THE FOUR WORLDS

a letter by
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn p U ~nud2 nwHptrt t a of Lubavitch

translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus annotated by

Rabbi Avraham D. Vaisfiche D ~ ) N , 0mn1pnwn )D,:

www.hebrewbooks.org tvlvwn *"Y own

KEHOTPUBLICATION I E ~ SOC 770 Eastern Parkway / Brooklyn, NewYork 11213

Published and Copyrighted O 2003 Second Printing 2006 by KEHOTPUBLICATION SOCIETY 770 Eastern Parkway 1 Brooklyn, New York 11213 (718) 774-4000 / Fax (7 18) 774-27 18 Orders: 291 Kingston Avenue 1 Brooklyn, New York 11213 (718) 778-0226 1 Fax (718) 778-4 148 www.kehotonline.com All rights reserved. The Kehot logo is a trademark of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, Inc. ISBN 0-8266-0462-5
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CONTENTS

preface

7
portrait o f Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak 9 manuscript of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak

I0
introduction and summary 13 translation and commentary
20

hebrew notes

57
overview
61

brief biography
71

important dates 87 published works

93

index
97

3112

PREFACE

e hereby present The Four Worlds, a letter written in 1937 by the sixth Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of blessed memory. The letter appears in his Igrot Kodesh, vol. 4 pp. 156-166. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was asked to expound upon the meaning of the spiritual worlds discussed in Kabbalah and Chasidus. His meditative response systematically defines and quantifies the four primary worlds of Atzilut, Beriab, Yetzirab and Asiyah, tracing the progress of these worlds from their lofty, sublime origins to their ultimate devolution into corporeality. In his notes on the letter, which have been printed here as a supplement, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's son-in-law and successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, entitles this letter "a lengthy exposition on the four worlds of Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah. [On the difference between] philosophy and Chasidus ([according to] an aphorism of Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, his soul is in Eden.)" These notes were printed as footnotes to the original text. Other supplements include an overview of the four worlds by Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet, from Mystical Concepts in Chasidism (Kehot 1988), and a brief biography of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak by Rabbi Nissan Mindel, from On the Study o Cbasidus (Kehot 1997). f The letter was translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus and annotated by Rabbi Avraham D. Vaisfiche. The introduction and summary was authored by Rabbi Shmaryahu Brownstein. Rabbi Shmuel Marcus coordinated the project. Special thanks to Rabbis Ari Sollish, Dovid Olidort and Yosef B. Friedman for their editorial pidance.

Kehot Publication Society

19 Kislev 5764

Facsimile of a handwritten letter by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY arose within the will of the Infinite One, blessed is His name, to emanate, create, form and actualize his as [the worlds of] Atzilut, Beriab, Yetworlds-known zirah and Asiyah. .. C h a m Hahakhmot, drush Abiya, beg.; Eitz Chaim 1:43

...It

T"

e writings of Chasidus and Kabbalah are replete with mention of spiritual, ethereal worlds and realms. Indeed, the existence of these worlds is one of the most fundamental concepts in the mystical doctrine. But what exactly are "spiritual worlds"? In 1937, a certain M. A. Horowitz from Vilna, Lithuania, asked Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, two questions on this very topic. The letter printed here is Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's response.

T H E QUESTIONS

Firstly, can we conceive of these spiritual worlds as existing in physical space (somewhere above our world), one above the other? If not, how are they separate from one another? In other words, we understand how one object differs from another object within our world: object A occupies space A, while object B occupies space B. Indeed, the very fact that a physical object occupies a given space precludes the possibility of another physical object occupying that same space. It is in this manner that two physical objects differ from each other. But how do two spiritual entities differ from one another? This prompts a second question. Chasidus describes G-d's relation to the world in two manners: in an immanent, or "internal" manner, and in a transcendent, or "surrounding" manner. How are we to understand this when discussing spiritual worlds? In other words, how does something "permeate" or "transcend a spiritual entity?

14

T H E FOUR WORLDS

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak only addresses the first question in this letter, and then refers the reader to a discourse by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi in Likkutei Torub,' where the subject is treated further, and the second question is addressed. The explanation in this letter is meant as a preface to that discourse.
THE TYPES OF WORLDS

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak begins his answer by first establishing that a spiritual "world" does indeed exist, using the Zobar as proof-text. Furthermore, the spiritual world parallels our physical world in structure. They differ, however, in that one is coarse and corporeal, while the other is spiritual and pure. The spiritual world referred to in Zobar is really an infinite ensemble of worlds. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak classifies these worlds in two classes, revealed worlds and hidden worlds, and further categorizes them as the four worlds Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.
THE NATURE OF THE WORLDS

The world of Atzilut contains all of the elements implicit in a "spiritual worldn-the various divine chambers, the ten sefirot, the orderly system of orot (lights) and keZim (vessels). Nonetheless, it is not what the kabbalists would term a created entity. It is rather the emanation of various elements that existed in a concealed state prior to the emergence of Atzilut. The name Atzilut is therefore quite appropriate for this realm, for it connotes: a) emanation, as opposed to creation; and b) nearness and proximity, emphasizing its close relationship with its source. Beriah, conversely, is the first of the created worlds; i.e., it is not merely attributed to that which lies above it, a revelation of loftier elements-it is like a new creation. Though it contains the identical world structure found in Atzilut, and receives its energy from Atzilut, it still contains sufficient identity to be termed a metziut, an "existent" being.
1 . Nitzavim, 48d ff., the explanation on

the verse Sosasis, S.V. U'tosefeet Biur.

I N T R O D U C T I O N N D SUMMARY A

15

This character is reflected in its name: Beriah means both creation and revealed, signifying that this is a realm that can be rightly termed "creation," and whose existence is quite apparent. In Yetzirah, the creation that began with Beriah is furthered. Here, the newly created matter (of Beriah) is given more substance, more identity-more metziut. It also develops a certain form. That is why it is called Yetzirah, connoting both metziut and form. Asiyah, the lowest of the worlds, contains the identical structure as the lofiier worlds, yet it is the lowest since it is where creation enters actual metziut. Hence the name Asiyah, meaning deedor a c t u a l i v t h e lowest, most tangible capacity. The definitions and characterizations of all of these worlds revolve around one term-metziut. Atzilut is the absence of metziut, Beriah is the initial emergence of metzizlt, Yetzirah is where such "raw" metziut takes form, and Asiyah is where this formed metziut becomes actualized. It is thus imperative to have a crystal-clear understanding of what metziut really is-a subject that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak elucidates here in remarkable detail.
THE PURPOSE OF THE WORLDS

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak makes clear that these four worlds represent a gradual descent and transition between absolute divine unity and our corporeal world, which perceives itself as being a self-sufficient and independent existence. But why the need for all these worlds (especially as they parallel one another); why not "go straight to the point," as it were, and create a physical world? Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak addresses this question by exploring the purpose of creation. As explained in Eitz Chaim,' the gradual descent of the worlds is necessary so that the creations know G-d. This would not be possible if the process of crealacking some logical sequence. tion were without rules-i.e. Therefore, G-d used a pattern of "descent of Divine Light,"
2. Shaar Hakelafim, beg.

16

THE FOUR WORLDS

of cause and effect, to develop our world from phase to phase. Thus, He used the same basic principles of logic and nature that dictate our lives, so that we would have a frame of reference with which to grasp Him.
H O W MAY WE IMAGINE THESE WORLDS?

At this point Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak explains that, ultimately, a physical mind cannot grasp what spirituality is, since it is limited by its own physical limitation. However, it can have an "indirect perception" of spirituality. The mind can know that spiritual realms exist, that there can be levels and manners of existence outside our comprehension, without knowing exactly what these levels are. This concept, as well as the concept of differentiation between spiritual entities, is elucidated by means of an example of a person's own inner soul-powers. A person knows of the existence of these powers, that they are different from one another, and furthermore, can 'feel' them. He also knows their characteristics by observing their perceptible effects on him. Much like the spiritual entities mentioned before, the knowledge of these soul-powers is "indirect." From all this, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak proves that there is a spiritual "time and space" that applies to the soul-powers, as is evident from the fact that they are limited. (They are just not at all like the time and space we know of.) This is clearly understood and sensed, albeit in an "indirect" manner. The same is true with regards to spiritual realms and worlds.

* * *
At the end of the letter, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak refers the addressee to the aforementioned discourse in Likkutei Torah3 The reader would do well to examine the discourse for a more complete understanding of the present letter. Some of the highlights of that discourse: Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi explains that the constraints of physical space become irrelevant when speaking of spiritual entities or energies, since many different energies can
3. See footnote 2, above.

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

17

occupy the same identical space. This is true of even man? "spiritual energies," i.e., his faculties, senses, etc.-they too can exist in tandem in a single physical space. One's heart has room for many coexisting emotions, even if they are paradoxical, and one's mind can grasp two opposite points of view. This is because something that is not physical does not occupy physical space; it may mist in a physical space, but it does not occupy it in the sense that it precludes the existence of another such energy in that same space. To take this concept further: The fact that two or more energies exist in the same space does not in any way diminish the viability of each element's individuality. Each one retains its own parameters, its own characteristics-as distinct from the other energies that share that physical space. The different emotions experienced by one who suffers a tragedy, G-d forbid-sadness, despair, pain, anger, loss-are not individually compromised by the fact that they coexist with the other emotions. Each emotion is as powerful as if it alone were inhabiting the heart. Conversely, the identity of something that is tangibly physical, that does occupy physical space, would be compromised were another element to 'invade' that same space;* for that is how this element is defined-in completely physical, spatial terms. Once the elements that define its existence are violated, its very existence is violated. Spiritual energies, however, are altogether not defined by nor limited to physical space; thus, they are also not compromised by another energy sharing the same space. All of this serves to answer the first question posed in the letter: Can we conceive the spiritual worldc us existing above one another in a litera4 spatial sense? And i not, in what way do f they dtfferfi.om one another?
4. We are referring to the existence of a given physical entity in a given plysical space. That entire equation (the sum of which defines its "identity") would most definitely be compromised were another
physical entity to occupy that very space.

5. The specifics as to how the worlds actually differ from another are of course the topic of the present letter. However,

18

THE FOUR WORLDS

As to the second question, on the meaning of immanence and transcendence in relation to spiritual beings: All levels of spirituality-including the four spiritual worlds-exist in the here and now, in our physical world.6 It is just that we are blind to them because of the coarseness of our characters. Thus, it is as though they "transcend" us; they are "removed," so to speak, from our conscious perception. One who is of a more refined, spiritual nature, however, might be able to consciously perceive- ~nternalize"-these higher realities. He might, for example, sense the spiritual world of Asiyah. Nonetheless, the worlds of Atzilut, Beriah and Yetzirah would still remain beyond his grasp, transcendent. Should one be of an even more refined spiritual disposition, he might even perceive the world of Yetzirah. Yet the higher worlds would remain aloof. And so on. This is how the ideas of immanence and transcendence play a role in understanding the higher, spiritual realms. Ultimately, however, there is the unfathomable level of Absolute Truth that "no mind can grasp whatsoevern-the essence of G-d Himself.
LC.

NOTE ON THE HEBREW TEXT: In vowelizing the Hebrew words in this edition we have followed the grammatical rules of the Holy Tongue, which occasionally differ from the traditional or colloquial pronunciation. The original footnotes to the Hebrew text appear at the end of the letter.

the !general idea that spiritual entities do not exist spatially, but still differ from another, is clarified in Likkutei Torah.

6. For as we just explained, many spiritual energies can inhabit the same physical space.

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

By the Grace of G-d 15th of Mar Cheshvan, 5698 Otwock [Poland] Greeting and Blessing: In response to your letter: I enjoyed reading your recollections about my uncle, Rabbi Zalman Aaron, his soul is in Eden, and I would be interested in reading any stories you may have heard from him. In response to your question: Can one conceive of the idea of "the worlds" as existing one above the other in a literal sense, i.e., spatially, and say that there exist an infinite amount of worlds within physical space? As understood from Tanya (2:7'), one should not conceive of the spiritual worlds as physical space. [If so, in what way do they differ?] and how can one conceive of them in relation to the Infinite Light blessed is He, Who fills and surrounds all worlds [i.e., what is the difference between them']?
ANSWER:

It is written in the Zohar4: "The Holy One blessed is He made the lower world similar to the upper world." In other words, this lower, physical world is analogous to the upper, spiritual world. The Heavenly Academy5 and its order of study; the "chambers"

1. P. 82a: "The term 'world' can be applied solely to that which possess the dimensions of space and time; 'space' referring to east, west, north and south, upward and downward, and 'time' to past, present and future. All these dimensions have no relation to the holy supernal attributes."

2. I.e., as far as their relationship with the Divine light.

3. The brackets in this paragraph appear in the original. The bracketed words were apparently added by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak to clarify the question. The questioner is suggesting that the

338

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worlds be conceived of in physical space. Then he asks, "For if not, how can the worlds be understood at d?" he suggests: the worlds So should be conceived of in physical space. Then he asks: If, according to Tanya one should not conceive of the worlds as physical, how can one understand the idea of the worlds?

4. I:205b.

5. METIVTA D'RAKI'A (Academy of Heaven): In heaven, there are various levels that are called "academies." The "upper one" is called the Academy of the Holy One Blessed is He. Mctivtu D'raki'a is the lower academy and is

THE FOUR WORLDS

of the righteous6; the announcements of, "Make way!"7; the order of reception for the souls of the righteous that arrive from [this worldI8; the ascent of Moses our Teacher to Heaven? the ascent of Rabbi Yishmael the High Priest, and his questionlo; Rabbi Joshua son of Levi's visit to the Garden of Eden1'; the soul-ascents of the Arizal12 and our master the Baal Shem Tov'" the visions of our fathers, our holy master~'~-all these attest to the fact that the order of things in the upper world is similar to that of this world.

synonymous with Gan Eden. (At times it is referred to as the Academy of the angel Matat.) After the souls of the righteous depart from this world, thev ascend to the Mehvta D'raki'd where they stuby Torah. Just as in the days of the Talmudic Sages there were two academies, one in Naharda'a and the other in Sura, in heaven too, there are two academies and two primary levels of Gan Eden-the upper and the lower. See Sotah 7b and Rashi ad loc; Zohar 1:266b; III:163a et al. See also Likkutei Torah, Tazria 22d; Sefer Hamaamarim 5635, vol. 2 p. 224 ff.

7. This expression is used both in the lower and upper worlds to trumpet the arrival of a great individual. The terrestrial use of this statement is found in Eiruvin 85b (end), where the Mishnaic sage Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi (the Prince) is reported to have greeted two rich individuals with "Make room for soand-so." Its celestial use is found in Berachot 18b (end), where it is related that before the death of the Talmudic sage Shmuel, it was announced in the heavens, "Make room!" See also Ketubot 77b. See also Isaiah 40:3 @anu derech in reference to G-d), 57: 14 and 62: 10. 8. During the lifetime of the righteous, there are times when their souls ascend from this world into the heavenly realms. See footnote 13.

who has brought forth ten 'garments,' and we call them ten sefirot, through which to direct hidden worlds which are not revealed and revealed worlds." The Hebrew term for worlds is almin, from the word he'eiem---concealment. In the Zohar, the worlds are called heichalot (chambers). There is the chamber of chesed, the chamber ofgaturah, the chamber of zechut, etc. Within these chambers, souls of the righteous bask in the radiance of the Shechinah, and angels stand in fear and love of G-d. Hence, heichalot hatzadikim, the chambers of the righteous. Heichal, from the word hitkalelut (inclusiveness), connotes "it contains all within it." For example, the heichal of chesed in general is chesed. But more specifically, it contains chochmah of chesed, chesed of chesed, along with all the ten sejirot, similar to a circle or house that contains many objects (Likkutei Torah, Shhch 36c).

6. HEICHAL (Chamber): In the introduction to Tikkunei Zohar. Eliiah is auoted: "You are He ,
,

9. Where he debated the angels on whether the Torah should be given to man (Shabbos 88b).
10. When the Ten Martyrs were confronted with the news of their death, they asked for three days to find out whether it had been the decree of heaven. Rabbi Yishmael the High Priest then ascended to heaven by uttering a Divine Name and asked their question. He was told that their death had indeed been decreed by heaven (Marhzor for Yom Kippur (Kehot, 1982, p. 192)), piyut entitled Eileh Ezkerah). See also Berachot 51a and Rashi ad loc. 11. See Ketubot 77b. 12. As the Arizal slept one Shabbat afternoon,

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

his student Rabbi Awaham Halevi noticed him whispering. Rabbi Avraharn bent down to hear what the A r i d was saying, and the A r i d awoke. Rabbi Avraharn explained to that he had wished to hear the words that his teacher was whispering. The Arizal said, "Whenever I sleep, my soul ascends heavenward through certain paths known to me. The angels bring my soul before Matatron, the Minister of the Interior, who asks me which yeshiva I wish to attend. At the yeshiva, they transmit to me the secrets of the Torah that have never been revealed and were not known even in the days of the Tanmim." Upon Rabbi Awaham's begging that the A r i d reveal but one secret to him, the Arizal laughed and replied, "I testify by heaven and earth, if I were to live eighty consecutive years, without exaggeration, to relate what I learned this time on the subject of Balaam's donkey, I would not be able to conclude. So how can I reveal one of the secrets to you, since they are all inseparable.. .." (Shivcbci H d r i , chapter 2.) 13. See Kcter Shm Tov, beg. This refers to the time when the Baal Shem Tov ascended to the heavenly spheres and entered the chamber of Mashiach and asked him, "When will the master come?" And Mashiach answered: "When your wellsprings will be spread to the outside." 14. See for example, S Hasichot 5697 p. & 190 f. where Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak relates: F, My father visited the ohcl (resting place) of his father on Thursday, 16 Elul 5652, the last of the seven festive days following the wedding of my aunt. O n the following day, he visited the

ohcl once again, remaining there for many hours, and upon his return, his eyes were swollen. These two visits during the shwa brachot were quite unusual. O n Shabbat, my father delivered a Chasidic discourse and prayed for many hours; in general his entire conduct on that Shabbat was considered out of the ordinary. A few weeks later, my father revealed the reason for his strange behavior: His custom was that after exerting himself in preparing a Chasidic discourse for recital in public, he would deliver it only after obtaining permission from above. He knew he had been granted permission if the subject of the discourse had become "one" with him. The rnaamar of that Shabbat, however, had not become one with him even after much exertion, so he decided to visit the "master of the subject," i.e., the one who had originally expounded the idea, which in this case was his father, Rabbi Shmuel. This required two visits to his father's resting place, which resulted in his finally succeeding to become one with the concept. In return for his tremendous exertion, his fither rewarded him: That Shabbat was 18 Elul, the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov. His father told him, "Come, let us go to hear a Torah discourse from the Baal Shem Tov." He took my father along. Later on, my father described the place where they went and commented that ". ..Gan Eden is a place of order, unlike sbcol which is described as a place of imbalance (Ecclesiastes 9:10)." My father related that on that Shabbat he heard seven teachings from the Baal Shem Tov.

THE FOUR WORLDS

However, the Zohar? phrase "similar to the upper world" means that this world is only in the image of the upper world, not identical to it. For the upper world is spiritual, while this world is physical and corporeal. It is only similar to the upper world. In other words, the difference between the upper and lower worlds is nothing more than the fact that the lower world is physical and corporeal, while the upper world is spiritual, pure, and clear [as will be explained].
WORLDS

It is written: "...and ahmot (young women) without number."15 Our sages have said: "Do not read it as ahmot (young women), but as olamot world^)."'^ These [spiritual] worlds are without number, infinite. For the finite is confined to a number, whereas the infinite is beyond number. Now, although the worlds are without limit and number, they have been divided into two categories-revealed worlds, and hidden worlds that are not revealed. They are also divided into four distinct categories, named: Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah.
ATZILUT

The first of the four worlds is called Atzilut. Although it is a world that is structured with chambers, the Chariot," ten sefirot," lights and ve~sels,'~ intellect and emotions,

15. Song of Songs 6:8. 16. Zohar III:7lb.

17. MERKAVAH: Ezekiel (ch. 1) tells of his vision of the Divine Chariot and Throne: "I saw a storm-wind coming from the north, a great cloud and a blazing h e . . . And from its midst [I saw] the image of four chayot (angelic creatures)...And the image of the faces was: a man, a lion on its right.. .and an ox on the left.. .and an eagle.. .And the comolexion of the chavot-was like fierv :oak he chayot r a n L d returned as a flash of lightning. "I saw one (angelic being) on the floor [of the firmament] at the side of each of the

ofan

chayot.. .The appearance of the ofdnim was like chrysolite.. .when the chayot moved, the ofanim moved beside them, and when the chayot raised themselves, the ofanim raised themselves...Above the firmament which is over their heads was the likeness of a throne, and u ~ o n likeness of the throne was a likeness the with the appearance of a man [as it were] upon it above...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the L-rd.. ." It is known that every physical creation must have a celestial source, from which it receives its life-force and existence. Its verv being and physical characteristics are synonymous to their spiritual source, albeit physical. All living creatures are derived from the spiritual angels that are found in the Di-

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

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vine Chariot and consequently, the faces of the lion and the ox in the Divine Chariot are the sources for all physical animals and beasts. Moreover, the chayot which have the faces of a lion and an ox are the aspect of gevurah, as it is written in Ezekiel l: 13 "burning like the appearance of torches," and the angels known as seraphim derive their name from "coals of fire." Thus, physical animals that evolve from these angels are strong and powerful, and their flesh is red, the color of "anger" or "severity" (Likkutei Torah, B'hahlotcha 31~-d). The two souls of every Jew, G-dly soul and the animal soul, are also rooted in the Chariot. However, the G-dly soul's source is known as "Adam," man, as it is written (in addition to

Ezekiel ibid.) in Genesis (1:27), "And G-d created man in His image." (Likkutei Torah, Vuyikra 2b) The Chariot exists on every level of creation. The root of a physical lion, for example, is the lion of the Chariot. (See Mi Chamocha 5629, p. 35, English translation).

18. Reality can be divided into four principal aspects: (1) Ein Sof-the Infinite One; (2) Ohr Ein Sof (Light of the Infinite One)-the Selfmanifestation of G-d; (3) the finite world; and (4) the intermediary levels in the successive development of the creative process brought about by means of the tzimtzum (contractions or reduction). Of the Ein SoJ nothing can be postulated,

26

THE FOUR WORLDS

the light of chochmahZ0 the vessel of chochmah and the light of in chesed2' in the vessel of chesed-it is called Atzilut for two reasonsz2:

1) Atzilut connotes emanation and separation. For Atzilut is not

like a new being that comes into existence through the creation of something from nothing. Rather, it is only a revelation of the concealed.

As stated in Sejr Yet~irah,~~ sefirot without mah,2* like a "ten

flame tied to a There is a flame that exists within the coal and one that exists outside ir, the outer flame emanating from the inner flame. This is Atzilut: emanation and separation, i.e., it is not more than a revelation of the concealed. 2) Atzilut [also] connotes nearness and proximity. This means that the emanation and separation of Atzilut remains close to the Emanator, blessed is He. In other words, although it is called an emanation and a separation, this should not be understood as a fullfledged emanation and separation that the human mind imagines it to be. Rather, Atzilut is near its Emanator, blessed is He. For this since reason Atzilut is called "domain of the individ~al,"~~ in Atzilut

except that He is Ein S$ Names or attributes apply only to manifestations, to those aspects of Divinity which are revealed in, and to, His creation. These Divine manifestations or attributes are dimmed radiations from the Light of the Ein Sof and they are called sefirot. (sefirot-plural form; sefrab-singular form). The doctrine of the sefirot is first mentioned in Sefer Yetzirah, and is briefly referred to in the Midrash (Barnidbar Rabba 14:12.) The sefirot bridge, as it were, the Ohr Ein Sof with the ultimately evolvine world. That is. in or" der for finite creations to come about, the Light of the Ein Sofvested itself in the sefrot. Only by its prior investment in the sefirot in all the intermediary stages brought about by tzimtzum could it be vested in a finite and physical world. The s&ot are ten spheres or classes in the following order; keter (crown); chochmah (wisdom); binah (understanding); chesed (kind-

ness; grace; benevolence); gevurah (might; power; prevalence); tijret (beauty), neturch (endurance; victory); hod (splendor; majesty); yesod (foundation); malchut (sovereignty; kingship). In some schemes keter is omitted from the order of the ten sefrot, and these schemes take chochmah as the first of the ten and insert &'at (knowledge) as a sefirah after binah.

19. The sefirot are conceived as "lights and vessels." The Divine Light is vested in the vessels, in which it takes on even greater definition and limitation.
20. Chochmah, in the process of creation, may be loosely defined as a seminal, highly condensed revelation of G-dly Light on its highest level of immanence that is the life force of all of creation.

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

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niitx ,nh9$p

21. Chesed, the third trait, is the attribute or disposition that underlies the creation, to bring about recipients for the Divine benevolence, as in (Psalms 89:3), "The world was built by chesed." Because it is intrinsic to the nature of the benevolent to be benevolent, C-d brought the world and all the creatures into being. Creation, therefore, is an act of chesed, and it is from this attribute that the Divine life-force that animates all creation, issues forth.

numerous commentaries since it was first published in Mantua, 1562. 24. "Without 'what"' in Hebrew is "b'fi mah," which literally means b'li mahut, 'without selfawareness.' Before the ten sefirot are actualized into sefirot, they exist within the Essence of Ohr Ein Sof: Regarding this stage, Sefer Etzirah describes the ten s4rot as "without 'what,'" i.e., without any self-awareness or substance. 25. 1:7. 26. Or "private domain." The other worlds are considered "a public domain," or "domain of many," where the exclusivity of G-d's existence is not apparent and there appear to be many independent entities outside of G-d. See Likkutei Torah, Barnidbar 16a.

22. In other words, although it seems to have all the trappings of an independent reality, it is in truth "Atzilut," which connotes a reality that is subsumed in the Divine, as is presently explained.

23. Sefr Yetziah is one of the oldest written

sources of Kabbalah, and is attributed to the Patriarch Abraham. It has been the subject of

THE FOUR WORLDS

"He and His life-giving emanations are one and He and His causationsZ7 one."28 are
BERIAH

The world of Beriah is the second of the four worlds. It is called Beriah [creation] because it is the first entity to exist after Atzilut and because it is a metziut.'') Although it is a spiritual world and a "hidden world," and furthermore, the light of Atzilut radiates there, especially the light of binah of Atzilut-whereas in Atzilut itself, the light of chochmah of Atzilut radiates, which is why the world of Beriah is called "the world of comprehension"30-nevertheless, it is called the world of creation for two reasons: 1) One difference between the world of Beriah and the world of Atzilut-although there are many aspects in which they are different-is that the world of Atzilut is called "the imperceptible nothingness [ayin]," whereas the world of Beriah is called "the perceptible being (rcsh]." This is because Beriah is a metziut, and a metziut is called beriah [creation]. As Ramban write^,^' "In the Holy Tongue, we do not have an expression for the production of being from nothingness besides for bara." In other words, the difference between Beriah and Atzilut is that although all of the elements of Atzilut--chambers, ten sefrot, lights and vessels, etc.-exist in the world of Beriah as well, nevertheless, in Atzilut they exist merely as the revelation of the concealed, not a new entity. The world of Beriah, by contrast, is being from nothingness. And since it is a metziut, even if it is an extremely ethereal metzillt-as Ramban writes, "an ethereal element that possesses no tangibility"-and its metziut consists only of its capacity to at-

27. Lit. "organs." Rabbi Schneur Zalman explains in his IgmetHakoderh, epistle 20, that this quote from Eitz Chaim refers to the lights and vessels of the world of Atzilut, which are both Divinity. This contrasts with the lower worlds, where the vessels and even some aspect

of the lights are not Divinity, but created beings.

28. Eitz Chaim, Shaar 47, ch. 12, et al.

29. Literally, "an existent being." We have left

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

.ninjiu ny71g-r 9 1 ~ 3 @iu uin ny-pg P ? ~ Y '?ng n41lvx7~ nixy?p i n n?')>;~1 pi^ UN?J) ,niu9qpiniyh) ,ni99$~3 . .

it untranslated, since its definition is the subject of this letter.

compared to the initial flash of insight that precedes comprehension.

30. AtziLut, on the other hand, where the light of chochmah is dominant, would not be characterized by comprehension, since chochmah is

3 1. Commentary to the Torah, beginning Bereishit.

30

THE FOUR WORLDS

tain form, nevertheless, it is a metziut, and is therefore called Beriah. 2) The name beriuh applies to something that is revealed. As in the statement: "If a thorn was lodged in its esophagus, we do not i9 0 suspect that it may have protruded outside [t 3 7in h e b r e ~ ] . " ~ ~ Similarly, chutz [outside] is translated by Targum as bar^.^^ I.e., when a thing is an apparent metziut that is recognizable from the outside, it is called Beriah.
YETZIRAH

The world of Yetzirah is the third of the four worlds. And although it contains all the elements contained in the worlds of Atzilut and Beriah, however, the metziut of the world of Yetzirah is stronger than that of the world of Beriah. For the metziut of the world of Beriah consists of the fact that it is a production of being from nothingness; but its entire metziut is its capacity to acquire form. But it is not yet a full-fledged metziut. It is nothing more than the first "substance." The world of Yetzirah, however, is a formed metziut that possesses a complete form. It is called Yetzirah for two reasons: I) It is a full-fledged metziut, 2) it is formed with a particular form.
ASIYAH

The world of Asiyah is the fourth of the four worlds. And although this world too contains all the elements that are contained in Yetzirah, Beriah, and Atzilut, nevertheless, it is the lowest of all worlds. It is therefore called asiyah, which connotes the lowest capacity: deed [or actuality].
DIFFERENCES

The point of all that we have said and explained regarding the nature of the four worlds, Atzilut Beriah Yetzirah Asiyah, is that the structure of all that exists within the worlds-chambers, ten sefirot, the Chariot, time and space-is identical from one world to the next. The difference is in the essence of their nature.

32. Chulin 43b; Aruch, Erech Bar (sources from the original). If the thorn pierces

through to the outer side of the esophagus, the animal is rendered a tereifh. In any case, we

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

see that the word for creation, bara, is also

33. See Genesis 6:14.

used in the context of coming out.

32

THE FOUR WORLDS

The essential nature of Atzilut-which is revelation of the concealed, like one who kindles one lamp from the flame of anotheP4-is not the same as that of Beriah, which is being from nothingness and an ethereal, intangible element. Beriah in turn is not the same as the essential nature of Yetzirah, where a finite form exists. Nevertheless, in Yetzirah, form is more dominant than spiritual matter and it is therefore not the same as the essential nature of Asiyah [where matter dominates form]. One who concentrates and exerts his mind to delve deeply into this matter will see that each world moves closer to spatial existence, which is characterized by six dimensions. And although even the world of Asiyah is absolutely spiritual-as will be explained, please G-d-this does not mean that it is not in the realm35 ...of Atzilut, but rather, it is within the realm of the lower world, which is a being and a metziut in its own perception.
PERCEIVING T H E DIVINE

One of the reasons G-d created the world is, as explained in Et iz Chaim,36so that the creatures would recognize His greatnes?' and so that they could merit to be "a chariot"38 for Him. It is explained in Chasidic literature, that G-d emanated the world of Atzilut so that the creatures would possess wisdom and perception. For without Atzilut, the creatures would not be capable of understanding G-d. By emanating the world of Atzilut, G-d implanted within the nature of the creatures the ability to apprehend Divinity."
TEN HIDDEN SEFIROT

Now, although the world of Atzilut is like a revelation of the con-

34. The nature of Atzilut is one of revelation

of what is higher than Atzilut. It is not the creation of something else, i.e., new levels. It is similar to a flame that was kindled from another flame. The first flame does not lose any light to kindle the new flame. It is written (Embers 11:25), "He caused the spirit that had been imparted on [Moses] to emanate and He bestowed it on the seventy elders." The spirit did not become contracted; rather, as it was on Moses so it was on the elders. Atzilut is

as powerful as the level above it; it is merely a revelation of what is above it, which is concealed. Beriah, Yeairah and Asiyah however, are not like one who kindles one lamp from the flame of another, since they are "creations" ofa new being.

35. The meaning of this sentence is unclear. The Rebbe writes on thh phnu, .mising a
few words.,,

36. Shaar HaKelalim, beg. Eitz Chaim is a

'TRANSLATION A N D COMMENTARY

compilation of the Arizal's Kabbalistic teachings by his primary disciple and exponent, Rabbi Chaim Vital (1543 - 1620).

of transparency that one can attain where one is a "chariot" for G-d, an unobstructed conduit for the Divine will.

