260903.Tikunei Zohar

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260902.Rosh Hashana

260901.Vayera v381

Vayera: Verse 381

תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּגַוְונָא דָא, בְּיוֹם ר"ה, וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דְּדִינָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעָלְמָא, אִיהוּ קָאֵים לְקַטְרְגָא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעְיָין לְאִתְעָרָא בְּשׁוֹפָר, וּלְאַתְעָרָא קוֹל, דְּכָלֵיל בְּאֶשָׁ"א וּמַיָ"א וְרוּחָ"א, וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ חָד, וּלְאַשְׁמָעָא הַהוּא קוֹל, מִגּוֹ שׁוֹפָר.

Come and behold, the same applies for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim, when Judgment hovers over the world and the Satan is there to prosecute. The children of Yisrael should be aroused by the Shofar, to create a voice (also: 'sound') that is a combination of water, fire, and wind, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET, which become one in it, and sound that voice from within the Shofar.

Vayera: Verse 382

וְהַהוּא קוֹל, סָלְקָא עַד אֲתַר, דְּכָרְסְיָיא דְדִינָא יָתְבָא, וּבָטַשׁ בָּהּ, וְסָלְקָא, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַאי קוֹל מִתַּתָּא, קוֹל דְּיַעֲקֹב אִתְתַּקַּן לְעֵילָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְעַר רַחֲמֵי, דְּהָא כְּגַוְונָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְעָרֵי לְתַתָּא, קוֹל חַד, כָּלֵיל בְּאֶשָׁ"א וְרוּחָ"א וּמַיָ"א, דְּנָפְקֵי כַּחֲדָא, מִגּוֹ שׁוֹפָר, הָכֵי נָמֵי אִתְעַר לְעֵילָא שׁוֹפָר, וְהַהוּא קוֹל דְּכָלֵיל בְּאֶשָׁ"א וּמַיָ"א וְרוּחָ"א אִתְתַּקַּן, וּנְפַק דָּא מִתַּתָּא, וְדָא מֵעֵילָא, וְאִתְתַּקַּן עָלְמָא, וְרַחֲמֵי אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ.

And this voice rises up to the Throne of Judgment, strikes it, and rises further. And after this voice has reached above, then the voice of Jacob is established on high and the Holy One, blessed be He, is aroused with Mercy. Just as Yisrael uses the Shofar to release a voice from below, which includes fire, water, and air, so a voice is released from on high from the supernal Shofar, WHICH IS BINAH. THE POWER TO BLOW THE SHOFAR IS FIRE, AND THE VOICE IS FORMED BY THE AIR. THE AIR IS MINGLED WITH SWEAT AND HOT BREATH, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF WATER, AND THESE AROUSE THE THREE UPPER COLUMNS OF BINAH, FROM WHERE THE MOCHIN ARE DRAWN DOWN TO ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. And this voice, which consists of fire, water, and air, AND HAS RISEN FROM BELOW; it is established and appears from below, and another appears from above. So the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is established and Mercy prevails.

Vayera: Verse 383

וְהַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא אִעַרְבֵּב, דַּחֲשִׁיב לְשַׁלְטָאָה בְּדִינָא, וּלְקַטְרְגָא בְּעָלְמָא, וְחָמֵי דְּמִתְעָרֵי רַחֲמֵי, כְּדֵין אִעַרְבֵּב, וְאִתְּשַׁשׁ חֵילֵיהּ, וְלָא יָכֵיל לְמֶעְבַּד מִדֵי, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דָּאִין עָלְמָא בְּרַחֲמֵי, דְּאִי תֵימָא דְדִינָא אִתְעֲבֵיד, לָאו הָכֵי, אֶלָּא אִתְחַבָּרוּ רַחֲמֵי בְּדִינָא, וְעָלְמָא אִתְדָּן בְּרַחֲמֵי.

