Beinoni (בינוני) — The Intermediate

Core definition

The beinoni — the "intermediate" — is the central figure of Tanya, the Sefer shel Beinonim ("Book of Intermediates"), the middle level between the tzaddik (whose heart is in his domain, whose evil is transformed) and the rasha (who is in his heart's domain). The beinoni's hallmark is moach shalit al halev — the brain ruling over the heart: he has not uprooted his animal soul's evil, but through avodah and toil his intellect governs his emotions and actions so that no evil thought, word, or deed emerges [58843/maamar_032 :: §216–220, §324–326].

How the Rebbeim develop it

Tanya 17: "u'vilvavcha." The Alter Rebbe's question opens the maamarim: "u'vilvavcha" — loving Havayah with the heart — seems against our senses, since overturning the heart from worldly love to divine love is not easy (fire and water cannot dwell in one vessel), while yirah is easier — yiras ha'onesh (fear of punishment), or yiras haromemus, the awe of exaltedness [58843/maamar_032 :: §94–95, summary]. The answer: "bilvavcha" is the love for the sake of doing — and "ki karov eilecha hadavar me'od" is within reach of everyone with a brain in his skull, since the brain rules the heart [58843/maamar_032 :: summary].

Three levels. "Specifically the tzaddikim — their hearts are in their domain" (libam birshusam): there is no interruption between brain and heart, the nefesh ha'Elokis ruling the small city. The beinonim — "the brain ruling over the heart" is their avodah — need avodah and yegiah (toil) in hisbonenus, for in the beinonim the nefesh ha'behamis hides and conceals upon the nefesh ha'Elokis; "however, they are servants of Havayah" — the beinoni is among the servants of Havayah who serve always [58843/maamar_032 :: §216–220, §324–333]. The rasha is "in his heart's domain" (hem birshus libam) — a punishment [58843/maamar_032 :: summary].

Constancy arouses inner powers. Since all the matter of the beinonim is in avodah and great toil, "nevertheless, the brain rules in all that is theirs" [58843/maamar_032 :: §355–356]. The beinoni's constancy and diligence (temidiyus, ribui shkidah) arouses inner faculties; there is also essential hiskashrus — they "feel Elokim-ness" — though their comprehension remains chitzoniyus, which is why it can rule the middos (cause compels effect), with the brain ruling by memshalah (dominion) rather than meluchah (willing kingship) [58843/maamar_032 :: summary].

The souls of "ikvos Meshicha." Most souls of our time are "zera beheimah" — souls of Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah — who grasp only in understanding and do not touch the heart; they lack da'at ("a donkey, in which there is no da'at's aspect") [31654/maamar_012 :: §60–65]. Yet the beinoni is not to lower himself excessively, saying his avodah is nothing and he has no power to effect anything: his love and fear are true, though incomparable to those of the great ones of Israel [31654/maamar_012 :: §86–99]. The teaching ends with Tanya's chapter 29 warning against depression — sadness is itself the yetzer's tool [31654/maamar_012 :: §97].

B'nei aliyah. Tanya chapter 10's two levels of "b'nei aliyah" are both called one [31659/maamar_005 :: §333]: the beinoni who serves with love and fear, and the one who serves with the mind's strength alone — both ascend together.

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Sources