Glossary · Torah Ohr · Likkutei Torah
Yesod
יסוד
Yesod (foundation) · also: יסוד אבא
The Sefirah of binding: a giver’s lowest level, through which it ties itself to the receiver and draws its flow to it. Called kol (all), chai (living), tzaddik and bris (covenant); linked to Yosef.
The word יסוד also means an element: the four elements fire, air, water and earth (ד׳ יסודות; יסוד האש, יסוד המים), of which bodies, souls and angels are composed. The Sefirah is meant in בחי׳ יסוד, יסוד ז״א, יסוד אבא / אימא, יסוד דא״א or דעתיק, and where it is paired with ברית, צדיק, כל or חי.
Where it’s explained
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 10, ¶2Whatever gives life to what is below it does so only through its own lowest level, since the effect can neither grasp nor bear its cause; it must contract itself and bind itself through that lowest level. The level through which it gives is called Yesod (here, the Yesod of Abba within the Yesod of Imma, which becomes the mochin of Z”A).
כל דבר המשפיע ומחיה למה שלמטה ממנו אינו מחיה רק במדרגה התחתונה שלו
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2, ¶19Yesod is like the bond by which a father ties his intellect to his son’s while teaching him with love and longing; the bond comes from a high place, so the greater the intellect, the more it can give. Above, the Yesod of Z”A, called “hakol,” is made through the upper mazla of Arich Anpin; Yesod joins and draws from the higher unity into the lower, so it is called mazla, from yizal, “flows.”
בחינת יסוד הוא עד״מ התקשרות שמקשר האב שכלו בשכל בנו בשעת לימודו עמו באהבה וחשק
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 8, ¶1In “satisfies every living thing,” “living” (chai) is Yesod, which binds and draws the flow from upper to lower, from Z”A to the source of the souls of Israel; “every living thing” is the fifteen Yesodos of the five partzufim of Atzilus, the path of the order of hishtalshelus. Above this, the Yesod of Atik joins Ein Sof to the emanated levels.
חי הוא בחי׳ יסוד המקשר וממשיך ההשפעה מהעליון לתחתון ומז״א למקור נש״י
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6, ¶12Yesod is called “kol” (all) because it holds fast to heaven and earth, and because it includes all six middos: the flow of the ten Sefiros gathers into Yesod like the drop drawn from the brain and all the limbs. Malchus, which receives, is called kallah.
פי׳ כל נק׳ יסוד כי כל בשמים ובארץ דאחיד בשמיא ובארעא
- Torah Ohr, Terumah 2, ¶3Yosef is Yesod, the bond of the giver with the receiver, called the upper tzaddik; for the receiver to take in the flow there must also be a bond from below (Binyamin, the lower tzaddik), which binds Beriah to Atzilus from below upward.
יוסף שהוא בחי׳ יסוד התקשרות של המשפיע עם המקבל וזהו בחי׳ צ״ע
Stated differently
Where the Yesod of Abba is: in the chest of Z”A, or extending down to the Yesod of Z”A
ואיתא בכתבי האריז״ל שיסוד אבא הוא בחזהThe Arizal’s writings say the Yesod of Abba is in the chest (hence “the heart understands”); the level through which the giver gives is the Yesod of Abba within the Yesod of Imma, which becomes the mochin of Z”A.
ולכן יסוד אימא מסתיים בחזה ואינו נמשך בנה״י דז״א. אבל יסוד אבא נמשך עד יסוד ז״אThe Yesod of Imma ends at the chest and does not reach Netzach, Hod and Yesod of Z”A; the Yesod of Abba, being higher, extends down to the Yesod of Z”A.
וע״פ כהאריז״ל הוא כי יסוד אבא מסתיים ביסוד ז״אAccording to the Arizal’s writings the Yesod of Abba ends in the Yesod of Z”A, so the upper yud (Abba) shines in the Yesod of Z”A, which is therefore also called yud.
והנה ההמשכה מחכמה עילאה הוא ע״י יסוד אבא המתלבש ביסוד ז״אThe drawing from Chochmah Ila’ah comes through the Yesod of Abba, which is clothed in the Yesod of Z”A.
Discussed by
The Tzemach Tzedek · Or HaTorah, Bereishis vol. 3, p. 1194
The Tzemach Tzedek notes that the Yesod of Abba reaches the end of the Yesod of Z”A, not ending at the chest, and explains it still has two states: clothed within the Yesod of Imma down to the chest, and breaking out of it below the chest to extend to the Yesod of Z”A.