Now the prosecutor is confused, because he thought that by executing Judgment, he would punish the world. But when he realizes that Mercy was aroused, he is perplexed, his strength fails, and he is unable to do anything. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the world with Mercy. You may say that Judgment has been executed, but it is not so. Judgment and Mercy are joined, and the world is judged Mercifully.

Vayera: Verse 384

Come and behold. It is written, "Blow the Shofar at the new moon, at the time appointed (lit. 'when the moon is covered') on our solemn feast day" (Tehilim 81:4), when the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is covered, because at that time, AS A RESULT OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT, that evil Serpent prevails and may bring harm to the world. But when Mercy is aroused BY BLOWING THE SHOFAR, the moon rises and moves away FROM THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT. THUS, THE SATAN is confused and loses control. Then he is removed FROM THE MOON and never comes near again. This is why on Rosh Hashanah, THE SATAN IS dumbfounded, as is a person who has just been awakened and is still half asleep.

260831.Vayera v381

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim

Through the Zohar, various mysteries about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are revealed. The penetrating sound of the Shofar has the power to confuse the negative angel called Satan, who acts as prosecutor during these days of judgment and repentance. The ten days that fall between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are likened to a great gift. This period provides us with the chance to remove all the negativity and decrees of judgment that we have brought down upon ourselves through our wrongful actions over the prior year. The prerequisite for accomplishing this goal is accountability and genuine, permanent change in our character.

The act of repentance is a profound tool available to each of us anytime we truly choose to change our ways. The energy radiating from the verses revealing the hidden mysteries of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, allows us to continually draw upon the forces of purification throughout the entire year.

Vayera: Verse 381

Come and behold, the same applies for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim, when Judgment hovers over the world and the Satan is there to prosecute. The children of Yisrael should be aroused by the Shofar, to create a voice (also: 'sound') that is a combination of water, fire, and wind, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET, which become one in it, and sound that voice from within the Shofar.

Vayera: Verse 382

And this voice rises up to the Throne of Judgment, strikes it, and rises further. And after this voice has reached above, then the voice of Jacob is established on high and the Holy One, blessed be He, is aroused with Mercy. Just as Yisrael uses the Shofar to release a voice from below, which includes fire, water, and air, so a voice is released from on high from the supernal Shofar, WHICH IS BINAH. THE POWER TO BLOW THE SHOFAR IS FIRE, AND THE VOICE IS FORMED BY THE AIR. THE AIR IS MINGLED WITH SWEAT AND HOT BREATH, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF WATER, AND THESE AROUSE THE THREE UPPER COLUMNS OF BINAH, FROM WHERE THE MOCHIN ARE DRAWN DOWN TO ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. And this voice, which consists of fire, water, and air, AND HAS RISEN FROM BELOW; it is established and appears from below, and another appears from above. So the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is established and Mercy prevails.

Vayera: Verse 383

Now the prosecutor is confused, because he thought that by executing Judgment, he would punish the world. But when he realizes that Mercy was aroused, he is perplexed, his strength fails, and he is unable to do anything. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the world with Mercy. You may say that Judgment has been executed, but it is not so. Judgment and Mercy are joined, and the world is judged Mercifully.

Vayera: Verse 384

Come and behold. It is written, "Blow the Shofar at the new moon, at the time appointed (lit. 'when the moon is covered') on our solemn feast day" (Tehilim 81:4), when the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is covered, because at that time, AS A RESULT OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT, that evil Serpent prevails and may bring harm to the world. But when Mercy is aroused BY BLOWING THE SHOFAR, the moon rises and moves away FROM THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT. THUS, THE SATAN is confused and loses control. Then he is removed FROM THE MOON and never comes near again. This is why on Rosh Hashanah, THE SATAN IS dumbfounded, as is a person who has just been awakened and is still half asleep.

