Zohar Kedoshim Section 1 - "You Shall Be Holy"

You Shall Be Holy - Zohar Kedoshim Section 1

It is recommended to study the section prior to reading the Synopsis. This gives your intuition an opportunity to go where it needs to go without first being directed to a location.

Zohar Section 1 Commentary of Parasha KEDOSHIM

SYNOPSIS:

Rabbi Elazar begins by saying that on the day of heavenly judgment people will be found defective because they did not pay any attention to the Torah. He adds that it is forbidden to associate with people who lack the Faith. And as for those who are not in a state of holiness at the time of intercourse, they will produce offspring whose souls come from the side of defilement.

Pasook 1. of Zohar Commentary on Parasha Kedoshim

וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵאמֹר. דַּבֵּר אֶל כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם קְדוֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְיָ’ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. ר' אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח, אַל תִּהְיוּ כְּסוּס כְּפֶרֶד אֵין הָבִין וְגוֹ'. בְּכַמָּה זִמְנִין אוֹרַיְיתָא אַסְהִידַת בְּהוּ בִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, כַּמָה זִמְנִין אֲרִימַת קָלִין, לְכָל סִטְרִין לְאִתְּעָרָא לְהוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ דְּמִיכִין בְּשֵׁינָתָא בְּחוֹבֵיהוֹן, לָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין, וְלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין, בְּהֵיךְ אַנְפִּין יְקוּמוּן לְיוֹמָא דְּדִינָא עִלָּאָה, כַּד יִתְבַּע לוֹן מַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה עֶלְבּוֹנָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דִּצְוַוחַת לָקֳבְלֵיהוֹן, וְלָא אָהַדְרוּ אַנְפִּין לָקֳבְלָהּ, דְּכֻלְּהוּ פְּגִימִין בְּכֹלָּא, דְּלָא יָדְעוּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה, וַוי לוֹן, וַוי לְנַפְשֵׁהוֹן.

"And Hashem spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, and say to them: You shall be holy: for I Hashem your Elohim am Holy" (Vayikra 19:1-2). Rabbi Elazar commenced the discussion: "Be not like the horse, or the mule, which have no understanding ..." (Tehilim 32:9). How many times did the Torah attest to people, how many times did she raise her voice in every direction to awaken them, but all lay sleeping, unaware of their sins. They do not look or pay attention to the time when they will rise up to face the day of heavenly Judgment. At this time, the Heavenly King will exact from them the shame of the Torah that cried out against them, and yet they did not even turn their face to her. All are found totally defective since they do not know of the Faith of the Heavenly King. Woe to them, and woe to their souls.

chanoch's Commentary

We have learned from the Zohar elsewhere that Tumah (Impurity) is contagious. Is Holiness contagious? HaShem is Holy - The Torah tells us so. If i become close to HaShem do i catch, so to speak Holiness? We first have to learn what is Holiness. We have taught it in our emails on this Parasha. Holiness is potentially available when someone FIRST purifies themselves. Only then might HaShem lift them to a higher level of purity an transform them from a left column entity to a right column entity. Is this right column aspect relative or permanent? There are many questions that need to be answered about both purity and Holiness. If i have become pure and transformed to Holiness by HaShem does the impurity of death remove my Holiness? This is just one question that needs to be answered. Of course i am so far from being purified that the question is actually just delaying my spritual work since i will be unable to utilize the answer in my life more than likely.

Pasook 2. of Zohar Commentary on Section 1 of Parasha Kedoshim

דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא בֵּיהּ אַסְהִידַת, וְאַמְרַת מִי פֶתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה חֲסַר לֵב אָמְרָה לוֹ. מַהוּ חֲסַר לֵב. דְּלֵית לֵיהּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּמַאן דְּלָא אִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָאו בֵּיהּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא, וּפָגִים הוּא מִכֹּלָּא אָמְרָה לוֹ, אוֹמְרָה לוֹ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, כד"א אוֹמְרָה לְאֵל סַלְעִי, מַהוּ אָמְרָה. אֶלָּא לְאַכְלְלָא וּלְאִתּוֹסְפָא אוֹרַיְיתָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, דְּהִיא קַרְיָיהּ לֵיהּ חֲסַר לֵב, פָּגִים מִמְּהֵימְנוּתָא.

For the Torah attests to him and says, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for he that lacks understanding, she says to him..." (Mishlei 9:4). Who is meant by, "he that lacks understanding"? THIS MEANS one who has no Faith, and is defective in every respect. HE QUESTIONS: Why is it written, "she says to him," when it should read, 'I say to him', as the verse says, "I will say to El my rock..." (Tehilim 42:10). So why does it say here, "she says"? HE ANSWERS: It wishes to include and add the supernal Torah, which also calls him, "he that lacks understanding," MEANING defective in Faith.

