Krisas Bris - Cutting a covenant

Krisas Bris - Cutting a covenant is an action between two people who love each other, as a sign that the love between one another will never cease.

Covenants Mentioned in the Torah

Abraham and Abimelech's Covenant

Our father Abraham cut a covenant with Abimelech, king of the Philistines, through seven sheep that he brought to Abimelech, and by their mutual oath.

The covenant was made in the city of Beer Sheva, and the city itself is named after this event: according to one opinion, "Sheva" - is for the oath that was sworn there. According to another opinion, it's named after the seven sheep that Abraham brought to Abimelech.

Covenant Between the Parts

The Covenant Between the Parts is the covenant that the Holy One, blessed be He, made with our father Abraham, in which he was promised that his descendants would inherit the Land of Israel, and that before this they would be in exile. The name "Covenant Between the Parts" was given because Abraham passed between the parts of the animals.

Types of Covenant

To Awaken Love Based on Intellect

This covenant is to awaken the love that is based on reason and knowledge. Although they currently love each other, after time the love might cease, therefore there is a covenant to compel the love again.

This love is called "love that depends on something," as it depends on and is compelled by the covenant.

To Reveal Essential Love

This covenant is to reveal (as opposed to awaken) the essential love that is beyond reason and knowledge. This love always exists (between those who essentially love each other, like between Hashem and Israel and vice versa) in every situation, but it can be concealed in the essence of the soul. The cutting of the covenant is to reveal this love.

This love is "love that doesn't depend on anything" - as it is constant, and only needs to be revealed.

Forms of Covenant

Covenant Through Participation

The two covenant-makers participate in something specific - as a sign and remembrance of the covenant's terms (how each one will behave). This means they compel themselves to behave according to the rules they set forth through participation in that object.

Covenant Through Cutting

Both parties cut an animal in two, showing that neither has completeness without the other (as in the Covenant Between the Parts).

In Chassidut it is explained that cutting the animal in two does not indicate separation between them. On the contrary, it shows that despite the two lovers being two separate bodies, they are nevertheless part of one essence. Like the two parts of the animal which, despite being cut, are part of one body.

This animal that is cut serves as the intermediary connecting the two lovers.

Hashem's Covenant with Israel

The concepts explained above are analogies from covenants between human beings, so that we can understand how the covenant between the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Children of Israel works. Therefore, all the types and forms that exist in human covenants also exist in Hashem's covenant.

Types of Covenant

Just as with humans, there are also two types of covenant between Hashem and Israel, with different purposes.

To Awaken Love Based on Intellect

This is the covenant whereby when the Children of Israel observe Torah and mitzvot, Divine love flows with abundance and blessing. As it is written: "If not for My covenant... I would not have set the laws of heaven and earth." The drawing down of this love is according to the level of the Jew's service below - and is called love that depends on something.

In Chassidut it is explained why specifically a covenant is needed to draw down this love. In truth, logically there is no reason why an awakening from below - the service of the lower being, should awaken an awakening from above - a higher drawing down. Therefore, the covenant is needed to connect the souls of Israel to Hashem so that through their service they can draw down the higher influence. And also, so that the drawing down will be internalized within them.

To Reveal Essential Love

This is the covenant designed to reveal the hidden love that exists within every Jew for Hashem and between Hashem and the Jew, and this love can never be nullified, even if the Jew sins against Hashem, as it is written: "I will not reject them or despise them to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them." However, sometimes this love can be concealed, and therefore a covenant and sign are needed to remember and reveal the love.

Forms of Covenant

Just as with humans, there are also two forms of covenant between Hashem and Israel.

Covenant Through Participation

Just as with humans this covenant compels behavior, so too in Hashem's covenant with Israel:

Regarding Hashem: The compulsion is, as it were (since in truth compulsion is not applicable to Hashem), the limitation and lowering of Hashem to be clothed in Torah - that all the drawing down from Him will be in the realm of limitation within the laws of Torah.

Regarding Israel: The compulsion is what they choose themselves to act and behave according to Torah and mitzvot, even though sometimes they could receive more influence in the aspect of "back" from kelipot.

Covenant Through Cutting

Just as with humans the covenant of cutting is through an intermediary, so too between Israel and Hashem:

An intermediary's function is to connect a lower entity to a higher one, and it itself contains the highest level of the lower and the lowest level of the higher, so that they become more similar to each other and can unite.

The intermediary connecting Israel to Hashem is the sefirah of Keter, which contains the lowest level of the Emanator - the lowest level of Hashem's light relative to Him; and the highest level of what is emanated - the highest level of light that relates to the worlds and the creation of beings.

See Also

The Count of Covenant Cutting