We can now understand the meaning of havein beChochmah ("understand through wisdom") and chacham beBinah ("become wise through understanding"). Havein beChochmah refers to the inclusion of Binah within Chochmah, enabling Chochmah to [develop a concept to the level of] comprehension and understanding. Even though [the essential nature of Chochmah] is bittul and non-expansion - hence only a point - nevertheless, it can be expanded and understood through Binah.

Chacham beBinah refers to the inclusion of Chochmah within Binah. Even though [the nature of] Binah is amplification, involving a multitude of details and explanations, it nevertheless possesses the power of Chochmah, which transforms yesh into ayin: the result of the entire [process of logic and] understanding is gathered into its [single, conclusive] "point of summarization" (nekudas hatamtzis).[137] This entails the negation of all individual details and explanations, and culminates in a grasping of the essential intellectual matter; the essence of the concept becomes a single point, which became understood through the many details and explanations. [Whereas the point of Chochmah represents the concept before it is analyzed, the point within Binah is the result of the analytical process.] This matter is discussed in other places.

[It has been previously mentioned that] the yud has two protrusions in addition to the body of the letter itself. The lower protrusion represents havein beChochmah,[138] the tendency of Chochmah towards Binah. Generally speaking, they [the three levels of the yud] refer to the levels of Keser, Chochmah and Binah, insofar as they exist within Chochmah. The upper protrusion represents the Keser of Chochmah. This is the point without the form of a letter, as mentioned previously. The body of the yud, its breadth, represents the level of the "Chochmah within Chochmah," the point of Chochmah as it can be contained within revealed intellect, at least in a defined form. The lower protrusion is the "Binah of Chochmah," which is the power to conduct the point of Chochmah to the expanded state of Binah through comprehension and understanding.

(It could be argued that Chacham beBinah is represented by the yud[139] which forms the left leg of the letter hei. This represents, perhaps, the "point of summarization" which follows one's understanding in "length and breadth" [represented by the vertical and horizontal lines of the right side of the hei]. Another possibility:[140] When one writes the hei of the name Havayah, one first writes a yud and then extends it to form the roof of the letter. It is possible that this yud represents chacham beBinah.)

Summary: Havein beChochmah is the tendency of Chochmah towards amplified understanding. Chacham beBinah is the tendency of Binah towards being included in the "point of summarization." The two protrusions and the body of the yud represent respectively the Keser, and the levels of Chochmah and Binah that are to be found within Chochmah. (Chacham beBinah is depicted in the form of the hei.)

   

Notes:

137. (Back to text) Explained in Toras Chayim, beginning of Parshas Noach; also in the maamarim entitled HaShamayim Mesaprim, 5666 [p. 252]; U'Bayom HaShemini Atzeres, 5667 [Sefer HaMaamarim 5666, p. 373]; Ani LeDodi, 5669 [p. 11]; VeChol HaAm Ro'im, 5699 [p. 188].

138. (Back to text) The same is stated in Pardes 19:2 and 27:13; Pri Etz Chayim, Shaar HaTefillin, beginning of ch. 16; Shaar HaKavanos on tefillin, at end of second exposition; Shaar Maamarei Rashbi, beginning of Parshas Vayikra. It is similarly stated in Torah Or and Toras Chayim at the beginning of Parshas Lech Lecha, and likewise in other sources in Chassidus.

     However, in many places it is explained that havein beChochmah refers to the letters vav and daled which [follow the letter yud and] make up the word yud as it is spelled out [yud, vav, daled]. Note Pri Etz Chayim, loc. cit.; Etz Chayim 15:4; Mevo She'arim, Shaar 4, 2:7; Shaar HaHakdamos, second exposition on the four letters of the Name Havayah; and other places. See also Mishnas Chassidim, Tractate Tikkun Tefillin 2:1-2, which cites both allusions.

     It is possible that the resolution of this seeming contradiction is dependent on the two interpretations found in Chassidus, as to whether the concept of havein beChochmah and chacham beBinah relates to the inner aspects of Chochmah and Binah (as stated in Shaarei Orah, in the maamar entitled Yaviu Levush Malchus, ch. 64 [p. 148]; Shaar HaYichud, ch. 26 [21a,b]; also note Imrei Binah, Shaar HaKerias Shema, beginning of ch. 60 [p. 56c]; the maamar entitled Behaalos'cha, 5673 [Sefer HaMaamarim 5672, p. 269]), or if it relates only to their external aspects (note the maamar entitled Bayom HaShemini Atzeres, 5667 [Sefer HaMaamarim 5666, p. 373]). However, it does not appear to be understood in this manner in Toras Chayim, beginning of Parshas Noach. It may be suggested that they each refer to a different aspect of the interrelation of Chochmah and Binah: one refers to the inclusion of Chochmah and Binah within each other [represented by the letters vav and daled of the word yud], while the other refers to the tendency of Chochmah itself to be drawn down into Binah [represented by the lower protrusion of the letter yud]. Note the maamar entitled Amar R. Yehoshua ben Levi: BeChol Yom, 5688, ch. 4 [p. 123]. This matter requires further study.

139. (Back to text) Note Torah Or, at the end of the explanation appended to the maamar entitled HaMagbihi [Parshas Mikeitz, p. 40].

140. (Back to text) This opinion is found in the writings of the AriZal cited in the footnote, s.v. havein beChochmah. In Etz Chayim 19:8, however, it is stated that chacham beBinah is represented by the yud in the letter hei as it is spelled out (hei, yud). (See also Shemen Sasson on Etz Chayim 15:4.)

     These two opinions may perhaps be reconciled in the same way as in footnote 138. [That is, each refers to a different aspect of chacham beBinah: the incorporation of Chochmah and Binah within each other (represented by the yud in the letter hei as it is spelled out); and the tendency of Binah towards inclusion in the "point of summarization" (represented by the yud which begins the roof of the letter hei).]