(ז) וְעוֹד נִקְרָאִים בְּנֵי עֲלִיָּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁגַּם עֲבוֹדָתָם בִּבְחִינַת ״וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב״ בְּקִיּוּם הַתּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹתֶיהָ, הוּא לְצוֹרֶךְ גָּבוֹהַּ וּמַעְלָה מַּעְלָה עַד רוּם הַמַּעֲלוֹת, וְלֹא כְּדֵי לְדָבְקָה בּוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ בִּלְבָד לְרַוּוֹת צִמְאוֹן נַפְשָׁם הַצְּמֵאָה לַה׳, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: ״הוֹי כָּל צָמֵא לְכוּ לַמַּיִם״, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר, אֶלָּא כִּדְפֵירְשׁוּ בַּתִּיקּוּנִים: ״אֵיזֶהוּ חָסִיד – הַמִּתְחַסֵּד עִם קוֹנוֹ״; עִם קַן דִּילֵיהּ, לְיַיחֲדָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּרַעְיָא מְהֵימְנָא פָּרָשַׁת תֵּצֵא: ״כִּבְרָא דְּאִשְׁתַּדֵּל בָּתַר אֲבוֹי וְאִימֵּיהּ, דְּרָחִים לוֹן יַתִּיר מִגַּרְמֵיהּ וְנַפְשֵׁיהּ וְרוּחֵיהּ וְנִשְׁמְתֵיהּ כוּ׳, וּמָסַר גַּרְמֵיהּ לְמִיתָה עֲלַיְיהוּ לְמִיפְרַק לוֹן כוּ׳״, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר.
(ח) [וּשְׁנֵיהֶם עוֹלִים בְּקָנֶה אֶחָד, כִּי עַל יְדֵי הַבֵּירוּרִים שֶׁמְּבָרְרִים מִנּוֹגַהּ מַעֲלִים ״מַיִּין נוּקְבִין״, וְנַעֲשִׂים יִחוּדִים עֶלְיוֹנִים לְהוֹרִיד ״מַיִּין דְּכוּרִין״, שֶׁהֵם הֵם מֵימֵי הַחֲסָדִים שֶׁבְּכָל מִצְוָה וּמִצְוָה מֵרַמַ״ח מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה, שֶׁכּוּלָּן הֵן בְּחִינַת חֲסָדִים וּ״מַיִּין דְּכוּרִין״, דְּהַיְינוּ, הַמְשָׁכַת קְדוּשַּׁת אֱלֹהוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ מִלְמַעְלָה לְמַטָּה לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר]:
(7) A further explanation of the title “superior men” is that their service in the category of “do good,” in the fulfillment of the Torah and its commandments, is for the sake of the Above, the ultimate of the highest degrees, and not merely in order to attach themselves to G–d so as to quench the thirst of their [own] soul, which thirsts for G–d, as is written, “Ho! All who thirst, go to water,”11 Isaiah 55:1. as is explained elsewhere. Rather [their service is,] as explained in Tikkunei Zohar, “Who is kind?—He who conducts himself with benevolence toward his Creator—toward His nest,12 This homily is based on a play on the words חסיד־חסד, קונו־קנו. The text reads: איזהו חסיד המתחסד עם קונו — עם קן דיליה, לייחדא קודשא בריך הוא ושכינתיה בתחתונים. uniting the Holy One, blessed is He, and His Shechinah within those who dwell in the nethermost worlds.”13 Tikkunei Zohar, Introduction 1b. Cf. Zohar II:114b; III:222b; 281a. As also explained in Raaya Mehemna on Parashat Teitzei, “In the manner of a son who ingratiates himself with his father and mother, whom he loves more than his own body and soul…and is prepared to sacrifice his own life for them, to redeem them…,”14 Zohar III:281a. and as is explained elsewhere.15 The absolute altruistic worshipper is not motivated by a desire to save his soul, or to gratify its longing for unity with the Deity, but by pure love and a desire to please G–d and make His presence felt everywhere.
(8) [And both interpretations are complementary, for through acts of refinement of the good out of the nogah, one elevates the “feminine waters,”16 “Male” and “female” are terms used in Kabbalah to denote “giver” and “recipient,” respectively. “Feminine waters” therefore denotes benevolent acts, self-inspired, rising from man to G–d, while “masculine waters” denotes the flow of Divine influence and grace from G–d to man. causing “supernal unions” to bring down the “masculine waters”17 See previous note. which are the flow of [Divine] kindness contained in each of the 248 positive precepts, all of which are in the nature of kindness and “masculine waters,” that is to say, the flow of holiness of His G–dliness, blessed be He, from above downward, to be clothed in those who live in the lower worlds, as explained elsewhere.]