Glossary of Terms Used in the VaEra Weekly Torah Portion

Prophet

A “prophet” is a person who speaks with the Creator, the upper force. It is one who is at a level of speaking. “Speaking” is disclosure, the emission of Hevel (fume, mist) from the mouth. Hevel of the mouth is the Ohr Hozer (Reflected Light) emitted from the Partzuf, from the soul, as the light of bestowal.

Also, there is a prophet who sees, who is at a higher level. Some prophets say, “I saw,” and some prophets say, “I heard.” This is a degree of a Kabbalist who is at two degrees—a degree of speaking or a degree of seeing.

Moses

“Moses” is the upper force in us, which pulls us toward bestowal, love of others, and thus to the love of the Creator. It is a force that gives us no rest. This force comes to us from the breaking of the soul as a spark of light within us. If the spark awakens in us, it is considered that we have received an invitation. It guarantees nothing, but the invitation to actually begin one’s holy work has been given.

“Holy” means bestowal. “Climbing up the mountain of holiness” means that we have risen above our egos with our point of Moses, and thus actualize ourselves.

Aaron

“Aaron” is the force opposite Moses. The two forces have to work together. Following them are the priests, Levites, and Israel. There are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our work is always in the middle line.

We see the two forces, Aaron and Moses, even before the whole of the middle line emerges. These two forces work together: Aaron puts order in us, and Moses gives us direction.

Token/Sign

A “token” (or a “sign”) is an illumination from a higher degree. It is an additional force by which we advance on each degree. It is a distinction in all those states that occur in us unnaturally, in a state unfamiliar to us in terms of power and intention on the current degree. That state occurs when a degree appears from above and reveals the token. The upper degree might come from the right or from the left.

The Klipa (shell/peel) is also in spirituality. Klipa and Kedusha (sanctity) are two lines between which we build ourselves. We take a little bit of the Klipa, correct it using the Kedusha, and in between we attain progress in the middle line, on the golden path. The same thing happens on the next degree, and the next, until we climb all 125 degrees.