And according to the quality of unifications is the quality of the day. For instance, on the Sabbath, the unification is in such a manner, while on the Festival it is in a different manner and so also on Rosh Chodesh [the New Moon]...
On Shabbat the worlds function according to certain mechanisms, and on the weekday there are different mechanisms and also on the Festival. Even for every year there are different mechanisms that define the different effect of the unifications on the worlds.
The idea of unifications is mentioned only in some prayer books. Some prayer books do not mention this idea at all. Others have before every mitzvah a short prayer - "[I'm doing this mitzvah ]In order to Unify..." Usually, it is just the rather simple unification of the Holy One Blessed Be He with the Diving Indwelling [the Transcendent Light with the Immanent Light] . So I'm saying with this action I'm performing a unification. But there are bigger and smaller prayerbooks. Some explain with each mitzvah specifically what are the names of the unifications, and what lights, what sephirot and what combinations are created from this mitzvah.
The author will now question the idea of unifications and why they are necessary. As we have understood so far, our actions in this world cause a chain effect of multiple effects in the higher worlds. One metaphor for unifications is literally the union of a male and female counterparts which then produces all sorts of offspring. The Jewish Texts speak of good and bad angels that are the products of our actions in the physical realm. The author will now go on to explain how our understanding of these divine processes can help us to benefit from them down here.
(The text in italics are the words of Derech Mitzvosecha by the third
Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek. The bolded words are Rabbi Adin
Steinsaltz's commentary as heard on his shiurim on hashefa.co.il. The
rest is my commentary. All rights reserved to Rabbi Steinsaltz. Pictures courtesy of Moshe Schlass.)
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