TThe י"ג מדות הרחמים (Thirteen Attributes of Mercy) are המשכות עליונות (higher extensions) that are revealed during בעל״ת (times of repentance).[1] They are המשכות (extensions) from עומקא דחשוכא (the depth of darkness) from מל׳ דא״ק.[2] They are רחמים גדולים (great mercies) without limit, yet are called מדות הרחמים (attributes of mercy) because there is a מגביל (limiter) to the mercies, so they are only extended in the appropriate place.[3]
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Moshe Rabbeinu extended them during the sin of the golden calf to rectify the sin.[4]
The revelation of the י"ג מדות הרחמים is on יום הכיפורים (Yom Kippur).[5]
The י"ג מדות הרחמים are called י״ג נהרא אפרסמונא דכיא (thirteen rivers of pure balsam) that purify and whiten the sins of Israel, and do not allow מסכים מבדילין (separating screens) in the revelation of His will.[6]
The י"ג מדות הרחמים are connected to the thirteen leaves that surround the שושנה (rose).[7]
Teachings of the Rebbeim
- In Elul, we begin the aspect of אני לדודי (I am to my beloved), which is אתעדל״ת (arousal from below). On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is ודודי לי (and my beloved is to me), which is the extension of Elokus downwards.[8]
- The י"ג מדות הרחמים of Elul are an extension to be אתעדל״ת (arousal from below).[9]
- The י"ג מדות הרחמים of the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah and Yom Kippur are the forgiveness and pardon of sins through תשובה (repentance).[10]
- The י"ג מדות הרחמים that Michah said are in Atik and are higher than the י"ג מדות (thirteen attributes) that Moshe said.[11] Moshe extended them downwards in Ze'ir Anpin.[12] The י"ג מדות (thirteen attributes) of Moshe are for the life of this world, which Moshe needed. The י"ג מדות (thirteen attributes) that Michah said are the י"ג מדות (thirteen attributes) of Arich Anpin, which are for the life of the neshamos, which is חיי אלקות (Divine life).[13]
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