Hayom Yom 7 Kislev - There are three schools of thought; Mussar, Chakirah and Chassidus

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

הפטורה: וְעַמִי - תַּלְמֵי שָׂדַי. וַיִּבְרַח יַעֲקֹב - וּבְאִשָּׁה שָׁמָר. וּבְנָבִיא הֶעֱלָה - וּבְנָבִיא נִשְׁמָר

The haftarah begins with Ve’ami until talmei sadai, and continues [with the following two verses] until uvenavi nishmar (Hoshea 11:7-12:14).

שָׁלֹשׁ חָכְמוֹת הֵן

There are three schools of thought:

חָכְמַת בִּטּוּל הַחוֹמֶר

(a) The school of thought that negates [preoccupation with] materiality

עַל יְדֵי הוֹרָאַת שִׁקּוּץ וְתִעוּב כָּל עִנְיָנִים הַגּוּפְנִיִּים וְהַחוּמְרִיִּים

by pointing out the disgusting and abhorrent nature of all bodily and material things.

חָכְמַת הַמּוּסָר

This is the approach of Mussar.

חָכְמַת הֲכָּרַת מַעֲלַת הַצּוּרָה וְהָרוּחָנִי בְּמִדּוֹת וּבְמוּשְׂכָּלוֹת

(b) The school of thought that recognizes the greatness of the spiritual essence of the emotions and the intellect

וְהוֹרָאַת אוֹפַנֵּי הַקֵּרוּב אֲלֵיהֶם

and indicates how one can draw close to [this kind of awareness].

חָכְמַת הַחֲקִירָה

This is the approach of Chakirah.

חָכְמַת הַגְבָּרַת הַצּוּרָה עַל הַחוֹמֶר

(c) The school of thought that makes Form dominate Matter,

הוֹרָאָה בְּמַעֲלַת חוֹמֶר מְזוּכָּךְ

demonstrating (i) the unique quality of Matter when it is refined

וּבְמַעֲלַת הַצּוּרָה כְּשֶׁנִּקְבְּעָה בְּהַחוּמְרִי

and the unique quality of Form when it is integrated within Matter,

וְהִתְכַּלְלוּתָם יַחַד מִבְּלִי אֲשֶׁר יִמָצֵא רֹאשׁ וְסוֹף

and (ii) how the two are combined together to the extent that beginning or end are indistinguishable,

לִהְיוֹת כִּי נָעוּץ תְּחִלָּתָן בְּסוֹפָן וְסוֹפָן בְּתְּחִלָּתָן

for “the beginning is rooted in the end and the end is rooted in the beginning.”

אֵל אֶחָד בְּרָאָם

The one G‑d created them,

וּלְכַּוָנָה אַחַת

with a single intent —

לְגַלּוֹת אוֹר קְדוּשַׁת חֶבְיוֹן עוּזּוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ נִבְרְאוּ

to reveal the light of the holiness of His hidden power.

וּשְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד דַּוְקָא מַשְׁלִימִים אוֹתָהּ הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, אֲשֶׁר עָלָה בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ

Together they produce that consummate perfection that arose in His will.

חָכְמַת תּוֹרַת הַחֲסִידוּת

This is the approach of Chassidus.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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