The Gate of Unity – Chapter 19

[1] In other words, the source of the sefirot of the world of Atzilut – Emanation is from the end of the “desire for the desire” of Adam Kadmon.  As is known, the sefirah of Malchut – Kingdom is the last sefirah, and corresponds to the faculty of speech or “revelation”.  This will be explained later in great detail.

[2] See Etz Chaim, (Shaar Seder Atzilut) Shaar 3, Chapter 1.

[3] “Atik Yomin – The Ancient of Days” is the inner aspect of Keter of the world of Atzilut and refers to the aspect of “pleasure”, while “Arich Anpin – The Long Face” is the external aspect of Keter, and refers to the aspect of “desire”.  This will all be explained in great detail in chapters 23 & 24.

[4] In Hebrew this is called “Esser Sefirot HaGnoozot B’He’elem – The Ten Hidden Sefirot which are concealed”.  Now, it must be pointed out that this does not refer to the ten concealed sefirot which were mentioned earlier (in chapter 11).  Those hidden sefirot are called the “Esser Sefirot HaGnoozot B’He’elem Atzmooto – The Ten Hidden Sefirot which are concealed in the hidden-ness of His Essence”, and refer to the sefirot as they are in the Essence of the Infinite Light.  This was explained in chapters 10 and 11.  The “Ten Hidden Sefirot” mentioned here do not refer to that, but instead refer to the sefirot as they are in Adam Kadmon.  The world of Atzilut – Emanation, is called “the revelation of the concealed” sefirot of Adam Kadmon.  In other words, in relation to the world of Atzilut, the sefirot of Adam Kadmon are considered essential and concealed.  This will now be explained further.

[5] Isaiah 41:4

[6] The Hebrew word for “beginning” is “Rosh – ראש”, which also means “head”.

[7] The meaning of this verse will be explained later in the chapter and will become clearly understood.  In general though, the difference between Adam Kadmon and the world of Atzilut is the difference between concealment and revelation.  Therefore, the general meaning of this verse is that G-d “calls out” the generations from their concealment in Adam Kadmon into revelation in the world of Atzilut – Emanation.

[8] See Sefer Yetzirah, Chapter 1, Mishnah 7.

[9] In other words, when one blows on a lit coal, its flame radiates and it becomes revealed that the coal is on fire.

[10] By understanding how the powers of the soul come out of their concealment into revelation, we will understand how the sefirot of the world of Atzilut – Emanation come into revelation from their concealment in Adam Kadmon.

[11] i.e. the revelation of the concealed.

[12] This type of influence is what is called “Shefa – Influence” and was explained previously, in chapter 9, footnote 10.  (Here is the footnote from chapter 9: In order to understand this paragraph, we must first understand the difference between a “light and ray” and an “influence” of cause and effect.  An example of an influence of light is when a person expresses an intellectual thought into speech.  Here, there is no change in his intellect at all, and it remains completely whole, as it was before he spoke.  His intellect did not diminish whatsoever.  Likewise, his speech itself did not diminish, in that he does not run out of words.  Furthermore, the recipient of this “light” did not receive the actual light of the intellect itself, but only its radiance in the speech.  The intellect remains where it was the entire time, in the mind of the influencer.  This is an example of a “light and ray”, which is only a revelation of the essential power, but is not the essential power itself.  In contrast, an example of “influence” of cause and effect is like when one lifts a heavy object.  Here, his strength will diminish slowly, and he will not be able to hold it constantly.  There is a diminishment from when he picked it up to afterwards, and therefore a change.  Furthermore, there is a cause and effect here, and therefore when there is a difference in the effect it is due to the difference in the cause etc.)  Similarly, the concealed desire of Adam Kadmon, i.e. the “self-perception” itself does not come forth.  (Rather, it is only a revelation and “radiance” of this “self-perception” which becomes revealed in the particular desires of the world of Atzilut.)

[13] See previous footnote.

[14] That is to say, the light is only a revelation of the luminary, but is not the luminary itself.

[15] The fact that the body is alive is only a revelation and indication that the soul is in essence alive.  However, the soul as it is vested in the body is not the essence of the soul at all, which is a complete singularity called the Yechidah – Singular.  Rather, it is only a light and ray of the soul, which reveals and is an indication of the essence of the soul, that it is essentially alive.

