Kochos/Kochot haNefesh ( from

nephesh Nephesh ( ''nép̄eš''), also spelled nefesh, is a Biblical Hebrew word which occurs in the Hebrew Bible. The word refers to the aspects of sentience, and human beings and other animals are both described as being nephesh. Not all living organis ...

-"soul"), meaning "Powers of the Soul", are the innate constituent character-aspects within the soul, in

Hasidic thought Hasidic philosophy or Hasidism (), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on the Torah (the Five ...

's psychological internalisation of

Kabbalah Kabbalah or Qabalah ( ; , ; ) is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. It forms the foundation of Mysticism, mystical religious interpretations within Judaism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ...

. They derive from the 10

Sephirot Sefirot (; , plural of ), meaning '' emanations'', are the 10 attributes/emanations in Kabbalah, through which Ein Sof ("infinite space") reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm and the seder hishtalshelut (the chained ...

Heavenly emanations of Kabbalah, by relating each quality to its parallel internal motivation in man. The Hasidic discussion of the sephirot, particularly in the Kabbalistically oriented

system A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its open system (systems theory), environment, is described by its boundaries, str ...

Habad Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...

thought, focuses principally on the Soul Powers, the experience of the sephirot in Jewish worship. Among the soul powers, Bittul (Human "self-nullification" of ego), the first revealed power, turns the ''Ani''-"Self" into ''

Ayin ''Ayin'' (also ''ayn'' or ''ain''; transliterated ) is the sixteenth letter of the Semitic scripts, including Phoenician ''ʿayin'' 𐤏, Hebrew ''ʿayin'' , Aramaic ''ʿē'' 𐡏, Syriac ''ʿē'' ܥ, and Arabic ''ʿayn'' (where it is si ...

''-"Nothingness" in the contemplative preparation for experiencing the Divine "

" nullification of Existence. In the elite ideal of Deveikut-" cleaving" to God, the central Hasidic principle in its reinterpretation of Judaism, this inspires the subsequent powers of expression. In Mainstream "Practical

Tzadik Tzadik ( ''ṣaddīq'' , "righteous ne; also ''zadik'' or ''sadiq''; pl. ''tzadikim'' ''ṣadīqīm'') is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The root of the word ...

ism", this elite dimension is reserved for the Hasidic leader, with popularised deveikut devotion found instead in the emotional sanctification of life. The ''Essential Soul Powers'' are revealed in spiritual Mesirat Nefesh-"Self Sacrifice" in devotional fulfilment through action. Hasidic emphasis on Divine

Omnipresence Omnipresence or ubiquity is the property of being present anywhere and everywhere. The term omnipresence is most often used in a religious context as an attribute of a deity or supreme being, while the term ubiquity is generally used to describ ...

sees the essential Divine purpose embodied only in action, its ultimate mystical stress on action.

Description

Each of the 10

Divine emanations of

comprises both an external "functional" characteristic, and an inner motivational principle. Kabbalah studies the role of the sephirot in the emanated spiritual Worlds of Creation. As the soul of man is "created in the image of God" (

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Religion * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...

1:27), understood in Kabbalah to connote the ''

partzuf ''Partzufim'' or ''Partsufim'' (, singular ''partzuf'', , from Greek: πρόσωπον ''prósopon'' "face" or "mask"), are "countenances" or "personas" of God described in the ''Zohar''. The '' Idra Rabba'' describes a divine being composed of t ...

''-"configuration" of the sephirot in the Man-metaphor ''Yosher''-"upright" inter-relationship, so the sephirot also describe the soul of man. Jewish spirituality experiences both the external and internal characteristics of the sephirot in serving God, their internal characteristics becoming the innate "soul powers" in man, defined and focused on in

's psychologisation of Kabbalah. The terminology of the ''Kochos hanefesh'' is defined in

systemisation of Hasidic thought as the following experience-powers of the soul:

Soul levels, Powers-''Kochos'' and Garments-''Levushim''

