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Vaetchanan: Verse 16

וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְגוֹ.' ר' יוֹסֵי אָמַר אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לוֹ וְגוֹ.' זַכָּאָה עַמָּא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּחַר בְּהוּ מִכָּל עַמִּין עכו"ם, וְסָלִיק לוֹן לְעַדְבֵיהּ, וּבָרִיךְ לוֹן בְּבִרְכָתָא דִּילֵיהּ בְּבִרְכָתָא דִּשְׁמֵיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב כִּי הֵם זֶרַע בֵּרַךְ יְיָ,' בֵּרַךְ יְיָ' מַמָּשׁ.

"But you that did cleave to Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 4:4). Rabbi Yosi said, "Happy is that people, that is in such a case" (Tehilim 144:15). Happy is the people whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen above all heathen peoples and raised to His lot, and blessed them with His blessing, with His name's blessing. This is the meaning of, "they are the seed which Hashem has blessed" (Yeshayah 61:9), Hashem has actually blessed, NAMELY, THE BLESSING OF HIS NAME.

Vaetchanan: Verse 17

תָּא חֲזִי, כָּל שְׁאַר עַמִּין דְּעָלְמָא, יָהַב לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְרַבְרְבֵי מְמָנָן, דְּשַׁלְטִין עָלַיְיהוּ. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָחִיד לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעַדְבֵיהּ, לְחוּלָקֵיהּ, לְאִתְאַחֲדָא בֵּיהּ מַמָּשׁ. וְיָהִיב לוֹן אוֹרַיְיתָא קַדִּישָׁא, בְּגִין לְאִתְאַחֲדָא בִּשְׁמֵיהּ, וְע"ד וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ,' וְלָא בִּמְמָנָא אַחֲרָא כִּשְׁאַר עַמִּין, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ בְּכַמָּה אֲתָר.

Come and see, the Holy One, blessed be He, gave all the rest of the nations in the world to the appointed ministers that rule over them. As for Yisrael, the Holy One, blessed be He, held to them for His lot and portion, to actually unite with them. And He gave them the holy Torah in order to unite with His name. Hence, "you that did cleave to Hashem," and not to any other minister as the other nations. This has been explained in different places.

Vaetchanan: Verse 18

וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֲלֵיכֶם מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ קוֹל דְּבָרִים אַתֶּם שׁוֹמְעִים וְגוֹ.' א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ, קוֹל דְּבָרִים, מַאי קוֹל דְּבָרִים. אֶלָּא קוֹל דְּאִקְרֵי דִּבּוּר, דְּכָל דִּבּוּרָא בֵּיהּ תַּלְיָא. וְע"ד כְּתִיב, וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֲלֵיכֶם, דְּהָא דִּבּוּר בַּאֲתָר דָּא תַּלְיָא, לְהַאי אִקְרֵי קוֹל דְּבָרִים.

"And Hashem spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the voice of the words..." (Devarim 4:12). Rabbi Elazar said, We have to examine this verse. IT SAYS "the voice of the words." What does that mean? AND HE ANSWERS that IT MEANS voice is considered speech, since every speech comes from it. THE VOICE IS ZEIR ANPIN AND SPEECH IS MALCHUT, BUT SINCE WORDS COME FROM VOICE, MALCHUT IS CALLED "THE VOICE OF THE WORDS." Hence it is written, "And Hashem spoke to you OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE," since speech comes from that place, MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED FIRE. And it, MALCHUT, is called "the voice of the words."

Vaetchanan: Verse 19

אַתֶּם שׁוֹמְעִים, דִּשְׁמִיעָה לָא תַּלְיָא אֶלָּא בְּהַאי. בְּגִין דִּשְׁמִיעָה בְּדִבּוּר תַּלְיָא. וּבג"כ אַתֶּם שׁוֹמְעִים. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, וְרָצַע אֲדוֹנָיו אֶת אָזְנוֹ בַּמַּרְצֵעַ, בְּגִין דְּפָגִים אַתְרָא דְּאִקְרֵי שְׁמִיעָה, וְהוּא דִּבּוּר וְהוּא שְׁמִיעָה.

"You heard," since hearing depends on it, ON MALCHUT, since hearing comes from speech. Hence IT IS WRITTEN, "You heard." This has already been explained. "And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl" (Shemot 21:6), because he blemished that place called hearing, which means both words and hearing.

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Vaetchanan: Verse 13

"You have begun to show Your servant" (Devarim 3:23). HE ASKS, What manner of a beginning is here, IN SAYING, "YOU HAVE BEGUN?" AND HE ANSWERS, Surely Moses was a beginning in the world, in being absolutely perfect. You may say that Jacob was perfect PRIOR TO MOSES. For the tree, ZEIR ANPIN, was perfected through him below as it was above, BECAUSE HE HAD TWELVE SONS THAT CORRESPOND TO THE TWELVE BORDERS OF ZEIR ANPIN AND SEVENTY SOULS THAT CORRESPOND TO THE SEVENTY BRANCHES IN THE SUPERNAL TREE, ZEIR ANPIN. It is surely so. But Moses attained what no one else did, by being more completely bedecked with many thousands and tens of thousands of people of Yisrael, with the Torah, with the Tabernacle, with the priests and Levites, with the twelve tribes, WITH TWELVE princes appointed over them, with the seventy members of the Sanhedrin. He was completed in a whole body, THE SECRET OF TIFERET THAT INCLUDES RIGHT AND LEFT. For Aaron was to his right, Nachshon to his left and he was between them.

Vaetchanan: Verse 14

For that reason IT IS WRITTEN, "YOU HAVE BEGUN TO SHOW YOUR SERVANT Your greatness," NAMELY from the right, Aaron; "and Your mighty hand" (Ibid.), NAMELY from the left, which is Nachshon. We already learned that. It was Moses therefore who was a beginning in the world, AND NOT JACOB. You may ask who was the ending. AND HE ANSWERS, King Messiah is the ending, because then there will be perfection in the world, which was not the case for generations. At that time perfection will abide above and below, and all the worlds will be united as one. Then it is written, "on that day Hashem shall be one, and His name One" (Zecharyah 14:9).

Vaetchanan: Verse 15

"And Hashem said to me, Let it suffice you; speak no more..." (Devarim 3:26). Rabbi Chiya said, The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: 'Moses, "Let it suffice you" to have joined the Shechinah. From now on, "speak no more." Rabbi Yitzchak said, "Let it suffice you," the light of the sun that was with you; "no more" because the time for the moon has come, WHICH IS JOSHUA, and the moon cannot shine until the sun is gathered. "But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him" (Ibid. 28). You, who are the sun, should illuminate the moon. We have already learned this.

Vaetchanan: Verse 16

"But you that did cleave to Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 4:4). Rabbi Yosi said, "Happy is that people, that is in such a case" (Tehilim 144:15). Happy is the people whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen above all heathen peoples and raised to His lot, and blessed them with His blessing, with His name's blessing. This is the meaning of, "they are the seed which Hashem has blessed" (Yeshayah 61:9), Hashem has actually blessed, NAMELY, THE BLESSING OF HIS NAME.

Vaetchanan: Verse 17

Come and see, the Holy One, blessed be He, gave all the rest of the nations in the world to the appointed ministers that rule over them. As for Yisrael, the Holy One, blessed be He, held to them for His lot and portion, to actually unite with them. And He gave them the holy Torah in order to unite with His name. Hence, "you that did cleave to Hashem," and not to any other minister as the other nations. This has been explained in different places.

Vaetchanan: Verse 18

"And Hashem spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the voice of the words..." (Devarim 4:12). Rabbi Elazar said, We have to examine this verse. IT SAYS "the voice of the words." What does that mean? AND HE ANSWERS that IT MEANS voice is considered speech, since every speech comes from it. THE VOICE IS ZEIR ANPIN AND SPEECH IS MALCHUT, BUT SINCE WORDS COME FROM VOICE, MALCHUT IS CALLED "THE VOICE OF THE WORDS." Hence it is written, "And Hashem spoke to you OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE," since speech comes from that place, MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED FIRE. And it, MALCHUT, is called "the voice of the words."

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Vaetchanan: Verse 8

ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּב"נ קָאֵים בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא מֵעַרְסֵיהּ, לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כָּרוֹזָא קָארֵי עָלֵיהּ וְאָמַר, הִנֵּה בָּרֲכוּ אֶת יְיָ' כָּל עַבְדֵי יְיָ' הָעוֹמְדִים בְּבֵית יְיָ' בַּלֵּילוֹת. הַשְׁתָּא כַּד אִיהוּ קָאֵים בִּצְלוֹתָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, הַהוּא כָּרוֹזָא קָּארֵי עָלֵיהּ וְאָמַר, וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים הָאֵלֶּה.

Come and see, when man rises at midnight from his bed to be occupied with the Torah, a crier announces over him, saying, "Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem, who stand by night in the house of Hashem" (Tehilim 134:1). Now IN THE MORNING, when he stands in prayer before his Master, the crier proclaims about him saying, "I will give you access among these who stand by."

Vaetchanan: Verse 9

בָּתַר דִּמְסַיֵּים צְלוֹתָא בִּרְעוּ קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּבָעֵי לְמִימְסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ בִּרְעוּתָא דְּלִבָּא, לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְכַמָּה עֵיטִין אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ בְּכֺלָּא. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא קַיְּימָא, כָּל אִינּוּן מִלִּין דְּאַפִּיק בַּר נָשׁ מִפּוּמֵיהּ בְּהַהִיא צְלוֹתָא, כֻּלְּהוּ סַלְּקִין לְעֵילָּא, וּבָקְעִין אֲוִירִין וּרְקִיעִין, עַד דְּמָטוּ לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּמָטוּ וּמִתְעַטְּרוּ בְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא, וְעָבֵיד מִנַּיְיהוּ עֲטָרָה. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, צְלוֹתָא דְּבָעֵי ב"נ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְכַוְּונָא דִּיהֵא צְלוֹתָא תַּחֲנוּנִים. מְנָלָן. מִמֺּשֶׁה, דִּכְתִּיב וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל יְיָ.' דָּא אִיהוּ צְלוֹתָא מֵעַלְיָא.

After finishing his prayer favorably before his Master, it was explained that it behooves him to deliver his soul with a willing heart to the required place, NAMELY MALCHUT. Man has many counsels about anything. When he is in prayer, all the words a man utters in his mouth in that prayer rise up and cleave airs and firmaments until they reach wherever they reach. They are adorned on the head of the King, who turns them into a diadem. The friends explained that when a man asks the Holy One, blessed be He in his prayer, he should meditate for it to be a prayer of supplication. Whence do we know that? From Moses, as it is written, "And I besought Hashem" (Devarim 3:23). Such is a goodly prayer.

Vaetchanan: Verse 10

ת"ח, מַאן דְּקָאֵים בִּצְלוֹתָא, בָּעֵי לְכַוְּונָא רַגְלוֹי, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ. וּבָעֵי לְחַפְּיָא רֵישֵׁיהּ, כְּמַאן דְּקָאֵים קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא. וּבָעֵי לְמִכְסְיָיה עֵינוֹי, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִסְתָּכַּל בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא. וּבְסִפְרָא דְּרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא אָמַר, מַאן דְּפָקַח עֵינוֹי בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא, אוֹ דְּלָא מָאִיךְ עֵינוֹי בְּאַרְעָא, אַקְדִּים עָלֵיהּ מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, וְכַד תִּיפּוּק נַפְשֵׁיהּ, לָא יִסְתָּכַּל בִּנְהִירוּ דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, וְלָא יָמוּת בִּנְשִׁיקָה. מַאן דִּמְזַלְזֵל בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא מִתְּזַלְזֵּל הוּא בְּהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ בֵּיהּ, הה"ד, כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבוֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ.

Come and see, whoever stands in prayer should straighten his legs, which has already been explained. He should cover his head as one standing before the king and cover his eyes so as not to behold the Shechinah. In his book Rav Hamnuna Saba said, Whoever opens his eyes during prayer or does not lower his eyes to the ground, the Angel of Death comes to him earlier. When his soul goes out, WHEN HE DEPARTS FROM THE WORLD, he will not see the light of the Shechinah nor die by a kiss. Whoever treats the Shechinah lightly is treated lightly when he needs Her. This is the meaning of, "for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (I Shmuel 2:30).

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Vaetchanan: Verse 8

Come and see, when man rises at midnight from his bed to be occupied with the Torah, a crier announces over him, saying, "Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem, who stand by night in the house of Hashem" (Tehilim 134:1). Now IN THE MORNING, when he stands in prayer before his Master, the crier proclaims about him saying, "I will give you access among these who stand by."

Vaetchanan: Verse 9

After finishing his prayer favorably before his Master, it was explained that it behooves him to deliver his soul with a willing heart to the required place, NAMELY MALCHUT. Man has many counsels about anything. When he is in prayer, all the words a man utters in his mouth in that prayer rise up and cleave airs and firmaments until they reach wherever they reach. They are adorned on the head of the King, who turns them into a diadem. The friends explained that when a man asks the Holy One, blessed be He in his prayer, he should meditate for it to be a prayer of supplication. Whence do we know that? From Moses, as it is written, "And I besought Hashem" (Devarim 3:23). Such is a goodly prayer.

Vaetchanan: Verse 10

Come and see, whoever stands in prayer should straighten his legs, which has already been explained. He should cover his head as one standing before the king and cover his eyes so as not to behold the Shechinah. In his book Rav Hamnuna Saba said, Whoever opens his eyes during prayer or does not lower his eyes to the ground, the Angel of Death comes to him earlier. When his soul goes out, WHEN HE DEPARTS FROM THE WORLD, he will not see the light of the Shechinah nor die by a kiss. Whoever treats the Shechinah lightly is treated lightly when he needs Her. This is the meaning of, "for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (I Shmuel 2:30).

Vaetchanan: Verse 11

YOU TALK ABOUT he who beholds the Shechinah when he prays, yet how can he look at the Shechinah? AND HE ANSWERS, It means knowing the Shechinah is surely before him WHEN HE PRAYS. HENCE HE MUST NOT OPEN HIS EYES. This is the meaning of, "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall" (Yeshayah 38:2), where the Shechinah rested. For that reason there must be nothing between him and the wall WHEN HE PRAYS. This has already been explained.

Vaetchanan: Verse 12

Whoever stands in prayer should first arrange the praise of his Master and then recite his own prayer. For this is what Moses said first, "You have begun..." (Devarim 3:23), and at last HE RECITED HIS PRAYER, "I pray You, let me go over..." (Ibid. 25). Rabbi Yehuda said, What is the difference here in first saying Adonai spelled Aleph Dalet Nun Yud and then Yud Hei Vav Hei, which we pronounce Elohim, NAMELY "ADONAI ELOHIM, YOU HAVE BEGUN..." HE ANSWERS, The order is so, from below upwards, SINCE ADONAI IS MALCHUT AND YUD HEI VAV HEI IS ZEIR ANPIN. HE SAID IT SO in order to include the quality of day with night and the quality of night with day and unify everything together properly. THE QUALITY OF DAY IS ZEIR ANPIN AND THE QUALITY OF NIGHT IS MALCHUT.

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Vaetchanan: Verse 1

"And I besought Hashem at that time, saying, Adonai Elohim, You began to show Your servant" (Devarim 3:23-24). Rabbi Yosi opened with, "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to Hashem" (Yeshayah 38:2). Come and see how powerful is the force of the Torah and how superior it is to anything else. For whoever is occupied with the Torah does not fear the higher or lower beings, nor fear evil incidents in the work, because he is attached to the Tree of Life, WHICH IS THE TORAH, and eats from it daily.

Vaetchanan: Verse 2

For the Torah teaches man to walk the path of truth and gives him counsel how to repent before his Master. Even when he is sentenced to death, everything is repealed and gone from him, not to rest upon him. Therefore he should be occupied with the Torah day and night and not move from it. This is the meaning of, "but you shall meditate therein day and night" (Yehoshua 1:8). If he removed the Torah from himself or separates from it, it is as if he separated from life.

Vaetchanan: Verse 3

Come and see, there is advice for man. When he climbs into his bed at night, he should accept upon himself the yoke of the kingdom of heaven wholeheartedly and hasten to give Him the deposit of his Nefesh. It was explained that this is since every man tastes AT NIGHT the taste of death, because the tree of death rests upon the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And all the spirits of people come out, rise and hide in it, IN MALCHUT. Since they are GIVEN as a deposit, they all return LATER to their place.

