he fell as a result of confusion and<br />

great hardship which remove a man from he semblance of mind.<br />

61) But from <strong>the</strong> first concealment he underwent immediately proceeding his repentance, he doesn't repair with his new<br />

repentance. Left over is all <strong>the</strong> concealment and <strong>the</strong> unintentional sins that he committed, without any change or fixing,<br />

because than he also believed that all of his suffering came from his sins. So he only merits to fix from <strong>the</strong> time of his<br />

repentance and onward but not from before.<br />

62) Therefore he's still not called a complete righteous person . Though since he has merited to <strong>the</strong> revealed face of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator and sees that He is "good and does good" from this time and on he can be referred to as a righteous person, being


he has realized <strong>the</strong> righteousness of Providence as it is in truth., that <strong>the</strong> Creator behaves with people in <strong>the</strong> epitome of<br />

good and completeness, as He is good to both good and bad people.<br />

63) Since he merited to understand revealed providence, that he realizes that <strong>the</strong> Creator overlooks and takes care of both<br />

good and bad, from this point and on he can be called tzadik. But until he reached this point he was not able to be called<br />

tzadik (Righteous) because he had thoughts against <strong>the</strong> Creator. But since he had sinned in <strong>the</strong> past he is called a "tzadik<br />

sheyno gamor" (incomplete righteous person).<br />

64) He is also referred to as a "benoni" one who's in between. Because after he has merited to repentance from fear he<br />

becomes enable through his devotion to merit to repentance from love, that he'll merit to be called "tzadik gamor (a<br />

completely righteous person).<br />

65) It's been explained that <strong>the</strong> first level of understanding revealed providence-is <strong>the</strong> realization of reward and<br />

punishment to <strong>the</strong> extent that <strong>the</strong> Creator will testify that this person will no longer sin fur<strong>the</strong>r.This is referred to as<br />

repentance from fear, when <strong>the</strong> intentional sins become unintentional, and he is <strong>the</strong>n called "tzadik sheyno gamor<br />

(incomplete righteous person)" or "benoni"(person in between).<br />

66) The second level of understanding open providence is <strong>the</strong> understanding of complete, true, and eternal nature of<br />

providence. The realization that <strong>the</strong> Creator intimately watches over all his creatures in <strong>the</strong> aspect of "good and giving<br />

good" than a person is called "tzadik gamor (complete), and this repentance is called "repentance from love", when he<br />

merits that his intentional sin become mitzvot.<br />

There are <strong>the</strong> four aspects of understanding providence, that a person must path through: The first three aspects :double<br />

concealment, one concealment, <strong>the</strong> understanding of reward and punishment <strong>the</strong>y are preparations that through <strong>the</strong>m a<br />

person merits to <strong>the</strong> fourth aspect, an eternal and true understanding.<br />

67) Why is it not enough for a person <strong>the</strong> third aspect, <strong>the</strong> knowing of reward and punishment, that a person merits that<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator testifies on him that he will no longer sin? Why is he called a "benoni" or "a tzadik sheyno gamor" that <strong>the</strong>se<br />

names indicate that his devotion is not fitting in <strong>the</strong> eyes of <strong>the</strong> Creator, and is still found to be lacking in Torah and<br />

mitzvot?<br />

68) How does <strong>the</strong> Torah command us to love, something which isn't in our control, since love is something that doesn't<br />

help force? But from <strong>the</strong> fact that a person performs <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 612 mitzvot properly he'll automatically begin to love <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator. Therefore it's considered this mitzvah as it is in <strong>the</strong> hand of man to perform it. Because if he's able to force<br />

himself to perform <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 612 mitzvot, he will than be able to also perform <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love.<br />

69) But if <strong>the</strong>re is no medium for which a person to perform <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love except through <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 612 mitzvot,<br />

than why should it be numbered as a mitzvah, and not just be considered a byproduct of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r mitzvot?<br />

70) All <strong>the</strong> tendencies and characteristics in a person that he has to serve someone else are necessary to serve <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator. Originally <strong>the</strong>y were implanted in a person soley for <strong>the</strong> purpose of serving <strong>the</strong> Creator, which is <strong>the</strong> meaning and<br />

end of all man.. Ra<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> meantime a person has an entire world in order that all <strong>the</strong>se tendencies and natural<br />

characteristics will be opened and completed, as through a person's involvement with society <strong>the</strong>se characteristics become<br />

refined so one can serve <strong>the</strong> Creator with <strong>the</strong>m. Therefore <strong>the</strong> existence of mankind is neccesary for <strong>the</strong> individual as <strong>the</strong>y<br />

are <strong>the</strong> ones who open and prepare his tendencies and characteristics in order <strong>the</strong>y should be fitting for his spiritual<br />

devotion.<br />

71)Therefore we need to understand <strong>the</strong> essence of love of <strong>the</strong> Creator in <strong>the</strong> context of love between human beings,<br />

which necessarily also <strong>the</strong> love of <strong>the</strong> Creator is influenced by <strong>the</strong>se characteristics. There are two types of love between<br />

people which divide into four:<br />

72) Love that depends on something, love stemming from immense good, pleasure, and purpose that he receives from his<br />

friend . In this <strong>the</strong>re are two levels:<br />

Before <strong>the</strong>y knew and loved one ano<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>y had done harm to each o<strong>the</strong>r, but <strong>the</strong>y don't want to remember, "because


on all sinners love will cover". Therefore if <strong>the</strong>y want to deprive pleasure from <strong>the</strong> love each one has to be careful not to<br />

remind <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r of his wrong doings.<br />

Or <strong>the</strong>y never did harm to one ano<strong>the</strong>r and <strong>the</strong>y have nothing to remind each o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

73) Love that is not dependent on anything, that <strong>the</strong>y see each o<strong>the</strong>rs good points in a way that goes beyond normal<br />

measure which from it cling <strong>the</strong>ir souls toge<strong>the</strong>r with great love that has no end.<br />

It also has two levels:<br />

a) Love that's dependent on something-before that he knew all his ways and action of his friend amongst people. For it is<br />

than tested if <strong>the</strong> love is absolute, because he sees that <strong>the</strong> actions of his friend with o<strong>the</strong>rs causes his friend damage and<br />

problems. which would blemish his entire image of his friend, and ruin <strong>the</strong>ir love. Ra<strong>the</strong>r he still has not seen his friends<br />

involvement <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong>re love is still complete.<br />

b)Love that is not dependent on anything-this love comes from knowing all <strong>the</strong> ways and actions of his friend, having<br />

checked and found that <strong>the</strong>y are good beyond measure, and far surpass beyond measure from any of his peers, thusly it's<br />

referred to as "an absolute and eternal love".<br />

74) These four characteristics of love that are found between man and his fellow man, exist also between man and his<br />

Creator. Ra<strong>the</strong>r that <strong>the</strong> love between man and his Creator works in a cause and effect manner: That a person merits first<br />

to "a love that depends on something". And after that he merits one type of love in completeness, he will automatically<br />

move to <strong>the</strong> next level, until he reaches to "eternal love".<br />

75) But how can a person reach <strong>the</strong> first level of love which comes from <strong>the</strong> great reward he has received from his<br />

beloved, at a time where <strong>the</strong>re is no reward in this world?<br />

Every person has to go through <strong>the</strong> two levels of "face concealment" that <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator, his good side, from which<br />

<strong>the</strong> "way of good is to bestow good", is hidden from him, <strong>the</strong>refore he than receives <strong>the</strong> difficulty and suffering. All his<br />

involvement in Torah and devotion is in <strong>the</strong> way of freedom of choice takes mainly during <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> concealment of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator, because <strong>the</strong>n he feels no love to his creator.<br />

If this is <strong>the</strong> case how does a person reach <strong>the</strong> second level of love that depends on something? Because in order to reach<br />

this type of love a person needs to see that <strong>the</strong> beloved does for him great and wonderful things since <strong>the</strong> past until this<br />

day, and caused him no wrong. All <strong>the</strong> more so how can he reach <strong>the</strong> third level or <strong>the</strong> fourth level?<br />

76) On this it says "your world you'll see in your life and your end in <strong>the</strong> world to come". Why doesn't it say "your world<br />

you will accept in you life" instead of "you will see"? And why is a person supposed to see his life in <strong>the</strong> world to come in<br />

this world.?<br />

77) What does this mean that a man sees <strong>the</strong> world to come in his life? For sure with <strong>the</strong> physical eyes you see nothing<br />

spiritual! Also <strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't change <strong>the</strong> laws of nature, because he already set <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong>y are very successful to<br />

reach <strong>the</strong> proper end, in order that a person through <strong>the</strong>m should merit to cling to <strong>the</strong> Creator. If so how can it be for a<br />

person to see his world in his life?<br />

78) This seeing comes to a person through "you shall open your eyes to Torah". Therefore it is written: "Even if <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

world will say to you that you are a tzadik, you should be in your eyes like a wicked person.", regard yourself as wicked<br />

person and don't trick yourself by all those in <strong>the</strong> world who call you a tzadik. Because according to this a person will not<br />

merit even to <strong>the</strong> level of "Tzadik sheyno gamor (incomplete)".<br />

79) But if a person knows himself in truth that he already fulfilled <strong>the</strong> entire Torah and all <strong>the</strong> world realizes this, why is<br />

this not enough, why must he consider himself wicked? This is because he's lacking <strong>the</strong> level of "open your eyes to <strong>the</strong><br />

Torah", to see his world in this life.<br />

80) The four levels of apprehension of <strong>the</strong> Creator's providence upon man are: Two from <strong>the</strong> aspects of concealment<br />

panim. And two from <strong>the</strong> level of revealed panim. Intentionally <strong>the</strong> first levels was made in hiding that a person shouldn't


see that <strong>the</strong> Creator bestows good and pleasure, ra<strong>the</strong>r he see as if it works in s a different way. This is in order that a<br />

person should have a place for toil and freedom of choice, that from this comes to <strong>the</strong> Creator great pleasure from <strong>the</strong><br />

service of man.<br />

81) However "face concealment" is incompleteness and is only considered a passing stage that from it a person reaches to<br />

<strong>the</strong> desired completion, but all <strong>the</strong> reward that a person merits from his toil in Torah and his free will come from <strong>the</strong> time<br />

of "face concealment " as than a person has difficulty in trying to streng<strong>the</strong>n himself in faith and fulfillment of <strong>the</strong> will of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator. All <strong>the</strong> reward of a person is measured according to <strong>the</strong> hardship that he suffers from <strong>the</strong> performance of<br />

mitzvot and Torah at <strong>the</strong> time of free will.<br />

82) Therefore it is necessary for each person to pass this stage of "face concealment". When he completes it, he merits to<br />

open providence, to a revealment of <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator, that he feels Him, like He is "good and that he gives good".<br />

Before he reaches this stage of openness of His face, he sees only <strong>the</strong> behind, and he doesn't see <strong>the</strong> good that comes<br />

from <strong>the</strong> Creator. Despite that he believes that <strong>the</strong> Creator handles that worlds in <strong>the</strong> way of "good and bestowing good"<br />

it's impossible that he won't come to sin, because a person can't always be in a state of darkness and arise himself to a<br />

level of faith to declare that <strong>the</strong> Creator is always good and doing good.<br />

It's not in <strong>the</strong> hand of a person to fulfill all <strong>the</strong> 613 mitzvot, because <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love doesn't come in force or against<br />

his will. Even if a person will force himself to perform <strong>the</strong> will of <strong>the</strong> Creator in <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 612 mitzvot this is not <strong>the</strong> best<br />

situation, because such fear is not lasting as one can always complain to <strong>the</strong> Creator, that perhaps <strong>the</strong> time has come to<br />

merit to pleasure kindness.<br />

83) The first level of "revealed faces" which is <strong>the</strong> understanding of fear and punishment, comes to <strong>the</strong> person through<br />

