Zohar Shemini - Section 1 - "Man Is Created By The Torah"

Section 1 - "Man is Created By The Torah"

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

Zohar Section 1 from Parasha Shemini of the Sulam Commentary

SYNOPSIS:

Rabbi Yitzchak says that the children of Yisrael are blessed because God gave them the Torah, and that man was created by the Torah. Rabbi Chiya says that the Written Torah and the Oral Torah preserve man in the world. Rabbi Shimon tells how the Bet (the initial letter of the Torah) shows how the Torah is open to receive a person and join with him on one side, but if he walks the other way it has a closed side. There is more discussion of the inner meaning of the Bet. We learn that everyone who studies the Torah is beloved above and below, but even more so are those who study the Torah at night. Later, in the morning, all the judgments are broken.

Pasook 1. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

וַיְהִי בַּיוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וְגוֹ'. ר' יִצְחָק פָּתַח, בְּרָן יַחַד כֹּכְבֵי בֹּקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהִיב לוֹן אוֹרַיְיתָא קַדִּישָׁא, חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֹלָּא, חֶדְוָותָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאַטְיָילוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב, וָאֶהְיֶה שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים יוֹם יוֹם. וְאוֹרַיְיתָא כֹּלָּא, חַד שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא אִיהִי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וּבְאוֹרַיְיתָא אִתְבְּרֵי עָלְמָא דִּכְתִּיב, וָאֶהְיֶה אֶצְלוֹ אָמוֹן אַל תִּקְרֵי אָמוֹן אֶלָּא אוּמָן.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

"And it came to pass on the eighth day" (Vayikra 9:1). Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion, saying: "When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy" (Iyov 38:7). Blessed are Yisrael, because the Holy One, blessed be He, has given them the Holy Torah, the joy of all, the joy of the Holy One, blessed be He, and the place where He walks...', as is written: "And I was daily his delight" (Mishlei 8:30). The whole Torah is one holy Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. By the Torah was the world created, as it is written: "Then I was by Him as a nursling (Heb. amun)." Do not pronounce it as 'amun' but as "uman," which is literally an artificer, FOR IT WAS HIS INSTRUMENT OF ART FOR THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.

chanoch's Commentary

Rabbi Ashlag is teaching by hinting in the last sentence a very important spiritual law. Art is different than science. Wisdom is different than Understanding. Art is not duplicatable. It can be mirrored but the copy is not the original. Science follows the premise that if something can not be duplicated it is not truth. This is false. Truth is Art. Creation is Art. Many people speculate how a society that "worships" Hollywood and Sports Hero's provides such enormous salaries to these people can be truly valid. Rabbi Ashlag is telling us to realize that all aspects of creation weather Hollywood or a sports event is an art and an art form. That is the spiritual reason why the salaries are so out of proportion to what is perceived by the intellectual discussions taking place around it. This is my opinion.

Pasook 2. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

וּבְאוֹרַיְיתָא אִתְבְּרֵי ב"נ, הה"ד וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם. אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאוֹרַיְיתָא, בָּעֵינָא לְמִבְרֵי אָדָם. אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ, הַאי ב"נ זַמִּין לְמֶחֱטֵי וּלְאַרְגְזָא קַמָּךְ, אִי לָא תַּאֲרִיךְ רוּגְזָךְ עָלֵיהּ, הֵיךְ יְקוּם בְּעָלְמָא. אָמַר לָהּ, אֲנָא וְאַתְּ נוֹקִים לֵיהּ בְּעָלְמָא, דְּהָא לָאו לְמַגָּנָא אִתְקָרֵינָא אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

And man was created by the Torah, as it is written: "And Elohim said: 'Let us make man'" (Beresheet 1:26), WRITTEN IN A PLURAL FORM. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the Torah: 'I wish to create man'. She replied: 'This man is destined to sin and provoke You. Unless You are long-suffering with him, how then shall he endure? And He replied to her: you and I shall maintain him in the world, for I am not called 'long-suffering' for no reason.

chanoch's Commentary

To comprehend this pasook one needs to know and i do mean know the answer to the question "What is Torah". Torah is more than the sum of its parts. Torah is a person who chooses to live Torah. That is the ultimate goal and the ultimate meaning of the plurality of Torah.

Pasook 3. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

רִבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר, תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָּב וְתוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה אוּקְמוּהָ לֵיהּ לב"נ בְּעָלְמָא, הה"ד נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵינוּ. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר מֵהָכָא, אֵת אֲשֶׁר כְּבָר עָשׂוּהוּ, עָשׂוּהוּ וַדַּאי. וְדָא הוּא צֶלֶם וּדְמוּת, צֶלֶם: בִּדְכוּרָא. דְּמוּת: בְּנוּקְבָּא וְעַ"ד שֵׁירוּתָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא ב', וְאוֹקְמוּהָ.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

