Zohar Prologue - Section 18 - One Who Rejoices On the Festivals Yet Does Not Give to the Poor

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue Section 18

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:

If a person is joyous over his own lot in life but does not share any portion of it, great judgment can befall him. Moreover, sharing for purposes of recognition and honor is worthless in the Upper Worlds. Genuine sharing involves self-sacrifice and giving of oneself beyond that which is comfortable. True generosity occurs when the benefactor does not know to whom he gave, and the recipient does not know who has given unto him. Understanding this precept can greatly enrich our appreciation for the importance of sharing, which is the most effective way to remove any judgments that hang over us.

Pasook 174. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue

פָּתַח רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וַאֲמַר, כָּל מָאן דְּחָדֵי בְּאִינוּן מוֹעֲדַיָּא, וְלָא יָהֵיב חוּלָקֵיהּ לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הַהוּא רַע עַיִן שָׂטָן שׂוֹנֵא אוֹתוֹ וְקָא מְקַטְרֵג לֵיהּ, וְסָלֵיק לֵיהּ מֵעָלְמָא, וְכַמָּה עָקוּ עַל עָקוּ מְסַבֵּב לֵיהּ.

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 Shimon opened the discussion by saying that he who rejoices on festivals, but does not give his portion to the Holy One, blessed be He, then that Evil Eye Satan - shall hate and persecute him, and shall take him out of this world. And he will bring many miseries upon miseries.

chanoch's Commentary

To understand this pasuk one needs to understand the definition and meaning of "his portion to the Holy One, Blessed Be He. This "portion" is Malchut and / or the Schechinah. As a practical matter it is giving Terumah - the 10 % of what one receives that does not belong to him or her.

Pasook 175. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue

חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לְמֶחֱדֵי לְמִסְכְּנֵי כְּפוּם מַה דְּיָכֵיל לְמֶעְבַּד. בְּגִין דְּקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּיוֹמַיָּיא אִלֵּין, אָתֵי לְמֶחֱמֵי לְאִינוּן מָאנִין תְּבִירִין דִּילֵיהּ, וְעָאל עָלַיְיהוּ, וְחָמֵי דְּלָא אִית לְהוֹן לְמֶחֱדֵי, וּבְכֵי עָלַיְיהוּ. סָלֵיק לְעֵילָא לְחָרְבָּא עָלְמָא.

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 portion of the Holy One, blessed be He, is to make the poor happy, according to his ability. Because on these days, DURING FESTIVALS, the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to see all His broken vessels. He comes to see them, but then realizes that they have nothing to be happy ABOUT. And He weeps over them, before ascending back above, to destroy the world.

chanoch's Commentary

Understand that the Holy One is HaShem who is Zeir Anpin. During Festivals Zeir Anpin unifies to one degree or another with Malchut. This is the source for this pasuk and its description. When Malchut returns to its exile - Zeir Anpin weeps over what was expressed through the concept of "pillow talk" expressed by Malchut during unification.

Pasook 176. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue

אֲתָאן בְּנֵי מְתִיבְתָּא קַמֵּיהּ, וְאָמְרֵי רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אִתְקְרִיאַת. יִתְגַּלְגְּלוּן רַחֲמָךְ עַל בְּנָךְ. אֲמַר לוֹן: וְכִי עָלְמָא לָא עֲבֵידַת לֵיהּ אֶלָּא עַל חֶסֶ"ד, דִּכְתִיב אָמַרְתִּי עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה, וְעָלְמָא עַל דָּא קָיְימָא. אָמְרֵי קַמֵּיהּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי, רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, הָא פְּלַנְיָא דְּאָכֵיל וְרָוֵי, וְיָכֵיל לְמֶעְבַּד טִיבוּ עִם מִסְכְּנֵי וְלָא יָהֵיב לוֹן מִידֵי. אָתֵי הַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא וּתְבַע רְשׁוּ, וּרְדַף אֲבַתְרֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ.

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 members of the Yeshivah then stand before Him, saying, Master of the universe, You are called gracious and merciful. So, apply Your mercy on Your children! He said to them: 'Have I not created the world based upon love?' As it is written, "For I have said, the world is built by love" (Tehilim 89:3). So the whole universe is established upon it. BUT IF THEY DO NOT LOVE THE POOR, THEN 'I SHALL DESTROY THE WORLD.' The heavenly angels then say to Him, Master of the universe, there is a certain person who has eaten and drunk to his fill and could have been kind to the poor, but did not share with them anything! Then the "Accuser" comes and obtains permission to persecute that person.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written.

Pasook 177. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue

מָאן לָן בְּעָלְמָא גָּדוֹל מֵאַבְרָהָם, דַּעֲבַד טִיבוּ לְכָל בִּרְיָין. בְּיוֹמָא דַּעֲבַד מִשְׁתְּיָיא, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל וַיַּעַשׂ אַבְרָהָם מִשְׁתֶּה גָדוֹל בְּיוֹם הִגָּמֵל אֶת יִצְחָק. עֲבַד אַבְרָהָם מִשְׁתְּיָיא, וּקְרָא לְכָל רַבְרְבֵי דָרָא לְהַהִיא סְעוּדָתָא. וְתָנִינָן, בְּכָל סְעוּדָתָא דְחֶדְוָה, הַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא אָזֵיל וְחָמֵי, אִי הַהוּא ב"נ אַקְדִּים טִיבוּ לְמִסְכְּנֵי, וּמִסְכְּנֵי בְּבֵיתָא, הַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מֵהַהוּא בֵּיתָא וְלָא עָאל תַּמָּן, וְאִי לָאו, עָאל תַּמָּן, וְחָמֵי עִרְבּוּבְיָא דְּחֶדְוָה בְּלָא מִסְכְּנֵי, וּבְלָא טִיבוּ דְאַקְדִּים לְמִסְכְּנֵי, סָלֵיק לְעֵילָא וּמְקַטְרְגָא עֲלֵיהּ.