"redemption of God", that he merits "to open his eyes in Torah" with complete understanding. And all <strong>the</strong> mitzvot he<br />

performed through great labor, he now sees <strong>the</strong> reward for <strong>the</strong>m, that has been placed aside for him in <strong>the</strong> world to come,<br />

and also <strong>the</strong> great damage caused by his sins.<br />

84) Even though he still hasn't reached <strong>the</strong> reward, because in this world <strong>the</strong>re is no reward. Never<strong>the</strong>less it is enough for<br />

him <strong>the</strong> understanding that from this point on he can feel <strong>the</strong> great pleasure in performing each mitzvah, because anyone<br />

who is ready to receive a reward 'it is as if he has already received it".<br />

85)Naturally it's understood that open providence will testify from <strong>the</strong>n onwards a clinging to <strong>the</strong> Torah and mitzvot with all<br />

his heart and soul, and because he feels <strong>the</strong> pain of <strong>the</strong> sins, he will run from <strong>the</strong> sins, like from a fire. Though <strong>the</strong> fire still<br />

has not reached him, he is quick to run from it, so to does he run from hardship that is on its way.<br />

And even if he hasn't reached <strong>the</strong> level of "complete tzadik", because he hasn't reached <strong>the</strong> level of repentance from love,<br />

never<strong>the</strong>less <strong>the</strong> clinging to Torah bring him slowly to repentance from love where he can perform all <strong>the</strong> 613 mitzvot with<br />

love and be a "complete tzadik".<br />

86) And why is it written: "Even if <strong>the</strong> whole world says to you that you are a tzadik, you should be in your own eyes like a<br />

wicked man"? Behold a person know who he is! Why must he search and know "if he is a tzadik gamor (completely<br />

righteous)" Why must he at all be a tzadik gamor? And if he is obligated you be a tzadik gamor, why does it say "he must<br />

always be in his eyes like a wicked person"?<br />

87)Until a person doesn't merit to "opening his eyes to <strong>the</strong> Torah", with a complete understanding of reward and<br />

punishment, that he doesn't need to believe that he will receive a reward in <strong>the</strong> world to come, ra<strong>the</strong>r he sees and feels<br />

this with his senses, he is not able to trick himself and to consider himself as a tzadik. Because he feels that are lacking<br />

him to two of <strong>the</strong> must inclusive mitzvot of <strong>the</strong> Torah: "fear" and "love".<br />

'Fear"-that <strong>the</strong> Creator testifies that he will no longer sin because of his fear of punishment, when he will merit to a clear<br />

understanding of reward and punishment, which is <strong>the</strong> first level of gluey ponim (revealed faces) that is reached after<br />

"opening of <strong>the</strong> eyes in Torah".<br />

"Love"- it is out of <strong>the</strong> realm of man, because it's dependent on <strong>the</strong> "understanding of <strong>the</strong> heart", that is to say in<br />

understanding <strong>the</strong> Creator, that labor and force don't help in its attainment.<br />

88) Therefore it's written :"even if <strong>the</strong> whole world says to you that you are a Tzadik". Because <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of "love " and


:"fear" are given only to <strong>the</strong> person himself, and <strong>the</strong>re is no one in <strong>the</strong> world, that is able to determine <strong>the</strong>m and to know<br />

<strong>the</strong>m o<strong>the</strong>r than himself. But when o<strong>the</strong>r people see him, performing <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 611 mitzvot <strong>the</strong>y assume he has also<br />

fulfilled <strong>the</strong>se two o<strong>the</strong>r mizvot of "fear"and "love". But no person can enter into <strong>the</strong> heart of his fellow man. It's possible to<br />

see charity, kindness, study of Torah, but if <strong>the</strong> reason behind <strong>the</strong> mitzvot is love of <strong>the</strong> Creator, this no person can know.<br />

Because it's possible a man can do few mitzvot and learn little but he does it from love,and <strong>the</strong> opposite also hold true.<br />

Since <strong>the</strong> nature of man is to believe what people say of him, he is likely to be mistaken and think that he's already a<br />

tzadik, <strong>the</strong>refore a person must always consider himself wicked. However he himself is obligated to seek himself to know in<br />

himself, if he is a tzadik gamor, meaning he has already merited to love and fear, if he already feels that <strong>the</strong>re is reward<br />

and punishment for his actions in this world? Only to <strong>the</strong> extent that he feels this he's not called a wicked person!<br />

89) Now it's understood how a person can reach <strong>the</strong> first level of love, even though he will not in his life receive a reward<br />

for a mitzvah, ra<strong>the</strong>r only in <strong>the</strong> world to come.<br />

To see, to know, and to feel clearly <strong>the</strong> reward for a mitzvah, that will come in <strong>the</strong> future in <strong>the</strong> world to come, a person<br />

must realize in his lifetime through his understanding in Torah. Because than at least he has "a love that depends on<br />

something", that he loves <strong>the</strong> Creator because he feels in this world <strong>the</strong> future reward that he's going to receive in <strong>the</strong><br />

world to come. This is <strong>the</strong> first level of leaving <strong>the</strong> concealment panim to come to giluey panim when he feels <strong>the</strong> reward of<br />

<strong>the</strong> miztvot and <strong>the</strong> loss caused by sins, in a way that <strong>the</strong> Creator testifies on him that he will no longer sin. At this level<br />

He gives him to feel <strong>the</strong> great pleasure that he will have in reward for his mitzvot and <strong>the</strong> pain that will come if he sins.<br />

Though a person feeling what will be his portion in <strong>the</strong> world to come, than he is certain, that as according to how far he<br />

breaks away from this world from its pain and he chases after pleasure, so he shall run after Torah and mitzvot, and run<br />

away from sin.<br />

90) Now he labors in <strong>the</strong> keeping of Torah and mitzvot amidst a love that depends on something that come to him from<br />

knowledge of <strong>the</strong> reward to be received in <strong>the</strong> world to come, "because all those that are standing to receive it is as if <strong>the</strong>y<br />

have received". Afterwards a person moves and merits to <strong>the</strong> second level of "Face revealment" that one realizes <strong>the</strong><br />

control of <strong>the</strong> Creator over <strong>the</strong> world in an eternal and true way that He" is good and does good" to both good and bad as<br />

he merits to a "love that isn't dependent on anything", that he loves <strong>the</strong> Creator even though he receives nothing, <strong>the</strong>n his<br />

intentional sins become merits to him. From this point and onwards he is referred to a a "tzadik gamor"(a complete tzadik)<br />

because he's able to fulfill <strong>the</strong> entire Torah out of fear and love. and he is called "gamor"(complete) because he has <strong>the</strong><br />

613 mitzvot in completeness.<br />

91) Also <strong>the</strong> one who merits to <strong>the</strong> third aspect of providence, in <strong>the</strong> providence of reward and punishment, and <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator has already testified on him that he won't sin anymore, despite all this he is still called a "tzadik sheyno gamor",<br />

because he is still lacking one mitzvah, <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love, and one isn't complete until he has all <strong>the</strong> 613 mitzvot.<br />

92)From here it's understood why <strong>the</strong> Torah obligates us to <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love, despite that love is something that is felt<br />

in <strong>the</strong> heart, if a person toils he can reach <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love. That is why it says from "not for it's own sake" .lacking<br />

love, you can reach "for its own sake", meaning love.<br />

93) It's written that if a person says to you "I have toiled and I've not found"-not to believe. "I have not toiled and I've<br />

found"-not to believe. "I have toiled and I have found" -to believe. Why does it say "I have toiled and I have found"? Does<br />

not toiling imply acquiring something and finding implies receiving something without toil and understanding? It should<br />

have said, "I have toiled and I have acquired".<br />

"I have toiled and I have found", implies that a person finds <strong>the</strong> revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator only through toil in Torah. The<br />

"toiling" is in Torah, and <strong>the</strong> "finding" is in <strong>the</strong> revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator's providence, that this is something else entirely<br />

different? Therefore it's not written "'I have toiled and I have merited" or "I have toiled and I have aquired'-believe", <strong>the</strong><br />

intention is on something extra, <strong>the</strong> revealment of <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator and his providence. From <strong>the</strong> lackings of a<br />

person he thinks that <strong>the</strong> world should be managed in a different way. Therefore after he merits to <strong>the</strong> revealment of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator he sees that <strong>the</strong> Creator always managed <strong>the</strong> world in a good way, until he can't imagine how it could be any<br />

better. Than he has no doubt that <strong>the</strong> Creator is "good and gives good".<br />

94) Therefore it is written: "I have not toiled and I have found don't believe", that from this it's possible to think, that


anyone who seeks <strong>the</strong> Creator right away finds him, that in order to find <strong>the</strong> Creator one must not toil. Therefore <strong>the</strong>y<br />

warn that toil is essential, so it is written: "I have not toiled and I have not labored" -don't believe.<br />

95) The Torah is called life like that is written: "See I have placed before you today life and good-choose life", "<strong>the</strong>y are life<br />

to those who go out".Because <strong>the</strong> Creator is <strong>the</strong> source of life and good <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> life comes to those who cling to Him;<br />

those who toil and find <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator in <strong>the</strong> Torah, that <strong>the</strong>y merit to "open your eyes to Torah" to<br />

understand <strong>the</strong> true way that <strong>the</strong> Creator guides <strong>the</strong> world which is only to give good.<br />

At <strong>the</strong> time that a person realizes <strong>the</strong>re can be no better way of running <strong>the</strong> world, than it's called that he merited to <strong>the</strong><br />

"light of <strong>the</strong> living king".<br />

96) A person who has merited to this is not able to separate from <strong>the</strong> fulfillment's of mitzvot, like a person who cannot<br />

separate from a great pleasure that has come to his hands. And likewise he runes from sin, like from a fire. And upon him<br />

it says, "You are a clinging to <strong>the</strong> Creator your God while living on this very day", because <strong>the</strong> love of <strong>the</strong> Creator comes<br />

upon him like a natural love. He is like a branch connected to its root, that <strong>the</strong> life comes to him without interruption from<br />

its source, and for this <strong>the</strong> Torah is called "life".<br />

Without toil a person is not able to find <strong>the</strong> Creator, to reveal His face? Why someone who seeks <strong>the</strong> Creator finds him<br />

without toil? Someone who clings to <strong>the</strong> Creator merits to life, clinging means that man becomes similar to <strong>the</strong> Creator in<br />

<strong>the</strong> form of a bestowal, that just as <strong>the</strong> Creator gives to man, so to a man gives to <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

At <strong>the</strong> time that a person has intention for <strong>the</strong> good of <strong>the</strong> Creator, he feels <strong>the</strong> taste of Torah and mitzvot, from <strong>the</strong> power<br />

of this that he wants to do good for <strong>the</strong> Creator. Than he merits to a revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator called reward and<br />

punishment. Reward this is <strong>the</strong> pleasure that he feels at <strong>the</strong> time he intends to do <strong>the</strong> mitzvah, for <strong>the</strong> sake of heaven.<br />

This that he can give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator for him is greater than all <strong>the</strong> pleasures of this world. And he feels pain at <strong>the</strong><br />

time he cannot perform mitzvot.<br />

To reach this level is only possible through a revealment from above called <strong>the</strong> "light of <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> living king" this light<br />

that comes from above is called, "for its own sake", like that's written, "The one who comes to purify <strong>the</strong>y help him with a<br />

new soul", in a new soul called, "<strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> living king", automatically all his intention is for <strong>the</strong> sake of heaven, for<br />

<strong>the</strong> good of <strong>the</strong> Creator, that his pleasure is from this that he gives pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator, and his pains are from <strong>the</strong><br />

times that he cannot give pleasure to <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

Therefore he can no loner sin, because if he doesn't have intention for <strong>the</strong> good of his Creator, he loses his soul that he has<br />

received, and he returns to being a simple man. But when he thinks for <strong>the</strong> good of his Creator, he feels all this pleasure.<br />

It comes out from this that toiling in Torah means that through <strong>the</strong> Torah a person reaches to cling to <strong>the</strong> Creator that he<br />

directs all his action to <strong>the</strong> Creator, than he merits to "<strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> living King". And than he has a natural love, like <strong>the</strong><br />

love a person has for food and sleep. Natural love comes to a person because he is connected to <strong>the</strong> Creator and he<br />

receives from it "<strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> living King".<br />

97)Therefore <strong>the</strong> person who labors in Torah has to be "for its own sake", in order that he shall merit from it "life". For this<br />

matter <strong>the</strong> Torah was given as it says, "And you shall choose life". Therefore a person perforce at <strong>the</strong> time he is learning<br />

