Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Lech-Lecha

Through their study of wisdom and good deeds, the Righteous cause Supernal Union between the Cosmic Man, Zeir Anpin (Small Face), and the Cosmic Woman, Nukva (Female). The Union produces rejoicing in the spiritual worlds and leads to the creation of souls. Was this Union possible before the giving of the Torah?
 

Unlike spiritual entities that never change, such as Truth, Beauty, and Righteousness, the Supernal Man undergoes transformations. Until the time of Abraham, his body was fully developed, but not his Mind. Since the cause of the Union is the Mind, the Union could not take place.

That is why God told Abraham, "Lech-Lecha" - go to the Land of Israel, the land of Love, where you will arouse Love for the purpose of the Union. "And I will make you into a great person" speaks about the Cosmic Man, who will acquire the three mental capacities: Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge.

The name of Abraham is a hint that the Union started in his days. The letters A, B, and R of Abraham's name form "Ever," or the member. The letter M at the end of the word, which looks like a closed circle, hints at the connection between the Foundation (Ever) and the Female, represented by the closed letter Mem.

Art: Blue Landscape by Chagall

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Noah

Before Adam sinned, he was an entirely spiritual, rather than a physical, being. His garment consisted of light, and he encompassed all worlds. After he sinned, his size diminished, and his body became physical. The soul of Adam included many souls that were to come after him. In blemishing his soul, he blemished all of these souls.

After Adam separated from Eve for 130 years, she-demons visited him. The Flood generation consisted of souls created by Adam from his unions with the she-demons. These souls needed to correct the blemish of how they came to earth, and they all came back at the time of the Flood. However, instead of repairing themselves, they ruined themselves even further, and thus, the Flood was needed to erase their bodies and the Earth three hand-breadths deep.

While Adam was commanded to be a vegetarian, Noah and subsequent generations were allowed to eat meat. Nevertheless, since every living creature was created for a purpose, killing it without a need is forbidden.

The Arizal himself was careful not to kill any living creature, however small or primitive, such as mosquitoes, fleas, and flies, even if they caused him pain. In fact, those flees that annoy a man are for his correction and benefit, and one will do good not to kill them.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

B'Reishit


The word “B'Reishit” (In the beginning) – the first word of the Torah - is a hint that the world was created in the month of Tishrei. B'Reishit and B'Tishrei are composed of the same Hebrew letters.

It is also a hint to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the author of the Kabbalah -  Zohar – because the letters of his name are included in the word “B'Reishit.”

In starting with the second letter of the alphabet, Bet, and not the first letter, Aleph, the Torah tells us that it is coming from the world second in closeness to God, “Briah,” or the World of Creation, and not the first in closeness, “Atzilut,” which starts with Aleph. That is why the second word of the Torah is “Bara” - Created.

The first letter Beit together with the last letter of the Torah, Lamed, is a hint to 32 (Bet=2, Lamed=30) paths of wisdom, hidden mysterious ways, different for each individual, by which wisdom can be acquired.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

V'Zot HaBrachah

Giving the Torah, God “...came with the myriads of the holy angels...”  - the word “came,” however, is in Aramaic. The reason for using Aramaic is to hide from the holy angels, so that they would not accuse the Jews and thus prevent the giving of the Torah.

By the same token, when God “...appeared to Abraham...”,  the word “appeared” is in Aramaic. The reason for using Aramaic is that Abraham was not yet circumcised, and God wanted to conceal His appearance to Abraham from angels, so that they would not accuse him.

So too, in Isaiah, when God calls to repentance, saying “...Return, and return again...” - this phrase is in Aramaic. The repentant gets forgiveness from the hidden place under the throne of God, and the Aramaic hides this, so that the angels do not prevent his acceptance.