The Two Perspectives of the Neshomoh and Their Application in Avodas HaShem
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The Two Perspectives of the Neshomoh and Their Application in Avodas HaShem

הפצת המיינות חוצה | June 25, 2025

Beis The Tzemach Tzedek continues to explain this concept regarding a person’s Avodas HaShem. In [each person’s] Neshomoh there are also these two perspectives. One [perspective] is enclothed within the body as an internal light - this represents the three [lower] parts of the Neshomo called ‘Nefesh’, ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’. The second [perspective] is an encompassing state representing the [upper] parts of the Neshomoh called ‘Chayah’ and ‘Yechidah’.

This also represents the ‘revealed state’ and the ‘concealed state’. This is the reason why [the upper parts of the Neshomo] ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ are alluded to in the letter ‘Yud’ and the ‘Koitz’ [top point] of the letter ‘Yud’ [of HaShem’s ineffable Tetragrammaton] since the letter ‘Yud’ is [almost completely concealed in that it is] only [really] a dot and how much less is the ‘Koitz’ of the letter ‘Yud’ which is not even a point.

Whereas, the [lower parts of the Neshomoh] ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ are represented by the [full] letters of ‘Hey’ ‘Vov’ and ‘Hey’ which are proper letters.

Subdivisions of the Neshomoh

Just as there is a difference in the manner of Avodah of the [lower parts of the Neshomoh] ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ which is in the revealed realm in contrast to the manner of Avodah of [the upper parts of the Neshomo] ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ which operate in a system of concealment, similarly there is a difference in their [perspective] rectification which is what the ‘Tochecho’ [rebuke] is about, since the rectification for the ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ comes about through an open and an outright (revealed) rebuke whilst the rectification for ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ comes about through a concealed hint-like rebuke.

In other words, in order to arouse [the upper parts of the Neshomo] ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ a concealed hint-like rebuke would suffice, whereas to arouse [the lower parts of the Neshomoh] ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ a completely open and overt rebuke is necessary.

Beis The Tzemach Tzedek continues to explain this concept regarding a person’s Avodas HaShem. In [each person’s] Neshomoh there are also these two perspectives. One [perspective] is enclothed within the body as an internal light - this represents the three [lower] parts of the Neshomo called ‘Nefesh’, ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’. The second [perspective] is an encompassing state representing the [upper] parts of the Neshomoh called ‘Chayah’ and ‘Yechidah’.

This also represents the ‘revealed state’ and the ‘concealed state’. This is the reason why [the upper parts of the Neshomo] ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ are alluded to in the letter ‘Yud’ and the ‘Koitz’ [top point] of the letter ‘Yud’ [of HaShem’s ineffable Tetragrammaton] since the letter ‘Yud’ is [almost completely concealed in that it is] only [really] a dot and how much less is the ‘Koitz’ of the letter ‘Yud’ which is not even a point.

Whereas, the [lower parts of the Neshomoh] ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ are represented by the [full] letters of ‘Hey’ ‘Vov’ and ‘Hey’ which are proper letters.

Subdivisions of the Neshomoh

Just as there is a difference in the manner of Avodah of the [lower parts of the Neshomoh] ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ which is in the revealed realm in contrast to the manner of Avodah of [the upper parts of the Neshomo] ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ which operate in a system of concealment, similarly there is a difference in their [perspective] rectification which is what the ‘Tochecho’ [rebuke] is about, since the rectification for the ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ comes about through an open and an outright (revealed) rebuke whilst the rectification for ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ comes about through a concealed hint-like rebuke.

In other words, in order to arouse [the upper parts of the Neshomo] ‘Chaya’ and ‘Yechidah’ a concealed hint-like rebuke would suffice, whereas to arouse [the lower parts of the Neshomoh] ‘Nefesh’ ‘Ruach’ and ‘Neshomoh’ a completely open and overt rebuke is necessary.

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