Rabbi Chiya said that the Written Torah, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and the Oral Torah, WHICH IS MALCHUT, established man in the world, as it is written: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," WRITTEN IN THE PLURAL FORM. Rabbi Yosi said that WE LEARN from that verse, "that which has been already done (lit. 'by them')" (Kohelet 2:12). "By them," assuredly, IN THE PLURAL FORM. It is the image and the likeness, WHO HAVE BOTH MADE MAN an "image" by the Masculine Principle, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN CALLED 'IMAGE', and "likeness" by the Feminine Principle, WHICH IS MALCHUT CALLED 'LIKENESS'. MALCHUT IS CALLED "LIKENESS" (HEB. DEMUT), WHICH IS DERIVED FROM SILENCE (HEB. DEMAMAH), FOR SHE HAS NOTHING OF HER OWN, SAVE WHAT SHE RECEIVES FROM ZEIR ANPIN. MAN'S SOUL WAS CREATED FROM THE UNITY OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. THEREFORE, IT IS SAID, "IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS." That is the reason why the Torah begins with the letter Bet (= 2), FOR IT ALLUDES TO ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. This has already been explained.

chanoch's Commentary

this pasook is clear and needs no commentary. Yet look again to realize the unity of the number 2 and how it relates to plurality as well. Torah is plurality. Torah is unity. This is not a paradox. This is a hint to us to love the diversity within the unity.

Pasook 4. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

ר' יִצְחָק אָמַר, מִפְּנֵי מַה ב' פְּתִיחָא וּסְתִימָא. אֶלָּא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּב"נ אָתֵי לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, הֲרֵי הִיא פְּתִיחָא לְקַבְּלָא לֵיהּ, וּלְאִשְׁתַּתְּפָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּב"נ, סָתִים עֵינוֹי מִנָּהּ, וְיֵהַךְ לְאָרְחָא אָחֳרָא, הֲרֵי הִיא סְתִימָא, מִסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא. כד"א, אִם יוֹם תַּעַזְבֵנִי יוֹמַיִם אֱעֶזְבֶךָּ. וְלָא יִשְׁכַּח פִּתְחָא, עַד דְּיֵתוּב לְאִתְחַבָּר בָּהּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין, וְלָא יִתְנְשֵׁי מִנָּהּ. וְעַ"ד אוֹרַיְיתָא פַּתְחָת קָמֵי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא וְאַכְרְזָא וְקָרֵי לְהוֹן אֲלֵיכֶם אִישִׁים אֶקְרָא וְגוֹ' וּכְתִיב בְּרֹאשׁ הוֹמִיּוֹת תִּקְרָא בְּפִתְחֵי שְׁעָרִים בָּעִיר אֲמָרֶיהָ תֹאמֵר.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

Rabbi Yitzchak said: Why is the Bet open ON ONE SIDE and closed ON THE OTHER? HE EXPLAINS that when a man comes to attach himself to the Torah, it is open to receive him and to join with him, but when he closes his eyes to it and walks in the other way, it is closed from the other side, LIKE THE BET, as it is written: "If you forsake Me one day, I will forsake you two." There will be no opening until he returns to attach himself to it face-to-face, and never abandons it again. Therefore, the Torah first APPROACHES men, calling to them: "To you, O men I call" (Mishlei 8:4), and also: "She utters her voice in the squares, she cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city she utters her words" (Mishlei 1:21).

chanoch's Commentary

As you read this pasook did you visualize yourself walking toward the Bet or did you see yourself walking within the Bet. Is the closed side of the Bet a blockage to continued growth? or a barrier to continued growth? What do you think someone who sees himself inside thinks of someone who sees himself outside? Did you even think that there could be a different perception of what the pasook is saying?

Pasook 5. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

ר' יְהוּדָה אָמַר, ב' תְּרֵין גַּגִין, וְחַד דְּאָחִיד לוֹן. מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. אֶלָּא חַד לִשְּׁמַיָּא וְחַד לְאַרְעָא, וקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָחִיד וְקַבִּיל לוֹן.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

Rabbi Yehuda said: The Bet is A FORM OF two roofs AND one LINE joining them. What does it signify? One ROOF ABOVE is for heaven, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and the other BELOW for earth, WHICH IS MALCHUT. The Holy One, blessed be He, WHO IS YESOD, unites THEM and receives them.

chanoch's Commentary

Have you ever thought of the earth as a roof? what do you think is being revealed by this? Is the line joining the two roofs a metaphor for the Creator? Is Yesod the Creator? why not?

Pasook 6. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

ר' אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר, ג' נְהוֹרִין אִינּוּן עִלָּאִין קַדִּישִׁין, דַּאֲחִידָן כַּחֲדָא, וְאִינּוּן כְּלָלָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאִלֵּין פָּתְחִין פִּתְחָא לְכֹלָּא. פָּתְחִין פִּתְחָא לִמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְאִלֵּין בֵּיתָא דְּכֹלָּא. וְעַל דָּא בַּיִת אִקְרוּ, דְּאִלֵּין אִינּוּן בֵּיתָא. ובג"כ שֵׁירוּתָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא ב'. דְּהָא הִיא אוֹרַיְיתָא הֲוֵי אַסְוָותָא דְּעָלְמָא.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

Rabbi Elazar said: There are three supernal holy lights, NAMELY THREE LINES connected together, in which the whole Torah is comprised. They open the gates to everyone AND HAVE INFLUENCE on Faith, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and they are like a house to everyone. Therefore, they are called 'a house', for THE THREE LINES OF THE BET ALLUDING TO THE THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN are a house (Heb. bayit). The Torah commences, therefore, with that letter, for it is a house and a remedy for the whole world.

chanoch's Commentary

What is meant that the house or Bet is a remedy for the worlds troubles? It is recognizing that all of the multiple Torah's is encapsulated into the Bet. The Torah is a remedy for the Worlds pain and suffering. Therefore the Bet is also that remedy. Meditate on the letter Bet spelled בית. The Hebrew phrase/word WeATaH ואתהhas the same gematria as the letter Bet. It hints to the fact that the human being is a house for HaShem.

