Glossary · Torah Ohr · Likkutei Torah
Avos
אבות
The Patriarchs (Avos)
Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, the only three called “fathers”: love, awe and compassion, the Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes of Atzilus, whose chariot they were; their root is above Atzilus.
The word אבות also means simply fathers or forebears (אבותינו, לבית אבותם), the tractate Avos, and אבות הטומאה (primary sources of impurity). The concept here is the three Patriarchs; “the merit of the Avos” uses it, and Torah Ohr also reads “the G‑d of our fathers” as Chochmah and Binah (see differs).
Where it’s explained
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 12, ¶12The twelve tribes are in Beriah, the lower chariot; the Avos are the higher chariot, of Atzilus: Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes of Atzilus (what being a chariot means is under merkavah). Their root is “beyond the river”; in the future they will be raised to reveal what is above Atzilus, and all Israel will receive it through them, “seven streams” for the three Avos and four Imahos.
אבל האבות הן הן המרכבה היינו מרכבתא עילאה דאצי׳ והיינו שהם חג״ת דאצי׳
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 4, ¶10Only three are called Avos: Avraham, whose attribute is love; Yitzchak, awe (“the Fear of Yitzchak”); and Yaakov, compassion, which includes both.
אין קורין אבות אלא שלשה שהם אברהם יצחק ויעקב ומדתו של אברהם היא האהבה ושל יצחק היא היראה
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 3, ¶8“The Avos instituted the prayers”: the Avos are Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes, from which love, awe and compassion are drawn. So all of prayer is built of three kinds of verses, beginning with verses of Chesed, whose contemplation brings “And you shall love” in the Shema, the level of “Avraham who loved Me.”
פי׳ אבות הם חג״ת שנמשך מהם אהוי״ר ורחמנות שהם אברהם יצחק ויעקב
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 5, ¶5The Avos were a chariot of Atzilus, where “He and His vessels are one,” and not every soul can bear that revelation. It reaches the souls of Israel, rooted in Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, through the twelve tribes (shevet, a drawing-out or branch): corresponding to the four chayos of the chariot, each including the three Avos, making twelve; so the prophet asks, “Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your inheritance.”
כי האבות היו בבחי׳ מרכבה דאצי׳ דאיהו וגרמוהי חד ולא כל נפש תוכל שאת גילוי זה
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 7, ¶2Only three are called Avos; these three levels lift Knesses Yisrael, all the souls of Israel together, to be included in Or Ein Sof itself. “His left hand under my head,” the flames of love, raises the head and mochin; “His right hand embraces me,” as one embraces from behind, lifts even the back and outwardness of the souls.
שהג׳ בחי׳ אלו הם המנשאים ומעלים את כנס״י שהם כללות כל נשמות ישראל להתכלל באור א״ס ב״ה ממש
Stated differently
Where the Avos are rooted above Atzilus: Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes of Arich Anpin, of Atik, or Keser beyond the “river” of Binah
ומעבר להפרסא מושרשים האבות. והענין כי ידוע דאברהם יצחק ויעקב הם בחי׳ חג״ת אמנם שרשם הוא בחי׳ חג״ת דא״אBeyond the curtain that divides Arich Anpin from Atzilus the Avos are rooted: Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov are Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes, but their root is Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes of Arich Anpin.
והיינו לפי שהאבות שרשן מחג״ת דעתיק כמ״ש בד״ה אם בחקתי בענין בעבר הנהר ישבו אבותיכם“The conversation of the servants of the Avos is finer than the Torah of the sons” because the Avos are rooted in Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes of Atik, the source of the light drawn in the thirteen tikkunim of the beard; so the first tikkun, the Name Kel, Chesed, is Avraham.
ושרש האבות הוא מעבר הנהר היינו מבחי׳ הכתר שהוא למעלה מהנהר הנ״לThe river is Binah; the root of the Avos is “beyond the river,” in Keser above it, and from there they were drawn and lowered to its other side, into Zeir Anpin of Atzilus.
Whether the Avos themselves are in Atzilus, or there are also an Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov in Beriah, within limits
וכך הוא בענין האבות שהן עצמן בז״ת דאצילות אבל שרשן ומקורן כתיב בעבר הנהר ישבו אבותיכםThe tribes themselves are in Beriah and only their root is in Atzilus; so too the Avos themselves are in the seven lower sefiros of Atzilus, and only their root is “beyond the river.”
נשמות האבות אברהם יצחק ויעקב יש בחי׳ אברהם יצחק ויעקב באצי׳ דאיהו וחיוהי חד. אבל אברהם יצחק ויעקב שבבריאה הם בבחי׳ בע״גSouls are born from Atzilus into Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah and become limited, for only in Atzilus is there infinity; even of the souls of the Avos, there is an Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov in Atzilus, where “He and His life are one,” but the Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov in Beriah are limited.
