Shabbat Cheshvan 22 5704
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Chayei Sara, Shevi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 106-107. Tanya: Now, it is (p. 583)...as stated above. (p. 585).

One of the teachings of the Maggid of Mezritch, heard by the Alter Rebbe when he was in Mezritch for the first time, from late summer 5524 (1764) until after Pesach 5525 (1765):

"I (Anochi) have made the earth, and upon it created man."[1]

Anochi, He who is the true "I",[2] unknown to and concealed from even the loftiest emanations, clothed His blessed Essence through numerous condensations to give rise to the emanations and creatures,[3] to Serafim, Chayot, Ofanim,[4] angels and "worlds" beyond number.

Through countless condensations, "I made this (physical) world and upon it created (Barati) man."

Man is the end-purpose of Creation, and Barati is the end-purpose of man.

(Barati, "I created," has the numerical equivalent of 613, the number of scriptural commandments).[5]

As (the book of) Pardes quotes Sefer Habahir:

`Said the attribute of Chessed (kindness) before the Holy One Blessed-be-He, Master of the Universe, since the days Avram has been on earth, I have not had to perform my task, because Avram stands and serves in my stead.'

Because Avraham - a soul clothed in a body, occupying himself with hospitality to strangers as a means of disseminating the idea of G-d in this lowly world - is actually on a higher plane and level than the attribute of kindness of Atzilut.

The complaint ("Said the attribute of Chessed before the Holy One etc.") is an expression of envy of Avraham's service by the attribute of kindness of Atzilut."

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Yeshayahu 45:12.

2. (Back to text) Lit.: "I, Whoever I Am."

3. (Back to text) The phrase defies accurate translation; in Hebrew the verb-form corresponding to "emanations," Le'Haatzil, is used to describe the coming-into-being of the Ne'etzalim ("emanations"), and the verb Livra for the Nivra'im ("creations").

   Awkward, but perhaps slightly more accurate, would be to separate off (or ("emanate") the emanations and to create the creatures."

4. (Back to text) Three forms of angels.

5. (Back to text) I.e. the end-purpose of Man is (that he perform) Mitzvot.