Pasook 7. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

ובג"כ, מַאן דְּאִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כְּאִלּוּ אִשְׁתָּדַּל בֵּיהּ בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. וְהָא אִתְּמַר, דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא כֹּלָּא, חַד שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה אִיהִי. וּבְגִין דְּאִיהִי שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, פַּתְחָא בְּבֵית, דְּאִיהִי כְּלָלָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, בִּתְלַת קִשְׁרֵי מְהֵימְנוּתָא.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

Therefore he who is occupied in the Torah is as if he is occupied in the Holy Name. We have learned that the whole Torah is one supernal Holy Name and because of that, it begins with the Bet, for it comprises the Holy Name; NAMELY, THE THREE VAV'S WITHIN THE SECRET WRITTEN IN THE VERSES: "AND...WENT...AND IT CAME...AND...STRETCHED OUT" (SHEMOT 14:19-21), THE THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN, AND IT ALLUDES TO the three bonds WHICH INFLUENCE Faith, WHICH IS MALCHUT.

chanoch's Commentary

Did you make the connection to the 72 Names through the Bet? hinted above.

Pasook 8. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

ת"ח, כָּל אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, מִתְדַּבְּקִין בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּמִתְעַטְּרֵי בְּעִטְרֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאִתְרְחִימוּ לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, וקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹשִׁיט לוֹן יְמִינֵיהּ כ"ש אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא נָמֵי בְּלֵילְיָא. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּאִינּוּן מִשְׁתַּתְּפֵי בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא וְאִתְחַבָּרוּ כַּחֲדָא. וְכַד אָתֵי צַפְרָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְעַטֵּר לְהוּ, בְּחַד חוּטָא דְּחֶסֶד, לְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא בֵּין עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

Come and behold: all those who study the Torah and cleave to the Holy One, blessed be He, are adorned with the crowns of the Torah and are beloved above and below. The Holy One, blessed be He, stretches out to them His right hand, WHICH IS CHESED. All the more so those who study the Torah at night also, as we have learned that they are associated with the Shechinah and are joined with Her. When morning comes, the Holy One, blessed be He, winds a thread of grace around them to make them well known among the upper and the lower beings.

chanoch's Commentary

Is there a distinction between Torah study and Cleaving to HaShem? Which is cause and which is effect? Can you cleave to HaShem and not study Torah? Can you study Torah and not cleave to Hashem? These answers are very important to your spiritual growth.

Pasook 9. from the Zohar on Parasha Shemini

וְכָל אִינּוּן כֹּכְבֵי צַפְרָא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּלָעָאן בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אָתָאן לְאִתְחֲזָאָה קָמֵי מַלְכָּא, כֻּלְּהוּ מְזַמְּרֵי כַּחֲדָא, הה"ד בְּרָן יַחַד כֹּכְבֵי בֹּקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים. מַאי וַיָּרִיעוּ. כד"א, רוֹעָה הִתְרוֹעֲעָה הָאָרֶץ. דְּאִינּוּן דִּינִין מִתַּבְּרִין, וְאַתְּבָּרוּ כֻּלְּהוּ מִקַּמֵּי בֹּקֶר, כַּד אִתְּעַר בֹּקֶר בְּעָלְמָא, כד"א, וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר. וְעַ"ד וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים.

Transliteration

Due to a spiritual aspect of revealing light sometimes we will ask you to transliterate the Aramaic above yourself. In this way you will help to reveal a greater amount of light. You will find the link to transliterate the Hebrew and Aramaic at http://dailyzohar.com/hebtrans.php

Translation

At the time that the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and those who study the Torah come to appear before the King, ZEIR ANPIN, all the morning stars break forth into song together, as it is written: "When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy" (Iyov 38:7). What does "shouted (Heb. yari'u)" mean? The meaning is as it is written: "The earth is utterly broken down (Heb. ro'a)" (Yeshayah 24:19). THERE IS THE MEANING OF BREAKING, for those Judgments, WHICH ARE CALLED "THE SONS OF ELOHIM," are broken. All of them are broken before morn, when morning is roused in the world, WHICH IS THE ILLUMINATION OF CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN, as it is written: "And Abraham rose up early in the morning" (Beresheet 22:3) AND ABRAHAM IS CHESED. Therefore, "all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy."

chanoch's Commentary

Is there judgment in Chesed? What breaks the judgments within your Tikune? Torah study. Now rethink the answers to the questions asked above in my commentary.