Chapter 9

In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe continues the explanation he began in the previous chapter. While in human beings there is a five-level difference between Wisdom and action (Wisdom, Emotion, Thought, Word, and Action), we cannot say the same about Hashem. For Him, the level of Wisdom is exactly the same as the level of action, because He is infinitely higher than the level of Wisdom, as we will explain.

Just as the life force of the action level is insignificant compared to the life force of the word level, which is insignificant compared to the life force of the thought level, which is insignificant compared to the life force of the emotions level, and which is, in turn, insignificant compared to the life force of the wisdom level, in the same way, the wisdom level is insignificant compared to Hashem. And even more, Hashem It is not only five levels above the level of Wisdom, but it is infinitely superior, beyond comparison.

However, since we cannot understand anything beyond the level of Wisdom, which is the first level and spiritual source of the entire world¹, we say regarding Hashem that² “You have done everything with wisdom,” that is, we compare the level of Wisdom with the level of action (“you have done”), as if to say that, for Him, the level of Wisdom and the level of action are equal. But, in reality, what we are saying is that, before Hashem, the level of Wisdom is negligible.

While for us, the level of action is five times insignificant compared to the level of Wisdom, for Hashem, the “Quality” of Wisdom is infinitely insignificant.

The Alter Rebbe goes even further on this idea and says that it is ridiculous to even say that Hashem is Wise or Kind (or even more, that No Is he wise or what? No (He is kind). Wise can be said of someone who falls within the category of wisdom, but to say that something to which the adjective "wise" does not apply is foolish.

It's like saying a rock is "intelligent." Rocks lack intelligence. We can say they are big or small, that they have colors, but that doesn't fall within the realm of having or not having intelligence.

The example the Alter Rebbe gives is about a concept: just as it makes no sense to say that an idea is so complicated that “I can’t touch it with my hands,” in the same way it makes no sense to say about Hashem that is Wise or Kind or any other adjective. Such is the infinity of Hashem Nor can we deny Him adjectives, saying that No It is such and such a thing. Hashem He is infinitely above any adjective we might want to say or not say about Him.

However, we found many texts that refer to Hashem like Wise or Kind, Powerful and so on, but we just said that it makes no sense to apply any adjective to Hashem. So, can we call him... Hashem Wise or not?

The answer is that yes, we can call him Wise, Kind, and so on, but the meaning of that expression is that Hashem It is the source of Wisdom, the source of Goodness, and ultimately, the source of all “Qualities.” But that doesn't mean that Hashem is on the same spiritual level as Wisdom or comparable to that level. Because Hashem It is infinitely superior to any expression or idea we can have about Him.

Now, the Alter Rebbe says, how are these “Qualities” of Wisdom and Goodness and so on projected from Hashem, it's something that falls within the realm of faith, not of understanding. As we have already mentioned several times,“Hashem and His 'Qualities' are completely unified.‘³ And this uniqueness is not something we can understand. That is why one of the names that our wise men⁴ give to the “Qualities” of Hashem It is "The secret of faith," because they are above the rational.

According to what is explained in this chapter, a question arises regarding a phrase from Rambam that the Alter Rebbe quoted several times. Rambam says⁵“He is the one who knows, He is the known, and He is knowledge itself; all is one.” But we just explained that Hashem It is far above any adjective, even the adjective "knowledgeable." So, are Rambam's words correct or not?

To resolve this matter, the Alter Rebbe adds a note⁶ where he explains, basically, that the Rambam's phrase "He is the one who knows, He is the known, and He is knowledge itself, all is one" can only be said when the "infinite Light" of Hashem the “Vessels” are invested with the “Qualities” of Wisdom, Understanding and Comprehension (Chokhmah, Binah and Da'at) of the world of Emanation.

These levels are the source of all levels below them, including the “Quality” of Kingship, the spiritual source of the material world.

Each of the Divine qualities, such as Wisdom, Understanding, etc., can be understood as one of the different layers of an onion, where each upper layer surrounds and includes its inner layers. The limitation of the onion analogy is that each of the Divine “Qualities” is the source of the next “Quality”—that is, Wisdom is the source of Understanding, Understanding is the source of Comprehension, and so on—whereas in the case of the onion, each layer is independent of the others.

Then, through the “infinite Light” being invested in the “Quality” of Wisdom, in turn Wisdom in the “Quality” of Understanding and so on, in the end, the “infinite Light” is also invested in the other levels and is present in the entire universe.

Given this condition, that the “Infinite Light” is clothed, etc., the Rambam's statement makes perfect sense. But at levels higher than Wisdom, Understanding, and Comprehension of the world of Emanation, the Rambam's statement is meaningless, since at those levels we cannot use any adjectives to describe it. Hashem, but, at those levels, we can say⁷ “You have done everything with wisdom,” meaning that the level of wisdom and the level of action are equally insignificant compared to Hashem, as was explained at length in this chapter.

Summary"You have done everything with wisdom," for Hashem, The level of Wisdom is as insignificant as the action itself. Moreover, regarding Hashem There is nothing that can be said or left unsaid. However, we can call Him the Wise One because He is the source of wisdom. How are the “Qualities” projected from Hashem It is a matter of faith. Only at the level where the “infinite Light” invests itself in the “Vessels” can we say that Hashem and His Knowledge are one but, above the world of Emanation, it makes no sense to speak of “Qualities”.