Hashem’s Name י-ה-ו-ה when each of those four letters is spelled out fully is read: יוד-הא-ואו-הא. If you add the numerical value of the above 10 letters, it adds up to 45, which is מ"ה. The word מ"ה means “what,” as in the phrase “ונחנו מה-and what are we significant?” This represents “ביטול”- the feeling of one’s ego being completely insignificant relative to one’s source, which is Hashem.
This ability of self-transcendence before Hashem is due to a revelation of Hashem’s most inner and essential Light, connected to other meaning of מה, which is מהות-essence. Because Yaakov was connected to this level of מ"ה, he was able to affect “Tikkun-fixing” to the breakdown which creates the possibility of unholiness, called “the Breakdown of the System of Tohu,” as will be further discussed in the maamar.
These Lights of Tohu were very great and were unable to become integrated into the limitations of the system of Tohu, so they left the limitations of that system, and these lights are called Encompassing Lights, and the fragmented remains of that system “fell down” below to this world.
The analogy for this:
A person has a conscious mind and emotions, and a subconscious mind and emotions. On the subconcious level, a person has unlimited potential for wisdom, and unlimited potential for all emotions. What would happen if all of a person’s subconscious potential would be revealed in his conscious mind and emotions, all at the same time? He would have a complete system overload. His conscious self wouldn’t be able to handle the intensity of the wisdom and the feelings flowing in him at the same time. He would have a total breakdown. So instead of becoming a genius or a brave hero, he would simply go crazy, not being able to handle or control himself.
Similarly, the “Lights of Tohu” represent the unlimited power of Hashem’s revelation. Unlimited Wisdom, unlimited Kindness, etc. However, when these limitless aspects became revealed, the “System” of Tohu was unable to process them functionally, and so the entire “system” of Tohu collapsed and became fragmented. From the fragmentation and chaos of that World, comes the chaos and fragmentation that exists in our physical world.
Therefore, Eisav in this world was wicked, but the ultimate root of his soul was in the Encompassing Lights of Tohu, which are superior to the Lights of Tikkun.
Eisav, who was chaotic and fragmented, was connected to the level of Tohu. Since the Lights of Tohu are unlimited, that is why he had so much power (that he ended up using for bad things).
The idea of Tikkun is to use the Inner Essential Light of Hashem to “fix up” the chaos and fragmentation of the broken system. This is possible because allows the Light of Hashem to become integrated into the system according to the limitations of the system. This is like how the conscious mind filters out the limitless potential of the subconscious and allows only enough revelation of soul-powers that can be integrated in a functional manner. From the perspective of Tikkun, the system is just as important as the Light, and therefore the Light needs to adapt to the limitations of the system.
However, because Tikkun takes into account the limitations of the system, the Light it allows is inherently limited. That is why there is still an advantage in the Lights of Tohu, since they have a limitless potential and power.
Because Yaakov was on the level of Tikkun and Eisav was on the level of Tohu, they needed each other. Eisav needed Yaakov to “fix” his chaos and guide him so that his great power and potential should become integrated into a functional system, i.e., to be used out properly for good and holy things. And Yaakov needed Eisav so that in his limited system he should become connected to the unlimited power of the Lights of Tohu. I.e., he should have tremendous boost of energy and passion in all aspects of his service of Hashem, so he can accomplish incomparably more.
Now, Yaakov thought that Eisav had already been refined and had returned to his soul’s exalted root in the Encompassing Lights of Tohu, which precede Tikkun.
Therefore, Yaakov sent “messengers before himself,” to a level which is actually ‘before’ him, meaning to a level which was higher than and preceding his own level, “to Eisav his brother, in Seir,” which is the level of the “Ancient Kings of Tohu,”
The Sefiros of Tohu are referred to as the “Ancient Kings,” because they exist on a higher level, preceding that of the Sefiros of Tikkun (which are the Sefiros of Atzilus). They are called “Kings” because each Sefira wanted to have its own unlimited revelation, not taking into account the other Sefiros. For example, the Sefira of Kindness wanted to reveal infinite kindness, not taking into account the opposite Sefira of Severity and Judgement.
