While Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i> governs through kindness and allows for mitigation, \u201cmitigation can be removed from Zeir<\/i> Anpin\u201d<\/i>, our subject of concern, \u201cleaving (harsh) judgment in (its stead, and in) full force, which can (even) cause total devastation, God forbid\u201d.<\/p>\n
The point of the matter here is that this judgment-aspect of Zeir<\/i> Anpin<\/i> derives from Imma<\/i> and its own judgment-aspects specifically. And that\u2019s because while \u201cthe root of judgments lies above (Imma<\/i>), it isn\u2019t clearly discernible<\/i> there, given that kindness holds sway there\u201c. It\u2019s just that \u201cwhen it reaches (the) Yesod<\/i> (aspect) of Imma<\/i>, it reaches a level where it can<\/i> be revealed\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s to say that Zeir Anpin<\/i>\u2019s judgment derives from a very high point, but it only becomes manifest from a lower point — from Imma<\/i> (\u201ceven though Imma<\/i> isn\u2019t intrinsically connected to judgment\u201d Ramchal adds in his comments) — because that\u2019s the point at which it can<\/em> manifest itself.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear then that while harsh judgment (and rah<\/i>, its this-word \u201cpartner-in-crime\u201d one might say) doesn\u2019t manifest itself in the higher reaches, it\u2019s still and all derived<\/i> from there and expresses itself here. It\u2019s thus analogous to the way lower emotions express themselves in the body while originating in the mind: as when anger, for example, expresses itself in pursed lips, squinted eyes, dilated nostrils and the like, while actually being rooted in one’s thoughts and attitudes.<\/p>\n (c) 2013 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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While Erich Anpin governs through kindness and allows for mitigation, \u201cmitigation can be removed from Zeir Anpin\u201d, our subject of concern, \u201cleaving (harsh) judgment in (its stead, and in) full force, which can (even) cause total devastation, God forbid\u201d. The … Continue reading