Chapter 11 :The Metaphor of a King and Ministers

Now we can understand the question asked by the Rivash (Rabbi Yitzchak ben Sheshet 1326-1408, Algiers) to the kabbalist Don Yosef how can the kabbalists refer to particular attributes when saying the blessings of the prayer since these are not G-d Himself. And Don Yosef answered him that it's like asking the King to order the minister of the Treasury to give him money, or the minister of Justice to look into his court case and acquit him...

However, in the metaphor, the king's ministers are separate entities, while in reality, the attributes are the King Himself as he garments Himself in different appearances. So in fact, it's the same person as he is garmented in different activities.

In the metaphor, there is a minister of Justice, of the Treasury, of Health. When speaking to G-d it's not that way -it's the same G-d garmented in different garments. He's the judge, the wittnesses, the giver... Anyone who has had the dubious pleasure of dealing with government bureaucracy, knows that it's not malicious but one usually sits for a long time waiting to speak to a certain clerk only to be told that in fact one has to go to a different room and speak with a different clerk who is in fact responsible for this matter. G-d also has "clerks", but they are He Himself in garments.

 However, as explained previously, special merit is required to get the King to be generous when he is garmented in judgement, which is why it's important to have the right intentions.

There are are certain garments that are appropriate for certain occasions. Disregarding the context of the attributes is like one who is invited to a formal dinner and shows up in pajamas. It's possible for King to have compassion even when He's sitting in judgement, but one has to find the compassion from inside the severity itself- this requires special merit [as will be explained].

Chassidus teaches us that we are always talking directly to G-d Himself, and there is no other, "ein od milvado" (Deut. 4:35). But we also have to appreciate that since the world is made up of different beings, G-d garments himself in different character traits when interfacing with the world. These character traits are true faces or appearances of G-d that we have to take into account when addressing Him.