Please note that there are two conditions that relate to information in this verse and to this verse from Proverbs/Mishlei. The first is FAITH which must be defined. It is coming the word Emunah as a verb. Remember Emunah is a lower level than Bitachon which is usually translated as Trust and Bitachon is below Vaday which is Certainty which is only rarely discussed and then only by Kabbalists. Which level is being described and discussed? The other item is the Pasook says "one who is defective in every respect. Who is defective in everything and has never even done one Mitzvah even if done incorrectly throughout their reincarnations. Or does this apply strictly to this one incarnation? So many questions are being raised in my mind.

Pasook 3. of Zohar Commentary on Parasha Kedoshim

דְּהָכִי תָּנֵינָן, כָּל מַאן דְּלָא אִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אָסִיר לְמִקְרַב לְגַבֵּיהּ, לְאִשְׁתַּתְּפָא בַּהֲדֵּיהּ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד בֵּיהּ סְחוֹרְתָּא, וכ"ש לְמֵהַךְ עִמֵּיהּ בְּאוֹרְחָא. דְּהָא לֵית בֵּיהּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא. תָּנֵינָן כָּל ב"נ דְּאָזִיל בְּאוֹרְחָא, וְלֵית עִמֵּיהּ מִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִתְחַיָּיב בְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ. כ"ש מַאן דְּאִזְדַּוָּוג בְּאוֹרְחָא, עִם מַאן דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּלָא חָשִׁיב לִיקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהּ וְדִידֵיהּ דְּלָא חָס עַל נַפְשֵׁיהּ.

We have learned this: it is forbidden to approach all who fail to toil in Torah, and it is forbidden to be partners with him or do business with him, and one must surely not travel with him on the way, since he lacks Faith. We learned that one who walks along the road without mentioning words of Torah endangers his life. This is all the more the case for he who befriends on the road someone who lacks Faith, BECAUSE he himself does not properly honor his Master, nor even his own, as he shows a lack of concern for his own life.

chanoch's Commentary

We are getting some clarity from this verse about the questions i asked earlier. These Pasookim are speaking to people who operate their lives based on the lower level of Yirah. Yirah can be fear or awe as we know. This is dealing with the level of fear. Why should i be concerned about my life? i can not die. i can make mistakes and traveling on a path that leads me away from Torah will be a mistake. That is clear. Associating with people that do not follow/live Torah will eventually cause me to make a mistake. Yet how will these people find their way to Torah? If i am on this lower level it is not my responsibility to help them see that since i can not protect myself from becoming confused by their teachings. This is why the Pasook appears to be exclusionary when it is not saying anything about what that person should do only what i need to do.

Pasook 4. of the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Kedoshim

רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, מַאן דְּלָא חָס עַל נַפְשֵׁיהּ, הֵיךְ יִשְׁלוֹף נַפְשָׁא דְּכַשְׁרָא לִבְרֵיהּ. א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, תַּוַּוהְנָא עַל דָּרָא, וְהָא אִתְּמַר מִלָּה וְכוּ’. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב אַל תִּהְיוּ כְּסוּס כְּפֶרֶד אֵין הָבִין. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְיַדְעִין אוֹרְחוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּמְקַדְּשֵׁי גַּרְמַיְיהוּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא, וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ קַדִּישִׁין בְּכֹלָּא, ובג"כ מְשַׁלְּפֵי רוּחָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא מִלְּעֵילָּא, וּבְנַיְיהוּ כֻּלְּהוּ זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט, וְאִקְרוּן בְּנֵי מַלְכָּא בְּנִין קַדִּישִׁין.

Rabbi Yehuda said: How will he who shows no concern for his own life, NAMELY, BY ASSOCIATING WITH ONE LACKING FAITH, draw a proper soul to his son? Rabbi Elazar said: I wonder about this generation, and this matter was discussed. About this it is written: "Be not like the horse, or the mule, which have no understanding" (Tehilim 32:9). Happy are the righteous who strive in the Torah and know the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, and sanctify themselves with the sanctity of the King. They are in a total state of holiness. For this reason they attract a spirit of Holiness from above. Their children are truly righteous and are called 'the children of the King', 'holy children'.

chanoch's Commentary

This Pasook seems to contradict our definition of Holiness. It implies that something Holy from above rests upon the lower level. One must realize that this Pasook is not using Holiness but Sanctity. It is two different aspects.

