Ahavah Shebitaalumot HaLev (Love in the Depths of the Heart)

Ahavah Shebitaalumot HaLev (Love in the Depths of the Heart) is a term in Chassidus referring to two different aspects of love for Hashem, either because it's a love hidden in the depths of the heart, or because it's a love that transcends the heart and is "concealed" from it.

The Different Levels of Love in the Depths of the Heart

There are three levels in the revelation of love for Hashem in a person's heart:

1. Love in the depths of the heart, the level of "Eved Kenaani" (Canaanite servant) – applicable to everyone.
2. Love revealed in the heart, the level of "Eved Ivri" (Hebrew servant).
3. Love in the innermost heart that is primarily intellectual, which is also called love "in the depths of the heart."

The first and last are both called "Taalumot Lev" (depths of the heart): the first because it is hidden in the heart, and the last because its ways are higher than the heart.

Love in the Depths of the Heart (Applicable to Everyone)

This love is not an actual feeling of love, but merely the heart's agreement (with the conclusion of contemplation and intellectual inclination of the mind) that "this is appropriate," and comes from contemplation that is not fully comprehended. Therefore, it doesn't have the power to clothe itself in emotions to arouse them, but rather Hashem "combines them" – and this is the love that is required and very accessible to each and every person.

Among the levels of love, this is the lowest, and is called the level of "Eved Kenaani" (Canaanite servant), which is the revelation of the aspect of "Ruach" (spirit) in the soul. The reason this love is called "Taalumot Lev" (depths of the heart) is because it is "hidden" in the heart – and not felt in it.

Two Levels in This Love

The purpose of this love in divine service is only to lead to action, and there are two levels in this:

When it lacks emotional arousal – in this way, there is no feeling at all, only an intellectual understanding that connection to G-dliness depends on fulfilling mitzvos. Since there is no emotion here, the moment a person encounters worldly distractions, G-dliness is forgotten, to the point where one doesn't feel the distance at all.

When it comes with emotional arousal – here the heart already agrees with the intellectual contemplation (although there is no actual feeling of love but only emotional agreement), and therefore this love has the power to guard a person throughout the day from stumbling in sins, and within it there are two aspects:

1. From contemplation of Hashem's greatness. The contemplation has produced in him a certain feeling and emotion (the heart's agreement), but since his comprehension is not complete, his love does not emerge into actual revelation but remains hidden in his mind and heart.
2. From the awakening of the hidden love. The "hidden love" is the soul's powerful essential love for G-dliness, but here we're discussing when it hasn't been fully revealed, and only its impression affects his heart with a certain feeling and emotion of "agreement" that it is "appropriate" to cleave to Hashem.

Love in the Depths of the Heart (Primarily Belonging to Tzaddikim)

This love is attachment to G-dliness in complete perfection; his attachment is so great that he doesn't feel it at all. This love is even higher than the innermost heart, and comes from the aspect of the "sight of Chochmah" (seeing the essence of G-dliness), and primarily belongs to souls of Atzilus.

The reason this love is called "Taalumot Lev" (depths of the heart) is because its ways are higher than the heart and it is "hidden" from it.

In Kabbalistic terminology, this level of love in the Sefiros is Yesod Abba (Supernal Wisdom) illuminating in Yesod Ima (the innermost heart), "a point in its palace."

1. Its purpose in divine service is Teshuvah Ila'ah (higher repentance), hinted at in the word 'Teshuvah' itself: "Tashuv Hei" (the Hei returns). This means that the upper Hei of the name Havayah returns, unites, and ascends to the level of Yud.
2. Divine service at this level of Teshuvah Ila'ah is called "Nachal Eitan" (mighty stream), and it is the Vav of the name Havayah that connects the aspect of "Eitan" in the soul with the emotions in the heart.