Sefiras HaGevurah

Sefiras HaGevurah is the fifth sefirah among the ten sefiros. This sefirah is the second among the middos, and it stands on the left line parallel to Sefiras HaChesed which is on the right line.

Unlike Sefiras HaChesed, whose essence is love and influence with moderation in the aspect of water, the essence of Sefiras HaGevurah is yirah (fear/awe), and influence with intensity in the aspect of fire. Therefore, Sefiras HaGevurah is in the aspect of midas hadin (attribute of judgment) and tzimtzum (contraction), in contrast to midas hachesed of Sefiras HaChesed.

Sefiras HaGevurah is the middah of Yitzchak Avinu, who served his Creator with pachad (fear) and yirah, as it is said "Pachad Yitzchak" (the Fear of Yitzchak). It is explained that specifically the aspect of gevurah and the aspect of Yitzchak are connected with the concept of le'asid lavo (the future time).

Its Essence

Sefiras HaGevurah is the second sefirah among the middos, and stands parallel to Sefiras HaChesed. However, Sefiras HaChesed is on the right line while Sefiras HaGevurah is on the left line. Therefore, Sefiras HaGevurah is called in Pesach Eliyahu by the name "deroa smala" (left arm), in contrast to Sefiras HaChesed which is "deroa yemina" (right arm). The concept of the arms represents the influence of the middos, but this influence is divided into two lines: there is abundant influence which is in the aspect of the right hand, and there is another influence which is in the aspect of the left hand.

The concept in sefiros is that Sefiras HaChesed is in the aspect of water, which flows from high to low with abundant influence, and Sefiras HaGevurah is midas hadin, which is influence with tzimtzum.

Deroa Smala

Deroa smala (left arm) is a term for Sefiras HaGevurah, whose essence is influence with tzimtzum, from the left side. Gevurah which is called "deroa smala" parallels Sefiras HaChesed which is called "deroa yemina" and both are in the aspect of arms that are mediated by the "gufa" (body), Sefiras HaTiferes.

In the Aspect of Yirah

The inner middah of Sefiras HaGevurah is the middah of yirah. The concept of yirah is distance, unlike the middah of love which is in the aspect of closeness. The middah of yirah in avodas Hashem is specifically expressed in the mitzvah of yiras Hashem.

Influence in Intensity

Although it is explained that the Sefira of Gevurah is in the aspect of judgment and tzimtzum (contraction), in its inner dimension its purpose is influence with intensity. Since the purpose of the Sefiros, particularly the Middos, is influence - their purpose being to reveal Elokus in the worlds - therefore it cannot be said that its purpose is contraction. Rather, it is understood that the Sefira of Gevurah is great influence in the aspect of intensity.

The Middah of Yitzchak

The avodah in the aspect of Gevurah is the middah of Yitzchak Avinu. The three Avos are in the aspect of merkavah to the Sefiros of Chesed-Gevurah-Tiferes of the world of Atzilus, and Yitzchak, who was the second of the Avos, was a merkavah to the Sefira of Gevurah. The matter is that he served his Creator with pachad and yirah, and this was the path in which he served all his days, and this is what is meant by "pachad Yitzchak."

It is explained that specifically the middah of Yitzchak, the middah of Gevurah, is what will be revealed in the future to come. As it is written (Isaiah 63:16): "For You are our father, for Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us," and on this the Gemara (Shabbos 89b) states that Yitzchak is not mentioned because Yitzchak will redeem us in the future. And the matter is explained that even Abraham and Yaakov are in the aspect of created beings, and there is an advantage in the aspect of Yitzchak which is Gevuros, and this is the matter of the advantage of gold over silver.

In the Worlds

The source of the Sefira of Gevurah in the worlds is the level of Gevurah of Atik, which is the Sefira of Gevurah in Kesser in Atik Yomin. Gevurah of Atik is also called by the name Butzina D'Kardinusa and by the name Kav HaMiddah, which is the root of all tzimtzumim in the worlds.

It is explained that the name Elokim is in the middah of Gevurah, based on the verse: "For Havayah Elokim is a sun and shield" and it is explained in Chassidus that just as there is a shield and sheath for the sun, so too there is a shield and sheath for the name Havayah, and it is the name Elokim. Because the purpose of the name Elokim is to contract and conceal the infinite light of the name Havayah so that the world and the created beings will not be nullified from the intensity of the light.