"This image extended in the spreading of the cover, and in that spread two images formed, one male and one female, standing as two youths in passionate love, clinging to one another. This mystery is: 'In the beginning God created' - spread of concealed cover. 'Heaven and earth' - two cherubim, standing in passionate cleaving. It is not written שמים וארץ (shmayim va-aretz), but rather את (et) - to include two cherubim as one. This cover is spread within, in the secrecy of the Temple, and these two stand on two sides."
-- Sefer haZohar 2:277b
SPREADING OF THE COVER : As it is written, "The name of the Lord is a tower of strength; the righteous runs into it and is strengthened." (Proverbs 18:10).
TWO IMAGES : This refers to the conjunction of יה with וה.
ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE : Each image is comprised of male and female. In the first image, י (Yod) is male and ה (Heh) is female. In the second image, ו (Vav) is male and ה (Heh) is female.
STANDING : They stand together in their place, as it is written, "Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place." (Ezekiel 3:12).
TWO YOUTHS : Each image is comprised of male and female, and these are the two youths.
SPREAD OF CONCEALED COVER : This refers to the Throne of Glory and the Seven Palaces.
TWO CHERUBIM, STANDING : The image of assembly for the Mishkan above, and the image of construction for the Beit haMiqdash below.
TWO CHERUBIM AS ONE : They are included as one under one sign.
COVER SPREAD WITHIN : The concealed emanation of the Head is revealed within the Body.
SECRECY OF THE TEMPLE : The secret is known to those two whom has been revealed the secret emanation from above spreading into below, as it says, "And I shall no longer hide My face from them, for I shall have poured out My spirit upon the House of Israel," says the Lord God." (Ezekiel 39:29).
THESE TWO : These are the male on each side. The י (Yod) is above, concealed, and the ו (Vav) is above, concealed.
STAND ON TWO SIDES : They stand above the female on each side. The י (Yod) stands above the ה (Heh) on their side, in the image of the Throne of Glory inside the Seven Palaces. And the ו (Vav) stands above the ה (Heh) on their side, in the image of the Mishkan inside the Beit haMiqdash.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Hekhalot Zutarti in the Four Who Entered Paradise and a Hidden Parallel in the Zohar
"And these are they who entered paradise (פרדס): Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Elisha ben Avuyah, and Rabbi Akiva.
"Ben Azzai peered and died. Concerning him the Scripture says, 'Worthy in the eyes of YHVH is the death of His pious ones' (Psalms 116:15).
"Ben Zoma peered and was struck down. Concerning him the Scripture says, 'Have you found honey? Eat only your fill, lest you become sated and vomit it up' (Proverbs 25:16).
"Ben Azzai peered and died. Concerning him the Scripture says, 'Worthy in the eyes of YHVH is the death of His pious ones' (Psalms 116:15).
"Ben Zoma peered and was struck down. Concerning him the Scripture says, 'Have you found honey? Eat only your fill, lest you become sated and vomit it up' (Proverbs 25:16).
"Elisha ben Avuyah peered and cut the plants. Concerning him the
Scripture says, 'Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin'
(Ecclesiastes 5:5).
"Rabbi Akiva entered safely and went forth safely. Concerning him the Scripture says, 'Draw me after you, let us run. The King has brought me into His chambers' (Song of Songs 1:4)."
-- Hekhalot Zutarti, §339, 345
BEN AZZAI : The one who teaches the Pshat (פשט), the literal meaning.
BEN ZOMA : The one who teaches the Remez (רמז), the allusions in scripture.
ELISHA BEN AVUYAH : The one who teaches the Derash (דרש), the homiletical discourse.
RABBI AKIVAH : The one who teaches the Sod (סוד), the secret wisdom.
"Come and see: The blessed Holy One formed the human being corresponding to the pattern above, all according to wisdom, for you cannot find a single human limb not founded upon supernal wisdom. Look! When the whole body is arrayed in its limbs fittingly, the blessed Holy One joins with it, inserting a holy soul - to teach the human how to walk in the ways of Torah and observe His commandments, so that he will perfect himself."
-- Sefer haZohar, 1:186b (Pritzker ed. 3.137)
THE PATTERN ABOVE : This is the soul of Ben Azzai.
ARRAYED IN ITS LIMBS FITTINGLY : This is the soul of Ben Zoma.
JOINS WITH IT : This is the soul of Elisha ben Avuyah.
A HOLY SOUL : This is the soul of Rabbi Akiva.
"And God said, 'Let us make...'" -- Genesis 1:26
"Rabbi Akiva entered safely and went forth safely. Concerning him the Scripture says, 'Draw me after you, let us run. The King has brought me into His chambers' (Song of Songs 1:4)."
-- Hekhalot Zutarti, §339, 345
BEN AZZAI : The one who teaches the Pshat (פשט), the literal meaning.
BEN ZOMA : The one who teaches the Remez (רמז), the allusions in scripture.
ELISHA BEN AVUYAH : The one who teaches the Derash (דרש), the homiletical discourse.
RABBI AKIVAH : The one who teaches the Sod (סוד), the secret wisdom.
"Come and see: The blessed Holy One formed the human being corresponding to the pattern above, all according to wisdom, for you cannot find a single human limb not founded upon supernal wisdom. Look! When the whole body is arrayed in its limbs fittingly, the blessed Holy One joins with it, inserting a holy soul - to teach the human how to walk in the ways of Torah and observe His commandments, so that he will perfect himself."
-- Sefer haZohar, 1:186b (Pritzker ed. 3.137)
THE PATTERN ABOVE : This is the soul of Ben Azzai.
ARRAYED IN ITS LIMBS FITTINGLY : This is the soul of Ben Zoma.
JOINS WITH IT : This is the soul of Elisha ben Avuyah.
A HOLY SOUL : This is the soul of Rabbi Akiva.
"And God said, 'Let us make...'" -- Genesis 1:26
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Talmud Bavli Shekalim on The Day the Mishkan was Erected
"On
the day that the Mishkan was erected, on that very day the withdrawal
of half-shekel donations was made from the treasury to pay for the
communal offerings."
-- Talmud Bavli, Shekalim 2a
MISHKAN - This is the human body, about which it is said, "From my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:26).
MISHKAN WAS ERECTED - This refers to Betzalel, about whom it is said, "Bezalel knew how to combine the letters by which the heavens and earth were created" (Berachot 55a).
THE WITHDRAWAL - These came from Salem. DONATIONS - These were brought to Zion. This is proved from "His Tabernacle was in Salem, and His dwelling place in Zion" (Psalms 76:3).
-- Talmud Bavli, Shekalim 2a
MISHKAN - This is the human body, about which it is said, "From my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:26).
MISHKAN WAS ERECTED - This refers to Betzalel, about whom it is said, "Bezalel knew how to combine the letters by which the heavens and earth were created" (Berachot 55a).
THE WITHDRAWAL - These came from Salem. DONATIONS - These were brought to Zion. This is proved from "His Tabernacle was in Salem, and His dwelling place in Zion" (Psalms 76:3).
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