Vayera: Verse 385

On Yom Hakippurim, we should pacify and appease THE SATAN by offering him a scapegoat. BY SENDING IT TO THE DESERT, WHICH IS HIS PLACE, then he will become a defender for Yisrael. But on Rosh Hashanah, he is confused, and loses his abilities. He does not know, nor is he able to do anything, as he sees Mercy aroused from below and endowed from on high. And the moon, WHICH IS THE MALCHUT, rises in between them. This is when he is perplexed and no longer knows anything. Thus, he loses his power.

260830.Baal Shem Tov

260813.Shoftim v015

Shoftim: Verse 15

That is what the scripture says, "Blow a Shofar at the new moon, at the covering on our feast day" (Ibid.), meaning the area to which the Shechinah ascended. Regarding this, it is said, 'Do not investigate into what is hidden from you.' The iniquities that are in concealment need to be judged there between himself and his Creator. About the iniquities he committed in public, it is written: "He that covers up his sins shall not prosper" (Mishlei 28:13). The Shechinah from the side of Keter is the hidden world and the sages of the Mishnah have explained that a person needs to connect HIS INIQUITIES to that place, WHICH IS KETER. At that time, a period of Mercy arrives and Judgment passes away. Therefore, he recommends to connect ONE'S INIQUITIES TO KETER, to free him from the testimony OF MALCHUT. However, the wicked is not acquitted.

Shoftim: Verse 16

Furthermore, the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Shechinah give CONSTANT testimony about the person AND NOT ONLY ON ROSH HASHANAH, AS MENTIONED. This is what is written: "I call heaven and earth to witnesses against you this day" (Devarim 4:26). Heaven is the one about which is written: "hear You (in) heaven" (I Melachim 8:32), THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN. Earth is the one about which is written, "and the earth is My footstool" (Yeshayah 66:1), THAT IS MALCHUT. In addition, the two witnesses are the Central Column, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, and the Righteous IS YESOD. They are Ayin and Dalet of Sh'ma and Echad (lit. 'one'), NAMELY AYIN FROM THE SPELLING OF SH'MA, AND DALET FROM ECHAD. THIS IS THE WITNESS (HEB. ED, AYIN-DALET) FROM THE ASPECT OF ZEIR ANPIN; there is another witness from, 'blessed is the Name of the glory of His Kingdom forever and ever (Heb. va'ed),' NAMELY ED FROM THE WORD 'VA'ED,' WHICH IS A WITNESS FROM THE ASPECT OF YESOD IN ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN MALCHUT.

Shoftim: Verse 17

"At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death" (Devarim 17:6). That is Samael, who is essentially dead: "they carried it between two on a pole" (Bemidbar 13:23). "But at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death" (Devarim 17:6), meaning he shall have no portion in the one El.

Shoftim: Verse 18

"If a false witness rise up against any man...and the judges shall make diligent inquiry...then shall you do to him as he had thought to have done to his brother" (Devarim 19:16-19). This precept is to examine the witnesses seven times before sentencing one to death. The seven examinations are seven that correspond to: "those seven...the eyes of Hashem, they rove to and fro through the whole earth" (Zecharyah 4:10). THEY ARE THE SECRET OF CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT. Regarding them, it is said: "and will chastise you seven times for your sins" (Vayikra 26:28).

Shoftim: Verse 19

The following precept is to do to a witness convicted of false testimony as he thought to do to his brother. If the two false witnesses, Samael and the serpent, come to give false testimony against Yisrael that they confused between Vav and Zayin, NAMELY BETWEEN ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT, THAT IS ZAYIN. MEANING, THEY HAVE SINNED AND DISTANCED BY THEIR SIN THE VAV, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, FROM THE ZAYIN, WHICH IS MALCHUT, which are the letters of 'zu (Zayin Vav).' This is the meaning of, "This people which (Heb. zu) I have formed for Myself; they shall relate My praise" (Yeshayah 43:21), ALLUDING TO THE PEOPLE THAT UNITES THE ZAYIN WITH THE VAV.

