Sefiras HaChochma: Difference between revisions

* '''Reishis''' - The Sefira of Chochma is also called "Reishis", as the verse states "The beginning of Chochma is fear of Hashem". And so too the Targum Yonasan on the Torah's opening word "Bereishis" is "B'Chochmasa". The matter is that the Sefira of Chochma is the beginning of the revelation of the Sefiros.

* '''Even''' - The physical stone is in the category of inanimate, and what distinguishes it from other types of creations -like plant, animal and human- is its being an existing essence with a form and intrinsic definition, but without additional qualities and form beyond its physical existence, especially the raw stone before any specific form of a vessel or the like is set in it. Unlike a plant or animal, which besides the essential existence in its physical reality, also has the quality of growth or feeling, the stone is an inanimate existence and has no additional qualities beyond its essential existence. Therefore the stone serves as an analogy for the Sefira of Chochma which is hinted to in the letter 'Yud' of the name of Havaya, just as the Yud is a point without extension, meaning without form - length and width, because the essence of the letter Yud is just a point (the "thorns" above and below are additions), and a 'point' - has no defined form, and precisely because of this it is the basis for all possible forms - different from each other completely, which are all drawn from and built upon it. So too Chochma is just a source for Binah, which is defined and "formed" intellect with length and width, meaning, defined in its various details. But Chochma itself is abstract from all form and definition, and therefore is compared to an inanimate stone.