וְהִנֵּה, כְּשֶׁהָיָה בַּיִת רִאשׁוֹן קַיָּים, שֶׁבּוֹ הָיָה הָאָרוֹן וְהַלּוּחוֹת בְּבֵית קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים – הָיְתָה הַשְּׁכִינָה, שֶׁהִיא מַלְכוּת דַּאֲצִילוּת, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת גִּילּוּי אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, שׁוֹרָה שָׁם, וּמְלוּבֶּשֶׁת בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, בְּיֶתֶר שְׂאֵת וְיֶתֶר עֹז, בְּגִילּוּי רַב וְעָצוּם יוֹתֵר מִגִּילּוּיָהּ בְּהֵיכְלוֹת קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה בְּעוֹלָמוֹת עֶלְיוֹנִים. At the time the First Temple stood, in which the Ark and Tables [of the Decalogue] were housed in the Holy of Holies, the Shechinah, i.e., malchut d’Atzilut, that is, the aspect of the “revealed” light of the En Sof, blessed is He, dwelled there and was clothed in the Ten Commandments, far higher and stronger, and with a greater and mightier revelation, than its revelation in the shrines of the Holy of Holies above in the upper worlds. For the Ten Commandments are the all-embracing principles of the whole Torah, which comes from the chochmah ilaah (higher wisdom)1 Zohar II:85a; 121a. that is far higher than the world of manifestation. In order to engrave them on material tablets of stone it (the Shechinah) did not descend degree by degree, parallel to the order of descent of the worlds down to this material world. For this material world functions through the garment of material nature, while the Tables [of the Decalogue] are “The work of G–d, and the writing is the writing of G–d,”2 Exodus 32:16. beyond the nature of this material world which is derived from the effulgence of the Shechinah in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of Asiyah (“Action”), whence issues light and vitality to the world of Asiyah, in which this our world also is contained.
כִּי עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת הֵן כְּלָלוּת הַתּוֹרָה כוּלָּהּ, דְּנָפְקָא מִגּוֹ חָכְמָה עִילָּאָה, דִּלְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא מֵעָלְמָא דְאִתְגַּלְיָא, וּכְדֵי לְחָקְקָן בְּלוּחוֹת אֲבָנִים גַּשְׁמִיִּים – לֹא יָרְדָה מִמַּדְרֵגָה לְמַדְרֵגָה, כְּדֶרֶךְ הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת עַד עוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַגַּשְׁמִי, כִּי עוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַגַּשְׁמִי – מִתְנַהֵג בְּהִתְלַבְּשׁוּת הַטֶּבַע הַגַּשְׁמִי, ״וְהַלּוּחוֹת – מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים הֵמָּה, וְהַמִּכְתָּב – מִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִים הוּא״, לְמַעְלָה מֵהַטֶּבַע שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַגַּשְׁמִי, הַנִּשְׁפָּע מֵהֶאָרַת הַשְּׁכִינָה שֶׁבְּהֵיכַל קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים דַּעֲשִׂיָּה, שֶׁמִּמֶּנָּה נִמְשָׁךְ אוֹר וְחַיּוּת לְעוֹלַם הָעֲשִׂיָּה, שֶׁגַּם עוֹלָם הַזֶּה בִּכְלָלוֹ, אֶלָּא, בְּחִינַת חָכְמָה עִילָּאָה דַאֲצִילוּת, שֶׁהִיא כְּלָלוּת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּי׳ הַדִּבְּרוֹת, נִתְלַבְּשָׁה בְּמַלְכוּת דַּאֲצִילוּת וְדִבְרִיאָה לְבַדָּן, וְהֵן לְבַדָּן הַמְיוּחָדוֹת בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף שֶׁבְּתוֹכָן – הֵן הַנִּקְרָאוֹת בְּשֵׁם ״שְׁכִינָה״, הַשּׁוֹרָה בְּקָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים דְּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן, עַל יְדֵי הִתְלַבְּשׁוּתָהּ בְּי׳ הַדִּבְּרוֹת הַחֲקוּקוֹת בַּלּוּחוֹת שֶׁבָּאָרוֹן בְּנֵס וּמַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים [הוּא ״עָלְמָא דְאִתְכַּסְיָא״, הַמְקַנֵּן בְּעוֹלַם הַבְּרִיאָה, כַּנּוֹדָע לְיוֹדְעֵי חֵן]. But the category of the higher wisdom of Atzilut, consisting of the totality of the Torah as it is epitomized in the Decalogue, has clothed itself in malchut of Atzilut and of Beriah alone, and they alone, united as they are with the light of the En Sof, blessed is He, that is within them, are referred to as the “Shechinah” which rested in the Holy of Holies of the First Temple, through its clothing itself in the Ten Commandments, which were engraved in the Tables [reposing] in the Ark, by miraculous means and by the work of the Living G–d [this being the “hidden” world which nests in the world of Beriah, as is known to to the students of Kabbalah].
וּבְבַיִת שֵׁנִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בוֹ הָאָרוֹן וְהַלּוּחוֹת, אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה, שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה שְׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה בּוֹ, פֵּירוּשׁ, מַדְרֵגַת שְׁכִינָה שֶׁהָיְתָה שׁוֹרָה בְּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁלֹּא כְּדֶרֶךְ הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת הָעוֹלָמוֹת. אֶלָּא, בְּבַיִת שֵׁנִי, הָיְתָה שׁוֹרָה כְּדֶרֶךְ הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת וְהִתְלַבְּשׁוּת מַלְכוּת דַּאֲצִילוּת בְּמַלְכוּת דִּבְרִיאָה, וְדִבְרִיאָה בְּמַלְכוּת דִּיצִירָה, וְדִיצִירָה בְּהֵיכַל קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים דַּעֲשִׂיָּה, וְקָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים דַּעֲשִׂיָּה הָיָה מִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּקָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים שֶׁבְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ שֶׁלְּמַטָּה, וְשָׁרְתָה בּוֹ הַשְּׁכִינָה – מַלְכוּת דִּיצִירָה הַמְלוּבֶּשֶׁת בְּקָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים דַּעֲשִׂיָּה, וְלָכֵן לֹא הָיָה רַשַּׁאי שׁוּם אָדָם לִיכָּנֵס שָׁם, לְבַד כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. – וּ״מִשֶּׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ אֵין לוֹ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא בְּעוֹלָמוֹ אֶלָּא ד׳ אַמּוֹת שֶׁל הֲלָכָה בִּלְבָד״, וַ״אֲפִילוּ אֶחָד שֶׁיּוֹשֵׁב וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה – שְׁכִינָה עִמּוֹ״, כִּדְאִיתָא בִּבְרָכוֹת פֶּרֶק קַמָּא, פֵּירוּשׁ ״שְׁכִינָה עִמּוֹ״ – כְּדֶרֶךְ הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת וְהִתְלַבְּשׁוּת מַלְכוּת דַּאֲצִילוּת בְּמַלְכוּת דִּבְרִיאָה וִיצִירָה וַעֲשִׂיָּה. As for the Second Temple, in which did not repose the Ark and Tables [of the Decalogue],3 Yoma 21b. our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said that the Shechinah did not abide there.4 Ibid. 96. This refers to the category of the Shechinah which used to abide in the First Temple—which was not of the ordinary descent of the worlds. But in the Second Temple it abided according to the order of gradual descent, of malchut d’Atzilut vested in malchut d’Beriah and the latter in malchut d’Yetzirah, and the latter in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of Asiyah which in turn was clothed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple here below. In it rested the Shechinah, i.e., malchut d’Yetzirah, which was clothed in the Holy of Holies of Asiyah. Therefore no man was permitted to enter there, except the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. However, since the Temple was destroyed, there remains to the Holy One, blessed is He, but “the four cubits of halachah alone.”5 Berachot 6a. Hence each individual who sits by himself and occupies himself in the Torah, the Shechinah is with him, as is stated in the first chapter of Berachot.6 Ibid. The phrase “the Shechinah is with him” means in the order of the gradual descent and investment of malchut d’Atzilut in malchut d’Beriah, and Yetzirah and Asiyah.
כִּי תַּרְיַ״ג מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה, רוּבָּן כְּכוּלָּן הֵן מִצְוֹת מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת, וְגַם הַתְּלוּיוֹת בְּדִבּוּר וּמַחֲשָׁבָה, כְּמוֹ תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה וּבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּתְפִלָּה – הָא קַיְּימָא לָן, דְּ״הִרְהוּר – לָאו כְּדִבּוּר דָּמֵי״, וְאֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ בְּהִרְהוּר וְכַוָּונָה לְבַד, עַד שֶׁיּוֹצִיא בִּשְׂפָתָיו, וְקַיְּימָא לָן דַּ״עֲקִימַת שְׂפָתָיו הָוֵי מַעֲשֶׂה״. For the 613 commandments of the Torah are by and large active precepts, as are also those which are fulfilled by word and thought, such as Torah study, Grace after meals, the recital of the Shema and Prayer, for it has been ruled that contemplation has not the validity of speech, and one has not fulfilled one’s obligation by contemplation and kavanah alone, until he gives utterance with his lips; and it has been ruled that the motion of the lips is considered an “action.”
וְתַרְיַ״ג מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה עִם שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת דְּרַבָּנָן – בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא ״כֶּתֶ״ר״, שֶׁהוּא רָצוֹן הָעֶלְיוֹן בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַמְלוּבָּשׁ בְּחָכְמָתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ, הַמְיוּחָדוֹת בְּאוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא בְּתַכְלִית הַיִּחוּד. וַ״ה׳ בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ״ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה דְּנָפְקָא מֵחָכְמָה עִילָּאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר דְּ״אַבָּא יָסַד בְּרַתָּא״. The 613 commandments of the Torah, together with the seven commandments of our Rabbis, combine to total the numerical equivalent of כתר (“crown”) which is the the will of the Supreme One, blessed is He, which is clothed in His wisdom, blessed be He, and they are united with the light of the En Sof, blessed is He, in a perfect union. “The L–rd has founded the earth with wisdom,”7 Proverbs 3:19. which refers to the Oral Law that is derived from the higher wisdom, as is written in the Zohar, “The Father [chochmah] begat the daughter8 Zohar III:248a; 256b. [i.e., malchut, the Oral Law].”
