Glossary · Torah Ohr · Likkutei Torah
Yichuda ila’ah
יחודא עילאה
The higher unity (yichuda ila’ah)
The unity seen from above: before G‑d all is as nothing and nothing exists besides Him (the Name Havayah, the Shema’s first verse); the lower unity is the existing world’s self-nullification.
The word יחוד עליון / היחוד העליון often means simply “the supernal union” (for example of Z’eir Anpin and Nukva in Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 8:19), not the higher unity as against the lower. The term proper is יחודא עילאה or יחו״ע, usually paired with יחודא תתאה / יחו״ת.
Where it’s explained
- Likkutei Torah, Reeh 5, ¶1Sets out two kinds of bittul: that of the higher unity, “You alone are Havayah,” all being as nothing before Him, and that of the lower unity, the yesh made by the Name Elokim which bows (“Modim”). The higher unity rests and is revealed below only when there is the lower unity (“one into one”), and the joining of both is called better than either alone.
הא׳ ביטול יחו״ע אתה הוא הוי׳ לבדך כו׳ דכולא קמיה כלא כו׳
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 18, ¶5In the soul’s service, the first verse of the Shema is the higher unity: contemplating that He is truly one and there is nothing besides Him, the soul longs to pour itself out with self-sacrifice and be included in the Or Ein Sof, as it was before it came down; “Baruch Shem” is the lower unity.
יחודא עילאה למסור נפשו באחד במס״נ ממש שתשתפך נפשו להיות בטילה ונכללת באור א״ס ב״ה
- Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 1, ¶19The Name Havayah is the higher unity, that there is nothing besides Him; the Name Elokim hides it like a shield before the sun so that the world appears as a yesh, and yet “the whole earth is full of His glory” in the lower unity.
שם הוי״ה הוא ענין יחודא עלאה איך שאין עוד מלבדו וכלא קמיה כלא חשיב
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2, ¶9The blessing “who feeds” (hazan, from Chochmah Ila’ah, true bittul) is the higher unity and the blessing over the Land (thanksgiving, bittul hayesh) the lower; the lower needs a drawing-down from the higher. The higher unity is higher, yet the purpose of creation is the dwelling below, a yesh that is nullified.
אע״פ שיחו״ע גבוה מיחו״ת עכ״ז הרי תכלית הבריאה שיהיה דירה בתחתונים דייקא
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 6, ¶4“One into one”: the mayin duchrin reveal the One of the higher unity within the One of the raised mayin nukvin, the lower unity, which is thereby raised and included in the higher unity. A second reading, also called true there: the higher unity is itself raised by the rising of the lower.
ע״י התגלות אחד דיחו״ע באחד דהעלאת מ״ן יחו״ת עי״ז מתעלה המ״ן ונכלל ביחו״ע ממש
Stated differently
Which level in the sefiros the higher unity is identified with
ששם הוא היחוד שבק״ש יחודא עלאה או״א שא״א לנו להשיגו באצי׳The unity of the Shema, the higher unity, is the union of Abba and Imma, which we cannot attain in Atzilus; it is reached in Beriah, where the Shema is said seated.
משא״כ בחי׳ ז״א שהוא אצילות יחודא עילאה נק׳ יום ואורZ’eir Anpin, which is Atzilus, is the higher unity, called day and light; Malchus, the source of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, is night, in which the Or Ein Sof is hidden.
כי דעת הוא בחי׳ יחו״א דכולא קמיה כלא חשיבDa’as is the higher unity, in which all below is truly nothing; Malchus is the lower unity. Moshe is Da’as, called the sun, the higher unity.
Discussed by
The Mitteler Rebbe · Imrei Binah (Shaar HaKeriyas Shema), p. 152 (page unconfirmed)
Places both the Abba-Imma union and the Z’eir Anpin-Nukva union of the Shema’s first verse within the higher unity, and the lower unity in the Malchus of each world that becomes the source of the next. The same pattern repeats in Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.
