Chasidut para sa Malakias 2:5

And what appears [correct] to me about this is that it is well known that the secret of the commandment of circumcision is very, very deep - 'who can find it?' And it is greater than all of the positive commandments in the Torah, since there is no commandment from all of the 248 positive commandments for which one is liable excision besides [eating the] Pesach sacrifice and circumcision; and thirteen covenants were sealed upon it; and the essence of creation rests upon it - as per the statement of the Sages, may their memory be blessed (Nedarim 31b), "Rabbi said, etc. Great is circumcision, for were it not for circumcision, the Holy One, blessed be He, would not have created His world - as it is stated (Jeremiah 33:26), 'If it were not for my covenant day and night, I would not have made the laws of heaven and earth.'" For the whole matter of the creation of the worlds was to impact on the creatures with His goodness, to give over from the radiance of His blessing to the world. Yet the whole time the circumcision is covered with the foreskin, the kindnesses cannot descend into the Foundation (Yesod), in order that the external forces not draw sustenance from them, such that no enlightenment comes out from it. So all of the worlds are impacted by harsh judgements (as it is found in the words of the Ari about the intention of circumcision). Hence the world cannot endure with the negation of circumcision. And that is why Scripture stated (Malachi 2:5), "My covenant was with him for life and peace." As every aspect of life - which is the essence of the endurance of creation - is all through the aspect of circumcision. And therefore the numerical count (gemartria) of brit is nine times life (chaim) - since it is in the aspect of the Foundation (associated with circumcision) which is the ninth trait going downwards and the aspect of life descends from every trait to the aspect of the Foundation, and it is the [trait] that gives the bounty of life to those that come to the world. And it is well known from the words of the Ari that the name of the Foundation is peace, because it creates peace among all the traits and every aspect of the kindnesses and the restrictions descend into it. So the restrictions are grouped into the kindnesses there and are sweetened there. And that is why it stated, "My covenant was with him for life and peace" - it is to say that the aspects of life and peace are with the aspect of the covenant, since the whole aspects of life and peace receives their bounty from it, as stated. And that is why thirteen covenants were sealed upon it, to hint to the one aspect within which all the traits unite and which unifies them into one. For it is 'a ladder planted towards the ground and its head reaches to the heavens.' As the bounty that descends upon it descends from a high and very awesome place, the hidden Mind, the Source of mercy and kindnesses, the aspect of the thirteen attributes of mercy. And that is why thirteen covenants were sealed upon it.

And what appears to me is as follows: The Sages, may their memory be blessed, said in Tractate Chullin (Chullin 91b), “Israel is more beloved than the ministering angels. As they only mention the name of God after three words, but the Jewish people mention [it] after two words.” But this needs explanation – for what is the reason for these three words; and what is [the Jewish people’s greater] importance? Also, behold Israel mentions [the name] even after one word, such as, “Praise to the Lord” (“to the Lord,” is one word in Hebrew). And sometimes we [even] begin with the name, such as with thirteen traits of mercy. And were it only that we would fulfill, “and he was afraid before My name” (Malachi 2:5) – these are the people that fear and tremble to mention the name of the Heavens with their mouths (see Berakhot 12a). For when one mentions the name of God, he needs to tremble. And also difficult is that which is said (in Chullin), “Behold there is [the case of the angels saying], ‘Blessed is the glory of (two words in Hebrew) Lord, etc.’” – and it was answered, “It is the ofanim (a higher category of angels) who say it.” And that is difficult. As there are in fact holy righteous ones that climb even beyond the ofanim, as we find with our teacher, Moshe, peace be upon him.