37. Obviously this does not mean that G-d

was looking for recognition. klther, He sought to create creatures for their sake, so that

39, In other words, it is not a given that a

created being, human or ohenvise, be able to apprehend Divinity. Divinity is inherently beyond the ken of created beings and it is only the creation of the world of AtzLt that allows them to have any conception of Him. I.e., it is only because G-d implanted

they might merit a glimpse into His greatness.

38. A chariot obviously has no will of its own and is entirely subservient to the will of its rider. It is therefore used as a metaphor for a level

34

THE FOUR WORLDS

ceded, this does not mean that the [inner] flame itself emerges from the coal and is seen outside it. For the inner flame remains inside the coal as before; it serves merely as a source for the flame that emerges outside the coal. The equivalent to this among the sefrot: the inner flame can be compared to the ten sef3rot that are "hidden in their E m a n a t ~ r , " ~ ~ while the outer flame can be compared to the ten sefiot of Atzilut. Now, although the ten sef3rot of Atzilut emanate from the ten sejirot hidden in their Emanator, blessed is He, nevertheless, this does not mean that the ten hidden sefrot leave their place in the Emanator, blessed is He, and become the ten sefirot of Atzilut. Rather, the ten hidden sejirot remain hidden; and it is from them that that the ten sefrot of Atzilut emanate.
FLAME T O FLAME

This will explain the metaphor of kindling one lamp from the flame of another. When one kindles a lamp from an existing flame, the emanation that takes place from the existing flame to the new one involves the fire and light of the lamp, i.e., the spiritual aspect of the lamp, not its body and materiality. For instance, when one kindles a lamp filled with coarse and simple fat from a lamp filled with olive oil, the kindling does not impart any blemish to the olive oil. And although the fire emanates from the olive oil lamp, nevertheless, its kindling is achieved by means of a lamp of fat, which is coarse and unrefined in comparison to the refined substance of olive oil.
ORIGINAL T H O U G H T S

Similarly in the realm of intellect: An idea that comes to a person must have a source. Before the idea is conceived, it does not exist within the person, as it is written: "Wisdom emerges from nothingne~s."~' in fact is the difference between chochmah, which is This invention, and binah, which is understanding. In binah, the idea

this ability into their nature that they have this capacity.

"full fledged sefiot, they exist within their Emanator, Ohr Ein Sof; and are totally united
with their Emanator. In addition, they are not in a state of revelation as the actual sefrot sub-

40. Before the ten s&rot are actualized into

rRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

sequently are. In Kabbalah these former s@ot are called Eser Sefirot Hagnuzot (the hidden ten st$rot). See Sefer Hamaamarim 5668, p.

41. Job 28:12. In its literal meaning the verse is

read as a question, "From where can wisdom be found?...." The word rne'ayin, however, can be translated asftom where as well asftom nothingness.

197.

36

THE FOUR WORLDS

exists even before it is understood and grasped. In chochmah, however, the idea does not exist until it is conceived. This is one of the reasons that a new insight emerges through mental exertion. Insights will not come to a person by themselves. This requires intense exertion. And the more a person exerts his mind and extends his intellect the greater will his insight and wisdom grow. The reason for this is that the insight emerges from nonexistence to existence and therefore requires exertion.
ROCK FIRE

The metaphor for this is the extraction of fire from a flint stone. This occurs through striking the rock with force. In contrast, kindling a flame from another flame entails no more than a touch. This is because the flame of a candle is openly in existence. So to light from one existence to another requires no more than a touch. But the flame of a flint stone possesses only a "hidden existence" [i.e., a potential for fire,] and therefore requires a forceful strike to bring it from non-existence to existence. This is the meaning of Wisdom emerges porn nothingness: Although the emergence of the insight stems from the source of wisd ~ mthe ~ ~ , manner in which it is revealed can be compared to finding a lost object4j: The place in which a lost object is found is obviously not its true and original place. Rather, the object must have come from another place. Its original place, however, is not known, since the metziut of the object emerges from non-existence.&
NONEXISTENT EXISTENCE

So although the kernel of the concept does [eventually]attain the status of the metziut of an intellectual object, however, its metziut is not fdl-fledged. Thus when the kernel emerges, it flashes then disappears. It is like a flash of lightning in a storm that flashes for an instant then vanishes. For although it is a metziut, its metziut consists of the fact that it is not non-metziut. But it is not a full-fledged metziut.
42. Not from "nothingness."

43. The literal translation of timatze-what we have translated as emerge+-is fbund, i.e., wisdom isfound5om nothingness.

44. By contrast, when one plants a seed and later reaps its fruit, one would not call this a "find," since its source is obvious and apparent.

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

vy ?Y x m v 1Livpjn~1 713p w u j n8yi;m n!? ? v p ; ~ )

,7773 ;ryv2, . Y . : ~ x m y3p 72 n p 7 q ,xqy n > ~ Y nupa , x ~ 1;raw Y ; ?Y x?n 1Livpjnq ,?up idut nuviq n?KvY?JQ? n?Kvw? U?n V U ~ rv??$ 3877337 Us3 aypa? urn ai&q n2;l 1 ~ v p ~ m ??u ,'~??rl~ ily9ug '7 n~xvs& +luJ x? urn 127 , n ? x 9.n ?u n?x9Yp ri9n UP ,??J~Y]n?x9pp?, . .Kg17 8833 -7 l ?Y 3 9 3 ~ 3 n v q ? nivg PY , u ~ p n ~ l u g nngnni ? ; r.~ ? . 3qav3 l g x $$I$ ,.;1930;1 7 7 3 ~x? ~~ 1 ;1~???n71 ) 3 . . nj?wgg) 7 : ~n ~ i p nniytL/ P Y P ~ ?,nu3sp 77'1 ?Y NS;I ny??n;ll. .. . ~ i p ~ i 1;?3 J ~ 7 ,nu'sp H Y ~ D ~ ~ ,n?x9sn~.n?g lv ~, 3 9 1x27 7ni3 I W vu1 , V J ~ Y n ~ i p n1x3 ~ ~ n x u n .! ~ ' 8 n g fun ??u ; m u ' ~ i p l ) n u ~ w j q ,ng;j 1x3 nxun! n u .n?u9s~g n?u9spri?p nu3v 3u ,nut7 IW'DU . :
T . T - : T : : T

38

THE FOUR WORLDS

Deeper still: The metziut of chochmah consists of the fact that it is not non-metziut. It is not a full-fledged metziut, i.e., it is yet far from metziut. However, it is still farther from non-metziut than it is from metziut. For although it has not yet entered the realm of metziut, it has left the realm of non-metziut. The proof for this is that the example of the essence of the concept does not give us an understanding of non-metziut. In other words, it is not a metaphor for non-metziut. The metaphor for non-metziut is the "faculty of intellect," which is the source for intellect but is not actual intellect.45The essence of a concept, however, is not a metaphor for non-metziut. It is a metaphor for an emergence of metziut that has not yet developed into full-fledged metziut.
ATZILUT

This is also a metaphor for the metziut of Atzilut. Although it is only a revelation of what was hidden-and is compared to a flame lit from another-nevertheless, it is no longer the non-metziut from which it emerges. It is like the revealed flame that emerges from concealment, which is clearly extracted through striking, not touching. This indicates that the flame derives from non-metziut in comparison to the revealed flame. For the ten sefirot of Atzilut are the source for the worlds, which do possess metziut. However, the metziut of Atzilut is not true metziut, but rather the absence of non-metziut. In its transition from non-metziut it becomes a source for metziut, but it itself does not possess true metziut. Hence the metziut of Atzilut is called reshimah, a mark or note:
A T Z I L U T = RESHIMAH

This can be compared to the general note used in intellectual contemplation by one who delves into intellectual matters. Before he be-

45. Koach hamaski1 is the source of intellect

from which actual thought and conceptualization derives. Since it is only the "power of intellect" and not actual intellect, it is considered non-metziut, i.e., a "non" of what we might

have thought it to be, given that its name has the connotation of intellect. Moreover, the fact that it is the source of intellect is only the external aspect of koach hamaskil, whereas its inner dimension has no connection to ideas.

TRANSLATION A N D COMMENTARY

DY , l y ~ qpniuj P@U . . ,n?u9y~ nyu? fin p-j u?~n 1 N+ vji' pin?. urn a!' +!J ,nr&y?;lg pin7 yiu umv +L/>$? . ni95 ~ y ?,n?u9y@~g . ip?n97 ingo n?u3$n ~ 9 n :xy: nrx7p N+ 5 ~ Z)?U ~ NZ) n?u9yP 3
T :

np??;? ?v n ~ ? u 9 y ) 337 ni9j . !

9 ~

u9ynyqn?, n?u9pnq

5%

The koach hamaski1 differs from actual thought in two ways: a) it is not the process of thinking, but rather the power of an intelligent soul to think; b) it remains part of the

soul and is indivisible from the other powers of the soul. In technical kabbalistic terms, the koach hamaskil is called "chochmah stirnab" (Maamarim 5668 p. 34-5).

40

THE FOUR WORLDS

gins to contemplate a given subject or idea, he makes a general note for himself that directs and defines his contemplation of the given subject. This is similar to the note made by an architect before he begins to build a structure. Now, although the intellectual makes a general note defining and directing his contemplation, nevertheless, his note is different from that of the architect. In the case of the architect, he will merely actualize what had previously been in a state of potential. The idea itself will be followed exactly. The note of the intellectual, by contrast, is not followed exactly; his contemplation dictates the content of his thoughts, as is evident. Yet although the original note may not be followed exactly, nevertheless, the very fact that he makes a note that defines the quality and direction of the contemplation-even if the note will be nullified-gives shape to the idea and makes it a structured idea that is close to metziut. For among intellectual ideas, some are extremely lofty and wondrous. Like the ideas of an incisive genius, which are innovations that contain immense profundity and sharpness. But these ideas are far from metziut, since he does not have any note on the subject. He is merely revealing the flow of his wisdom. And although they are profound thoughts, they are far from metziut. Hence, a single idea of his can contain two opposite strains. But when he makes a note, even if the idea will contradict the note, his thoughts will be closer to metziut. Similarly, the metziut of Atzilut is only a note, but not a metziut at all. On the other hand, it is not non-metziut. And since it is a "note," it is a source for the worlds.
BERIAH
=

ENGRAVING

But the world of Beriah, although it is the first instance ofyesh ["being"], which consists only of an ethereal element that can receive shape, nevertheless, it is a metziut. The world of Beriah is not just the absence of non-metziut, nor is it a mere note like the world of Atzilut. Beriah is a metziut, albeit one that is an ethereal element, which nevertheless has the capacity to receive shape.

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

42

THE FOUR WORLDS

Therefore, the world of Beriah is called "an engraving." Engraving is the opposite of a note. Unlike an engraving, a note is an unsubstantial thing that can be changed. On the other hand, there is an advantage to an engraving in that it is a part of the substance in which it is engraved. It is not an added substance. Therefore, what is being revealed is the [engraved] object itself. Thus letters that are engraved in a fine stone, although they are letters,46actually reveal the stone. Not so in the case of letters of ink written on parchment, where the revelation takes place through the letters that cover the parchement. But in the case of an engraving, even the revelation consists of the stone itself. This is a metaphor for the metziut of the world of Beriah. Although it is the first yesh that can receive shape, nevertheless, it is not a true yesh and metziut. It is the first "substance," whose revelation consists of the revelation of the thing itself. And although it is no longer the same metziut as in Atzilut, neither is it a revealed metziut. Rather, its metziut consists of the fact that it has the capacity to be formed.
YETZIRAH
=

CARVING

The world of Yetzirah, however, is called "carving," which is a defined form that does not change. It does not merely have the capacity for change; rather the metziut has already come into a form that is "carved" in a certain way, i.e., a limited way.
ASIYAH

The world of Asiyah, as its name suggests, is an absolute metziut. Whereas in the world of Yetzirah the primary thing is form, in Asiyah the primary thing is metziut. So the idea of these four worlds-Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah-is that each world represents an increase and coarsening in the nature of metziut. In the world of Atzilut, the nature of metziut is that it is no longer non-metziut; in the world of Beriah, the nature of metziut is that it has the capacity to attain form; in the world of Yetzirah, the nature of metziut is that it attains form; and in the world of Asiyah, the nature of memiut is that it enters [actual] metziut.
-

46. And therefore distinct from the stone.

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

uqn np9png? ,aq'pp u??] au.13. ~ ? i u ~ ? n 137 no n i 3 .~ ~ 7 7 . 7@uv ,3p '177 u?n ac3vl ,a?yv?q 7 ~ ~ 3 raq'343 13 l'&V '1?7 739x1 T;J~ ~ $. 9 2 m v i)g9ppa a?qn id: '778 . u , n j a n ~iyyilgi an v+/g nag 1371 a y p j >y ?pi33 PY ? !I; 3it3 1 x 3 ~'n~'1ry P9pspng nioniu ~79337 ... ne ,ahng ~ y y q g inn HI^ 9qb'm 1);$ n i ~ i u q i y . . ~ vb'/g &J ,?2pg 3y i-73 ~ ~ 3 5 n 3nianiu3 13 1 ~ u v g 823 nq9pi2 3 ,nyr~ $ ~ 9 p ) ~niviu 91; 39 u1n u ; 3 .PyyJ US3 ' S l b $ ~ P3, . . iniq PY? ,;1u973;1 ayiu? n?u9ypg3 az)? uy'l*lg! r 3 r t h m i~ n7r& nu $p$ Ipma 1iaimi rril +?J iqEt ibw ~b3p3v1 i v u 1 ~ ?gin p l 13581 ,wrl)@ n?u9yn?vl) a n k n iniu' i 3 ' ~ ip? ria31 ,n?~& ~ y ~ q iv um . . p1 ,i3,& nrlu'yn n~ > ' -. n?1)yyu?v nsu9ya ? n ! u . . .a?n 33p7 pqn u9aw
T

44

THE FOUR WORLDS

Nevertheless, just as the loftiest of the four worlds, the world of Atzilut, is a "world," i.e., defined by the definitions of a "world," so, too, the lowest of these worlds, the world of Asiyah, is also a spiritual state and does not possess any physicality of the metziut of the physical
D I R E C T AND I N D I R E C T P E R C E P T I O N

Now, if even the fourth world, which is called Asiyah, is also spiritual, what is the difference between its spirituality and that of the third world, the world of Yetzirah? And what is the difference between the world of Yetzirah and the world of Beriah? And since Atzilus is also a world, how much loftier is it than the world of Beriah? In other words, if they are all spiritual, what differentiates them? The physical and the spirit are opposites. Therefore, human intellect, which resides in the physical brain, cannot grasp a matter of the spirit in a direct but only in an indirect way.48 Direct perception and indirect perception are two methods of understanding and comprehension. At times one grasps a matter in a direct way and at times in an indirect way. Direct perception is used with matters that are of the physical realm and whose verification is empirical, in actuality. Indirect perception is used with matters that are not of the physical and whose verification is theoretical, not actual.
DEFINITIONS

The realm of the spirit possesses space and time, as does the physical realm. However, the definition [of space and time] differs between them. The definition of spiritual time and space is not at all like that of physical time and space. A physical place is defined by spatial definition. It is characterized as having six dimensions. All philosophers agree that beyond the ninth sphere?' which is of this physical world, there is neither space nor emptiness, but only spiritual time and space. Our minds, human intellect-which resides in a physical brain,

47. In other words, the four worlds exist between utter nothingness and physical reality.

nothingness and the lowest world is not yet physical reality.

Thus the highest world is no longer utter

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

48. Literally, "positivenand "negative."

49. Rzmbam, Hikhot Yesodei Hatorah 3:1 re-

fers to "Shamayirn"-the heavens, as Galgalim-spheres. For the definition of the ninth sphere, see Rambam ibid, laws 6-7.

46

THE FOUR WORLDS

albeit the most refined of physical substances-cannot grasp the meaning of "beyond time and space." Our perception operates within time and space. What is beyond time and space, we cannot grasp.
INDIRECT PERCEPTION

Now, even though spiritual time and space are beyond our ken, nevertheless, we know perceptibly that the definition of a place is not limited to that which is defined by a six-dimensional space. There can be space that is not defined by the description of space that we perceive. The same is true of time; its definition is not limited to what we perceive it to be. We all as one know that we possess a soul and that its faculties are active through the parts of the body in various functions: delight, will, wisdom, understanding, comprehension, love, fear, pride, thought, meditation, speech and deed. Although they are spiritual entities, divorced from physicality, the faculties of the soul are nevertheless perceptible. Their expression through delight, will, intellect, emotions, thought, speech and deed, not only attests to their existence but also gives us an idea of what they are and how they differ one from another. Intellect, in all of its elements-creativity, understanding, probing-gives us a conception of its nature and its distinction from will and delight, as well as [its distinction] from emotions and deed. Just as it is with intellect-that its function verifies its nature and existence and portrays the image of its design-so it is with all of the soul's faculties. These, however, are divided into three general categories: transcendent faculties, internal faculties-some of which are composed [i.e., the intellect], others animated [i.e., the emotions]-and facilitative fa~ulties.~"
T H E THREE FACULTIES

The transcendent faculties are those that are not confined to particular parts of the human body. These are delight and will, which reside and are active in all parts and faculties of the body equally. The internal faculties are those that are confined to certain parts
50. Literally, "faculties that serve."

TRANSLATION A N D COMMENTARY

48

THE FOUR WORLDS

of the human body. They are intellect and emotions. Intellect resides in the brain, which is in the head, while the emotions reside in the heart. They are of different natures: the intellect is composed, the emotions are animated. The facilitative faculties are merely the garments of the soul: contemplation and thought, speech and deed. They do not possess any independent disposition--either composed or animated. Because they are facilitative faculties, they conform to the nature of the faculty that inhabits them. When [these faculties] think or meditate, fulfilling thereby the charge of either the faculty of delight or will, intellect or emotions, their disposition will change, just as a garment conforms to the size of its wearer. As mentioned, the deeds of the faculties describe to us those that power them. We therefore know the nature of the being of each faculty. True, we do not know the nature of the essence of the faculties, but we do know the nature of their [outer] beings. And since we know the nature of the faculties' beings, we must say that they are finite. For if the faculties were infinite, we would not know them, since the finite cannot grasp the infinite. A clear proof for this is the following. The nature of the [outer] being [of the faculties], which is known to us, points to the existence of the essence [of the faculties], which is finite. For the essence of the essence cannot be infinite while its outer being is finite. For the finite and the infinite cannot coexist in one thing. So since the outer being is finite, its essence must also be finite. Thus: All the faculties are defined by finite definitions of finite time and space. Yet though they are finite faculties that function within physical, material limbs, nevertheless, they are spiritual beings, defined by spiritual time and space. And although they are distinct one from the other-not only in the three categories referred to above, transcendent, internal, and facilitative, but also each one of the transcendents, internals, and facilitative~, distinct from each other-nevertheless, they are spirare itual beings. Now, although the faculties are spiritual beings and we are physical beings, nevertheless, we perceive the faculties and understand the nature of their beings. That is, not only do we under-

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

niyq~l ,~rn; urn htmq

T :

, ~ ~ r n ~3p)ngnr .a32 ~ 3 W n nj
T T

.~stti?lnn ; l ! . . ~

nin>;l! ~;l! . .?a53 fljg!~ 'wra7 77 ~ ; l ! nrnnp? ,Y+YT;YB P?? 19s~ rilmYG7 113.( VT;! n?wnn ~ ' ~ n vP;q a?;! ~ ' n l w n nin3 ~ ~ i y UPU ,nrtti$7n;ll ! t7 . . . ,;l!7Sp w i n PV ,P$ tti>?nn;l n>$ iniu ni;R? T? n i ~ & iu 53vg iu i Y 5 irnn3v nwiul. . .itv?dg 5u ttira)g ni~ntti;!? , ~ ? l g r ~ P Y ~ ~ J I I P . . P P ns 3 n i ~.u n n nin>g n i b r ~ s u . ,nay? 5? 5 v inru.yr, nrnn wVi9 r3y 5y ,IQTU ~97gs;l ,nin>a 5tv ~ @ ; m nrna aYpTi9 r ~ y 3 u ~ D Y ~,n> 1 ni'j rluv lnupr , P ~ Y T ~ ~ . : 335 ,ninig 5lp qru9y! krno 5?u P ; ~ W1ni5 n .m. 3 973 ,nin>g 5tti ti~ruSyt,l . . nrnn P T Y ? ~ ~ 3391J & I P 9 7 ~ 9 ~ nin'3a P i '3 ,D'??~;D .+ma 9n733 gin il9s 5?1rsg 93 ,PQSN ~ 9 ~ 7 ~ 9 n l i n 9 Y T T nru9yg3mnnq urn n ~ nyrynra n w ~ r 3 ~ 2 nhpg nru9ugv ~ q i 15 x q . bnirn urnv n n i g nmu9q 5, 9 nru9yg;l nr$; ,?ra+ 3 3 n?;!l- lnn& Stti inrm r ~ -g . .. ~ 5 $2: 3173ra?g 9 ,333: n y g 5 w g i n k 5~ . $u urn nru9?$@g nrnnw ?nun? , t ? 1 ~ n?;!:tv . l w. ? ~ ~ :. . ,97733 urn nrnpg nruSy0~2 n;! 97ra~

~'mwn;!

1i

T:

T :

T T

T:

n;rm ;IT 5; mu! ,97ra$ Pipqr lnt? ni97'11~ nt DY n ngin 95.372 iv~tti?m! .. . ~ 9 7 1 j 4~ 9 7 ~ ~ iD7u2 .93pr~n ~ r l Pipa3 a713:rng ,a7qr1wnrnn P;! nix752 tti5p 71 uSI iTn ~977?rn P;IV D?;~I
nin>
'r
T :

nimwp ~ ~ s l PJ a niwg 5; n~;! ,p 5y r

T :

YWU. .
1 i

T n y '5;

n~ 52: ,injnn t n u

PH

9 ,09n,rgnr 5
~ 9 p i $ n

,nipl3;r t 3 P7n,typr wa33s oq9ppgj

~ 9 ~

~9~919 9 ~

.PS3?77 P;! ;I?;!

S nin>gw ni9;r PY 3271 I P ~ ~ '1337 X . . P ~ ~ P;! Y ~ V r3nfu1 mnn n9yivqr n137p i3y1 nin>g nv i q n! ~ ? j

'Q~~)/A

50

THE FOUR WORLDS

stand them intellectually, we sense them. We perceptibly sense the distinction between the definition of physical space and spiritual space.
PHILOSPHY VS. CHASIDUS

After this introduction, you should study the explanation of the matter in the first two chapters of the explanation on the verse Sos Asis in Likutei Torah,parshat Nitzavim. I hope that with G-d's help you will understand the matter well. For there is a covenant sealed for chasidim and their descendants that when they study a concept of Chasidus, they sense the concept. For in their blood flows the lachluchis5'-transmitted by inheritance from parents to their children-which places them on the path of truth. In the summer of 5668, my father was in Marienbad. One of the elders of the "Enlightenment" was staying there as well and he came to visit my father. He asked my father about some profound subject and my father replied with an explanation according to chassidic doctrine. The elder was pleased with the answer and explanation and he said, "This is Chasidus?! It seems like a deep philosophical concept. What, then, is the difference between the logic of philosophy and that of Chasidus?" My father replied: "My brother, Rabbi Zalman Aaron, once gave the following answer to that question. 'When a person studies philosophy, he ultimately sheds his tallis kattan 52 and hat. And when a person studies Chasidus, he ultimately puts on a garte153and a yarm~lke.'~* "This is the truth. Everything depends on the introduction and preparation for study. Philosophy is generally studied in a spirit of cynicism born of a desire to cast off the yoke of heaven. But

51. Literally "moisture," referring to an intuitive sense and a warm regard for Chasidus.
52. Literally, "small shawl," a four-cornered
fringed garment with a hole in the middle (as opposed to tallitgadol, "large shawl," referring

to the prayer shawl.

53. A black belt worn by Chasidim during

prayer.

54. Skullcap.

TRANSLATION A N D COMMENTARY

P '3 n9??v ; ! ? l ? 3 9 j. 33 7'87 ?1"31 ,P??U9YQ N I? p . ~ T . . . . nu1 r~n!uv nn ,nwnn :,733. 1'2 v7g;l3 ,aia?n~ ~ 9 v 9 3 1 n . .'Jan Pip??'nwa Pip??
T

'1y '~i'lu] yfl?n&gn v t...p ti13 t i n n',j n w ~ n _ yip? U X J ~ 2 i Ygni ~ viip) p9?y T?T [93y 7 i n n v l , ~ U ~. J Y I Y U Q ?~'?JY 1 : in?? 09ni,o ' T. J .J ~ n n v ~ . ~ 2 i Tit i n nv +' 2, u71 , P ~ ' ~ W & q?!n tag n7u?? J
T :

?n2yt~? [witqg 1 l j 1 ptrg7j v i n y g nryl? 7773 73033 p'gl;! ~ " i n u gnvfrp ti>? ?n;p] ,P'J?"~J . . . . . . .. . .n?t9gn;rnlin
P ~ J j~t n g j Y

'3 - p;llj v i n u g 3 9 t i n YPiu - ~ ~ 0 ~-9 p:x~ n 7 - :; 7 ~ tin?? ~ 9 ~ 3 ~ 9 3 ~ ? ,t?n*;l nq51 nn7?;113 3 ~ 733 3 ~ np'l?? n?y71pqn~ oyni? 5~ 7 . . 3y 337 ,n;'pr~
7

52

THE FOUR WORLDS

Chasidus is studied in a spirit of warmth born of belief and acceptance of the yoke of Heaven and an awe of Heaven. "This," my father concluded, "is the fruit of the devotion of the early chasidim to Chasidus. They bequeathed to their children and their children's children some spiritual kzchluchis so that a chasidic concept sticks to them. A chassidic axiom is absorbed well by them and places them on the path of truth." And with regards to the journey that you mention in your letter: If you can arrange your present business in a secure manner-along with the expenses of the journey and the time [it will require]-until, with G-d's help, you will get organized in a proper manner, it would be most appropriate. May G-d help you with whatever you need, materially and spiritually. He who seeks your welfare and blesses you, [signature]

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY

n?n9nn3 ;T nyni5 n?t90n;! nlin tin?? I

a9&?tti>?

,5iu

.i:~tpw 1. n
.

n??u? uS;! - i ) " ; ! ~ ; ! iMingu ,n?t90n;! nlin 53 D ~ Q T ; ~~ y ~ g jltr ; w3g. n?n9p73;! ~ ~ ! . nynji? 3~98~;lmu ;. ~ ~.I , . . D ~;lm) ?59n;;! i v g. . U ? U ~ ~ ~ n ? t 8 ,D?? ~ 7 7 1 ~gp n?t7pnGrv 'lqy iwg 9 n . qn .nex;! 5~ ~ l m p ,=iU 935 . .. ~? . $gpnn i?l? p ? . . . D& 53l77?2? 377nk33 3PSt)33 7373 t%3 i t y 1~.!;111 . . ny9o3;! niu$i;ll n?o? lgiu2 3733 ittig ipqy . . . . . . li>; 333 ,i5 YU?;! i n ? mnp: y ~ g :in~tw?i . w. . . .n?*1!?i1 n?*ntvx;li? yvq@;113 . . ?;lfll~y: y7sn: DV;! 7m;r .i3lan> iniW ttili'l;! :
,
T:

n)?p! iFau7 ti71 ns:t) - n ~ ~ l

D~YH
T : . .

. T

HEBREW NOTES

HEBREW NOTES
.12669 nyXun .On] nii9>tnn pnpnn npnp~ " i I

i u .nfls nnniwo ~ .x~'rii,xwnp*imaW uMo*?wi n f x g>n n m r .n(ftn~fx ~ n ni.r9Oniny*pn,ni>'ia ym3unin?iy n q ,'I~IYEI? ,ni~p;1~ ninbz ,uta*?w i w f x 3 9 ?w 13 tnpff niip8;r .mn?39pw : nvx; uf unwf n'13inn l>n? .?*y?f> w2Nix~ " n m n ni?>9nv n?!u>? :3-iu uwvni?3ln ,x y yns .is ~ i 711y31 :In 7 Y :NX y 9i n uimil .3 ,n139n ;it# n w n : 7 1 1 ~U uiilw A T I'U .X I' .Ton :nId?w illon .f vy nnxnnw l93w inx3 PX DX 31ii>n YP :n37 ~ i i uninnunni . l ;I ,n~?*>w nwi~winw xnfn? PX :unXi??i .yNx ? y i ~ n P:I liiani 9.193 .?yi~>i *wnin nlnnxnn xin i??~ nn ,131 an nninnunn ,yMx;l'liu>? :nlgnil ?w ininn ij13il- ninnil niuirnw . i

...

> l * f i > i

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW OF THE FOUR WORLDS

By Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet

1. THE

CONCEPT OF "WORLDS"

Tzimtzum, the process of a progressive dimming, occultation and condensation of the light of the Ein Sof; brought about numerous levels, one lower than the other. These numerous levels are divided into five comprehensive categories, referred to as the Five Realms or Worlds. The numerous other levels are the myriads of gradations into which these five worlds subdivide, each of which is a microcosm on its own. Essentially these Worlds are Divine "Garments" in which the Or Ein Sof conceals and clothes Itself, thereby animating and lending them existence.' But just as tzimtzum and the S@rot are allegorical concepts that assume substantive reality only in relation to man and creation, i.e., from the creature's perspective (looking "from below upwards") but are non-real in essence, i.e., relative to G-d (looking "from above downward^"),^ so it is with these Worlds. When we speak of different Worlds or Realms, any difference is due to the recipients, and that in two respects: firstly, because the "higher" worlds are those which receive a radiance infinitely greater than the "lower" ones, and secondly, in that the "higher" ones receive this radiance without as many garments and screens as the lower ones." T o be sure, the light of the Ein Sof fills all worlds alike and there o is no place void of Him.4 The core and essence of the blessed Ein S f is identical in the higher and lower worlds, and as He is to be found in the higher worlds so He is to be found in the very lowest.
1. Tanya, ch. 43.

3. Tanya, ch. 40. Cf. Iggeret Hakoderh, sect. 25.

2. See Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, ch. 11, and note 18 a.l., and ch. 111, section 1.

4. Ibid, Cf. Mystical Concepts in Cbassidism, chapter 11, notes 16-17.

THE FOUR WORLDS

The difference between them is with regard to the stream of vitality from the Ein Sof in terms of "revelation out of concealment," For the higher worlds receive in a more revealed form than do the lower ones, and all creatures therein receive each according to its capacity and nature, The lower worlds, even the spiritual ones, do not receive the light in such a revealed form but only by means of numerous concealing "garments" which hide and screen the Divine Light so that ultimately--on the lowest level, in the physical world "No light or vitality whatever is visibly revealed, but only corporeal Yet and physical things that appear lifele~s."~ they, too, contain light and vitality from the Ein So$ which lends them existence ex nihilo, so that they will not revert to their state of naught and nothingness as they were prior to their creation. In that sense the Holy One, blessed is He, is the "Most Hidden of All Hiddenn6and is called the "hidden G-d" (Isaiah 45:12).' This is analogous to the presence of the soul in the body. The entire soul is a single and simple (as opposed to compound) spiritual entity, without any dimensions of space or size, corporeal shape or physical limitation. Thus one cannot say that it divides into a number of parts corresponding to the number of organs in the body. Rather, the whole soul pervades the entire body equally, from head to foot, and its core and essence is, for example, in the feet no less than in the brain, But from the different kinds of potencies or powers and vitalities contained in the soul's intrinsic essence, each of the body's organs receives the power and vitality appropriate to itself according to its own capacity and character-the eye for seeing, the ear for hearing, the mouth for speaking and so on. Thus as the different bodily organs express and manifest different powers this is not due to a different soul, or part of the soul, being inherent in them, but it is due to their own unique composition 5. "Even in completely inanimate matter, such as stones or earth or water, there is a "soul" and spiritual life-force.. .which give life and existence to inanimate matter that it might arise out of the naught and nothingness that preceded the Six Days of Creation"; Sham Hayichud v 'Ha'emunah,
ch. 1, based on Eitz Chayim 393, See also Tanya, ch. 38; Igqeret Hakou'esh, sect. 25, and Eih; Chayim 50, passim.

6. Tikkuneizohar, Intro., 17a.

7. Tanya, chs. 40 and 5 1,

OVERVIEW

63

and capacity. All powers of the soul are intrinsic to the whole soul and independent of the body, as is evident from the fact that a blind, or otherwise defective, person is able to give birth to a physically normal child.' A similar analogy is to the light of the sun which penetrates the rooms of a house, and even into rooms within rooms. The light does so in accordance with the presence or absence of obstructions. There is thus no change in the light itself, but only in the condition or capacity of the place to be illuminated.' Thus when we speak of "higher" and "lower," in proximity to, or distant from, the Ein Sof and so on, these terms do not refer to any spatial dimensions but to qualitative differences in degree and level. lo
2. T H E DIVISION OF THE WORLDS

The five comprehensive worlds are:" (1) A k m kb'mon. This anthropomorphic term means Primordial Man. Kadmon denotes "being primary of all primaries."I2 This World is also called the Realm of Keter Elyon (the Supreme Keter), the "lucid and luminous light" (or tzach um'tzuchtzach) and frequently referred to as Tzachtzachoti3-implying the "pure, lucid Sefirot which are concealed and hidden."I4

8. Ibid., ch. 51; see also Sidur im Perush Hamilot, p. 164c-d, as well as ibid., pp. 48a ff.
9. Ibid, (sources cited in preceding note).
10. Cf. Maimonides, Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah 2:6; Eitz Chayim 1:2. In fact this concept of relative concealments and occultations may be read in the very term of world in Hebrew. For the word ohm (world) is etymologically related to, and itself spelled sometimes as, elem (to be concealed; hidden); see, e.g., Exodus 3; 15, and the comment in Pesachim 50b, and Rashi, a.1.; also Ecclesiastes 3: 11, and Midrash Rabba, and Rashi, a.1. The term Okzmot (Worlds) thus denotes the concealment and dimming of the Divine Light. See Tikkunei Zohar

42:82a, and Sejr Habahir 8 (10). 11. The general sources for the following paragraphs are R. Chaim Vital, Sha'arei Kedushah 1II:l f.; Eitz Chayim I:4, and 43; Intro.; Mevoh She'arim VI:2:1; Pardes Rimonim 5:4; Shomer Emunim I:46 ff. 12. Tikkunei Zohar 19:42a, and 70:120a; cf. Zohar III:193b. See also Shomer Emunim I:62 f., and cf. Mystical Concepts in Chasidicm, chapter 11, note 34. 13. See the responsa by R Hai Gaon and R. Chamai Gaon in Pardess Rimonim 11: 1 and 3. See also R. Bachya ben R. Asher, Commentary on Exodus 34:6. 14. See Tikkunei Zohar 69: 115b, and 70: 135b. See Pardess Rimonim 11:2 ff.;

THE FOUR WORLDS

(2) Atzilut, the World of Emanation, The term is derived from the root etzel as in Numbers 11:17 and Ecclesiastes 2:lO. (3) Beria&-the World of Creation; (4) Yetzird-the World of Formation; and (5) h i y a k t h e World of Action or Making. These latter three names are derived from the creative terms in Isaiah 43:7. Adam libdmon is the most pristine emanation. It is the first and highest stage after tzimmm took place and yet so sublime that in a sense it may be spoken of as completely attached to, and united with, the Ein $05Atzilut is the stage followingAdam Gdmon, thus l5 further removed from the Ein So$ This World receives its vivification (the Divine Emanation and Life-force) via, or from A&m Kadmon, thus in smaller measure and less intense than Adam K;rdmon.lGBut Atzilut is still in such close proximity to the Ein Softhat it, too, is "One with It," being, in effect, Divinity." Beriab is hrther removed, and draws its vivification through Atzilut,18thus in smaller measure, and less intense, than that of Atzilut. In fact, the full intensity and effect of tzimmm is first noticeable in this Realm. Although the particular aspects and rungs of tzimtzum are too numerous to count and generally are of many diverse kinds, there are, however, three levels of powerful and comprehensive contraction and condensation, which give rise to the three lower Worlds. The World of Atzilut (and a j d o r i , Adam K;rdmon) is G-dliness itself." Thus we speak of a Massach, or Pram (curtain; covering) separating bemeen Atzilut and Bmah (and between the

Eitz Chayim 1:4, and 12:5; Ijgeret HakoIsh, sect. 29; Torah Or, Esther, 98b. 15. Cf. Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, chapter 11, note 38. 16. In that sense A h m kkdmon is the "soul" of Atzilut, In an extended sense, though, it is also the "souln or spiritual substratum and life-force of all worlds, for the emanation of A h m kizdmon extends from the highest level to the very central point of the chakd (the world of Ariyah),

albeit in ever-increasing concealment; see Eitz Chayim I:4, and lggeret Hakodesh, sect. 10; Mystical Concepa in Chassidism, chapter VIII, note 2. 17. See Tanya, chs. 39 and 49; I p e t HakoIsh, beg. of sect. 10. 18. In that sense Atzilut is the "soul" of

Beriah.
19. Note 17, above; cf. also, Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, chapter VII, note 20.

OVERVIEW

65

subsequent ~ o r l d s ) . ~ ' denotes the immense separation and disThis tinction between these levels. Yetzirah is still further removed, and draws its vivification through Beriah, and Rriyah is the furthest removed having its vivification from Yetzirah2' Like the ten Sefirot2' these Five Worlds correspond to the letters of the Tetragrammaton: Atzilut corresponds to the Yud, Beriah to the first Hei, Yetzirah to the Vav, and Asiyab to the latter Hei, Adam fidmon, for its state of immense sublimity, cannot be represented by any specific letter but by the "thorn" of the Yud. As Keter is elevated above all Sefirot, so Adam Kadmon is elevated above all worlds. That is why, generally, only four Worlds are spoken of and referred In fact, the Worlds correspond to the Sejirot themselves. Though all ten Sefirot emanate and "function" in every World in particular (Keter of Atzilut, Chochmah of Atzijut, Binah of Atzilut specific Sefirot predominate in each of the Worlds. and so Thus Adam Kzdmon corresponds to Keter; it is the realm of Keter, because Keter is the red om in ant Sefirah in Adam Kadmon. Atz i h t corresponds to Chochmah; it is the Realm of Chochmah, because
20. See Eitz Chayim 42:4 (ibid., ch. 13 f. of Klalut ABYA-I), ibid., 44:1; Iggeret Hakodesh, sect. 10. 21. Every Realm always being the "soul" of the succeeding one. 22. See Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, chapter 1 1 note 37. 1, 23. Sha irei Kedushah 1 1 1-2; Mevoh 1: Shearim VI:2:1.

riah, Beriah of Beriah, and so on until @ah of Asiyah. R. Moses Cordovero explains this division by means of an analogy to a silversmith who grades his silver according to the purity of the metal: The first grade is the most pure silver, free of base metals; the second one is less pure than the first, the third is about half pure and half impure, and the fourth contains more base metals than silver. However, even the first grade silver cannot be wholly and totally pure. There always are some drosses that cannot be removed. Thus even this first grade can be subdivided into more and less "wholly pure," indeed, into the four general categories of silver as such. The same would apply also to the other three grades, with each sub-division differing from the others in the degree of purity. (Par& Rimonim 24:10)

24. Moreover,. iust as the S h o t are corn, pounds dividing into themselves, the Worlds also divide into the general classes of the Sefirot as reoresented bv the concept of tf;e world; thus we sieak of Atzilut of Atzilut, Beriah of Atzilut, Yetzirah of Atzilut, Asiyah of Atzilut, Atzilut of Be-

66

THE FOUR WORLDS

Chochmah is the predominant Sefrah in Atzilut. Beriah corresponds to Binah, Yetzirah to the M i h t (Chesed-Geuurah- Ti$ret-Hod-Yesod) , and Asiyah to Makhut, because these are respectively the predominant Sefrot in these particular Realms.25 In terms of the "Man-Image" of the Sefiot (the Partzuf of Adam Kadmon, the original emanation of the Divine Light), the World of Adam Kadmon is referred to as the Atzmut (the Essence, or soul); Atziht as the Body containing this soul; and Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah as the outer Garments in which this Body is ~lothed.~' The difference between these worlds is one of degree in concealment of the Atzmut, and is, therefore, often compared to four modes of perception referred to as reshimah (a mark), cbakikab (an engraving), chatzivah (a carving), and asiyah (an enactment); A reshimah is non-substantial; it is a mere sign marked down, barely denoting a distinction between non-marked and marked, thus, between absolute naught and reality (or, rather, the beginning of reality). Its type of reality is so close to naught that there is practically no difference between them. Precisely so, Atzilut is the first egression towards substantiality: between absolute naught and infinity and the category of substantiality and finitude. A chakikah, on the other hand, is already sensed and perceived in greater measure than the reshimah; correspondingly, Beriab is the stage of a more perceptible and finite being than Atzilut, though still very subtle. A chatzivah is more perceptible yet, just as an object hewn and carved is sensed in much greater degree than some engraving. Comparable to that is Yetzirah. Full perception, completely in the realm of distinct substantiality and corporeality, is the finished product of an *ah, and corresponding to it is the World which is called by this name-A~iyah.~' R. Moses CordoveroZ8reads these differences between the
25. See above, note 23; also Tanya, chs. 39 and 52. Cf. Iggeret Hakodesh, sect. 5, note 5 1 (53). 26. Eitz Chayim 3:3. 27. Pardess Rimonim 16:9; Shomer Em-

unim 1:51. Cf. note 24 above.

28. Known by the acrostic Ramak; 15221570. Leader of a prominent Kabbalistic school in Safed; author of Pardes Rim-

onim, Elima Rabbati, Shi'ur Komah, Or Ne'erav, and many other works. Ram& is

OVERVIEW

67

Worlds in their very names. He suggests that the term Atzilut is also related to the preposition etzel (near-by), thus denoting the close proximity-to the point of unity-of the Sejirot to their Source. Beriah he relates to the verse "But if the Eternal beriah yivra (creates a creation)" (Numbers 16; 30), with the connotation of the coming Therefore Beriah is radinto being of something new, ex nihi10.~~ ically different and removed from Atzilut, Yetzirah he relates to the verse "Vayim-and the Eternal, G-d, formed man of the dust of the ground." (Genesis 2:17) Yetzirah then is related to the "dust of the ground," a lower, much less spiritual, level than Beriah. Rriyah is self-explicit as the most material and perceptible of these terms, and this is also suggested by its appearance as the third and last term in the above-mentioned verse of Isaiah 43:7.30 Now, as has been said, all the Sefirot emanate throughout all the Worlds, in general and in particular. All the Sejirot manifest themselves in Atzilut, as well as in Beriah, in Yetzirah, and in As4ah. As the S$rot are in Atzilut they are still in explicit unity Through Malchut of Atzilut (as is the "funcwith their Ernanat~r.~' tion" of Malchut) the Sejirot of Atzilut (latently immanent in Malchut of Atzilut) are projected further to manifest themselves in Beriah. Malchut of Atzilut thus serves as the mediary between Atzilut and Beriah. In that capacity Malchut of Atzilut assumes a characteristic of Keter which serves as intermediary between a higher stage and the subsequent lower one, Therefore Makhut of Atzilut, the lowest level of Atzilut, re-emerges as Keter of Beriah, the highest level of Beriah.32 While the Sefirot of Beriah are the actual Sejirot of Atzilut, they are in Beriah in a state of great concealment and condensation. For the "downward transition" from Atzilut to Beriah involves "passage" through the immense tzimtzum of the prma that separates these
regarded as one of the most important and lucid expositors and systematists of Jewish Mysticism. 21 (23). 30. Pardess Rimonim 16:1.

29. See commentary of Nachmanides on Numbers 16:30; Zohar C h a h h , Bereishit 17b; and Igqeret Hukodesh, sect. 10, note

3 1. See above, note 17.

32. See Igeret Hakodesh, sect. 10, and notes 27* (30) and 43 (46) a.1.

68

THE FOUR WORLDS

worlds." Therefore, in Beriah, the World of Creation, there is the first appearance of finite and limited creatures distinct from Divinity, though still strictly spiritual: the souls of the righteous (Tmdikim), and sublime angels. The same process repeats itself in the next stage of the creative development. Through Malchut of Beriah the Sefirot (all latently present in Malchut) are projected further downwards to manifest themselves in Yetzirah, emerging there in still greater concealment and condensation. This allows for the appearance of creatures less sublime and more numerous than those of Beriah. As this process continues, it culminates in the physical creatures and entities of our physical world, in the lowest level of R r i j ~ h . ~ ~ The implications of this creative process are two-fold. On the one hand it allows for the possibility of a finite, physical world with finite, physical creatures to the point that-because of the immense tzimtzum involved-they appear distinct and separate from Divinity. On the other hand it implies the Divine Immanence or Indwelling Presence (Shechinah) even in the finite and physical. For it is no less o than the actual light of the Ein S$ that issues forth from Malchut of Atzilut, albeit so strongly obscured and condensed that it is not manifest per se.35 For the Ein Sof alone is able to create and sustain all beings ex nihilo; the Sefirot are not to be regarded as "creative agents" separate and distinct from Divinity.j6

33. See above, note 20. 34. See Sba'arei Kedusbab III:2; Tanya I ; ch. 39.

note 8), and Igeret Hakodesb, sect. G and 25.

35. See Tanya, chs. 38, 40, 51 (quoted in

36. Igeret Hakodesh, sect. 10, and cf. Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, chapter 1 1 note 9. 1,

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF RABBI YOSEF YITZCHAK SCHNEERSOHN OF LUBAVITCH1

5640 - 5710 (1880 - 1950)

By Rabbi Nissan Mindel To world Jewry, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, was a recognized leader and champion of Torahtrue Judaism, who sacrificed himself all his life for the benefit of his people. To numerous individuals in all walks of life, he was a patriarch and sage whose word of advice and encouragement meant inspiration and comfort. To the Chabad community the world over, with its thousands of synagogues and hundreds of thousands of followers, his word was sacred and his wish a command. His appearance was most impressive-his beard of gold and silver, his kindly eyes and majestic smile-left an unforgettable impression on all who observed him at close range. While benign and affectionate in his conversation with his numerous visitors, he could be gravely serious, fearless and outspoken, when touching upon any subject concerning the safeguarding of the religious observances or the economic improvement of his brethren, wherever they may be. The Schneersohn Rabbinical Dynasty has for two centuries produced leadership of the rarest caliber in world Jewry. True to that tradition, the Lubavitcher Rebbe stood above party, but belonged to all Israel. Every Jew, without exception, was dear to him. Thus, while having devoted part of his time to the large Chabad community the world over, with its specific problems such as the dissemination of the Chabad philosophy and the perpetuation of the Chabad tradition, much of his energies were exerted for the general economic betterment of the Jew, and the safeguarding of J u h s m everywhere, to the improvement of the educational system, and the support of all Torah-true institutions regardless of affiliation. All the beauty of Chabad scholarship and piety, loving kindness and modesty, purity of heart and faith, were personified in him. He was all that a Jewish leader should be.
1. Although originally published in 1940 and subsequently updated after the pass-

ing of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, much of the information is current.

THE FOUR WORLDS

His selfless devotion to his people, his self-sacrifice for Torah and Judaism, his inspiring leadership in the most critical era of Jewish history, made the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe stand out as one of the most revered and saintly figures of the entire world of Jewry.

* * *
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn was born in Lubavitch, Russia, on the 12th day of Tammuz in the year 5640 (1880). His father, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn: initiated his son into communal work at the age of fifteen, by appointing him his personal secretary. For more than one hundred years, the Lubavitcher Dynasty enjoyed the status of privileged citizens, first granted by Czar Alexander the First, at the time of the Napoleonic invasion of Russia, in recognition of the great patriotism of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad Chasidus, and the progenitor of the Lubavitcher Dynasty. This privileged status of the Lubavitcher Rebbes in each generation (even with many non-Jews), enabled them to render invaluable service to our people in Czarist Russia. When news of the demise of Rabbi Schneur Zalmar~,~ Alter the Rebbe, reached St. Petersburg, the War Minister called a special session of the cabinet to send a message of condolence to the bereaved family. The official address was brought to his son at Krementchug by representatives of the Governors of Poltava, Tchernigow and Odessa, with an inquiry as to the best way in which Russia could repay the Lubavitcher Rebbes for their services. The son and successor of the first Chabad leader asked nothing for himself, but requested a benevolent attitude by the Russian Government towards the Jews, and the improvement of their economic position. Asked for specific suggestions, he requested the cooperation of the government in the settling of numerous Jews on the land, a project which his father had taken up just before the Franco-Russian war broke out. Thus the famous Jewish settlements of Kherson came into being. The Settlement expanded, and to thousands of Jewish families it meant nothing less than salvation.
2. 5621-5680 (1860-1920).

