Glossary of Terms Used in the Chayei Sarah Weekly Torah Portion

Years

The words, Shanim (years) or Shanah (year), come from the word, Shoneh (repeating), when we repeat the corrections but on a higher level. There is a ladder of 125 rungs. There are five worlds, with five Partzufim (faces) in each world, and five Sefirot in each Partzuf. 5x5x5 are the 125 rungs, or degrees where we need to repeat the corrections, each time on a more advanced step. This is how we go from stage to stage, from degree to degree, until the end of all the corrections, where we are included in the world of Ein Sof (infinity), in Dvekut (adhesion) with the upper force and in complete similarity with it.

The Cave of Machpelah

The “Cave of Machpelah” is the great Tikkun (correction) of Malchut that is included in Bina. This is how it can correct itself in equivalence of form with Bina. Malchut is the will to receive, and Bina is the desire to bestow. When Malchut and Bina equalize with one another, then we have inserted the force of Bina throughout the earth, the desire, down to the state called a “cave.”

Burial Site

A “burial site” is a place where we bury our egos. We do not bury the will to receive, but only the intention to receive, the qualities that work in our favor and against others. When we bury qualities that make us feel good, such as the desire to exploit, defeat, or see others as inferior, we bury the will to receive. Thus, we do not bury the desire, but only its egotistical form that manifests in us.

Marriage

“Marriage” is a state wherein we can repeatedly take various egotistical qualities from our will to receive, correct them, and thus cover them. This is the meaning of the wedding ceremony, with the Huppah (wedding canopy) being the Masach (screen). The Zohar explains it very clearly in the essay, “The Night of the Bride.”

From The Zohar: And Isaac Brought Her into the Tent

“‘And he took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her.’ But since all the people in the world love their wives; what is the difference for which it writes specifically of Isaac, ‘And he loved her’?

The awakening of the male’s love toward the Nukva is only from the left line, as it is written, ‘Let his left hand be under my head.’ And darkness—left line, night—and Nukva are as one, since the left always awakens the love toward the Nukva and grips her.”

Zohar for All, The Life of Sarah, items 251-252

Intentions to bestow are masculine. If, next to the masculine side—the side that overcomes, there are strong intentions to bestow on the left hand—he takes the entire side of the woman, the will to receive, and can use it in order to bestow. This is called the “beginning of the proper Zivug (coupling),” “Let his left hand be under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me” (Song of Songs, 8:3). The actual Zivug is what we read in Simchat Torah (the Joy of Torah).