Which sefiros “our fathers” names: Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes, or Chochmah and Binah
פי׳ אבות הם חג״ת שנמשך מהם אהוי״ר ורחמנות שהם אברהם יצחק ויעקב“The Avos instituted the prayers”: the Avos are Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes, from which love, awe and compassion are drawn; they are Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.
הוי׳ אלקינו ואלקי אבותינו (שהוא בחי׳ צמצום) פי׳ שיתהווה בחי׳ אבותינו חו״בIn “Havayah our G‑d and the G‑d of our fathers,” “our G‑d” is tzimtzum, and “the G‑d of” is a drawing-down by which the level of “our fathers,” Chochmah and Binah (“You are wise”), comes into being.
באברהם כתיב ב״פ אברהם אברהם הא׳ הוא המשכה שיתהווה בחי׳ חו״ב דאצי׳ ואלקי אבותינו כנ״ל“Avraham, Avraham” is written twice: the first is the drawing-down by which Chochmah and Binah of Atzilus come into being, “the G‑d of our fathers”; the second is the drawing into Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.
Sefer HaErchim Chabad
עבודת האבות למטה היתה דוגמת המדות חסד גבורה ת״ת דאצילות (וכל אחד מהם, היתה עיקר עבודתו בגילוי במדה אחרת: אברהם — בקו החסד, יצחק — בקו הגבורה, ויעקב — בקו התפארת. אלא שמצד התכללות המדות, היו כלולים בעבודת כל אחד כל ג׳ הקוין)The service of the Avos below was after the pattern of the middos Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferes of Atzilus (each one’s service was chiefly revealed in a different attribute: Avraham in the line of Chesed, Yitzchak in the line of Gevurah, Yaakov in the line of Tiferes; but through the inter-inclusion of the middos, each one’s service included all three lines). (our translation)
Sefer HaErchim Chabad, vol. א, entry אבות, col. יז · © Kehot Publication Society, quoted
Main sources
Likkutei Torah, Tzav 12, ¶12Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 2, ¶27Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 7, ¶23Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 7, ¶2Likkutei Torah, Emor 3, ¶8Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 4, ¶10Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 5, ¶5Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 4, ¶1
Where it appears
In 180 paragraphs of 117 maamarim.
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Korach 1 ¶7 ¶37
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 5 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 2 ¶7 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 8 ¶4 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 7 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 8 ¶25 ¶54
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 1 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 6 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 5 ¶30
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 5 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 2 ¶8 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 14 ¶12 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 19 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 37 ¶3 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 12 ¶29
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 5 ¶11
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 3 ¶1 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 4 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 5 ¶9 ¶14
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 6 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 16 ¶11 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 4 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 1 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 13 ¶13 ¶18 ¶19 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 12 ¶12 ¶15 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 5 ¶3 ¶5 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 9 ¶20 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 7 ¶1 ¶2 ¶10 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 3 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 3 ¶32 ¶33
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 3 ¶8 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 8 ¶7 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Lech Lecha 1 ¶13 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 15 ¶12 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 5 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 8 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 6 ¶9 ¶24
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 1 ¶8 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 4 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 7 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Pekudei 2 ¶5 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 1 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 12 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 4 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 5 ¶19 ¶20 ¶22 ¶37
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 1 ¶1 ¶3 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 2 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 5 ¶40
- Torah Ohr, Vayechi 3 ¶28 ¶29
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 7 ¶14 ¶20 ¶23
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 8 ¶10 ¶16 ¶17
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 9 ¶1 ¶5 ¶8 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 2 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 21 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 2 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2 ¶2 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Kedoshim 1 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 9 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 34 ¶1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 5 ¶10 ¶23 ¶29 ¶55
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 3 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Metzora 1 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Vayakhel 2 ¶22 ¶24
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 2 ¶27 ¶29 ¶31 ¶32 ¶34
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 1 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 5 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 9 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 1 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 3 ¶9
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 8 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 7 ¶20
- Torah Ohr, Terumah 1 ¶3 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 1 ¶1 ¶2 ¶3 ¶14 ¶17
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 2 ¶15 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 5 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 2 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 5 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 2 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 7 ¶23
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 6 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 17 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini 2 ¶7 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 4 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 5 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 4 ¶37
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 1 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 8 ¶21
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 1 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 10 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 7 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 6 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 4 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 21 ¶20
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 6 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 2 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 7 ¶20 ¶26 ¶52
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 1 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 4 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Noach 3 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 1 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 23 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 4 ¶23
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 12 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 1 ¶7 ¶9 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 3 ¶13
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 2 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 14 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 18 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Behar 1 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 4 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 16 ¶18
Written with AI from the paragraphs of Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah, each entry checked by a second AI reader and every Hebrew quote checked by code; not yet reviewed by a person. Our English: CC BY-NC 4.0.