## The Gate of Unity Chapter 39

###### The Gate of Unity 39:1
[The Gate of Unity 39:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:1)

ומעתה יובן דרך כלל במה שהאותיות נקראים כלים וגם נקראים לבושים

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
It now may be understood, in a general way, why the letters are called “Vessels – *Keilim*”¹), Ch. 1; Also see Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah, end of Ch. 4; Shaarei Teshuvah, Vol. 1, pg. 38b. and are also called “Garments – *Levushim*.”²

footnotes:
¹ Etz Chayim, Shaar 6 (Shaar HaAkudim
² See Sefer HaMa’amarim 5562, Vol. 2, pg. 391 and Sefer HaMa’amarim 5563, Vol. 1, pg. 249 and 261.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:2
[The Gate of Unity 39:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:2)

כי לכאורה בחינת הכלי הוא נחשב מן העצם, גם שהוא המגביל לעצם

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is because, at first glance, even though it limits the [spreading forth of] the essence, the aspect of the vessel is [nonetheless] considered to be of the essence.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:3
[The Gate of Unity 39:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:3)

כמו אותיות הקבועים תמיד בעצם הנפש, שמתאחדים עם העצם

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
For example, the letters that at all times are embedded in the essence of the soul, are unified with the essence.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:4
[The Gate of Unity 39:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:4)

על דרך דוגמא מאותיות החקוקים בציור או בבליטה, כאותיות החותם

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is analogous to how the letters that are engraved into an image or that protrude, like the letters of a seal [are one with it].


###### The Gate of Unity 39:5
[The Gate of Unity 39:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:5)

כך ברוחניות האותיות דנפש

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is likewise so of the spiritual letters of the soul.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:6
[The Gate of Unity 39:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:6)

וכמו גלוי עצם החי בכח התנועה, או כגלוי חיות המתפשת מעצם החי, שקבוע כח זה בהעלם בעצמו כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
[Furthermore] this is similar to the revelation of the essence of an animal through its power of movement, or like the revelation of the life-force that spreads from the essence of the animal, as this power still [exists] embedded [and] concealed within the essential self [of the animal].


###### The Gate of Unity 39:7
[The Gate of Unity 39:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:7)

וכמו שאנו רואים באותיות השכל הכלולים בעצם כח השכל

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
We likewise observe this with the letters of an intellectual concept; that they are included [in their source] in the essential power to conceptualize.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:8
[The Gate of Unity 39:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:8)

שמיד שיוציא לאור הסברא מכח המשכיל שלו, יצאו עמה אותיות

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
That is, immediately when [a person] brings [his] reasoning to light from his potential power to conceptualize (*Koach HaMaskeel*), its letters come out together with it.³” 5657 of Rabbi Shalom Dovber of Lubavitch.

footnotes:
³ See Ma’amarei Admor HaEmtza’ee, Vayikra Vol. 2, pg. 924; Also see the discourse entitled “Samach T’Samach


###### The Gate of Unity 39:9
[The Gate of Unity 39:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:9)

שבהם ועל ידם אופן מציאת ישותו בדבר מה, והוא אותיות כל השכלה לכל מי שימציאנה

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
It is by and through these [letters] that its existence is [limited to] a certain manner of being a [tangible] “thing.” These are the letters of any concept to whosoever discovers it.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:10
[The Gate of Unity 39:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:10)

וראיה מב' בני אדם בהשכלתם שכל וסברא אחד

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
Proof for this, [that the letters, which are called vessels, are of the essence] is from two individuals who conceive the same concept or reasoning.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:11
[The Gate of Unity 39:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:11)

זה יוציאנה באותיות וצרופים כאלה וזה יוציאנה בגלוי באופני אותיות וצרופים אחרים

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
One will bring it out with certain letters and combinations, while the other will bring it out into revelation with a different manner of letters and combinations. [However, the concept remains the same.]⁴

footnotes:
⁴ See Sefer HaMa’amarim 5715, page 244-247


###### The Gate of Unity 39:12
[The Gate of Unity 39:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:12)

(כפרושי המפרשים לתלמוד, מסבירים לשכל וסברא אחד בפירוש רש''י ופירוש התוספות ורא''ש ור''ן, וכהאי גוונא, בלשונות מיוחדים, והכל עולה לענין ומכוין אחד, רק שכל אחד מפרש באותיות שכל שלו כו', כמו שכתוב במקום אחר)

