Water

Water is one of the four physical elements through which the world was created - fire, wind, water, and earth - and corresponds spiritually to the sefira of Chesed. In Chassidus it is explained that the source of higher love and the source of lower waters were originally one, and they are called "upper waters" and "lower waters."

Water

Content

Water causes all types of pleasure to grow. Therefore, the element of water in the nefesh habehamis (animal soul) symbolizes desires for this world.

However, water itself has no taste (which is why we don't make a bracha on it unless thirsty). This indicates doing mitzvos without kabbalas ol (accepting the yoke of Heaven).

In Kabbalah and Chassidus

In their source, waters are drawn from the sefira of Chochma.

Upper Waters and Lower Waters

On the second day of Creation, Hashem created the waters and divided them into upper waters and lower waters - heaven and sea. The Tikkunei Zohar states regarding the lower waters: "The lower waters cry and say: We want to be before the King (Hashem)."

Chassidus explains that there are springs that have been crying for hundreds of years until a Yid comes to that place and washes their hands and makes a bracha of al netilas yadayim, or drinks when thirsty and makes a bracha before and after.

Mayim Nukvin

Although waters correspond to the middah of Chesed, their main aspect is love. Therefore, even when there is love from the aspect of the receiver, which is gevuros - meaning mayim nukvin which are from the side of the receiver and are in the aspect of or chozer (returning light) from below to above (opposite of water whose nature is to flow from above to below like the middah of Chesed which influences downward) - nevertheless it is called "water" since its essence is love and unity, unlike fire whose aspect is gevuros and tzimtzumim (restrictions).

Torah

The Gemara compares Torah to water: "Why are divrei Torah compared to water? Just as water leaves a high place and flows to a low place, so too divrei Torah only endure in one whose mind is humble." This teaching is frequently brought in Chassidus as a mashal (parable) for two aspects describing the essence of Torah (not just the bitul and humility required for learning and keeping Torah):

1. Just as water belongs below, so too Torah belongs specifically to the lower realms and not the upper realms. The intent of this mashal refers to water compared to other elements (not other liquids): Among the four elements, only water "seeks" to descend, so even though "earth is dry and cold and is heaviest of all while water is lighter than it," when given the opportunity water descends below earth and reaches the depths (therefore water is always level, while earth can be a mountain: because earth doesn't "seek" to descend, and although its "place" is below all, this is only due to its weight but not its essential nature).
2. Just as water doesn't change in its descent (unlike sunlight which diminishes, or fruit that falls from the tree which becomes disconnected from its life source until it rots and spoils), so too Torah didn't change in its descent but remained in its essence as it is above.

In Halacha and Custom

Drinking Water

The bracha on water is shehakol when drinking for thirst. When drinking water, one should not drink facing everyone but should turn their face to the wall and drink. One should spill a bit of water before drinking because of "ruach ra'ah that rests upon it." This should also be done after drinking and even if one didn't drink at all.

Mayim Acharonim

Before birchas hamazon one must pour water on their finger joints. The Frierdiker Rebbe would pour a bit from the cup before mayim acharonim as well.

Mayim Shelanu

For baking matzah, one must use water that "slept" overnight. The reason for this is so the water will be cold and not hasten the flour's becoming chometz.

The Rebbe By Mayim Shelanu

Mikvah

A mikvah requires rainwater that has never been handled by human hands, and must contain 40 seah.

A MIkvah in Chabad of Montana according to The Chabad Custom

Regarding immersion times: The Mitteler Rebbe included mikvah immersion in the Siddur im Dach before Shabbos preparations (indicating one should immerse before Shabbos and Yom Tov). However, in Likkutei Torah it states that mikvah is one of three preparations for davening (on weekdays, along with tzedakah and learning Chassidus). Similarly, in the long letter it's recorded that the Baal Shem Tov's chassidim would immerse daily before davening - and this is how most Chabad chassidim practice today (although the Rebbe himself did not do this).

Niggunim

K'ayol Taarog of the Alter Rebbe

This niggun was heard by Chossid Reb Shmuel Grunem Esterman from an elderly man who was in the group of singers by the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe would sing this niggun frequently with great deveikus.

This is niggun #2 in Sefer HaNiggunim.

The words are:

"Like a deer yearns for streams of water; And they shall be as tefillin between your eyes" - Tehillim 42:2, Devarim 6:8

K'ayol Taarog of the Tzemach Tzedek

This niggun of deveikus was frequently sung by the Tzemach Tzedek.

This is niggun #14 in Sefer HaNiggunim.

The words are:

"Like a deer yearns for streams of water, so does my soul yearn for You, Elokim; My soul thirsts for Elokim, for the living G-d, when shall I come and appear before Elokim?..."

• Tehillim 42:2-3

Palgei Mayim

The niggun Palgei Mayim originates from Georgian Jews and was recorded from Chossid Reb Sender Menkin.

This is niggun #266 in Sefer HaNiggunim.

The words are:

"Streams of water descend from my eyes over my sins and transgressions, and if I do not keep my Master's Torah how will I bear the Day of Judgment"

Al HaSela

The niggun Al HaSela Hach is a dance niggun sung primarily during hakafos of Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.

This is niggun #162 in Sefer HaNiggunim.

The words are:

"Al Hasela Hoch Vayetze Moyim" - From the Geshem prayer recited on Shmini Atzeres

See Also

• Rain
• River
• Spring
• Sea
• Dew