Zohar Lech Lecha Section 2 - Upon What the World Exists

It is recommended to read / scan / study the section prior to reading the Synopsis.

Zohar Lech Lecha Section 2 - Upon What the World Exists

SYNOPSIS:

The Zohar discusses our ignorance concerning the pillars that sustain our world, the unseen spiritual forces that give rise to all existence. The Zohar then focuses on another concept concerning the power of midnight. Great importance is attached to spiritual study and work during the hours from midnight to sunrise, when the Light of the Creator is intensified in our physical realm.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

The increased spiritual power released into the cosmos during the intervening hours of midnight and morning, is made available to us by the words and wisdom that comprise this portion.

Pasook 4. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Noach

ר' יוֹסֵי פָּתַח, מַה יְּדִידוּת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶיךָ ה' צְבָאוֹת. כַּמָּה אִית לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְּשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. דְּהָא כָּל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, לָא יָדְעֵי וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלֵי עַל מַה קָּאֵים עָלְמָא. וְאִינוּן עַל מַה קָּיְימִין. דְּכַד בְּרָא קוּדְּשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלְמָא, עֲבַד שְׁמַיָא, מֵאֵשׁ וּמִמַּיִם מִתְעָרְבִין כַּחֲדָא, וְלָא הֲווֹ גַּלְדֵי. וּלְבָתַר אַגְלִידוּ, וְקָיְימוּ בְּרוּחָא עִלָּאָה. וּמִתַּמָּן שָׁתִיל עָלְמָא, לְקָיְימָא עַל סָמְכִין. וְאִינוּן סָמְכִין, לָא קָיְימִין, אֶלָּא בְּהַהוּא רוּחָא. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּהַהוּא רוּחָא אִסְתַּלַּק, כָּלְהוֹ מְרַפְפִין וְזָעִין, וְעָלְמָא אִרְתַּת. הה"ד הַמַּרְגִּיז אֶרֶץ מִמְקוֹמָהּ וְעַמּוּדֶיהָ יִתְפַּלָּצוּן. וְכֹלָּא קָאֵים עַל אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּכַד יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, מִתְקַיֵּים עָלְמָא, וְאִינוּן קָיְימִין, וְסָמְכִין קָיְימִין בְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ, בְּקִיּוּמָא שְׁלִים.

Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion by saying, "How lovely are Your dwelling places, Hashem Tzva'ot" (Tehilim 84:2). How important it is for people to observe the works of the Holy One, blessed be He! All people do not observe and are not aware of what keeps the world in existence. Nor are they aware of what keeps them in existence! THESE TWO SUBJECTS ARE EXPLAINED HERE TO US. When the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, He made the heaven from fire and water. At first, these elements mingled together without freezing. Only later, by means of the Supernal Spirit, did they freeze and solidify. Then, THE HEAVENS, WHICH ARE ZEIR ANPIN, planted the world, THE NUKVA, to be established upon supports, THE THREE COLUMNS OF THE NUKVA. And the supports stand only by the help of the Spirit, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN BETWEEN THEM. When that Spirit is gone, the supports are loosened and they quake, and the world is shaken. This is the meaning of, "Who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble" (Iyov 9:6). And everything is established upon Torah, for when Yisrael are busy with Torah, THEY elevate Mayin Nukvin (lit. 'Female Waters') to Zeir anpin and Nukva, and draw the Central Column, which is Torah. Then the world is established, and the pillars, THE THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN, and the supports, THE THREE COLUMNS OF THE NUKVA, are perfectly situated in their places.

chanoch's Commentary

This is a very important teaching. There are 3 column's in the Tree and there are 2 Trees. There is the Torah which is the Tree of Life and there is the Tree of Knowledge Good and Evil which is actually two columns and becomes 3 columns when it is connected to the higher spiritual level called Zeir Anpin. Now let me put these terms in more common every day language. There is the spiritual systems associated with the Eastern Religions and uses the terms of Yin and Yang or Right and Left. There is no central column per se. When people study the Torah they, cause through feminine waters, the Tree of Life to expand and become the central column of the world of Malchut. Thus all 6 columns are really 5 as well as 6. This is the words of Rabbi Ashlag as said above "then the world is established, and the pillars, the 3 columns of Zeir Anpin and the supports, the 3 columns of Malchut, are perfectly situated in their places". Strive please to put these 6 columns into their places.

Pasook 5. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Noach

תָּא חֲזֵי בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְאִתְעַר פַּלְגוּת לֵילְיָא, וְקוּדְּשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָאל לְגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן, לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָא. כָּלְהוֹ אִילָנִין דִּבְגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן, מְזַמְּרָן וּמְשַׁבְּחָן קַמֵּיהּ. דִּכְתִיב, אָז יְרַנְּנוּ עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר מִלִּפְנֵי ה' וגו'.

