Four Elements

Question: I recently attended a class in Kabbalah and Chassidic Thought. The rabbi was talking about the "four elements"--earth, water, air and fire--as they are found in the human soul. I recognize this idea from ancient Greek and medieval philosophy, ...

יפה שעה אחת בתשובה ומעשים טוביםבעולם הזה מכל חיי העולם הבא "One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than all the life in the World to Come."Pirkei Avos 4:17. Life exists for the soul on two distinct levels. One level is that of the ...

To clarify further: Concealed within each thing is its antithesis; each of the essence-powers (i.e., essential faculties) has its antithesis incorporated within it. This is so by virtue of its essence (atzmus), which is of a higher level than even the ...