Glossary of Terms Used in the Toldot Weekly Torah Portion

Barrenness

“Barrenness” is the inability to give birth to the next degree. It is possible to give birth only with the right combination of the ego and the intention to bestow upon others.

Pregnancy

“Pregnancy” is a state where we are ready to give birth to the next degree. It includes nine months of conception, as well as other things. These comprise nine Sefirot of Ohr Yashar (Direct Light) and Malchut, where in the tenth we deliver.

Birth

“Birth” is admission into a new degree, new bestowal. It is the ability to connect with everyone on a new level. Accordingly, we receive the revelation of Godliness on the next level.

The Right of the Blessing

“Having a right” means being cleansed. The more we can work with our egos in order to bestow, the more cleansed we will be. Our egos may be thicker, but we overcome them and become purer. Thus, one develops opposite the other.

Selling the Birthright

Knowing that our egos are unfit to be used spares us great pains. It will also bring us into the willingness to sacrifice our egos in order to work under the intention to bestow.

In other words, the evil inclination also becomes the good inclination. The difference between them is only in the question, “For whom am I working, in whose favor? Is it in my own favor, or in favor of others?” This is a psychological problem. If we are working in favor of others, we can succeed only through the influence of the environment, through special education. Then, we suddenly discover that everything has opened up before us; the channels of bounty have opened and the world fills with abundance.

Lentil Stew

The “filling by the upper light” means to be filled with the intention to bestow. Esau, who cannot reach that, is willing to bow down, to be small in order to receive fulfillment from Jacob. He has no choice because he is hungry. In other words, the vessels of reception are all empty; there is no way to receive sustenance from them.

Rehovot (wide/broad)

“For now the Lord has made room for us” (Genesis, 26:22). We receive light of Hochma dressed in light of Hassadim without any limitations. This is called “light of Hassadim in illumination of Hochma.” This is how we receive it until the end of correction. Afterward, the light of Hochma is received in full because we awaken the stony heart.