Torah must put his mind and heart to it and toil in it to find it <strong>the</strong> "light of <strong>the</strong> living king", meaning a clear comprehension<br />

of revealed providence, that is called "<strong>the</strong> inner light"". And every person has this ability! It is thus written "from darkness<br />

he will find me"," I have toiled and have not found"- don't believe, that <strong>the</strong>re is nothing lacking to a person except for<br />

effort. Therefore all who engage in Torah "for its own sake" it becomes for him a "giver of life"- only that he should place<br />

his heart and mind to finding life. So when one studies <strong>Kabbalah</strong> <strong>the</strong> effort that he needs to give is to reach a clinging with<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator, to merit to life<br />

98) Therefore it is in our hands to reach <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love. For it is in <strong>the</strong> hands of any person to toil in Torah, and till he<br />

reaches a revealment of providence, that he sees that <strong>the</strong> Creator only desires to help and do good for him, like that it<br />

says "I have toiled and I have found-believe". When a person reaches this realization of providence automatically he<br />

receives love for his Maker,, and he no longer needs to toil and to force himself, because this love is naturally aroused<br />

within him.<br />

99) It says, "all who study Torah not for its own sake, his Torah becomes a giver of death", that <strong>the</strong> Creator specifically


hides himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah. Generally, one thinks that <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself in <strong>the</strong> trappings of this mundane physical<br />

world, that <strong>the</strong>y are outside of Torah, and not Torah itself, and only in Torah is his place of revealment. The question is<br />

asked "Why does <strong>the</strong> Creator hide himself and want that we should seek and find him? Why doesn't <strong>the</strong> Creator reveal<br />

himself to man? Why was it necessary for him to hide in <strong>the</strong> beginning?".<br />

100) <strong>the</strong> Creator hid himself in order that a person should seek His revealment. There are two types of concealment<br />

panim, one concealment or a double concealment. <strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't want to remain in a state of concealment from a<br />

person ra<strong>the</strong>r he hid himself intentionally with <strong>the</strong> purpose that a person should try to reveal His face and find Him,<br />

because <strong>the</strong> person can only merit to <strong>the</strong> "light of <strong>the</strong> living King" from a state of darkness, <strong>the</strong> entire concealment serves<br />

as a preparation for <strong>the</strong> revealment.<br />

If a person needs something he is embarrassed by "free bread".Likewise if <strong>the</strong> Creator would give to a person only good<br />

and pleasure, a person would fell embarrassment.In order that a person should receive all <strong>the</strong> pleasure without<br />

embarrassment, <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself., that a person shouldn't see that <strong>the</strong> Creator behaves with him in a good way.<br />

This is also in order that he'll fix his ways so that he can act completely for <strong>the</strong> good of Creator and not for his own<br />

purposes. Than all <strong>the</strong> pleasures that he will receive from <strong>the</strong> Creator will be with <strong>the</strong> understanding that <strong>the</strong> Creator wants<br />

that he should receive this pleasure and that <strong>the</strong> Creator Himself take pleasure when a person receives from Him good..<br />

When a person reaches this level <strong>the</strong> good and <strong>the</strong> pleasure in this world become revealed to him.<br />

Concealment was made in order that a person should search out why he doesn't feel <strong>the</strong> good and <strong>the</strong> pleasure. After<br />

searching it will be made known to him <strong>the</strong> reason for <strong>the</strong> concealment, that his intentions were not for <strong>the</strong> Creator, than<br />

he will do good deeds, subsequently <strong>the</strong> Creator will be revealed to him.After this revealment he doesn't have to suffer any<br />

embarrassment, since he now serves <strong>the</strong> Creator without ulterior motives.<br />

101)Therefore <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah so that even someone who is involved in Torah and good deeds has a<br />

hard time judging <strong>the</strong> Creator favorably, since according to his estimation he's not fitting for <strong>the</strong> hardships that he suffers,<br />

even worse he see that those who are much less devoted than him don't suffer like to his extent.<br />

Therefore <strong>the</strong> entire time that a person is involved in Torah and good deeds and doesn't merit to revealed providence, <strong>the</strong><br />

Torah itself hides <strong>the</strong> Creator from him. Thusly it is written that <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah. It comes out from<br />

this that someone who doesn't learn doesn't suffer so much, but a person who learns a great deal does suffer. Not only<br />

does he suffer but he blames <strong>the</strong> Creator for <strong>the</strong> pain that comes on him since he is found in a greater concealment.<br />

But all <strong>the</strong> suffering that a person has from <strong>the</strong> Torah <strong>the</strong>y are all announcements that <strong>the</strong> Creator himself is calling him,<br />

through that it wakens him to get ready, to hurry, and to give <strong>the</strong> amount of effort that is asked of him, in order to merit<br />

him to a revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator, as this is what <strong>the</strong> Creator desires.<br />

From here it follows he who learns more feels more <strong>the</strong> concealment, and sees to a lesser extent that <strong>the</strong> Creator manages<br />

<strong>the</strong> world. Because if <strong>the</strong> Creator manages <strong>the</strong> world in <strong>the</strong> way of "good and giving good" why does he do good for o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />

and not for him? Why doesn't he feel <strong>the</strong> revealed face of <strong>the</strong> Creator? Why does it seem to him <strong>the</strong> one who learns less<br />

has an easier situation?<br />

The one who learns properly realizes all <strong>the</strong>se pains are in order that he should learn more and to teach him that he really<br />

isn't intending to do good for <strong>the</strong> Creator. After he understands this he will be able to open his eyes to Torah and to open<br />

providence, as he will see <strong>the</strong>n that <strong>the</strong> Creator manges <strong>the</strong> world in a way that is good for everyone.<br />

102) "All who learn Torah not for its own sake <strong>the</strong> Torah becomes a giver of death". Because not only will he not go out<br />

from <strong>the</strong> concealment to revealment, since he has no intentions of reaching this level, but also <strong>the</strong> Torah he learns just<br />

adds to <strong>the</strong> concealment. This is <strong>the</strong> aspect of death since he is uprooted from his root completely, meaning that he isn't<br />

able to believe that <strong>the</strong> Creator controls <strong>the</strong> world. All this Torah that he has learned, which is <strong>the</strong> aspect of death, came as<br />

result of his not learning for <strong>the</strong> Creator, but at <strong>the</strong> time that he'll have <strong>the</strong> proper intention, he too will merit to revealed<br />

faces that will bring him true good and pleasure.<br />

103) Therefore <strong>the</strong>re is "hidden Torah" and "revealed Torah". "Hidden Torah" has its name because <strong>the</strong> Creator hides<br />

himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah. The "revealed Torah" is called that <strong>the</strong> Creator reveals himself in <strong>the</strong> Torah. The first level is hidden<br />

Torah, that in <strong>the</strong> beginning a person learns Torah while <strong>the</strong> Creator is still hidden within it. Afterwards one learns <strong>the</strong><br />

revealed Torah, meaning <strong>the</strong> Creator already becomes revealed. Therefore <strong>the</strong> kabbalists say as it is also written in <strong>the</strong><br />

prayer book of <strong>the</strong> Gaon of Vilna; "The Torah begins in secret and ends with simplicity", that a person toils in <strong>the</strong> beginning<br />

in <strong>the</strong> hidden Torah, that is secret, and he merits through it to revealed Torah, which is <strong>the</strong> simple meaning.


104) How is it possible to merit to <strong>the</strong> first level of love, love that's dependent on something, which is based upon a<br />

realization of <strong>the</strong> Creator's benevolence, if <strong>the</strong>re is no reward for mitzvot in this world. However through <strong>the</strong> opening of<br />

one's eyes to Torah a person can feel this reward immediately in this world, he can also feel <strong>the</strong> general encompassing<br />

good which was part of <strong>the</strong> first thought of Creation to "to give pleasure to his creatures". This person can grasp in <strong>the</strong><br />

present <strong>the</strong> reward that is to be received in <strong>the</strong> future, and from this great good that he now grasps, <strong>the</strong>re is revealed<br />

between him and <strong>the</strong> Creator a new wonderful love, that comes to him constantly without any physical barrier.<br />

105)All those pains that a person suffered at <strong>the</strong> time of concealment when he didn't feel <strong>the</strong> Creator properly, ra<strong>the</strong>r he<br />

just had faith in him, even though he doesn't want to remember those pains as it states on "on all sins love covers"<br />

never<strong>the</strong>less <strong>the</strong>y prevent him from reaching <strong>the</strong> level of love because as soon as he recalls <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>y ruin his love. How is<br />

it possible to reach <strong>the</strong> next level of love where he will always feel that <strong>the</strong> Creator has done for him constantly wonders<br />

and never anything bad?<br />

106) It is written, "<strong>the</strong> one who repents from love his deliberate sins become like mitzvot", that <strong>the</strong> Creator forgives him<br />

for his sins and turns <strong>the</strong>m into merit for him.<br />

107) After one has merited to such a level of divine light, that all his sins that he transgressed in <strong>the</strong> past, even deliberate,<br />

become like mitzvot, he is happy over all <strong>the</strong> pains that he has gone through at <strong>the</strong> time of concealment, because<br />

according to <strong>the</strong> difficulty and pain that he suffered at <strong>the</strong> time of concealment, to that extent he merits divine revealment.<br />

And all <strong>the</strong> suffering and confusion that brought him to go against his religion, as he had fallen into unintentional sins of<br />

<strong>the</strong> first concealment (concealment)or intentional of <strong>the</strong> second concealment- are switched and have become now <strong>the</strong><br />

cause and <strong>the</strong> preparation to <strong>the</strong> fulfillment of mitzvot, to receive from <strong>the</strong>m eternal reward, as all <strong>the</strong> pain becomes<br />

happiness, and all <strong>the</strong> evil good.<br />

108)This is similar to a trustworthy slave, that his master loved. Once his master traveled away and he left someone in his<br />

place that out of hate gave <strong>the</strong> slave five lashings.When <strong>the</strong> master returned <strong>the</strong> slave told him how he had been<br />

beaten,<strong>the</strong> master called <strong>the</strong> one who had beaten him and commanded him to give to <strong>the</strong> slave five gold coins. <strong>the</strong> slave<br />

returned to his house and cried that he received five lashings and no more.<br />

109) So to when a person reaches <strong>the</strong> stage for his sins to be forgiven and even become mitzvot, he reaches <strong>the</strong> next level<br />

of love where <strong>the</strong> beloved never caused any harm to his lover, instead he was constantly doing for him good. As now he is<br />

similar to one who had suffered no pains, since <strong>the</strong> Creator has paid him back for all his suffering in <strong>the</strong> from of mitzvot.<br />

Therefore <strong>the</strong> forgiving of sins is an integral of repentance from love.<br />

When a person wants to do an action not on <strong>the</strong> condition to receive a reward, <strong>the</strong> body, meaning <strong>the</strong> will, begins to rebel,<br />

it brings a person to think against doing such an action, as <strong>the</strong> body doesn't feel in such actions any purpose. Through<br />

<strong>the</strong>se types of bo<strong>the</strong>rsome claims of <strong>the</strong> body forms in a person a person a will to be relieved of such claims, and when<br />

<strong>the</strong>se questions join to <strong>the</strong>ir fullest form, than comes to a person light from above, that brings him to repentance. Than all<br />

those things that caused this light, namely all <strong>the</strong> questions and bo<strong>the</strong>rsome claims that were like deliberate sins become<br />

like mitzvot.Because without <strong>the</strong>se questions it wouldn't' implant in a man a need to receive <strong>the</strong> light of love, that will<br />

return him to his Creator. Therefore it is written at <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> complete reparation, when <strong>the</strong> light of repentance from<br />

love will be revealed, all <strong>the</strong> sins will become mitzvot.<br />

110)But how does a person merit to come with <strong>the</strong> Creator to <strong>the</strong>se two levels of "love that is not dependent on anything?<br />

It is written. "Always a person should see himself as if he is half guilty and half innocent. Because <strong>the</strong> world is judged after<br />

<strong>the</strong> majority and <strong>the</strong> individual is judge after <strong>the</strong> majority (of his actions), if he does one mitzvah-happy is he, that he<br />

tilted himself and <strong>the</strong> world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit. If he transgressed one sin-he tilted himself and <strong>the</strong> world to <strong>the</strong> side of<br />

guilt". How is it that one sin of <strong>the</strong> individual causes <strong>the</strong> loss of all good from him and <strong>the</strong> entire world?<br />

111) How is it <strong>the</strong> one who performs one mitzvah tilts himself to <strong>the</strong> side of merit as he's only judged after <strong>the</strong> majority of<br />

his actions ?<br />

112) How can a person only see himself as half guilty? How is it possible that he tilts himself and <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong><br />

side of guilt? Certainly this is talking about a real situation and not just an imaginary case.