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
(This is like the various commentaries on the Talmud; such as the commentaries of *Rashi* and of *Tosefot*, the *R”osh,* or the *Ra”N*, and the like. [Sometimes] they may all be explaining the very same concept or reasoning, each one in his own unique language, nonetheless, all [their explanations] amount to the same matter and intent, except that each one explains it according to the letters of his intellect etc., as explained elsewhere.⁵)

footnotes:
⁵ See Shaarei Teshuvah 108d.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:13
[The Gate of Unity 39:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:13)

כי בהולד גוף השכל יולדו עמו אותיות שלו שנראה בהן בבחינת יש, ואף על פי שמתארו ומגבילו, מכל מקום נחשב עם העצם כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is because when the concept itself is born, its letters are born along with it, through which it takes on [tangible] appearance as an aspect of a “something,” and even though [the letters] depict and define it, they nonetheless are considered to be essential to it.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:14
[The Gate of Unity 39:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:14)

וכן אותיות הרצון ואותיות המדות כמו אהבה בלב

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is likewise the case with the letters of desire and the letters of the emotions, such as the love of the heart etc.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:15
[The Gate of Unity 39:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:15)

שתתגלה בבחינת אותיות שלה, שהוא בחינת אופן גלויה במציאות בכמה אופנים שונים, כמו שכל אחד שמתגלה בצירופים שונים כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
It becomes revealed by the aspect of its letters, which are what [define the light of Kindness] giving it the aspect of a type of revelation, as a [tangible] existence in various different manners, such as a single concept that becomes revealed through different combinations [of letters] etc.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:16
[The Gate of Unity 39:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:16)

וזהו הנקרא בחינת כלים, שהוא בחינת היש המתאר ומגביל, ונחשב עם העצם

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This then, is what is called the aspect of vessels (*Keilim*). This is the aspect of the “something” that depicts and defines, but is [nonetheless] considered to be essential.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:17
[The Gate of Unity 39:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:17)

כמו כל בחינת כלים דעשר ספירות, כלי האור דחכמה וכלי האור דחסד ונצח וכהאי גוונא, שהוא בחינת היש והתואר שלהם כו', כידוע

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
For example, the aspect of all the vessels of the ten *sefirot*, [such as] the vessel for the light of *Chochmah*, the vessel for the light of *Chessed* and of *Netzach* etc., which is the aspect of the “something” that depicts them, as known.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:18
[The Gate of Unity 39:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:18)

(וכמו שכתוב באות כ''ח שמהתעבות האור נעשה כלי

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
(This is in accordance with what was explained in chapter twenty-eight; that from the “thickening” of the lights the vessels are made.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:19
[The Gate of Unity 39:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:19)

וגם שרש הכלים קדם לאורות, שנקרא חומר הפשוט כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
[Furthermore, it was] also [explained] that the root of the vessels preceded that of the lights, and is called “the simple substance” (*Chomer Pashut*) etc.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:20
[The Gate of Unity 39:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:20)

וכמובן מהנזכר לעיל בהאותיות שבעצם הנפש, קדם לשרש התהוות אור עצם הרצון והתענוג כו')

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is understood from what was said above regarding the letters that are in the essence of the [human] soul, that they [even] preceded the root for the existence of the light of the essential desire and pleasure etc.)


###### The Gate of Unity 39:21
[The Gate of Unity 39:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:21)

אך עם כל זה גם זה אמת, שהאותיות נקראים גם כן בשם לבושים

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
However, notwithstanding all the above, it is also true that the letters are also called “Garments – *Levushim*.”


