Zohar Shemini Section 11 - Oil and Wine

Zohar Shemini Section 11. - OIL AND WINE

SYNOPSIS:

We learn that oil is for the priests and wine is for the Levites because it issues from the preserved wine. It comes to them in order to unite the worlds so that left and right will be completely joined one within the other. Whoever desires to cleave to this unity is complete in this world and in the World to Come, and he is joined to repentance, the place where wine and oil both are. Then he does not attach himself to riches and the desires of this world; instead he has a portion in the World to Come.

Pasook 91. from Zohar Commentary on Parasha Shemini

וְתָא חֲזֵי, שֶׁמֶן לְכַהֲנֵי, וְיַיִן לְלֵיוָאֵי. לָא בְּגִין דְּבַעְיָין יַיִן, אֶלָּא מִיַּיִן דְּמִנְטְרָא אָתֵי לְסִטְרָא דִּלְהוֹן, לְחַבְּרָא כֹּלָּא כַּחֲדָא, וּלְמֵחֱדֵי עָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ, לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בְּהוּ כֹּלָּא, יְמִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא כָּלִיל דָּא בְּדָא. לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בְּהוּ חֲבִיבוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, וּרְחִימוּתָא דִּבְנֵי מְהֵימְנוּתָא.

Come and behold: oil, THE SECRET OF THE RIGHT, is for the priests, and wine, THE SECRET OF THE LEFT, is for the Levites. This is not because they must DRINK wine, but because it comes AND ISSUES from the preserved wine, WHICH IS THE ABUNDANCE OF CHOCHMAH, OF THE LEFT COLUMN OF BINAH. It comes to them, AS IS MENTIONED ABOVE, in order to unite the worlds and cheer them all, so that Right and Left will be completely incorporated, the one within the other, and all friendship and the love of the faithful will be with them. FOR WHEN RIGHT AND LEFT ARE INCORPORATED, THE ONE WITHIN THE OTHER, ALL THE GRADES BECOME COMPLETE.

chanoch's Commentary

What is unity? How does one create unity? It is when one takes the consciousness of desire for oneself which is left and transforms it into a sharing consciousness thereby putting the left within control of the right. When one contemplates the true meaning of this process that one will truly be able to relate to unity. Unity is not love. Love includes unity. Contemplate this. Understand this well.

Pasook 92. from the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Shemini

מַאן דְּאִתְדְּבַק רְעוּתֵיהּ בְּהַאי, הוּא שְׁלִים בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, וְיִשְׁתְּכַּח כָּל יוֹמוֹי דְּאִתְדְּבַק בִּתְשׁוּבָה, אֲתַר דְּיַיִן וְשֶׁמֶן מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי. כְּדֵין לָא יִתְדְּבָק בָּתַר עָלְמָא דָּא, לָא לְעֻתְרָא, וְלָא לְכִסּוּפָא דִּילֵיהּ. וּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא צָוַוח עַ"ד וְאָמַר, אוֹהֵב יַיִן וָשֶׁמֶן, לֹא יַעֲשִׁיר, דְּהָא עוּתְרָא אָחֳרָא יִזְדָּמַן לֵיהּ, לְמֶהֱוֵי לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא בֵּיהּ, וּלְמֶהֱוֵי בֵּיהּ חוּלָקָא בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, אֲתַר דְּיַיִן וְשֶׁמֶן שַׁרְיָין בְּעָלְמָא דָּא וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. וּמַאן דְּרָחִים לֵיהּ לְהַאי אֲתַר, לָא בָּעֵי עוּתְרָא וְלָא רָדִיף אֲבַתְרֵיהּ. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּעוּתְרָא עִלָּאָה כָּל יוֹמָא, דִּכְתִּיב לֹא יַעֲרְכֶנָה זָהָב וּזְכוּכִית וּתְמוּרָתָהּ כְּלִי פָז. הַאי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. לְבָתַר, לְהַנְחִיל אֹהֲבַי יֵשׁ וְאוֹצְרוֹתֵיהֶם אֲמַלֵּא.

Whoever desires to cleave to it “ TO THE UNITY OF THE RIGHT WITH THE LEFT “ is complete in this world and in the World to Come. All his life he cleaves to Repentance, WHICH IS BINAH, the place where wine and oil are, FOR THEY ARE THE UNITY OF RIGHT AND LEFT. Then he will not cleave to the riches and the desires of this world. King Solomon cried and said: "He that loves wine and oil shall not be rich" (Mishlei 21:17) IN THIS WORLD, for other riches await him, riches in which he will have a share. He will have a portion in the World to Come, for that is the place where wine and oil rest, in this world and in the World to Come. And he who loves this place needs not riches and does not strive for them. Happy are the righteous who strive all day long to attain supernal riches, as it is written: "Gold and glass cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for vessels of fine gold" (Iyov 28:17), that is, in this world and IN THE WORLD TO COME: "That I may cause those who leave me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasuries" (Mishlei 8:21).

chanoch's Commentary

There is a process to the accumulation of wealth. Spend it on others and for the benefit of others and Hashem will fulfill your desires for substance. When you desire money for its own sake it will not be fulfilled. Learn this system well. Do not abuse the system.