Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge
Chabad is an acronym for chochmah, binah and daat, which are commonly translated as wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Learn the mystical meaning of these three intellectual soul powers.
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Lessons in Tanya (English & Hebrew): Chapter 3 Tanya in English (1973 Edition): Chapter 3 Chabad.org Tanya: Chapter 3 |
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Rabbi Immanuel Schochet (1935–2013) wrote and lectured extensively on the history and philosophy of Chassidism and topical themes of Jewish thought and ethics. He was a renowned authority on Jewish philosophy and mysticism. He was rabbi of Cong. Beth Joseph, and professor of Philosophy at Humber College, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Michael Chighel (Kigel) received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto for his dissertation on the Book of Job, after a specialization in 20th-century French and German thought. In Canada he taught in the departments of philosophy and of Jewish studies at the universities of York, Queen’s and Waterloo. He produced Passages and Messages for eleven seasons on Canadian television (CTS). Until this year he held the Rohr Chair of Jewish Studies at the Lauder Business School in Vienna, where he taught Torah, European ethics and political economy. He has translated a number of books and published various articles in Jewish thought. Michael and his family have made aliyah, and now live in Jerusalem.
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Wisdom (Chochma) is the first acquired of the three parts of the intellect. It is seated in decision making. Knowledge (Daat) is the second, and it is seated in recognition of the truth. Understanding (Binah) is the third, and it results from humility to G-d. Having the wisdom to make the right decison about the knowledge of truth (The Torah) enables understanding with humility. Accepting correction by having humility increases understanding that further enables knowledge to support greater decision making with wisdom. For example, it is wise to observe Mitzvah, but knowing the truth of it results from having the humility to understand it and the reason for observing it. G-d will correct you, but you must be humble to benefit from it. Rabbi Schochet's (may he be blessed) explanations are the same as I read them in the Tanya.