Asiyah	Lit. "deed." In Kabbalistic terminology, this refers to the lowest of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence which relates directly to our material world.
Atzilus	Lit. "emanation." In Kabbalistic terminology, this refers to the highest of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence which, although encompassing attributes which have a specific definition, is completely at one with the Or Ein Sof.
Avodah	Lit. "service." Within the context of the maamar, this term refers to a person's striving for personal refinement and his efforts to establish unity between his spiritual ideals and his actual day to day operational consciousness.
Beriah	Lit. "creation." In Kabbalistic terminology, this refers to the second of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence which represents the first beginnings of a consciousness of self.
bittul	self-nullification; rising above one's personal concerns and dedicating one's energies towards a higher goal or level of awareness.
Chesed	Lit. "kindness," or "grace." This term is used to refer to the Divine attribute which parallel the abovementioned human qualities and thus is associated with the dispersion of G-dly light and energy to lower levels of existence.
davuk, deveikus	Lit. "cling," and "clinging." In the maamar, these terms are used in two contexts: to refer to the relationship of the Or Ein Sof, "G-d's Infinite Light," to its source. Unlike other entities who have an independent identity after they emerge from their source, the Or Ein Sof has no independent existence, and exists solely to reveal its source. Hence, it is described as "clinging" to its source, i.e., united beyond all possibility for separation. A similar state of unity which a person achieves through his divine service, transcending his individual identity to the point where his being is entirely one with G-d.
Dor hafalgah	Lit. "the generation of the division," i.e., the generation who constructed the Tower of Babel and as a punishment were divided and dispersed throughout the world. In the maamar, a homiletic interpretation of this name is offered.
E-lohim	One of the names of G-d. In particular, this name is associated with the Divine attributes that hold back, limit, and conceal G-dly influence so that it can descend and ultimately, be enclothed within the limited context of worldly existence.
Eretz Yisrael	The Land of Israel.
Eytz Chayim	A classic Kabbalistic text, authored by Rabbi Chayim Vital, one of the students of Rav Isaac Luria.
Gan Eden	Lit. "the Garden of Eden." A term also used to refer to the abode of the souls in the spiritual realms in their afterlife.
Gemara	The Talmud; the elucidation of the Mishnah, and the discussion of related concepts by the Sages.
Gevurah	Lit. "might." This term is used to refer to the Divine attribute which parallels the abovementioned human quality and thus is associated with the holding back Divine revelation and restricting the dispersion of Divine light to lower levels of existence.
Halachah	Torah law.
Havayah	The term Havayah is derived from a rearrangement of the letters of the name Yud-Keh-Vav-Keh which, because of its holiness, is not pronounced in the usual manner. This name of G-d is associated with the Divine attributes which reveal infinite G-dly light.
Heichal, pl. Heichalos	Lit. "palace(s)." This refers to the external manifestation of a particular world. The term can thus be understood within the context of the comparison of "lights" and "vessels" to the soul and the limbs of the body. Developing this analogy further, the heichalos can be compared to a person's house, which though apart from him, reflects his character.
Hester ponim	Lit. "the hiding of the face." A term used to refer to the manner in which G-d conceals His presence in the era of exile.
Kabbalah	lit. "the received tradition"; the body of Jewish mystic teachings.
kabbalas ol	Lit. "acceptance of the yoke." In Chassidic terminology, this term is used to refer to a commitment to divine service that extends beyond the limits of intellect.
Keilim	Lit. "vessels." The powers which enclothe Divine light and express it in a limited form. The relationship between the keilim and the oros ("lights") is compared to that between the body and the soul.
Koach hasechel	Translated as the "power of intelligence." It refers to our conscious powers of thought.
Koach hamaskil	Translated as the "essential power of intellect." It refers to the source for our thinking powers, the powers of intellect too abstract to be expressed in conscious thought.
maamar, pl. maamarim	lit. "the word" or "a written article." In Chassidic terminology, it refers to a discourse first delivered by a Rebbe.
Malchus	The attribute of Kingship, the dimension in each spiritual realm that makes possible the transition to a lower realm of existence.
Mashpia	Lit. "source of influence." In the context of the maamar, this term refers to a teacher who imparts intellectual influence to his students.
Mazal, pl. mazalos	A medium to convey spiritual influence to created beings in this world. In its more common Talmudic usage, this term is used to refer to the celestial constellations, for they were conceived of as mediums which served such a purpose.
Mekabel	Lit. "recipient." In the context of the maamar, this term refers to a student who receives the intellectual input of his teacher.
Midrash	The collection of our Sages homiletical teachings on the Torah.
Middos	Within our human framework, this refers to our character traits and emotions. The same term also is used as an allegory to refer to Divine powers whose function can be compared to these human qualities.
Mishnah	The fundamental compilation of the Oral Law compiled by Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi.
Mochin	Within our human framework, this refers to our powers of intellect. The same term also is used as an allegory to refer to Divine powers whose function can be compared to these human qualities.
Or	Lit. "light." This term is used as an allegory for the effusion of G-dly energy and influence. The relationship between the oros and the keilim ("vessels") is compared to that between the body and the soul.
Or Ein Sof	G-d's infinite light. The intent of this name is not merely that this light reveals G-d who is the True Infinity, but that the light itself is infinite in nature.
Or chozar	Lit. "a rebounding light," light which reflects the input of a recipient.
Or yashar	Lit. "a direct light," light as it is revealed from its source.
parsa, pl. parseos	Lit. "curtain(s)." This term refers to a process of Divine self-contraction and veiling, which changes the very nature of the light revealed, thus separating one realm of existence from another.
Sanhedrin	Israel's High Court which is composed of 71 members and which, held session just outside the Temple Courtyard, until shortly before the destruction of the Temple.
Sefirah, pl. Sefiros	The Kabbalistic term for the attributes of G-dliness which serve as a medium between His infinite light and our limited framework of reference.
Tanya	The fundamental text of Chabad Chassidic thought authored by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi.
tzimtzum	The process of Divine self-contraction and self-limitation which makes possible the concept of limited, worldly existence.
Yesh	Lit. "it exists"; in Chassidic terminology, an entity which is limited and self-conscious.
Yetzirah	Lit. "formation." In Kabbalistic terminology, this refers to the third of the four spiritual worlds, the realm of spiritual existence in which the limited nature of the created beings takes on form and definition.
Zohar	lit. "radiance." The title of the classic mystical work embodying the teachings of the Kabbalah.