Seder Hishtalshelus

Seder Hishtalshelus

Seder Hishtalshelus/Hishtalshelut (Hebrew: סדר השתלשלות‎), meaning "Order of Development/Evolution", refers in Kabbalah and Hasidic thought to the chain-like descent of Spiritual Worlds (Olam/Olamot) between God and Creation. Each spiritual Olam-World denotes a complete realm of existence, resulting from its general proximity or distance to Divine revelation. Each realm is also a form of consciousness reflected in this World through the psychology of the soul.

The theosophical tradition in Kabbalah is concerned with defining in great detail the esoteric nature, particular Divine manifestations, and functional role of each level between the Infinite and the finite. Each spiritual realm embodies a creative stage God continually uses to go from His Self to the creation of the physical world, the material Universe being the end of the chain, and the only physical realm. Hasidic thought applies the Kabbalistic scheme to its own concern of perceiving Divine Omnipresence in this material World. In this, Hasidism varies in its use of Kabbalah, Mainstream-Hasidism avoiding Kabbalistic focus, while Habad thought explains Seder Hishtalshelus in relation to Man's psychology. In contrast to the functional aim of Kabbalah, this contemplates Seder Hishtalshelus as a vehicle for relating to the Divine Unity with Creation.

The term Seder Hishtalshelus is sometimes used restrictively to refer to the actually emergent Created Order (the comprehensive Four Worlds). More broadly, all preceding levels are included, as their function underlies resulting Existence. This page lists and links to all the main spiritual levels described in Lurianic Kabbalah, the scheme of Isaac Luria (1534–1572), the basis of modern Jewish mysticism. Its listing incorporated, expanded and explained earlier Medieval/Classical Kabbalah. After Luria, esoteric Kabbalists broadened explanation within the Lurianic listing. The supra-rational doctrines of Luria described Chokhmah-Wisdom levels of Divinity (Tzimtzum, Shevira) that preceded the "rationally" perceived Binah-Understanding levels of Medieval Kabbalah and Moshe Cordovero. In turn, the Habad Hasidic exploration described Keter-Will levels of Divine intention that preceded Creation.