{"id":295,"date":"2015-01-19T06:33:55","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T15:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/derechhashem.wordpress.com\/?p=295"},"modified":"2015-01-19T06:33:55","modified_gmt":"2015-01-19T15:03:55","slug":"derech-hashem-151","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/derechhashem\/2015\/01\/19\/derech-hashem-151\/","title":{"rendered":"Derech Hashem 1:5:1"},"content":{"rendered":"

The class can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1:5:1<\/p>\n

In general, reality is comprised of two realms: a physical one and spiritual one [1]. The physical realm itself is comprised of the things that we can experience with our senses [2], be they the more astronomical sorts of things like the stars and planets, or the more terrestrial ones like the earth, seas, and sky, and all the other things that we can sense.<\/p>\n

The spiritual realm is comprised of immaterial things that we can\u2019t<\/em> experience with our senses. They\u2019re either souls which are the purely spiritual phenomena that enter into, are circumscribed by and are deeply connected to bodies so as to affect them in various ways and at different stages [3]. Or they\u2019re transcendent phenomena that never enter into physical bodies like the \u201cforces\u201d [4] and angels [5]. The transcendent phenomena exist on different levels, they each have unique natures, and they\u2019re so highly variable that each would seem to be in a class of its own, but they\u2019re all of one sort.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s one specific entity, though, that\u2019s a cross between the physical and spiritual in that it can\u2019t be detected by the senses and isn\u2019t bound by the constraints and laws of physicality, \u00a0and yet it\u2019s very different from angels and forces (despite some similarities). These entities are known as \u201cdemons\u201d [6]. And they, too, have specific inborn attributes and make-ups, and are also so highly variable that each would seem to be in a class of its own, but are likewise all of one sort.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to know that only humans consist of the two opposite components of an exalted soul and a lowly body. For while animals have \u201csouls\u201d, those souls aren\u2019t actually spiritual phenomena — even though they\u2019re the most spiritual of material phenomena. And while the same sort \u201csoul\u201d is in humans as well given that we too are mortal beings, we nonetheless also have immortal souls [7] which is an utterly unique entity that\u2019s completely different than a body and incomparable to it, and which comes to us from and is connected to G-d for the reasons we explained above [8].<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Notes:<\/p>\n

[1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See Ma\u2019amar<\/em> HaIkkurim<\/em>, \u201cB\u2019Ruchniyim<\/em>\u201d, and Da\u2019at Tevunot<\/em> 78.<\/p>\n

[2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Or with devices that expand on them, regardless of how vast or minute, blunt or subtle they may be.<\/p>\n

[3]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The idea that \u201csouls \u2026 affect (bodies) in various ways and at different stages\u201d refers to the relationship between bodies and souls in life, in the afterlife, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the world to come.<\/p>\n

[4]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They\u2019re termed \u201cthe roots of (all) created phenomena\u201d in 4:6:13 below and are referred to as the Sephirot<\/em> by the Kabbalists. See Ma\u2019amar<\/em> HaChochma<\/em>, \u201cHaSephirot<\/em>\u201d and elsewhere about them.<\/p>\n

[5]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See 4:6:13 below as well as Pitchei Chochma v\u2019Da\u2019at<\/em> 108-109, Klallei<\/em> Pitchei<\/em> Chochma<\/em> v\u2019Da\u2019at<\/em> 5, \u00a0Da\u2019at<\/em> Tevunot<\/em> 116, 118, 126, 160, Derech<\/em> Eitz<\/em> Chaim<\/em> p. 137, Messilat<\/em> Yesharim<\/em> Ch. 6, Adir<\/em> Bamarom<\/em> pp. 260, 195.<\/p>\n

[6]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As demons are the most foreign to us of all of the above, they call for explanation. For one thing, it\u2019s pointed out in the Talmud that demons are all around us all the time. They\u2019re more numerous than we, and we\u2019d in fact be thunderstruck and undone if we were actually able to see them (Berachot<\/em> 6A). So they\u2019re obviously a force to be reckoned with. For an exposition about them see Chagiga<\/em> 16a, Yevamot<\/em> 122a, Zohar 3:76b, etc. Also see Deuteronomy 32:17 and Psalms 106:37 for Biblical references to them.<\/p>\n

Rambam denies their existence in his commentary to Avodah Zarah<\/em> 4:7 and in Mishne<\/em> Torah<\/em>, Avodat<\/em> Kochavim<\/em> 11:6, but the Gaon of Vilna excoriates him for that opinion (Yoreh<\/em> Deah<\/em> 179:13). See Ramchal\u2019s Iggerot<\/em> 50 and Derech Eitz Chaim<\/em> p. 142. Also see Eitz Chaim<\/em> 50:8 for the Ari\u2019s understanding of them.<\/p>\n

[7]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As it\u2019s said, \u201cAnd G-d the L-rd formed man out of the dust of the ground and He breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living soul.\u201d (Genesis 2:7).<\/p>\n

The type of soul that both animals and humans have is known as the Nephesh<\/em>, while the one that\u2019s unique to humans is known as the Neshama<\/em>. See 3:1:1-6 below on the different parts of the human soul.<\/p>\n

See Rambam\u2019s Sh\u2019mone<\/em> Perakim<\/em>, Ch. 1 as well as Ramchal\u2019s Da\u2019at<\/em> Tevunot<\/em> 24 and Adir<\/em> Bamarom<\/em> pp. 47, 275.<\/p>\n

[8]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In short, only human beings are comprised of the two components of reality itself, both physicality and spirituality, at one and the same time. The forces, angels, and the like are spiritual but not material, and animals are physical but not spiritual (though they have something akin to a soul), and \u201cdemons\u201d which seem<\/em> to be a combination of the two aren\u2019t really so (since they\u2019re not physical, yet they\u2019re also not angelic).<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we humans are referred to as microcosms of the universe (see Tanchuma<\/em>, Pekudei<\/em> 3), given that only we are comprised of those two components. Ramchal apparently makes this point to underscore his ongoing idea about our unique situation in the universe.<\/p>\n

(c) 2014 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n

———————————————————-<\/p>\n

AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n

You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n

Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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