Glossary of Terms Used in the Emor Weekly Torah Portion

Cohen (Priest)

A “priest” is the highest degree in Man’s correction, where one becomes similar to the Creator in all of one’s desires, in one’s entire makeup, and is in a state of bestowal and love. By so doing, one matches oneself with the Creator and achieves Dvekut (adhesion) with Him. This is the purpose of Creation.

Tuma’a (Impurity)

Tuma’a is intention for oneself. All manner of Tuma’a are the same intentions under different names, such as Pharaoh, Balaam, Balak, and all the other wicked forces.

It is to the contrary with the same desires once they have been corrected to aim to bestow. The desires remain the same, but the names one receives instead are Cohen, Levi, and Israel.

Curse

A “curse” means that we discover that we cannot agree with the Creator about our desires. We discover it as Balaam, Balak, and so forth. If we discover the term of the upper force, the Creator, Nature, we must work in order to bestow, in love and giving. If we discover that our desires are opposite, working in order to receive, we curse, resist, collide with the Creator, and are opposite in form.

Divorcee, Widow

This is not the initial, great desire, but we can work with it in a more restricted manner. This is why it is not a “virgin.” A virgin means that we do not touch the desire, but leave it as is. If we have touched it and performed corrections on it, it is called “divorcee,” “widow,” or “whore.” We can work with these desires, but on the degree of a priest. In fact, we achieve the degree of priest through all the desires called by these names.

Shaving the Head and the Beard

As we learn in The Study of the Ten Sefirot (Part 13, Tikkuney Dikna), Se’arot (hair) is an extensive topic. The term, Se’arot, comes from the word So’er (stormy), which points to pressure. The channels of abundance that come to us from Ein Sof must be restricted, grow thinner, and drip to us in what is called Mazal (luck), from the word Nozel (dripping). Through the hair, the lights come very thin and in limited amounts, due to the limitations on the person. It happens this way to adjust the size of the “spoon” (the vessel) to the amount one can receive, just as with a baby. The light comes intermittently, in drops, according to the measure of time and weight.

“Shaving” refers to the hair itself. Partzuf Se’arot is a special Partzuf, a unique structure or system that creates the match between the light of Ein Sof and the little ones—us. We can receive only a little, which is why it is forbidden to shave or to cut the hair short. A priest is forbidden because he is using this entire system precisely in order to bestow.