Zohar Shemot - Section 4 - "Do Not Eat Bread From Someone With An Evil Eye"

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Shemot Section 4

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:

Rabbi Chiya explains that if the children of Yisrael in Egypt had not tasted the bread of the evil Egyptians, they would not have suffered the oppression of the Egyptians and they would not have remained in exile. When Rabbi Yitzchak points out that the exile was a fulfillment of a divine decree, Rabbi Chiya reminds him that the decree does not mention Egypt specifically. Thus, Rabbi Yitzchak understands and embraces the concept that one should not partake of the bread of an evil man.

The Relevance of the Passage

Our social and physical environment exerts profound influence upon us. If we consort with negative individuals, inevitably we will walk in their ways and emulate their self-destructive deeds.This holds true for our own ego. When we indulge or yield to the cravings of our ego (eating the bread of an evil person), we eventually fall to the lowest depths (Egypt). We become prisoners to the dark side of our nature, oblivious and distant from the longings of our soul, our true self.This passage banishes our reactive, egocentric impulses. Moreover, we attract kind, spiritual people into our life and infuse our environment with positive energy and Light.

Pasook 21. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Shemot

וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח, אַל תִּלְחַם אֶת לֶחֶם רַע עַיִן וְאַל תִּתְאָו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָיו. אַל תִּלְחַם אֶת לֶחֶם רַע עַיִן, בְּגִין דְּנַהֲמָא אוֹ הֲנָאָה דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ דְּהַוְי רַע עַיִן, לָאו אִיהוּ כְּדַאי לְמֵיכַל וּלְאִתְהֲנֵי מִנֵּיהּ. דְּאִי כַּד נַחְתּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִצְרַיִם, לָא יִטְעֲמוּן נַהֲמָא דְּמִצְרָאֵי, לָא אִשְׁתְּבָקוּ בְּגָלוּתָא, וְלָא יְעִיקוּן לוֹן מִצְרָאֵי.

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

"And these are the names of the children of Israel..." (Shemot 1:1). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying: "Do not eat the bread of him who has an evil eye, nor desire his dainties" (Mishlei 23:6). "Do not eat the bread of him who has an evil eye," because the bread or benefit from that person who has an evil eye is not worth eating or benefiting from. When Yisrael descended into Egypt, had they not tasted the bread of Egypt, they would not have been forsaken in exile IN EGYPT, and the Egyptians would not have been able to harm them.

chanoch's Commentary

The cause of slavery in Egypt was due to eating bread of someone who has evil eye. Who was that person? Pharaoh. Knowing what is evil eye is truly important. Being able to discern evil eye is truly important as well. We will be having a series of classes explaining Loshon Harah and Evil Eye and Speech shortly.

Pasook 22. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Shemot

אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְהָא גְּזֵרָא אִתְגְּזַר. א"ל, כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ כַּדְקָא יָאוּת, דְּהָא לָא אִתְגְּזַר בְּמִצְרַיִם דַּוְוקָא, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב כִּי גֵּר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, אֶלָּא בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּאַרְעָא אָחֲרָא.

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 Yitzchak said to him, But it was decreed THAT YISRAEL SHOULD BE IN EXILE, AND IT WAS INCUMBENT THAT IT BE FULFILLED EVEN IF THEY DID NOT EAT THEIR BREAD. He said to him, All this is right. But it was not decreed that the exile be necessarily in Egypt, since it is not written, 'Your seed will be a stranger in the land of Egypt' but rather "in a land that is not theirs" (Beresheet 15:13). And it could even be in a different land.

chanoch's Commentary

Actually the Land needed to be a narrow place which is the Name Egypt. The problem is souls have not left that narrow place. And we must choose to leave it. That choice is made easier by the study of Torah. How much Torah do you study? How much Torah do you take to heart and live by its values?

Pasook 23. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Shemot

אָמַר ר' יִצְחָק, מַאן דְּאִיהוּ בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ, דְּמֵיכְלֵיהּ יַתִּיר מִשְּׁאָר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, אוֹ מַאן דְּהוּא אָזִיל בָּתַר מֵעוֹי, אִי אִעְרַע בְּהַהוּא רַע עַיִן, יְכוּס גַּרְמֵיהּ וְלָא יֵיכוּל מִנַּהֲמָא דִּילֵיהּ, דְּלֵית נַהֲמָא בִּישָׁא בְּעָלְמָא, בַּר מֵהַהוּא לֶחֶם רַע עַיִן, מַה כְּתִיב כִּי לֹא יוּכְלוּן הַמִּצְרִים לֶאֱכֹל אֶת הָעִבְרִים לֶחֶם כִּי תוֹעֵבָה הִיא לְמִצְרָיִם, הָא לָךְ לֶחֶם רַע עַיִן.

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 Yitzchak said, One with a Nefesh, who eats more than other people or one who follows his intestines, MEANING THAT HE IS ACCUSTOMED TO FILL HIS STOMACH WITH DAINTIES, should slaughter himself rather than eat his bread if he meets that evil-eyed one. For there is no worse bread in the world than the bread of an evil-eyed person. It is written, "Because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews because it was an abomination to Egypt" (Beresheet 43:32), MEANING THEY COULD NOT LOOK UPON THE HEBREWS AS THEY ATE. Such is the bread of an evil-eyed!

chanoch's Commentary

Was there truly a difference in the way Hebrews and Egyptians ate? Yes there is. Hebrews said Blessings both before and after eating. Hebrews expressed appreciation for receiving the food. Why was this an abomination to Egypt? i have never heard a specific answer to this question. Therefore in my opinion, the answer must be in the Blessing. How many students of Kabbalah are not willing to say out load the Blessings when eating with some people who are not students of Kabbalah? Please think about this and decide to publicize this truth.