Zohar HaAzinu - Section 7 - 9 Lights Glow From the Established Atika

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha HaAzinu Section 7

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

1. Read outloud 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:

Rabbi Shimon talks about the most ancient among the ancient, Atika, saying that when it was established it produced nine lights or Sfirot. He tells us about the nature of Atika Kadisha and how it can be known by the lights that emanate from it.

chanoch's Commentary

This section begins the Idra Zuta - the small assembly. It is considered to have aspects of Sitre Torah in places. The teachings of the Arizal through his student Chaim Vital who wrote the Sefer Etz Chaim - the Tree of Life came primarily from the Zohar. This Sefer is the major study of the Kabbalists in Israel. In view of the depth of this section and the ones that follow please do not expect much commentary.

Pasook 32. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha HaAzinu

עַתִּיקָא דְּכָל עַתִּיקִין, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין, אִתְתְּקַן וְלָא אִתְתְּקַן. אִתְתְּקַן, בְּגִין לְקַיְּימָא כֺּלָּא. וְלָא אִתְתְּקַן, בְּגִין דְּלָא שְׁכִיחַ.

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

The most ancient among the ancient, Atika, WHICH IS CALLED THE UNKNOWN HEAD, which is most concealed, was established yet not established. It was established in order to maintain everything, BUT FROM ITS OWN ASPECT it was not established, BECAUSE ITS OWN ESTABLISHMENTS REVEAL NOTHING OF ITS OWN NATURE, and it cannot be found, THAT IS, IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

chanoch's Commentary

Atika is a code word for Keter. Keter has three aspects one of which is called Atika Kadisha; There is also a term Arich Anpin; a third aspect is called Concealed Chochmah. The highest of these is Atika Kadisha. The above pasuk refers to Atika as an unknown head. Atika does not know of itself which is what the pasuk teaches. This is hard to understand in the physical consciousness since we know that we exist. Yet the aspect of Atika has a functional job to do as described above yet does not know that it exists. It is not "so to speak" programmed to ask this type of question. Its job is to see that all things below it in the hierarchy of creation exist and run in an orderly way. In this sense everything is included in the Sephira of Keter. If we use a mashal or metaphor of a Tree - the keter is the seed. Included in the seed is the root; trunk; branches; leaves; flowers; fruit; and the seed within the fruit.

Pasook 33. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayelech

כַּד אִתְתְּקַן, אַפִּיק ט' נְהוֹרִין, דְּלַהֲטִין מִנֵּיהּ, מִתִּקּוּנוֹי. וְאִינּוּן נְהוֹרִין מִנֵּיהּ, מִתְנַהֲרִין וּמִתְלַהֲטִין, וְאָזְלִין וּמִתְפַּשְׁטִין לְכָל עִיבָר. כְּבוּצִינָא דְּאִתְפַּשְּׁטִין מִנֵּיהּ נְהוֹרִין לְכָל עִיבָר. וְאִינּוּן נְהוֹרִין דְּמִתְפַּשְּׁטִין, כַּד יִקְרְבוּן לְמִנְדַּע לוֹן, לָא שְׁכִיחַ אֶלָּא בּוּצִינָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי. כַּךְ הוּא עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, הוּא בּוּצִינָא עִלָּאָה, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין. וְלָא שְׁכִיחַ בַּר אִינּוּן נְהוֹרִין דְּמִתְפָּשְּׁטָן, דְּמִתְגַּלְּיָין, וּטְמִירָן. וְאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. ובג"כ כֺּלָּא חַד.