3.24 Tevet 5573 (1812).

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

73

The gandson of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the world famous Talmudist and codifier, author of Tzemach Tzedek,Rabbi Menachem Mendel of L~bavitch,~ generation of Lubavitcher Rebbes, acthird quired whole tracts of land around the town of Shtzedrin, including the town itself, where new Jewish settlements were established. These efforts were further developed by each generation of Chabad leaders, right up to the time of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, when the American Joint Distribution Committee began to take an active interest in Russia's farming projects. The settling of many Jews on farms was by no means the only activity which occupied the Lubavitcher Rebbes, with the purpose of alleviating the terrible economic plight of the Jews in Russia and Poland. They propagated the idea of artisanship among Jews, and raised their standards, economically and socially, to a place of recognition in Jewish life. No longer were Jewish artisans looked upon as the dregs of society. The son of the Tzemach Tzedek had induced the government to grant them special privileges of domicile in restricted areas, on a par with Jewish businessmen and professionals. The Lubavitcher Rebbes worked for the establishment of schools for training Jewish artisans. They also endeavored to create labor and occupation for Jewish workers, such as the establishment of the famous textile factory in Dubrovna, through the initiative of the father of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. The Lubavicher Rebbes were the true champions of Russian Jewry, always defending its economic positions against the restrictions and discriminations imposed upon the Jews by one government decree after another. Whether it was the annulment or postponement of an expulsion decree, such as in the years 1853-57 in the district of Vohlyn, or in the year 1891 in Moscow; or in the decree depriving Polish Jews of the right of running breweries in the year 1860, or the fight against the waves of pogroms and the like, the Lubavitcher Rebbes carried the fight fearlessly and selflessly to the highest spheres of the Russian Government and Court, and to the attention of the civilized world abroad, when it became necessary. It is beyond the scope of this brief biography to enlarge upon

THE FOUR WORLDS

the accomplishments of the earlier generation of the Lubavitcher Rebbes. The above brief references were made merely to give the reader a better insight into the position that the Lubavitcher Rebbe holds, not merely as leader of the Chabad world, but of world Jewry in general.

* * *

As personal secretary to his illustrious father, the young Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn participated in all important Rabbinical convocations, political conferences, and the sundry other public activities of his father. In 1895, soon after he had joined his father in his public work, he participated in the great conference of religious and lay leaders which took place in Kovno, and the following year in Vilna. On the 13th day of Elul 5657 (1897), at the age of seventeen, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak married Nechama Dinah, daughter of Rabbi Avraham Schneersohn, a prominent man of great scholarship and piety. During the week's celebration that followed the wedding ceremony, his father, Rabbi Shalom DovBer, announced the founding of the famous Lubavitcher Yeshivah Tomchei Tmimim, and the following year, appointed his son executive director. Under the able direction of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, and guided by his ever watchful father, the Lubavitcher Yeshivah flourished and opened many branches in various parts of the vast expanses of Russia. In the strenuous efforts of his father to improve the economic status of the Jews in Russia, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was delegated by his father to carry on an intensive campaign for the establishment of a textile factory in Dubrovna. This campaign, which was conducted in the year 1901, took Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak to Vilna, Brisk, Lodz and Koenigsberg. With the cooperation of the leading Rabbis of that time, including Rabbi David of Karlin, Rabbi Eliah Chaim of Lodz, Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, and Rabbi Chaim Ozer of Vilna, as well as the famous philanthropists, the brothers Jacob and Eliezer Poliakoff, a large textile factory was established in Dubrovna, in the district of Mogilev, giving employment to numerous Jewish workers, supporting some two thousand persons in all. The difficult position of the Jews under the Czarist regime need

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

75

not be elaborated upon here. As mentioned before, however, the Lubavitcher Rebbes continually interceded on behalf of their brethren, both with the government and the court. Such intercessions took Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak to the capital of S. Petersburg many times, as well as to Moscow. His visit to the capital in the year 5662 (1902) proved highly successful. When the Russo-Japanese War flared up in the Far East in 1904, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak became quite active in the campaign inthe augurated by his father to ~rovide Jewish soldiers on the far eastmatzot for Pesach. ern front with The widespread unrest that followed in the wake of that war, known as the October Revolution, its suppression and the wave of pogroms that swept the Pale of Settlement, once again spurred his father into determined action. The Rebbe was sent to Germany and Holland, where he conferred with prominent statesmen, and induced them to intercede on behalf of the persecuted Jews in Russia, in order to suppress the wave of pogroms there. These efforts, too, proved highly successful. In the year 5668 (1908), Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak again participated in the Rabbinical convocation which took place in Vilna. In the following year, he went to Germany to confer with Jewish leaders there. Upon his return he took part in the preparation for the next Rabbinical convocation in the year 5670 (1 910). His energetic and far-reaching public activities, his watchful defense of the rights of the Russian Jew, and his constant fight against local and central authorities aroused the displeasure of the then Czarist regime. During the ten years between 5662 and 5671 (1902-191 I), Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was arrested in Moscow and S. Petersburg no less than four times. Since governmental inquiries could find nothing incriminating in the Rebbe's activities, he was released each time, with a stern warning which, nevertheless, did not deter him from continuing his work on behalf of his people with ever-growing vigor. In the years 1917 and 1918 Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak again took a leading part in the convocations of Rabbis and laymen in Moscow and Kharkov.

* * *
The time came when Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, upon his father's

76

THE FOUR WORLDS

death on the second day of Nissan 5680 (1920), was left alone to assume full responsibility of leadership. At the request of the entire Chabad world, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak accepted the leadership as Lubavitcher Rebbe. By that time conditions had greatly changed. Russia was being bled white in the wake of war, revolution and constant internal strife, and, as usual, the Jews were the greatest victims. In those days, the Rebbe found himself practically alone, facing a task that required superhuman effort. He began to work on the rehabilitation of Jewish communal and religious life in Russia. His fight was on two fronts. The material position of the Jews had been reduced to the lowest degree of poverty and suffering, and the future of traditional Judaism was gravely threatened by the policy of the godless Jewish group known as the Yevsektzia.' While single-handedly pitted against overwhelming odds in his fight for the preservation of traditional Judaism in Russia, the Rebbe realized that the great Torah center of Russia was destined to move to a new country. Therefore, he founded a Lubavitcher yeshiva in Warsaw, Poland in the year 5681, and helped many students and deans of his Russian yeshivot to make their way to Poland to carry on with the growing Lubavitcher yeshiva there. The Lubavitcher yeshiva in Poland, like its forerunners in Russia, rapidly developed into a whole system of yeshivot with many branches in which hundreds of students were enrolled. In the meantime, the Rebbe fearlessly conducted his work in Russia, establishing and maintaining yeshivot and Torah schools, and other religious institutions in various parts of the country. He ignored the warnings and threats of the Yevsektzia. At that time, the Rebbe had his center in Rostov-on-the-Don, but because of libelous accusations, he had to move. He took up residence in Leningrad (S. Petersburg) from where he relentlessly continued to direct his activities. At that time, he also organized a special committee to help Jewish artisans and workers who desired to observe the Shabbat. He sent out teachers and preachers and other representatives to the most remote Jewish communities in Russia to strengthen their religious life.
5. Notorious anti-religious organization, eventually dissolved by the Soviet Government.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

77

In many instances, the Rebbe supported rabbis and institutions through loans and subsidies, as it was very difficult to organize financial help in those days. The Lubavitcher Rebbe found it necessary at that time to organize Chabad communities outside of Russia. It was then that Agudat Cbasihi Cbabad oftbe United States ofAmerica and Canada was organized (in 1924), and he established regular contact with his followers in the New World. In 1927, the Rebbe founded the Lubavitcher yeshiva in Bukhara, a remote province of Russia. His fight against those who wanted to undermine the Jewish religion and religious observance became ever more bitter. The Yevsektzia was determined to stop him. They resorted to intimidation and mental torture. An illustration in point is the following: One morning, while the Rebbe was observing yahmeit after his father, three members of the secret (now defunct) Tcbeku rushed into his synagogue, guns in hand, to arrest him. Calmly he finished his prayers and then followed them. Facing a council of armed and determined men, the Rebbe once again reaffirmed that he would never, despite threats of compulsion, give up his religious activities. When one of the agents pointed a gun at him, saying, "This little toy has made many a man change his mind," the Rebbe calmly replied: "Your little toy can intimidate only a man who has many gods (passions) and but one world (this world). Because I have only one G-d and two worlds, I am not impressed by your little toy."

* * *
This relentless struggle, however, came to a head in the summer of the year 1927, when the Rebbe was arrested and placed in solitary confinement in the notorious Spalerno Prison of Leningrad. The Rebbe's life was now in imminent danger, but thanks to timely intervention by leading foreign statesmen, his life was spared. The intervention came in the nick of time, as a death sentence had already been pa~sed.~ For some time the Rebbe was banished into exile at Kostroma in the Urals. Finally, again giving way to great pressure by prom6. For a detailed account, see The Hri eoc
Struggle (Kehot, Brooklyn, 1999).

78

THE FOUR WORLDS

inent foreign statesmen, the authorities released the Rebbe on his birthday, Tammuz the 12th-13th, and he was permitted to settle in the village of Malachovka, in the vicinity of Moscow. Further intercession resulted in permission for the Rebbe to leave Russia and come to Riga, Latvia. O n the day after Sukkot, the Rebbe left for Riga, together with his family and the bulk of his valuable and historic library. Without pausing to rest, the Rebbe renewed his activities. He began by establishing a yeshiva in Riga. In the years 1928-9, he took the initiative in providing Russian Jews with matzot. His efforts were highly successful. In the year 1929, the Rebbe visited Israel and from there, traveled to the United States. Here he received an official civic welcome in New York, and was granted the freedom of the city by the Commissioner of Police, acting on behalf of the Mayor. Hundreds of Rabbis and lay leaders welcomed the Rebbe and sought personal audiences. During this visit, the Rebbe was also received by President Hoover at the White House. Returning to Europe he continued his varied activities, and in order to have better facilities for his work, he took up residence in Warsaw in (5694) 1934. The activities of the Lubavitcher yeshivot in Poland now gained considerable momentum. The central yeshiva in Warsaw and Otwock attracted many hundreds of scholars from all parts of Poland and other countries, including the United States. Two years later the Rebbe moved to Otwock, near Warsaw, and from there directed all his activities. Storm broke out again, in September, 1939, with Europe in the throes of a second world war. Refusing every opportunity to leave the inferno of Warsaw until he had taken care of his yeshivot, and done everything possible on behalf of his suffering brethren in the Polish capital, the Rebbe remained there throughout the terrible siege and bombardment of Warsaw, and its final capitulation to the Nazi invaders. His suffering during this time, and his narrow escape under terrific bombardment, were not, however, in vain. He had managed to evacuate a great many of his students to safer zones, and all the American boys who had been studying at the

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

79

Lubavitcher yeshivah at Otwock were safely transported back to their homes in the United States. His courage and fearlessness (he had a sukkah built and observed the mitzvah of "dwelling in the sukkah" at the height of the bombardment) were a source of inspiration to the suffering Jewish community of Warsaw. It was only afier he realized that there was nothing more that he could do that the Rebbe finally consented to heed the urgent requests of his many followers in Warsaw and abroad, particularly in the United States, to leave the shattered and charred ruins of the Polish capital, and make his way to the United States. The Rebbe's ardent followers and friends in America, through the cooperation of the United States Department of State in Washington, worked incessantly to facilitate the Rebbe's transportation from Warsaw to New York. Finally, the Rebbe and his family were offered transportation to Berlin, and thence to Riga, Latvia. kga, the capital of Latvia, which was still neutral at that time, offered further opportunity for the Rebbe to help the numerous refugees, who had succeeded in escaping from Poland to Lithuania and Latvia, among them many students and Rabbis. On the 9th day of Adar 11, 5700 (19 March 1940), the Rebbe arrived in New York on the SS. Drottningholm, and was enthusiastically welcomed by thousands of followers and many representatives of various organizations, as well as civic authorities. Immediately upon his arrival, the Rebbe publicized that it was not for his own safety that he had made the trip to the United States, but that he had an important mission to fulfill in this free and blessed country. This mission was to make America a Torah center to take the place of the ruined Jewish communities of Europe. The decade that had elapsed between the Rebbe's first and second visit to the U.S.A. left its scar on the Rebbe's constitution. His health had greatly deteriorated by his suffering and self-sacrifice. Nevertheless, the Rebbe threw himself at once, body and soul, into his new mission. The central Yeshivah Tomchei Tmimim, Lubavitch, was soon established, and it became the forerunner of many yeshivot and Torah schools throughout the United States. The Rebbe continued his efforts on behalf of his war-torn brethren overseas, and at the same

80

THE FOUR WORLDS

time, concentrated every ounce of energy on behalf of American Jewry, to bring about a religious revival here. After a short stay in Manhattan, the Rebbe moved his headquarters to Brooklyn. The first issue of the monthly journal Hakriah Vehakdusha made its appearance as the official organ of the World Agudat Chaidei Cbabad. The Rebbe then founded the Machne Israel, Inc. and Merkos L'lnyonei Chinuch, Inc. organizations. The former is devoted to the general strengthening of Orthodox Judaism in America and the world over, and the latter is dedicated to every phase of Jewish education, including the establishment and maintenance of many schools for girls; the publication of text-books and literature; the organization of Jewish youth into religious observance groups and circles, and so forth. These institutions are not Chabad institutions, per se, but are devoted to the general objective of strengthening Judaism and the remedying of the general position of Jewish education, consonant with the policy of the Lubavitcher Rebbes in the past five generations. The Kehot Publication Society was the next organization established. To head the three latter organizations, the Rebbe appointed his son-in-law, and future leader of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.

* * *

The aims of the Machne Israel and Merkos L 'Inyonei Chinuch organizations are dedicated to the welfare of all Jews without distinction. The idea of Abavat Yisrael (love of fellow Jews), which permeates the work of these organizations, does not allow any distinction between one Jew and another, where Jewish spiritual and material welfare is concerned. Through the dissemination of literature in the spirit of our Torah and Prophets of old, through the distribution of religious articles, support of religious institutions, and so on, the Machne Israel organization has brought new vitality and meaning to thousands of Jews in every walk of life. Of course, special attention was given to Jews in the armed services, and a wave of religious re-awakening swept the rank and file of the Jews at home and abroad, the like of which had been unknown and held impossible here in America. An eloquent illustration of the activities of these two organiza-

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

81

tions under the auspices of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was the Farmers' Department of these organizations. This department sent a special representative by car to visit the Jewish farmers in the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Words can hardly describe what this visit meant to those lonely farmers. For many decades they had come to regard themselves as forsaken and forgotten. Most of them had become completely estranged from Judaism. Their children would almost certainly have been lost to us forever. Now direct contact was made with these 'lost tribes of Israel.' The above mentioned organizations furnished them free of charge, or at cost price, with various essential religious articles, fine literature and textbooks to make them conscious and proud of their great spiritual heritage. The publication department of Merkos L'lnyonei Chinuch has published millions of volumes of various publications, including Hebrew textbooks, juvenile library editions, two monthly journals, various pamphlets and booklets and other literature in Hebrew, Yiddish, English, French and Spanish. Who can estimate the far reaching moral effect of these publications on our growing Jewish youth, who until now have been fed on literature completely alien to the Jewish spirit? Thousands of children of the Public Schools in greater New York and in other cities now receive religious instruction every week through the initiative and services of the Merkos L'lnyonei Chinuch, talung advantage of the provision of the Education Department releasing all students for one hour a week for religious instruction. It has also mobilized a legion of volunteer instructors from the ranks of senior yeshiva students to conduct these special religious classes. Special literature and pedagogic instruction are given to these teachers to conduct the classes in the best possible way. Thus, not merely are thousands of Jewish children brought back to the Jewish fold, but through them the light and warmth of Judaism gradually penetrates into their homes. Not of less importance is the work of the Merkos L'lnyonei Chinuch in the field of chinuch habanot-girls' education. Girls' schools under the name of Bais Sarah and Bais Rivkah have been established by this organization in New York and throughout the continent, in-

82

THE FOUR WORLDS

cluding Canada, as well as in the Holy Land, England, France, Morocco and Australia. There are now thirty-six such schools, in which thousands of Jewish girls are educated. About sevenry Mesibos Shabbos groups, for boys and girls, have been established by the same organization from coast to coast, whereby Jewish children and youths are made conscious of their great spiritual heritage. Meeting every Shabbos in a congenial atmosphere, led by a boy, or a girl--depending on the group-of their own age, these children become aware of the fundamentals of the Jewish religion, of the sanctity of the Shabbat and other precepts. They form a potential reservoir for yeshivot and Talmud Torahs. At the end of the war, in 1945, when so many thousands of Jews were suffering in the DP camps of Europe and clamoring for help, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn established the Ezrat Pleitim Vesidurom, his Refigee Reli$and Rehabilitation Organization, with a special office in Paris. He appointed Rabbi Benjamin Gorodetski as its head and official representative in Europe. Concentrating his efforts on this work, and with the help of the Almighty, the Rebbe succeeded in saving many hundreds of his own students and disciples and other Jews, from Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, etc., and in rehabilitating them in various countries as Rabbis and teachers, or in various professions, trades and businesses. Many of these Jewish rehgees came to Israel through the help of the Ezrat Pleitim, and in 1948, the Rebbe established Kfar Chabad, near Tel Aviv, where many rehgees settled down to agricultural work. The village has made excellent strides in its development and is a model of dedication and industriousness. It has its own religious institutions, including a yeshiva. In recent years vocational schools have been established there, such as an agricultural school, a school for carpentry, and a school for printing. A second Chabad village, in the vicinity of the first, is being established. A short while before his death, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak turned to his followers and supporters with the following message: "There is much to be done in North Africa. The Jews of Morocco need teachers and guides, and it is our task to spread the knowledge of Torah among them."

