Text-Based Tanya

The twenty-two letters are building blocks that through re-arrangements and substitutions, diminish the original power of the creative energy so that different creating beings can emerge. This diminishing effect may be likened to the sun's light reflected by the moon.

The Ten Utterances of creation are only rightly called such from the subjective perspective of the created beings.

Using the metaphor of the sun and its rays, we come to better understand the nature of Hashem's attributes in relation to His essence. Just as the sun’s rays are relatively non-existent when compared to the sun itself, so too are the Divine attributes one with Hashem's essence.

The Essence of G-d cannot be described by even the loftiest attributes, so why do we speak of Hashem as "wise" or "compassionate" etc? In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe gives us context for understanding the proper usage of these terms.

Having explained in chapters 1-7 how Hashem is the only true existence and that the worlds are not something "other" than Him, we now turn our attention to the oneness of Hashem in terms of Himself. Hashem is a simple oneness, not a composite of attributes.

We conclude Ch. 7 with a further explanation of Tzimztum and how it is possible for Hashem to fill all worlds while simultaneously not being limited by them.

In Chapter 7, we explore the concept that despite Hashem's transcendence, He is present within space and time through His attribute of Malchus. Additionally, we examine the Alter Rebbe's interpretation of the Lurianic concept of Tzimtzum, clarifying that it does not imply Hashem literally withdrew Himself to allow for finite creation, but rather concealed His light.

We begin Chapter 7 which introduces the idea of the Higher and Lower Unities (yichuda ilaah and yichuda tataah.) The first concept discussed is that it is Hashem's attribute of Malchus (corresponding to the Divine Name of A-D-N-I) that relates to the inherent limitations of time and space.

In chapter 6, we are finally able to understand the statement in the verse with which we began chapter 1. "Know today and take it upon your heart that Hashem is Elokim; there is no other." Because the Divine Names of Hashem and Elokim are really one, therefore, even the concealment that makes creation appear to exist independently is also G-d. As such, there is truly nothing but Him.

Chapter 5 is very short but very challenging. Based on the Rebbe's explanations, we try to unpack the basic message of the chapter which is to obviate misunderstandings regarding tzimtzum that may arise from Chapter 4.