Angel

Angels
סוגי מלאכים
Ofanim · Seraphim
מושגים שונים
מטי ולא מטי · Ratzo VaShuv (Running and Returning) · קדוש קדוש קדוש · ברוך כבוד ה' ממקומו · קדוש וברוך

Angels are spiritual beings that serve the Holy One, blessed be He, and their place is in the worlds of BIA (Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah). The translation of the word "malach" means messenger, because their role is to transfer divine abundance in the worlds and perform various missions.

Unlike the divine powers in the world of Atzilut and the worlds above Atzilut, which are united with the Holy One, blessed be He, to the extent that they are not called by the name "world," in the BIA worlds there is separation and division, and in these worlds there are angels. The angels were created from the falling of lights in the "breaking of the vessels" (shevirat hakeilim), which fell as separate parts and their root is from the world of Tohu.

The service of the angels is in the aspect of "ratzo v'shov" (running and returning), however, the angels are called "standing."

Angels and Souls

The souls of The Yidden are drawn from the inner dimension of the worlds, and angels are drawn from the external dimension of the worlds. This difference also affects the purpose of each and their service. The drawing down of angels is from the externality of the worlds, which are drawn from "zivug neshikin" (kiss union), unlike the souls of The Yidden which are drawn from the aspect of "zivug gufani" (bodily union) which is from the inner dimension of the worlds. Therefore, souls are in the aspect of "adam" (human) that stand in a complete structure (meaning, their essence is intellect), compared to angels who are in the aspect of "behemah" (animal) (meaning, their essence is middot/emotions, which are in the force of excitement, and therefore they are called "mighty ones"). Therefore, the angels are divided into camps, the face of a lion and the face of an ox, etc. The matter of the face of a lion refers to angels drawn from the sefirah of Chesed, and their service is with love, while the face of an ox refers to service with fear. This aspect only exists with angels, as humans are in the aspect of a complete structure, and include all ten sefirot.

Bodies of Angels

Unlike the bodies of physical creations, the body of angels is composed only of the elements of fire and wind. The source of this is in the Ramban, who wrote "that angels have a body from the element of simple wind and from the element of simple fire." Chassidic teachings explain that the intention is to the spirituality of these elements. The concept is that all creations were created in the form of body and soul; the soul in every creation is that which thinks and feels, while the body is inanimate. However, the body of each creation is suited to the level of its soul: the body of physical creations includes all four elements (earth, water, wind and fire), while the body of angels is only from the elements of fire and wind - and even then, not from the elements themselves but from their spirituality.

Hierarchical Levels

The Rambam in Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah lists ten levels of angels and notes their names from top to bottom: "Chayot HaKodesh... and Ofanim and Erelim and Chashmalim and Seraphim and Malachim and Elohim and Bnei Elohim and Cherubim and Ishim."

In greater detail, Chassidic teachings explain the nature of three of the levels mentioned above:

Seraphim

Seraphim is the name of the angels standing in the world of Beriah, where the sefirah of Binah of the world of Atzilut resides, as it is said, "The supernal mother nests in the three sefirot in the throne." The service of the Seraphim is in the intellectual understanding of divinity, and about them it is said "standing above it," as they stand above the aspect of the throne.

The Seraphim are a creation in themselves with a complete structure and their root is from the aspect of the Kav (line). They are also in the aspect of receivers.

Chayot HaKodesh

Chayot HaKodesh is the name of the angels standing in the world of Yetzirah, and their service is in the aspect of natural love and fear that does not come as a result of contemplation. Chayot HaKodesh, along with the Ofanim, carry the throne.

Extended values – Like the Appearance of Lightning, Running and Returning

Ofanim

Ofanim is the name of the angels standing in the world of Asiyah, and their service is in the aspect of acknowledgment (nullification) from a distance only, as they do not feel their source.

Ofanim are in the aspect of bestowers, who bestow influences below. Therefore, they say, "Blessed is the glory of Hashem from His place," which refers to the drawing down of divinity to the lower realms.

Angelic Camps

The angels are generally divided into four camps. Each camp includes three sections, and it is the twelve oxen upon which the sea stands from above:

1. Camp of Michael - Angels who serve in the aspect of love and are drawn from the aspect of the face of a lion in the chariot.
2. Camp of Gabriel - Angels who serve in the aspect of fear and are drawn from the aspect of the face of an ox in the chariot.
3. Camp of Raphael - Angels who serve in the aspect of compassion and are drawn from the aspect of the face of an eagle in the chariot.
4. Camp of Uriel.

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.

For Further Reading

Rabbi Reuven Margaliot, Angels on High, Encyclopedia of Angelic Matters, Jerusalem, 5705 (1945)