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

Whom do we have in the world greater than Abraham, who had bestowed kindness on all living beings? Of the day that he prepared a feast, what is written? "And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Issac was weaned" (Beresheet 21:8). So Abraham prepared a feast and invited all the leaders and important people of that generation to that feast. And we have learned that at every banquet, the 'Accuser' wanders about, observing if each person first dispenses charity to the poor. If there are any poor people in his house, then he (the "Accuser") leaves that house and does not enter. But if not, THE 'ACCUSER' enters that house. If he sees the merrymaking without the poor and without having first dispensed charity to the poor, he ascends above and brings accusations against him.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is expressing how the negative system utilizes its resources. In any war between good and evil we humans do not consider an allocation of resources but this physical law also has its spiritual root.

Pasook 178. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue

אַבְרָהָם, כֵּיוָן דְּזַמֵּין לְרַבְרְבֵי דָרָא, נָחַת מְקַטְרְגָא וְקָם עַל פִּתְחָא כְּגַוְונָא דְמִסְכְּנָא, וְלָא הֲוָה מָאן דְּאַשְׁגַּח בֵּיהּ. אַבְרָהָם הֲוָה מְשַׁמֵשׁ לְאִינוּן מַלְכִין וְרַבְרְבִין. שָׂרָה אוֹנִיקַת בְּנִין לְכָלְּהוֹ דְּלָא הֲווֹ מְהֵמְנִין כַּד אִיהִי אוֹלִידַת. אֶלָּא אֲמָרוּ אֲסוּפִי הוּא וּמִן שׁוּקָא אַיְתִיאוּ לֵיהּ, בְּגִין כָּךְ אַתְיָין בְּנַיְיהוּ בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, וְנַטְלַת לוֹן שָׂרָה וְאוֹנִיקַת לוֹן קָמַיְיהוּ. הה"ד מִי מִלֵּל לְאַבְרָהָם הֵנִיקָה בָנִים שָׂרָה, בָּנִים וַדַּאי. וְהַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא עַל פִּתְחָא. אָמְרָה צְחוֹק עָשָׂה לִי אֱלֹהִים. מִיָּד סָלֵיק הַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא קַמֵּי קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, אַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ אַבְרָהָם אוֹהֲבִי, עֲבַד סְעוּדְתָּא וְלָא יְהַב לָךְ מִידֵי, וְלָאו לְמִסְכְּנֵי, וְלָא קָרֵיב קָדָמָךְ אֲפִילּוּ יוֹנָה חַד. וְתוּ, אָמְרַת שָׂרָה דְּחַיְיכַת בָּהּ.

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 Abraham summoned all the great leaders of that generation, the 'Accuser' descended and stood at the door disguised as a poor man. And nobody paid any attention to him. Abraham was attending the kings and the noble men. Sarah suckled all their children because they did not believe that she had born a child, but rather claimed that ISSAC was a foundling whom they picked up from the marketplace. This is why they brought their children with them, so that Sarah could take them and nurse them in front of their parents. As it is written: "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?" (Beresheet 21:7). IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, 'WOULD NURSE A CHILD?' NEVERTHELESS, there is no doubt that it should be 'children,' REFERRING TO THE CHILDREN OF ALL THE GUESTS. And that 'Accuser' was STANDING at the door. Sarah said: "Elohim made laughter for me!" (Ibid. 6). So immediately the 'Accuser' went up and stood before the Holy One, blessed be He, and said to Him, "O Master of the universe, You have said, 'Abraham is the one who loves Me,' and here he prepared a feast but did not give anything to You or to the poor. He did not sacrifice even one pigeon before. And furthermore, Sarah claims that You have mocked her!"

chanoch's Commentary

Is Loshon Harah allowed in front of the Master of the Universe? Did Sarah mock the Master of the Universe? Do you know the laws of Loshon Harah. Listen to our recordings and read our hand outs on the subject.

Pasook 179. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Prologue

אֲמַר לֵיהּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מָאן בְּעָלְמָא כְּאַבְרָהָם. וְלֹא זָז מִתַּמָּן עַד דְּבִלְבֵּל כָּל הַהִיא חֶדְוָה, וּפַקֵּיד קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמִקְרַב לְיִצְחָק קָרְבְּנָא, וְאִתְגְּזַר עַל שָׂרָה דְּתָמוּת עַל צַעֲרָא דִּבְרָהּ כָּל הַהוּא צַעֲרָא גָּרֵים דְּלָא יָהֵיב מִידֵי לְמִסְכְּנֵי.

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 Holy One, blessed be He, replies: 'Who in the world can be compared to Abraham?' But THE 'ACCUSER' did not leave the place until he had spoiled the entire feast. So the Holy One, blessed be He, decreed that Issac should be given as an offering, and Sarah was destined to die from anguish because of her son. All of this distress was caused because he did not offer anything to the poor!

chanoch's Commentary

The pasuk is clear as written. One needs to contemplate the personal message in this pasuk.