Come and behold, When midnight is aroused, and the Holy One, blessed be He, enters the Garden of Eden to enjoy the company of the righteous, all the trees in the Garden of Eden sing and praise Him, as it is written, "Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy at the presence of Hashem" (I Divrei Hayamim 16:33).

chanoch's Commentary

Midnight is an essence of energy. It is not time. It is not 1/2 way between Sunset and Sunrise. It is an energy that becomes its own cause. Midnight is also an effect in the physical world. The Verse quoted is only a partial verse. The English translation is "Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy, before HaShem, for He is come to judge the earth." This helps us to understand this Pasook of the Zohar differently. HaShem is judging and utilizing Loving Kindness to make this judgment happen after midnight for the purpose of keeping the 5 or 6 pillars, spoken above, together. This is the essence of "midnight" - Judgment and Loving Kindness.

Pasook 6. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Noach

וְכָרוֹזָא קָארֵי בְחָיִל, וַאֲמַר, לְכוֹן אָמְרִין קַדִּישִׁין עֶלְיוֹנִין, מָאן מִנְכוֹן, דְּעָיֵיל רוּחָא בְּאוּדְנוֹי, לְמִשְׁמָע. וְעֵינוֹי פְּקִחִין לְמֶחֱמֵי. וְלִבֵּיהּ פָּתוּחַ לְמִנְדַע. בְּשַׁעֲתָא, דְּרוּחָא דְכָל רוּחִין, אָרִים בְּסִימוּ דְנִשְׁמָתָא, וּמִתַּמָּן, נָפֵיק קָלָא דְּקָלַיָא, חֵילִין אִתְבַּדַּר לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא.

A crier comes forth and forcefully calls, "You, mighty, holy men! To him among you who has allowed the spirit to enter, and his ears to hear, who has eyes open to see and who has a heart that is open to know! BY THIS CRIER, THE RIGHTEOUS AWAKEN FROM THEIR SLEEP, DELVE TO THE STUDY OF TORAH, AND DRAW THE CENTRAL COLUMN. When the spirit, which is the source of all spirits, arouses the sweetness of the soul, a voice comes from there, which is the source of all voices, and disperses all forces to the four corners of the world.

chanoch's Commentary

As mentioned in the Comment above. Loving Kindness and Midnight is mixed together by the consiousness of Nurture.

Pasook 7. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Noach

חַד סָלִיק, לִסְטַר חָד. חַד נָחִית לְהַהוּא סְטַר. חַד עָיֵיל, בֵּין תְּרֵין. תְּרֵין מִתְעַטְּרָן בִּתְלַת. תְּלַת עָיְילֵי בְּחַד. חַד אַפִּיק גְּוָונִין. שִׁית מִנְהוֹן, לִסְטַר חָד. וְשִׁית מִנְהוֹן, נָחֲתֵי לְהַהוּא סְטַר. שִׁית עָיְילֵי בִּתְרֵיסַר. תְּרֵיסַר מִתְעָרִין בְּעֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין. שִׁית, כְּלִילָן בַּעֲשָׂרָה. עֲשָׂרָה קָאֵים בְּחַד.

One goes up to one side, TO THE RIGHT OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE SECRET OF THE SOUTH. THE SECOND one descends to the other side, TO THE LEFT SIDE OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE NORTH. Another enters in between the two, BECOMES THE CENTRAL COLUMN OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE SECRET OF THE EAST. IN OTHER WORDS, ZEIR ANPIN IS PLACED BETWEEN THE TWO COLUMNS OF BINAH. AND THESE THREE DIRECTIONS, SOUTH, NORTH, AND EAST, ARE THE SECRET OF CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN. Two are crowned AND SHINE by BECOMING three, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET BY THE THIRD, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN THAT RECONCILES THEM. And three enter the one, BECAUSE THE CENTRAL COLUMN, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF TIFERET, RECEIVES AND EXPANDS BY ITSELF TO THREE OTHER COLUMNS, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. One, WHICH RECONCILES, NAMELY TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN, produced colors. IN OTHER WORDS, FROM HIM EMANATED THE SFIROT OF THE NUKVA THAT ARE CALLED 'COLORS'. Six of them"”CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, descended to one side, NAMELY TO THE RIGHT, and another six CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, descended to the other side, NAMELY TO THE LEFT. SO all six CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD become twelve SFIROT. IN OTHER WORDS, THE SIX SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN EXPANDED TO THE NUKVA AND BECAME TWELVE SFIROT, WITH SIX TO HER RIGHT AND SIX TO HER LEFT. The twelve SFIROT EXPAND AND become twenty-two SFIROT. THE six OF ZEIR ANPIN DO NOT BECOME TWELVE HERE, BUT are RATHER included within the ten. THIS IS BECAUSE the ten exist as one.

chanoch's Commentary

Are you beginning to learn about how the items develop and there are 12 Tribes in Zeir Anpin and 12 Tribes of Malchut. Also do you also understand why their are 22 letters of Binah? This relates to the development of Zeir Anpin and malchut of binah.