Vaetchanan: Verse 4

Come and see, when the north wind awakens at midnight, the crier comes out and the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to the Garden of Eden to be delighted in the spirits of the righteous, and all the members of the Queen's household and all the members of the chamber are roused to praise the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. Then the deposits of the spirits handed to her, TO MALCHUT, are all returned to their owners. Most people awaken from their sleep at that time, and their deposits are returned to them all.

Vaetchanan: Verse 5

The members of the highest chamber, WHO SERVE HASHEM, take resolve and awaken to be occupied with the praises of the Torah. They join the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, until daylight. When morning comes, he, together with all the members of the King's chamber, comes to the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. They are called the children of the King and Queen. This was already explained.

Vaetchanan: Verse 6

When morning comes, one should clean himself in every respect, THE CLEANLINESS OF BOTH BODY AND SOUL, put on his arms, NAMELY THE TZITZIT AND TEFILIN, and endeavor by the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN, since at night he endeavored by the Queen. Now IN THE MORNING he comes with the Queen to join her to the King.

Vaetchanan: Verse 7

He comes to the synagogue, cleanses himself by reciting the offerings, and sings the praises of King David. Fastened with Tefilin on his head and Tzitzit at the corners of his garment, he recites "A praise of David" (Tehilim 145). It was explained that he who prays before his Master should stand when praying like the supernal angels and join those who are called 'those who stand by,' as it is written, "I will give you access among these who stand by" (Zecharyah 3:7). IT BEHOOVES HIM to concentrate his will before his Master and submit his petition.

Vaetchanan: Verse 8

Come and see, when man rises at midnight from his bed to be occupied with the Torah, a crier announces over him, saying, "Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem, who stand by night in the house of Hashem" (Tehilim 134:1). Now IN THE MORNING, when he stands in prayer before his Master, the crier proclaims about him saying, "I will give you access among these who stand by."

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260713.principles of wisdom learning

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260702.Pinchas v010

Pinchas: Verse 10

לב"נ דְּבָנֵי בִּנְיָין שְׁפִּירָן, יָאָן לְמֵחֱזֵי, אִסְתָּכַּל בִּיסוֹדָא, וְחָמֵי לֵיהּ שְׁקִיעַ עֲקִימָא מִכָל סִטְרִין. הָא בִּנְיָינָא לָא שְׁלִים, עַד דְּסָתַר לֵיהּ, וְאַתְקִין לֵיהּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין. מִסִּטְרָא דְּהַהוּא בִּנְיָינָא דִּילֵיהּ, אִשְׁתְּכַח טַב וְשַׁפִּיר. מִסִּטְרָא דִּיְסוֹדָא, בִּישׁ וְעָקִים. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, לָא אִקְרֵי עוֹבָדָא שְׁלִים, לָא אִקְרֵי בִּנְיָינָא שְׁלִים. בג"כ צַדִיק שֶׁאֵינוֹ גָּמוּר אִקְרֵי, וְנִדְחֶה. וע"ד כְּבַלַּע רָשָׁע צַדִּיק מִמֶּנּוּ.

HE IS LIKENED TO a man who constructs beautiful and attractive buildings. Look at the foundation and see how it is sunken and twisted in all directions. The building will not be perfect until he has demolished it and rebuilt it as it was, NAMELY, AS IT SHOULD BE. Thus in terms of the superstructure of the building that he constructed, everything was good and fine but in terms of the edifice's foundation it is bad and twisted, and for this reason is not referred to as a perfect deed, and not considered a perfect building. AND SO IT IS WITH THE INCARNATED MAN. ALTHOUGH IN TERMS OF HIS DEEDS HE IS RIGHTEOUS, NEVERTHELESS, SINCE HE HAS NOT YET REMEDIED THE EFFECTS OF THE SINS HE COMMITTED THE FIRST TIME THAT HE CAME INTO THE WORLD, he is called 'an incompletely righteous person' because of it and he is held back BY A WICKED MAN. And about this SCRIPTURE SAYS, "When the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he" (Chavakuk 1:13).

Pinchas: Verse 11

ת"ח, מַאן דִּמְקַנֵּא לִשְׁמָא קַדִישָׁא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דַּאֲפִילּוּ לָא יִזְכֵי לַגְּדּוּלָה, וְלָא אִתְחֲזֵי לָהּ, רָוַוח לָהּ וְנָטִיל לָהּ. פִּנְחָס לָא אִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, וּבְגִין דְּקִנֵּא לִשְׁמָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, רָוַוח לְכֹלָּא, וְסָלִיק לְכֹלָּא, וְאִתְתָּקַּן בֵּיהּ כֹּלָּא וְזָכָה לְאִשְׁתַּמְּשָׁא בִּכְהוּנָה עִלָּאָה. מֵהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, פִּנְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן, דְּאַשְׁלִים לִתְרֵין דַּרְגִּין, בְּגִין דְּקַנֵּא לִשְׁמָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, דְּאִתְתְּקַן מַה דְּאִתְעַקָּם.

Come and see: One who is zealous for the Holy Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, even if he is not designated for greatness and is not worthy of it, he earns it and gains it. Pinchas was not worthy OF THE PRIESTHOOD at that time, but because he was zealous for the name of his Master, he earned everything and rose to the highest position, and everything was put right within him, and he was privileged to serve in the supreme priesthood. From then on he was referred to as Pinchas the son of Elazar, the son of Aaron the priest, WITH THE WORD 'SON' OCCURRING TWICE since he completed two levels, THAT IS, HE MADE GOOD FOR HIMSELF AND ALSO FOR THE SOULS OF NADAV AND ABIHU WHICH HAD INCARNATED IN HIM, WHO ARE THE SONS OF AARON AND IT IS THEREFORE WRITTEN "THE SON OF ELAZAR, THE SON OF AARON." And this was because he was zealous for the name of his Master and put the wrong right, FOR HE CORRECTED HIMSELF AND ALSO THE ASPECT OF THE SOULS OF NADAV AND ABIHU THAT WERE INCARNATED IN HIM.

Pinchas: Verse 12

Rabbi Yehuda began: "Preserve my soul; for I am pious: Save Your servant..." (Tehilim 86:2). One has to look at the end of the verse, and then at the whole verse. At the end of the verse it says, "who trusts in You." HE ASKS, Should it not have said, "who trusts You?" HE ANSWERS: apparently David promised not to be asleep when midnight passed, as it is written: "At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You" (Tehilim 119:62). He should have said, "I arose," but THE MEANING IS, I will arise and be bound to You forever.

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Pinchas: Verse 4

Rabbi Shimon said: It is as if all those who are privileged to engage in Torah at midnight and ad the day begins to dawn come with the Queen to welcome the King, grow stronger and take possession of the Shechinah. Moreover, a thread of grace hangs over such a one, as the sages have explained.

Pinchas: Verse 5

Come and see: Everyone who is privileged to be strengthened in the Shechinah gains protection for himself from those matters that are considered to be opposed TO THE SHECHINAH. Who is protected? Those who do not falsify by the sign of the Holy Covenant LIKE MATING WITH the daughter of a foreign El. And he who is careful, as it were, the Congregation of Yisrael is linked to him, in turn, and protects him and welcomes him. And this is even more so if he has been privileged to attain it, THE SIGN OF THE HOLY COVENANT.

Pinchas: Verse 6

Rabbi Shimon said: Yisrael at that time would have deserved to have been extirpated from the world had not Pinchas first done the deed OF KILLING ZIMRI AND COZBI, and thus the anger abated. This is what is said: "Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away" (Bemidbar 25:11). Another explanation: "Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of...:" Rabbi Shimon said, The word son occurs twice to complete the act.

Pinchas: Verse 7

Rabbi Shimon said: When the soul of a person reincarnates, MEANING A SECOND TIME AROUND, without gaining merits to be changed for the better, it is as though he betrays the truth of the King and I apply to him the verse, ."..or has found that which was lost, and have lied concerning it, and have sworn falsely..." (Vayikra 5:22). "And have lied concerning it," MEANING TO THE SOUL, it would have been better for him had he not been created, FOR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD HE NOT REINCARNATED INTO THIS WORLD.

Pinchas: Verse 8

We have learned: A totally righteous person is not put off BY AN EVIL PERSON AND MAY CHALLENGE HIM, but one who is not totally righteous is held back AND IS FORBIDDEN TO CHALLENGE AN EVIL PERSON. HE ASKS, Who is totally righteous? And who is incompletely righteous? And could it be that one who is not perfect in his deeds is nevertheless called 'righteous,' THAT IS, THAT YOU REFER TO HIM AS AN INCOMPLETE RIGHTEOUS? FOR SOMEONE WHO IS LACKING IN HIS DEEDS, ACCORDING TO HOW THEY SHOULD BE, OUGHT TO BE CALLED 'EVIL.' HE ANSWERS, it is known that a totally righteous person is one who has not undergone crooked incarnations THAT IS, HE IS NOT INCARNATED and within his OWN inheritance he constructs edifices, puts up walls, digs wells and plants trees. THAT IS TO SAY, ALL THE GOOD DEEDS THAT HE DID PERTAIN TO HIM, FOR HE HAS NO NEED OF IMPROVING OTHERS.

Pinchas: Verse 9

An incompletely righteous person IS one who constructs edifices on someone else's inheritance, THAT IS TO SAY, WHOSE SOUL IS ON ITS SECOND INCARNATION BECAUSE HE WAS WICKED THE FIRST TIME, WITH THE RESULT THAT ALL HIS GOOD DEEDS ARE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE SOUL FROM THE FIRST TIME THAT IT CAME INTO THE WORLD, AND SO HIS EDIFICES ARE BUILT WITHIN SOMEONE ELSE'S INHERITANCE. He digs wells within it and cultivates it, restores the foundation stones to the way they were, and labors there, but does not know whether it will remain his. For in terms of himself, THAT IS, ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS IN THIS INCARNATION, he is good, and is considered righteous person. But in terms of the legacy, THAT IS, IN TERMS OF HIS DEEDS ON THE FIRST TIME HE CAME INTO THE WORLD, he is not so. THAT IS TO SAY, HE HAS NOT YET REMEDIED THE EFFECTS OF THE SINS COMMITTED THE FIRST TIME.

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Pinchas: Verse 1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵאמֹר, פִּנְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר וְגוֹ,' רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח וְאָמַר, שְׁמַע בְּנִי מוּסַר אָבִיךָ וְאַל תִּטּוֹשׁ תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ. שְׁמַע בְּנִי מוּסַר אָבִיךָ, דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאַל תִּטּוֹשׁ תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. מַאי מוּסַר אָבִיךָ, מוּסַר, דָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּאִית בָּהּ כַּמָּה תּוֹכָחִין, כַּמָּה עוֹנָשִׁין. כד"א, מוּסַר יְיָ' בְּנִי אַל תִּמְאָס וְאַל תָּקוֹץ בְּתוֹכַחְתּוֹ.

"And Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, Pinchas, the son of Elazar..." (Bemidbar 25:10-11). Rabbi Elazar began, "Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the Torah of your mother" (Mishlei 1:8). "Hear, my son, the instruction of your father..." refers to the Holy One, blessed be He. "and do not forsake the Torah of your mother," refers to the Congregation of Yisrael. What is the instruction of your father? Instruction is the Torah which contains a number of rebukes and punishments, as it is said: "My son, do not despise the chastening of Hashem, nor be weary of His correction" (Mishlei 3:11).

Pinchas: Verse 2

וּבְגִין דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, זָכֵי דְּיִפְתְּחוּן לֵיהּ כַּמָּה תַּרְעִין לְהַהוּא עָלְמָא, כַּמָּה נְהוֹרִין. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּיִנְפּוֹק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, הִיא אַקְדִימַת קַמֵּיהּ, וְאַזְלָא לְכָל נְטוּרֵי תַּרְעִין, מַכְרֶזֶת וְאוֹמֶרֶת, פִּתְחוּ שְׁעָרִים וְיָבֹא גּוֹי צַדִּיק. אַתְקִינוּ כֻּרְסְיָין לִפְלָנַיָּא עַבְדָּא דְּמַלְכָּא. דְּלֵית חֲדוּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אֶלָּא מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּדַל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כ"ש ב"נ דְּמִתְעַר בְּלֵילְיָא לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא כָּל צַדִיקַיָּיא דִּבְגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, צַיְיתִין לְקַלֵּיהּ, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינַיְיהוּ, כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַנִּים חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ הַשְׁמִיעִינִי.

And since everyone who engages in Torah in this world is worthy that a number of gates, a number of lights to the World to Come, be opened for him, therefore when he departs from this world THE TORAH precedes him, going to all the gate keepers proclaiming, "Open the gates, that the righteous nation...may enter in" (Yeshayah 26:2). Prepare a seat for so-and-so, the King's servant! The Holy One, blessed be He, has no joy other than with one who engages in Torah. How much more so with a man who rises up at night to engage in Torah, for all the righteous in the Garden of Eden are attentive to his voice and the Holy One, blessed be He, is among them, as they put it: "You that dwell in the gardens, the companions hearken for your voice: Cause me to hear it" (Shir Hashirim 8:13).

Pinchas: Verse 3

Rabbi Shimon said: This verse has in it the secret of wisdom. "You that dwell in the gardens" (Shir Hashirim 8:13) refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, THAT IS MALCHUT, which is with Yisrael in exile and accompanies them in their troubles. "the companions hearken for your voice..." (Ibid.) refers to the camps of the higher heavenly ANGELS, all of whom listen to your voice, the voice of your praises in exile. "Cause me to hear it" (Ibid.) is as it is said: "let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice" (Shir Hashirim 2:14). "let me hear your voice" refers to the voice of those companions who engage in Torah, for I have no praise such as those who engage in Torah.

Pinchas: Verse 4

Rabbi Shimon said: It is as if all those who are privileged to engage in Torah at midnight and ad the day begins to dawn come with the Queen to welcome the King, grow stronger and take possession of the Shechinah. Moreover, a thread of grace hangs over such a one, as the sages have explained.

260629.Pinchas v035

Pinchas: Verse 35

(A) Rabbi Yosi said: A rainbow comes to protect the world. It is like a queen wearing royal apparel who appears before the king every time he is about to hit his son because he has sinned against him. The king sees her and his anger with his son leaves him and he rejoices with her, as it is written: "and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant" (Beresheet 9:16). And this is why a rainbow appears in the world, only in the royal apparel of Malchut. THESE GARMENTS OF MALCHUT ARE: WHITE, RED AND GREEN, AND THEY SUGGEST THE THREE COLUMNS AS WILL BE EXPLAINED. When there is a righteous person in the world, he upholds the covenant and thus protects the world. But if there is no righteous person, then there is a rainbow to indicate that the world is about to perish but SURVIVES because of it.

(B) Rabbi Elazar said: This rainbow, NAMELY MALCHUT, has never worn anything except the apparel of the patriarchs, NAMELY, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN, NAMELY green, red and white. The raiment of Abraham is green, and it was so colored when Ishmael issued from him. 'Red' is Isaac, who acquired this color when Esau issued from him. This red stretches down to the planet Mars - Ma'adim (from red - Heb. adom), which Esau is holding onto. White is the fine garment of Jacob, whose good countenance never changed, FOR HIS BED WAS PERFECT AND THERE WAS NO BLEMISH IN HIM.

(C) Rabbi Aba said: That is good, but the Holy Luminary, NAMELY RABBI SHIMON, said, 'White' is Abraham, who was purified ('whitened') in the white-hot heat of the fire BY NIMROD, WHO CAST HIM INTO UR (FIRE) OF THE CHALDEES. 'Red' is obviously Isaac, and 'green' is Jacob, who is between the other two colors, FOR GREEN INCLUDES WHITE AND RED. THIS GREEN STANDS FOR THE GREEN COLOR OF THE SUN. And about Jacob it is written, "Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale" (Yeshayah 29:22) because his whole bed was perfect. AND THE INTERPRETATION OF this is: "Jacob shall not now be ashamed" because he shall not be seen in red like Isaac, who fathered Esau. "neither shall his face now grow pale." This means that he shall not be seen in white like Abraham, who fathered Ishmael. Instead he took the colors WHITE AND RED and enveloped them to adorn himself in his ancestors. HE INCORPORATED WITHIN HIMSELF THE TWO PATRIARCHS ABRAHAM AND ISAAC, WHO ARE WHITE AND RED, AND THIS IS WHY HIS COLOR IS GREEN, WHICH INCLUDES WHITE AND RED. And the rainbow, NAMELY, MALCHUT, puts on these garments OF WHITE, RED, AND GREEN when it appears before the King, ZEIR ANPIN.

