Questions for today:
We tend to discuss the concept of ‘differences’ often in life. Yet, ‘opposite’ is different. What is it about our Created world that seems to demand ‘opposites’? How is it possible, in a physical, scientific world, to creatively generate something truly ‘new’?
In this letter we're going to be learning about the Creator through G-d's ability to bring together opposites.
Let's first take a look at the two classic opposites of Chessed and Gevurah, ‘kindness’ and ‘strictness’.
We see their opposite properties everywhere; in fire and water, masculinity and femininity, [not ‘men’ and ‘women’ because everything and everyone has to have both], Spirituality and reality, etc. etc.
But why are they not just different? What makes them opposite?
If I want to create something new, I have to start with something undefined. I can't write a song when I'm humming a tune.
I could buy anything with money specifically because it's not defined. The minute I buy something, I now have ‘something’ real of value, but I can't buy something else.
So seminal masculinity, kindness, can be anything, but it's nothing.
Gevurah, gestational femininity, strictness, is limited. It's dependent on Chessed for input - but it's real.
256a 36a Tanya Chitas thought for Elul 8a ~ m275 29 Elul 5
Tanya book 4, Essay 12, pt1
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=9/1/2022
See today’s video: