Zohar Chayei Sarah - Section 13 - All Kinds of Witchcraft and Sorcery Abides in Women

It is recommended to study the section prior to reading the Synopsis.

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah Section 13

It is best to study the Zohar in the following manner:

1. Read out loud the Aramaic Verse. If you need to transliterate in order to read with the sounds of the lettersthe verse see below. If you use the transliteration tool than make sure you scan the Aramaic first and last.

2. Read the English Translation - if you desire to understand and realize that your understanding will limit the energy you receive. This is why it is important to scan the aramaic verse first.

3.Write out your understanding of the verse. Send it to yeshshem@hotmail.com in an email. Use the Parasha Name and verse number in the subject. By sending your understanding you give yeshshem.com permission to post this to web page and any other uses Yeshshem may see a beneficial use.

4. Now read chanoch's Commentary or additions to enhance and or modify your own personal understanding.

SYNOPSIS:

When the serpent came upon Eve it injected impurities into her. For this reason, women are more susceptible to the allure of magic and witchcraft than men. Rabbi Yosi asks why this is so, since the children of Israel were cleansed of impurities at Mount Sinai. Rabbi Yitzchak replies that the Torah was only given to males. Furthermore, since women are of the left side, it is more difficult for them to cleanse themselves of defilement. Various kinds of impurity are discussed, and we learn that anything attached to the world as are unholy spirits holds the potential to defile.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

The term woman is used as a metaphor for man's Evil Inclination. Kabbalistically, women are on a much higher level of spirituality, as evidenced by their great intuition and heightened sensitivity. Therefore, only the male is required to work at eradicating his Evil Inclination through Torah. When a woman, however, uses her natural gifts for negative purposes, it is referred to as witchcraft. A reading of this section helps men and women subjugate their negative desires.

Pasook 80. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אֲמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, אַמַּאי כָּל זַיְינֵי חֳרָשִׁין וְקוֹסְמִין, לָא אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ אֶלָּא בִּנְשַׁיָּיא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, הָכֵי אוֹלִיפְנָא, מִדַּאֲתָא נָחָשׁ עַל חַוָּה, הִטִּיל בָּהּ זוּהֲמָא בָּהּ אַטֵּיל, וְלָא בְּבַעֲלָהּ. אֲמַר, הָכֵי הוּא וַדַּאי. אָתָא רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יִצְחָק, אֲמַר כַּמָּה זִמְנִין שָׁאֵילְנָא הַאי מִלָּה, וְלָא זָכֵינָא בָּהּ, אֶלָּא הַשְׁתָּא.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

Rabbi Yosi asks why all kinds of witchcraft and sorcery abide only in women. He said that when the serpent came upon Eve, he injected impurities only into her and not into her husband. BECAUSE WITCHCRAFT RADIATES FROM THE POLLUTION OF THE SERPENT, WITCHCRAFT IS THEREFORE IN WOMEN. He said, Assuredly this is so. Rabbi Yosi kissed Rabbi Yitzchak and said, Many times have I asked upon this matter, but never deserved to understand it until now.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments the pasuk is clear as written. Yet the premise may or not be true in later generations.

Pasook 81. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אֲמַר לֵיהּ, כָּל הַנֵּי עוֹבָדִים וְכָל מַה דְּיָדַע בִּלְעָם, מֵאָן אֲתַר אוֹלִיף לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, מֵאֲבוֹי. אֲבָל, בְּאִינוּן הַרְרֵי קֶדֶם, דְּאִיהוּ אֶרֶץ קֶדֶם, אוֹלִיף כָּל חֳרָשִׁין וְכָל זִינֵי קוֹדְמִין, בְּגִין דִּבְאִינוּן טוּרֵי, אִינוּן מַלְאֲכֵי עֲזָ"א וַעֲזָאֵ"ל דְּאַפֵּיל לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִן שְׁמַיָא, וְאִינוּן קְטִירִין, בְּשַׁלְשְׁלָאֵי דְּפַרְזְלָא, וְאוֹדִיעִין חֳרָשִׁין לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּמִתַּמָּן הֲוָה יָדַע בִּלְעָם, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר מִן אֲרָם יַנְחֵנִי בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב מֵהַרְרֵי קֶדֶם.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

He asks, Where did Bilaam learn everything that he did, NAMELY ALL HIS SORCERY, and all that he knew? He answers, He learned it from his father. But in "the mountains of the east" (Bemidbar 23:7), in the land of the east, he learned MOST OF the enchantments and kinds of magic, for in these mountains abide the angels Aza and Azael, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, caused to fall from heaven BECAUSE THEY DENOUNCED THE CREATION OF MAN. They are tied in chains of iron there and reveal spells to men. This is where Bilaam gained knowledge, as it is written, "Balak the king of Moab has led me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east" (Ibid.), where Aza and Azael are.

chanoch's Commentary

This verse is clear as written.