113)Is it possible that <strong>the</strong>re was no one in all <strong>the</strong> generations that did one mitzvah and titled <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of<br />

merit? We see that <strong>the</strong> world acts in this from, that <strong>the</strong>re is no separation between <strong>the</strong> generations . Certainly <strong>the</strong>re is in<br />

each generation people who did at least one mitzvah <strong>the</strong>re entire life. Than how is it possible <strong>the</strong>y didn't tilt <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

generation to <strong>the</strong> side of merit? Why don't we see any difference in <strong>the</strong> world?<br />

Ra<strong>the</strong>r its talking about a person who imagines himself to be completely righteous and considers himself complete,<br />

because through "opening <strong>the</strong> eyes in Torah", he merits to <strong>the</strong> first level of love, that <strong>the</strong> Creator has already testified on<br />

him that he won't sin fur<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

And he's obligated to know that he's to consider himself a "benoni" which means half innocent and half guilty, because he's<br />

still lacking one of <strong>the</strong> 613 mitzvot, <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of love. Because <strong>the</strong> testimony of <strong>the</strong> Creator that he won't sin fur<strong>the</strong>r, is<br />

only from <strong>the</strong> standpoint from his understanding of <strong>the</strong> great loss that results from sin, that this is considered "fear of sin",<br />

and is referred to as "repentance from fear".<br />

114) The repentance from fear only fixes a person from <strong>the</strong> time of repentance and onward. All <strong>the</strong> suffering he went<br />

through before he merited to divine revealment, remains as it was, without any fixing. So to <strong>the</strong> sins that he committed<br />

that <strong>the</strong>y aren't completely fixed remain at <strong>the</strong> level of unintentional sins.<br />

Why is a person considered half guilty, and half innocent if he's lacking only one mitzvah of love? Because <strong>the</strong>re are two<br />

times: <strong>the</strong> time before his repentance and <strong>the</strong> time after his repentance. "Half guilty and half innocent" means that since<br />

he's fulfills <strong>the</strong> Torah from repentance of out of fear, he is half innocent, from <strong>the</strong> time of repentance and onwards it will be<br />

for him only merit. However <strong>the</strong> time from before <strong>the</strong> repentance he is still considered "guilty".<br />

115)Since he is lacking one mitzvah he is obligated to see himself as "half innocent and half guilty", since in repentance<br />

from fear he doesn't fix his past. But it's found from <strong>the</strong> time of repentance and onward he is completely on <strong>the</strong> side of<br />

merit as it's certain that he will no longer sin. However it's not relevant <strong>the</strong> number of years he had before his repentance,<br />

since he doesn't know how many more years he will live after his repentance, meaning how many years <strong>the</strong>re are in <strong>the</strong><br />

second half. Ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> time before <strong>the</strong> repentance is called <strong>the</strong> first half, and <strong>the</strong> time after <strong>the</strong> repentance is called <strong>the</strong><br />

second half.<br />

116) If he does this "one mitzvah" that he's lacking from <strong>the</strong> 613, "happy is he that he has tilted himself to <strong>the</strong> side of<br />

merit". Because <strong>the</strong> one who merits to love from repentance transforms his intentional transgressions to mitzvot, than all<br />

<strong>the</strong> pain he underwent before <strong>the</strong> repentance changes to complete pleasure, till <strong>the</strong> point that he regrets that he didn't<br />

suffer more. This is called "tilting to <strong>the</strong> side of merit", that all his emotions with <strong>the</strong> deliberate and unintentional, become<br />

for him merit. This transformation that <strong>the</strong> scale cup was filled with guilt and becomes transferred to be completely filled<br />

with merit is called "tilting"<br />

117) But all <strong>the</strong> while that a person is a "benoni" and hasn't merited to that one mitzvah that is lacking to him from <strong>the</strong><br />

613 mitzvot, he shouldn't believe in himself nor should he rely on <strong>the</strong> testimony of <strong>the</strong> Creator because he still can possibly<br />

come to sin. Therefore it's upon him to think that if he transgresses one time, he will tilt himself to <strong>the</strong> side of guilt, and he<br />

lose all his level of understanding in Torah and all <strong>the</strong> revealments that <strong>the</strong> Creator has given him, and he will return to <strong>the</strong><br />

aspect of hidden face.. It follows that he will bring himself to <strong>the</strong> side of guilt, and hence lose all his merit and all his good<br />

even from his positive side.<br />

But if a person is found on <strong>the</strong> level of "repentance from fear", that <strong>the</strong> Creator testified on him that he won't sin fur<strong>the</strong>r,<br />

how is it possible that he can do one transgression? Until a person reaches repentance from love he can still sin.<br />

118-119) It's possible to merit to <strong>the</strong> fourth level of repentance only when a person knows how <strong>the</strong> Creator acts and<br />

behaves with all of Creation. . Therefore this great merit that he tilts himself to <strong>the</strong> side of merit, isn't enough to merit to<br />

complete love, because he still has not grasped <strong>the</strong> greatness of <strong>the</strong> Creator as " good and bestowing good to both good<br />

and bad", ra<strong>the</strong>r he has reached an understanding of <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator towards him personally only . Until he<br />

knows all of <strong>the</strong> Beloved's involvement's with o<strong>the</strong>rs, his love is still not eternal, <strong>the</strong>refore he is obligated to bring <strong>the</strong><br />

entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of good, that constantly with everybody <strong>the</strong> Creator acts only in complete good and purity. . Only<br />

<strong>the</strong>n is <strong>the</strong> true eternal love revealed that can no longer be blemished.<br />

120) This level a man reaches when he merits to divine revealment and to repentance from fear. But how can a man say


that <strong>the</strong> Creator acts only for <strong>the</strong> good of <strong>the</strong> entire world, when <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong> entire world has still not reached <strong>the</strong> level of<br />

repentance and to <strong>the</strong> feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator as "good and giving good" One would be inclined to think that only a person<br />

who has never sinned reaches <strong>the</strong> level of "tzadik gamor(complete)" someone who always never sinned or transgressed.<br />

But someone that fell to sins and deliberate transgressions, already isn't fitting to merit <strong>the</strong> title "tzadik gamor".<br />

This is not <strong>the</strong> case, because after one has repented from fear, that he merits to <strong>the</strong> 612 mitzvot and is called a "benoni",<br />

meaning he is half innocent and half guilty, that he leaves <strong>the</strong> category of "benoni", if he would only add one mitzvah, <strong>the</strong><br />

mitzvah of love, it's considered already that he by majority is on <strong>the</strong> side of merit and has tilted to <strong>the</strong> side of merit. Than<br />

even if he has many deliberate transgressions, <strong>the</strong>y all become transferred to merit, consequently he become similar to<br />

one whom has never sinned, and he can be considered a "tzadik gamor", because <strong>the</strong> sins before <strong>the</strong> repentance no longer<br />

have any significance, since <strong>the</strong>y have been switched to <strong>the</strong> side of merit.<br />

It comes out from this that <strong>the</strong> "majority" doesn't mean more than half, because if that were <strong>the</strong> case through one's<br />

transgression he would still be called "wicked", ra<strong>the</strong>r in order to tilt to "<strong>the</strong> majority" it's dependent on <strong>the</strong> mitzvah of<br />

love, than all his deeds will be good and will all be mitzvot.<br />

121)Therefore if <strong>the</strong> individual does "one mitzvah" that is lacking to him "he tilts <strong>the</strong> himself and <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong><br />

side of merit", that he merits to elevate himself in understanding and it is revealed to him, meaning he sees, feels and<br />

understands that <strong>the</strong> entire world's end will be to reach repentance from love, that also to <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world will be<br />

revealed <strong>the</strong> same providence as <strong>the</strong>y'll also be tilted to <strong>the</strong> side of merit. That just like he himself understood <strong>the</strong><br />

wondrous providence, that <strong>the</strong> Creator manages <strong>the</strong> world in complete perfection,, so to he merits to see how in <strong>the</strong> future<br />

<strong>the</strong> entire world will come to repentance from love and to recieve pleasures from <strong>the</strong> Creator, as <strong>the</strong> Creator is good and<br />

bestows good to everyone.<br />

Despite that most people in <strong>the</strong> world have not yet reached repentance from fear, however if a person comes to<br />

understand <strong>the</strong> world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit, a level that <strong>the</strong> world will truly come to in <strong>the</strong> future, this is similar to "your<br />

world you will see in your life", like <strong>the</strong> one who repents from fear, who reacts and enjoys from it, because "<strong>the</strong> one who is<br />

standing to receive it is as if he has already received."<br />

Therefore in respect to this man he has reached <strong>the</strong> repentance of <strong>the</strong> entire world, it's considered already for him as if<br />

everyone has reached <strong>the</strong> side of merit and have repented from love, that every person has tilted <strong>the</strong> side of guilt to <strong>the</strong><br />

side of merit.It's sufficient for him to know <strong>the</strong> actions of <strong>the</strong> Creator with all <strong>the</strong> people of <strong>the</strong> world, because now he truly<br />

knows <strong>the</strong> ways of <strong>the</strong> Creator’s Providence with everyone from <strong>the</strong> aspect of revealment, that <strong>the</strong> Creator "is good and<br />

does good to those who are bad and those who are good". Since he knows this he merits to <strong>the</strong> fourth aspect of<br />

repentance from love, to eternal love.<br />

But even though that he already succeeded also to tilt <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit, he should not believe in<br />

himself, because if he stumbles and transgresses one time, he will lose all his understanding and good immediately..<br />

122) It is written : "At <strong>the</strong> time that <strong>the</strong> community suffers difficulty a person shouldn't say I'll go to my home, I'll eat and<br />

drink, because tomorrow we shall die. Until here is <strong>the</strong> level of benonim. (those in between)".<br />

But in regards to wicked it is written: "'Come let us drink wine and get drunk on wine, also tomorrow we shall do <strong>the</strong><br />

same.'Afterwards it is written, 'The tzadik is lost. And no one takes to heart why <strong>the</strong> Tzadik was taken away'. Ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong><br />

one who suffers with <strong>the</strong> public will merit to see <strong>the</strong> comforting of <strong>the</strong> public."<br />

123)Why is a person obligated to suffer along with <strong>the</strong> community?<br />

124) In <strong>the</strong> study of Torah in <strong>the</strong> way of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, in <strong>the</strong> way of truth, <strong>the</strong> entire teaching refers to one man. Hence <strong>the</strong><br />

terms "benoni", "wicked", "tzadik", are not in different people, ra<strong>the</strong>r all three are found in each person.<br />

When a person finds himself on a state of being hidden from <strong>the</strong> Creator before he repents from fear, and he doesn't see<br />

how <strong>the</strong> Creator runs <strong>the</strong> world in a good way he is also considered "wicked".<br />

When a person merits to repent from fear, he's considered a "benoni". Before his repentance he has transgressions and


<strong>the</strong>refore he is "half guilty". After his repentance he has only mitzvot <strong>the</strong>refore he is called "half innocent".<br />