Pasook 8. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Noach

וַוי לְאִינוּן דְּנַיְימֵי שֵׁינְתָא בְּחוֹרֵיהוֹן, לָא יָדְעֵי וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלָאן אֵיךְ יְקוּמוּן בְּדִינָא, דְּחוּשְׁבַּן אִתְפַּקַד, כַּד אִסְתָּאַב גּוּפָא, וְנִשְׁמָתָא שַׁטְיָא, עַל אַנְפֵּי דַּאֲוִירָא דְּטִיהֲרָא, וְסָלְקָא וְנַחֲתָא, וְתַרְעִין לָא מִתְפַּתְּחָן, מִתְגַּלְגְּלָן כְּאַבְנִין בְּגוֹ קוּסְפִיתָא. וַוי לוֹן, מַאן יִתְבַּע לוֹן, דְּלָא יְקוּמוּן בְּעִדּוּנָא דָא, בְּגוֹ דוּכְתֵּי דְּעִנּוּגֵי דְצַדִּיקַיָא, אִתְפַּקְדּוּן דּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ. אִתְמַסְּרוּן בִּידָא דְדוּמָה, נַחֲתֵי וְלָא סַלְקֵי. עֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, כָּלָה עָנָן וַיֵּלַךְ כֵּן יוֹרֵד שְׁאוֹל לֹֹא יַעֲלֶה.

Woe to those who slumber as sleep covers their eyes sockets THOSE WHO DO NOT AWAKE FROM THEIR SLEEP TO STUDY TORAH AND DRAW THE CENTRAL COLUMN. THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT COLUMN BLOCKS OFF THE LIGHT NECESSARY FOR THEIR EYESIGHT AND MAKES THEM DROWSY. AS A RESULT, THEY HAVE NO EYES, THAT IS, MOCHIN. THERE IS SLEEP IN THEIR EYE SOCKETS. They do not know and are unable to observe how and in what condition they shall awaken on the Day of Judgment, when they shall be visited upon to settle the account when the body is defiled and the soul floats on the afternoon air, going up and down, but the gates do not open for it. They are thrown around like the pebbles in the hollow of a sling. Woe to them. Who shall ask about them when they shall not arise to this place of pleasure? In the place where the righteous have pleasure, they shall be missing. They shall be passed on to the angel Dumah, go down TO GEHENOM and not rise. They are described by the words, "As the cloud is consumed and vanishes say, so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more" (Iyov 7:9).

chanoch's Commentary

Gehinom and Heaven have 7 levels each. On Rosh HaShanah we do not see what happens at midnight to the soul but that is when the souls fly and it is determined which book they go to. So on the appointed day they go where they are meant to go within the 7 levels of either Heaven or Hell. It says that those who go to the level of Sheol do not rise yet not everyone is sentenced to Sheol.

Pasook 9. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Noach

בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִתְעַר שַׁלְהוֹבָא חַד מִסְּטַר צָפוֹן, וּבָטַשׁ בְּאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא, וְנָחֵית וּמָטֵי, בֵּין גַּדְפֵי דְתַרְנְגוֹלָא. וְאִתְעַר הַהוּא שַׁלְהוֹבָא בֵּיהּ, וְקָרֵי. וְלֵית מַאן דְּאִתְעַר, בַּר אִינוּן זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט, דְּקָיְימֵי וְאִתְעָרוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וּכְדֵין קוּדְּשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְכָל אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָיא, דִּבְגוֹ גִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן, צַיְיתֵי לְקָלֵיהוֹן. כּד"א, הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַּנִּים חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ הַשְּׁמִיעִנִי.

At that hour, THAT IS, MIDNIGHT, a flame is awakened from the North strikes the four corners of the world, SINCE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT COLUMN, WHICH IS JUDGMENT, EXPANDS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. It descends and touches the cock between its wings, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF GABRIEL. As the flame awakens it, it crows. THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE CRIER MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE WORDS, "A CRIER COMES FORTH AND FORCEFULLY ANNOUNCES..." But the only ones who awaken to the calling of the cock are the truly righteous, who delve to the study of Torah, DRAWING THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, together with all the righteous in the Garden of Eden, listen attentively to their voice. As it is written, "You who dwell in the gardens, the companions hearken to your voice, cause me to hear it" (Shir Hashirim 8:13).

chanoch's Commentary

This Pasook is learning why some people sleep through the night and some get up in the middle of the night and none of this happens because someone needs to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.