[16] The flash of insight from the power of conceptualization is not a revelation of the intellect and power of conceptualization itself.  Rather it is only a ray of “light” indicating and “shedding light” on the soul’s essential power to conceptualize concepts.

[17] The movement of the animal is an indication that it is essentially alive.  The reason this analogy and the following analogies are better than the previous analogies is because they bring out the point that the revelation of the essence takes place within something totally separate from the essence itself.  For example, the movement of the animal really has nothing to do with the essential life of the animal but is only an indication and revelation of the fact that the animal is alive.  (Likewise, the revelation of the essential desire is in something separate and “outside” of the essence.  This is to say that the essential desire and even the “desire for the desire”, is still a desire which is entirely for the self, while the revealed particular desires are for something separate and “outside” of the self, and are only an indication and revelation of the essential desire for the self.)

[18] In other words, when one conveys an intellectual concept in his speech, this is not his intellect at all, but is only a revelation that he possesses intellect.  His intellect itself was not revealed whatsoever.  Likewise, when one thinks a concept, it is only a revelation of his essential power to conceptualize concepts, but is not a revelation of this essential power itself.  Rather, it is only its radiance and light, as it is revealed in his thoughts.  That is, these thoughts are only an indication of his essential power of conceptualization, but not the power of conceptualization itself. Moreover, the letters of thought and the letters of speech are incidental to the concept and are not essential to it.  That is to say, one person may explain a certain concept using certain words, while another person will explain the very same concept, and even convey the very same explanation, using entirely different words.

[19] Here, the Rebbe is not negating the analogy of Sefer Yetzirah, but is only clarifying it.  In other words, at first glance the analogy may be misunderstood, and one may come to think that the revelation of the ten sefirot of Atzilut from the concealment of Adam Kadmon is in the way of a “Shefa-Influence” (which was explained in footnote 11 and chapter 9).  When the analogy is explained, its proper intent is understood, as will be seen later in this chapter.

[20] This is to say that the color is incidental to the apple and is not essential to it, nor does it affect the flavor.  Nonetheless, the color of the apple is an indication and revelation of its sweetness and ripeness.

[21] In other words, when a person constantly does acts of kindness etc, this is an indication that in essence he is kind. That is, his revealed desires indicate his essential characteristics and qualities.  Likewise, when a person constantly does acts of cruelty, this is an indication that in essence he is cruel.

[22] This refers to the “desire for the desire”, the self-perception, which comes from the essential qualities.

[23] This is because even the self-perception is still entirely for the self.  This is to say that it is not yet focused out of the self, to be expressed in something external.  Therefore, it too is considered to be one with the essential desire from which it comes.  This is in contrast to the revealed desires, which are the desires for something “outside” the self.  (For example, there is the (essential) primal desire (Ratzon HaKadoom), which is the desire for his pleasure.  Then there is the “desire for the desire”/the self-perception of Adam Kadmon, which is like the desire and thought of himself sitting.  Then there is the revealed desire of Atzilut, which is like the desire for the chair.  The differences between these three levels, is self evident.)

[24] Just as in the above analogies, the revelation is merely an indication of the essence and is actually something “separate” from the essence itself, so too, the revealed desire is not the essential or concealed desire itself, but rather, it actually is invested within something “separate” from the essential desire.  Nonetheless, it is a “revelation” and indication of the essential desire etc.

[25] This refers to the “desire for the desire”/self-perception of Adam Kadmon.

[26] This is to say that although in comparison to the essential primal desire (Ratzon HaKadoom), the “desire for the desire” (Adam Kadmon) is considered to be like a new creation.  Nonetheless, in truth, it is still entirely focused on the self (i.e. self-perception) and is not yet a desire for something external to the self.

[27] Because there are many different external matters through which the “desire for the desire”/self-perception may be expressed, a specific desire will be born for each of these specific matters.  Nonetheless, all the revealed desires come from one source, which is the “desire for the desire”/self-perception.  An example of this is someone who is essentially kind.  His essential kindness can be expressed in any number of different ways.  He may give food to a poor person, he may give him money, or he may speak kind words to him etc.  All of these different desires and external acts of kindness, come from the same source, which is his “desire for the desire”/self-perception of kindness, which, in turn, is bound up with his essential quality of being kind.