If he merits to repentance from eternal love, that he sees thy <strong>the</strong> Creator runs <strong>the</strong> world as "good and doing good" with<br />

compassion on each person, than he sees <strong>the</strong> "tkidkus (righteousness)" of <strong>the</strong> Creator and he loves Him, he is than<br />

considered a "Tzadik gamor(complete).<br />

125) It is impossible to reach eternal love without first seeing <strong>the</strong> unrevealed face of <strong>the</strong> Creator that in <strong>the</strong> future all will<br />

merit to see. To realize that <strong>the</strong> entire world need to understands how <strong>the</strong> Creator treats in way of "good and bestowing<br />

good". Although in <strong>the</strong> present this is not revealed in actuality in <strong>the</strong> world, but a person must understand in <strong>the</strong> present<br />

time how this will be revealed in <strong>the</strong> future to <strong>the</strong> entire world, through this he tilts <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit,<br />

because <strong>the</strong> revealed providence switches all <strong>the</strong> anguish in <strong>the</strong> concealment to pleasure until a person regrets that he<br />

didn't suffer even more. For every bit of pain he receives great pleasure, than one understands why he had to suffer so<br />

much.<br />

But when he tilts himself to <strong>the</strong> side of merit, he remembers all <strong>the</strong> pain he had at <strong>the</strong> time of concealment and this pain<br />

becomes now for him pleasure . But when he comes to tilt <strong>the</strong> entire world to merit how is he to know of all of <strong>the</strong> suffering<br />

of <strong>the</strong> world.?<br />

Therefore when he's able to tilt <strong>the</strong>m to merit, he has to feel <strong>the</strong> suffering and guilt of <strong>the</strong> world as if it were his own pains<br />

and guilt. Than when he still manage to tilt himself to <strong>the</strong> side of merit, he brings also <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit,<br />

than he can truly be called a "tzadik gamor".<br />

126) When he merits to "your world you should see in your life" and he sees all <strong>the</strong> reward, waiting for him in <strong>the</strong> world to<br />

come, he becomes filled with happiness until he wants to claim already from <strong>the</strong> world to come that's waiting for him after<br />

he passes away.<br />

However <strong>the</strong>re still remain <strong>the</strong> unintentional sins, because <strong>the</strong> one who repents from fear, his intentional sins are turned to<br />

unintentional, since he still can't suffer with <strong>the</strong> community having not reached <strong>the</strong> level of repentance from love, which<br />

only can transfer his sins to merit. As far as his unintentional; sin, in this world <strong>the</strong>re is no atonement, so how can he still<br />

rejoice over his place in <strong>the</strong> world to come?<br />

127)The level of "benoni" is only from <strong>the</strong> time of repentance from fear and onward. But from <strong>the</strong> time of concealment,<br />

when he had complaint on <strong>the</strong> Creator, that he wasn't treated fairly, fro that period he definitely doesn't want to die,<br />

because for that period he has no portion on <strong>the</strong> world to come. Therefore <strong>the</strong> attribute of "benoni" that in it he rejoices<br />

tomorrow we shall die" and merit <strong>the</strong> world to come, but still <strong>the</strong> aspect of "wicked", within him still has no portion in <strong>the</strong><br />

world to come, as he has no fixing except through repentance from love.<br />

128) The aspect of "tzadik gamor", that in it he needs to merit, is lost from him, because <strong>the</strong> "benoni" won't suffer along<br />

with <strong>the</strong> community, and <strong>the</strong>refore he cannot merit to repentance from love, that switches <strong>the</strong> intentional sins to merits<br />

and <strong>the</strong> bad to pleasure. And all <strong>the</strong> unintentional sins and harm, that he suffered before he repented from fear, still stands<br />

from him at <strong>the</strong> aspect of "wicked", <strong>the</strong> one who feels harm from <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator. Hence because of <strong>the</strong>se<br />

negative things he cannot merit to be a "tzadik gamor" For someone who doesn't suffer with <strong>the</strong> community, doesn't merit<br />

to see in <strong>the</strong> appeasement of <strong>the</strong> community, because he didn't suffer <strong>the</strong>ir pains, he cannot tilt <strong>the</strong>m to merit and see<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir appeasement, and hence cannot be considered a "tzadik".<br />

So when one suffers with <strong>the</strong> community he merits to see <strong>the</strong> appeasement of <strong>the</strong> community, that he's able to reach<br />

repentance from love, to eternal repentance, since he can bring himself to <strong>the</strong> side of merit. And he's also able to bring <strong>the</strong><br />

entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit, in this that he sees in <strong>the</strong> present, how all <strong>the</strong> hardships, that <strong>the</strong> world suffers from <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator, before <strong>the</strong> repentance, will eventually turn into a great light after <strong>the</strong> final repentance, and this is only possible for<br />

him to understand since he knows <strong>the</strong>ir sins and realizes <strong>the</strong>ir grief and embitterment.<br />

"righteous", "benoni", and "wicked ones" <strong>the</strong>y are all in a person at one from three times: before repentance he is<br />

considered "wicked", after repentance from fear "benoni", and after repentance from love " righteous ".<br />

129)Therefore every person has to pass through <strong>the</strong>se three attributes, wicked, bennoni, and tzadik since no one is born a<br />

tzadik ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>se attributes come from <strong>the</strong> level of understanding one has of <strong>the</strong> Creator. A wicked person or a righteous


person can only be measured according to his level of understanding of <strong>the</strong> Creator's providence and control of <strong>the</strong> world.<br />

For <strong>the</strong> measure that a person want to reach that's where he'll arrive. The one who understands providence as if <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator is hidden, that he doesn't see <strong>the</strong> good in how <strong>the</strong> Creator treats him and manages <strong>the</strong> world, has complaints<br />

against Him that he doesn't relieve what he needs, and He thinks that <strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't behave with him<br />

compassionately and he cannot be happy. This person is considered wicked, since he thinks in his heart that <strong>the</strong> Creator<br />

behaves with him in a wicked fashion., he himself is considered "wicked". Where as someone who learns a little and prays<br />

a little, but is happy and in his heart he feels <strong>the</strong> way of <strong>the</strong> Creator are righteous, this person can be considered a<br />

"righteous".<br />

A person that doesn't believe in <strong>the</strong> Creator, has no complaints against him, is consider a "an incomplete wicked person"<br />

from <strong>the</strong> aspect of one Concealment or "completely wicked" from <strong>the</strong> aspect of two concealments. But a person who<br />

believes in <strong>the</strong> Creator, and has complaints that <strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't give to him what is due, he is called wicked since he<br />

doesn't think that <strong>the</strong> Creator acts fairly with him. In order for a person not to have complaints against <strong>the</strong> Creator and will<br />

be able to say that <strong>the</strong> Creator is righteous, a person needs to find advice for his soul which can bring him to be happiness.<br />

According to this person's feeling that <strong>the</strong> world is run not in a fair way, as a result of his suffering he likewise thinks that<br />

this holds true also for <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world. Such a person who only sees <strong>the</strong> concealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator's conduct is<br />

called "wicked".<br />

The status of "wicked" of a person completely depends on <strong>the</strong> feelings of <strong>the</strong> heart and not what that's uttered by his<br />

mouth, because <strong>the</strong> limbs and feelings don't know how to lie. The feeling of happiness means that a person says "It should<br />

only be that my life should be so good as this all <strong>the</strong> time!"<br />

If a person feels pain, despite that he sees <strong>the</strong> righteousness of <strong>the</strong> providence and he says with his mouth and he thinks<br />

that <strong>the</strong> hardships are atonement for his sins or any o<strong>the</strong>r explanations, this doesn't matter, because <strong>the</strong> heart knows how<br />

to fool, he ei<strong>the</strong>r feels good or he doesn't! Though he says and thinks that he accepts <strong>the</strong> providence, he has not truly<br />

accepted it so just as bitter as he rely feels now he will feel all his life, so to he is called "wicked", as in his heart he makes<br />

wicked his Creator.<br />

Therefore, he who is found on <strong>the</strong> level of understanding of <strong>the</strong> concealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator, tilts himself and <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

world to <strong>the</strong> side of guilt, in this that he thinks all are treated like him by <strong>the</strong> Creator in a negative type of providence.<br />

130) The one who merits to understand and to feel <strong>the</strong> providence of revealment on its first level, called "repentance from<br />

fear", is considered "benoni", because his feelings are divided into two parts called "two sides of <strong>the</strong> scale":<br />

1) The one who merits to revealment of "your world you will see in your life", understands from that time and onwards <strong>the</strong><br />

goodness of <strong>the</strong> conduct of <strong>the</strong> Creator, from this he's in <strong>the</strong> side of merit. From this that a person accepts <strong>the</strong> Creator's<br />

conductance and truly says that He is righteous, he automatically can also be called "righteous".<br />

2) All <strong>the</strong> suffering implanted in his emotions from <strong>the</strong> time before his repentance, is considered <strong>the</strong> side of guilt, because<br />

he blamed <strong>the</strong> Creator and was not able to say, that <strong>the</strong> Creator is righteous, since he felt negative from <strong>the</strong> Creator<br />

through his physical hardships, like <strong>the</strong> state of lack of money or sickness, spiritual pains, <strong>the</strong>refore he has now still a side<br />

of guilt.<br />

Since he has <strong>the</strong>se two sides one opposite <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, from <strong>the</strong> time until <strong>the</strong> repentance <strong>the</strong> side of guilt, and from <strong>the</strong> time<br />

of repentance <strong>the</strong> side of merit <strong>the</strong>refore he is called a "benoni".<br />

131) The one who merits <strong>the</strong> second level of divine revealment, to repentance from love, that <strong>the</strong> unintentional sins<br />

become like merit, tilt "<strong>the</strong> side of guilt" to <strong>the</strong> "side of merit", because all <strong>the</strong> pain, that he had now becomes pleasure. So<br />

he is called "tzadik" as he realizes <strong>the</strong> righteousness of <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

132) The level of "benoni" can be revealed to a person at <strong>the</strong> time when <strong>the</strong> providence remains hidden from a person,<br />

that through working on faith in reward and punishment <strong>the</strong> light of trust in <strong>the</strong> Creator becomes revealed, that he<br />

receives many times a great awakening from above and he merits to a certain amount and to a certain time of revealment<br />

of <strong>the</strong> Creator, to <strong>the</strong> level of "benoni", that he feels from this time and onwards he will be a "tzadik" and will unify with <strong>the</strong>


Creator. But he cannot remain on this level constantly since he hasn't reached yet repentance from fear.<br />

133) Free-will is possible only in <strong>the</strong> times of concealment, that a person wants to become close to his Creator, he receives<br />

distractions, rejections and thoughts that it's not worth it to devote himself to spirituality.<br />

But also after he merits to revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator <strong>the</strong>ir still remains <strong>the</strong> matter of labor in Torah. On <strong>the</strong> contrary, <strong>the</strong><br />

main devotion that is fitting for a person in Torah and mitzvot begins after he has merited to repentance from love,<br />

because only <strong>the</strong>n is it possible to devote himself to Torah and mitzvot with love and fear like that is commanded, because<br />

than he begins to pass over many of <strong>the</strong> levels of <strong>the</strong> ladder, that stands on <strong>the</strong> ground and reaches to <strong>the</strong> heavens, <strong>the</strong>se<br />

devotions enable him to <strong>the</strong> will of <strong>the</strong> Creator, that <strong>the</strong>re should remain in him <strong>the</strong> original thought of Creation, "in order<br />

to give pleasure to his creatures", according to His good and wide arm.<br />

134) The spiritual law says that <strong>the</strong>re is no revealment, except in a place of concealment. Just like a seed doesn't appear<br />

except in <strong>the</strong> place where it was planted and grew. So to spiritual matters spring from <strong>the</strong> concealment after it has been<br />

fixed, only as a result of <strong>the</strong> same concealment can light become revealed, as <strong>the</strong> revealed light was first entrapped in this<br />

concealment.<br />

135) It's written: "The entire Torah is completely <strong>the</strong> names of <strong>the</strong> Creator." But in <strong>the</strong> Torah <strong>the</strong>re are many things harsh<br />

and unpleasant things, like names of wicked people, prohibitions, impurity, curses, and anger. How can it be that all <strong>the</strong>se<br />

thing are names of <strong>the</strong> Creator?<br />

136) Our approach is to reach from <strong>the</strong> incomplete to <strong>the</strong> complete. But <strong>the</strong> Creator brings to us all <strong>the</strong> revealments from<br />

<strong>the</strong> complete to <strong>the</strong> incomplete: First it's created <strong>the</strong>n descends <strong>the</strong> completeness, it descends through a series of<br />

constrictions through levels, until it reaches <strong>the</strong> last level, <strong>the</strong> most constricted, befitting our physical world, than it<br />

becomes revealed to us here in this world.<br />

137) When <strong>the</strong> Torah left <strong>the</strong> Creator it was in a state of complete perfection, since <strong>the</strong> Torah and <strong>the</strong> Creator are one, this<br />

is called <strong>the</strong> Torah of "atzilut"(next to <strong>the</strong> Creator proximity).<br />