Which is the level of the Encompassing Lights of Tohu, as was mentioned previously, in order to draw the Encompassing Lights of Tohu down to himself in the World of Tikkun, which is the level of Internalized Light, so that the Encompassing Light can shine into the Internalized Light and become unified.
As explained above, this means that in the system of Tikkun there should be a boost of passion and energy etc. from the Lights of Tohu.
Therefore, Yaakov commanded them (the messengers), “So shall you speak to my master, to Eisav... I lived with Lavan... and I had oxen and donkeys...” Meaning that he notified him that the process of “Tikkun-Correction” of Atzilus had been completed to perfection.
For all of the levels of the World of Atzilus (the levels of “oxen, donkeys, sheep, slaves and maidservants...” were all sorted out and rectified by the Divine Name Ma”h. And this is the meaning of, “And I had oxen and donkeys...”
The world of Atzilus is a level where the chaos and fragmentations of Tohu is completely corrected. That is why Atzilus is called the world of Tikkun-Correction. Yaakov was saying that everything in his life, even his physical possesions, like his livestock and his servants, how much more so everything in Yaakov himself, was spiritually corrected and into the system of Tikkun.
And all of this came because, “I lived with Lavan,” meaning that I lived with the level of “לוֹבֶן הָּעֶלְיוֹן-The Whiteness Above,” from which Yaakov, the man of Atzilus, drew the ultimate power of influence, in order to effect refinement and rectification for everything in the world.
This concept was explained at length above in the Introduction. And therefore, since the job of Tikkun of the world had been fulfilled to perfection, from that point the world became fit to contain the Encompassing Lights of Tohu.
For, if the Tikkun was not completed to perfection, it would not have been possible to draw down the “Makifim-Encompassing Lights.” For things in this world to contain the Lights of Tohu in a productive manner, the “vessels,” the system and existence in place must first be fully refined and reconnected to its source in holiness. Then the Lights of Tohu will only add additional power in the service of Hashem. If they are not completely refined and “corrected” of their fragmentation and unholiness, then the remnant of unholiness will tap into the Lights of Tohu and become stronger forms of unholiness. (A similar concept was explained in the maamar for Bereishis entitled “הן האדם-Purifying Our Minds.”)
As is written in the Zohar (II, 155a), “Blessing does not vest itself in an empty place.... Rather, in a place of completion.”
The Mittler Rebbe explains in Toras Chaim these two concepts:
- Blessing does not vest itself in an empty place, meaning that only in a place where there are Sparks of Holiness that have been redeemed from unholiness is there drawn down an additional Light from Above. An example of this is the additional Light revealed on Shabbos due to the redemption of the Sparks of Holiness that took place during the six days of the preceding week.
- Rather, in a place of completion, means that only where opposites can work together in serving Hashem. An example is how a Jewish husband and wife come together to bring down a Divine soul, which each by themselves would not be able to accomplish. This merging of opposites shows on a high level of bittul - egolessness- produced from feeling how we are all equally included in Hashem, as explained at length above.
However, once the Tikkun was completed and perfected, the world became a “perfected place,” in which it was fitting to draw down the Encompassing Lights of Tohu.
Therefore, the verse continues: “I (Yaakov) sent (messengers) to tell my master (Eisav), to find favor in your eyes.”
Meaning, that Yaakov wanted Eisav to transmit and shine his Encompassing Lights into Yaakov’s World of Tikkun. This is the idea of “finding favor.”
Meaning, since “I had (spiritually transformed and elevated even my) oxen, donkeys and livestock,” which caused that “darkness is transformed into light” in the World of Tikkun, this makes it truly a “perfected place” that can properly receive the Lights of Tohu.
Thus, Yaakov felt that it was fitting that “I should find favor in your eyes,” which is an expression of drawing down blessing from the Encompassing Lights of Tohu.
