Chesed and Gevurah, kindness and discipline, are two of the seven emotional attributes of Hashem. Chasidus explains that in the source of the Sefiros there is no discipline, only kindness and intense kindness.
This Shabbos morning I attempted to explain this with the following parable. There are two teachers. The first opens his doors to everybody, all are welcome. The teacher is kind, he finds the right words to impart knowledge to everyone. The first teacher embodies the attribute of kindness.
The second teacher is the embodiment of intense kindness. He wants to give far more knowledge then the masses could understand. He stands at the door testing the students, allowing only the best and brightest to attend his lecture. The second teacher's kindness is intense. So intense, that to some students it can feel like discipline and rejection. Within the teacher's heart, however, is a powerful feeling to give, a feeling that can't be satisfied by sharing the measured wisdom that the teacher down the hall is sharing.
Which is kinder? Kindness or intense kindness?
(Liku"s Vol. 30, Toldot, Sicha 1)
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2 comments:
Can you post follow up on this topic. Are you saying that the Tzimtzum is mostly in Chesed to make it manageable as opposed to in Gevurah to contract to those who are worthy?
Chesed and Gevurah as we know them, as they are in Atzilut, were both affected by the Tzimtzum. The chesedk of Atzilut and the pre Tzimtzum Chesded are similar, they vary only in the level of kindness that is expressed. Gevurah and its pre Tzimtzum source look totally different. Intense kindness cant be squeezed through the contraction; it must stay pre Tzimtzum, so post Tzimtzum all we have is Gevurah instead of intense kindness.
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