Zohar Va'Etchanan Section 2 - Midnight

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

Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

SYNOPSIS:

Rabbi Yosi speaks about the obligation that people have to study the Torah at night and to cleanse themselves and go to prayer in the morning. He says that every word that a man utters during his prayers rises up and splits the firmaments.

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Pasook 4. from the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

ת"ח, כַּד אִתְּעַר רוּחַ צָפוֹן בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא, וְכָרוֹזָא נָפִיק. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא בְּרוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, כְּדֵין מִתְעָרֵי כָּל בְּנֵי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, וְכָל בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא, לְשַׁבְּחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא. וּכְדֵין כָּל אִינּוּן פִּקְדּוֹנִין דְּרוּחִין דְּאִתְמַסְּרָן בִּידָהּ, כֻּלְּהוּ אָתִיב לְמָארֵיהוֹן. וְרוּבָּא דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא מִתְעָרִין בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, וְהָא פִּקְדוֹנֵיהּ דְּכֻלְּהוּ אָתִיב לְגַבַּיְיהוּ.

Come and see, when the north wind awakens at midnight, the crier comes out and the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to the Garden of Eden to be delighted in the spirits of the righteous, and all the members of the Queen's household and all the members of the chamber are roused to praise the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. Then the deposits of the spirits handed to her, TO MALCHUT, are all returned to their owners. Most people awaken from their sleep at that time, and their deposits are returned to them all.

chanoch's Commentary

Once children start sleeping through the night they usually do so until their twenties. As people start aging they awaken during the night usually one time sometimes twice as they approach their seventies. This awakening is to give people an opportunity to study Zohar and other Kabbalistic Texts. Most people do not know this and attribute the awakening to a need to cleanse themselves in the bathroom. Yes one needs to cleanse oneself in the bathroom prior to studying the Zohar. The ritual is to arise and say the morning Blessing rituals (taught on our prayer page) - Study the Zohar - Followed by either going back to sleep or going directly to the morning Prayer Service. It is best to do the morning Prayer Service at a time called Netz in Hebrew. Netz is the moment when the edge of the sun crests the Horizon.

Pasook 5. from the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

אִינּוּן דִּבְנֵי הֵיכָלָא עִלָּאָה קַיְימֵי בְּקִיּוּמַיְיהוּ, מִתְעֲרֵי מִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּמִשְׁתַּתְּפֵי בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד דְּנָהִיר יְמָמָא. כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא, הִיא, וְכָל בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא דְמַלְכָּא כֻּלְּהוּ אַתְיָין לְגַבֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן בְּנִין דְּמַלְכָּא וּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ.

The members of the highest chamber, WHO SERVE HASHEM, take resolve and awaken to be occupied with the praises of the Torah. They join the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, until daylight. When morning comes, he, together with all the members of the King's chamber, comes to the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. They are called the children of the King and Queen. This was already explained.

chanoch adds: See the commentary to Pasook 4.

Pasook 6. from the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא, בָּעֵי לְנַקָּאָה גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּכֺלָּא, וּלְמֵיזַן זַיְינֵיהּ, לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא עִם מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּהָא בְּלֵילְיָא אִשְׁתְּדַּל בְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא. הַשְׁתָּא אַתְיָא עִם מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, לְזַוְּוגָא לָהּ עִם מַלְכָּא.

When morning comes, one should clean himself in every respect, THE CLEANLINESS OF BOTH BODY AND SOUL, put on his arms, NAMELY THE TZITZIT AND TEFILIN, and endeavor by the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN, since at night he endeavored by the Queen. Now IN THE MORNING he comes with the Queen to join her to the King.

chanoch's Commentary

Coming with the Queen to join the King is not a metaphor. This is actually what happens in the spritual realm. When ever you study the Zohar the Shechina - the Queen joins with you. When you approach a morning minyan the Queen is with you as well. If you are one of the first 10 to be at the synagogue then the Queen stays with you all day. When you have a day that goes perfectly think about your appreciation to the Queen who has the Name Malchut.

