Showing posts with label Cherubim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cherubim. Show all posts

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Hekhalot Rabbati on Who is Like Our King, YHVH Our God

"Who is like our King among all the majestic ones who hold kingship? Who is like our Former? Who is like YHVH our God? Who is like Him among those who fasten on the fastenings of crowns? For with six voices the beings who are bearers of the throne of His glory sing before Him, the cherubim and the ophannim and the holy living creatures, with voice after voice that his made to ascend over its companion and is modulated before Him.

"Who is like our King? Who is like our Former? Who is like YHVH our God? The sun and the moon rule and lead forth the crown of His head. The Pleiades, Orion, and the morning star, groups of stars, and stars and constellations drip and go forth from the robe of Him who is garlanded and He is enthroned in it upon the throne of His glory and it emits a great light between His eyes, for He is a King of miracles, a King of mighty acts, a King of holy wonders, and a King of explications, according to the word that is said, 'Holy, Holy, Holy' (Isaiah 6:3)."

-- Hekhalot Rabbati, Synopse §§103, 105 (transl. J. Davila)

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Talmud Bavli Yoma on the Cherubim in the Temple

"Rav Ketina said: When the people of Israel would ascend to the Temple on the festival, the Kohanim would roll up the Curtain for them, and show them the Cherubim which were joined together in loving embrace. The Kohanim would tell the people, 'Behold! You are loved by the Omnipresent, just as the love between male and female.'"

-- Talmud Bavli, Yoma 54a