ובכל עולם מג׳ עולמות יש יחוד עליון דאו״א וזו״נ שבאותו עולם שהוא בכלל בפ׳ דשמע
Where the mitzvos stand: in the lower unity (with Torah study in the higher), as what draws the higher unity down, or beyond the unities altogether
אך תלמוד תורה כנגד כולם שהוא בחינת יחודא עילאה וזהו מי מנה עפר יעקבDoing the mitzvos, which are “numbered,” is the lower unity; Torah study, beyond number, is the higher unity, bittul to the Or Ein Sof itself.
להיות ביטול ויחוד אמיתי בבחי׳ יחודא עילאה ביטול במציאות ממש ונעשה ונמשך בחי׳ זו ע״י המשכת המצות לבחי׳ ארץThe true unity and bittul of the higher unity, nullification of existence itself, is brought about and drawn down through the mitzvos drawing into “the land,” the level of faith.
בשכמל״ו יחודא תתאה וזהו הכל בחי׳ יחוד היינו כשנמשך למטה והיו לאחדים משא״כ מעשה המצותThe unities of the Shema (Abba and Imma in “Havayah Elokeinu,” Z’eir Anpin and Nukva in “Havayah echad,” the lower unity in “Baruch Shem”) are unity as it is drawn down; the deed of the mitzvos is different, drawing from Anochi, which is Keser.
Discussed by
The Rebbe Rashab · Sefer HaMaamarim 5659 (LeChol Tichlah), p. צד (page unconfirmed)
Reads the blessing over a mitzvah: ‘Havayah Elokeinu’ is the higher unity (sovev), ‘Melech HaOlam’ the lower (memale), and the mitzvah draws the one into the other through ‘asher kiddeshanu’, the Essence’s own delight in the deed of the mitzvos.
דה׳ אלקינו הוא בחי׳ יחו״ע, בחי׳ סוכ״ע, ומלך העולם הוא בחי׳ יחו״ת, בחי׳ ממכ״ע, וההמשכה הוא ע״י אשר קדשנו במצותיו
Whether the higher unity is sovev kol almin, drawn into the lower as memale kol almin, or the revelation of sovev within memale
בחי׳ יחו״ע ביחו״ת להיות השפעה מבחי׳ סוכ״ע לבחי׳ ממכ״עAll of Torah and mitzvos are the union of the Or Ein Sof with the worlds, the higher unity within the lower: a flow from sovev kol almin to memale kol almin.
ההמשכה מבחינת שמים יחו״ע סוכ״ע בארץ יחו״תHeaven is the higher unity, sovev kol almin, and earth the lower unity; the drawing from the one into the other is through the covenant (bris).
והוי׳ אחד הוא כשבא לגילוי בבחי׳ ממכ״ע והיינו בחי׳ יחו״ע כי בשכמל״ו הוא בחי׳ יחו״ת“Havayah Elokeinu” is sovev kol almin itself, the union of Abba and Imma; “Havayah echad,” when it comes to revelation as memale kol almin (the union of Z’eir Anpin and Nukva), is the higher unity; “Baruch Shem” is the lower.
Discussed by
The Rebbe · Sefer HaMaamarim 5715 (Bereishis Bara), p. כד (page unconfirmed)
Places memalei, and sovev as it is within memalei, under the lower unity (Havayah drawn into Ado-nai from above). The higher unity is the ascent to the essence of the light beyond the worlds, before which all is as nothing.
