And to explain this concept within the realm of a person’s Avodah, it is known in Chassidus that there are two progressions [in connecting with HaShem]: going from above to below and going from below to above, otherwise referred to as ‘Rotzoi’ and ‘Shov’.
These two progressions encapsulate the two modes of Avodah; prayer and Torah study. Prayer is compared to a ladder as in the Possuk: “A ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven”, whereas about Torah study the Possuk states: “From the heavens I have spoken with you”.
Within Torah and Prayer
On a more intricate level, within Torah and within prayer, these two concepts can also be found. Within Torah, there is the written Torah which is a Hamshocha being drawn down from to below. Then there is the oral Torah which needs to be worked on down here and elevated above. This is why the written Torah is referred to as ‘day’ whilst the oral Torah is referred to as night.
Duality in Prayer
Similarly in prayer, even though [as mentioned earlier] prayer is considered “A ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven” [and we need to work from down here ascending upwards], nevertheless the Possuk states that on the ladder there were angels “ascending and descending” – not just ascending but descending too. This duality can also be seen during the Davening [itself]; at the beginning of Davening there needs to be an ascent going up, requesting one’s needs from on high, then thereafter in fulfilling one’s requests there is the Hamshocha, the descending. This refers to the remainder of Davening including the daily song of the day and concludes with the verse “HaShem shall become King over all the earth” which symbolises the Kabbolas Ol Malchus Shomayim below on this earth.
The Purpose of Two Progressions
The reason for this (why we need two forms of progression) is because even though there is a virtue in an ascent from below to above – ‘Rotzoi’ – nevertheless, as the Possuk states: “He did not create it [the world] for a waste [He formed it] to be inhabited” and if all will be in a state of ‘Rotzoi’ surging above, the world below will be left in chaos. And the ultimate purpose is to make a dwelling place for HaShem below in the lower realm [emphasising the lower realm], not just to make a dwelling place but it specifically has to be in the lower realm.
Parallel to Mochin of Imma and Abba
These two aspects of ‘Rotzoi’ and ‘Shov’ parallel the two levels of ‘Mochin of Imma’ and ‘Mochin of Abba’. ‘Mochin of Imma’ parallels ‘Rotzoi’ surging upwards which can be discerned from the statement of our Sages of blessed memory in the episode of ‘Nodov and Avihu’ (whose Avodah was in a state of ‘Rotzoi’ without any ‘Shov’), that they entered whilst inebriated because the Avodah of Nodov and Avihu was in absolute holiness.