Pasook 7. from the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

אָתֵי לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא, מַדְכֵּי גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּקָרְבְּנִין, מְשַׁבַּח בְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתַּיְיהוּ דְּדָוִד מַלְכָּא. אָחִיד תְּפִילִין בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ, וְצִיצִית בְּגַדְפֵיהּ, אוֹמֵר תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, צַלֵּי צְלוֹתָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, בִּצְלוֹתָא בָּעֵי לְמֵיקָם, כְּגַוְונָא דְּמַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי, לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, דְּאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן הָעוֹמְדִים, כד"א, וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים. וּלְכַוְּונָא רְעוּתֵיהּ קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, וְיִתְבַּע בָּעוּתֵיהּ.

He comes to the synagogue, cleanses himself by reciting the offerings, and sings the praises of King David. Fastened with Tefilin on his head and Tzitzit at the corners of his garment, he recites "A praise of David" (Tehilim 145). It was explained that he who prays before his Master should stand when praying like the supernal angels and join those who are called 'those who stand by', as written, "I will give you access among these who stand by" (Zecharyah 3:7). IT BEHOOVES HIM to concentrate his will before his Master and submit his petition.

chanoch adds: i think this is straight forward yet there are things to put into order. Feel free to ask questions about your personal prayer structure. It is recommended to learn why the prayer structure that the Sages developed works to change you.

Pasook 8. from the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּב"נ קָאֵים בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא מֵעַרְסֵיהּ, לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כָּרוֹזָא קָארֵי עָלֵיהּ וְאָמַר, הִנֵּה בָּרֲכוּ אֶת יְיָ' כָּל עַבְדֵי יְיָ' הָעוֹמְדִים בְּבֵית יְיָ' בַּלֵּילוֹת. הַשְׁתָּא כַּד אִיהוּ קָאֵים בִּצְלוֹתָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, הַהוּא כָּרוֹזָא קָּארֵי עָלֵיהּ וְאָמַר, וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים הָאֵלֶּה.

Come and see, when man rises at midnight from his bed to be occupied with the Torah, a crier announces over him, saying, "Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem, who stand by night in the house of Hashem" (Tehilim 134:1). Now IN THE MORNING, when he stands in prayer before his Master, the crier proclaims about him saying, "I will give you access among these who stand by."

chanoch adds: Again this is not a metaphor. If you strive to listen to the crier you will hear that voice which is the soft voice of HaShem.

Pasook 9. from the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Va'Etchanan

בָּתַר דִּמְסַיֵּים צְלוֹתָא בִּרְעוּ קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּבָעֵי לְמִימְסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ בִּרְעוּתָא דְּלִבָּא, לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְכַמָּה עֵיטִין אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ בְּכֺלָּא. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא קַיְּימָא, כָּל אִינּוּן מִלִּין דְּאַפִּיק בַּר נָשׁ מִפּוּמֵיהּ בְּהַהִיא צְלוֹתָא, כֻּלְּהוּ סַלְּקִין לְעֵילָּא, וּבָקְעִין אֲוִירִין וּרְקִיעִין, עַד דְּמָטוּ לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּמָטוּ וּמִתְעַטְּרוּ בְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא, וְעָבֵיד מִנַּיְיהוּ עֲטָרָה. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, צְלוֹתָא דְּבָעֵי ב"נ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְכַוְּונָא דִּיהֵא צְלוֹתָא תַּחֲנוּנִים. מְנָלָן. מִמֺּשֶׁה, דִּכְתִּיב וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל יְיָ'. דָּא אִיהוּ צְלוֹתָא מֵעַלְיָא.

After finishing his prayer favorably before his Master, it was explained that it behooves him to deliver his soul with a willing heart to the required place, NAMELY MALCHUT. Man has many counsels about anything. When he is in prayer, all the words a man utters in his mouth in that prayer rise up and cleave airs and firmaments until they reach wherever they reach. They are adorned on the head of the King, who turns them into a diadem. The friends explained that when a man asks the Holy One, blessed be He in his prayer, he should meditate for it to be a prayer of supplication. Whence do we know that? From Moses, as written, "And I besought Hashem" (Devarim 3:23). Such is a goodly prayer.

chanoch's Commentary

One's Prayer should be a prayer for the Children of Israel to change. That is what it means that our prayers should be a prayer of supplication.