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

83

This message resulted in the campaign for Jewish education and Torah-learning in Morocco. At present, many schools, teacher's seminaries, yeshivot and Talmud Torahs have been established in the various cities and towns of Morocco and in other parts of the world. All of these institutions and organizations for children, boys and girls, bear the name Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch, in memory of the one who had conceived of this work, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of saintly memory. The achievements in the field of Jewish education and the general strengthening of Judaism here in America which can be credited to the Rebbe's direct or indirect influence, clearly prove the old Jewish axiom: Nothing can stand in the way ofa determined will. In many quarters, the Rebbe removed the handicap which, more than anything else, has been responsible for the deplorable state of Judaism and Jewish education in America. The handicap was the common belief that America is dzferent, and that America is not suit-

able to become a centerfor Torah and G-d-fearingJews.

The Rebbe constantly underscored that strict adherence to the Torah as a factor in Jewish life is not limited to any particular country or any special conditions of time and place. He further impressed upon all our people, by word and by deed, that no matter how estranged a Jew may be from Torah-Judaism, the Jewish heart and soul remain unaffected, and the Jew can always be made aware and conscious of his or her great spiritual heritage, provided the right approach is taken. Many Jewish communal workers and leaders have taken heart in the Rebbe's successful efforts, and redoubled their own. New organizations and institutions have sprung up in the field of Jewish education, Shabbat observance, etc., the benefit of which is making itself increasingly felt. Paraphrasing the words of the wisest of all men (Proverbs 10:25) njiy 7 1 ~"1x1("a tzaddik is the foundation of the world)-it ~ ~ can truly be said that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, was one of the foundations of world Jewry in his generation. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak passed away on Shabbat, the 10th day of Shevat, 5710 (1950), after thirty years of indefatigable leadership as

84

THE FOUR WORLDS

head of Chabad and as leader of world Jewry, of which the last ten years were spent in dedicated work from his headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. News of his demise saddened Jews all over the world, who mourned with a sense of personal loss the passing of so eminent, devoted and inspiring a leader. However, they found comfort not only in the knowledge that his spirit lives on in the unbroken chain of Chabad leadership, but also in the fact that his deeds and institutions continue to thrive under the leadership of his successor, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe and head of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson [of righeous memory].

IMPORTANT DATES

IMPORTANT DATES IN THE LIFE OF RABBI YOSEF YITZCHAK SCHNEERSOHN

5640 (1880): Birth of the Rebbe on 12th of Tammuz. 5655 (1895): Begins communal work as personal secretary of his father, and participates in the conference of communal leaders in Kovno. 5656 (1896): Participates in the Vilna Conference. 5657 (1897): O n the 13th of Elul he marries the Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, daughter of R. Avraham Schneerson of Kishinev. 5658 (1898): Appointed head of Yeshivaht Tomchei Temimim. 5661 (1901): To lay the groundwork for establishing the Dubrovna factory, travels to Vilna, Brisk, Lodz and Koenigsberg. 5662 (1902): Travels to S. Petersburg for communal matters. 5665 (1905): Participates in organizing a fund to provide Passover needs for troops in the Far East. 5666 (1906): Travels to Germany and Holland, and persuades bankers there to use their influence to stop pogroms. 5668 (1908): Participates in organizing the Vilna Conference. [Ed-

itor? note: hbbis and Community Leders discussed issues such as: genuine Jewish education; permission for Jewish children not to attendpublic school on Shabbat; the creation of a united Jewish organimtionfor thepurpore of strengthening]ukism; etc.]
5669 (1909): Travels to Germany to confer with communal leaders.

[Editor 3 note: This was regarding his father3 purchase of a property in Hebron named Beit Romano, which later housed the Israeli branch of the Lubavitch Yeshivah.]
5670 (1910): Occupied with preparing the meeting of Rabbis. Between 5662 and 5671 (1902-1911) he is arrested four times on different occasions in Moscow and S. Petersburg because of his activities.

88

THE FOUR WORLDS

5677 (1917): Participates in arranging the conference of Rabbis in Moscow. [Editori note: After the Bohhevik Revolution, elections took place to appoint Jewish city councili and a General Jewish

Assembly. His father worked tirelessly to organize a religiousfi.ont with a center and a special ofice that would deal with it all. For this reason, he called a unique conference of all the Torah giants throughout Rwsia.]
5678 (1918): Participates in arranging the Kharkov conference.

[Editori note: The above Moscow conference was preceded by a meeting ofthe leading Rabbis, to decide which matters would be discussed at the general conference in Moscow. This smaller meeting was held in Petrograd. However, because the participants in this meeting werefew and in a bury to return home, the Moscow conferencefailed to yield proper results. Thus, it was necessary to convene once again, this time in Kharkov, to discuss the elections for the GeneralJewish Assembly.]
5680 (1920): Accepts leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch. 568 1 (192 1): Arranges program of communal activities to strengthen Eddishkeit in Russia; establishes Yeshivaht Tomchei Temimim in Warsaw. 5684 (1924): Compelled by the Cheka (secret police) due to slander by the Yevsektzia, to leave Rostov. Settles in S. Petersburg and labors to strengthen Torah and Yiddishkeit through activities involving Rabbis, Torah schools for children, yeshivot, shochtim, senior Torah-instructors and the opening of mikva bt; establishes a special committee to help manual workers be able to observe Shabbat; establishes Agudat Chasidei Chabad in U.S.A. and Canada. 5687 (1927): Establishes a number of yeshivot in Bukhara. O n 15 Sivan he is arrested and held in Spalerno prison. O n 4 Tammuz he is exiled to Kostroma. On 12 Tammuz he is informed that he is free; the next day he is in fact released and at the Government's instruction he moves to Malachovka near Moscow. On the day after Sukkot 5688 (1927) he leaves Russia and settles in Riga, Latvia, and founds a yeshiva there.

IMPORTANT DATES

89

5688-9 (1928-9): Campaigns successfully to have matzot sent to Russia. 5689-90 (1929-30): Visits Eretz Yisrael and the United States. 5694 (1934): Moves to Warsaw; establishes association of Temimim; establishes branches of Yeshivaht Tomchei Temimim in a number of outlying towns in Poland. 5695 (1935): Begins publication of Hatamim journal. 5696 (1936): Moves Yeshivaht Tomchei Temimim and his residence from Warsaw to the city of Otwock. 5699 (1939): Establishes world-wide Agudat Chabad. 5700 (1940): On 9 Adar 11, he arrives in New York and settles in Brooklyn; devotes himself successfully to rescuing his pupils; establishes Central Yeshivaht Tomchei Temimim. 5701 (1941): Begins publishing the journal Hak'ria Vhak'dzuha; founds Machne Israel. 5702 (1942): Establishes Yeshivaht Tomchei Temimim with preparatory schools in Montreal, Canada; establishes Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch; establishes Yeshivaht Achei Temimim in Newark, Worchester and Pittsburgh; establishes Kehot Publication Society of Lubavitch. 5703 (1943): Establishes Otzar Hachasidim Library of Lubavitch. 5704 (1944): Establishes Nichoach group to collect and publish Chabad melodies; begins publishing the journal Kovetz Lubavitch; establishes Society for visiting the sick (Bikur Cholim). 5705 (1945): Establishes relief office for refugees, with a branch in Paris; establishes Erdeinu Society for advanced Talmud study, and S h a h (religious instruction for public-school students); initiates efforts to improve the spiritual situation of Jewish farmers and others in rural communities in America. 5708 (1948): Founds (ffir) Chabad village at Safaria, near Tel Aviv, for refugees from Russia. 5709 (1949): Urges the organization of a commission for the education of children of olim to Eretz Yisrael housed in the ma'abarot (transit camps) and meets with success.

THE FOUR WORLDS

5710 (1950): In the weeks before his passing he lays the foundations and program for educational work and strengthening Torah in North Africa. As a result, a seminary for teachers, a yeshiva, a junior yeshiva, a Talmud Torah for boys, and one for girls, all under the general name "Oholei Yosef Yitzchak-Lubavitch," have been established. O n Shabbat parshat Bo, 10 Shevat 5710 (1950) at eight in the morning, he passes away and is interred in New York.

PUBLISHED WORKS

PUBLISHED WORKS OF RABBI YOSEF YITZCHAK

1. Sefer Hamaamarim - 5680-5689, 8 vol. 1. Sefer Hamaamarim - 5692-5693. 3. Sefer Hamaamarim - 5696-5711, 15 vol. 4. Sefer Hamaamarim - Kuntresim, 3 vol.

5. Sefer Hamaamarim - Yiddsh 6. Sefer Hasichot - 5680-5691,2 vol. 7. Sefer Hasichot - 5696-5710, 8 vol. 8. Likkutei Dibburim, 4 vol. 9. Kuntres Torat Hachasidut 10. Kuntres Limud Hacbasidut 1 1. Admur Hatzemach Tzedek UTenuat Hahaskalah 12. Kitzurim L 'BiureiHazohar 13. Sefer Hakitzurim - Shaarei Orah 14. Kitzurim L'Kuntres Hatt$llah 15. Sefer Hazichronot, 2 vol. 16. Moreh Shiur B'Limudei Yom Yom - Chumash, Tehillim, Tanya 17. Seder Haselichot 18. Maamar VHaijh Mosbe Anav, 5698 19. Igrot Kodesh, 14 vol.
Hebrew Translations: 1. Likkutei Dibburim, 5 vol. 2. Sefer Hasichot - 5700-57053 vol. 3. Sefer Hazichronot, 2 vol.

English Translations: 1. Lubavitcher Rabbi ? Memoirs 2. On Saying Tehillim 3. The Tzemach Tzedek and the Haskah Movement 4. On Learning Chasidut 5. On the Teachings of Chasidut

6. Some Aspects of Chabad Cbasidism 7. Cbusidic Discourses, 2 vol. 8. Likkutei Dibburim, 5 vol. 9. The Principals of Education and Guihnce 10. The Heroic Struggle 11. The Four Worldr 12. Oneness in Creation
CD / Edeo: 1. America Is No Dzfferent

INDEX

INDEX

Abraham (Patriarch), 27n23 actions (deeds), 15,48 See aho Asiyah; direct perception Adam (man), 25n 17 Adam kidmon (World), 63-66 alumot, 24 Alter Rebbe, the, 16, 72 angels, 241117, 25n17, 68 anger, 25n 17 animal soul, 251-117 animals, 25n17 appearance of G-d, 24nl7 appearance of the world See perceptions of spirituality; revelations Arizal, the, 22, 32n36 Asiyah, 15, 30, 42-44, 64-68 Atzilut, 14, 24-28, 32-40,6448 Atzmut, 66 See a h souls ayin, 28-30

Baal Shem Tov, the, 22,23n14 beasts, 25n17 being (yesh),40-42 Beriah, 14-15, 28-30, 40-42, 64-68 binah, 66 See a h Beriah; perceptions of spirituality b'li mahut, 27n24 body and soul, 16-17,4648,6243 brain, 17, 44, 48 See also intellect

candles See fire capacity for change, 38-40 carving metaphor of Yetzirah, 42, 66 cause and effect in creation, 16 Chabad Chasidus vs. philosophy, 50-52 Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, Rabbi, 73 publications and organizations of, 80-82 Schneersohn, Rabbi Shalom DovBer, 73 Schneersohn, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak arrest and exile, 23n14, 77-78 communal activities: America, 79-84 Europe, 7 1-79 important dates in the life of, 87-90 published works of, 93-94 Schneur Zalman of Liadi, Rabbi, 72 chakikah (engravings), 40-42, 66 chambers of the righteous, 20-22,24 change, capacity for, 38-40 Chariot of G-d, 24, 32 Chasidus vs. philosophy, 50-52 chatzivah (carvings), 42, 66 chayot, 241117 chesed, 26, 66 chochmah, 26, 34-38, 39n45, 65-66 See aho Atzilut; intellect cbutz, 30 closeness to G-d, 14, 26-28, 67 coexistence

98
See worlds comprehension, Beriah as world of, 28 concealment, 14,24,32-36,6143 See aho Atzilut; Beriah; revelations conceptualization See intellect; perceptions of spirituality contemplation, 48 See ah0 intellect Cordovero, Rabbi Moses, 65n24, 66-67 corporeal world See physical world covering (Prarsa), 64 Creation, 14-16, 27n2 1 Creation, world of See Beriah creative process, 25n18 creatures See animals; man curtain (Prassa), 64, 67

THE FOUR WORLDS

Eden, Garden o f ,20-22,23n14 Ein SoJ 251118, 61-64, 68 See aho ten sefiot Eitz Chaim, 32 emanation, 14,26 See a h Atzilut emergence vs. finding, 36 See aho hidden existence emotions, 17,24, 251117,4650 empiricism See direct perception emptiness See time and space engraving metaphor of Beriah, 4042,156 Eser Scfimt Hagnuzot See ten s&rot eternity See infinity of worlds etzel, 67 existence See hidden existence; time and space Ezekial the Prophet, 24n 17

deeds, 15,48 See ah0 Asiyah delight, 46 descent of Divine Light, 15-16 differences between the spiritual worlds, 30-32 dimensions of the worlds, 2On 1 See aha time and space direct perception, 44-50 Divine See G-d division See emanation; order of worlds; tzirntzurn domain, private or public, 271126

earth See physical world

facilitative faculties, 48 faculties of the soul, 46-50 faculty of intellect, 36-40 Farmers' Department of Machne Israel, 81 finite world, 251118, 48 fire, 26, 32-38 See aho gemrah (sefirot) firmarnents, 24nl7 See d o ninth sphere; spiritual worlds Five Worlds, 61-68 See aho Adam Kadmon; Asiyah; Atzilut; Beriah; worlds flint stone metaphor for wisdom, 36 form See metziut; Yetzirah found vs. emergence, 36

INDEX

four worlds See Asiyah; Atzilut; Beriah; worlds; Yetzirah

GaLgalim See ninth sphere

Garden of Eden, 20-22,231114 garments, divine, 22n6, 48, 61-63, 66 See also ten sefirot geuurah (jejrot), 25n17, 66 G-d appearance of, 24n 17 benevolence of, 26 Chariot of, 24, 32 closeness to G-d, 14, 26-28 Ein SoJ; 25n18,61-64, 68 greatness of, 32 Light of, 15-16,2426 man created in the image of, 24n17,25n17,66 relationship to the worlds, 13-1 4, 20 self-manifestation of, 25n18 Shechinah, 24n 17 ten sefirot of, 22n6, 24-26, 32-34, 38-40,61-66 Tetragrammaton, 65 Throne of, 24n17 understanding of, 15-1 6, 32 unity with, 67 G-dly soul See souls

