Hamshachas ha'etzem b'gashmiyus davka

[Yankel Nosson]

Yom Tov shel Rosh Hashana TRN"T (5659)

"...hamshachas ha'etzem iy-efshar lhiyos nimshach bivchinas haruchaniyus ki im b'gashmiyus davka..."

"Essence can only be transmitted through physical channels, not spiritual ones..."


Why is this so?

[RebLazer]

This pivotal concept appears over and over again in Chasidus.

In fact, it is the conceptual foundation of the oft repeated adage, "The Almighty desired a dwelling place in the lowest realms." (Tanchuma, parshas Naso)

For a fascinating and lucid explanation in English, see Faital Levin's "Heaven on Earth," published by Kehot.

[chassidus]

This is not an essential limitation, rather one that we possess, because G-d chose things to be this way. We are physical creatures, and so we can only experience the essence of physical things. Spiritual things, even our own soul, is known only indirectly. We know of it, but not it. That is, hasagas hametzius and not hasagas hamehus.

Therefore, we can only know the essence of G-d, by finding Him in physical things. This is like advantage of an allegory over an explanation. (Remember what was posted about the maamar Tziyon Bemishpat Tipodeh.)