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַיַּנּוּקָא: ״דִּנְהוֹרָא עִילָּאָה דְּאַדְלִיק עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ״ הִיא שְׁכִינְתָּא – ״אִצְטְרִיךְ לְמִשְׁחָא״, פֵּירוּשׁ, לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּחָכְמָה, הַנִּקְרֵאת ״שֶׁמֶן מִשְׁחַת קֹדֶשׁ״, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר, וְ״אִינוּן עוֹבָדִין טָבִין״ – הֵן תַּרְיַ״ג מִצְוֹת הַנִּמְשָׁכוֹת מֵחָכְמָתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ, כְּדֵי לֶאֱחוֹז אוֹר הַשְּׁכִינָה בַּפְּתִילָה, הִיא נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית שֶׁבַּגּוּף, הַנִּקְרֵאת פְּתִילָה עַל דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל. כִּי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבַּנֵּר הַגַּשְׁמִי, הָאוֹר מֵאִיר עַל יְדֵי כִּלְיוֹן וּשְׂרֵיפַת הַפְּתִילָה הַנֶּהְפֶּכֶת לְאֵשׁ, כָּךְ, אוֹר הַשְּׁכִינָה שׁוֹרֶה עַל נֶפֶשׁ הָאֱלֹהִית עַל יְדֵי כִּלְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית וְהִתְהַפְּכוּתָהּ מֵחֲשׁוֹכָא לִנְהוֹרָא וּמִמְּרִירוּ לְמִתְקָא – בַּצַּדִּיקִים, אוֹ לְפָחוֹת, עַל יְדֵי כִּלְיוֹן לְבוּשֶׁיהָ שֶׁהֵן מַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה, וְהִתְהַפְּכוּתָן מֵחֹשֶׁךְ הַקְּלִיפּוֹת לְאוֹר ה׳ אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא הַמְלוּבָּש וּמְיוּחָד בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל תַּרְיַ״ג מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה – בַּבֵּינוֹנִים. And this is what the Yenuka meant when he said that “the supernal light that is kindled on one’s head, namely, the Shechinah, requires oil,”9 Zohar III:187a. Cf. Tanya, chs. 35, 51. that is, to be clothed in wisdom, which is called “oil from the holy anointing,”10 Exodus 30:31. as is explained in the Zohar, that “these are the good deeds,” namely, the 613 commandments, which derive from His wisdom, blessed be He. Thereby the light of the Shechinah can cling to the wick, i.e., the vivifying soul in the body, which is metaphorically called a “wick.” For just as in the case of a material candle, the light shines by virtue of the annihilation and burning of the wick turning to fire, so does the light of the Shechinah rest on the divine soul as a result of the annihilation of the animal soul and its transformation from darkness to light and from bitterness to sweetness in the case of the righteous, or at least through the destruction of its garments, which are thought, speech, and action, and their transformation from the darkness of the kelipot to the Divine light of the En Sof, blessed is He, which is clothed and united in the thought, speech, and action of the 613 commandments of the Torah, in the case of benonim.
כִּי עַל יְדֵי הִתְהַפְּכוּת נֶפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית, הַבָּאָה מִקְּלִיפַּת נוֹגַהּ, מֵחֲשׁוֹכָא לִנְהוֹרָא וְכוּ׳ – נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת ״הַעֲלָאַת מַיִּין נוּקְבִין״, לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר הַשְּׁכִינָה, הִיא בְּחִינַת גִּילּוּי אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, עַל נַפְשׁוֹ הָאֱלֹהִית שֶׁבַּמּוֹחִין שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁוֹ. וּבָזֶה יוּבַן הֵיטֵב מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב: ״כִּי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה הוּא״, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר: For as a result of the transformation of the animal soul, originating from the kelipat nogah, [a transformation] from darkness to light, and so forth, there is brought about the so-called “ascent of the feminine waters”11 See above, end ch. 10. to draw the light of the Shechinah, i.e., the category of the “revealed” light of the En Sof, blessed is He—over one’s divine soul [principally dwelling] in the brain of the head. Thereby will also be clearly understood the text “For the L–rd Your G–d is a consuming fire,”12 Deuteronomy 4:24. as is explained elsewhere.13 Likkutei Torah, Shelach 40b; Re’eh 34c; Haazinu 78d, et al.
נִשְׁלַם חֵלֶק רִאשׁוֹן בְּﬠֶזְרַת ה׳ יִתְבָּרֵךְ וְיִתְﬠַלֶּה CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST PART WITH THE HELP OF G-D, MAY HE BE BLESSED AND EXALTED.