In this shiur Rabbi Triebitz looks again at the argument between the Arizal and the Vilna Gaon about the higher and lower unions of Abba and Ima/ Chochma and Binah.

He shows the practical differences in hashkafa between them, and claims that each of them, in addition to the philosophical view they are propounding, is describing his function and place in history.

The Arizal can be found in Sefer Maamarei Rashbi p. 59a-b (though I haven’t found it yet – please send me the correct page someone. Here is the link to the book)

The Gra appears in Safra de-Tzneiusa 13d, and the same ideas are presented in Nefesh HaChaim. Sorry, don’t have links for that yet either.

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Rabbi Triebitz quotes the Arizal who claims that his concept of partzufim was known, though concealed, by Ramban and Sefer HaBahir. Rabbi Triebitz asks where and how does the Ari find allusions to this concept in those texts (apart from through Divine Inspiration, which is also the correct answer)?

He shows the similarities between the concepts of partzufim and hyuli, and again discusses ‘being’ and ‘becoming’. He also shows that the Vilna Gaon seems to argue on the Arizal as to which is the higher concept of the two.

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Breaking the Vessels

Another concept which was introduced for the first time by the Arizal is that of Sheviras HaKeilim (breaking the vessels), which also describes the process of declension of worlds.

Rabbi Triebitz observes that the concept, to which the Arizal (Rav Chaim Vital) devotes two chapters in the Etz Chaim, is redefined by the commentators on Etz Chaim to be either another term for tzimtzum, or a minor part of the process of creation. The Gra, Tanya and Ramchal all seem to water down the idea so that it is no longer the same as the way it was presented by Rav Chaim Vital.

This may be another example of taking their cue from Mahari Sarug (see Emek HaMelech, who also changes the meaning of shevirah).

Rabbi Triebitz has a novel (and conceptually difficult) explanation of why this transformation occurred.

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Partners in Creation

One of the major differences between the kaballah of Rav Moshe Cordovero and the Ari is the concept of tzimtzum. Remak speaks about ‘hishtalshalus’ – spreading out, but has no concept of contraction.

As in last week’s shiur, the basis of everything is with the following quote from the page 42b in the Zohar Shemos

Rabbi Triebitz quotes a lot from Pardes Rimonim (from Rav Cordovero) available here:
Pardes Rimonim (Grimoar – text) or here
Pardes Rimonim (Hebrew Books – pdf)
Shaar 4 perek 8
Shaar 6 perek 8
and Shaar 8 perek 3

The Arizal’s concept of creation involves both ‘histalkus’ (tzimtzum) and ‘hispashtus’.

Rav Chaim Vital, quoting the Arizal, in Mevo She’arim, speaks of many different repititions of tzimtzum

The Leshem in the title page of Sefer HaKlalim explains that these two concepts are the basis of the entire structure of the Arizal.

Rav Triebitz explains what this difference means in ‘practical’ terms, likening it to the difference between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics.

The Remak speaks only in terms of man’s viewpoint, whereas the Ari makes man a partner in creation with G-d.

Rav Triebitz also speaks about how the Ari combined the two concepts of ‘being‘ and ‘becoming‘ which was an argument between Parmenides and Heraclitus.

Enjoy this wonderful shiur

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

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In this shiur Rabbi Triebitz explains the difference in approach to kaballah between the Arizal and his teacher (if he had a teacher), Rav Moshe Cordovero.

It all begins with the following quote from the page 42b in the Zohar Shemos

Rabbi Triebitz quotes a lot from Pardes Rimonim (from Rav Cordovero) available here:
or here

He also quotes again from the Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim, which is not online.

Here is the source from the Etz Chaim.

The first chakira of Rav Chaim in Etz Chaim

(If you prefer, here is a text version of Etz Chaim, rather than the pdf)

He also quotes from the end of the Etz Chaim (p. 119) but I can’t seem to find it in any of the online versions that I looked it. Please send me the link if you can find it.

Enjoy this wonderful shiur

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

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Video of History and Philosophy of Kaballah 03

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