Editing Angel (section)

== Various Angels ==

==== The Angel Gabriel ====
Gabriel is the name of the angel who stands at the head of Gabriel's camp, which includes a group of angels working with the attributes of fear and awe. Gabriel's camp is drawn from the face of the ox in the Divine chariot, which stands on the northern side, the side of gevurah (strength/severity).

His place, like most angels, is in the World of Yetzirah (Formation).

Gabriel's role is to awaken the tzaddikim (righteous ones) in Gan Eden (Paradise) at midnight so they may delight in and enjoy the radiance of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) in the lower Gan Eden and the upper Gan Eden. From this descends the rooster's call that awakens a person at midnight in this physical world.

==== Metat"ron ====
''Extended entry – Metat"ron''

Metat"ron is the accepted abbreviation for Metatron, which is the name of an angel whose "name is like his Master's name" and is not pronounced. Metat"ron's place during weekdays is in the six directions of Yetzirah, and in this position he is called "Na'ar" (Youth). On Shabbat, during the ascent of the worlds, Metat"ron rises from the level of smallness to the level of greatness and is called "His servant, the elder of His house," and his place is in the six directions of Beriah (Creation).

==== Michael ====
Michael is the name of the angel who stands at the head of Michael's camp, which consists of angels working in the aspect of love.

Michael is the minister of water, while Gabriel is the minister of fire. The idea is that just as water flows from high to low, so too Michael represents the spreading of chesed (kindness). Michael embodies love and kindness, in contrast to Gabriel who embodies fear and severity.

Michael is also called the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), who offers souls upon the altar by inspiring them with love. More specifically, there are two aspects of the Kohen Gadol: the first is Michael, whose function is ahavat olam (eternal love) drawn from the chesed of Abraham, and the second, higher aspect is that of Aaron the Kohen Gadol, whose function is ahavah rabah (great love) drawn from Aaron's beard that flows down over his attributes.

Our Sages of blessed memory said: "Michael with one, Gabriel with two," meaning that Michael flies across the entire world in a single flight. This relates to his title as Kohen Gadol, whose root is in the aspect of abundant kindness in the essence of the Emanator, which is above wisdom. Therefore, when it descends below, there is absolutely nothing that prevents or hinders it, but rather it extends from the head of all levels to the end of all levels in a single path. This is unlike Gabriel, who represents olam chesed (world kindness) that extends according to the measure of the sefirah of wisdom, which is why "Gabriel with two" – first there is judgment whether the kindness will be revealed in the World of Atzilut (Emanation), and afterward there is judgment whether it will be revealed in the worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah.

==== Michael's Camp ====
Michael's camp derives from the face of the lion in the Divine chariot, which stands on the southern side, the side of chesed. Michael's camp includes all angels working in the aspect of kindness and love, and this is what our Sages meant when they said: "Michael offers souls upon the altar," meaning he draws them close through the attachment of love that he bestows upon them.

==== Raphael ====
The first place Raphael is mentioned is in the book of Genesis, when he came to heal Avraham Avinu after his brit milah (circumcision). This is his role: healing. In one of the Chabad stories, it is mentioned that beside every doctor there is an angel helping him to heal. And beside great doctors is the angel Raphael.

==== Sanda"l ====
Sanda"l is the accepted abbreviation for Sandalfon, who is an angel whose name is not pronounced. It is explained in Kabbalah and Chassidut that Sandal"fon represents the six directions of the World of Asiyah (Action).

It is also taught that Sandal"fon binds crowns for the Holy One, blessed be He, from the prayers of Israel.

Metat"ron and Sandal"fon are two angels distinguished by their names. Metat"ron represents the six directions of the World of Yetzirah, and Sandal"fon represents the six directions of the World of Asiyah. It is also explained that Metat"ron and Sandal"fon are the Ze'ir Anpin and Nukva (masculine and feminine aspects) of the World of Beriah, and it is explained that the concept of the Cherubim refers to Metat"ron and Sandal"fon.