The soul's sephirot expressions and their inner Soul Powers, while psychologically felt from the revealed conscious level of Chochmah downward, are only revealed outwardly through their enclothement in the three ''Levushim''-"garments" of the soul: ''Machshavah-Thought'', ''Dibbur-Speech'' and ''Maaseh-Action''. As the sephirot are all inter-included as sub-categories within each other, Chochmah, Binah and Daat (the ''Mochin-Intellects''), are enclothed in Thought as a soul to a body. Similarly, the emotional sephirot of Chesed to Malchut (the ''Middot-Emotions''), are revealed through Malchut in Speech and Action. In Kabbalah and Hasidism, the soul has five levels, whose names derive from five Midrashic terms for the soul. Consequently, the generic Hasidic adjective "Kochos HaNefesh"-Powers of the Soul accurately relate more specifically to different levels amongst the five soul levels. The five levels in Kabbalah correspond to the Sephirot: *''Yechidah-Singular'' Etzem-essence of soul is expressed through transcendent Keter-Crown *''Chayah-Living'' transcendent soul is expressed through encompassing Chochmah-Wisdom that mediates between unconscious Keter and the first conscious, unlimited revelation of insight *''Neshamah-Soul'' first invested soul level expresses Binah-Understanding, the developed intellectual faculties *''Ruach-Spirit'' emotional level of invested soul expresses Chesed-Kindness to Yesod-Foundation, the emotional faculties (in Lurianic Parzufim of Kabbalah these form one unit, as do each of the five corresponding levels in the Sephirot) *''Nefesh-Lifeforce'' enlivening invested soul in the body expresses Malchut-Kingship, the resulting revelation into action of all higher levels, faculties and powers of the soul

''Kochot HaEtzem''-Essential Powers of the soul

The two powers in the soul's Keter-Crown: ''Ratzon-Will'' and ''Taanug-Delight'' are termed ''Kochot HaEtzem-Essential Powers'' of the soul, as they transcend the invested soul in the body, as Makif-Encompassing lights, still above consciousness. They affect the subsequent ''Revealed'' Pnimi-Internalised Soul Powers as the soul's supernal root. Here ''Etzem-essential'' power is used relative to the Revealed Powers, as the singular essence of the soul is beyond expression as ''Delight'', united with the Divine Atzmus essence. In Kabbalah the supernal soul is also termed its Mazal, related to the "downward" channeling of illumination into consciousness. The quality of ''Faith'' reflects the Etzem-essential singular point of the soul, beyond the essential powers of Will and Delight. Above-conscious ''Delight'', still beyond awareness, shapes subsequent emotional inclinations, as it is rooted in the essential soul. Regarding it,

Sefer Yetzirah ''Sefer Yetzirah'' ( ''Sēp̄er Yəṣīrā'', ''Book of Formation'', or ''Book of Creation'') is a work of Jewish mysticism. Early commentaries, such as the ''Kuzari'', treated it as a treatise on mathematical and linguistic theory, as opposed t ...

2:2 says, "There is none higher than delight".

elaborates that "regarding a (true) desire, no questions can be asked", as if there were reasons for the desire, then it would not be a true ''Taanug'' above intellect. Delight shapes ''Will'', the outer manifestation of Delight, as Will can intend for external objectives to be fulfilled in the process of realising the true Delight. Keter-Will in Kabbalistic description of Heavenly emanations corresponds to the highest

World The world is the totality of entities, the whole of reality, or everything that Existence, exists. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the world as unique, while others talk ...

of ''

Adam Kadmon In Kabbalah, Adam Kadmon (, ''ʾāḏām qaḏmōn'', "Primordial Man") also called Adam Elyon (, ''ʾāḏām ʿelyōn'', "Most High Man"), or Adam Ila'ah (, ''ʾāḏām ʿīllāʾā'' "Most High Adam" in Aramaic), sometimes abbreviated as A ...

''-"Primordial Man", the first Partzuf-configuration in Lurianic Kabbalah. The term ''Adam Kadmon'' denotes ordered system ("Adam"-the "Yosher" Upright arrangement of the

in Kabbalah) and primary cause in Creation ("Kadmon"-"First" emanation in enacting Creation). Similarly in the soul, ''Ratzon-Will'' denotes the primary power of Will on all subsequent revealed soul powers, "Nothing can obstruct will".

