Fifth compartment: Gvurah

Synopsis

This compartment embodies more Light than the fourth compartment. Angels of both mercy and judgment reside here. These Angels are likened to Generals of the Upper Worlds, while the angels in the prior compartments are compared to foot soldiers. This realm is primarily one of Judgment. But if our actions in the physical world warrant it, we can sweeten judgment through the Angels of mercy who dwell here.

The concept of sweetening judgment can be understood this way: A child misbehaves and the parent reacts with great anger. The parent then spanks the child and harshly scolds him. According to Kabbalah, there is no aspect of mercy included in the actions of the parent. The punishment is pure judgment, rooted in the anger of the parent. But the parent could also restrain himself at the moment anger erupts. He could shut down his reactive nature and release all his negative feelings. Yet the parent still realizes, out of love and concern for the child, that a punishment is called for. Therefore with pure love in his heart, and in complete control of his actions, he reprimands the child. This is still judgment, but it is judgment sweetened with mercy.

Angels Darkness Dwellings Fire Holiness (Kedushah) Judgment Kedushah (Holiness) Light Mercy Midnight Water

48. The fifth compartment is the one in which light shines more brightly than it does in any of the preceding ones. Angels reside there. THOSE WHO REPRESENT JUDGMENT ARE fiery angels. Others, who REPRESENT MERCY, are watery angels. Sometimes Mercy is prominent, WHEN THE WATERY ANGELS ARE DOMINANT, and sometimes Judgment is prominent, WHEN THE FIERY ANGELS ARE DOMINANT. Those OF WATER are on the RIGHT side, and those OF FIRE are on the LEFT side. Occasionally, some of these angels glow, while the others are in darkness. Both groups of angels oversee the chanting to their Master, some - ANGELS OF JUDGMENT - at midnight, and others - ANGELS OF MERCY - at dawn. And one minister governs them both; he is called Kadshiel. HIS DUTY IS TO DRAW DOWN HOLINESS (HEB. KDUSHAH) TO THE LOWER WORLDS.

48. מָדוֹרָא חֲמִישָׁאָה: הוּא מָדוֹרָא דְּנָהֵיר בִּנְהִירוּ יַתִּיר מִכָּלְהוֹ קַדְמָאֵי, וְאִית בֵּיהּ מַלְאָכִין מִנְהוֹן אֶשָׁא, וּמִנְהוֹן מַיָּא. לְזִמְנִין אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּרַחֲמֵי, וּלְזִמְנִין אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּדִינָא. אִלֵּין בְּסִטְרָא דָּא, וְאִלֵּין בְּסִטְרָא דָּא, לְזִמְנִין נָהֲרִין אִלֵּין, וְחָשְׁכִין אִלֵּין, וְאִלֵּין מְמַנָּן לְזַמְּרָא לְמָארֵיהוֹן, אִלֵּין בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא, וְאִלֵּין כַּד סָלֵיק נְהוֹרָא. וְחַד מְמַנָּא עֲלוֹהִי קָדִשִׁיאֵ"ל שְׁמֵיהּ.

Angels Astrology Darkness Fire Firmaments Garden of Eden Grades Light Midnight Morning Righteous Singing Stars Strength Water Wind

49. At midnight, the northern wind arises, and the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to the Garden of Eden to rejoice with the righteous. And this northern wind OF BINAH knocks and reaches those ministers in charge of chanting at midnight. They all sing and begin to chant, THUS ENABLING THE LOWER BEINGS TO SING. When the deep darkness JUST BEFORE DAWN joins with the light of the morning, all the other angels - THE WATER ANGELS ON THE RIGHT - sing. And all the stars in the firmament help them, along with the angels OF FIRE FROM THE LEFT SIDE. BECAUSE SINGING IS OF THE LEFT ASPECT, THEY NEED THE HELP OF THE LEFT COLUMN ANGELS IN ORDER TO SING, as is written: "The morning stars sang together and the sons of Elohim shouted for joy" (Iyov 38:7). BECAUSE ALL THE ANGELS SING IN THE MORNING, until Yisrael below open with singing and praises after them. BECAUSE THOSE ANGELS ARE MORE ELEVATED THAN YISRAEL, YISRAEL RECEIVE STRENGTH FROM THEM TO SING.

49. כַּד אִתְפְּלַג לֵילְיָא, וְאִתְעַר רוּחַ צָפוֹן וְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָּיא בְּגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן, כְּדֵין רוּחַ צָפוֹן אַקֵּישׁ, וּמָטָא לְאִינוּן דִּמְמַנָּן בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא, לְזַמְּרָא, וְכָלְהוֹ מְזַמְּרִין וּפָתְחִין שִׁירָתָא. וְכַד אָתֵי צַפְרָא וּמִתְחַבֵּר קַדְרוּתָא דְצַפְרָא בִּנְהוֹרָא, כְּדֵין כָּלְהוֹ אָחֳרָנִין אָמְרִין שִׁירָתָא, וְכָל כֹּכְבֵי רְקִיעָא וְכָל שְׁאָר מַלְאָכִין מְסַיְיעִין לוֹן, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב בְּרָן יַחַד כֹּכְבֵי בֹקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים, עַד דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל נָטְלֵי שִׁירָתָא וְתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ.