Along other lines, we\u2019re taught that there are two overarching forms of interaction: attraction and repulsion or, in Kabbalistic terminology, Chessed<\/i> (kindness) and Gevurah<\/i> (judgment). There are very many points in between, of course, which are all brought about through the \u201cmiddle pillar\u201d that lies between these two extreme poles, but that will be explained at another point.<\/p>\n
In any event, were told that \u201cby its nature, Chessed<\/i> is like a welcoming right arm\u201d that reaches out to embrace. \u201cSo when it reigns\u201d at any given point in the world, \u201ccreated beings behave toward each another fraternally and smile at each other\u201d, literally and figuratively. Contrarily, by its nature \u201cGevurah<\/i> distains and rejects\u201d, so when it reigns at any given point, \u201cfaces express anger, and everything is weighed down with sadness\u201d, literally and figuratively, Ramchal says in his comments to Petach<\/i> 52.<\/p>\n
As such, as he expresses it in Petach<\/i> 52 itself, because of its<\/b>, i.e., judgment\u2019s, makeup each light<\/b>, i.e., each of the <\/i>six Sephirot <\/i>of Chessed, Gevurah, Tipheret, Netzach, Hod, <\/i>and Yesod,<\/i> <\/i><\/b>came to exist separately rather than together with the others. For by nature judgment doesn\u2019t exhibit \u201cbrotherly love\u201d<\/b> but rather \u201csorrow\u201d and \u201cseverity\u201d <\/b>so to speak,<\/b> and is thus inclined toward encouraging separateness rather than unity. <\/b><\/p>\n
The point of the matter is that separateness, distain, rejection and the like would have held sway over the world, but they didn\u2019t, thanks to Imma\u00a0<\/i>as we\u2019ll see.<\/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":" Along other lines, we\u2019re taught that there are two overarching forms of interaction: attraction and repulsion or, in Kabbalistic terminology, Chessed (kindness) and Gevurah (judgment). There are very many points in between, of course, which are all brought about through … Continue reading