###### The Gate of Unity 39:22
[The Gate of Unity 39:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:22)

כי הנה בחינת הלבוש הוא דבר נבדל מן העצם לגמרי

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is because the aspect of a Garment (*Levush*) is that it is something completely separate from the essence.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:23
[The Gate of Unity 39:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:23)

רק שבו מתלבש העצם, כמו שהגוף מתלבש בלבוש זר ונבדל מעצמו, ומכסהו ומעלימו

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
It is only that the essence becomes vested in it. This is similar to how the body becomes vested in garments that are foreign and separate from it, which cover and conceal it.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:24
[The Gate of Unity 39:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:24)

כך האותיות של השכל, אחר התהוותן במציאותן הרי העצם של השכל מתלבש ומתעלם בהם, כי לא נגלה רק בחינת אותיות של השכל, שהוא אופן ישותו כו', כאילו אין דבר חוץ מאופן זה

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is similarly the case with the letters of the intellect. Once they come into being as existing [in a tangible way], the essence of the intellect becomes vested and concealed within them, so that all that is revealed is only the aspect of the letters of the concept, which is a manner that it becomes a [tangible] “something,” as if there were nothing besides this manner.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:25
[The Gate of Unity 39:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:25)

ובאמת עצם אור השכל הזה איננו מובדל באופן כזה דוקא

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
In truth, however, the essential light of the concept is not confined to this specific manner [of combinations of letters].


###### The Gate of Unity 39:26
[The Gate of Unity 39:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:26)

כי כמו לבוש יחליף ויתלבש באופני צירופים שונים אחרים לגמרי

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
Rather, [this combination of letters] may be exchanged like a garment, and [the concept] may be invested into a completely different manner of [letter] combinations.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:27
[The Gate of Unity 39:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:27)

וכללם אינם מגיעים בעצם מהותו כלל, רק שבהן מתלבש ומתגלה

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
[However] none of these [letter formations] actually reach the essence of what [the concept] is, at all. Rather, it only vests and is revealed in them.⁶

footnotes:
⁶ See Sha’ar HaGilgulim, Hakdamah 18; Also see Shaarei Teshuvah, Chinuch pg. 108b-108c.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:28
[The Gate of Unity 39:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:28)

(על דרך הנזכר לעיל באופני גלוי שכל וסברא אחד בלשונות המפרשים כו')

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
(This is similar to what was mentioned above, regarding the revelation of the same concept and reasoning [through the various unique manners of expression] in the language of the [Talmudic] commentators etc.)


###### The Gate of Unity 39:29
[The Gate of Unity 39:29](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:29)

וכך הוא באותיות הרצון, שהרי רצון אחד פשוט מתלבש בכמה מיני גלויי אופנים שונים

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
The same [principle] applies to the letters of the desire (*Ratzon*), for we find that one simple desire may be invested in many different forms of revelation.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:30
[The Gate of Unity 39:30](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:30)

ואינו רק רצון אחד, וכמו בלבוש יתלבש הגוף כך הרצון בא באופן גלוי שלו להחליף תמיד כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
Nonetheless, it is all one single desire. Just as the body vests in its garments, so likewise, the desire becomes revealed in a manner that constantly undergoes change.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:31
[The Gate of Unity 39:31](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:31)

וכמו שאנו רואים באותיות המחשבה המלבישים למדות

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
Similarly, we observe this with the letters of thought (*Machshavah*) that enrobe the emotions.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:32
[The Gate of Unity 39:32](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:32)

שהאהבה שבלב שכבר באה באופן אותיות הגלוי שלה בלב, הנה בבואה במחשבה, הרי היא מתלבשת שם במחשבה זאת, כגוף שמתלבש בלבוש נפרד ממש

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
For, the love [felt] in the heart which has already come in its [distinct] manner of letters of [description and] revelation in the heart; when it [subsequently] enters thought, it then vests within the thought, literally like a body that becomes enrobed in a separate garment.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:33
[The Gate of Unity 39:33](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:33)

שעל זה אמר כלבוש תחליפם ממש

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
Regarding this it states,⁷ “Like a garment they are changed and exchanged,” literally.

