Inspiration And Response

This discourse was delivered by the Rebbe on Shabbat Parshat Toledot, 5725 (1965). The verse 'These are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham, Abraham begat Isaac' contains apparent repetitions, and Rabbi Shneur Zalman explains them through the dynamic of masculine and feminine flows. Abraham represents the arousal from above and Isaac the response from below, and their interaction produces a more powerful and productive second cycle of spiritual arousal.