260812.Shoftim v011

Shoftim: Verse 11

"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity...at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established" (Devarim 19:15). It is a precept to testify at court so his neighbor shall not lose money, because HE DOES NOT TESTIFY if he knows of a testimony in his favor. A testimony requires no less than two witnesses. That is the meaning of: "at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established," but not at the mouth of one witness. That is why the sages of Mishnah have explained, who bears testimony on a person - the walls of his house do. Moreover, the members of his household testify about him. What are the walls of his house? They are the walls of his heart, AS IT IS WRITTEN: "Then Hezekiah turned his face towards the wall" (Yeshayah 38:2). The sages of the Mishnah have explained this to teach us that Hezekiah was praying from the walls of his heart.

Shoftim: Verse 12

The members of his household are his 248 body parts, SINCE THE BODY IS CALLED HOUSE. This is how the sages of the Mishnah have explained that a wicked person's sins are engraved on his bones. Similarly, the merits of a righteous man are engraved on his bones. Therefore, David said: "all my bones shall say" (Tehilim 35:10). That is why we were taught: who testifies on a person - the beams of his house... THE BEAMS OF HIS HOUSE are the bones OF THE SKULL that are constructed over the brain that is water. About this, it is written: "Who lays the beams of His chambers in the waters" (Tehilim 104:3).

Shoftim: Verse 13

Why are THE INIQUITIES ENGRAVED in the bones rather than in the flesh, the tendons and the skin? That is because the bones are white, and a black script is not recognizable except over white. This is similar to the Torah, which is white on the inside, THAT IS, THE PARCHMENT, and black on the outside, MEANING THE INK. Black and white are darkness and light. There is darkness that is blue, WHICH IS MALCHUT, about which it is written: "even the darkness is not dark for You" (Tehilim 139:12). Blue is black and is a female to the white, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, SINCE MALCHUT HAS NO LIGHT OF HER OWN EXCEPT WHAT SHE RECEIVES FROM ZEIR ANPIN. Furthermore, the body will be reinstated with its bones. Therefore, the merits and demerits are engraved on its bones and, if it is deserving, the body will be reinstated with its bones. If it is not DESERVING, it will not be reinstated and will not have a resurrection from the dead.

Shoftim: Verse 14

Furthermore, there are two witnesses regarding the person: a seeing eye and a hearing ear. The court counts and judges his iniquities. Furthermore, even the sun and moon testify about the person, as we explained: "Blow a Shofar at the new moon, at the full moon (lit. 'on the covering') on our feast day" (Tehilim 81:4). What is the meaning of "covering"? That is the day when the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is covered. Why is it covered? That is because when Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) arrives, Samael will approach to demand punishment against her children, MEANING YISRAEL, WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF MALCHUT, before the Holy One, blessed be He. And He will tell him to bring forth the witnesses, so he will bring with him the sun. As he is about to bring the moon, she is covered. At which place is she covered? HE RESPONDS: She goes up to that place regarding which it is said: 'Do not investigate into what is hidden from you,' in order to reconcile the Holy One, blessed be He, with her children.

260810.Vaetchanan v026

Vaetchanan: Verse 26

ר' אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח וְאָמַר, קְרַב אַתָּה וּשֲׁמָע וְגוֹ.' ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְיְיהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כֻּלְּהוֹן קוֹלוֹת אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָתִיב עַל כּוּרְסְיָּיא, וְדָא מִגּוֹ דְּדָא אִתְחֲזֵי, וּמִלּוּלָא דְּדָא נָפִיק מִגּוֹ עִלָּאָה דְּעָלֵיהּ, וְדָא הוּא רָזָא דִּכְתִּיב, פָּנִים בְּפָנִים דִּבֶּר יְיָ' עִמָּכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ, דְּמִלּוּלָא נָפְקָא, וּמַלִּיל מִגּוֹ אֶשָּׁא וְשַׁלְהוֹבָא, דְּדָחֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר, בִּדְפִיקוּ דְּרוּחָא וּמַיָּיא, דְּיָהֲבִין חֵילָא. דְּאֶשָּׁא וְרוּחָא וּמַיָּיא, מִגּוֹ שׁוֹפָר, דְּאִיהוּ כָּלִיל לְכֻלְּהוּ נָפִיק. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִתְרַחִיקוּ מִדְּחִילוּ דָּא.