But in <strong>the</strong> Torah of this world it's good features are not at all recognizable until <strong>the</strong> point that a person can learn <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

scroll of <strong>the</strong> Torah and still not feel that <strong>the</strong>re is a Creator at all, to him <strong>the</strong> Torah and <strong>the</strong> Creator are two separate<br />

entities. Even though it is written, "For <strong>the</strong>y (words of Torah) are our life and <strong>the</strong> length of our days", someone who learns<br />

"not for its own sake", although he may be a great scholar and careful in mitzvot according to all <strong>the</strong> stringency's,<br />

never<strong>the</strong>less <strong>the</strong> Torah has become for fim "a giver of death". This is because <strong>the</strong> Torah lowers itself and descends through<br />

a series of constrictions in <strong>the</strong> way of levels in many constrictions, until it was given at Sinai, than it was written like it<br />

appears to our eyes here in this world, en clo<strong>the</strong>d in rough clothing of this physical world, like:<strong>the</strong>ft, murder, however<br />

when <strong>the</strong> Torah left <strong>the</strong> Creator it went out in complete perfection.<br />

138) Although <strong>the</strong> distance between <strong>the</strong> clothing of <strong>the</strong> Torah in this world to <strong>the</strong> clothing of <strong>the</strong> Torah in <strong>the</strong> world of<br />

atzilut remains great. But <strong>the</strong> Torah itself, meaning <strong>the</strong> light that's hidden within <strong>the</strong> clothing has no change whatsoever.<br />

There are many levels without count in <strong>the</strong> worlds of atzilut, briah, Yetzirah, and asiyah and this world. In every world<br />

<strong>the</strong>re are different dressings to <strong>the</strong> Torah. For example, in this world <strong>the</strong>re are physical clo<strong>the</strong>s, like eating and drinking<br />

that in <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re are foods which are permissible and those which are forbidden. There are clo<strong>the</strong>s like silver, that on<br />

<strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re is a prohibition of stealing. Clo<strong>the</strong>s of of respect and power, in all clo<strong>the</strong>s <strong>the</strong> Torah is dressed, but <strong>the</strong> Torah<br />

itself is <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong> Creator merely dressed Himself within <strong>the</strong> Torah in all <strong>the</strong>se clo<strong>the</strong>s.<br />

The rough clo<strong>the</strong>s of <strong>the</strong> Torah of our world of asiyah also bare no difference in respect to <strong>the</strong> light that is dressed within<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. In respect to <strong>the</strong> final reparation <strong>the</strong>y have much greater importance than <strong>the</strong> clo<strong>the</strong>s of <strong>the</strong> upper worlds, because<br />

<strong>the</strong> concealment when a person doesn't feel <strong>the</strong> Creator, is exactly <strong>the</strong> reason and purpose for <strong>the</strong> revealment of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator. So just as <strong>the</strong> concealment is greater, after <strong>the</strong> final fixing, <strong>the</strong> revealment will also be greater. Hence all <strong>the</strong><br />

rough clothings that <strong>the</strong> Torah has in this world don't take away from its light, on <strong>the</strong> contrary it leads to a greater<br />

revealment of <strong>the</strong> light.<br />

139) Because <strong>the</strong> concealment is great this allows more for our egoism to grow, but after <strong>the</strong> final fixing a greater light will<br />

be revealed.Therefore <strong>the</strong> pure dressings of <strong>the</strong> upper worlds, reveal lights smaller than <strong>the</strong> rough dressings of this world.<br />

140) There really is no difference between <strong>the</strong> Torah of atzilut than that of this world, also in <strong>the</strong> Torah of this world <strong>the</strong><br />

light of <strong>the</strong> Creator is enclosed, ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> distinguishment is only in <strong>the</strong> clothing, since <strong>the</strong> clothing of <strong>the</strong> Torah in this


world has to be physical <strong>the</strong>y hide <strong>the</strong> Creator more.<br />

But also in <strong>the</strong> time of one concealment or double concealment <strong>the</strong> Creator still remains hidden in <strong>the</strong> Torah, ra<strong>the</strong>r he's<br />

enclo<strong>the</strong>d in even more rough clothing. But when a person merits to repentance from love, <strong>the</strong>re are no clo<strong>the</strong>s that hide<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator, than <strong>the</strong> Torah and <strong>the</strong> Creator are revealed to man in <strong>the</strong>ir eternal unity.<br />

141) Says <strong>the</strong> Creator: If only you would abandon me and stop fasting, because all such labor is in vain and without<br />

purpose, because I'm not found in any place o<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> Torah. Therefore only my Torah you shall keep because "<strong>the</strong><br />

light that within it brings a person to good". Because <strong>the</strong> one who wants and is interested in finding a revealment of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator, upon him is to seek <strong>the</strong> Creator only in <strong>the</strong> Torah, because "<strong>the</strong> light that's within it returns a person to <strong>the</strong> good".<br />

142) The Torah is divided into four aspects that surround all of existence: Three aspects have relevance to this world and<br />

<strong>the</strong>y are called; "world", "year", and "soul". The fourth aspect, that it sustains <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r three including all <strong>the</strong>ir behavior<br />

and events that surround <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

143) The outer trappings of existence: The heavens, <strong>the</strong> galaxies, <strong>the</strong> earth and <strong>the</strong> days that are written in <strong>the</strong> Torah are<br />

referred to as "world".<br />

The innerness of existence: The man, <strong>the</strong> animal, <strong>the</strong> beast, <strong>the</strong> bird, that are brought in <strong>the</strong> Torah, are called "soul".<br />

The unwinding of existence throughout <strong>the</strong> generations in a cause and effect manner: Like <strong>the</strong> descent from Adam <strong>the</strong> first<br />

man until <strong>the</strong> exile from Egypt till <strong>the</strong> conquering of Israel, all occur in <strong>the</strong> form of a fa<strong>the</strong>r who represents <strong>the</strong> cause for<br />

his son, <strong>the</strong> effect, this process is referred to as "year", since time in spirituality is measured through cause and effect.<br />

All ways of <strong>the</strong> sustainment of existence whe<strong>the</strong>r from outer trapping or inner dimensions to all ways of behavior and<br />

events discussed in <strong>the</strong> Torah are referred to as "sustainment of existence"<br />

144) The worlds of Atzilut, Briah, and Asiyah descend and go out from each o<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> form of a stamp and its imprint, all<br />

that's found carved in <strong>the</strong> stamp has to come out in <strong>the</strong> imprint. Therefore "world, year. and soul" all came out from <strong>the</strong><br />

world of "atzilut", and <strong>the</strong>re forms are imprinted and revealed in <strong>the</strong> world of briah, and so on from briah to Yetzirah,and<br />

from yetirah to asiyah, until <strong>the</strong>y are revealed in this world.<br />

It comes out that all <strong>the</strong> many details which are revealed to our eyes, and all <strong>the</strong> novelties that come into are world daily<br />

had to be first revealed in <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut. And from <strong>the</strong>re <strong>the</strong>y descend in a chain like way and be come revealed in<br />

this world. Therefore everything comes from above <strong>the</strong> only difference that exist is <strong>the</strong> physicality.<br />

145)From <strong>the</strong> enclothing of Torah in <strong>the</strong> three aspects of existence: <strong>World</strong>, year, soul and <strong>the</strong>ir material existences in this<br />

world, we find that <strong>the</strong> Creator hides in great secrecy behind <strong>the</strong> physical clothing of <strong>the</strong> Torah which describe impure,<br />

prohibited, and revolting things.<br />

The enclo<strong>the</strong>ment of <strong>the</strong> Torah in <strong>the</strong> aspect of world, year, and soul and <strong>the</strong>ir existences in <strong>the</strong> upper worlds atzilut, briah,<br />

yezirah, is called <strong>the</strong> "wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>".<br />

146) The wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> is revealed Torah! Still while a person has a understanding of providence on <strong>the</strong> level of<br />

concealment, that <strong>the</strong> aspect of <strong>the</strong> Creator's good and bestowal of good are not revealed to him, as he still feels unhappy,<br />

because <strong>the</strong> Creator hides in <strong>the</strong> Torah, this is considered that a person is involved in revealed Torah. The Torah is<br />

revealed and <strong>the</strong> Creator is hidden, and he doesn't see <strong>the</strong> Creator from <strong>the</strong> Torah since he is unable to receive <strong>the</strong> light<br />

from <strong>the</strong> Torah from <strong>the</strong> world of yetzira until it becomes revealed in this world.<br />

When a person merits to revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator's goodness, than he starts to learn <strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, because<br />

<strong>the</strong> clothing of <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah becomes more spiritual to him, and transfers his Torah, that was a Torah of asiyah,<br />

which means revealed actions and a hidden Creator, to a Torah of yetzira that is referred to as <strong>the</strong> "wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>".<br />

The Creator that was hidden becomes revealed in <strong>the</strong> Torah, as <strong>the</strong> person feels that <strong>the</strong> Torah and Creator are one.<br />

Even when one reaches <strong>the</strong> Torah of atzilut, <strong>the</strong> letters from asiyah don't become switched, ra<strong>the</strong>r those same dressings of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Torah like murder, prohibited, and permissible that are all physical enclothments, become finer in respect to <strong>the</strong> person<br />

and become finer more spiritual enclothments, as he feels <strong>the</strong> Creator through all <strong>the</strong> letters of <strong>the</strong> Torah. <strong>the</strong> Creator, who<br />

is enclo<strong>the</strong>d in <strong>the</strong> Torah of atzilut, becomes one with <strong>the</strong> cloak of <strong>the</strong> Torah So when a person merits to revealment of <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator than he becomes more enlightened by those same letters of <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah "being good and bestowing good",


that's called "divine revealment" or "holy spirit".<br />

147) The revealed Torah itself becomes hidden, that it's called "<strong>the</strong> wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>": When a person was in <strong>the</strong> stage<br />

of concealment, perforce <strong>the</strong> clothing of <strong>the</strong> Torah also hid <strong>the</strong> Creator and he didn't feel that <strong>the</strong> Creator treated him any<br />

better than <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world. Since he would feel voids in his life he couldn't truly thank <strong>the</strong> Creator for treating him in<br />

His true way of"being good and bestowing good"., consequently he had fallen to sins both deliberate and unintentional,<br />

hence he remained entrapped by his punishment and <strong>the</strong> rough clothing of <strong>the</strong> Torah, that even though <strong>the</strong> concepts of<br />

prohibition, and impurity are holy names, but because of <strong>the</strong> concealment he couldn't feel <strong>the</strong>ir holiness.<br />

However when he merits to revealed providence and repentance from love, meaning his deliberate sins become merit for<br />

him, as he becomes stripped from <strong>the</strong> rough and bitter clothing, which are sins that he committed, as those same sins now<br />

become enclo<strong>the</strong>d, in a dressing of light, and mitzvot, and merits from <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut, or briah. These clo<strong>the</strong>s no<br />

longer cover <strong>the</strong> Creator, ra<strong>the</strong>r, on <strong>the</strong> contrary reveal him.<br />

The physical clothing, that initially represented "sins" now becomes mitzvot, as <strong>the</strong>y have been removed <strong>the</strong>ses clo<strong>the</strong>s of<br />

asiyah, and have become replaced by <strong>the</strong> clothing of atzilut or briah. This new revealment of <strong>the</strong> Creator, that has become<br />

revealed to him, is called <strong>the</strong> "wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>" so Letters of <strong>the</strong> Torah like "isur(forbidden)", "paroh", "eisav ha<br />

rasha(<strong>the</strong> wicked Eisav), all become holy names, as his sins become merits.<br />

There is no difference between <strong>the</strong> Torah of atzilut and <strong>the</strong> Torah of this world, meaning between <strong>Kabbalah</strong> and revealed<br />

Torah, ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> only difference is <strong>the</strong> one who studies it. Two people could be learning <strong>the</strong> same Torah, even <strong>the</strong> same<br />

halacha, whereas to one it represents <strong>the</strong> Torah of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> and atzilut, and to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r it simply represents revealed<br />