שמצד ד״ת שהוא כמו הדיבור שמלביש להאור כמו שהוא בצמצום דוקא, שהוא אור הממכ״ע, וכן אור הסוכ״ע כמו שהוא בממלא
Further in Chassidus
The Mitteler Rebbe · Imrei Binah (Pesach HaShaar), p. 38 (page unconfirmed)
Contrasts the higher unity of the Shema’s first verse (‘He and His life are one’, nullification and a new added light) with the lower unity of ‘Baruch Shem’ (‘He and His vessels are one’, light drawn into vessels).דביחודא עילאה הוא בחי׳ היחוד ובטול דו׳ קצוות העליונים וגם בבחי׳ ההמשכה בתוס׳ אור חדש כנ״ל והיינו מ״ש דאיהו וחיוהי חד
The Tzemach Tzedek · Or HaTorah, Shemos vol. 5 (Tetzaveh), p. א׳תקנ
Defines the pair through ‘a sun and a shield is Havayah Elokim’: Havayah is the higher unity, nothing besides Him, while Elokim conceals so the world appears as yesh, though His glory still fills it (the lower unity). Read here as the curtain in the Mishkan.כי שם הוי׳ הוא ענין יחודא עילאה איך שאין עוד מלבדו וכלא קמיה כלא חשיב כו׳ ושם אלקים הוא המסתיר ומעלים
The Rebbe · Sefer HaMaamarim 5722 (VeNiglah Kevod Havayah), p. רמד
Ties the two unities to the upper Havayah (‘was, is and will be’ as one) and the lower Havayah (‘brings into being’). The lower unity is sustained by the higher, whose light is now hidden; in the future they will join (‘Havayah will be one’).שהעבודה מצד הוי׳ דלעילא הו״ע יחודא עילאה, והעבודה מצד הוי׳ דלתתא הו״ע יחודא תתאה, והגם שישנה המשכת יחו״ע ביחו״ת
Short quotes, © their publishers; each page opened by a second AI reader.
Main sources
Likkutei Torah, Reeh 5, ¶1Likkutei Torah, Reeh 4, ¶15Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 18, ¶5Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2, ¶9Likkutei Torah, Vaeschanan 5, ¶12Likkutei Torah, Nasso 6, ¶4Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 1, ¶19Torah Ohr, Yisro 3, ¶7
Where it appears
In 135 paragraphs of 76 maamarim.
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 5 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2 ¶5 ¶7 ¶9 ¶12 ¶13 ¶17 ¶18 ¶19 ¶21 ¶25 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 2 ¶5 ¶6 ¶9 ¶11 ¶15 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 4 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 1 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 3 ¶22 ¶24
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 5 ¶1 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 7 ¶32
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 8 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 3 ¶22 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 18 ¶5 ¶6 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 22 ¶16 ¶23 ¶26 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 29 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 7 ¶36 ¶38
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 4 ¶9
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 1 ¶17 ¶23
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 6 ¶13 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 8 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 3 ¶3 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 3 ¶2 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 7 ¶3 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 15 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 3 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 10 ¶45
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 6 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 11 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 13 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 2 ¶14
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 10 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 6 ¶6 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 20 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 3 ¶10 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 5 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 8 ¶20 ¶36
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 3 ¶17
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 1 ¶15 ¶29
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 2 ¶25 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 1 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 2 ¶17 ¶31
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 7 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6 ¶13 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 1 ¶39
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 2 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 3 ¶8 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 1 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 3 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 5 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Pekudei 1 ¶55 ¶57 ¶64
- Likkutei Torah, Pekudei 2 ¶12 ¶33
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 4 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 4 ¶15 ¶16 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 1 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 1 ¶1 ¶3 ¶7 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 2 ¶2 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 8 ¶6 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 1 ¶3 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 5 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 21 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 23 ¶24
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 5 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 12 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 5 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 12 ¶3 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 5 ¶7 ¶52
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 6 ¶7
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 8 ¶28
- Torah Ohr, Lech Lecha 1 ¶12 ¶13
- Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 1 ¶19 ¶20 ¶22 ¶25
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 2 ¶10 ¶11 ¶31
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 1 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 3 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 4 ¶15
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 2 ¶16 ¶18 ¶24 ¶25
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 3 ¶7
- Torah Ohr, Noach 3 ¶22
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.