''Mesirat Nefesh''-self sacrifice and ''Mitzvot''-Jewish observances in Hasidism

The nature of the ''Essential Soul Powers'' becomes revealed in ''Mesirat Nefesh''-Self Sacrifice. In Jewish law self sacrifice connotes particular circumstances that require giving up one's life rather than transgress rare prohibitions. In Hasidism, "Mesirat Nefesh" here connotes a different definition of daily spiritual devotion beyond the call of ordinary Jewish observance, rather than Halachic martydom of life. Such devoted, transcendent exertion in fulfilling a

mitzvah In its primary meaning, the Hebrew language, Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment Divine law, from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of disc ...

beyond ordinary requirements, is centrally stressed in

. In the classic

Rabbinic Rabbinic Judaism (), also called Rabbinism, Rabbinicism, Rabbanite Judaism, or Talmudic Judaism, is rooted in the many forms of Judaism that coexisted and together formed Second Temple Judaism in the land of Israel, giving birth to classical rabb ...

( Ethics of the Fathers) the traditional Jewish honorific " Hasid" (pious), which was later adopted by the modern Hasidic movement, is characterised as a person who goes beyond the letter of the law. In Hasidic mysticism, the inspiration of deveikut cleaving to God seeks expression in such added devotional conduct. This reveals the essential soul, above intellect, because logical rationalisations to limit oneself to regular requirements are transcended. One classic, traditional division in Judaism of the

613 Mitzvot According to Jewish tradition, the Torah contains 613 commandments (). Although the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval rabbinic literature, including many works listing or arranged by the . Th ...

observances is into three groups: *''Hukim-Statutes'' that transcend human logical reason, but observed as decrees of the King. These include the ritual commandments of

Kosher (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, ), from the Ashke ...

food, and the paradigmatic

Red Heifer The red heifer () was a reddish brown Cattle, cow sacrificed by Temple priests as a ritual purification, purification ritual in biblical times. Ritual in the Torah The red heifer offering is described in Book of Numbers, Numbers 19. The Tora ...

, considered the ultimate example of ''Hok''. In Kabbalah, metaphysical explanations for the Hukim are given, such as the redemption of '' sparks of holiness'' in food, however, the categorisation of kosher and non-kosher species for this purpose, while often symbolic, still remains ultimately decreed *''Eidos-Witnesses'' that would have no prior human requirement, but are given by God as remembrances of historical events in Israelite spiritual history. This commemoration enables

ethical Ethics is the philosophical study of moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches include normative ethics, applied e ...

self transformation through re-ennacting the formative Jewish events. These include the rituals of

Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...

to commemorate the spiritual journey out of Egypt, and

Tefillin Tefillin (Modern Hebrew language, Israeli Hebrew: / ; Ashkenazim, Ashkenazic pronunciation: ; Modern Israeli Hebrew, Modern Hebrew pronunciation: ), or phylacteries, are a set of small black leather boxes with leather straps containing scrolls o ...

to inculcate awareness of God's unity into the mind and heart. In Kabbalah, too, metaphysical reasons are given *''Mishpatim-Judgements'' ethical codes that any human society could enact. These include prohibitions in the

Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (), or the Decalogue (from Latin , from Ancient Greek , ), are religious and ethical directives, structured as a covenant document, that, according to the Hebrew Bible, were given by YHWH to Moses. The text of the Ten ...

. In esoteric Kabbalah, they have deeper meanings also, but these deepen the simple meaning. Mishpatim raise the classic question of why they need to be codified if they are logical, to which the

Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...

includes the reason that Mitzvot fulfilled under obligation are higher than Mitzvot chosen voluntarily. This answer is developed in Jewish mysticism, that only a command of the King could connect finite Man with the Infinite

Ein Sof Ein Sof, or Eyn Sof (, '; meaning "infinite", ), in Kabbalah, is understood as God before any self-manifestation in the production of any spiritual realm, probably derived from Solomon ibn Gabirol's (1021–1070) term, "the Endless One" ( ''še ...

. Through the commandment, holiness can descend and physicality can rise, the ethical choice becoming a holy act.

Talmudic The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the centerpiece of Jewi ...

