Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher, Dean of Students and Senior Lecturer at Diaspora Yeshiva, is not only a popular speaker and teacher, but also a dynamic thinker and writer. A student of Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky and Harav Gedalia Schorr, Rabbi Sprecher was granted smicha (rabbinical ordination) by Torah Vodaath Yeshiva. Prior to his current position, Rabbi Sprecher was a professor of Judaic studies at Touro College in New York. In addition to his duties at Diaspora Yeshiva, Rabbi Sprecher writes a regular column on various Judaic topics in the Jewish Press, and lectures regularly at the OU Israel Center in Jerusalem.
The 4 Dimensions of Existence
Published: Thursday, November 5, 2015 09:29:29 PM
Number of views: 1878

According to Kabbalah, every part of our world is divided into four categories of existence. In ascending spiritual order they are:

1)      DOMEM, silent and mineral

2)      TZOMEACH, sprout or vegetable

3)      CHAI, living or animal

4)      MEDABAR, a speaking human being

In G-d’s plan for the world, each member of one realm of existence is capable of becoming elevated to a higher level. Indeed, this is the purpose of its existence. The soil, water, and air of the Mineral Kingdom are the nutrients which are absorbed by, and become one with the plant life of the Vegetable Kingdom. Plants, in turn, serve as food and building blocks for the creatures of the Animal Kingdom. Finally, these become the products of Man, subjects of the Human Kingdom.

The Torah actually alludes to this system of spiritual elevations in the Shema. The Shema, in Devorim 11 states “And I (G-d) shall give vegetables in your fields, minerals for your animals and you, Human Beings shall eat and be satisfied.”

Thus, the entire Creation is based on the Principle of MALIN BAKODESH which means, we must constantly strive to climb higher on the spiritual ladder.

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