(D) Come and see: The secret of the Holy Covenant is the letter Yud that adorns itself with a supreme heavenly impression, NAMELY THE CORONA OF YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN and this is recorded forever in the everlasting covenant. And because Pinchas was zealous for the Covenant, that letter Yud was inserted into the spelling of his name. The Yud in the spelling of 'Pinchas' is a small one, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, THE SECRET OF THE CORONA OF YESOD, FOR 'PINCHAS' HERE IS SPELLED WITH YUD, which is definitely the Covenant, which emanated from the upper holy Yud BECAUSE MALCHUT EMANATES FROM YUD OF YUD HEI VAV HEI IN THE SECRET OF THE FATHER ESTABLISHING HIS DAUGHTER. And this is why PINCHAS has a perfect existence before the Holy King and shall never perish from the world. And because of this he was without guilt at Peor. For he never lost himself from the world's holiness. "or where were the upright cut off?" this refers to Nadab and Abihu, who did not totally perish from the world BECAUSE THEIR SOULS INCARNATED IN PINCHAS, WHO CORRECTED THEM.

260628.Pinchas v034

Rabbi Yehuda says the rainbow appears to remind people of God's promise never again to destroy the world, and we also hear that the rainbow appears whenever there is no righteous person to protect the world. When Rabbi Elazar talks about the green, red and white colors in the rainbow that correspond to the three patriarchs, Rabbi Aba disagrees with his assignment of each color. He ends by talking about the letter Yud in Pinchas' name, and mentions that Nadab and Abihu were reincarnated in Pinchas.

Relevance

This one passage alone is so potent that one heartfelt reading has the power to forever establish serenity in our souls and lasting peace in the world.

Sin is a constant trademark of man. And although transgressors physically outnumber the few righteous men of this world, the good deeds of these saintly souls outweigh all the sins of the wicked combined. Such is the power of Light over darkness. The righteous, we're told, protect us with their presence. And the rainbow, which appeared after the Flood as a sign of God's promise never to destroy this world, protects us when there are no righteous men among us.

The reason for this tale is crystal-clear - the Zohar is drawing upon the righteous and the rainbow to lay gently a blanket of protection over the entire world. And because this truth is emerging through the Zohar for the first time in history, the effect is unprecedented: Judgments looming over the horizon are cast off to sea forevermore as we evoke the name of Pinchas. The Earth's waters, once used to destroy mankind, are restored to their pre-Flood molecular structure. This divine substance transmutes into waters of healing that regenerate the soul and the cells of body.

The Zohar speaks of the colors green and white, which are healing colors. They shine here brightly; and they rectify us, heal us, and make us well again.

The color red - attributed to the war planet Mars, and to our Left Column trait of receiving - sparkles! Its illumination brings personal and global conflict to a peaceful end. Moreover, the seed of all conflict and strife - the brothers Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau, combine and blend into one color, just as the colors of the rainbow unite into the color of white. This exquisite unity engenders love between the brothers, and among their posterity - the Jews, the Moslems, the Christians, and the entire family of man. Intolerance is thereby banished from the hearts of humans. Racial and religious barriers dissolve into nothingness.

The letter Yud is inserted into the spelling of our own spiritual name, into our essence, so that we experience an existence of perfection. Metaphysically, we will never again perish from this world.

The true hidden colors of the Three Columns burst forth in this breathtaking moment of meditation, marking the end of our personal and global exile. Our Lower World of Malchut joins together with the Upper World of Zeir Anpin; and in the process, the garments of black worn by Malchut are replaced "with the garments of the shining colors of the secrets of the Torah." Namely, darkness is removed, eternally, from civilization.

[Verse 36] Moses tells the Rabbis that Elijah is Pinchas so they must come up with some new interpretations. Rabbi Yehuda's opinion is that the rainbow does not shine with its proper colors, but the colors hint at the merits of the priests and Levites and Yisrael in all their beauty. Next we hear that Malchut in exile can only be dressed in black, and that the rainbow is really the angel Metatron, the eldest servant of God. God's promise to look at the rainbow and remember His Covenant refers to the shining secrets of the Torah, for light signifies all the mysteries of the Torah. Lastly we hear that every one of the names of God testifies about God who is above everything, and that all of Yisrael, as they are all the sons of Adam, must serve God.

260625.Balak v029

Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Yehuda encounter the small son of Rav Hamnuna Saba, and find that he is preternaturally wise. The child rebukes them for not having read the Kriat Sh'ma and for having started to say grace while their hands were still dirty. He talks about the five fingers on the hand, the five bars of acacia wood, and the five hundred years, and he concludes from this that all the blessings of the priest are dependent on the fingers. The boy discusses the grace before the meal and the grace after the meal. When his mother begs the rabbis to look at her son with a benevolent eye, the child says he is not afraid of an evil eye because he is the son of a great and worthy fish, and a fish has no harm from the evil eye as the water acts as a protection for it. He talks about the fact that Malchut is called 'angel' when she is an emissary from Aba and Ima, but when she is at rest over the two Cherubim she is called Adonai. We read that Malchut appeared to Moses as an angel but to Abraham as Adonai, and that Jacob called to Malchut in the name of angel when he died. Moses joined with Malchut during his lifetime while still in his body but Jacob joined with her only in spirit after he died. We read about Metatron and Sandalphon who are from the great ocean, Malchut, and that they are fruitful and multiply in the land. When the wise boy says the blessing over the cup of blessing he speaks of Rabbi Yitzchak's nearness to death and says that he should find a guarantor down below, meaning Rabbi Shimon. The rabbis leave the boy's house, and Rabbi Shimon, when encountered, says that the boy will not live long. Next the rabbis wonder why Moses' merit did not protect the Midianites from destruction even though Ruth and Naamah protected Moab from destruction. Rabbi Shimon explained that Moab had not yet produced Ruth and her offspring so it had to be protected. Three of the rabbis return to see the boy, who welcomes them and who knows without being told that they have been talking about Amon and Moab. He discusses the secret of the wave offering and why barley is offered. They talk about wheat, saying that it is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We hear that the Other Side has a part - the chaff - in all the five kinds of grain, and the chaff is exempt from tithe because it has no share in holiness. The boy says that even if the snake had not tempted Eve, Adam would still have produced offspring immediately, due to God's commandment to be fruitful and multiply. The boy talks about the grapevine known as sanctity and the grapevine of the Other Side; he tells why water must be added to wine for the blessing after the meal, to add compassion to mercy. We hear about the bad advice that the elders of Midian gave to Moab, and how they were punished. The boy informs the rabbis that Moab was punished later by David after Ruth had come out of that country. Generations later the Midianites were still longing to attack Yisrael. We learn that King David summoned the hosts of heaven and included his soul with them to bless God, and that later Yisrael took over the task of the serving angels. The boy and Rabbi Elazar talk about sanctification and blessings and about the mighty ones who perform God's bidding. Finally we hear about the great importance of teaching the Torah to one's son.

260623.Chukat v035

Chukat: Verse 35

"Then came the children of Yisrael, the whole congregation into the desert of Zin..." (Bemidbar 20:1). Rabbi Yehuda said: Why is the passage about the laws of the red cow near to the death of Miriam? The explanation was already established. HE RESPONDS: However, since the Judgment was executed upon this cow in order to purify the unclean, Judgment was executed upon Miriam for the purpose of cleansing the world, SINCE THE DEATH OF THE JUST ATONES FOR THE WORLD, and she departed from this world. When Miriam departed, the well that accompanied the children of Yisrael in the desert was gone. And the well of everyone was gone; THAT IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT.

Chukat: Verse 36

Rabbi Aba said that it is written: Now, you "son of man, take up a lamentation" (Yechezkel 28:12), about the virgin of Yisrael, THAT IS MALCHUT. HE ASKS: Is it about her alone? HE RESPONDS: No. It is only that everyone was broken because of her, since it was for her that the breaking of the right OF ZEIR ANPIN followed, THAT IS THE SECRET OF THE DEPARTURE OF CHESED DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF MALCHUT. FOR CHESED was bringing her near to the body, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. And the body, which is the sun, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN THAT INFLUENCES MALCHUT, was dimmed for her, SINCE IT HAD NOBODY TO INSPIRE. This is the secret of: "save with Your right hand, and answer me" (Tehilim 60:7), MEANING SAVE THE RIGHT HAND THAT WAS SEVERED BY THE SEPARATION OF MALCHUT. ALSO, this affected the body, as it is written: "I clothe the heavens with blackness" (Yeshayah 50:3), since the sun, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, was darkened because of her. Similar to this is the verse: "And Miriam died there" (Bemidbar 20:1), BECAUSE THAT INDICATES THE DEPARTURE OF MALCHUT. AS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE WEAKENING OF THE RIGHT ALSO OCCURRED AND ZEIR ANPIN WAS DARKENED.

Chukat: Verse 37

"And there was no water for the congregation" (Ibid. 2), since the well of above departed, WHICH IS MALCHUT, as well as the lower, WHICH IS MIRIAM. Then the right was broken, as it is written: "Aaron shall be gathered to his people" (Ibid. 24). HE IS THE SECRET OF CHESED, WHICH IS THE RIGHT. Following that, the sun dimmed, as it is written: "and die in the mount...and be gathered to your people" (Devarim 32:50), AND MOSES WAS THE CHARIOT TO ZEIR ANPIN, REFERRED TO AS 'SUN.' We see here that the right arm was broken and the body, which is the sun, became darkened.

Chukat: Verse 38

Come and behold: there was no generation in the world similar to the generation when Moses as well as Aaron and Miriam lived in the world. If you say that the times of Solomon were similar, it is not so. In the times of Solomon, the moon was dominant, SINCE THAT GENERATION WAS RECEIVING FROM THE MOON, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the sun was gathered, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE FROM ZEIR ANPIN, REFERRED TO AS 'SUN.' During the time of Moses, the moon was gathered, so THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE FROM MALCHUT, and the sun was dominant, AS THEY WERE RECEIVING FROM ZEIR ANPIN, REFERRED TO AS 'SUN.'

Chukat: Verse 39

There were three siblings, Moses, Aaron and Miriam, as it says: "and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam" (Michah 6:4). Miriam is the moon, MALCHUT, Moses is the sun, ZEIR ANPIN, Aaron is the right arm, CHESED, and Hur is the left arm, GVURAH. Some say that Nahshon, the son of Amminadab WAS THE LEFT ARM. At first Miriam died, and the moon departed and the well disappeared. Afterward, the right arm that always brings near the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, joyfully and with friendship, broke. Therefore, it is written: "and Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took..." (Shemot 15:20). Surely she is Aaron's sister, for he is the arm that brings her near in unity and brotherhood with the body, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN.

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Chukat: Verse 31

After all this, WHEN ALL THE HIGHER AND LOWER GRADES WERE FILLED WITH ABUNDANCE FROM ABA AND IMA, IT SAYS: "the earth is satiated with the fruits of Your works" (Ibid.); that is, the sanctified land up high, MEANING MALCHUT. When it is blessed, all the worlds are gladdened and are blessed, and that happens when the blessings prevail from the watering of the stream, WHICH IS THE SPRING MENTIONED ABOVE, THAT IS ABA AND IMA, the deepest of all.

Chukat: Verse 32

At the time when the blessings are not available to descend upon the world, WHICH ARE CHASSADIM, AND MALCHUT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH FROM THE LEFT WITHOUT THE CHASSADIM, the world, THAT IS MALCHUT, sits in Judgment. From the left side stirs a spirit that extends over the world, and many regiments of harmful angels dwell in the world and rest over the people, SINCE WHEN CHOCHMAH IS WITHOUT CHASSADIM, ALL THE HARSH JUDGMENTS EMANATE FROM HER. And that spirit defiles them, similar to a person who dies and has a Spirit of Defilement dwell upon him. This is true for whoever comes near that SPIRIT FROM THE LEFT.

Chukat: Verse 33

That is what is meant when it says: "You hide Your face, they are troubled" (Ibid. 29). What does this verse mean? It is only, "You hide Your face, they are troubled." That is because THOSE LEVELS were not watered so that blessings would prevail in the world, SINCE "YOUR FACE" MEANS CHASSADIM AND BLESSINGS. THEN, "You take away their breath (also: 'spirit'), they die" (Ibid.), because another spirit stirs from the left direction, WITHOUT THE RIGHT. The Spirit of Defilement dwells upon people, upon those who died, those who were with them, and on the rest of humanity, MEANING THAT THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT EXPANDS OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. What is its remedy? This is what is written: "and return to their dust" (Ibid.). That means the dust of the burning of this offering in order to have purification, and that is the secret meaning of, "all are of the dust" (Kohelet 3:20), even the sun's circle.

Chukat: Verse 34

After returning to this dust in order to be purified through it, AS MENTIONED NEARBY, the Spirit of Defilement is removed. And another Holy Spirit is aroused, which prevails upon the world. This is what it says: "You send forth your breath (also: 'spirit'), they are created" (Ibid. 30); they are created and healed with the loftier remedy of another spirit. "And You renew the face of the earth" (Ibid.); since it was purified, the moon is renewed and all the realms are blessed. Praised is the lot of Yisrael, since the Holy One, blessed be He, gave them counsel. All of it is a remedy in order to gain life in the World to Come, and for them to be considered purified in this world and sanctified for the World to Come. About them, it is written: "then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean" (Yechezkel 36:25).

Chukat: Verse 35

"Then came the children of Yisrael, the whole congregation into the desert of Zin..." (Bemidbar 20:1). Rabbi Yehuda said: Why is the passage about the laws of the red cow near to the death of Miriam? The explanation was already established. HE RESPONDS: However, since the Judgment was executed upon this cow in order to purify the unclean, Judgment was executed upon Miriam for the purpose of cleansing the world, SINCE THE DEATH OF THE JUST ATONES FOR THE WORLD, and she departed from this world. When Miriam departed, the well that accompanied the children of Yisrael in the desert was gone. And the well of everyone was gone; THAT IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT.

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Chukat: Verse 29

AFTER ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT DRINK, "they give to drink to every wild beast" that which is written: "and from thence it was parted, and branched into four streams (lit. 'heads')" (Beresheet 2:10). These four heads are "every wild (lit. 'field,' Heb. sadai) beast," WHICH ARE FOUR CREATURES, LION, OX, EAGLE AND MAN, WHICH ARE THE CHARIOT OF MALCHUT. They are the inclusion of all the camps and legions THAT ARE IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH to which Shadai, THAT IS METATRON THAT IS CALLED 'SHADAI,' is attached, WHO IS ABOVE ALL OF THEM. Do not pronounce it Sadai WITH SIN, but rather Shadai, WITH SHIN, which is METATRON that receives and perfects IN HIMSELF the Name from Yesod, the Foundation of the world. This is SINCE THE NAME SHADAI IS IN YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, AND METATRON, BEING A CHARIOT TO YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, RECEIVES THIS NAME.

Chukat: Verse 30

"The wild asses quench their thirst" (Tehilim 104:11). These are the ones about whom it is written: "and the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels" (Yechezkel 1:20). What is "the living creature?'' These are the wild beasts, which are four, and each one of them is in one direction OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS of the world, and is called a 'living creature.' There are FOUR wheels to each one OF THE FOUR CREATURES, and none OF THE WHEELS move except from the spirit of the living creature that goes over it, MEANING EACH ONE OF THE WHEELS FROM THE CORRESPONDING SPIRIT IN THE CREATURES. When these LIVING CREATURES AND WHEELS are imbued with that higher drinking liquid, all the rest of the legions are fed and saturated and are rooted in their sources, and they unite with each other at certain levels. This is what is written: "beside them dwell the birds of the sky...He waters the hills from His upper chambers..." (Tehilim 104:12-13). These are the rest of the higher levels.

Chukat: Verse 31

After all this, WHEN ALL THE HIGHER AND LOWER GRADES WERE FILLED WITH ABUNDANCE FROM ABA AND IMA, IT SAYS: "the earth is satiated with the fruits of Your works" (Ibid.); that is, the sanctified land up high, MEANING MALCHUT. When it is blessed, all the worlds are gladdened and are blessed, and that happens when the blessings prevail from the watering of the stream, WHICH IS THE SPRING MENTIONED ABOVE, THAT IS ABA AND IMA, the deepest of all.

Chukat: Verse 32

At the time when the blessings are not available to descend upon the world, WHICH ARE CHASSADIM, AND MALCHUT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH FROM THE LEFT WITHOUT THE CHASSADIM, the world, THAT IS MALCHUT, sits in Judgment. From the left side stirs a spirit that extends over the world, and many regiments of harmful angels dwell in the world and rest over the people, SINCE WHEN CHOCHMAH IS WITHOUT CHASSADIM, ALL THE HARSH JUDGMENTS EMANATE FROM HER. And that spirit defiles them, similar to a person who dies and has a Spirit of Defilement dwell upon him. This is true for whoever comes near that SPIRIT FROM THE LEFT.

