Ilah V'alul (Cause and Effect)

Ilah V'alul is a form of creation where there is a connection and value between the effect and its cause, and therefore in the effect, the cause from which it came into being is felt. This creation is different from cause and effect (sibah u'mesovev) and certainly different from creation of yesh me'ayin (something from nothing) (for it is understood that in "ayin" there exists nothing that can be a source for "yesh," and it follows that it (the ayin) is wondrous and incomparably beyond the created being).

Examples of Ilah V'alul

In general, the chain of sefiros one from another is in the manner of ilah v'alul, but typically the example brought in Chassidus is specifically from the creation of midos (emotions) from sechel (intellect). Unlike the animal soul (whose essence is midos), the midos of the G-dly soul are created specifically through intellectual contemplation. For example, contemplation about a certain matter that is "good" and then that it is good for me affects the heart to feel drawn to that good - that is, a feeling of love.

Since the creation of the effect from the cause happens automatically, therefore the cause is felt within the effect. And in the above example (of intellect and emotions), the intellect not only creates the emotion but it is felt within the emotion; in the emotion that is aroused, the intellect that created it is recognizable.

Its Significance in Worlds

It is explained that generally, all the chain of creation is in the manner of ilah v'alul. And specifically in the worlds of ABYA (Atzilus, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah), all the descent of lights within the worlds is in the category of ilah v'alul in relation to the creation of yesh me'ayin in Malchus of Atzilus.

Its Significance in Sefiros

It is explained that the lights descending from the sefirah of Chochmah to the sefiros after it - the sefirah of Binah and the sefirah of Daas until the sefirah of Malchus - is in the manner of ilah v'alul. This is not the case with the creation of the sefirah of Chochmah from the sefirah of Kesser, which is in the category of yesh me'ayin.

Similarly, the influence of intellect to emotions is generally in the manner of ilah v'alul, where that same intellect itself descends and clothes itself in the emotions, as is known that from the aspect of emotions within the intellect comes the intellect within the emotions.

See Also

• Sibah U'mesovev (Cause and Effect)
• Yesh Me'ayin (Something from Nothing)