Rabbi Elazar opened with, "Go you near, and hear..." (Devarim 5:24). Come and see, when the Torah was given to Yisrael, all voices were present, NAMELY, FROM BINAH, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. BINAH IS CALLED AN INNER VOICE, ZEIR ANPIN AN OUTER VOICE AND MALCHUT THE VOICE OF THE WORDS. The Holy One, blessed be He, sat on the throne, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and one was visible from within another - ZEIR ANPIN WAS SEEN FROM WITHIN MALCHUT. The words of the one, MALCHUT, came from within that which was above it, ZEIR ANPIN. This is the secret of the verse, "Hashem talked with you face to face in the mountain out of the midst of the fire" (Devarim 5:4), AS ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT WERE FACE TO FACE. And speech came out and spoke from within the fire and the flame, WHICH ARE THE LEFT COLUMN that pushed the speech out OF ZEIR ANPIN by striking of wind and water, WHICH ARE the CENTRAL AND RIGHT COLUMNS that empower THE LEFT, SO THAT SPEECH, WHICH IS MALCHUT, COMES OUT FROM ALL THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN. For fire, wind and water, THE THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN, came out of the Shofar, BINAH, as it, BINAH, includes them all. Yisrael kept away from this awe.

Vaetchanan: Verse 27

וּבג"כ, וְאַתְּ תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ, לָא בָּעֵינָן בְּתּוּקְפָּא עִלָּאָה דִּלְעֵילָּא, אֶלָּא מֵאֲתָר דְּנוּקְבָּא וְלָא יַתִּיר, וְאַתְּ תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ וְגוֹ.' אָמַר מֺשֶׁה וַדַּאי חָלַשְׁתּוּן חֵילָא דִּילִי, חָלַשְׁתּוּן חֵילָא אַחֲרָא, דְּאִלְמָלֵא לָא אִתְרַחֲקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִשְׁמְעוּן כָּל הַהִיא מִלָּה כַּד בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, לָא הֲוָה יָכִיל עָלְמָא לְמֶהֱוֵי חָרִיב לְבָתַר, וְאִינּוּן הֲווֹ קַיְימִין לְדָרֵי דָּרִין.

Because of that, BECAUSE OF THAT AWE, YISRAEL SAID TO MOSES, "And speak to us" (Ibid. 24), SAYING, We do not want this lofty force from above, NAMELY FROM ZEIR ANPIN, but from the place of the Female, MALCHUT, and no further. THIS IS THE MEANING OF, "and speak to us," WITH A FEMININE SUFFIX. Moses said TO THEM, You have surely weakened my power and weakened another power OF MALCHUT, for had not Yisrael distanced themselves, they would have heard all those words FROM ZEIR ANPIN as before, the world would not have been destroyed and Yisrael would have lived for generations.

Vaetchanan: Verse 28

The first time, AFTER HEARING THE FIRST WORDS, they died. The reason is that it had to be so, since the tree of death, MALCHUT, brought it upon them. Later they were resurrected, rose and grew BY RECEIVING MOCHIN OF GREATNESS. The Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to bring them into the Tree of Life, ZEIR ANPIN, that is situated above that tree of death, so they will live forever. But they distanced themselves and refused AS MENTIONED. Then the power of Moses who was above them weakened, and another power OF MALCHUT weakened. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, 'I desire to uphold you in a supernal place, that you shall cleave to life, yet you wish the place where the Nukva dwells. For that reason, "Go say to them, Return again to your tents" (Ibid. 27), each one will go to his wife and mate with her,' BECAUSE THEY DESCENDED TO THE WORLD OF THE FEMALE.