footnotes:
⁷ Psalms 102:27; See Shaar HaEmunah pg. 97.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:34
[The Gate of Unity 39:34](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:34)

שהרי לבוש המחשבה אינו עומד אפילו רגע, שתמיד פושט ולובש ופושט ולובש כו' ממחשבה למחשבה כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is because the garment of thought does not stand still for even a moment. Rather, it is [in a] constant [state of] “disrobing” and “enrobing,” “disrobing” and “enrobing” etc., from thought to thought etc.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:35
[The Gate of Unity 39:35](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:35)

וכך גם אור השכל בבואו בלבוש דאותיות המחשבה, ממש פושט ולובש ממחשבה למחשבה כו'

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
This is likewise the case when the light of the intellect comes into the garment of the letters of thought. It literally “disrobes” and “enrobes” from thought to thought, [constantly].


###### The Gate of Unity 39:36
[The Gate of Unity 39:36](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:36)

(מה שאין כן בחינת גלוי אותיות השכל בעצם הנזכר לעיל, שנחשב עם העצם

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
(This is not the case, however, with the aforementioned aspect of the revelation of the letters of the essence of the intellectual [concept] itself, which are considered to be of the essence.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:37
[The Gate of Unity 39:37](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:37)

רק שנראה כמו לבוש דאותיות המחשבה ממש אחר התהוותן במציאת נבדל מן עצם השכל כו', כנזכר לעיל)

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
They only appear to be exactly like the garment of the letters of thought after they come into being as a [tangible] existence, separate [and apart] from the essence of the intellect, as explained above.)


###### The Gate of Unity 39:38
[The Gate of Unity 39:38](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:38)

ונמצא מובן דשניהם אמת בשרש בחינת האותיות

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
[From all the above] we find that it is understood that both [matters] are true in the root of the aspect of the letters.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:39
[The Gate of Unity 39:39](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:39)

דלפעמים הם בבחינת כלים בהיותם בשרש מחצבם באחדות גמור עם העצם, כנזכר לעיל

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
Sometimes they are in an aspect of “Vessels – *Keilim*.” This is when they are [still] in the root from which they are hewn, completely unified with the essence, as explained above.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:40
[The Gate of Unity 39:40](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:40)

וגם הם נעשים בבחינת לבושים נפרדים מן העצם לגמרי, כנזכר לעיל

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
However, they also come into an aspect of “Garments – *Levooshim*,” which are totally separate from the essence, as explained above.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:41
[The Gate of Unity 39:41](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:41)

(להיות כי שרש האותיות מבחינת המקיפים, שהן שרש הלבושים ומשם גם כן שרש בכלים המגבילים ומתארים כו' כנזכר לעיל, וכמו שכתוב במקום אחר)

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
(This is because the root of the letters is from the aspect of the Encompassing Lights⁸ (*Makifim*), which are the root of the Garments (*Levooshim*), and [furthermore] the root of the Vessels (*Keilim*) which define and depict etc. is also from there, as stated above and as explained elsewhere.)

footnotes:
⁸ See Sefer HaMa’amarim 5567, pg. 392.


###### The Gate of Unity 39:42
[The Gate of Unity 39:42](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Gate%20of%20Unity/r/39:42)

ובכל זה יובן למשכיל למעלה דרך כלל בכל בחינת לבושין דמחשבה דבור ומעשה, ג' מיני אותיות בכל פרטי העשר ספירות בהשתלשלות עד רום המעלות בעצמות אור אין סוף, באותיות דגליף גליפו בטהירו עילאה וכהאי גוונא, ודי למבין:

**Translated by Rabbi Amiram Markel, 2023:**
From all of the above it may be generally understood how it is above in Godliness by a person who contemplates all the aspects of the garments of thought, speech and action, and the three types of letters [that there are] throughout all the particulars of the ten *Sefirot*, and throughout the [entire] chaining down [of the worlds] (*Hishtalshelut*), all the way to the highest heights in the Essential Self of the limitless light of the Unlimited One (*Ein Sof*), in the letters that, “He engraved an engraving in the Upper Purity,” and the like. This will suffice for the understanding.