If you go further, perhaps there is an equivalency to Bittul BeMetzius, as opposed to Bittul HaYesh. What occludes that possibility is that Bittul refers to submersion in a cause, specifically Hashem.

There may be more equivalency with the concept of Askufah Hanidreses, although even that isn't described as destructive.
guravitzer | 04.18.07 - 12:52 pm | #

guravitzer, could you please elaborate.
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 04.18.07 - 1:01 pm | #

You mentioned bittul as a catch-all phrase, and compared it superficially to the death wish as a destruction of the I.

Bittul exists on many levels, the most common levels refered to are, in Kedushah: Bittul BeMetzius, in which you lose your identity completely and are submerged in the G-dly Will, and Bittul HaYesh, in which you do only that which is in accord with the G-dly Will but retain your self identity.

On the side opposite to Kedushah, you have among other levels: Mavoi Hamefulash, an open alley way, in which you are partially attendant to Kedushah but have left one wall open for Pelishtim, for incursions of various sorts, and Askufah Hanidreses, an always stepped on threshhold, in which you simply become open and available to all sorts of impure possibilities. Think Paris Hilton, in the sense of "I'm rich, I'm bored, I'll try anything".

This the death wish has some parallel with Bittul BeMetzius, because it is total, yet not parallel because Bittul is a submersion in the G-dly Will while the death wish is holy selfish. It has some parallel to Askufah Hanidreses, because of the availability to any and all possibility, but Askufah Hanidreses is ultimately a selfish notion not one of sacrifice.
guravitzer | 04.18.07 - 2:43 pm | #

Why do we say HYD. If he wanted to, the people would not be dead. He killed them in the first place. Makes no sense.
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 04.18.07 - 7:38 pm | #

That is a very simplistic presentation of a complex issue involving Bechirah Chofshis, Hashgachah Protis, Elokus before the Tzimtzum, after the Tzimtzum and after Atzilus, Yedias Habore and other factors. Essentially, no He does not kill them in the first place, and when someone is killed in hatred by another human Nekama is a nature emotion.
guravitzer | 04.19.07 - 12:54 pm | #