from Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel, the Apter Rebbe
(Selected and
translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan for The Chasidic Masters)
It
is written, "[And the Lord
G-d caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept,] and He
took one of his sides, and closed the flesh in its place…[And He
made it into a woman] and brought her to the man" (Genesis
2:21).
It
is known that Adam was the epitome of all creation, the handiwork of G-d Himself.
He included all holiness and all the souls of Israel. The entire side of holiness
was attached to him and included in him.
Adam originally also
included both male and female, since he was created with the two [connected] bodies.
Everything
in the world must contain the concept of both male and female. This is especially
true in serving G-d, where the male and female elements correspond respectively
to "remember" and "keep."
The essence of
the male and female elements respectively is the concept of giving and receiving.
Thus,
for example, a person can attain great attachment, holiness, and purity of thought.
Such a person then gives spiritual delight to the supernal Lights, universes,
and attributes. This is the concept of the male element.
At
the same time, however, this person receives spiritual sustenance from the supernal
universes. This is the concept of his female element.
All Israel
also partake of this female element when this sustenance is transmitted to them,
providing them with everything they need. From it they receive "children,
life and food," and the like.
The concept on high that
bestows spiritual sustenance is the Male Essence. The spiritual flux becomes the
semen, and the Male and Female essences come together to once again give birth
through the transmission of love to the world.
Besides its
immediate effect, each deed also affects future generations. The deed is then
aroused, giving birth to another spiritual flux at that future date (such as on
anniversaries).
It is thus written, "And He took one of
his sides." This means that the side and concept of femininity was taken
from Adam.
He then "closed the flesh in its place."
G-d put in its place a concept of the physical. According to this concept, the
righteous man has the power to accept the supernal flux and transmit all kinds
of good from on high to the lower world. He can even transmit this to the physical.
source:
Ohev Yisroel, 81c