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

When it was established it produced nine lights, WHICH ARE THE NINE SFIROT KETER, CHOCHMAH, BINAH, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ARICH ANPIN, THE GARMENTS OF WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA, MALE AND FEMALE, that glow from it, FROM THE UNKNOWN HEAD from its establishments. These NINE lights shine from it WITH CHASSADIM, glow from it WITH GVUROT, and spread in every direction BOTH TO CHOCHMAH AND TO CHASSADIM like a candle from which lights stream in every direction. When one approaches to observe the spreading lights, only the candle alone can be observed. THAT IS, THE CANDLE AND THE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE ARE NOT TWO THINGS, SINCE THE LIGHT SPREADING FROM IT HAS NO SELF-EXISTENCE OR POWER, BECAUSE ALL ITS EXISTENCE LIES WITHIN THAT CANDLE. IF YOU TAKE THE CANDLE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, THE LIGHTS SHALL SPREAD IN A DIFFERENT PLACE AND NOTHING WILL REMAIN OF THEM IN THE FORMER PLACE. Such is Atika Kadisha. It is a lofty, most hidden candle, incomprehensible save for the lights spreading FROM IT, SOME OF WHICH ARE revealed and SOME OF WHICH ARE hidden. They are called the Holy Name. BUT THE LIGHTS SPREADING FROM ATIKA KADISHA HAVE NO SELF-EXISTENCE, HEAVEN FORBID, ALL THEIR EXISTENCE IS WITHIN ATIKA KADISHA, THOUGH THEY ARE COMPREHENSIBLE AND ATIKA KADISHA IS NOT, LIKE LIGHTS STREAMING FROM THE CANDLE. For that reason it is all one.

chanoch's Commentary

Elsewhere chanoch has taught that Light is the fullfillment of desire to receive. In this sence Light is an extension of Atika Kadisha. There are 9 lights that spread from the 9 Sephirot mentioned in the Pasuk. In Atika Kadish the lights and the Sefirot or desire are united as one. One can not speak of the Sefirot of Atika Kadisha without including the Lights that fulfill these Sefirot. You can not speak of the Lights of Atika Kadish without also including the idea of the vessel or desire called Sefirot. This confuses most people since Keter is a Sefira and is usually thought of as a Light and not a vessel. This is what leads up to the Machloket of "Is Keter a Light or a Vessel". Remember there is a Sefira which is a vessel and there are lights that fulfill these Sefira and when fulfilled or ever partially fulfilled it is referred to as a world. Language and definition of words is very important and we need to be careful that we utilize language properly to communicate to all.

Pasook 34. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayelech

וּמַה דְּאַמְרֵי חַבְרָנָא בְּסִפְרֵי קַדְמָאֵי, דְּאִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ, וְעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְגְּלֵי בְּהוּ, בְּכָל חַד וְחַד. מִשּׁוּם דְּאִינּוּן תִּקּוּנִין דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא. לָאו הַשְׁתָּא עִידָנָא לְהָנֵי מִלִּין דְּהָא אֲמֵינָא לוֹן בְּאִדָּרָא קַדִּישָׁא. וַחֲמֵינָא מַה דְּלָא יְדַעְנָא הָכִי, וְעַד הַשְׁתָּא אַסְתִּים בְּלִבָּאִי מִלָּה. וְהַשְּׁתָּא אֲנָא בִּלְחוֹדָאי אַסְהִידְנָא קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְכָל הָנֵי זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט דְּאָתוּ לְמִשְׁמַע מִלִּין אִלֵּין.

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

The friends have said in ancient books THAT THE CHANGES SPREADING FROM IT are created grades, THAT IS, THEY COME INTO BEING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENTS CREATED, and that Atika Kadisha is revealed through each of them, since they are the constructions of Atika Kadisha. THAT IS, THEY ARE TYPES OF COVERS OVER THE ILLUMINATION OF BLESSED THE ENDLESS LIGHT AND THROUGH THESE COVERS THE LOWER BEINGS ARE ABLE TO COMPREHEND IT. ITS CREATION IS IN RELATION TO PEOPLE, BUT IN THE LIGHT ITSELF THERE IS NO CHANGE, HEAVEN FORBID. THIS IS LIKE A MAN WHO PUTS ON CLOTHES TO APPEAR BEFORE HIS NEIGHBORS. THAT MAN IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL BY THESE COVERS, THOUGH OTHERS ARE. This is not the time for these matters, because I have already spoken of them in the holy Idra. BUT NOW I realize what I have not known that well, which until now was hidden in my heart. Now I alone testify before the Holy King and BEFORE all the truly righteous who came to hear these matters.

chanoch's Commentary

The commentary on the previous pasuk is helping to reveal these matters. Also we would need to look at the section 2 and 3 in the Idra Raba.