Tomer Devorah- The 13 Gates Of Compassion (+Live Kabbalah Video)
Sep 13, 2018By: Rabbi Amichai Cohen B"H
Tomer Devorah- Resembling The Divine
The Ramak tells us that we are made in the image of the divine which is called Keter or crown.
Man or Adam comes from the word earth and to resemble. It is not enough to merely resemble the divine in form we also must resemble the divine most importantly in deed and action.
But what are G-dly, or divine deeds and action you may ask?
Here we are told that the 13 attributes of mercy are divine paths of just action.
What are the 13 principals?. It should be noted that there are 2- 13 principals found in the Tanach, bible. The first is Moses 13 attributes which he beckons for the Jewish people not to be obliterated by the harsh decrease exacted upon them do to the sin of the golden calf. The 2nd 13 attributes is found in the book of Micah. Chassidut explains that the first attributes are more sublime and spiritual, thereby causing a spiritual form of
forgiveness and compassion. Micah's attributes are the attributes the way the relate more the corporeal, practical and tangible reality.
Here are the 13 attributes of Micah:
(1) Who is a God like You (2) who pardons iniquity and (3) forgives the transgression (4) of the remnant of his heritage? (5) He does not maintain his anger for ever, (6) because He delights in mercy. (7) He will again have compassion upon us; (8) He will suppress our iniquities. (9) And you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (10) You will show truth to Jacob, (11) love to Abraham, (12) as you have sworn to our fathers (13) from days of old.
"Who is a G-d like you?
This attributes refers to G-d as "the offended or insulted King". As a creator, G-d is the source of all life. He manifests life at every moment. This constant flow of vitality also gives the capacity for man the ability to sin against him. In other words, G-d who is the very source of life is insulted by disproportional
misuse of his selfless benevolence. Nevertheless less, G-d is patient and does not hold back life force to the sinner.
Practical take away: Learn patience. Although our kindness may be unappreciated and even misused by the people we give it to, we must not give up and continuing being kind. Ultimately the kindness we exact says all about us than the ungrateful receivers. So go out there and give or smile to someone who may not reciprocate the same. You are acting in your highest G-dly self.
2: "Who pardons iniquity"
This attribute is a step up from the previous one. kabbalah explains that when one transgresses, a negative entity or angel is created. Now this angel needs to be sustained. Who sustains the life force of this angel? Well, the one who created him should be responsible for this. Never the less it is G-d who supports not only the transgressors but the transgression.
Practical take away: Extreme patience. Even in the face of enduring and sustaining someone else's mistakes. Make space for them, be kind and take them in despite their flaws and blatant mistakes. Also, we must not forget to have patience with our selves. If G-d has so much endurance for our mistakes, we must also trust that as long as we are striving towards a just goal, we will reach it and endure the ensuing difficulties.
3: "Forgives the transgression"
This is a higher level of acceptance, where G-d himself washes the sully off the transgressors soul. As the verse says "I will shower your with pure waters and you shall be purified" (Ezekiel 36,25).
Practical lesson: Go out and help some fix their mistakes. Don't say "it's not my problem". Just as G-d is kind patient and proactive in the concern of our soul journeys, so too we must show courage and compassion to others, even though they "deserve it", or "did it to themselves".
4:"For the remainder of his inheritance"
The relationship that G-d has with us is like a family member has with a relative, a close relative such as wife, daughter etc. G-d is pained by our pain because he is "related", connected and invested in us. So too, all souls are interconnected and affected by one another. Therefor we should want and seek the good of our friend because they are really us.
Practical lesson: Practice seeing the good of the other and respect the other as you would like to be respected. This is in included in the verse "love your friend as you love yourself". On a deeper level, the Ba'al Shem Tov tells us that any negativity we see in others is really a reflection of our selves. The other is really us, we just need to clean the windshield mirrors of our selves to see the inherent unity.
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