Chukat: Verse 33

That is what is meant when it says: "You hide Your face, they are troubled" (Ibid. 29). What does this verse mean? It is only, "You hide Your face, they are troubled." That is because THOSE LEVELS were not watered so that blessings would prevail in the world, SINCE "YOUR FACE" MEANS CHASSADIM AND BLESSINGS. THEN, "You take away their breath (also: 'spirit'), they die" (Ibid.), because another spirit stirs from the left direction, WITHOUT THE RIGHT. The Spirit of Defilement dwells upon people, upon those who died, those who were with them, and on the rest of humanity, MEANING THAT THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT EXPANDS OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. What is its remedy? This is what is written: "and return to their dust" (Ibid.). That means the dust of the burning of this offering in order to have purification, and that is the secret meaning of, "all are of the dust" (Kohelet 3:20), even the sun's circle.

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Chukat: Verse 25

Therefore, it is called "water of sprinkling (Heb. nidah)." THAT MEANS water for purification when the world dwells in Judgment and the defiled aspect expands in the world, AS BY THE UNCLEANNESS OF A MENSTRUATING WOMAN (HEB. NIDAH). Here are gathered together a variety of unclean things and a variety of methods of purification. Consequently, defilement and purification are the most important rules of the Torah, and the friends have already explained this. Rabbi Shimon said: Elazar, you have accomplished so much that your friends will not be speaking of anything following you, SINCE FROM THE GREAT WISDOM AND WHOLESOMENESS OF YOUR SPEECH THEY WILL BE SHY TO GIVE THEIRS.

Chukat: Verse 26

Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd). "A red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish..." It is forbidden to plow during the Shabbat with an ox and plow, as it says, "the plowers plowed upon my back" (Tehilim 129:3), and the lower Shechinah, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is a red cow from the aspect of Gvurah. She is without defect from the aspect of Chesed, which is a level of Abraham, of whom it says, "walk before Me, and be perfect (Heb. tamim)" (Beresheet 17:1). "...In which there is no blemish..." She is from the aspect of the Central Column, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN THAT UNITES HER LEFT AND RIGHT. The verse continues, "and upon which never came a yoke," which is from the aspect of the higher Shechinah, which is liberty, MEANING BINAH at the location where she dominates, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT IS COMPRISED OF EVERYTHING MENTIONED ABOVE. "And the stranger that comes near SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH." There is no authority for the Other Side to rule, not for Satan, not for the Destroyer, and not for the Angel of Death, all of which are from the side of Gehenom. End of Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd).

Chukat: Verse 27

Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion with the verse: "He sends the springs into the valleys...they give drink to every wild beast..." (Tehilim 104:10-11). These verses were uttered by King David in the Holy Spirit, and they require studying. Come and behold: there was a time when the higher wisdom imprinted its engravings, MEANING AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE HIGHER CHOCHMAH AND BINAH UNITED TOGETHER, even though THE HIGHER CHOCHMAH is the most hidden of all the hidden, SINCE IN HIGHER CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA ABOVE, THE YUD DOES NOT EMERGE FROM THE AIR. It is an opening from which flows a river full of higher gates, THAT IS BINAH.

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Chukat: Verse 21

"And you shall give her to Elazar" (Bemidbar 19:3). THAT IS BECAUSE the prescribed performing of the ritual is through the adjutant to the High Priest AND NOT BY THE HIGH PRIEST HIMSELF, and they established it that way. What is the reason? It is for ELAZAR and not for Aaron. HE RESPONDS: It is only because Aaron is the best man of the Queen. THEREFORE, HE WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR THE RITUAL OF THIS COW, WHICH IS HARSH JUDGMENT, and furthermore, he would be improper because Aaron does not approach this from the pure side but rather from the Holy Side. Since the primary function of the red cow is for purification, it is therefore not given to him.

Chukat: Verse 22

Every item that pertains to this cow, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is in seven, seven washings. And we were already taught that. What is the reason? It is because MALCHUT is the seven years of the Sabbatical year THAT CONTAINS SEVEN SFIROT - CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT, and is called 'Bathsheba' (lit. 'Daughter of Seven'). Therefore, all her rituals are in seven. Come and behold: all that is made from this cow is for the purpose of purification and not for sanctification. Although it was given to an aid OF THE PRIEST, THAT IS, ELAZAR, he does not perform the slaughtering or the burning so that no Harsh Judgment will be at his aspect. Even more so for Aaron, who is in a more perfected level THAN ELAZAR. He need not present himself or be available there.

Chukat: Verse 23

As soon as this cow turns into ashes, there is a requirement to throw into it "cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet" (Bemidbar 19:6) as we have already learned. "And a man that is clean shall gather up" (Ibid. 9) and not a holy man. "...and lay them outside the camp in a clean place..." (Ibid.) since nothing is called 'clean' except from the aspect that he was first unclean.

Chukat: Verse 24

The secret of all this is written: "for the water of sprinkling, it is a purification offering" (Ibid.). That is because all the lower Judgments and all that come from the aspect of Defilement RECEIVE THEIR STRENGTH FROM MALCHUT AT THE TIME when she sucks from the Other Side and dwells in Judgment, as it says: "filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness" (Yeshayah 34:6). At that moment, all THE SENTENCES FROM THE ASPECT OF DEFILEMENT are stirred up to rise and dwell in the world. As soon as they perform that ritual OF BURNING THE COW down below and the sentence is carried out in this place, in this cow, they throw on her the cedar wood. Then their energy is weakened, OF THE UNCLEAN ASPECT, and wherever they prevail, they break down and become weak and escape from there, since they see their might BROKEN AND SUPRESSED, AS IT WAS PERFORMED IN THE RITUAL OF BURNING THE COW. Then, they do not prevail on man and he becomes cleansed.

Chukat: Verse 25

Therefore, it is called "water of sprinkling (Heb. nidah)." THAT MEANS water for purification when the world dwells in Judgment and the defiled aspect expands in the world, AS BY THE UNCLEANNESS OF A MENSTRUATING WOMAN (HEB. NIDAH). Here are gathered together a variety of unclean things and a variety of methods of purification. Consequently, defilement and purification are the most important rules of the Torah, and the friends have already explained this. Rabbi Shimon said: Elazar, you have accomplished so much that your friends will not be speaking of anything following you, SINCE FROM THE GREAT WISDOM AND WHOLESOMENESS OF YOUR SPEECH THEY WILL BE SHY TO GIVE THEIRS.

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Chukat: Verse 18

"Speak to the children of Yisrael, that they bring you a red heifer..." (Bemidbar 19:2). This cow is for the purpose of cleansing to purify the unclean, WHICH IS MALCHUT that receives from the left. Who is on that left? It is the ox THAT IS GVURAH IN ZEIR ANPIN, as it says, "the face of the ox from the left side" (Yechezkel 1:10). Red means red as a rose, as it is written: "like the rose among thorns" (Shir Hashirim 2:2). RED MEANS a sentence of law, SINCE THE LAWS OF THE LEFT COLUMN ARE CONSIDERED RED.

Chukat: Verse 19

"...Without defect (Heb. temimah)..." (Bemidbar 19:2). HE ASKS: IT IS WRITTEN, "WITHOUT DEFECT." What is the meaning? HE RESPONDS: It is as we were taught about a bull that has not gored (Heb. tam) and the bull that has gored thrice. The bull that has not gored MEANS lax, soft Judgment. The bull that has gored thrice is harsh Judgment. Here too, temimah MEANS a lax sentence that is lower Gvurah, MEANING MALCHUT, since one that is as such is without defect. Gvurah up high, THAT IS THE GVURAH IN ZEIR ANPIN, is the severe and mighty hand.

Chukat: Verse 20

"...In which there is no blemish..." (Ibid.) is as it is written, "you are all fair, my love; there is no blemish in you" (Shir Hashirim 4:7). SHE SHINES WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH, AND SHE IS CONSIDERED BEAUTIFUL SINCE ALL BLEMISHES ARE HEALED THROUGH THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH. "...And upon which never came a yoke (Heb. ol, Ayin-Lamed)..." (Bemidbar 19:2). The word "ol" is spelled WITHOUT A VAV, which is as it is written: "and the man who was raised up on high (Heb. al, Ayin-Lamed)" (II Shmuel 23:1). What is the reason? It is because she is "the peaceable and faithful in Yisrael" (II Shmuel 20:19), and he is not above her but rather with her. "...And upon which never came a yoke..." is as it is written: "the virgin of Yisrael" (Amos 5:2), and, "a virgin, neither had any man known her" (Beresheet 24:16).

Chukat: Verse 21

"And you shall give her to Elazar" (Bemidbar 19:3). THAT IS BECAUSE the prescribed performing of the ritual is through the adjutant to the High Priest AND NOT BY THE HIGH PRIEST HIMSELF, and they established it that way. What is the reason? It is for ELAZAR and not for Aaron. HE RESPONDS: It is only because Aaron is the best man of the Queen. THEREFORE, HE WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR THE RITUAL OF THIS COW, WHICH IS HARSH JUDGMENT, and furthermore, he would be improper because Aaron does not approach this from the pure side but rather from the Holy Side. Since the primary function of the red cow is for purification, it is therefore not given to him.

Chukat: Verse 22

Every item that pertains to this cow, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is in seven, seven washings. And we were already taught that. What is the reason? It is because MALCHUT is the seven years of the Sabbatical year THAT CONTAINS SEVEN SFIROT - CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT, and is called 'Bathsheba' (lit. 'Daughter of Seven'). Therefore, all her rituals are in seven. Come and behold: all that is made from this cow is for the purpose of purification and not for sanctification. Although it was given to an aid OF THE PRIEST, THAT IS, ELAZAR, he does not perform the slaughtering or the burning so that no Harsh Judgment will be at his aspect. Even more so for Aaron, who is in a more perfected level THAN ELAZAR. He need not present himself or be available there.

Chukat: Verse 23

As soon as this cow turns into ashes, there is a requirement to throw into it "cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet" (Bemidbar 19:6) as we have already learned. "And a man that is clean shall gather up" (Ibid. 9) and not a holy man. "...and lay them outside the camp in a clean place..." (Ibid.) since nothing is called 'clean' except from the aspect that he was first unclean.

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Chukat: Verse 1

"And Hashem spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 'This is the ordinance of the Torah which Hashem has commanded'" (Bemidbar 19:1-2). Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion saying: "and this is the Torah which Moses set before the children of Yisrael" (Devarim 4:44). Come and behold: the words of the Torah are holy, lofty, and sweet, as it is written: "more to be desired are they than gold, and much fine gold: sweeter also than honey..." (Tehilim 19:11). It is as if whoever studies the Torah stands every day at Mount Sinai and receives the Torah. This is what it says: "this day you are become a people" (Devarim 27:9). And the friends have already set the explanation.

Chukat: Verse 2

It is written here: "this is the ordinance of the Torah," and it is also, "and this is the Torah," BUT IT IS NOT WRITTEN, 'THE ORDINANCE.' What is the difference between this and that? HE RESPONDS: It is a lofty secret and that is what we learned. The words, "and this is the Torah," are to show that all is in one unison and to unite the Congregation of Yisrael, THAT IS MALCHUT, with the Holy One, blessed be He, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, so that all will be one. Therefore, "and this is the Torah." Why is there the addition of "and" (Heb. Vav), TO "this?'' It is only to show that as we are taught, all is one without division. The words, "and this," indicate the general and the particular, NAMELY male and female combined together, SINCE VAV IS MALE, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS GENERAL - AND "THIS" IS FEMALE, MEANING MALCHUT, WHICH IS PARTICULAR. Therefore, it is assuredly WRITTEN: "and this is the Torah," TO INDICATE ZEIR ANPIN AND THE NUKVA IN ONE UNISON. However, "this," without the additional Vav is specifically the ordinance of the Torah, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT IS CONSIDERED THE ORDINANCE. AND it EMANATES FROM ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE TORAH, but is not the Torah ITSELF, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. It is ONLY the law of the Torah, the decree of Torah, WHICH IS MALCHUT.

Chukat: Verse 3

Come and behold: IT IS WRITTEN, "this is that which belongs to the Levites" (Bemidbar 8:24). It is not WRITTEN, 'and this,' WITH A VAV, since they emerge from the side of Judgment, WHICH IS FROM THE LEFT SIDE AND FROM THE SIDE OF MALCHUT THAT IS ERECTED FROM THE LEFT, and not from the angle of Compassion, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. THEREFORE, "THIS" IT IS WRITTEN WITHOUT A VAV, MEANING MALCHUT WITHOUT ZEIR ANPIN. Rabbi Yehuda said: Yet it is written, "and this do to them, that they may live" (Bemidbar 4:19). Here, "THIS" IS WITH A VAV, and it is said about the Levites, and yet you say THAT THE LEVITES ARE THE ASPECT OF "this," and not of, "and this." He said to him: It is most certainly so, THAT THEY ARE IN THE ASPECT OF, "AND THIS." The scripture proves that whoever holds on to deadly poison spices but does not blend into it life-giving spices will certainly die. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN: "And this do to them, that they may live," MEANING THAT "THIS," WHICH IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, CONSIDERED THE TREE OF DEATH, SHOULD JOIN WITH VAV, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, THE TREE OF LIFE. "...And not die..." (Ibid.) This is because the spice of life is mixed with it. THEREFORE, "and this do to them, that they may live, and not die," since they require, "and this," and not 'this.' THEREFORE, the verse: "and this is the Torah," INDICATES that it really is actually in one union, a union of total perfection, male and female in one inclusion; THAT IS THE SECRET OF Vav-Hei. However, "this," ALONE WITHOUT THE VAV, is a Hei alone WITHOUT A VAV, THAT IS, MALCHUT WITHOUT ZEIR ANPIN. About this, it IS WRITTEN: "this is the ordinance of the Torah."

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Korach: Verse 14

"And they fell upon their faces, and said, 'El, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh'" (Bemidbar 16:22). Come and behold: Moses and Aaron gave themselves up to death. How? It is written: "and they fell upon their faces, and said, 'El, Elohim of the spirits (Heb. ruchot).'" Ruchot is spelled with the Vav missing. Therefore, that is the Tree of Death, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the falling on the face is always to that side. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN, "El, Elohim of," as it is written: "and El Who has indignation every day" (Tehilim 7:12), WHICH REFERS TO MALCHUT. "...Elohim of the spirits..." is the source where all the world's souls are bound together and all the souls ascend there. From there they come, THAT IS, MALCHUT.

Korach: Verse 15

Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion with the verse: "hear my words O wise men; and give ear to me, you who have knowledge" (Iyov 34:2). Elihu spoke this verse. Come and behold: it is written, "also against his three friends did his anger burn, because they had found no answer" (Iyov 32:3), since they did speak but Iyov was not consoled by them. From here we take a lesson that whoever comes to console the mourner must structure his speech first, SO THAT THEY ARE WORTHY TO CONSOLE HIM. Job's friends spoke words of truth but not to console him, and since it requires words that THE MOURNER will acknowledge, then he will accept upon himself the Judgment. And he acknowledged the Holy King, as it is written: "now Elihu had waited to speak to Iyov" (Ibid. 4), since he acknowledged himself afterward to the Holy One, blessed be He, and accepted upon himself the sentence of heaven.

Korach: Verse 16

Come and behold: it is written, "therefore hearken to me, you men of understanding: far be it from El, that He should do wickedness; and from Shadai, that He should commit iniquity" (Iyov 34:10). "Therefore hearken to me, you men of understanding" (Ibid.); these are the most perfected who can discern the matters. And "far be it from El that He should do wickedness." This is what is written: "and El Who has indignation every day" (Ibid.); THAT REFERS TO MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'EL.' "...and from Shadai, that He should commit iniquity" (Ibid.); this one is close to that one, SINCE SHADAI IS YESOD THAT IS NEAR EL, WHICH IS MALCHUT. It was already explained that in, "El Shadai," EL REFERS TO MALCHUT AND SHADAI REFERS TO YESOD. "For the work of a man shall He pay back to him" (Ibid. 11). If a person walks about in this world performing deeds and sins before his Master, that deed impends upon Him to reward him with Judgment. This is what it says: "that the man's deed will pay him," as that particular act THAT HE PERFORMED will pay him.

Korach: Verse 17

With all this, "if he set his heart upon Him" (Ibid. 14). As soon as a person places his heart and will to return to his Master, then El, the Elohim, will "gather to Himself his spirit and his breath (Heb. neshamah)" (Ibid.). He will gather to him to bind them in the bundle of life and he does not leave his Nefesh out to be judged in another Judgment.

