He Carved a Carving in the Upper Light 1) When the King wished to emanate and create the worlds, the harsh spark carved a carving in the upper light. “Carved a carving” means the departure and restriction of the light, which leaves a place vacant and empty of light. It …
The Brightness of the Firmament
The Brightness of the Firmament 3) “And the educated will shine as the brightness of the firmament.” The educated are ZON of Atzilut, or the souls of the righteous. “The brightness of the firmament” is illumination of GAR that appears through the association of the quality of mercy. Here the …
Taamim, Nekudot [points], and Otiot [letters]
And the Land Was Tohu [Chaos] - 1
And the Land Was Tohu [Chaos] - 1 17) “And the land was Tohu veBohu [chaos and void].” The word “was” indicates previously, when she was snow inside water, and the filth came out of her by the forming of the snow in the water. The verse “In the beginning” …
Let There Be Light
Let There Be Light 28) “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” This is the beginning to finding the secrets to how the world was created in particular. Thus far, the creation of the world was mentioned in general, in the verse “In the beginning God …
Let There Be a Firmament
Let There Be a Firmament 44) “And God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide between water and water.’” This is the correction in particular, separating the upper water from the lower water in the left. It is also the second …
Let the Waters Gather
Let the Waters Gather 66) “And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place.’” “Gather” means that the Mochin, called “water,” will spread in a precise line in a way that they are straight and do not divert to the right or to the …
Let the Earth Put Forth Grass
Let the Earth Put Forth Grass 75) “Let the earth put forth grass” is a high unification, since now it reveals her power in those waters that were gathered unto one place. All the power, the Mochin, that the Nukva of ZA received in the upper unification when she was …
Let there Be Lights - 1
Let there Be Lights - 1 98) “And God said, ‘Let there be lights.’” Meorot [lights] is written without the Vav. This indicates that the disease of diabetes for infants was created, since Meorot without the Vav is a curse, from the words “Mearat [The curse of] the Lord is …
The Two Great Lights - 1
The Two Great Lights - 1 111) “And God made the two great lights.” “Made” means Gadlut and correction of everything as it should be. The words “Let there be” indicate Katnut because future tense indicates preparation and qualification, and Katnut is preparation for Gadlut. But “And there was” or …
Explaining the Names Matzpatz, Matzpatz
Explaining the Names Matzpatz, Matzpatz First, we need to know the meaning of Partzuf Se’arot of AA. Although GAR of AB cannot remain in AA and in all the Partzufim of Atzilut, they must still emerge in it at the beginning of the coupling. It is impossible for VAK of …
The Two Great Lights - 2
The Two Great Lights - 2 113) The moon was not at peace with the sun, for she was ashamed of her. The moon said to the sun, “How do you feed? How do you lie down at noon?” That is, a tiny candle, how will it light at noon? …
Illuminations of Light and Illuminations of Fire
Illuminations of Light and Illuminations of Fire 128) “And God made the two lights.” This is a light, and that is a light. The sun is a light, and the moon is also a light in and of herself. This is why those lights that rise up are called “illuminations …
Three Lights
Three Lights 137) There are no impressions to grip in Ein Sof, nor any question or a notion for teaching the thought. A fine, unattainable light illuminated from the beginning of the descent of Ein Sof to be revealed, from the most hidden of all that is hidden. It is …
Moses and Jacob
Moses and Jacob 148) As right and left above the Chazeh—Moses and Aaron—grip and unite in the right and left below the Chazeh, which is Samuel, the middle line of above, Tifferet—Jacob and Moses—grip and unite with the middle line below the Chazeh—Yesod, Joseph. Thus, all the VAK were included …
Let Us Make Man - 1
Let Us Make Man - 1 159) In the verse “And God said, ‘Let us make man,’” there is a secret revealed only to those who fear Him. That elder of the elders started and said, “Shimon, Shimon, who is it who said, ‘Let us make man,’ and of whom …
I, I am He
I, I am He 168) Rabbi Shimon opened further and said, “Who is it who said, ‘See now that I, I am he, and there is no God with Me’? It is the cause of all the causes. And the one who is called ‘the cause of all the causes’ …
Let Us Make Man - 2
Let Us Make Man - 2 177) “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” The friends interpreted it to the ministering angels saying this verse to the Creator. Rabbi Shimon told them, “Since the angels know the present and what was to be, they knew that the …
A Prayer for the Poor
A Prayer for the Poor 184) If the prayer is incomplete, several harm-doing angels chase it, as it is written, “All her pursuers overtook her.” This is why we pray, “And He is merciful, will atone an iniquity and will not destroy, and He numerously subsides His anger and will …
The Sling-Stone
The Sling-Stone 200) Rabbi Shimon opened and said, “Listen, O upper ones, and gather, O lower ones, dwellers of the seminary of above and of below. Elijah, I adjure you, take permission from the Creator and come down here, for a great war has come to you. Hanoch, Matat, come …
Creates Worlds and Destroys Them
Creates Worlds and Destroys Them 214) “These are the generations of the heaven and the earth.” Where it is written “These,” it disqualifies those before it. The “These” here disqualifies “These are the generations of Tohu [unformed], from Malchut of the quality of judgment, who is called Tohu, implied in …
Five Kinds of Mixed Multitude
Five Kinds of Mixed Multitude 224) There are five kinds of mixed multitude: Nephilim, Mighty, Anakim, Rephaim, and Amalekim. Because of them, the small Hey fell from her place, from Bina. It is written, “The Lord has made one opposite the other.” Thus, as there are five phases KHB TM …
Moses and Two Messiahs
Moses and Two Messiahs 232) “These are the generations of the heaven and the earth.” “These” cancels the first ones, meaning those of whom it was said, “These are your gods, Israel,” which is the sin of the calf. On the day in which the Creator blots out the sin …
Pure Marble Stones
Pure Marble Stones 252) Rabbi Elazar said, “One day the friends asked, ‘What does it mean what Rabbi Akiva said to his students, ‘When you reach pure marble stones, do not say ‘Water, water,’ lest you risk yourselves because it was said, ‘He who speaks lies shall not be established …
A River Comes Out of Eden
A River Comes Out of Eden 256) “And a river comes out of Eden.” It is certain that there are no foreign shells in the upper tree of life, ZA of Atzilut, as it is written about it, “No evil shall come to you.” It is so because the shells …
And Placed Him in the Garden of Eden
And Placed Him in the Garden of Eden 259) Once the old man explained the verses “And a river comes out of Eden” concerning the Katnut and Gadlut of Adam HaRishon, Rabbi Shimon also explained, “And the Lord God took the man” in relation to Katnut and Gadlut of Adam …
Idolatry, Bloodshed, Incest
Idol-Worship, Bloodshed, Incest 265) “And Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may eat from any tree of the garden freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.’” “Commanded” implies prohibition of idol-worship, included in the tree of knowledge, as we learn …
And the Lord God Formed Every Beast of the Field
And the Lord God Formed Every Beast of the Field 274) “And out of the ground, the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky.” Woe unto people, for they are sealed hearted and closed of eyes. They do not look in the secrets …
And the Lord God Built the Rib
And the Lord God Built the Rib 279) “And the Lord God built the rib” is an indication of the matter of levirate marriage, of which we learn that since he did not build, he shall not build. It is written, “Who does not build his brother’s house.” They learned …
Moses’ Hevel
Abel, Moses 285) It is written about the mixed multitude, “And the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field,” since the serpent was cunning to do evil more than all the animals, who are the idol-worshipping nations of the world. The mixed multitude are the children of …
Bad Mixtures
Bad Mixtures 290) “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden” indicates Israel when they came near for the reception of the Torah on Mount Sinai, as it is written, “Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, …
The Correction of the Lower World from the Upper World
The Correction of the Lower World from the Upper World 293) Every Shlomo [Solomon] that is written in The Song of Songs means a king that Shalom [peace] is his, ZA. If only “king” is written, and not King Solomon, it means Nukva of ZA, Malchut. The lower king is …
And the Land Was Unformed [Tohu] and Void [Bohu] - 2
And the Land Was Unformed [Tohu] and Void [Bohu] - 2 318) “And the land was unformed [Tohu] and void [Bohu],” since the bitterness and waste of the fruits that do not ripen in the tree, which are called “hidden,” do not come out of them except by absorption that …
Three Letters Tov [Tet-Vav-Bet]
Three Letters Tov [Tet-Vav-Bet] 324) “And God saw the light that it was good.” Any dream that stands in the solution of “And it was good” shows that there is peace for him above and below. In the upper world, where there is none who slanders him, and in the …
The Correction of PBP de ZON
The Correction of Face-to-Face of ZON 327) “In the beginning God created.” “In the beginning,” as it is written, “The first of your dough,” which is upper Hochma, called Resheet [first/prime], since like the Resheet in the verse “The first of your dough” is upper Hochma, the Resheet that is …
The Voice of the Lord Is Upon the Waters
The Voice of the Lord Is Upon the Waters 333) Rabbi Elazar jumped first and interpreted the verse “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.” The voice of the Lord is the upper voice, appointed over the waters. ZA is called “voice.” When he ascends to Bina and …
Opposite the Frame
Opposite the Frame 335) Rabbi Shimon explained the incorporation of the two lines right and left that were disputed, as it is written, “The rings shall be opposite from the frame.” The frame is a closed place that opens only for one fine one who is known within in humbleness, …
Bet Resheet
Bet Resheet 338) The Bet of Beresheet is big in the Masoretes [a school of scribes and scholars]. But who are the six days of creation? It is written, “The cedars of Lebanon, which He has planted.” As these cedars come out of Lebanon, the six days of creation come …
The Hidden Light
The Hidden Light 348) “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” This is the light that the Creator created in the beginning, the light of the eyes, the light that the Creator showed to Adam HaRishon, by which he saw from the end of the world to its end, the …
If My Covenant Is Not Day and Night - 1
If My Covenant Is Not Day and Night - 1 358) Rabbi Shimon says, “The world was created over the covenant, the Nukva in Katnut, and it exists.” Beria is Katnut; existence is Gadlut, the Mochin of GAR is the Nukva existence, as it is written, “If My covenant is …
The Separating and Connecting Firmament
The Separating and Connecting Firmament 365) “And God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it divide between water and water.’” There are seven firmaments above, which is the Parsa in the place of Peh of AA, eliciting Bina outside of its head, …
These Waters Conceived and Begot Darkness
These Waters Conceived and Begot Darkness 369/2) “These waters conceived and begot darkness.” It is written about it, “And the veil shall divide for you between the holy and the holy of holies,” since once the upper firmament in the Peh of AA descends and raises all the degrees to …
If My Covenant Is Not Day and Night - 2
If My Covenant Is Not Day and Night - 2 388) “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “Heaven” are the lower heaven from Chazeh of ZA and below, which were made by the word …
Let There Be Lights - 2
Let There Be Lights - 2 390) “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven.” It is written, “lights” [in Hebrew] without the Vav. Rabbi Hizkiya says, “‘Lights,’ for the power of judgment is in it, and the absorption of the judgment.” “Lights” is Malchut, Nukva of ZA. …
Let the Waters Swarm
Let the Waters Swarm 405) “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living souls [Nefashot]” is the lower waters, which beget Nefashot [pl. of Nefesh], like the upper waters, Bina, which beget the Neshamot [souls, pl. of Neshama] of ZON. Likewise, the lower waters, ZON, beget the souls [Neshamot] of …
And God Created the Sea Monsters
And God Created the Sea Monsters 408) “And God created the great sea monsters” which are the leviathan [whale] and his mate. The leviathan is Yesod of Gadlut of ZA. “And every living soul [Nefesh] that creeps” is the Nefesh of that animal that creeps to the four directions of …
Let Us Make Man - 3
Let Us Make Man - 3 412) When the Creator wished to make the man, all the upper ones and lower ones were shaken because all the worlds depend on his works, for worse or for better. It follows that the creation of man concerned everyone. This is why they …
For He Did Not Shower Rain
For He Did Not Shower Rain 418) “And no shrub of the field was yet in the earth ... for the Lord had not showered rain upon the earth.” “And no shrub of the field” are large trees after they were planted but were still small. “And no shrub of …
And the Lord God Commanded the Man
And the Lord God Commanded the Man 432) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat.’” A command is nothing but idol worship. “The Lord” is the blessing of the Creator; “God” is the judges. “The man” is bloodshed; “Saying” is …
And the Serpent Was Cunning
And the Serpent Was Cunning 437) “And the serpent was cunning.” The serpent is the evil inclination, who seduces to sin. The serpent was really a serpent, but indeed, it is all one because it was SAM and was seen riding a serpent. The shape of the serpent is Satan, …
And the Lord Set a Token for Cain
And the Lord Set a Token for Cain 458) “And the Lord set a token for Cain.” He placed on him one of the twenty-two letters of the Torah, the letter Vav, to protect him, since the letter Vav is a token of the covenant with which he was rewarded …
Sin Crouches at the Door
Sin Crouches at the Door 460) “Sin crouches at the door.” “At the door,” the door of above, from which judgments come out for the bad deeds of the people of the world. A door is as it is written, “Open for me the gates of Tzedek [justice],” the gates …
Aza and Azael
Aza and Azael 464) When the generations of Cain were walking in the world, they would equalize and smooth out the earth, and they were similar to the angels above and to people below. It is so because Cain was of the filth of SAM who came over Eve, and …
This Is the Book of the Generations of Adam
This Is the Book of the Generations of Adam 470) “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” Three books open in the Nukva on Rosh Hashanah [New Year’s Day]: one of complete righteous, one of complete wicked, and one of intermediate. The Zohar explains only that book of …
My Spirit Shall Not Abide in Man
My Spirit Shall Not Abide in Man 477) “And the Lord said, ‘My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is also flesh.’” At that time, prior to the flood, the river that stretches out of Eden, from Bina, emitted a high Ruach [spirit] from the tree of …