V'Rav Chesed

V'Rav Chesed is one of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy found in the "dikna d'Arich Anpin" (the "beard" of the "Long Face" - a Kabbalistic concept). Its root is in the attribute "Ki chafetz chesed hu" (For He desires kindness) from the Thirteen Attributes mentioned by the prophet Micah.

Its Meaning

The Zohar states that there are different types of chesed (kindness): "There is chesed and there is chesed" - there is "Rav Chesed" (abundant kindness) and "Notzer Chesed" (preserves kindness).

"Notzer Chesed" is the kindness that Hashem does through tzaddikim (righteous individuals). This is the meaning of "Notzer Chesed La'alafim" (preserves kindness for thousands) - the Holy One, blessed be He, preserves kindness for the sake of the tzaddikim who are called "alafim" (thousands), representing the "alef" of Chochmah (Wisdom) and the "alef" of Binah (Understanding).

However, "Rav Chesed" is the kindness that the Holy One, blessed be He, does for His own sake, for the maintenance of the world, according to His way of being good to His creations. This is a great and exceedingly abundant kindness to increase His kindness with His creatures.

Through the attribute of "Notzer Chesed," He contracts His Shechinah (Divine Presence) and illuminates the worlds according to the capacity of the recipients, like an eagle that hovers over its nest - touching yet not touching, and the light is "mati v'lo mati" (reaches yet does not reach). If not for this, the worlds would cease to exist due to the brightness of the lights, and would return to nothingness. This is the meaning of "Olam Chesed Yibaneh" (The world is built on kindness).

In explaining the verse "Mah rav tuvcha" (How abundant is Your goodness), the Alter Rebbe explains: This means without limit or measure, both the goodness that "You have stored for those who fear You" and that which "You have wrought for those who trust in You" - these are the people of faith from the right side, whose kindness and goodness is also in a state of revelation and expansion toward people, not in a state of contraction and concealment at all. Therefore, You too, Hashem, deal with them with Your great kindness without limit or end, which is called "Rav Chesed."

For there is chesed and there is chesed. There is "Chesed Olam" (worldly kindness) which has opposite it the attribute of judgment, Heaven forbid, to diminish and contract His kindness and goodness. But the higher chesed called "Rav Chesed" has no opposing attribute of judgment to diminish and contract the abundance of His kindness from expanding without limit or end, because it is drawn from the aspect of "Sovev Kol Almin" (encompasses all worlds) and "Tmira D'chol Tmirin" (the concealment of all concealments) called "Keter Elyon" (Supreme Crown). This is what is written: "You shall hide them in the secret of Your countenance... You shall conceal them in a sukkah..."

Mordechai equals "Rav Chesed" in gematria (numerical value), and this alludes to the aspect of Yesod (the sixth rectification and the sixth extremity in Ze'ir Anpin), and therefore the abundance of kindnesses is revealed in Nukva (the feminine aspect) on Purim.