Besha’ah Shehikdimu: two crowns
Why did angels tie two crowns on every Jew for saying na’aseh before nishma? The first maamar opens with three questions and explains keser: waiting, a crown, and the will that surrounds.
In this video
- The Gemara of the two crowns (Shabbos 88a) and three questions: the order, the angels, three crowns or four.
- Three crowns on three lines, and keser’s three meanings: waiting, a crown, and encircling.
- Keser is the will: it includes and surrounds, the bridge between the Infinite and what comes from it.
- Inner powers live in fitting vessels; the vessel shapes the light, and inner means limited.
- Application: the reasons of mitzvos differ, the will in them does not; Torah has levels; “Ani Hashem.”
- A review of the maamar.
The first maamar of Hemshech Ayin Beis, said on the first day of Shavuos 5672, followed in its own order from the full Hebrew text and the Rebbe Rashab’s kitzurim, with each idea shown in a picture.
The maamar raises its questions on p. 1 and does not answer them all within pp. 1–8; where each is answered later in the hemshech is not yet checked. The mashal of a king delighting in his own exaltation is summarized from p. 2. Page numbers follow chabadlibrary.org, not checked against a printed copy.
Sources
- Hemshech Besha’ah Shehikdimu 5672, maamar 1, first day of Shavuos 5672, pp. 1–8 (chabadlibrary.org page markers), and the Rebbe Rashab’s four kitzurim
- Shabbos 88a
- Vayikra Rabbah, Kedoshim, end of 24 (as cited in the maamar)
- Avos 4:13
- Iyov 36:2 · Tehillim 5:13 · Chavakuk 1:4
Review questions
- What three questions does the maamar ask on the Gemara of the two crowns?Whether the crowns came because of the order (na’aseh first) or simply one for each word; why angels are the ones who tie them; and whether there are three crowns or four.
- What are the three meanings of keser?Waiting (as in “kaser li ze’eir”, Iyov 36:2), a crown, and encircling or surrounding.
- Why is the will called the bridge?Keser is the will: before the will awakens there is no connection to the thing at all; once it awakens there is. So keser bridges the Infinite and what comes from it.
- Why are the inner powers limited, and what does this teach about mitzvos?Each inner power lives in a vessel that fits and shapes it, so it is limited and divided. The reasons of the mitzvos differ, but the will of Hashem in every mitzvah is the same, “Ani Hashem.”
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