קרחה וכתובת קעקע א

Section 2 (Beis — ב)

And therefore fish whose vitality comes from the illumination of those on high — the aspect of mah , the aspect of ayin — when they lack the inclusion of those below, the aspect of "the entire earth is filled with His glory" through which fear flows: then, since they are in this physical world, they become entirely damaged and entirely non-kosher species. For it is stated in Rabainu's words (Likutay Moharan Tinyana, Torah Lesson 12) : that the sitra d'tuma'ah (the side of impurity) suckles from the aspect of ayin — since this aspect is very hidden and concealed, they receive vitality from there and conceal and hide G-dliness entirely. It follows that the essential impurity and heresy draw their vitality from the aspect of ayin — for only those on high can receive the essential aspect of ayeh (where), and even they must be included in the aspect of those below, the aspect of "the entire earth is filled with His glory." But those below, when they receive the aspect of ayin alone, it becomes for them, Heaven forfend, complete heresy. And therefore fish, whose vitality comes from eyna p'kicha , the aspect of will, the aspect of makifim , the aspect of ayin — they must clothe themselves in the garment of scales, as it is written: "a coat of mail of scales is his garment." And this garment is the aspect of fear ( yirah ) — for fear is malchus (sovereignty), which is the aspect of glory, the aspect of garments. That is: the garment of scales is a sign that they have vitality from the aspect of fear as well, which is the aspect of a garment. And this is the aspect of fins as well — for fins are the aspect of the sapphire stone, as they said: "the Tablets were of sappirinon " — a type of stone. This also alludes to the aspect of malchus called the sapphire stone, which is the aspect of fear. And when the fish have these signs alluding to the aspect of fear and malchus , they are kosher species and one may eat them. But when they have no garments — they are entirely impure, for the aspect of ayin alone, when creatures in this physical world receive vitality from it alone — especially a living creature — then this becomes entirely the sitra d'tuma'ah, the aspect of heresy. Therefore fish must bear the garment of scale and fin — and this garment is the aspect of fear and malchus , drawn from the aspect of "the entire earth is filled with His glory." Then they are pure and one may eat them, for our eating must be from the side of holiness, so that fear flows upon us through our eating.

Halacha 3 (Gimel)

Section 1 (Aleph — א)

And this is the aspect of kosher and non-kosher fish. For it is stated that fish are in the aspect of eyna p'kicha — the single eye of compassion — which is the aspect of ra'ava d'ra'avin , the aspect of the forehead of the will, as described. And therefore fish need no slaughter at all — their being gathered is their purification. For the essential slaughter of all living creatures is to subdue the animalistic spirit — which is the aspect of natural science, the aspect of foolishness ( kesilos ), the aspect of a beast that has no knowledge — against Torah wisdom which is the essential true wisdom, the aspect of the human being ( adam ). As stated in the teaching "Dirshu" (Likutay Moharan 1, Torah Lesson 37) : external wisdoms compared to the wisdoms of Torah are in the aspect of beast compared to human. Therefore Israel who are bound to Torah are called "human" ( adam ), while the nations who engage in external wisdoms — natural science — are called "beast" ( behemah ), as our Sages said: "you are called adam and the nations are not called adam ." It follows that all animals, beasts, birds and the like — which lack human knowledge — are all in the aspect of natural science, the aspect of animalistic foolishness. For only the definition of the human being is da'as — Torah. For only the wisdom of Torah is true wisdom and knowledge, and all other external wisdoms of the natural scientists are complete foolishness — the aspect of animality — compared to Torah wisdoms. Therefore we are forbidden to eat any living creature while it is alive, only through slaughter — for through this we subdue the animalistic spirit and elevate the living creature to the speaking creature ( midaber ), which is the essential intention of slaughter: subduing the vitality of natural science wisdoms and elevating and clarifying them to the aspect of adam — the true wisdom of the holy Torah — for the essential vitality is wisdom, as it is said: "wisdom gives life" ( הַחָכְמָה תְּחַיֶּה ).