Torah from asiyah!<br />

Before one repents he's buried in concealment, he doesn't feel <strong>the</strong> Creator and all of his deeds cover <strong>the</strong> Creator. But after<br />

he repents, than in those same letters of Torah in <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah <strong>the</strong> Creator becomes revealed, than this Torah is<br />

called "hidden Torah" or "wisdom of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>".<br />

148)Therefore in <strong>the</strong> sidur of <strong>the</strong> Vilna Gaon, in <strong>the</strong> blessing over <strong>the</strong> Torah, it's written : "And we shall be all us knowers<br />

of your name.", that we will be from <strong>the</strong> knowers of <strong>the</strong> names of <strong>the</strong> Creator, "and learning Your Torah for its own sake".<br />

The "Siach Yitzchak" asks in his work on <strong>the</strong> sidur that first a man should learn Torah "for its own sake", and only<br />

afterwards merit to know <strong>the</strong> names of <strong>the</strong> Creator, that are called "secrets of <strong>the</strong> Torah" or "hidden Torah". However <strong>the</strong>re<br />

are four levels of Torah: pshot (simple), remez (hint, riddle) drosh (moral teachings or laws derived from verses), and sod<br />

(secrets, <strong>Kabbalah</strong>) <strong>the</strong> common acronym for <strong>the</strong> four levels is "Pardes", according to <strong>the</strong> world's understanding <strong>the</strong>re's no<br />

set order from pshot to sod, ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y start in sod, that's referred to "as knowing your name" only afterwards do <strong>the</strong>y<br />

understand <strong>the</strong> true pshot.<br />

Therefore he writes that <strong>the</strong>y start <strong>the</strong> Torah in sod, in <strong>the</strong> revealed Torah of this world of asiyah, that is <strong>the</strong> aspect of<br />

being hidden, that <strong>the</strong> Creator hides himself <strong>the</strong>re completely. The sod is that <strong>the</strong> creator is hidden, that <strong>the</strong>y don't see<br />

Him, don't hear Him, and don't feel Him, despite <strong>the</strong> fact that He fills <strong>the</strong> entire existence with His presence.<br />

Afterwards <strong>the</strong>y continue to <strong>the</strong> Torah of remez, that <strong>the</strong> Creator is reveals himself in hints to a person, as he's revealed<br />

more in <strong>the</strong> Torah of Yetzirah, than he comes to "drush", which arouses within him to seek (as drush literally means to<br />

seek) out <strong>the</strong> Creator, until he merits to "pshot" which is <strong>the</strong> Torah of atzilut, that's called "pshot", because it's stripped of<br />

all its dressings (as pshot also means strip) that hide <strong>the</strong> Creator, than <strong>the</strong> person feels <strong>the</strong> Creator and <strong>the</strong> purpose of<br />

Creation, which is to "bestow good to his creatures".<br />

149)There are four worlds of holiness: atzilut, briah, Yetzirah, and asiyah and <strong>the</strong>re are four corresponding worlds on <strong>the</strong><br />

side of <strong>the</strong> klipot (evil husks)<br />

150) The one who understands double concealment, feels that in <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator good has become mixed<br />

with bad, and is not even recognizable.<br />

The one who understands one concealment, he feels that <strong>the</strong> providence is mostly bad, mostly painful to him. Both <strong>the</strong>se<br />

levels of understanding are called <strong>the</strong> world of "asiyah". Therefore <strong>the</strong> world of asiyah is called "mostly bad", and <strong>the</strong><br />

minority of good that it does have is mixed with evil until a person can no longer differentiate.


The one who understands <strong>the</strong> first level of revealment, which corresponds to <strong>the</strong> first level of love that's dependent on<br />

something, called "repentance from fear", feels <strong>the</strong> providence as "half good and half bad", and <strong>the</strong>refore is titled<br />

"benoni".This level of providence that's half and half is referred to as "yetzira".<br />

At <strong>the</strong> time that a person merits to this revealment of <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator, than he feels <strong>the</strong> Creator gives only pleasure<br />

to everyone and he feels <strong>the</strong> bitter taste of sin and <strong>the</strong> sweet taste of mitzvah. Automatically, he fears sin, lest he feel bad<br />

and become harmed, and <strong>the</strong>refore this level is called "repentance from fear". He perforce fulfills <strong>the</strong> Torah and mitzvot,<br />

because <strong>the</strong> pleasure he derives drives him, and <strong>the</strong>refore this level is also called "love that depends on something", that<br />

he loves <strong>the</strong> Creator because of <strong>the</strong> great pleasures he receives. There are two aspect on this level:<br />

1) It can be compared to two lovers that in <strong>the</strong> past <strong>the</strong>y had claims against one ano<strong>the</strong>r, and afterwards <strong>the</strong>y started to<br />

do good one to each o<strong>the</strong>r, and from this sprouted great love. In <strong>the</strong> time that a person merits to repentance from fear, he<br />

feels only pleasure from <strong>the</strong> Torah and mitzvot. However before he merited to repentance, he still hadn't felt how <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator acted with him in a positive manner and he felt no pleasure in Torah and mitzvot, on <strong>the</strong> contrary he always had<br />

complaints against <strong>the</strong> Creator. From here <strong>the</strong> time was divided into "half good and half bad". Half bad refers to <strong>the</strong> time<br />

before <strong>the</strong> repentance that he's called "half guilty", and half good refers to <strong>the</strong> time afterwards that he takes pleasure from<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creator hence he reaches <strong>the</strong> side of merit. Since he's composed half of good and half of bad, <strong>the</strong>refore he's referred to<br />

as a "benoni".<br />

When a person merits to a soul from <strong>the</strong> world of Yetzirah, than he merits to repentance from fear. It's possible to say that<br />

when a person merits to repentance from fear, this can be called he receives a soul from <strong>the</strong> world of yetzira which <strong>the</strong>re<br />

it's "half good and half bad".<br />

2)Similar to two lovers that always loved one ano<strong>the</strong>r and never had complaints against each o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

The one who reaches <strong>the</strong> second level of love that's dependent on something, that although it's dependent it doesn't<br />

engender any bad, he feels providence as "mostly good"- because <strong>the</strong> benoni merits to one mitzvah and he tilts himself to<br />

<strong>the</strong> side of merit. At <strong>the</strong> time a person merits to repentance from love, <strong>the</strong>n all his deliberate sins become merit. It's hence<br />

found, that all bad thoughts, that he had at <strong>the</strong> time of concealment, and sins that came as a result now become merit as<br />

all receives a fixing. This is similar to two friends that although never saw one ano<strong>the</strong>r, but actually always loved one<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

The one who reaches <strong>the</strong> third level of love, which is <strong>the</strong> first aspect of love that isn't dependent on anything, he feels<br />

providence on <strong>the</strong> level of "a minimum amount of bad, that's not recognizable", although he's tilted himself to <strong>the</strong> side of<br />

merit he still hasn't tilted <strong>the</strong> entire world to merit, hence he has a minimum of bad, and <strong>the</strong>refore this love isn't eternal.<br />

However this minimum isn't recognizable, because he feels no evil or harm, even in respect to o<strong>the</strong>rs. He still has not<br />

looked at <strong>the</strong> world and in <strong>the</strong> meantime he feels that <strong>the</strong> Creator behaves with him with complete perfection. However it<br />

is possible if he looks at <strong>the</strong> world, that he won't see that <strong>the</strong> Creator's acts kind with <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world, consequently<br />

this will spoil his love and decrease <strong>the</strong> greatness of <strong>the</strong> Creator in his eyes.<br />

These two aspects of love, <strong>the</strong> second and <strong>the</strong> third, are from <strong>the</strong> world of "briah". At <strong>the</strong> time a person merits to <strong>the</strong>se<br />

two aspects of love, he receives a soul from <strong>the</strong> world of briah. Therefore <strong>the</strong> world of briah is called "mostly good, with a<br />

minimal portion that's bad which isn't really recognizable".<br />

Through repentance from love he fixes also <strong>the</strong> time from before <strong>the</strong> repentance as it becomes good, but because of <strong>the</strong><br />

small fraction of bad it still can only be called "mostly good" and not "completely good".<br />

The one who reaches <strong>the</strong> fourth level of love feels "love that's not dependent on any thing", that it's eternal. Because after<br />

a person tilts <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit his love is absolute and eternal. It's no longer possible for any covering<br />

or concealment because at this level everything becomes revealed, as he already knows all <strong>the</strong> actions of <strong>the</strong> Creator with<br />

all His creatures in <strong>the</strong> aspect of true providence, with <strong>the</strong> true revealing of "<strong>the</strong> one who is good and bestows good to both<br />

those who are good and those who are bad". And this is <strong>the</strong> aspect of <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut that <strong>the</strong>re is no evil.<br />

When a person sees that <strong>the</strong> Creator manages <strong>the</strong> world in a completely good and perfect fashion, and tilts <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

world to <strong>the</strong> side of merit this is called a revealment, that <strong>the</strong>re is no doubt to a person, that <strong>the</strong> Creator made <strong>the</strong> world in


order just to bestow good.<br />

151) The four worlds: atzilut, briah, Yetzirah, and asiyah of <strong>the</strong> klipa (evil husk) are arranged opposite <strong>the</strong>se four worlds<br />

that are found in holiness, because for every world that exists in holiness, it has a counterpart in klipa. The worlds of klipa<br />

are built from <strong>the</strong> weakness of holiness:<br />

The world of asiyah, of klipah,-<strong>the</strong> power of one concealment and <strong>the</strong> power of <strong>the</strong> double concealment, that controls a<br />

person, that's found in <strong>the</strong> world of "asiyah", in order to cause him to tilt to <strong>the</strong> side of guilt . The world of asiyah is<br />

"mostly bad and minimally good", because than <strong>the</strong> two aspects of concealment panim, that because of <strong>the</strong>m a person<br />

doesn't feel <strong>the</strong> good of <strong>the</strong> Creator, as <strong>the</strong>y are call "mostly bad", cause a person to think that <strong>the</strong> Creator needs to act<br />

with him in a different fashion, o<strong>the</strong>r than how He acts with him in <strong>the</strong> present, and he doesn't really accept <strong>the</strong> "good and<br />

doing good" that's intrinsic in <strong>the</strong> Creator's guidance, as <strong>the</strong> little bit of good that he has virtually no significance in <strong>the</strong><br />

world of asiyah.. The klipah, that's opposite <strong>the</strong> world of asiyah, always awakens a person, in <strong>the</strong> time of one concealment<br />

or two concealments, to speak against <strong>the</strong> providence. The service of <strong>the</strong> klipah is to bring man to think that <strong>the</strong> Creator<br />

doesn't act in a good and fair way with His world.<br />

The world of Yetzirah of klipa -this is <strong>the</strong> side of guilt. that's properly not fixed in <strong>the</strong> world of Yetzirah. This represents <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> power over <strong>the</strong> "benoni" who's found in <strong>the</strong> world of Yetzirah. The first aspect of revealment is called "half good and<br />

half evil", because from <strong>the</strong> time of repentance and onwards a person feels that <strong>the</strong> providence of <strong>the</strong> Creator is good.,<br />

however <strong>the</strong>re still remains <strong>the</strong> time from before he repented when he felt bad and complained against <strong>the</strong> providence. As<br />

a result of <strong>the</strong>se two feelings, from before <strong>the</strong> revealment and after he's called a "benoni".<br />

The world of Yetzirah of holiness is when a person feels <strong>the</strong> revealment, <strong>the</strong> problem is that he still hasn't fixed his past.<br />

Therefore <strong>the</strong> klipa has a grip on this weakness that's in this holiness and says to a person:"now you are a "tzadik" but<br />

what was your status in <strong>the</strong> past? Thusly <strong>the</strong> klipa mentions his past, in order to bring him down from his devotion, in this<br />

way he'll also come tell him that <strong>the</strong> Creator doesn't treat him fairly.<br />

The world of briah of klipah-represents <strong>the</strong> power to nullify <strong>the</strong> love that 's dependent on something, meaning to nullify <strong>the</strong><br />

thing on which <strong>the</strong> love is dependent. Although <strong>the</strong> briah of holiness means that a person has already tilted himself to <strong>the</strong><br />

side of merit and repented from love as all of his sins have become merits. He also already sees that <strong>the</strong> Creator treats <strong>the</strong><br />

world fairly, <strong>the</strong>refore he's happy, and found to be in a state of complete holiness, however since his love depends on<br />

something he still is not complete, because if that factor on which his love is dependent becomes nullified so to will his<br />

love.Therefore <strong>the</strong> klipah tries to nullify that factor, in order that <strong>the</strong> love won't be complete, so it says, " <strong>the</strong> Creator gave<br />

you good, <strong>the</strong>refore you are a tzadik, what would be if <strong>the</strong> Creator will do for you <strong>the</strong> oppposite?"<br />