260610.Korach v009

Korach: Verse 9

"And they rose up before Moses..." (Bemidbar 16:2). This verse has been explained by the friends. Rabbi Shimon says: "Regularly summoned (Heb. kri'ei) to the congregation (Heb. mo'ed)" (Ibid.), is missing a Yud. Why is it written "Kriei?'' HE RESPONDS: It is only that the earthly kingdom is like heavenly kingdom, MEANING THAT MALCHUT BELOW IS LIKE MALCHUT ABOVE. That is the secret meaning of all these higher Sfirot onto which the Holy Name holds. All are summoned from the place that is called 'Holiness,' THAT IS THE SECRET OF SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, as it is written: "which you shall proclaim to be (also: 'summoned from') holy gatherings" (Vayikra 23:37). When is this? When mo'ed prevails in the world, THAT IS, DURING FESTIVALS AND APPOINTED TIMES (HEB. MO'ED). Just as these higher Sfirot are summoned by the Upper Temple, SO AS TO SANCTIFY THEM, similarly the Lower Sanctity summons its legions to adorn and uplift them. THESE ARE THREE WORLDS BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH, WHICH ARE THE LEGIONS OF MALCHUT THAT ADORNS THEM AND UPLIFTS THEM TO ATZILUT.

Korach: Verse 10

The higher Holiness is known AS ABA AND IMA ABOVE, and the lower Holiness is the wisdom of Solomon, MEANING MALCHUT, which also summons all her legions TO SANCTIFY THEM WITH HER HOLINESS. These legions are all invited to be adorned in this lower Holiness at a time when a festival prevails in the world. As her legions are standing above IN ATZILUT SUMMONED BY MALCHUT, so are the appointed of the nation, MEANING THE CHIEFTAINS OF YISRAEL, according to her example below, IN THIS WORLD. Therefore, it is written as: "summoned to the congregation (Heb. mo'ed)," and of those below it is written, "summoned (Heb. kri'ei) to the congregation;'' "Kriei" is missing a Yud. However, they are then in increased wholeness.

Korach: Verse 11

"...Men of renown (also: 'name')..." (Bemidbar 16:2) is most certainly said and not 'men of Hashem' - MEANING THE PEOPLE OF MALCHUT CALLED 'NAME,' but not 'men of Hashem,' THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN. That is the secret of "and he who blasphemes the Name of Hashem shall be put to death" (Vayikra 24:16). We established THAT IT ALLUDES TO MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'NAME' and, therefore, they were certainly considered men of name, since they emerged from the aspect of Gvurah, WHICH IS MALCHUT CALLED 'THE LOWER GVURAH.' They are men of name and that WAS SAID to increase their praise. However, they took HER for themselves, MEANING THEY SEPARATED MALCHUT FROM ZEIR ANPIN, and held on to a dissension WITH MOSES, WHO IS THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN.

Korach: Verse 12

"Tomorrow morning Hashem will show who is His" (Bemidbar 16:5). HE INQUIRES: Why in the morning, PRECISELY, and why "holy" and not pure, MEANING "AND WHO IS HOLY; AND WILL CAUSE HIM TO COME NEAR TO HIM" (IBID.)? IT SHOULD HAVE SAID, 'AND WHO IS PURE.' HE REPLIES: For they, THE CONGREGATION OF KORAH, came from the pure side, SINCE THE LEVITES ARE IN THE ASPECT OF PURE, AND NOT HOLY, and the priest is holy. Moses said in the morning when the Sfirah of the priest, WHICH IS CHESED, gets awakened in the world: 'If you are priests, here is the morning. Let them perform the service of the morning,' WHICH IS CHESED. Then, "Hashem will show who is His, and who is holy." "...who is His..." is unspecific, which is the Levi. "...and who is holy..." is the priest. Then, "and will cause him to come near to Him," HE WHO IS HOLY. There is no one who can discern the matter except the morning. THUS, HE SPOKE TO THEM: 'If you find yourself remaining on the side of Judgment, the morning, WHICH IS CHESED, will not tolerate you, since that is not the time of Judgment. But if you see yourselves remaining in Chesed, then here is its time. And you will stay with it, and it will accept you.'

260609.Korach ver005

Korach: Verse 5

Korah turned to disagreement. What is the meaning of disagreement? Distancing and repulsion; the distancing and repulsion of what is above and below, and whoever wishes to postpone the restoration of the universe will become lost from all the worlds. Conflict is a distancing of peace, and whoever is in conflict about peace is in disagreement with His Holy Name, because His Holy Name is called 'Peace.'

Korach: Verse 6

Come and behold: the world does not exist except through peace. When the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, it could not endure until He came and made peace dwell upon them. What is it? It is the Shabbat, which is the peace of the upper and the lower grades. And then the world endured. THEREFORE, whoever creates dissension about this PEACE will be lost from the world.

Korach: Verse 7

Zelophehad was in dissension with the Shabbat because he was gathering wood (or: 'trees'). What were these trees? These were the other trees OF THE SEVENTY CHIEFTAINS, as we mentioned. These were secular matters and secular concerns do not prevail in sanctity. HENCE, he was in conflict with the world peace, WHICH IS SHABBAT, BECAUSE HE BLENDED THE SECULAR WITH THE SHABBAT.

Korach: Verse 8

Rabbi Yosi says that it is written: "great peace have they who love Your Torah" (Tehilim 119:165). The Torah is peace, as it is written: "and all her paths are peace" (Mishlei 3:17). And Korah came to blemish that peace of above - WHICH IS THE TORAH, MEANING THE CENTRAL COLUMN THAT IS CALLED 'TORAH' THAT PRODUCES PEACE BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT, and of below, OF MOSES. Therefore, he was punished from the higher and the lower aspects BY FIRE AND BY THE OPENING OF THE EARTHLY CHASM.

Korach: Verse 9

"And they rose up before Moses..." (Bemidbar 16:2). This verse has been explained by the friends. Rabbi Shimon says: "Regularly summoned (Heb. kri'ei) to the congregation (Heb. mo'ed)" (Ibid.), is missing a Yud. Why is it written "Kriei?'' HE RESPONDS: It is only that the earthly kingdom is like heavenly kingdom, MEANING THAT MALCHUT BELOW IS LIKE MALCHUT ABOVE. That is the secret meaning of all these higher Sfirot onto which the Holy Name holds. All are summoned from the place that is called 'Holiness,' THAT IS THE SECRET OF SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, as it is written: "which you shall proclaim to be (also: 'summoned from') holy gatherings" (Vayikra 23:37). When is this? When mo'ed prevails in the world, THAT IS, DURING FESTIVALS AND APPOINTED TIMES (HEB. MO'ED). Just as these higher Sfirot are summoned by the Upper Temple, SO AS TO SANCTIFY THEM, similarly the Lower Sanctity summons its legions to adorn and uplift them. THESE ARE THREE WORLDS BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH, WHICH ARE THE LEGIONS OF MALCHUT THAT ADORNS THEM AND UPLIFTS THEM TO ATZILUT.

Korach: Verse 10

The higher Holiness is known AS ABA AND IMA ABOVE, and the lower Holiness is the wisdom of Solomon, MEANING MALCHUT, which also summons all her legions TO SANCTIFY THEM WITH HER HOLINESS. These legions are all invited to be adorned in this lower Holiness at a time when a festival prevails in the world. As her legions are standing above IN ATZILUT SUMMONED BY MALCHUT, so are the appointed of the nation, MEANING THE CHIEFTAINS OF YISRAEL, according to her example below, IN THIS WORLD. Therefore, it is written as: "summoned to the congregation (Heb. mo'ed)," and of those below it is written, "summoned (Heb. kri'ei) to the congregation;'' "Kriei" is missing a Yud. However, they are then in increased wholeness.

260607.ShlachLecha v315

Shlach Lecha: Verse 315

"And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the River" (Shemot 2:5). This DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH came from the left aspect of harsh Judgment, as it is written: "To wash herself at the River." "At the River" is exact, instead of "at the sea," SINCE THE SEA INDICATES MALCHUT. HOWEVER, THE RIVER IS HARSH JUDGMENT FROM THE LEFT SIDE, WHICH THE EGYPTIANS HAVE MADE THEIR DEITY. If you wonder about this, that it is written: "And your rod, with which you smote the river" (Shemot 17:5), although Moses never struck the river but rather the sea. The verse refers to it as river INDICATING THAT THE TERM RIVER IS NOT ACCURATE. HE REPLIES: It is indeed the River which Aaron struck under Moses direction, and the scripture assigned it as if Moses himself did the striking.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 316

Similarly, "And seven days were completed, after Hashem had smitten the River" (Shemot 7:25). EVEN THOUGH Aaron struck it, it is only because it came from the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO COMMANDED HIM, that the scripture referred to it as: "Hashem had smitten." Later on, it was referred to in the name of Moses, FOR THE SAME REASON. "And her maidens walked along" (Shemot 2:5): These are the rest of the camps that came from that LEFT side.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 317

"And when she had opened it, she saw him, the child" (Ibid. 6). HE INQUIRES: What is: "she saw him?'' "She saw" was the proper way to use. Why "she saw him?'' Didn't Rabbi Shimon say that there was nothing in the Torah, or even one letter in the Torah, that does not contain highly valuable secrets? HE RESPONDS: That is how we have learned. The impression of the King and the Matron, THAT ARE ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, THE SECRET OF VAV-HEI OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, was found upon him, and that is the impression of Vav-Hei THAT WERE ADDED TO "SHE SAW (HEB. VATERE)." THEREFORE, IT IS SPELLED "VATIR'EHU (ENG. 'SHE SAW HIM')." Instantly, "she had compassion on him..." (Ibid.). Up to here it relates to the higher, TO HIGHER REALMS. From here on, IT DISCUSSES THIS WORLD below, except for this verse, in which is written: "And his sister stood afar off" (Ibid. 4). HE INQUIRES: Whose sister, AND REPLIES: The sister of the one, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN, who called the Congregation of Yisrael my sister, as it says, "Open to me, my sister" (Shir Hashirim 5:2). "afar off" MEANS as in, "Hashem appeared from afar to me" (Yirmeyah 31:2).

Shlach Lecha: Verse 318

HE INQUIRES: What is to be derived FROM THIS PASSAGE? HE REPLIES: It means that all these righteous, prior to their descent to the world, are made known to all above. THAT APPLIES TO ALL THE RIGHTEOUS, and most certainly to Moses. It means that the souls of the righteous are derived from a lofty place, SINCE "of the house of Levi" ALLUDES TO SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, as we have explained. We learned the secret of the matter, which means that there are a father and a mother to the soul, as there are a father and mother to the body on earth, SINCE A MAN IS ZEIR ANPIN AND "DAUGHTER OF LEVI" IS MALCHUT. AND FROM THEIR UNION, THE SOUL OF MOSES WAS BORN.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 319

It seems on all sides, both above, THE MALE AND FEMALE PRINCIPLES, and below, FATHER AND MOTHER OF THIS WORLD, that is comprised of male and female. That is how the secret of the scripture was explained: "Let the earth bring forth living creatures (Heb. Nefesh)" (Beresheet 1:24). "The earth" refers to the Congregation of Yisrael THAT IS MALCHUT; the living Soul (lit. 'Nefesh') IS the Soul (lit. 'Nefes') of supernal Adam, as we have learned, SINCE MALCHUT IS THE MOTHER OF THE SOUL (LIT. 'NEFESH') OF THE FIRST MAN. Rabbi Aba approached him and kissed him. He said, You certainly spoke properly, and it is as you say.

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Shlach Lecha: Verse 42

Rabbi Yehuda was walking along the way with Rabbi Aba. He said to him: I wish to ask you one thing. Since the Holy One, blessed be He, was aware that Adam was going to commit sin in His presence and that He would sentence him to death, why did He create him? Didn't the Torah exist 2,000 years prior to the creation of the world, MEANING BEFORE THE SIN OF ADAM? And in the Torah it is written: "When a man dies in a tent" (Bemidbar 19:14), "if a man die," "and...died" and "such and such lived and died." What did the Holy One, blessed be He, want from man in this world? If man studies Torah day and night he will die, and if he does not study Torah he will die. The same course applies to all, except that THE SINNER is removed from the World to Come. HOWEVER, IN THIS WORLD ALL ARE EQUAL, as it is written: "As is the good, so is the sinner" (Kohelet 9:2).

Shlach Lecha: Verse 43

He said to him: Why do you need to toil in the ways of your Master and the edicts of your Master? Ask about that which you have permission to know and gaze at, and about that which you have no permission to know, it is written: "Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin" (Kohelet 5:5), since we have no right to inquire about the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His mysteries, the utmost high secrets that He covered and hid. He said to him: If so, the entire Torah is concealed and hidden, since it is the most Holy Name and whoever studies the Torah, it is as if he deals in His Holy Name. If so, we are not permitted to inquire and gaze IN THE TORAH.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 44

He said to him: The entire Torah is both concealed and revealed and the Holy Name is both concealed and revealed, as it is written: "The secret things belong to Hashem our Elohim: but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children" (Devarim 29:28). "But those things which are revealed belong to us," meaning that we have permission to inquire and observe and gaze at them to know them. However, "the secret things belong to Hashem our Elohim:'' They are His and to Him they are proper, since who could know and comprehend His concealed mind, let alone ask about it.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 45

Come and see, people are not permitted to talk about concealed matters and explain them, besides the Holy Luminary, Rabbi Shimon, since the Holy One, blessed be He, acceded to him. Since his generation is distinguished above and below, the matters are therefore said through him openly. There will be no other generation like the generation that he resides in, until the coming of King Messiah.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 46

Come and see, it is written: "So Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim He created him" (Beresheet 1:27). The secret of the matter is that the Holy One, blessed be He, has three worlds in which He is concealed. The first world is the uppermost world that is concealed from all, at which we should not gaze. Nothing is known of it except that He is concealed in it. THIS IS THE WORLD OF ZEIR ANPIN OF ATZILUT.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 47

The second world, which is tied to that WORLD above, is the one by which the Holy One, blessed be He, is known, as it is written: "Open to me the gates of righteousness" (Tehilim 118:19) and "This is the gate of Hashem" (Tehilim 118:20). AND THAT IS THE WORLD OF MALCHUT IN ATZILUT, WHICH IS THE GATE TO ZEIR ANPIN and constitutes the second world.

260603.ShaarHapsukim

260602.ShlachLecha v228

Rabbi Shimon knows that those he is speaking with are dressed with the dear robe of a purely holy body and wonders whether anything similar happens in this world. He is answered with the story of Esther who put on her royal apparel and went to see King Ahasuerus; he saw her clothed in a robe of light and he lost his soul for an instant. Mordechai too was enshrouded in the robes of that world. Rabbi Shimon understands that the just in this world get shrouded with the robe of Malchut. The Satan wants to prevent the righteous from being garbed in the pure and holy garment because as soon as they are so robed all the Evil Inclinations are removed. The spirits tell Rabbi Shimon why they visit the cemetery at the beginning of every night.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 228

Rabbi Shimon said to him, I certainly am aware that you are dressed there with the precious robe of a pure holy body. HE ASKS: Is there something similar in this world? IS THERE a person who appears here in that body, as you stand in that world?

Shlach Lecha: Verse 229

He said to him, This matter was asked by two youths, MEANING YOUNG MEN, in the presence of the dean of the Yeshivah. They were clothed among us after suffering pain about a sin that is improper to reveal, and this question was put to the head of the Yeshivah. He replied that something similar happened in this world. How do we know? Since it is written: "Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal (lit. 'of Malchut') apparel" (Ester 5:1), MEANING THAT she was robed in the fashion of that world, Malchut, WHICH MEANS HERE, the Holy Spirit. For the Kingdom of Heaven, WHICH IS MALCHUT OF ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED HEAVEN, blows a wind (spirit) from the spirit of the air of that world, and Esther was robed in it.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 230

When she entered into the presence of King Ahasuerus and he saw that robe of light, her form seemed to him like an angel of Elohim, and he lost his soul for an instant. Mordechai too WAS ENSHROUDED IN THE ROBES OF THAT WORLD, as it is written: "And Mordechai went out from the presence of the king in royal (lit. 'of Malchut') apparel" (Ester 8:15), verily the apparel of Malchut that is the form of that world. Therefore, it is written: "Because the fear of Mordechai had fallen upon them" (Ester 9:3), the fear of Mordechai and not the fear of Ahasuerus, THAT IS, NOT BECAUSE AHASUERUS HAD MADE HIM GREAT, BUT RATHER BECAUSE OF HIS GARMENT OF THAT WORLD. Rabbi Shimon said, How sweet are these matters. Blessed is my lot. I am aware that the just in this world get shrouded with that robe that is called the robe of Malchut, and that is definitely so.

