Editing Nitzutz Mashiach - Spark of Mashiach (section)

== Level and Essence ==
The spark of Mashiach is the "point of Judaism" in a Jew's soul - alluded to in the letter Yud, the first letter of the name of the nation of Israel. This point is also called "the inner point of the heart."

The level of the Mashiach spark is in the deepest part of the soul. In the Tanya, the Alter Rebbe compares this spark to the level of Chochmah (wisdom) in the soul, "in which the light of Hashem Himself is clothed and concealed." Generally, the Rebbe explained that this is the level of Yechidah in the soul. However, in another talk, the Rebbe innovated that the level of this spark is not only at the level of Yechidah (which is itself only a "name" for the soul itself) - but in the very essence of the soul itself.

Since the spark of Mashiach is the deepest part of the soul, completely united with the Holy One, blessed be He - therefore its connection with the Holy One is not in an intellectual way or the like, but in a way that transcends reason and knowledge. This means that the Jew's soul feels that it is united and attached to its source, the Holy One, blessed be He, by virtue of its very existence. And in a person's divine service as well, the function of this spark is not a particular service, but the very knowledge that one is united with the Holy One, blessed be He.

The connection to Hashem through the spark of Mashiach has its root in the soul of Mashiach - who draws and reveals this level of connection in the souls of Israel. This is why Mashiach is called the "general Yechidah" - because he encompasses all the aspects of "Yechidah" of all the Jewish people. This is also the reason why the leader of the generation - who includes all the souls of the generation - is the general Yechidah, and therefore also the Mashiach of the generation.