Chabad Chassidic Concepts
A comprehensive guide to the key ideas, principles, and frameworks of Chabad Chassidic thought.
The Soul
- The Five Levels of the Soul — Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, Chayah, Yechidah
- Nefesh HaBehemit — The Animal Soul
- Nefesh HaElokit — The Divine Soul
- The Beinoni — The Intermediate Person (central concept of Tanya)
- The Tzaddik — The Righteous Master
God and Creation
- Ein Sof — The Infinite
- Tzimtzum — The Divine Contraction
- The Four Worlds — Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah
- The Ten Sefirot — Divine Attributes
- Klipot — The Husks of Impurity
- Dirah BeTachtonim — God’s Dwelling in the Lower Worlds
Divine Service (Avodah)
- Hitbonenut — Contemplative Meditation
- Bittul — Self-Nullification
- Devekut — Cleaving to God
- Ratzo VeShov — Running and Returning
- Tefillah — Prayer
- Teshuva — Return and Repentance
- Simcha — Joy in Divine Service
- Histapkus — The Danger of Spiritual Complacency
Intellect and Emotion
- Chabad — Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge — The intellectual triad
Faith and Providence
- Hashgacha Pratis — Divine Providence (individual care)
Community and History
- Ahavat Yisrael — Love of One’s Fellow Jew
- Galut and Geulah — Exile and Redemption
- Torah Study — In Chabad Thought