The world of atzilut of klipah-this represents <strong>the</strong> bit of evil that exists in briah, and isn't recognizable. That even though <strong>the</strong><br />

third aspect of love is true love from <strong>the</strong> power of grasping that He " is good and bestows good to both those who are bad<br />

and good", that it's <strong>the</strong> level of atzilut of holiness, with all this, since he has not merited to tilt <strong>the</strong> entire world to <strong>the</strong> side<br />

of merit, <strong>the</strong> klipah has <strong>the</strong> power to destroy <strong>the</strong> love, from <strong>the</strong> power of <strong>the</strong> providence that's on o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

The klipah against atzilut is found in briah. The small amount of bad that's in briah comes from this that a person doesn't<br />

see that <strong>the</strong> Creator guides <strong>the</strong> world on <strong>the</strong> side of merit. However this amount of bad is not recognizable, since a person<br />

doesn't think to see how <strong>the</strong> Creator runs <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world, <strong>the</strong>refore he doesn't see <strong>the</strong> bad situation that <strong>the</strong>y are<br />

found in. However, it's possible that if he did place his heart to <strong>the</strong> world, he would argue that world is treated fairly and<br />

deny <strong>the</strong>ir difficulty. The klipa that's against <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut tries to arouse that little bit of bad and to show that <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator runs <strong>the</strong> world to <strong>the</strong> side of guilt and doesn't act with o<strong>the</strong>rs as "<strong>the</strong> one who is good and bestows good."<br />

152)Therefore <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut of klipa stands against <strong>the</strong> world of briah and not against <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut. This klipa<br />

is considered of atzilut, because when it's overcome one reaches atzilut, and <strong>the</strong>re klipot have no existence whatsoever.<br />

Because in <strong>the</strong> world of atzilut of holiness, <strong>the</strong>re one finds only <strong>the</strong> fourth level of love, at that point <strong>the</strong> klipot have no<br />

control, since he has already tilted <strong>the</strong> entire world to merit, and he knows that all <strong>the</strong> actions of <strong>the</strong> Creator also in His<br />

providence on all <strong>the</strong> creatures comes from His name "The One who is good and bestows good to both those who are good<br />

and those who are bad."<br />

Ra<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> world of briah, that from <strong>the</strong>re stems <strong>the</strong> third aspect, that he still has not tilted <strong>the</strong> entire world to merit,<br />

<strong>the</strong>re is ano<strong>the</strong>r place for <strong>the</strong> klipot to take hold. Ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>se klipot are <strong>the</strong> atzilut of klipot, as <strong>the</strong>y are against <strong>the</strong> third


level of love, that is "love that's not dependent on anything", that this love represents <strong>the</strong> aspect of atzilut.<br />

153) It comes out that <strong>the</strong> four worlds atzilut, briah, Yetzirah, and asiyah of klipot correspond to <strong>the</strong> same four worlds of<br />

holiness. For each lacking that exists in each world, <strong>the</strong>re exists against it <strong>the</strong> klipa of that world. Hence when <strong>the</strong> holiness<br />

becomes complete, without lacking, <strong>the</strong> klipa become nullified.<br />

Holiness means what a person has refined all of his wills, that all his actions will be "for <strong>the</strong> sake of heaven", meaning for<br />

<strong>the</strong> purpose of <strong>the</strong> Creator Then it follows that divine influence will flow in abundance to down below and bring light to all<br />

<strong>the</strong> worlds. The lacking of holiness represents <strong>the</strong> desires that a person can't refine from within him and bring in its place<br />

holiness <strong>the</strong>se wills remain outside of holiness controlled by <strong>the</strong> klipa, or controlled by his own egoism. At <strong>the</strong> time all is<br />

refined to holiness, and he becomes complete, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> complete fixing will occur, <strong>the</strong> fixing of all <strong>the</strong> wills of a person.<br />

154)Most of those who wrote works in <strong>Kabbalah</strong> intended in <strong>the</strong>se books for those who already merited divine revealment,<br />

to repentance from love, and to all lofty understandings. But, if <strong>the</strong>y already reached such high understandings, that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

already know everything on <strong>the</strong>ir own, than why should <strong>the</strong>y learn from o<strong>the</strong>rs?<br />

However this is similar to someone who's involved in revealed Torah that he has no knowledge of activities in <strong>the</strong> aspect of<br />

world, year, and soul that's in this world, that he doesn't know in <strong>the</strong> events of people and <strong>the</strong>ir behavior to <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />

and o<strong>the</strong>rs, nor does he know about animals, beasts, or birds of this world.. Would you think such a person could be able<br />

to understand <strong>the</strong> Torah? A man needs to know that all that's found in <strong>the</strong> world: what is money, what is respect, what is<br />

an animal- it's even written that <strong>the</strong> Sanhedrin (<strong>the</strong> high court of 72 at <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> Temple) had to know even matters<br />

of black magic in order to know who is a magician.<br />

The matter is, that even though a person reaches even to understanding on <strong>the</strong> level of atzilut, he still only knows what<br />

that's relevant to his own soul. He still needs to know all <strong>the</strong> three levels: world, year, and soul with all <strong>the</strong>ir events and<br />

behavior to <strong>the</strong> minutes detail, in order that he should be able to understand <strong>the</strong> matters of Torah relevant to that world.<br />

And <strong>the</strong>se matters with all <strong>the</strong>re details are explained in <strong>the</strong> Zohar and o<strong>the</strong>r true works of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, that every true<br />

Kabbalist has to engage in <strong>the</strong>m constantly.<br />

155) If all <strong>the</strong> works of <strong>Kabbalah</strong> were written only for those people that already have a deep understanding of <strong>the</strong> Creator,<br />

why do <strong>the</strong> Kabbalists obligate every person to learn <strong>Kabbalah</strong>? Because in <strong>Kabbalah</strong> one can find a wonderful special aide,<br />

that even though he doesn't understand what he's learning, from his desire and will to understand what is being learned,<br />

he arouses upon himself <strong>the</strong> spiritual surrounding lights.<br />

Every person is guaranteed that in <strong>the</strong> end he will reach awesome levels of understanding, that <strong>the</strong> Creator thought in <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning of creation to give pleasure to his creatures. He that doesn't merit in this incarnation, he will merit in <strong>the</strong> next<br />

incarnation, in <strong>the</strong> one after that, until he manages to complete <strong>the</strong> first thought of <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

All <strong>the</strong> while that a person doesn't reach his completion, those lights, that are to be revealed in <strong>the</strong> future to him, those<br />

same lights that surround him remaining standing and waiting until he frees himself from his egoistic wills until <strong>the</strong>y will<br />

become unclo<strong>the</strong>d <strong>the</strong>se same lights in his refined wills.<br />

But when a person studies <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, he mentions names of holy lights. An since <strong>the</strong>se lights will in <strong>the</strong> future fill his soul,<br />

despite that his soul is still lacking refined wills, <strong>the</strong> lights still enlighten <strong>the</strong>m to a certain extent. Ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y enlighten<br />

without being enclo<strong>the</strong>d in <strong>the</strong> soul, since <strong>the</strong> wills are still unrefined <strong>the</strong> souls cannot receive <strong>the</strong>se lights. But <strong>the</strong><br />

enlightenment that he receives from <strong>the</strong>se lights from outside, time after time, when he studies <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, brings upon him<br />

<strong>the</strong> strength to fix <strong>the</strong>se wills.. So <strong>the</strong> light that one arouses at <strong>the</strong> time he studies <strong>Kabbalah</strong> brings him to reach<br />

completion.<br />

There are two types of light:<br />

a)ohr pinimi (inner light) that a person understands, feels, grasps, and sees <strong>the</strong> light<br />

b)ohr maki f(outer, surrounding light)- that a person doesn't receive inwardly, ra<strong>the</strong>r he feels a ray from outside, which<br />

surrounds him, that he feels <strong>the</strong> good. waiting for him in <strong>the</strong> future.<br />

156) But a strict condition in <strong>the</strong> time of studying <strong>Kabbalah</strong> is not to lower concepts to a level of mundaneness and<br />

physicality, that by doing so one transgresses "don't make for you any form or picture". This prohibition stops one from


eceiving harm instead of benefit, <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> kabbalists warned only to learn from <strong>the</strong> sources, which are:<br />

Book of <strong>the</strong> Zohar, with <strong>the</strong> commentary of <strong>the</strong> "Sulam"<br />

Books of <strong>the</strong> holy Ariz'l with commentaries of Rav Yehuda Ha Levi Ashlag<br />

Books by Rav Yehuda HaLevi Ashlag author of <strong>the</strong> ":Sulam".<br />

Books of Rav Baruch Shalom Ha Levi Ashlag, RB"S<br />

and also from <strong>the</strong> mouth of a Rav, who recieved from this chain of kabbbalah, because only in this way can <strong>the</strong> student be<br />

saved from phsyicality.<br />

The matter is, that only by watching <strong>the</strong> strict conditions, a person can reach his purpose, to connect with <strong>the</strong> Creator.<br />

That outside of a person exists only an upper strength and it's forbidden that <strong>the</strong>re's anything else outside of man. Also <strong>the</strong><br />

upper strength and also all <strong>the</strong> worlds, with all that's found within <strong>the</strong>m exists only within <strong>the</strong> person. And all what a<br />

person feels is no more than <strong>the</strong> feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator. The feeling of <strong>the</strong> Creator in <strong>the</strong> present is called "this world". To<br />

change this feeling a person can only do through learning <strong>the</strong> books, that speak about inner ideas, and describe only what<br />

happens in his midst. Therefore <strong>the</strong>re are only three sources reliable to <strong>the</strong> reaching of <strong>the</strong> proper spiritual experience.<br />

But when a person reads <strong>the</strong>se books, he needs to think that its talking about him and what happens within him. And <strong>the</strong>se<br />

things that he still doesn't feel never<strong>the</strong>less exist within him now, because everything until <strong>the</strong> final state of <strong>the</strong> "complete<br />

reparation", is known already in man, only it's upon him to reveal <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

Therefore a person must not imagine to himself any picture or strange body, that exists outside of him, ra<strong>the</strong>r his entire<br />

effort of thought must be to be centered in man, to find <strong>the</strong> point of meeting between him and <strong>the</strong> Creator. The meeting<br />

with <strong>the</strong> Creator happens only in <strong>the</strong> midst of a person, between <strong>the</strong> point of his "I", malchut, to between his "Creator",<br />

Keter. In every level <strong>the</strong> malchut rises its light of return until Keter, in this same measure he feels <strong>the</strong> Creator. Every time<br />

he goes up a level;, meaning he fixes a little bit more of his traits in respect to <strong>the</strong> Creator, and according to <strong>the</strong> similarity<br />

of <strong>the</strong> traits, and <strong>the</strong> wills to <strong>the</strong> Creator, <strong>the</strong> person feels <strong>the</strong> Creator in greater measure and more closely.<br />

Therefore in <strong>the</strong> time of reading <strong>the</strong> works of <strong>Kabbalah</strong>, a person is obligated to concentrate all his thoughts and to look<br />

within himself, to search what occurs within him, in <strong>the</strong> midst of knowledge that all is sustained within him, from <strong>the</strong><br />

Creator until him creature. in order that he can merit that his learning, becomes a medium for spiritual growth.<br />

Therefore, we, <strong>the</strong> group of "Bnei (sons of) Baruch", feel that's our obligation to organize essays and teachings for<br />

beginners, in order to convey <strong>the</strong> ideas precisely. Since in <strong>Kabbalah</strong> <strong>the</strong>re have been an abundance of new works without<br />

any guidelines or validity of merit, <strong>the</strong>re today is a great need to distinguish for a person, that he will not stumble from<br />

t<br />

hese works, in order he will merit in his life to "I have labored and I have found" <strong>the</strong> face of <strong>the</strong> Creator.

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