Pasook 82. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אָמַר לוֹ, וְהָא כְתִיב וְלֹא הָלַךְ כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם לִקְרַאת נְחָשִׁים וַיָּשֶׁת אֶל הַמִּדְבָּר פָּנָיו. אָמַר לוֹ, סִטְרָא תַּתָּאָה דְּאַתְיָא מֵרוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא דִלְעֵילָא, הוּא רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, דְּשַׁלִּיט בְּמַדְבְּרָא, כַּד עָבְדוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יַת עֶגְלָא, בְּגִין לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ תַּתָּאָה, וּבְכֹלָּא עֲבַד חֳרָשׁוֹי בְּגִין דְּיָכוֹל לְאַעֲקָרָא לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלָא יָכִיל.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

He said, It is written, "He went not, as at other time, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness" (Bemidbar 24:1), WHICH MEANS THAT HE DID NOT ALWAYS LOOK FOR ENCHANTMENTS (ALSO: 'SNAKES'). Rabbi Yitzchak said that the lower side, which comes from the unholy spirit above, is the unholy spirit that ruled over the wilderness at the time when the children of Yisrael defiled themselves by committing the sin of the golden calf. THEREFORE, "HE SET HIS FACE TOWARD THE WILDERNESS." He cast his spells to all directions in order to uproot the children of Yisrael, but could not do so.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments the verse is clear. This verse is also hinting to a spiritual law relating to diections about sorcery but also prayer.

Pasook 83. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, הַאי דַאֲמַרְתְּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דְּכַד נָחָשׁ אָתָא עַל חַוָּה אַטֵיל בָּהּ זוּהֲמָא, שַׁפִּיר, אֲבָל הָא תָּנִינָן, דְּכַד קָאִימוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל טוּרָא דְסִינַי, פָּסַק מִנַּיְיהוּ זוּהֲמָא. יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּקַבִּילוּ אוֹרַיְיתָא, פָּסַק מִנַּיְיהוּ זוּהֲמָא, אֲבָל שְׁאָר עַמִּין עעכו"ם, דְּלָא קַבִּילוּ אוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא פָּסְקָא זוּהֲמָא מִנַּיְיהוּ.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

Rabbi Yosi said, When you earlier explained why witchcraft abides in women, you said that the serpent came upon Eve and injected impurity into her. This is well, but we have learned that when Yisrael stood by Mount Sinai and received Torah, their impurities were cleansed. But the heathens who did not receive Torah remained impure, SO IMPURITY IS ALREADY GONE FROM WOMEN. THEREFORE, MY QUESTION IS STILL unanswered, why is witchcraft mostly in women?

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk returns to the first question that still remains open.

Pasook 84. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אֲמַר לֵיהּ שַׁפִּיר קָאֲמַרְתְּ, אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי, אוֹרַיְיתָא לָא אִתְיְיהִיבַת אֶלָּא לִדְכוּרֵי, דִּכְתִיב וְזֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂם מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּהָא נַשֵּׁי, פְּטִירִין מִפִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

He said to him, You spoke well. Nevertheless, come and behold, Torah was given to males only, as it is written, "And this is the Torah which Moses set before the children (lit. 'sons') of Yisrael" (Devarim 4:44). As women were exempt from the commandments of Torah, NAMELY FROM THE COMMANDMENTS VALID AT A FIXED TIME THEREFORE THEY REMAINED IMPURE AT THE GIVING OF TORAH. FOR THAT REASON, WITCHCRAFT, WHICH DERIVES FROM THE IMPURITY OF THE SERPENT, ABIDES MAINLY IN WOMEN.

chanoch's Commentary

Rabbi Ashlag's comments attempts to explain that women were not doing the Mitzvot during the 49 days of the Omer and thus were not cleansed sufficiently. All of the pasuk is true as written yet in my opinion the conclusion is not correct. i think the question is not yet answered.

