Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi The Alter Rebbe Parshat Ki-Teze 5565-1805 (1) first version

Indented text by the translator

Divine Liaison

Whole Some

he concept of an intermediary can now be understood. The Absolute Essence of the Infinite Light is completely beyond either generality or detail. Consequently, it is utterly exalted above time. An intermediary is therefore required to enable the descent of time into the emanations. This intermediary is called generalized thought—antecedent of all antecedents. It’s the whole from which all future details emerge.

            This thought fulfills a dual role. On the one hand, it is connected above to the Infinite Light. Yet at the same time it facilitates the revelation and descent of the order of time into the world of Emanation. It can serve as a source for Emanation’s aspect of time, since past, present, and future are germane within Primordial Man. They were, after all, encapsulated within that single glance.

            All the worlds’ ascents that would occur in the future—during every Shabbat, festival, the Messianic era, and the Resurrection of the Dead—were also included in that solitary glance.

Binary Man

But even the concept of an instantaneous, comprehensive glance isn’t pertinent to the Infinite Light, for the Essence of Light is beyond the possibility of being even a generality. Primordial Man, on the other hand, is a generality. All the details which subsequently come into view are there. As such, Primordial Man fulfills the role of go-between.

All intermediaries consist of two elements; their higher (or inner) component connects to what is above, and their lower (external) aspect connects to what is below. Primordial Man’s inner  dimension connects to the Infinite Light—extant before the withdrawal and contraction. Its outer dimension serves as the source of the world of Emanation.

References

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The Absolute Essence of the Infinite Light is completely beyond the

Tikunei Zohar, chapter 69, page 115, side b;

Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah, chapter 1, law 7;

Pardess Rimmonim portal 1, chapter 9; ibid., portal 3, chapter 1;

Eitz Chaim, portal 1, section 2;

Mevoh Sha’arim, portal 1, section 1, chapter 1.

Binary Man

All intermediaries consist of two elements; their higher (or inner) component

Eitz Chaim, portal 42, chapter 1.