![]() The purpose of creating this Seder Hishtalshlut is so that we may look up that chain of order, and meditate upon the vastness and expanse of the greatness of G‑d, thus inspiring us with a great love and awesome feeling. However, the Kabbalah reveals that He did make the world in a certain order, first revealing the Or Ein Sof and then the higher realms and finally, concealment after concealment, creating this world. Although the ultimate creation of the physical world was so that an abode is made within the material dimension, that dwelling must be illuminated with G‑dliness, and that illumination comes through “knowing Him” and “a revelation of His true powers.” To explain: G‑d, being omnipotent, could surely have created the physical world with no intermediary stages and no chain order of creation. In this respect, the reasons for creation as mentioned in the Zohar-“so that the creations may know Him”-and the Etz Chaim-“in order to reveal the perfection of G‑d’s true powers”-actually complement the ultimate purpose of Dirah BeTachtonim. The deed relates to the physical creation, as the Mitzvah is being done within the material world, and the “intent” relates to the spiritual dimension. The Mitzvah therefore is comprised of two parts-the deed and the “intent” ( Kavannah). When a person does a Mitzvah beautifully with love and joy, the dwelling becomes illuminated with “G‑dliness” ( Elokut). Therefore, Mitzvah performance must be permeated with love and awe of G‑d. The abode for G‑d must not only be a receptacle for the Divine created by Mitzvah performance, but it must also be filled with Divine Light and Presence. A knowledgeable interior designer will make the home aesthetically pleasant and decorated. The home of a person is not just the four walls, but is also comprised of furniture and fittings. Dirah BeTachtonim means taking the “physical world,” known as Gashmiut, and permeating it with “spirituality” ( Ruchniut) and thereby revealing its G‑dly essence. He feels at home in the weekly cycle when we keep Shabbat. He feels at home in the workplace when we keep the business ethic. We make G‑d feel at home in our kitchen by observing the Jewish dietary laws. The 613 Mitzvot of the Torah are ways in which we may connect every echelon and aspect of our earthly lives with G‑d. The word Mitzvah, in addition to meaning a commandment, also means a connection. This is the basis of Mitzvah performance. To accomplish the task of creating a dwelling place, one would need to take the material world and elevate and connect it to G‑d. What exactly does this mean that G‑d wants an “apartment” in this world?ģ) “ BeTachtonim.” The implication is that it is the mission of the inhabitants of the world to create that apartment. Subsequent works of chassidic philosophy analyze every word of this Midrashic statement through the following questions:ġ) What is meant by “desire?” Does G‑d have desires? Is He lacking in something that needs to be fulfilled?Ģ) What exactly is meant by the word “ Dirah?” In modern Hebrew, Dirah is used as the word for an apartment. The Zohar states that the reason G‑d created the world is “So that we may know Him.” Rabbi Chaim Vital in Etz Chaim writes that “ G‑d wished to reveal the complete array and perfection of His powers and deeds.” In this chapter we shall focus on the exposition of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of ChaBaD, who writes in Tanya Ch.36, while quoting from a Midrash, which G‑d created because “G‑d desired to have a dwelling place in the lower worlds ( Dirah BeTachtonim).” It is for this purpose that He created a chain order of worlds, with higher and lower realms, with the purpose of creation specifically in the lowest of all. In the works of Kabbalah, various expositions are presented as to the purpose of creation. As long as we know where we are going and what we are doing on this world, we may keep the ship on course. At the foot of the page, in bold letters was the question, “But where are you going?” As we sail through life and navigate its choppy seas, we must have our bearings and sense of direction. There was once a newspaper advertisement filled with the words “left right, left right” repeated over and over. “I have only been created to serve my Master.”( Ethics of the Fathers) ![]()
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