Pasook 85. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וְעוֹד, דְּאַהֲדָרוּ כֻּלְּהוּ לְזוּהֲמָתָן כְּקַדְמֵיתָא, בָּתַר דְּחָטוֹ, וְאִתְּתָא קַשְׁיָא לְאִתְפְּרָשָׁא זוּהֲמָא מִנָּהּ, יַתִּיר מִגַּבְרָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ נָשִׁין בַּחֲרָשַׁיָא, וּבְזוּהֲמָא דָּא יַתִּיר מִגּוּבְרִין. דְּהָא נְשַׁיָא מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא קָא אַתְיָין וְאִתְדַּבָּקוּ בְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וְסִטְרָא דָּא, אִתְדַּבַּק בְּהוֹ, יַתִּיר מִגּוּבְרִין, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר, בְּגִין דְּאַתְיָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וְכֹלָּא אִתְדַּבַּק וְאָזֵיל בָּתַר זִינֵיהּ.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

Moreover, everyone became defiled again after the sin, EVEN THE MEN. It is more difficult for women to cleanse impurities from themselves than for men. Thus, women practice sorcery and abide in defilement more so than men. THE REASON WHY IT IS DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN TO BE CLEANSED FROM DEFILEMENT IS THAT women come from the left side and are attached to the strict Judgment OF THE LEFT. This side cleaves to them more than to men, because they come from strict Judgment. Everything is attached to and follows its own kind.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments the pasuk is clear as written. This pasuk does provide an answer to the question as to why women are more connected to witchcraft and sorcery.

Pasook 86. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּהָכֵי הוּא, כְּמָה דַאֲמִינָא, דְּבִלְעָם הֲוָה אִסְתָּאַב בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא עֲלֵיהּ רוּחָא מְסָאֲבָא. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, אִתְּתָא בְּיוֹמֵי דִּמְסָאֲבוּ דִילָהּ, אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מִנָּהּ, בְּגִין דִּבְרוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא אִתְדַּבְּקַת וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא, אִי אִיהִי תַּעֲבֵיד חֳרָשִׁין, אַצְלָחוּ בִּידָהָא, יַתִּיר מִזִּמְנָא אָחֳרָא דְּהָא רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא שַׁרְיָא עִמַּהּ, וְעַל דָּא, בְּכָל מַה דְּקָרֵיבַת אִסְתָּאַב, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן מַאן דְּקָרֵיב בַּהֲדָהּ. זַכָּאִין אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, יָהֵיב לוֹן, אוֹרַיְיתָא, וַאֲמַר לוֹן, וְאֶל אִשָּׁה בְּנִדַּת טֻמְאָתָהּ לֹא תִקְרַב לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָתָהּ אֲנִי ה'.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

Come and behold, As I have said, ENCHANTMENT COMES FROM THE DEFILEMENT OF THE SERPENT, for Bilaam used to defile himself first to draw upon him the unholy spirit. THEN HE PRACTICED SORCERY. Similarly, it behooves man to stay away from a woman during menstruation LEST HE TOUCH HER, because she is attached to the spirit of defilement. If she practices sorcery at that time, she will be more successful that at other times. Whatever she touches is therefore defiled, and all the more so whomever approaches her. Happy are the children of Yisrael, for the Holy One, blessed be He, gave them Torah, and told them, "Also you shall not approach to a woman in the impurity of her menstrual flow, to uncover her nakedness... I am Hashem" (Vayikra 18:19-21).

chanoch's Commentary

This verse is clear as written. Rabbi Ashlag's comments add what is written in various midrashim.

Pasook 87. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אֲמַר לֵיהּ, הַאי מַאן דְּאִסְתַּכַּל, בְּצִפְצוּפוֹי דְּעוֹפֵי, אַמַּאי אִקְרֵי נָחָשׁ. אָמַר לוֹ דְּהָא מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא קָאָתֵי, דְּרוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, שַׁרְיָא עַל הַהוּא עוֹפָא, וְאוֹדַע מִלִּין בְּעַלְמָא. וְכָל רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, בְּנָחָשׁ אִתְדַּבָּקוּ, וְאַתְיָין לְעַלְמָא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִשְׁתְּזֵיב מִנֵּיהּ בְּעַלְמָא, דְּהָא אִיהוּ אִשְׁתַּכַּח עִם כֹּלָּא, עַד זִמְנָא, דְּזַמֵּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַעֲבָרָא לֵיהּ מֵעַלְמָא, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר, דִּכְתִיב בִּלַע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח וּמָחָה ה' אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים וגו'. וּכְתִיב וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר מִן הָאָרֶץ וגו'.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

He asks, Why is it called sorcery if someone uses the chirping of birds TO TELL THE FUTURE? It is because the unholy spirit abides in that bird, which is drawn from this side OF DEFILEMENT. That unholy spirit foretells events. Every defiled spirit, is attached to and comes to the world from the serpent and no one in this world is safe from it, because it is everywhere, until the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, will remove it from the world, as it is written, "He will destroy death for ever" (Yeshayah 25:8) and "I will also cause...the unclean spirit to pass out of the land" (Zecharyah 13:2).

chanoch's Commentary

The pasuk is clear as written.