[28] This is to say that in Adam Kadmon the desire is firstly for the self, and it is secondly a holistic desire of the whole, from which the external particulars have not yet been revealed.  In contrast, Atzilut is the revelation of the external particulars of that whole.  The analogy of the difference between the two was given in footnote 22 of this chapter.  (Moreover, the “desire for the desire”/self-perception of Adam Kadmon is created by the Essence of G-d, exactly according to what He estimated would be necessary within His Essence, and is the general desire for all of Creation, as a whole.)

[29] In other words, in Adam Kadmon the particular desires are concealed in the general desire for the whole of Creation.  In Atzilut the particulars desires themselves come into revelation.

[30] That is, it is not the “general” whole desire of Adam Kadmon itself which comes out into revelation, but rather, it is only a “revelation” and indication of the concealed desire of Adam Kadmon, which becomes revealed in Atzilut.  (See also footnote 11 of this chapter.)

[31] Beha’alotcha 11:25.

[32] This is referring to when G-d emanated a spirit of prophecy upon the seventy elders, from Moshe’s spirit of prophecy.  They did not receive Moshe’s own spirit of prophecy but only an “emanation” thereof.  Moreover, this is attested to by the fact that Moshe’s spirit of prophecy was not diminished in any way whatsoever as a result of this revelation and emanation.  This is because the emanation of his spirit of prophecy was only in the way of a “light and ray”, which was explained previously.  Likewise, the revelation of Atzilut from the concealment of Adam Kadmon is only in the way of a “light and ray”, and it is for this reason that the world of Atzilut-Emanation is called by this name.

[33] When one lights something else from the flame of the coal, the flame of the coal is in no way diminished.

[34] This is plural for the sefirah of Keter – Crown, and as previously mentioned, the sefirah of Keter corresponds to the faculty of desire.

[35] The desire to do a particular act of kindness is drawn into revelation from the hidden desire to be kind.

[36] The desire to study a particular wisdom is drawn into revelation from the concealed desire to be wise.

[37] The sefirah of Malchut (Kingdom) will be explained in great detail later in the book.  However, in general, it represents the “letters” of revelation of any particular sefirah or world (and is therefore generally compared to speech).  For example, Malchut of Chessed of Adam Kadmon represents the tangible “letters” of the desire to be kind as it is in the self perception.  It is the letters of the “desire to be kind”, which becomes the inner light of Keter of Chessed of Atzilut, which is the desire to do a particular kind act.

[38] When speaking in general terms, the Keter of the lower world comes from the Malchut of the upper world.  Therefore, it is not incorrect to say that Malchut of Adam Kadmon becomes Keter of the world of Atzilut. However, more particularly speaking, the general sefirah of Malchut of any world is made up from the Malchut of each particular sefirah of that world.  For example, Malchut of Chessed of Adam Kadmon becomes Chessed of Malchut of Adam Kadmon.  Likewise, Malchut of Chochmah of Adam Kadmon becomes Chochmah of Malchut of Adam Kadmon.   Then, the particular sefirot of Malchut (which are all the particular Malchut’s of the sefirot of that world) become the Keter of the lower world.  So for example, from the Chochmah of Malchut of Adam Kadmon is drawn the Keter of Chochmah of Atzilut.  Likewise, from the Chessed of Malchut of Adam Kadmon is drawn the Keter of Chessed of Atzilut.  Therefore, when speaking particularly, it is from the Malchut of a quality of Adam Kadmon which becomes the Keter of that attribute of Atzilut.  (In simpler terms, particularly speaking, it is from the desire to be kind of the “self-perception” that there comes the desire to do a particular kind act etc.)  The sefirah of Malchut will be explained later in the book.

[39] As mentioned previously, the sefirah of Malchut is compared to the revelation of speech.

[40] As was mentioned previously and as will soon be explained, Atik Yomin is the inner aspect of Keter of the world of Atzilut-Emanation (and corresponds to the pleasure of the desire).