Midrashic ''Midrash'' (;"midrash"
. ''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. ; or ''midrashot' ...

Philosophical Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

and

Kabbalistic Kabbalah or Qabalah ( ; , ; ) is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. It forms the foundation of mystical religious interpretations within Judaism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal (). Jewi ...

thought give their own, particular reasons for Mitzvot, according to their level of explanation in the four-fold Pardes system of explanation.

can involve extensive treatment of Kabbalah, while drawing in the other levels of explanation. In its treatment of Kabbalistic reasons for the Mitzvot,''Derech Mitzvosecha'' of

Menachem Mendel Schneersohn Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (; September 20, 1789 – March 17, 1866) also known as the Tzemach Tzedek (Hebrew: "Righteous Sprout" or "Righteous Scion") was an Orthodox rabbi, leading 19th-century posek, and the third rebbe (spiritual leader) o ...

(1789–1866) is a systematic example in

Hasidic thought of explaining Kabbalistic reasons for the

Mitzvot In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of discussion of these commandments ...

in light of Hasidic mysticism Hasidism deepens and elucidates the Kabbalistic texts through human analogies and

psychological Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

correspondences in man's experience. However, within its thought, Hasidism extols an ultimate advantage of ''Hukim'' as an aspect in all three categories of Mitzvot. The

Baal Shem Tov Israel ben Eliezer (According to a forged document from the "Kherson Geniza", accepted only by Chabad, he was born in October 1698. Some Hasidic traditions place his birth as early as 1690, while Simon Dubnow and other modern scholars argue f ...

related the Hebrew word ''

Mitzvah In its primary meaning, the Hebrew language, Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment Divine law, from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of disc ...

-commandment'' to the Aramaic ''Tzavsah-connection''. The advantage of Hukim is the transcendent bond above intellect they engender. Similarly, ''Eidos'' and ''Mishpatim'' are permeated with Divinity through being followed ultimately because they are decrees of the King. Their difference lies in God's desire that they should also descend into human intellect, the advantage they possess that the Divine decree within them can also, and becomes deepened, by uniting more fully with the mind.

''Iskafia''-subjugation and ''Es'hapcha''-transformation in ''Deveikut-cleaving'' to God

In Jewish observance, Hasidism develops the Kabbalistic scheme of redeeming the " sparks of holiness" in material existence, to its central religious value of deveikut cleaving to God. This turned deveikut into the starting point of worship in daily life, rather than the culmination of meditative seclusion. Through deveikut involvement in materiality, Hasidism advocated each person elevating the particular share of sparks allocated to them by

Divine providence In theology, divine providence, or simply providence, is God's intervention in the universe. The term ''Divine Providence'' (usually capitalized) is also used as a names of God, title of God. A distinction is usually made between "general prov ...

. In Hasidic teaching there are two forms of this redemption of holiness from Kelipot impurity, whose terms derive from Kabbalah. In ''Iskafia-subjugation'', the level for the ordinary person, holiness is freed from its exile by suppression of human inclinations in the service of mitzvot. ''Es'hapcha-transformation'', the task of the elite

, is able to turn impurity into holiness, dark into light. In both cases, teaches the Kabbalistic

Zohar The ''Zohar'' (, ''Zōhar'', lit. "Splendor" or "Radiance") is a foundational work of Kabbalistic literature. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material o ...

, "The Light that Encompasses Worlds shines into all Realms" in reciprocal Divine response. These Kabbalistic notions become related to popular deveikut and ''mesirat-nefesh'' devotion for each person in Hasidism, particularly amidst material life. In Hasidism, this mystical task of sanctification amidst materialism is termed ''Hislabshus-Involvement/Enclothement'' (from ''levush-garment'' parallel to the garments of the soul), engaging with the world with mindful awareness of its Divine element. Refraining from the "completely impure" Kelipot is termed ''Dechiya-pushing aside'', where the holy spark within is exiled beyond the mundane, and becomes redeemed externally through disengagement.

Notes

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External links

Basics in Kabbalah: the Powers of the Soul to experience God
from www.inner.org Hasidic thought Sefirot Kabbalistic words and phrases