נח הוא יסוד אבא שנמשך עד סיום יסוד ז״א א״כ כיון שאינו מסתיים בחזה א״כ הרי לכאורה אינו שייך כלל חילוק לב׳ בחי׳
Further in Chassidus
The Tzemach Tzedek · Or HaTorah, Devarim vol. 2, p. תקלד
On the covenant of Avraham, the Tzemach Tzedek defines Yesod as binding, the tzaddik on which Malchus (the ‘land’) stands, explaining that the five chasadim are revealed in Yesod only through the bris, since true binding comes from the strength of love.וביאור ענין התגלות הה״ח ביסוד נ׳ כי יסוד הוא ההתקשרות, וההתקשרות האמיתית באלקות באה מתוקף האה׳ שזהו הה״ח
The Tzemach Tzedek · Biurei HaZohar (Tzemach Tzedek), vol. 1, p. כה
On ‘a tzaddik is the foundation of the world’, the Tzemach Tzedek explains why it is called Yesod (a spiritual foundation is above), and contrasts its names: tzaddik for the outer flow, shalom and chai for the inner flow that draws the union of the Holy One and the Shechinah.צדיק הוא נק׳ יסוד על שם השפעה חיצוניות שמשפיע כמו הצדיק שהוא בעל צדקה
The Rebbe · Sefer HaMaamarim Melukat, vol. 1, p. רעג
The Rebbe explains why Yesod is called kol, ‘binding heaven and earth’: it is on the middle line reaching Keser; and since Netzach, Hod and Yesod are the channels of giving, the Keser revealed through Yesod is the root of the emanated, unlike that drawn through Tiferes.וזה שהיסוד נקרא בשם כל הוא לפי שהיסוד הוא בקו האמצעי שמגיע בכתר (סובב)
Short quotes, © their publishers; each page opened by a second AI reader.
Main sources
Likkutei Torah, Shelach 10, ¶2Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2, ¶18Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2, ¶19Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 8, ¶1Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6, ¶12Likkutei Torah, Masei 2, ¶17Torah Ohr, Terumah 2, ¶3Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 12, ¶33
Where it appears
In 213 paragraphs of 126 maamarim.
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 5 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6 ¶12 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2 ¶18 ¶19 ¶20 ¶22 ¶24 ¶42
- Likkutei Torah, Korach 1 ¶40 ¶41
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 4 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 3 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Pekudei 2 ¶19 ¶24 ¶40
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 18 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 4 ¶6 ¶7 ¶9 ¶15 ¶16 ¶34
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 6 ¶2 ¶3 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 7 ¶38
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 4 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 5 ¶1 ¶12 ¶17 ¶20 ¶21
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 11 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Acharei 4 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 5 ¶14 ¶22 ¶23 ¶24 ¶26 ¶28 ¶29 ¶30
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 19 ¶2 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 3 ¶36
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 3 ¶6 ¶13 ¶14 ¶17 ¶18 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 5 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 15 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 29 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 3 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 9 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 1 ¶13
- Torah Ohr, Terumah 3 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Yom Kippur 3 ¶24 ¶27 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 16 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 1 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 6 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 2 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 7 ¶10 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 2 ¶11 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 9 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 2 ¶4 ¶21 ¶37
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 2 ¶26 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 37 ¶5 ¶7 ¶9 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 41 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 2 ¶21 ¶35
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 6 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 6 ¶3 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 7 ¶2 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 21 ¶6 ¶20 ¶21 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 3 ¶10 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Behar 2 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 3 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Kedoshim 1 ¶33
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 2 ¶1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 6 ¶3 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 1 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 6 ¶14 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 2 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 3 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 30 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 36 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 39 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Sukkos 2 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 2 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Lech Lecha 4 ¶5 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 12 ¶19 ¶39
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 13 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 10 ¶2 ¶7
- Torah Ohr, Noach 4 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Terumah 2 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 4 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Vayigash 1 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 5 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 10 ¶2 ¶7 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 25 ¶4 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 1 ¶7
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 5 ¶3 ¶8 ¶9 ¶14 ¶17 ¶22 ¶29
- Torah Ohr, Vayigash 2 ¶4 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 1 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 9 ¶7
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 2 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 10 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 4 ¶9
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 1 ¶30
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 8 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 2 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 1 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 5 ¶2 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 5 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 8 ¶3 ¶5 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 5 ¶67
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 14 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Parshas Zachor 2 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 4 ¶1 ¶8 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 4 ¶1 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 10 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 2 ¶9 ¶23
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 3 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 2 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 3 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 17 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 19 ¶4 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 5 ¶6 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 6 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 2 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 6 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 6 ¶19 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 8 ¶19
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 12 ¶30 ¶31 ¶33 ¶34
- Torah Ohr, Vayeira 2 ¶20
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 6 ¶11 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 2 ¶33 ¶34
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 5 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 4 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini 2 ¶3 ¶9
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 4 ¶19
- Torah Ohr, Chayei Sarah 3 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 9 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 2 ¶10 ¶13
- Torah Ohr, Lech Lecha 1 ¶6 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 3 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Behar 3 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 8 ¶47
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 8 ¶8 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 4 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 5 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 4 ¶11 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 12 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Metzora 1 ¶6 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 3 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 4 ¶33
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 1 ¶2
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.