260601.ShlachLecha v224

We learn that we must close the eyes of a dead person because the eyes are the colors of this world, and the appearance and shape of this world is contained in them, so this world and its appearance must be closed off to him. It was Joseph who closed his father's eyes because he was so beloved, and with this action he was taking his father's sight now that his father's sight from this world is lost. From that point on his father is having a different sight of the other world prepared for him. During the time of the resurrection of the dead, not the tiniest thing will occur of the activities of this world; everything will first be destroyed and the person will be purified, and then his body will be made like a new creation. This is like it is now in the Upper World even before the resurrection.Shlach Lecha: Verse 224

He said to him, What new discovery was there now when you came to me? He said, The head of the Yeshivah opened the discussion saying, "And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes" (Beresheet 46:4). That is A TIDING OF gladness. HE INQUIRES: Why is it required to close the eyes of a dead person? HE RESPONDS: Since the eyes are the colors of this world and the appearance and shape of this world is contained in them, IT FOLLOWS THAT WITH THE CLOSING OF THE EYES, he closes off to him this world and its appearance. When his eyes are closed, the entire world is dimmed to him AND IF they dim for him the sight of his eyes, he has no sight of this world from there onwards. Rabbi Shimon said, The expositions of those who went before us are beautiful; their wisdom surpasses those of the holy angels.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 225

He said to him: Why should it have been Joseph who placed his hand rather than all the other sons? If you think that he told him so as a result of his good tidings, THAT JOSEPH IS STILL ALIVE, then it should have said, 'You shall see Joseph alive.' WHY DID HE SAY: "AND JOSEPH SHALL PUT HIS HAND ON YOUR EYES?'' He said to him: "put his hand" is because he was his beloved. Therefore, he closed from him the light of this world and he took it himself. Whoever closes the eyes of his beloved shows by that: Your sight of this world is lost, and I take your sight instead. From now on, they will prepare for you a different sight of that world. THIS IS THE REASON THAT THIS MATTER WAS GIVEN TO JOSEPH, SINCE HE WAS MORE BELOVED TO JACOB THAN ANY OF HIS SONS.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 226

Rabbi Shimon asked, What good will this provide to the dead and what benefit is there in it? Whoever will ask about this, IT IS NECESSARY to tell him that there is a need to open the eyes OF THE DEAD in order to show him that he will return to the sight of this world as before - MEANING, HE WILL BE RESURRECTED WITH THE DEAD TO LIFE.

Shlach Lecha: Verse 227

He said to him, Oh, holy pious one. Certainly, if the sight of this world were not closed off to him entirely and he didn't lose it completely, he would have no sight and portion in that world, for this world has an opposite polarity from the world that we are in. During the time of the resurrection of the dead, even the tiniest thing will not occur of the activities of this world, since everything will first be destroyed by that dew, MEANING THE DEW OF RESURECTION. It will remove from him all the filth and then he will become like dough, and from it the body will be made like a new creation. So it is here, IN THE UPPER WORLD EVEN BEFORE THE RESURRECTION.

260528.Behaalotcha

260520.Naso - Idra Raba v008

Idra Raba: Verse 8

Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion saying, "A talebearer (lit. 'goer') reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter" (Mishlei 11:13). This verse is difficult, but it should have said 'tale-man.' What is a TALE goer? HE REPLIES: It refers to someone who is not settled in mind and not trustworthy. Whatever he has heard goes within him like a board in the water THAT DOES NOT SINK UNTIL it is expelled outside, MEANING TO SAY HE HAS NO REST UNTIL HE REVEALS WHATEVER HE HEARD TO SOMEONE ELSE. What is the reason? It is because his spirit is not stable, SETTLED. Of him who has a stable spirit, it says "But he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter." A faithful spirit MEANS a stable spirit. It all depends on the spirit. It is also written: "Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin" (Kohelet 5:5).

Idra Raba: Verse 9

The world is preserved only through secrecy and if, in worldly things, secrecy is a prerequisite, it is so much more certain that the mysteries of mysteries of Atik Yomin are not even passed on to the angels above. Rabbi Shimon said: To the heavens, I don't say to listen. To the earth I don't say to hear, since we maintain the worlds. THAT IS TO SAY, MOSES AND ISAIAH MADE THE HEAVENS AND EARTH WITNESSES TO PUNISH THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL IF THEY DO NOT MAINTAIN THE WORLDS, THAT THE HEAVENS WILL NOT GIVE ITS RAIN NOR THE EARTH ITS CROPS. BUT RABBI SHIMON WAS SPEAKING TO THE RIGHTEOUS, WHO MAINTAIN THE WORLD AND HAVE NO NEED FOR WITNESSES. We have learned of the mysteries of mysteries. When Rabbi Shimon began with the secrets of secrets, the place shook and the friends trembled.

Idra Raba: Verse 10

He revealed in secret and opened the discussion with the verse: "And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king..." (Beresheet 36:31). Blessed are you, righteous, to whom were revealed the inner secrets of the Torah, which are not revealed to the most holy beings up high, MEANING THE ANGELS. Who will be attentive to this and who will deserve this, THE VERSE: "AND THESE ARE THE KINGS..." That is evidence about overall faith. May the prayer be accepted that it will not be considered a sin to reveal this. What will the friends say, since this verse is difficult, since it was unnecessary to write this because we could see how many kings Edom had before the children of Yisrael came along, and prior to the children of Yisrael having a king? What is shown to us here? It is a high secret and men are incapable of knowing and understanding and contemplating this, SINCE IT ALLUDES TO THE SUPERNAL WORLDS.

Idra Raba: Verse 11

We have learned about the most Ancient of ancients, the most hidden of hidden, before he prepared his constructions and the crowns of crowns. THE PREPARATION OF THE VESSELS AND READYING THEM TO RECEIVE THE LIGHTS ARE CALLED CONSTRUCTIONS. THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES ARE CALLED CROWNS, DERIVED FROM THE VERSE: "THE CROWN WITH WHICH HIS MOTHER CROWNED HIM" (SHIR HASHIRIM 3:11). There did not yet exist a beginning nor an end, WHICH ARE UPPER CHOCHMAH, THE BEGINNING OF REVELATION, AND LOWER CHOCHMAH, THE END OF REVELATION. He was carving and estimating the limits of it, MEANING OF REVEALING THE BEGINNING AND THE END. He laid out a boundary and in it he marked and measured kings.

Idra Raba: Verse 12

His constructions were not maintained. This is what is written: "And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Yisrael," MEANING BEFORE the first king that reigned over the first children of Yisrael. All that were recorded were called by their names but did not survive so eventually he abandoned them and hid them; he was elevated by that boundary and established with His own Corrections (formations).

260519.Naso - Idra Raba v003

Idra Raba: Verse 3

Rabbi Shimon sat down and wept. He said: Woe if I do reveal and woe if I do not reveal. IF HE DOES NOT REVEAL, THE NEW UNDERSTANDINGS IN THE TORAH WILL GET LOST, AND IF HE DOES REVEAL, PERHAPS SOMEONE WHO IS NOT WORTHY OF THE HIDDEN MEANINGS OF THE TORAH MIGHT HEAR. The friends that were there kept silent. Finally, Rabbi Aba stood up and said to him: If my lord is graceful enough to reveal, behold it says, "The secret of Hashem is with them that fear him" (Tehilim 25:14). These friends fear the Holy One, blessed be He. They have already gained entry to the chamber of residence. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT some of them entered THIS GREAT CHAMBER and some of them exited, BUT NOT ALL SINCE THREE FRIENDS PASSED AWAY.

Idra Raba: Verse 4

We have learned that the friends were counted who were present before Rabbi Shimon. The following were present: Rabbi Elazar, his son, Rabbi Aba, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yosi ben Ya'akov, Rabbi Yitzchak, Rabbi Chizkiyah ben Rav, Rabbi Chiya, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Yesa. They stretched their hands to Rabbi Shimon with the fingers straightened upward. They entered the field among the trees and sat down. Rabbi Shimon stood up and prayed his prayer, sat down among them and said: Let everyone place his hands in his bosom. Each one placed his hands IN HIS OWN BOSOM AND RABBI SHIMON accepted them. He opened the discussion saying, "Cursed be the man that makes any carved or molten idol, an abomination of Hashem, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret. And all the people" - ALL THE FRIENDS - "shall answer and say, 'Amen' " (Devarim 27:15).

Idra Raba: Verse 5

Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion with the verse: "It is time to act for Hashem: THEY HAVE MADE VOID YOUR TORAH" (TEHILIM 119:126), WHICH MEANS why is this a time to act for Hashem? Because "they have made void your Torah." What does "they have made void your Torah" mean? MEANING: They have made void the Torah above, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN, because she becomes void if she is not observed with her establishments, AS THE FOLLOWING WILL EXPLAIN. THIS VERSE was said to Atik Yomin (the Ancient of Days), WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF THE ROOT OF ALL CORRECTIONS (FORMATIONS), AS IN THE FOLLOWING EXPLANATION. It says, "Happy are you, Yisrael: who is like you" (Devarim 33:29), BECAUSE THEY ADHERE TO THE CENTRAL COLUMN and "Who is like you, Hashem, among the Elim" (Shemot 15:11). THIS APPLIES TO ZEIR ANPIN, WHO IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN.

Idra Raba: Verse 6

He called on his son Rabbi Elazar and made him sit in front of him. Rabbi Aba was on the other side and said: We are all inclusive, SINCE THE SOUL OF RABBI ELAZAR WAS OF CHOCHMAH AND THAT OF RABBI ABA WAS BINAH, AND RABBI SHIMON HIMSELF WAS DA'AT THAT UNIFIES CHOCHMAH AND BINAH TO EACH OTHER. THAT IS WHY HE SAID THAT THEY WERE ALL INCLUSIVE, SINCE CHOCHMAH, BINAH AND DA'AT INCLUDE ALL THE GRADES. Until now the pillars were constructed, MEANING THAT TO THIS POINT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN CORRECTING THE THREE COLUMNS, ALSO CALLED THREE PILLARS. They were silent. They heard a sound and their knees were knocking together BECAUSE OF FEAR. What was the sound? That was the sound of the friends above who were gathering, MEANING THE CHARIOTS OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE.

Idra Raba: Verse 7

Rabbi Shimon rejoiced and said, "Hashem, I have heard the report of you, and I was afraid" (Chavakuk 3:2). It was true there that he feared SINCE HIS ROOT WAS FROM THE LEFT COLUMN, BUT as for us WHO ARE UNITED WITH THE CENTRAL COLUMN, it comes from love, MEANING CHASSADIM, THAT ARE THE ASPECT OF LOVE, as it is written: "And you shall love [CG1]Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 6:5), and: "Because Hashem loved you" (Devarim 7:8) and also: "I have loved you..." (Malachi 1:2).

260518.Naso v130

Naso: Verse 130

If you wonder about Samson, who was a Nazirite to Elohim, why was he punished? HE REPLIES: It was proper for him, MEANING HE DESERVED THE PUNISHMENT because he joined in marriage with a gentile woman, MEANING DELILAH. He should have joined with his own kind, with what was appropriate for him, but he, who was holy, mingled that holiness with a daughter of a foreign El and abandoned his appropriate state of holiness. Therefore, he was punished.

Naso: Verse 131

Some say that he has no part in that world. Why is that? It is because he said, "Let my Nefesh die with the Philistines" (Shoftim 16:30) and he passed his lot with the lot of the Philistines, so that his Nefesh will die with them in that world. This is the way they used to proclaim to the Nazirite: 'Go all around - that you may not come near the vineyard.' The friends have already explained it.

Naso: Verse 132

Here is what is written about the Levites: "And thus shall you do to them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying on them, and let them shave all their flesh" (Bemidbar 8:7). As soon as they shave their hair and fulfill all this, the Levites are considered pure but not holy. But as soon as the Nazirite isolates from the side OF THE LEFT, he is considered holy and not pure. Thus, it is written: "All the days of his vow of his separation...during which he separates himself to Hashem, he shall be holy" (Bemidbar 6:5).

Naso: Verse 133

"And shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow" (Ibid.). It is because it is written: "And the hair of whose head was like pure wool" (Daniel 7:9). By this, he is similar to the higher, SINCE HIS HAIR DRAWS CHASSADIM AND WITHOUT JUDGMENT, SINCE HE IS WHOLLY OF THE RIGHT. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rav said: With his hair alone, it is apparent that he is holy, as it is written ABOUT THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE: "His locks are wavy" (Shir Hashirim 5:11).

Naso: Verse 134

Rabbi Shimon taught, If people would know what is spoken about this hair and its secret meaning, as it is ABOVE in the utmost secrecy, they would have distinguished themselves to their Master with the highest wisdom. Up to here have been the secrets of the Torah; from now on Sitrei Torah: "And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to Hashem" (Yeshayah 23:18).

Naso: Verse 135

"Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'In this way you shall bless'" (Bemidbar 6:22). Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion saying, "But the steadfast love of Hashem is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children" (Tehilim 103:17). How great is awe in the presence of the Holy One, blessed be He; that awe includes humility and humility includes piety. Thus whoever has fear of sin has them all. Whoever does not fear heaven has neither humility nor piety.

Naso: Verse 136

We have learned that whoever left the realm of awe but acquired humility, humility is better, and he has them all, as it is written: "The reward of humility and (is) the fear of Hashem" (Mishlei 22:4). All of those who have fear of heaven acquire humility, and everyone who has humility acquires piety. Everyone that has fear of heaven acquires all: humility, as it is written: "The reward of humility is the fear of Hashem," and piety (Chesed), as it is written: "But the steadfast love (Chesed) of Hashem is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him."

Naso: Verse 137

We learned that every man who has piety is referred to as the angel of Hashem, Hashem Tzva'ot. This is what is meant by: "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek Torah at his mouth: for he is a messenger (angel) of Hashem Tzva'ot" (Malachi 2:7). Rabbi Yehuda asked: Why did the priest merit to be referred to as the angel of Hashem Tzva'ot? Just like the angel of Hashem Tzva'ot is a priest above, IN HEAVEN, so too is a priest an angel of Hashem Tzva'ot below.

260513.Bamidbar v064

Bemidbar: Verse 61

Rabbi Elazar asked his father Rabbi Shimon: Where do we find this sign of unification, SO THAT WE DO NOT ERR? He told him: My son, although we explained this in many facets and THESE WORDS were scattered here and there, keep this sign in your hand. This is similar to the encircling of the altar, which we have previously learned. One should approach the south-east corner, north-east, north-west, and south-west, AS WE DESCRIBED BEFORE. So he asked him: It is inconceivable TO DO ANYTHING until a person accepts upon himself the yoke of the Holy Kingdom first and carries that yoke, yet you said he should first come to the south, WHICH IS CHESED.

Bemidbar: Verse 62

He said to him: I have already told you everything. I said first that one approaches the corner. And you know the hidden meaning of corner - THAT IS, MALCHUT, which is the yoke of holy Malchut. Following that is south-east; ONE SHOULD CONNECT THE SOUTH, CHESED, TO THE EAST, WHICH IS TIFERET, THE CENTRAL COLUMN, because there, IN THE EAST, is the Tree of Life, WHICH IS TIFERET. This is in order to bring together THE SOUTH with the east, who is supernal Aba, MEANING CHOCHMAH, ALSO CALLED 'SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA,' because the son, WHICH IS TIFERET, comes from the father's side - BECAUSE THE ROOT OF TIFERET IS IN THE CONCEALED DA'AT OF SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA. Hence, ONE UNITES from south to the east, for the fortitude of the south is in the east, NAMELY IN THE CONCEALED DA'AT OF SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EAST. And therefore it is imperative that south and east should be bound together.

Bemidbar: Verse 63

And east connects to the north, WHICH IS IN IMA, REFERRING TO BINAH, ALSO CALLED 'YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH,' FROM WHICH THE NORTH IS DRAWN FORTH - THAT IS, THE LEFT COLUMN, since it, MEANING BINAH, completes and fills the rivers and springs OF THE EAST, WHICH IS THE REVEALED DA'AT AND TIFERET. And therefore, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO UNITE north-east, MEANING TO CONNECT THE EAST WITH BINAH. However, these EAST AND NORTH are Aba and Ima that never separate, BECAUSE EAST IS DA'AT OF SUPERNAL ABA, THAT IS, THE SECRET OF SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA. DA'AT OF SUPERNAL ABA CLEAVES TO DA'AT OF SUPERNAL IMA, AND THE LEFT COLUMN THAT IS REVEALED IN HER THAT IS CALLED 'NORTH,' as we already explained. And the reason she, THE SUPERNAL IMA, is called northern (Heb. tzefonit), is because it is the supernal hidden one (Heb. tzefunah), and from her end the north emanates, WHICH IS THE LEFT COLUMN. THIS IS BECAUSE FROM ABA'S END, THE NORTH IS HIDDEN AND CONCEALED. The Judgments arise from her side, although she is merciful and happy. And we already explained it. When she, IMA, emerges, the north emanates from her; IT IS FROM HER THAT THE NORTH REVEALS ITSELF, because he, ABA, was included in and connected to the south, AND THE NORTH IS HIDDEN IN IT.

