Kedushah (קדושה) — Holiness

Core definition

Kedushah, "holiness," is the order of the Divine as it stands separate and exalted above all else. The concept of "holy" (kadosh) is "that it is separate and exalted" — like a crown upon the head, above the head and mochin, "in the makif of separation" [66495/maamar_030 :: Exposition]. Its archetype is the structure of the ten sefiros themselves: "in kedushah (holiness) the number is specifically ten sefiros" [31641/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 26] — the ten holy sefiros "from which are drawn the powers of the soul in general — including the ten powers of the soul: three intellectual — ChaBaD, and seven middos — ChaGaS NeHiM" [31682/maamar_019 :: עב׳ 41].

How the Rebbeim develop it

The defining inner mark of kedushah is felt vitality: "in kedushah, the vitality shines and is invested in their inwardness: for the kelim (vessels) of the ten sefiros feel the vitality and the ohr within them — as the dictum, 'ihu v'chayohi chad, ihu v'garmohi chad' (He and His life are one, He and His limbs are one)" [31682/maamar_019 :: עב׳ 72]. Likewise "the kelim and bodies of kedushah… feel the Ohr Ein Sof within them, from the level of His holiness, blessed be He" [31641/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 89].

Kedushah has its mirror image: "as there are the ten sefiros of kedushah… so there are the ten sefiros of the opposite side (le'umas zeh), from which are drawn the evil powers, which are against the powers of kedushah" [31682/maamar_019 :: עב׳ 41]; "in the sitra achra they too are ten levels — and they are called 'le'umas zeh' (against this), since they are against the sefiros of kedushah" [31682/maamar_019 :: עב׳ 96]. The middle realm, kelipas Nogah, is redeemable: "through the birur is drawn… from the good in nogah, which is included in kedushah" [58837/maamar_060 :: עב׳ 127] — "also the turned one ascends and is included in kedushah — and it is the matter of 'ata hapcha chashocha l'nehora' (darkness is turned to light)" [58837/maamar_060 :: עב׳ 387]. "As the convert was distant at first and drew near, so the nitzotzos were distant at first on the other side, and through the birur they draw near to kedushah" [31641/maamar_010 :: עב׳ 217].

The ba'ati l'gani maamar develops kedushah's paradox of "folly": "there is also the aspect of shtus d'kedushah (folly of kedushah)" [58835/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 185] — the supra-rational zeal that matches the sitra achra's shtus. In its letter-symbolism, "the dalet is a letter of kedushah; the reish is in the sitra achra," and "in kedushah, from dalet becomes heh" — "the letter heh: thought, speech, and deed of kedushah" [58835/maamar_020 :: עב׳ 245, עב׳ 316, עב׳ 361].

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Sources