Machshava:

Ethics 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Tanya

Description

P. 183. (4th perek). The Torah is the chochma ila'a (highest wisdom) which is the first spark of Hashem giving over in the olam haAtzilus (World of Nearness). The Torah is really speaking about higher things in the form of lower things. Our actions are only reflections of our true essence. There are two types of descent from above to below: (1) Withholding chochma in order to give to a lower level, tzimtzum (constriction) (2) Giving chochma completely unfiltered, but hiding it in a form. Mitzvos are not symbols of what is above, they are an enclothement of what is above. This perek in Tanya is the Alef-Beis of Yiddishkeit (Judaism).