Bemidbar: Verse 64

Following that, HE WILL COME TO THE north-western CORNER. From Aba's side the son emerges, WHICH IS TIFERET, EAST. And from Ima's side, WHICH IS NORTH, the daughter emerges, WHICH IS MALCHUT, WEST. And because of that it is north-western; FROM NORTH WHICH IS IMA, TO WEST, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And that is the first corner, SINCE CORNER IS THE MEANING OF MALCHUT THAT ONE MUST ACCEPT UPON HIMSELF FIRST OF ALL. And now it is simply referred to as north, MEANING IN IMA AND LEFT COLUMN. Then one must connect it to the south, WHICH IS CHESED AND THE RIGHT COLUMN, where everything is connected, where the body, THAT IS, ZEIR ANPIN, is situated. SINCE ZEIR ANPIN EMANATES FROM ABA, AS MENTIONED ABOVE, HE IS THEREFORE CONTAINED COMPLETELY IN THE SOUTH, LIKE ABA, AND THE NORTH IS CONCEALED IN HIM. It is therefore in the south-west.

260512.Naso v127 - The Nazirite

Naso: Verse 127

עֲנָבִים אִימָּא תַּתָּאָה, דְּכָנִישׁ יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר לְגַוָּוהּ, וְעַל דָּא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִכָּל סְטָר שְׂמָאלָא, דְּלָא לְאַחֲזָאָה עוֹבָדָא דִּילְהוֹן לְגַבֵּיהּ. עֲנָבִים דָּא לָא תָּלֵי שַׂעֲרָא וְדִיקְנָא. דְּהָא נוּקְבָּא בַּעְיָיא לְסַפְּרָא שַׂעֲרָא, כַּד אַתְיָא לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא בִּדְכוּרָא, וְהָא דִּיקְנָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בָּהּ. בג"כ הוּא תָּלֵי שַׂעֲרָא דְּרֵישָׁא וְדִיקְנָא, וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה נְזִיר אֱלֹֹהִים אִקְרֵי, וְלָא נְזִיר יְיָ,' פָּרִישׁ מִדִּינָא כֹּלָּא.

Grapes pertain to the lower mother, MALCHUT, who gathers wine and strong drink to her. Therefore, THE NAZIRITE isolates himself from the entire left, FROM WINE AND STRONG DRINK AND GRAPES, so that none of its consequences are manifest in him. There are no hair and beard coming out of the grapes THAT ARE MALCHUT, since the female, WHICH IS MALCHUT, needs to cut her hair, THAT IS, BODY HAIR when she comes to have intercourse with the male, ZEIR ANPIN. And she has no beard. Therefore, THE NAZIRITE THAT IS FROM THE RIGHT WHERE THE ROOTS OF HAIR IS, IS OPPOSITE. The hair of the head and beard hang down, AND IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SHAVE THEM. The secret of this is that he is called "a Nazirite to Elohim" (Shoftim 13:7). HE IS ISOLATED FROM THE NAME ELOHIM THAT IS THE LEFT, and it is not 'Nazirite to Hashem,' WHICH IS THE RIGHT, SINCE HE is isolated entirely from Judgment. "NAZIRITE" MEANS ONE WHO SEPARATES HIMSELF.

Naso: Verse 128

ת"ח, עַל דָּא כְּתִיב, וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו מֵאֲשֶׁר חָטָא עַל הַנָּפֶשׁ וְגוֹ.' עַל נַפְשׁוֹ לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא עַל הַנָּפֶשׁ סְתָם. וּמַאי אִיהוּ. דָּא עֲנָבִים, דְּאִקְרֵי נֶפֶשׁ. וע"ד כְּתִיב חָטָא, בְּגִין דִּסְטָר דִּילֵיהּ יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר הוּא, וְגָרַע מִנֵּיהּ אֲתָר דִּינָא. חָטָא, מַאי חָטָא. אֶלָּא גָּרַע דִּינָא שֶׁל הַנֶּפֶשׁ.

Come and see, about this is written: "And make atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead (lit. 'Nefesh')..." It is not written: 'his Nefesh,' but simply "the Nefesh." What is that? These are grapes, MEANING MALCHUT, that are referred to as Nefesh. Hence a sin is mentioned, MEANING HE SINNED AGAINST MALCHUT, the aspect of which is that of wine and strong drink, AS MALCHUT IS BUILT MAINLY FROM THE LEFT. AND THE NAZIRITE took the place of Judgment, THAT IS, THE ILLUMINATION FROM THE LEFT, from it. HE ASKS, Why IS THIS CONSIDERED a sin? HE REPLIES: It is because HE SINNED BY depriving the Judgment from the Nefesh, MEANING THE ILLUMINATION OF ITS CHOCHMAH THAT IS DRAWN TOGETHER WITH THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LEFT.

Naso: Verse 129

אִי הָכִי, אֲמַאי וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו. בְּגִין דְּהַשְׁתָּא קָא אַתְיָא לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, וְלָא מְקַבְּלָן לֵיהּ הָנֵי אַתְרֵי, עַד דְּיִמָּלֵךְ בְּכַהֲנָא, וִיכַפֵּר עָלֵיהּ, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ שָׁדֵי לוֹן לְבַר בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, כֵּיוָן דְּהַשְׁתָּא אָתֵי לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, בָּעֵי לְאִתְחַבְּרָא תִּקּוּנָא דְּכַפָּרָה, וִיקַבְּלוּן לֵיהּ, וְדָא הוּא רָזָא דְּמִלָּה.

HE ASKS: If so, THAT A NAZIRITE ADHERES SO MUCH TO THE RIGHT, why IS IT WRITTEN FOLLOWING THAT: "And make atonement for him?" HE ANSWERS: Because he comes forth now, AFTER COMPLETING HIS ABSTENTION PERIOD, to adhere with them, WITH THE THREE ASPECTS OF THE LEFT COLUMN, AND TO BE ALLOWED WINE, STRONG DRINK AND GRAPES. These places do not accept him until he takes counsel with the priest who will atone for him, since originally he expelled them, BY ABSTAINING, and now that he returns to them he needs to adhere to Correction (formation) by atonement, so they will accept him. That is the mystical explanation of this.

Naso: Verse 130

If you wonder about Samson, who was a Nazirite to Elohim, why was he punished? HE REPLIES: It was proper for him, MEANING HE DESERVED THE PUNISHMENT because he joined in marriage with a gentile woman, MEANING DELILAH. He should have joined with his own kind, with what was appropriate for him, but he, who was holy, mingled that holiness with a daughter of a foreign El and abandoned his appropriate state of holiness. Therefore, he was punished.

260511.Naso v126 - The Nazirite

Rabbi Shimon continues by saying that the Nazirite must not cut his hair or shave because the roots of hair exist from the right side, and he is entirely isolated from judgment. After he comes back from isolation the priest must atone for him so that the Nazirite can again be allowed wine and strong drink and grapes. Rabbi Shimon says that Samson was punished because he took a gentile woman for a wife.Naso: Verse 126

ת"ח, דְּהָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא מִסִּפְרָא דְּרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא, וְהָכִי הוּא. כְּתִיב גַּדֵּל פֶּרַע שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ, בָּעֵי דְּיִּתְרְבֵּי שְׂעַר רֵישֵׁיהּ וְדִיקְנֵיהּ, וְיִתְפְּרִשׁ מִיַיִן וְשֵׁכָר וַעֲנָבִים, בְּגִין דְּכֻלְּהוּ סְטָר שְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא תַּלְיָין שַׂעֲרָא. יַיִן אִימָּא עִלָּאָה. שֵׁכָר סִטְרָא דַאֲחִידוּ בֵּיהּ לֵיוָאֵי וְנַפְקֵי מִיַיִן עִלָּאָה וְלָא תָּלֵי שַׂעֲרָא. ובג"כ כַּד סְלִיקוּ לֵיוָאֵי לְהַהוּא אֲתָר, בָּעֲיָין לְאַעְבְרָא כָּל שַׂעֲרָא דִּלְהוֹן, כד"א וְהֶעֱבִירוּ תַעַר עַל כָּל בְּשָׂרָם.

Come and see what I have learned from the book of Rav Hamnuna Saba (the elder). It is written: "And shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow" (Bemidbar 6:5). He must allow the hair on his head and beard to grow, and abstain from wine, strong drink and grapes, since they all pertain to the left side, but the hairs do not originate IN THEM. Wine is supernal Ima, while strong drink is of the left, to which the Levites are connected and stem from the uppermost wine, MEANING FROM SUPERNAL IMA and the hairs have no involvement WITH THEM. Therefore, when the Levites ascend to this place, TO THE LEFT, they must shave all their hair, as is said; "And let them shave all their flesh" (Bemidbar 8:7).

Naso: Verse 127

עֲנָבִים אִימָּא תַּתָּאָה, דְּכָנִישׁ יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר לְגַוָּוהּ, וְעַל דָּא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִכָּל סְטָר שְׂמָאלָא, דְּלָא לְאַחֲזָאָה עוֹבָדָא דִּילְהוֹן לְגַבֵּיהּ. עֲנָבִים דָּא לָא תָּלֵי שַׂעֲרָא וְדִיקְנָא. דְּהָא נוּקְבָּא בַּעְיָיא לְסַפְּרָא שַׂעֲרָא, כַּד אַתְיָא לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא בִּדְכוּרָא, וְהָא דִּיקְנָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בָּהּ. בג"כ הוּא תָּלֵי שַׂעֲרָא דְּרֵישָׁא וְדִיקְנָא, וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה נְזִיר אֱלֹֹהִים אִקְרֵי, וְלָא נְזִיר יְיָ,' פָּרִישׁ מִדִּינָא כֹּלָּא.

Grapes pertain to the lower mother, MALCHUT, who gathers wine and strong drink to her. Therefore, THE NAZIRITE isolates himself from the entire left, FROM WINE AND STRONG DRINK AND GRAPES, so that none of its consequences are manifest in him. There are no hair and beard coming out of the grapes THAT ARE MALCHUT, since the female, WHICH IS MALCHUT, needs to cut her hair, THAT IS, BODY HAIR when she comes to have intercourse with the male, ZEIR ANPIN. And she has no beard. Therefore, THE NAZIRITE THAT IS FROM THE RIGHT WHERE THE ROOTS OF HAIR IS, IS OPPOSITE. The hair of the head and beard hang down, AND IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SHAVE THEM. The secret of this is that he is called "a Nazirite to Elohim" (Shoftim 13:7). HE IS ISOLATED FROM THE NAME ELOHIM THAT IS THE LEFT, and it is not 'Nazirite to Hashem,' WHICH IS THE RIGHT, SINCE HE is isolated entirely from Judgment. "NAZIRITE" MEANS ONE WHO SEPARATES HIMSELF.

260510.Naso v124 - The Nazirite

Rabbi Aba wonders why someone who has made the vow of a Nazirite to be sanctified with holiness is not allowed to eat grapes. Rabbi Shimon answers that wine and strong drink and grapes are all attached to the same aspect, that is of the Left Column, and it is inappropriate for a Nazirite to do anything of the left side.

Naso: Verse 125

אֶלָּא, עוֹבָדָא דָּא, וּמִלָּה דָּא, רָזָא עִלָּאָה הוּא, לְאִתְפָּרְשָׁא מִן דִּינָא בְּכֹלָּא. וְהָא יְדִיעָא הַהוּא אִילָנָא דְּחָב בֵּיהּ אָדָם קַדְמָאָה, עֲנָבִים הֲווֹ. וְדָא הוּא רָזָא דְּמִלָּה, דְּהָא יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר וַעֲנָבִים, בְּסִטְרָא חַד אִתְאֲחָדוּ. יַיִן לְעֵילָּא וְאוֹקְמוּהָ. שֵׁכָר לִשְׂמָאלָא, דְּהָא שֵׁכָר מִיַיִן נָפְקָא. עֲנָבִים דְּכָנִישׁ כֻּלְּהוּ לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, וְדָא הוּא אִילָנָא דְּחָב בֵּיהּ אָדָם קַדְמָאָה. בג"כ כֹּלָּא בְּחַד סִטְרָא אִתְאֲחָד. וְאִי תֵּימָא דְּהַאי נָזִיר שָׁבִיק מְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה. לָאו הָכִי, אֶלָּא לָא אִתְחֲזֵי בֵּיהּ עוֹבָדָא מִסְּטַר שְׂמָאלָא כְּלוּם.

HE RESPONDS: This procedure and prohibition is of the highest secret, THAT THE NAZIRITE IS to isolate himself entirely from Judgment MORE SO THAN A PRIEST. It is known that the tree by which Adam sinned was a grapevine. That is the secret of it, that wine and strong drink and grapes are attached to the same aspect, WHICH IS OF THE LEFT COLUMN; wine above, TO THE LEFT COLUMN OF BINAH, THAT IS REFERRED TO THERE AS THE PRESERVED WINE as explained. Strong drink is to the left OF ZEIR ANPIN, since strong drink is produced from wine. SO TOO THE LEFT COLUMN OF ZEIR ANPIN IS DRAWN FROM THE LEFT COLUMN OF BINAH. Grapes gather everything to them, SINCE THEY ARE MALCHUT THAT RECEIVES FROM EVERYTHING ABOVE, and that is the tree by which Adam sinned. Consequently, all of them are connected to the same side, THE LEFT OF BINAH, OF ZEIR ANPIN AND OF MALCHUT. If you say that this Nazirite has abandoned the supreme Faith, BY NOT RECEIVING FROM THE SUPERNAL BINAH, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, it is not so. It is just not appropriate for him to do anything of the left side.

260506.Haazinu - Idra Zuta ver037

Ha'azinu: Verse 37

Three heads were imprinted, one inside another, THAT IS, CONCEALED CHOCHMAH INSIDE THE SKULL and one over another, NAMELY THE UNKNOWN HEAD ABOVE THE SKULL. HE EXPLAINS, One head is concealed Chochmah, which is undisclosed and unopened. This concealed Chochmah is a beginning to every other beginning of other Chochmot. THIS IS THE FIRST HEAD FROM BELOW UPWARDS. THE SECOND HEAD is a supernal head, the most obscured Atika Kadisha, WHICH IS THE SKULL OF ARICH ANPIN. THE THIRD HEAD THAT IS LOFTY ABOVE EVERYTHING IS the head for every head, a head that is not a head, THAT IS, ITS BEING A HEAD INDICATES IT IS A BEGINNING OF EXPANSION AND COMPREHENSION, YET THIS HEAD IS ENTIRELY INCOMPREHENSIBLE because no one knows nor is it known what is in this head, because it is attached neither to Chochmah nor to Tevunah. It is thus considered, "Therefore now flee to your place" (Bemidbar 24:11), "and the living creatures ran and returned" (Yechezkel 1:14), BECAUSE NO COMPREHENSION CAN APPLY THERE.

Ha'azinu: Verse 38

For this reason Atika Kadisha, WHICH IS THE SKULL OF ARICH ANPIN is called naught, since naught derives from it, FROM THE UNKNOWN HEAD. THAT IS, SINCE THIS HEAD, THE SKULL, IS CLOSE TO THE UNKNOWN HEAD, WHICH IS UTTERLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE, IT TOO IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE, AND IS THEREFORE CALLED NAUGHT, WHICH INDICATES ITS COMPLETE INCOMPREHENSIBILITY. FOR THAT REASON all hairs and tiny hairs OVER THE SKULL DO NOT COME OUT OF THE SKULL BECAUSE NO JUDGMENTS ARE ATTACHED TO IT, BUT they come out of the concealed brain, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPANSION OF CHOCHMAH. FOR SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH SPREADS FROM IT; THIS CHOCHMAH IS EVENTUALLY REVEALED IN MALCHUT WHERE THERE IS PLACE FOR JUDGMENTS. AND THE HAIRS ARE THE ROOT OF JUDGMENTS, AS IN, "FOR HE CRUSHES ME WITH A TEMPEST (OR: 'A HAIR')" (IYOV 9:17). HENCE THE HAIR OF THE HEAD AND BEARD COME OUT OF THE CONCEALED BRAIN, THOUGH IN THIS CASE THERE ARE NO JUDGMENTS IN THE HAIRS, BUT ROOTS ONLY. THEREFORE they are all smooth, THAT IS, SOFT WITHOUT JUDGMENT. AND THEY ARE ALL EQUAL in weight, BECAUSE EVERYTHING HERE IS OF THE SAME LIGHT OF MERCY and the back of the neck is invisible, WHICH INDICATES JUDGMENTS AND HIND PARTS, ACCORDING TO THE VERSE, "AND THEY HAVE TURNED THEIR BACK TO ME, AND NOT THEIR FACE" (YIRMEYAH 32:33).

