by Ram ben Ze'ev
In Judaism, particularly within Kabbalah, the concept of the "servant" and the "son" reflects a dual approach to man's relationship with G‑D. Both roles offer profound insights into the spiritual journey and the nature of divine service.
The Secret of the Servant and the Son
The Servant (עבד) The role of a servant in Jewish thought emphasizes kabbalat ol malchut shamayim (קבלת על מלכות שמים)—accepting the yoke of Heaven. A servant eved (עבד) is characterized by unwavering commitment to G‑D's will, regardless of personal understanding or emotional connection. This is the essence of performing mitzvot (מצות) as a servant, with a sense of duty and devotion. The servant follows G‑D's will even when he does not understand the reasons behind the commandments, reflecting the idea of self-nullification (bittul—ביטול).
In Kabbalistic terms, this mirrors the Sefirah of Malchut (מלכות), the attribute associated with kingship, humility, and receiving. The servant represents someone who is completely receptive to divine command, emptying themselves to become a vessel (or chariot) for G‑D's will. This is the foundation of Jewish observance, where the focus is on action and fulfilling G‑D’s commandments with simple faith and trust in G-D or bitachon (ביטחון).
The Son (בן) The son, on the other hand, represents a higher level of connection. A son has an inherent relationship with the father, a bond that transcends obligation. In this relationship, one strives to understand and come closer to G‑D intellectually and emotionally. Kabbalah teaches that the son’s path is one of devekut (דבקות)—cleaving to G‑D—where one seeks not only to perform G‑D’s will but to comprehend the divine mysteries. This requires a deeper engagement with Torah and Kabbalistic wisdom to uncover the secrets of creation, the spiritual realms, and the ways G‑D interacts with the world.
In this sense, the son reflects the Sefirah of Chochmah (חכמה) and Binah (בינה)—wisdom and understanding—where the pursuit of G‑D's knowledge is central. The son does not serve out of fear or simple obedience but out of love and desire for closeness, seeking to reveal the hidden aspects of divinity.
Striving Through Prayer
Prayer (tefillah—תפלה) is seen as the bridge between these two modes of serving G‑D. In Kabbalistic thought, prayer elevates the individual, allowing one to ascend from the state of a servant to that of a son. Through prayer, especially meditative prayer (kavanah—כוונה), a person can shift from performing mitzvot as a servant—out of duty—to performing them with deep emotional and intellectual engagement, akin to the relationship of a son.
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Prayer in Kabbalah is also a tool for ascending the spiritual realms. It is said that during prayer, especially the Shemoneh Esrei (שמנה עשרה)—the Amidah (עמידה), a person ascends through the four worlds (Asiyah—עשיה, Yetzirah—יצירה, Beriah—בריאה, and Atzilut—אצילות), moving from the level of action and obedience to higher levels of divine comprehension and connection. This ascension mirrors the transformation from a servant to a son.
Unity of the Two Paths
Ultimately, the ideal is to harmonize the roles of the servant and the son. As Kabbalists, we teach that one should serve G‑D as a servant in terms of action—doing the mitzvot with selfless devotion—while also striving to understand and connect as a son, seeking to know G‑D through prayer and study. This balance is reflected in the verse: naaseh v’nishma (נעשה ונשמע)—“we will do and we will understand.” First comes the commitment to action (the servant), then the pursuit of understanding (the son).
By fulfilling mitzvot with both the simplicity of a servant and the depth of a son, one can approach the divine in a complete way, combining yirah (יראה—awe) and ahavah (אהבה—love). Through this dual approach, a person strives to reveal the deeper secrets of G‑D while maintaining unwavering commitment to His will.
This dynamic interplay between the servant and the son is at the heart of Jewish spiritual practice and Kabbalistic thought, where the ultimate goal is not just to fulfill G‑D’s commandments, but to draw closer to the divine and comprehend His infinite mysteries.
ברוך יי’ לעולם אמן ואמן, ימלוך יי’ לעולם אמן ואמן
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue