Another reason for their designation of bnei aliyah: [8]

Even their divine service in the area of "doing good," in their fulfillment of Torah and its mitzvot, is for the sake of the Above, and their service is directed toward a most high level, toward the loftiest heights.

[Their divine service] is not [intended] merely to attach themselves to G-d [by serving Him through Torah and mitzvot, so as] to quench the thirst of their soul which thirsts for G-d,

[The divine service of tzaddikim of lower levels may indeed be for the purpose of stilling their thirst for G-d and their desire to cleave to Him; for indeed, the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvot satisfies these needs].

As it is written: [9] "Ho, [exclaims the prophet], all who are thirsty [for G-dliness, should] go to the waters [of Torah," i.e., let them engage in Torah, which is likened to water], as is explained elsewhere, [that the "thirsty ones" of this verse refer to those who thirst for G-dliness.

The prophet's words prove this point.

Were he addressing those who thirst for Torah, he need not exclaim "Ho," nor direct them to its "waters".

Whoever thirsts for Torah will find it readily available for study.

Rather, the prophet is addressing those who thirst for G-d, advising them to slake their thirst for Him through Torah, which binds one to G-d.

The "men of ascent," however, whom we have been discussing, are beyond this level of divine service.

They do not study Torah or perform mitzvot with the intention of quenching their own thirst for G-dliness, for such service is - in a subtle sense - self-serving, as it is motivated by one's desire for a certain spiritual profit, namely, the bliss of closeness to G-d].

Rather [their service of G-d is] as the Tikkunei Zohar [10] explains [that which our Sages have said]: "Who is a pious one (chassid)? He who is benevolent (mischassed) with his Creator (kono)."

[The Tikkunei Zohar comments, that kono (usually translated "his Creator") is here to be interpreted as "his nest" (derived from the root ken - "nest"), and thus, the chassid is he who is benevolent "with his nest" - i.e., his Source, G-d.

This "benevolence" towards G-d consists of] - "uniting the Holy One, blessed be He, with His Shechinah (the Divine Presence), [so that the light of this union reach and be felt even] in the lowest worlds."

As is also explained in Ra'aya Mehemna on Parshat Tetze:

"In the manner of a son who exerts himself for his father and mother, whom he loves more than himself, [more than] his own Nefesh, Ruach and Neshamah, and who sacrifices his life for their sake to redeem them, [should they be held in captivity]," and as is also explained elsewhere.

[Such is the divine service of "men of ascent": it is wholly altruistic, motivated only by a desire to please G-d and make His presence felt everywhere.

The Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain that the two aforementioned interpretations of the term "men of ascent" accord with each other and are in fact complementary.

It is a kabbalistic axiom that the "elevation of mahn" (mem nun - initials of mayin nukvin, lit., "feminine waters") effects a corresponding "descent of mahd" (mem daled - initials of mayin dechurin, lit., "masculine waters.")

This means that the arousal of the "feminine" level, i.e., the recipient (which in our case means the efforts of man below, in actions directed "upward" toward G-d), causes a reciprocal arousal of the "masculine" level, i.e., the giver (meaning, in our case, G-d's benevolence as it "flows downward" and is bestowed upon man).

Applying this to the service of "men of ascent" we find the following.

That aspect of their service mentioned in the first interpretation - that they elevate evil and convert it to good - constitutes an "ascent of mahn."

The aspect mentioned in the second interpretation - that by their service of love they draw down G-d's Presence upon earth - constitutes a "descent of mahd," for every mitzvah that they perform (as a channel for the descent of G-d's Presence) is an expression of G-d's benevolence.

Thus, the two interpretations are complementary, since the "ascent of mahn" is what causes the "descent of mahd" as stated above.

(The Alter Rebbe employs kabbalistic terms in his explanation, which are explained in Chassidut at length; they will become clearer in the course of further study.)

In the Alter Rebbe's words]:

[11] (Both interpretations are complementary.

For by refining [the good found in] kelipat nogah, [as the "men of ascent" do by converting their animal soul (which is derived from kelipat nogah) to good], one elevates "feminine waters" (mahn), effecting unions in the higher realms, so as to cause "masculine waters" (mahd) to descend [to this world].

These ["masculine waters"] are the "waters" of kindness [that flow into and are contained] in each of the 248 positive mitzvot, which are all in the nature of "kindness", [or benevolence], and "masculine waters."

This [term "masculine waters" as applied to mitzvot] means [that the mitzvot] draw G-d's holiness from above, [i.e., from the higher realms], downward, so that [G-d's holiness] be clothed in [and revealed within] the lowest realms, [i.e., our physical world], as explained elsewhere.)

[Thus the two interpretations of the term "men of ascent" are complementary].

   

Notes:

8. (Back to text) The Rebbe Shlita notes that two reasons are given for the use of the name bnei aliyah for the same level of tzaddikim, viz., the higher level. "One reason corresponds to the appellation "complete tzaddik," while the other corresponds to the term "tzaddik who knows only good.""

   (As we have seen, the "complete tzaddik" is so called because of the degree of his love of G-d; the explanation appropriate here is the latter - that his love is utterly selfless.

   The "tzaddik who knows only good" is so called because of his eradication and conversion of evil; the explanation appropriate to him is the former - that he elevates evil to holiness.)

9. (Back to text) Yeshayahu 55:1.

10. (Back to text) Introduction to Tikkunei Zohar 1b. See Zohar II, 114b; III, 222b; 288a.

11. (Back to text) Parentheses are in the original text.