Pasook 5.of the Zohar Commentary of Parasha Kedoshim

וַוי לְהוֹן לְרַשִׁיעַיָּיא, דְּכֻלְּהוּ חֲצִיפִין, וְעוֹבָדַיְיהוּ חֲצִיפִין. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ יָרְתִין בְּנַיְיהוּ נַפְשָׁא חֲצִיפָא, מִסִּטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא. כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם, אָתָא לְאִסְתַּאֲבָא, מְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ. אַל תִּהְיוּ כְּסוּס כְּפֶרֶד, דְּאִינּוּן מָארֵי זְנוּתָא עַל כֹּלָּא. אֵין הָבִין, דְּלָא יִשְׁתַּדְּלוּן בְּנֵי נָשָׁא בְּאָרְחָא דָּא, דְּאִי הָכֵי, כְּתִיב הָכָא אֵין הָבִין. וּכְתִיב הָתָם וְהַכְּלָבִים עַזֵּי נֶפֶשׁ לֹא יָדְעוּ שָׂבְעָה וְהֵמָה רוֹעִים לֹא יָדְעוּ הָבִין. כְּלוֹמַר יֵהוֹן מִזְדַּמְּנִין אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן עַזֵּי נֶפֶשׁ. מַאי טַעֲמָא. מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא יָדְעוּ הָבִין.

Woe be to evildoers who are brazen and act with insolence AT TIMES OF INTERCOURSE. For this reason, their offspring acquire a brazen soul from the Side of Defilement, as it is written, "that you should be defiled by them" (Vayikra 11:43). He who seeks to become unclean is made unclean. "Be not like the horse, or the mule," as these animals are very loose in morality, more than all other CREATURES. "...which have no understanding...", for people of this sort do not try TO UNDERSTAND this way. It is written, "which have no understanding," and in another place, "Yea, the dogs are greedy [in soul], they never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand" (Yeshayah 56:11). This means that JUST AS THEY ARE GREEDY IN THEIR SOUL, ALSO HERE it reveals that they will prepare for themselves CHILDREN who will be called 'greedy in their souls'. For what reason? Because they "cannot understand."

chanoch's Commentary

We see from this Pasook the teaching of reincarnation. The consciousness of the Parents is what determines the Tikune of the child. They can change that consciousness which then helps the child to achieve this Tikune easier meaning with mercy. This happens when they teach the child the proper ways of behavior and deciding to not be reactive and act brazen and insolence.

Pasook 6. of the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Kedoshim

וְהֵמָה רוֹעִים, מַאי רוֹעִים, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן מַדְבְּרֵי וּמַנְהִגֵי לב"נ בַּגֵיהִנָּם, לֹא יָדְעוּ שָׂבְעָה, כד"א לַעֲלוּקָה שְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת הַב הַב, בְּג"כ דְּאִינּוּן הַב הַב, לָא יָדְעוּ שָׂבְעָה. כֻּלָּם לְדַרְכָּם פָּנוּ אִישׁ לְבִצְעוֹ מִקָּצֵהוּ. דְּהָא תַּיָּירֵי דְּגֵיהִנָּם אִינּוּן. וְכָל דָּא מַאן גָּרִים לְהוּ. בְּגִין דְּלָא אִתְקַדָּשׁוּ בְּהַהוּא זִוּוּגָא כְּמָה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְעַ"ד כְּתִיב, קְדוֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְיָ'. אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מִכָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין לָא רַעְיָתִי לְאַדְבְּקָא בִּי, אֶלָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִּיב וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ', אַתּוּן, וְלָא שְׁאָר עַמִּין. בְּג"כ, קְדוֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ דַּיְיקָא.

"And they are shepherds." HE QUESTIONS: Who are these shepherds? AND ANSWERS: These are those who guide and lead people to Gehenom. "They never have enough," JUST AS the verse that says: "The leech," NAMELY GEHENOM, "has two daughters, crying, 'Give, give'" (Mishlei 30:15). Because they SAY "Give, give," then, "they never have enough;" "they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter" (Yeshayah 56:11), since they seek out Gehenom. What caused all this? It is because they did not sanctify themselves at mating as much as they should have. Therefore, it is written: "You shall be holy: for I Hashem your Elohim am Holy." The Holy One, blessed be He, says, 'From all nations I wanted only Yisrael to cling to Me,' as it is written: "But you that did cleave of Hashem" (Devarim 4:4); you, not the other nations. For this reason, "You shall be holy," indeed.

chanoch's Commentary

Please note the idea of insufficient sanctification at mating. Remember the teaching that even if one did not follow the regulations of family purity when their children were conceived they can do a Mikva at another time as part of the process of Teshuvah and assist the Tikune of their children to become more merciful.