Heavenly Academy, the, 20-22 heavens See ninth sphere; spiritual worlds heichalot (chambers), 20-22, 24 hidden existence, 14, 24, 32-36, 62-68 See also Atzilut; Beriah; ten s&rot higher worlds, 61-68 Horowitz, M.A., 13

ideas

See intellect identity, 17n4 immanence, 13-14, 18 imperceptible nothingness, 28-30 See also hidden existence impressions See engraving metaphor of Beriah inanimate matter, 62n5 indirect perception of spirituality, 16, 44-50 Infinite One (Ein S o f ) , 25n18,61-64, 68 infinity of worlds, 24 inner flame, 34-38 See also fire insight See perceptions of spirituality intellect, 17, 24, 34-40, 44, 46-50 See also perceptions of spirituality internal faculties of the soul, 13-14, 18, 46-48 invasion of space, 17 See also physical time and space invention See chochmah

Halevi, Rabbi Avraharn, 23n 12 head See brain heart, 17 See also emotions

Joshua son of Levi, Rabbi, 22

THE FOUR WORLDS

Luria, Rabbi Isaac See Arizal, the

Keter ELyon, 63-67 kindling See fire kindness, 26 knowledge See intellect; perceptions of spirituality koach hamaskif, 38n45

lachfuchis, 50-52 letters See engraving metaphor of Beriah lights and vessels of the spiritual world, 15-16,24,25n18 See also Ein Sof lions, 251117 location of the spiritual worlds, 44 See also tzimtzurn logical sequence of creation, 15-16 lost object metaphor, 36 lower worlds, 61-68 See also physical world Lubavitcher Rebbes Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, Rabbi, 73 publications and organizations of, 80-82 Schneersohn, Rabbi Shalom DovBer, 73 Schneersohn, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak arrest and exile, 23n14, 77-78 communal activities: America, 79-84 Europe, 71-79 important dates in the life of, 87-90 published works of, 93-94 Schneur Zalrnan of Liadi, Rabbi, 72 See also Chabad

Machne IsraeI, Inc., 80-82 mah, 26 "Make way!", 22 Makhut, 66-68 See alro Asiyah man body and soul, 1 6 17 , 4 6 4 8 , 6 2 4 3 as chariot of G-d, 32 G-d's appearance as, 24n 17,2511 17, 66 knowledge of G-d, 15-16 sense of spiritual world by See perceptions of spirituality marks See reshimah Mashiach, 23n 13 Massach, 64 Matatron, 23n12 matter See entries at physical Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, Rabbi, 73 Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, Inc., 80-82 Metivta D+akiZ (Academy of Heaven), 20-22 metziut, 14-1 5, 32-44 of hiy&, 42-44 of Atzilut, 38-40 of Beriah, 28,30,40-42 of Yetzirah, 30, 42 m h t , 66 See alro chesed; geuurah (sejrot); Yeairah mind, 17,44,48 See alro intellect Mindel, Rabbi Nissan, 71 Moses, 22, 32n34

Nachmanides ( Ramban), 28,67n29 nearness, 14, 26-28, 67 negative See indirect perception of spirituality ninth sphere, 44 "note" in intellectual stimulation, 38-40 nothingness, imperceptible, 28-30 See also hidden existence

See direct perception potential See hidden existence prassa, 64, 67 Primordial Man ( A h m khdmon), 63-66 private domain, 271126 proximity, 14, 26-28 public domain, 27n26 purpose of the worlds, 15-16

observation See perceptions of spirituality occupation See time and space ofanim, 24n17 ohmot See worlds Or Ein Sof; 25n18, 61-64,68 order of worlds, 20-22,651124 organs, 62-63 See also body and soul outer flame, 34-38 See also fire outside, 30 oxen, 25n 17

Ramak (Rabbi Moses Cordovero), 65n24,66-67 Ramban (Nachmanides), 28,67n29 reality, 25n18 realms See worlds recognition of G-d's greatness, 32 reshimah, 38-40, 66 revelations, 14, 24, 26, 30, 42, 61-63 See ah0 Beriah righteous, 20-22, 68 rules of creation, 15-16

Partzuf of Adam Kadmon, 66 perceptible being besh), 28, 40-42 perceptions of spirituality, 16, 32, 44-50,66 permeation, 14 philosophy vs. Chasidus, 50-52 physical time and space, 13, 16, 17, 20nl,44-50 physical world, 13-14, 20-24, 62 See also Asiyah; man; worlds positive

Schneersohn, Rabbi Shalom DovBer, 50,73 Schneersohn, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak arrest and exile, 77-78 communal activities: America, 79-84 communal activities: Europe, 71-79 important dates in the life of, 87-90 published works of, 93-94 Schneur Zdman of Liadi, Rabbi, 16, 72 Schochet, Rabbi J. Immanuel, 61 Sejr Yetzirah, 26 sefirot, ten, 22n6,24-26, 32-34, 38-40, 61-66 sense See perceptions of spirituality

102
separation See emanation; order of worlds; tzimtzum seraphim, 25n17 severity, 2511 17 Shamayim See ninth sphere shape, 40-42 See aho meaiut; time and space Shechinah, 68 sheol, 23n14 Shmuel (Talmudic sage), 22n7 silver metaphor for classes of worlds, 65n24 six dimensions See time and space souls, 16-17, 22, 25n17, 46-50, 62-64 space and time, 13, 16, 17,20nl, 44-50 speech, 48 sphere, ninth, 44 spiritual energies of man, 17 spiritual kzchluchis, 50-52 spiritual time and space, 13, 16, 17, 20n l,44-50 spiritual worlds Aahm ffidmon (World), 63-66 Asiyah, 15, 30,42-44 Aailut, 14,24-28,32-40 Beriah, 14-1 5,28-30,4042 man's sense of See perceptions of spirituality order of, 20-22 parallels to the physical world, 13-14,20-24 physical space, irrelevance of, 16-1 7 Yetzirah, 15, 30, 42 See aho time and space; worlds strength, 25n17 substance See metziut Supreme Keter, the, 63-66 surrounding

THE FOUR WORLDS

See transcendence

tangible See entries a t physical Ten Martyrs, 22n 10 ten sefirot, 22n6, 24-26, 32-34, 38-40, 61-66 Tetragrammaton, 65 theoretical See indirect perception of spirituality thought, 48 See ah0 intellect three faculties of the soul, 46-50 Throne of G-d, 24n17 timatze See emergence vs. finding time and space, 13, 16, 17,20nl, 44-50 transcendence, 13-14, 1 8 , 4 6 5 0 transition See tzimtzum truth in Chasidus, 50-52 Tzachtutchot, 63-66 tdikim See righteous Tzemach T d k , the, 73 tzimtzum, 25n18,61-68

understanding See perceptions of spirituality unity with G-d, 67 upper world See spiritual worlds

vessels, 24-26 void See imperceptible nothingness

INDEX

will, 46-48 wisdom, 34-36 See alro chochmah; intellect; perceptions of spirituality worlds, 65n24 Adam M m o n , 63-46 Asiyah, 15, 3 0 , 4 2 4 4 Atzilut, 14, 24-28, 32-40 Beriah, 14-15,28-30,4042 dimensions of, 20nl G-d's relation to, 13-14, 20 hidden, 14, 24, 32-36 infinity of, 24 man's sense of spiritual worlds See perceptions of spirituality ohm, defined, 63n10 order of, 20-22,65n24 physical space, irrelevance of, 16-17

public vs. private domain, 27n26 purpose of, 15-16 revealed See revelations Yetzirah, 15, 30, 42 See also time and space

Yehuda Hanasi, Rabbi, 22n7 yesh, 28, 40-42 Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim, Lubavitch, 79 Yetzirah, 15, 30, 42, 64-48 Ymektzia, 76-77 Yishmael the High Priest, Rabbi, 22

Zalman Aaron, Rabbi, 20, 50 Zohar, 14,20,24

OTHER TITLES IN T H E CHASIDIC HERITAGE SERIES

THE ETERNAL BOND from z r e h o r

By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi Translated by Rabbi Ari Sollish

This discourse explores the spiritual significance of brit milah, analyzing two dimensions in which our connection with G-d may be realized. For in truth, there are two forms of spiritual circumcision: Initially, man must "circumcise his heart," freeing himself to the best of his ability from his negative, physical drives; ultimately, though, it is G-d who truly liberates man from his material attachment.

JOURNEY OF THE SOUL from Torah Or

By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi Translated by Rabbi Ari Sollish

Drawing upon the parallel between Queen Esther's impassioned plea to King Ahasuerus for salvation and the soul's entreaty to G-d for help in its spiritual struggle, this discourse examines the root of the soul's exile, and the dynamics by which it lifts itself from the grip of materiality and ultimately finds a voice with which to express its G-dly yearnings. Includes a brief biography of the author.

TRANSFORMING THE INNER SELF from Likkutei Torah

By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi Translated by Rabbi Chaim Zev Citron

This discourse presents a modern-day perspective on the Biblical command to offer animal sacrifices. Rabbi Schneur Zalman teaches that each of us possesses certain character traits that can be seen as "animalistic," or materialistic, in nature, which can lead a person toward a life of material indulgence. Our charge, then, is to "sacrifice" and transform the animal within, to refine our animal traits and utilize them in our pursuit of spiritual perfection.

FLAMES from Gates of Miance By Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Dr. Naftoli Loewenthal
This discourse focuses on the multiple images of the lamp, the oil, the wick and the different hues of the flame in order to express profound guidance in the divine service of every individual. Although Flames is a Chanukah discourse, at the same time, it presents concepts that are of perennial significance. Includes the first English biography of the author ever published.

THE MITZVAH TO LOVE YOUR FELLOW AS YOURSELF from Derech Mitzvotecha

By Rabbi Menachern Mendel of Lubavitch, the Tzemach Tzedek Translated by Rabbis Nissan Mange1 and Zalman I. Posner

The discourse discusses the Kabbalistic principle of the "collective soul of the world of Ekkun" and explores the essential unity of all souls. The discourse develops the idea that when we connect on a soul level, we can love our fellow as we love ourselves; for in truth, we are all one soul. Includes a brief biography of the author.

TRUE EXISTENCE Mi Chamocha 5629

By Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbis Yosef Marcus and Avraham D. Vaisfiche

This discourse revolutionizes the age-old notion of Monotheism, i.e., that there is no other god besides Him. Culling from Talmudic and Midrashic sources, the discourse makes the case that not only is there no other god besides Him, there is nothing besides Himliterally. The only thing that truly exists is G-d. Includes a brief biography of the author.

TRUE EXISTENCE he Chasidic Vinu of Reality A Video-CD with Rabbi Manis Friedman
Venture beyond science and Kabbalah and discover the world of Chasidism. This Video-CD takes the viewer step-by-step through the basic chasidic and kabbalistic view of creation and existence. In clear, lucid language, Rabbi Manis Friedman deciphers these esoteric concepts and demonstrates their modern-day applications.

YOM TOV SHEL ROSH HASHANAH 5659

Discourse One
By Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbis Yosef Marcus and Moshe Miller

The discourse explores the attribute of malcbut and the power of speech while introducing some of the basic concepts of Chasidism and Kabbalah in a relatively easy to follow format. Despite its title and date of inception, the discourse is germane throughout the year. Includes a brief biography of the author.

FORCES IN CREATION
Yom Tov She1 Rosh Hashanah 5659 Discourse Two
By Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbis Moshe Miller and Shmuel Marcus

This is a fascinating journey beyond the terrestrial, into the myriad spiritual realms that shape our existence. In this discourse, Rabbi Shalom DovBer systematically traces the origins of earth, Torah and souls, drawing the reader higher and higher into the mystical, cosmic dimensions that lie beyond the here and now, and granting a deeper awareness of who we are at our core.

THE POWER OF RETURN Yom Tov She1 Rosh Hashanah 5659 Discourse Three
By Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Y. Eliezer Danzinger

In this discourse Rabbi Shalom DovBer examines of the inner workings of teshuvah, and explains how it is precisely through making a detailed and honest examination of one's character and spiritual standing-which inevitably leads one to a contrite and broken heart-that allows one to realize his or her essential connection with G-d.

OVERCOMING FOLLY
Kuntres Umaayan Mibeit Hashem By Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Zalman I. Posner

In this classis ethico-philosophical work, Rabbi Shalom DovBer weaves Chasidic doctrine, Kabbalah thoughts, Biblical and Talmudic texts and candid insights into human frailties into a document structured and systematic, yet informal and personal-a text for study and meditation.

THE PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE

KZalei Hachinuch Ehahadrachah By Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Y. Eliezer Danzinger The Principles o Education and Guidance is a compelling treatise f

that examines the art of educating. In this thought provoking analysis, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak teaches how to assess the potential of any pupil, how to objectively evaluate one's own strengths, and how to successfully use reward and punishment-methods that will help one become a more effective educator.

THE FOUR WORLDS

By Rabbi Yosef Yiachak of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbis Yosef Marcus and Avraham D. Vaisfiche Overview by Rabbi J. Irnrnanuel Schochet

At the core of our identity is the desire to be one with our source, and to know the spiritual realities that give our physical life the transcendental importance of the Torah's imperatives. In this letter to a yearning Chasid, the Rebbe explains the mystical worlds of Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzira, and Asiya.

ONENESS IN CREATION Kf Hamaarirh B'EEhad 5690 o

By Rabbi Yosef Yiachak of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Y. Eliezer Danzinger

Said by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak at the close of his 1930 visit to Chicago, this discourse explores the concept of Divine Unity as expressed in the first verse of the Shema. The discourse maintains that it is a G-dly force that perpetually sustains all of creation. As such, G-d is one with creation. And it is our study ofTorah and performance of the mitzvot that reveals this essential oneness.

CREATION AND REDEMPTION Hacholicsh 5700

By Rabbi Yosef Yiachak of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus

Tishrei celebrates Creation, the birth of the world, indicative of the natural order. Nissan commemorates the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, or the supernatural. In human terms, when struggling with the obfuscation of the natural, the key is to recognize the dimension where the limitations of the natural order do not exist. In fact, the physical exists only so that we may demonstrate how it too exposes the Divine truth. And when we recognize this, we can realize the supernatural even within the natural.

GARMENTS OF THE SOUL Vayishlach Ehoshua 5736 By Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus
Often what is perceived in this world as secondary is in reality most sublime. What appears to be mundane and inconsequential is often most sacred and crucial. Thus, at their source, the garments of the human, both physical and spiritual, transcend the individual.

THE UNBREAKABLE SOUL Mayim Rabbim 5738

By Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Translated by Rabbi Ari Sollish

No matter how much one may be inundated with materialism, the flame of the soul burns forever. A discourse that begins with an unequivocal declaration, it speaks to one who finds pleasure in the material world, yet struggles to find spirituality in his or her life.

VICTORY OF LIGHT

Znu Rabanan Mitzvat Ner Chanukah 5738 By Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus

Even darkness has a purpose: to be transformed into light. This discourse explains how we can draw strength from the story of Chanukah for our battle with spiritual darkness, so that we, like the Macabees of old, may attain a Victory o Light. f

O N THE ESSENCE OF CHASIDUS

Kuntres Inyana Shef Toras Hachasidus By Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe

This landmark discourse explores the contribution of Chasidus to a far deeper and expanded understanding of Torah. The Rebbe analyzes the relationship Chasidus has with Kabbalah, the various dimensions of the soul, the concept of Moshiach and the Divine attributes.

NURTURING FAITH Kuntm Purim Xlttan 5752

By Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus

At its core, this discourse discusses the hnction of a nassi, a Jewish leader, who awakens within every single person the deepest part of the soul. Similar to Moses, the nassi inspires the person so that one's most basic faith in G-d leaves the realm of the abstract and becomes real. Nurturing Faith will cultivate your bond with the Rebbe's role as the Moses of our generation.

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COMING SOON!
LECHA DODI 5689 & 5714
By Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch and Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Translated by Rabbi Ari Sollish

UMIKNEH RAV 5666

By Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus

TRACT ON PRAYER Kunderes Hatejitlah

By Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch Translated by Rabbi Y Eliaer Danzinger .

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