Ha'azinu: Verse 39

All this stems from the fact that this Atika is of the same LIGHT, NAMELY THE REIGN OF CHASSADIM, WHICH IS WHY THERE IS NO ROOM FOR JUDGMENT TO APPEAR. It is all in joy and never changes FROM THE ILLUMINATION of Mercy. THAT IS, THOUGH WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THREE COLUMNS, RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRAL IN IT, IT NEVER STRAYS FROM THE ASPECT OF THE RIGHT COLUMN, AND IS EVER OF MERCY AND CHASSADIM IN NATURE. It abides in the thirteen attributes of Mercy, because the hidden Chochmah in it divides three times into fours, WHICH IS TWELVE, and it (Atika ITSELF) includes them and rules over everything. TOGETHER WITH IT, THERE ARE THIRTEEN ATTRIBUTES.

Ha'azinu: Verse 40

One path shines in THE MIDDLE OF the division of the hairs that come out of the CONCEALED brain, WHICH IS CONCEALED CHOCHMAH. It is the path where the righteous shine in the World to Come, as it is written, "But the path of just men is like the gleam of sunlight" (Mishlei 4:18), "then shall you delight yourself in Hashem..." (Yeshayah 58:14). From this path shine all other paths that derive from Zeir Anpin, WHICH ARE 613 PATHS.

260506.Haazinu - Idra Zuta ver033

Ha'azinu: Verse 33

When it was established it produced nine lights, WHICH ARE THE NINE SFIROT KETER, CHOCHMAH, BINAH, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ARICH ANPIN, THE GARMENTS OF WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA, MALE AND FEMALE, that glow from it, FROM THE UNKNOWN HEAD from its establishments. These NINE lights shine from it WITH CHASSADIM, glow from it WITH GVUROT, and spread in every direction BOTH TO CHOCHMAH AND TO CHASSADIM like a candle from which lights stream in every direction. When one approaches to observe the spreading lights, only the candle alone can be observed. THAT IS, THE CANDLE AND THE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE ARE NOT TWO THINGS, SINCE THE LIGHT SPREADING FROM IT HAS NO SELF-EXISTENCE OR POWER, BECAUSE ALL ITS EXISTENCE LIES WITHIN THAT CANDLE. IF YOU TAKE THE CANDLE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, THE LIGHTS SHALL SPREAD IN A DIFFERENT PLACE AND NOTHING WILL REMAIN OF THEM IN THE FORMER PLACE. Such is Atika Kadisha. It is a lofty, most hidden candle, incomprehensible save for the lights spreading FROM IT, SOME OF WHICH ARE revealed and SOME OF WHICH ARE hidden. They are called the Holy Name. BUT THE LIGHTS SPREADING FROM ATIKA KADISHA HAVE NO SELF-EXISTENCE, HEAVEN FORBID; ALL THEIR EXISTENCE IS WITHIN ATIKA KADISHA, THOUGH THEY ARE COMPREHENSIBLE AND ATIKA KADISHA IS NOT, LIKE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE. For that reason it is all one.

Ha'azinu: Verse 34

The friends have said in ancient books THAT THE CHANGES SPREADING FROM IT are created grades, THAT IS, THEY COME INTO BEING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENTS CREATED, and that Atika Kadisha is revealed through each of them, since they are the constructions of Atika Kadisha. THAT IS, THEY ARE TYPES OF COVERS OVER THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BLESSED ENDLESS LIGHT AND THROUGH THESE COVERS THE LOWER BEINGS ARE ABLE TO COMPREHEND IT. ITS CREATION IS IN RELATION TO PEOPLE, BUT IN THE LIGHT ITSELF THERE IS NO CHANGE, HEAVEN FORBID. THIS IS LIKE A MAN WHO PUTS ON CLOTHES TO APPEAR BEFORE HIS NEIGHBORS. THAT MAN IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL BY THESE COVERS, THOUGH OTHERS ARE. This is not the time for these matters, because I have already spoken of them in the holy Idra. BUT NOW I realize what I have not known that well, which until now was hidden in my heart. Now I alone testify before the Holy King and BEFORE all the truly righteous who came to hear these matters.

Ha'azinu: Verse 35

The skull, NAMELY KETER, of the white head, NAMELY THE HEAD OF ARICH ANPIN, WHICH IS WHOLLY WHITE, THE SECRET OF THE REIGN OF CHESED, has neither beginning nor ending FOR REVEALING CHOCHMAH, THE SECRET OF SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH AND LOWER CHOCHMAH. FOR THE FLOW OF CHOCHMAH AND THE FLOW OF CHASSADIM ARE JOINED IN IT INTO ONE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM. Its joint flow spreads and shines FROM IT, and from it the righteous receive 400 desirable worlds for the World to Come. From the joint flow, which is the white head, dew drips, NAMELY PLENTY, daily to Zeir Anpin, which is a place called heaven. With it, THAT DEW, the dead shall be resurrected in the future to come, as it is written, "therefore Elohim give you of the dew of heaven" (Beresheet 27:28), NAMELY THE DEW OF ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED HEAVEN, and His head is filled. From Zeir Anpin it flows to the field of apple trees, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the whole field of apple trees radiates with this dew.

260504.Haazinu - Idra Zuta ver033

Ha'azinu: Verse 33

When it was established it produced nine lights, WHICH ARE THE NINE SFIROT KETER, CHOCHMAH, BINAH, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ARICH ANPIN, THE GARMENTS OF WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA, MALE AND FEMALE, that glow from it, FROM THE UNKNOWN HEAD from its establishments. These NINE lights shine from it WITH CHASSADIM, glow from it WITH GVUROT, and spread in every direction BOTH TO CHOCHMAH AND TO CHASSADIM like a candle from which lights stream in every direction. When one approaches to observe the spreading lights, only the candle alone can be observed. THAT IS, THE CANDLE AND THE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE ARE NOT TWO THINGS, SINCE THE LIGHT SPREADING FROM IT HAS NO SELF-EXISTENCE OR POWER, BECAUSE ALL ITS EXISTENCE LIES WITHIN THAT CANDLE. IF YOU TAKE THE CANDLE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, THE LIGHTS SHALL SPREAD IN A DIFFERENT PLACE AND NOTHING WILL REMAIN OF THEM IN THE FORMER PLACE. Such is Atika Kadisha. It is a lofty, most hidden candle, incomprehensible save for the lights spreading FROM IT, SOME OF WHICH ARE revealed and SOME OF WHICH ARE hidden. They are called the Holy Name. BUT THE LIGHTS SPREADING FROM ATIKA KADISHA HAVE NO SELF-EXISTENCE, HEAVEN FORBID; ALL THEIR EXISTENCE IS WITHIN ATIKA KADISHA, THOUGH THEY ARE COMPREHENSIBLE AND ATIKA KADISHA IS NOT, LIKE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE. For that reason it is all one.

Ha'azinu: Verse 34

The friends have said in ancient books THAT THE CHANGES SPREADING FROM IT are created grades, THAT IS, THEY COME INTO BEING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENTS CREATED, and that Atika Kadisha is revealed through each of them, since they are the constructions of Atika Kadisha. THAT IS, THEY ARE TYPES OF COVERS OVER THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BLESSED ENDLESS LIGHT AND THROUGH THESE COVERS THE LOWER BEINGS ARE ABLE TO COMPREHEND IT. ITS CREATION IS IN RELATION TO PEOPLE, BUT IN THE LIGHT ITSELF THERE IS NO CHANGE, HEAVEN FORBID. THIS IS LIKE A MAN WHO PUTS ON CLOTHES TO APPEAR BEFORE HIS NEIGHBORS. THAT MAN IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL BY THESE COVERS, THOUGH OTHERS ARE. This is not the time for these matters, because I have already spoken of them in the holy Idra. BUT NOW I realize what I have not known that well, which until now was hidden in my heart. Now I alone testify before the Holy King and BEFORE all the truly righteous who came to hear these matters.

Ha'azinu: Verse 35

The skull, NAMELY KETER, of the white head, NAMELY THE HEAD OF ARICH ANPIN, WHICH IS WHOLLY WHITE, THE SECRET OF THE REIGN OF CHESED, has neither beginning nor ending FOR REVEALING CHOCHMAH, THE SECRET OF SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH AND LOWER CHOCHMAH. FOR THE FLOW OF CHOCHMAH AND THE FLOW OF CHASSADIM ARE JOINED IN IT INTO ONE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM. Its joint flow spreads and shines FROM IT, and from it the righteous receive 400 desirable worlds for the World to Come. From the joint flow, which is the white head, dew drips, NAMELY PLENTY, daily to Zeir Anpin, which is a place called heaven. With it, THAT DEW, the dead shall be resurrected in the future to come, as it is written, "therefore Elohim give you of the dew of heaven" (Beresheet 27:28), NAMELY THE DEW OF ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED HEAVEN, and His head is filled. From Zeir Anpin it flows to the field of apple trees, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the whole field of apple trees radiates with this dew.

Ha'azinu: Verse 36

This Atika Kadisha, WHICH IS ARICH ANPIN, is hidden and obscured, and concealed supernal Chochmah OF ARICH ANPIN is in that skull, WHICH IS KETER OF ARICH ANPIN. Surely only the head alone was exposed in that Atika, because it is the beginning (or: 'head') of every beginning. Supernal Chochmah, which is a head, is hidden within it, THE HEAD OF ARICH ANPIN, and is called the supernal brain, the covered brain, the subdued and quiet brain. None can comprehend it save it itself.

260503.Haazinu - (Idra Zuta) ver023

Ha'azinu: Verse 23

We learned that on the day Rabbi Shimon wanted to depart from the world, and was putting his affairs in order, the friends gathered in the house of Rabbi Shimon. Before him were Rabbi Elazar, his son, and Rabbi Aba and other friends, and the house was full. Rabbi Shimon lifted up his eyes and saw that the house had become full. Rabbi Shimon wept and said, Another time when I was ill, Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was before me, and they waited for me until I inquired about my place IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. When I returned, a fire circled me, which never stopped. No one entered MY HOUSE except by permission. Now I see THE FIRE stopped, and behold the house is full.

Ha'azinu: Verse 24

While they were sitting, Rabbi Shimon opened his eyes and saw what he saw, and fire encircled the house. Everybody left, and only Rabbi Elazar his son and Rabbi Aba remained, while the rest of the friends stayed outside. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Elazar his son, Go out and see if Rabbi Yitzchak is here, because I was a guarantor for him. Tell him to settle his affairs and sit by me. Happy is his portion.

Ha'azinu: Verse 25

Rabbi Shimon rose and sat down, laughed and rejoiced. He said, Where are the friends? Rabbi Elazar rose and let them in, and they sat before him. Rabbi Shimon raised his hands, recited a prayer and was glad. He said, Let the friends that were present at the assembly, NAMELY THE IDRA RABA, come here. They all left, and Rabbi Elazar his son, Rabbi Aba, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya stayed. In the meanwhile Rabbi Yitzchak entered. Rabbi Shimon said to him, How deserved is your portion. How much joy should be added to you on this day. Rabbi Aba sat behind him and Rabbi Elazar before him.

Ha'azinu: Verse 26

Rabbi Shimon said, Now it is time of goodwill, and I want to come without shame into the World to Come. Here are holy matters that I have not revealed until now. I wish to reveal them before the Shechinah so it shall not be said that I have gone from this world in want - until now they have been hidden in my heart, so I can enter through them into the World to Come.

Ha'azinu: Verse 27

This is how I am going to arrange you: Rabbi Aba shall write, Rabbi Elazar, my son, shall recite orally, and the other friends shall speak in their hearts. Rabbi Aba rose from behind his back. Rabbi Elazar was sitting in front of him. RABBI SHIMON said to him, Rise my son, for another shall sit in this place. Rabbi Elazar rose.

Ha'azinu: Verse 28

Rabbi Shimon wrapped himself IN HIS GARMENT, and sat down. He started by saying, "The dead cannot praise Yah, nor can any who go down into silence (Heb. dumah)" (Tehilim 115:17). Surely "The dead cannot praise Yah," those who are considered dead, because the Holy One, blessed be He, is called living and dwells among those who are called living, NAMELY THE RIGHTEOUS, and not with those that are considered dead, NAMELY THE WICKED. The end of the verse PROVES IT, as it is written, "nor can any who go down into Dumah," namely all those who go down to THE ANGEL Dumah, and remain in Gehenom. But it is not so with those who are called living, THE RIGHTEOUS, that the Holy One, blessed be He, delights to honor.

260430.Emor ver134

Emor: Verse 134

Rabbi Yosi said, Why should we bother so much? There is a whole verse to the effect that that night the supernal holy union is awakened and is present. This is the meaning of, "It is a night of watchfulness to Hashem." Why is watchfulness WITH A PLURAL SUFFIX? HE ANSWERS THAT IT ALLUDES TO two, which are the union of the moon with the sun, MALCHUT AND ZEIR ANPIN. "For all the children of Yisrael in their generations" (Ibid.) MEANS THAT from now on YISRAEL are united and connected with the bond of the Holy Name, and have come out from another dominion. For that reason, they prepare themselves on the fourteenth and burn all the leaven among them and enter into a holy dominion. Then the groom and bride, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, are crowned with the crowns of supernal Ima, BINAH, and man should show himself free, SINCE THE MOCHIN OF SUPERNAL IMA ARE CALLED FREEDOM.

Emor: Verse 135

Rabbi Yosi said, What is the purpose of the four cups on that night? Rabbi Aba said, The friends explained they correspond to the four redemptions, "AND I WILL BRING...AND I WILL DELIVER... AND I WILL REDEEM...AND I WILL TAKE" (SHEMOT 6:6-7). This is well EXPLAINED in the book of Rav Yesa Saba, who said that since the holy union abounds that night in all directions, BOTH IN CHOCHMAH AND CHASSADIM, the union is formed with four bonds, or four grades that are inseparable when this union is present, WHICH ARE CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT. And we are awakened by their joy, AND DRINK FOUR CORRESPONDING CUPS, because we attained them, since whoever is attached to it, TO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE UNION, attains all FOUR GRADES, CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT. For that reason this night is different than all other nights, and it behooves us to make AND UNIFY this name in every way, and rejoice that night since it is joy above and below.

Emor: Verse 136

He further said that these four, CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, are called four redemptions. The reason is that the last grade, MALCHUT, is called 'redeemer,' NAMELY the redeeming angel. It is only called redeemer through a higher superior grade, TIFERET, that is situated over it and shines upon it. It, TIFERET, only brings light upon it by means of the two grades above it, CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, FROM WHICH TIFERET RECEIVES. Thus these four, CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, are the four redemptions, SINCE THEY ARE CONNECTED TO MALCHUT CALLED REDEEMER.

Emor: Verse 137

Rabbi Yehuda asked Rabbi Aba: It says, "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses" (Shemot 12:19), and there is joy all those seven. Why is no complete Hallel (Prayer of Thanksgiving) recited throughout the seven days OF PESACH as in Sukkot, where we daily recite Hallel with complete joy?

Emor: Verse 138

He said to him, Well asked. But it is known that here, ON PESACH, Yisrael are not bonded as wholly as they were later, because on that FIRST night when the union OF MALE AND FEMALE is present and overall joy, and Yisrael are bonded with that joy, we bring about perfection and the Hallel is complete. But later, THROUGHOUT THE DAYS OF PESACH, even though they are all present, ALL SEVEN GRADES, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT THAT SHINE IN THE SEVEN DAYS OF PESACH, Yisrael have not yet connected to them, nor uncovered the corona so the holy imprint will be revealed in them. Nor did they receive the Torah or enter those GRADES, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT, as they did later. For that reason on Sukkot there is overall perfection and overall joy IS IN IT to the utmost. But here ON PESACH they have not yet attained, and there was not so much perfection in them. Even though all seven are present, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT OF ZEIR ANPIN DURING THE SEVEN DAYS OF PESACH, they are not revealed, and Yisrael were not well connected with them yet, UNTIL AFTER THE GIVING OF THE TORAH.