Zohar Vayakhel - Section 4 - Who Has Ascended Up to Heaven and Come Down

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel 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:

We read a lengthy discussion of the verse, "Who has ascended up into heaven, and come down again? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His son's name, if you can tell?" Rabbi Shimon explains that this is said about God, Yud Hei Vav Hei, and that the name of his son is Yisrael. "who has ascended up into heaven" refers to Moses. Another explanation for "who has ascended up into heaven" refers to Elijah. Rabbi Shimon says that Elijah left the world in his body, left that body in the storm of wind and donned a new light body to rise above. Then he descended again, regained his body in the storm of wind, and returned to earth. Another explanation is that "who ascended up into heaven" refers to Elijah, and "came down" refers to Jonah, whom the fish brought down deep into the ocean. Rabbi Shimon explains how all the pieces of the opening verse refer to Elijah, but then offers us yet another interpretation, where "who has ascended up into heaven" refers to God, where heaven, that is Zeir Anpin, lifts Binah; this is the secret of the upper Chariot, composed of the four spirits of the world: Chesed, Gvurah, Tiferet and Malchut, that are the primordial elements.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

Not Yet Revealed

Pasook 43. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּתַח, מִי עָלָה שָׁמַיִם וַיֵּרַד מִי אָסַף רוּחַ בְּחָפְנָיו מִי צָרַר מַיִם בַּשִּׂמְלָה מִי הֵקִים כָּל אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ מַה שְּׁמוֹ וּמַה שֶּׁם בְּנוֹ כִּי תֵּדַע. הַאי קְרָא הָא אוֹקִימְנָא, וְכַמָּה סַמְכִין אִית בֵּיהּ. וְכֹלָּא בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְּמַר, דְּאִיהוּ כֹּלָּא. וְאִתְּמַר, מָה שְׁמוֹ וּמַה שֵׁם בְּנוֹ כִּי תֵּדַע, דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא . מָה שְׁמוֹ יְדֹוָ"ד. וּמַה שֵׁם בְּנוֹ, יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּכְתִּיב, בְּנִי בְּכֹרִי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא. מִי עָלָה שָׁמַיִם. הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דָּא מֹשֶׁה, דִּכְתִּיב וְאֶל מֹשֶׁה אָמַר עֲלֵהּ אֶל יְיָ'.

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 with "Who has ascended up into heaven, and come down again? who has gathered the wind in His fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His son's name, if you can tell?" (Mishlei 30:4). We explained this verse, together with its many interpretations. It is all said about the Holy One, blessed be He, which is all! And we learned, "what is His name, and what is His son's name, if you can tell?" This is the Holy One, blessed be He, What is His name? Yud Hei Vav Hei, and the name of His son-Yisrael. As is written: "Yisrael is My son, My firstborn" (Shemot 4:22), and we already talked about it. And we explained that "who has ascended up into heaven" refers to Moses, as is written: "And He said to Moses, Come up to Hashem" (Shemot 24:1).

chanoch's Commentary

Please remember, Moshe is a human being who includes each and every person who is an Israeli. Who went up to heaven is HaShem Who Came Down - HaShem. Who is His Son? It is Israel who is Zeir Anpin who is also Moshe due to the inclusion of all of the members of Israel.

Pasook 44. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

ד"א מִי עָלָה שָׁמַיִם, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ, דִּכְתִּיב בֵּיהּ וַיַּעַל אֵלִיָּהוּ בַּסֳּעָרָה הַשָּׁמָיִם. וְכִי הֵיךְ יָכִיל אֵלִיָּהוּ לְסַלְּקָא לַשָּׁמַיִם. וְהָא כֻּלְּהוּ שָׁמַיִם, לָא יַכְלִין לְמִסְבַּל, אֲפִילּוּ גַּרְעִינָא כְּחַרְדַּל מִגּוּפָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאַתְּ אַמָרְת וַיַּעַל אֵלִיָּהוּ בַּסֳּעָרָה הַשָּׁמָיִם.

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

Another explanation for "Who has ascended up into the heaven" (Mishlei 30:4): it speaks about Elijah, of whom it is written: "And Elijah went up by a storm of wind" (II Melachim 2:11). HE ASKS: 'And how could Elijah go up to the sky, for the sky cannot bear a body of this world, even the size of a mustard seed', yet you say "And Elijah went up by a storm of wind."

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is questioning what is a "storm of wind". In my opinion a "storm of wind" is a large number of Ruach levels of souls. Not as many as Moshe but a large number.

Pasook 45. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר, וַיֵּרֶד יְיָ' עַל הַר סִינַי. וּכְתִיב וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה בְּתוֹךְ הֶעָנָן וַיַּעַל אֶל הָהָר. וְכִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דַּהֲוָה בְּטוּרָא דְּסִינַי, וּכְתִּיב וּמַרְאֶה כְּבוֹד יְיָ' כָּאֵשׁ אוֹכֶלֶת בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר, אֵיךְ יָכִיל מֹשֶׁה לְסַלְּקָא לְגַבֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא בְּמֹשֶׁה כְּתִיב, וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה בְּתוֹךְ הֶעָנָן וַיַּעַל אֶל הָהָר. דְּעָאל גּוֹ עֲנָנָא, כְּמַאן דְּאִתְלָבַּשׁ בִּלְבוּשָׁא. הָכִי נָמֵי אִתְלָבָּשׁ בַּעֲנָנָא, וְעָאל בְּגַוֵּיהּ. וּבְעֲנָנָא אִתְקְרִיב לְגַבֵּי אֶשָּׁא, וְיָכִיל לְמִקְרָב. אוּף הָכִי אֵלִיָּהוּ, דִּכְתִּיב וַיַּעַל אֵלִיָּהוּ בַּסֳּעָרָה הַשָּׁמַיִם, דְּעָאל בְּהַהִיא סְעָרָה, וְאִתְלָבַּשׁ בֵּיהּ בְּהַהִיא סְעָרָה, וְסָלִיק לְעֵילָּא.

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 HE ANSWERS: 'But this is as you say "And Hashem came down upon Mount Sinai" (Shemot 19:20), and "And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mountain." Yet the Holy One, blessed be He, was on mount Sinai, and it is written: "And the sight of the glory of Hashem was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain" (Shemot 24:17). How could Moses climb it? But it is written about Moses: "And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mountain" (Ibid. 18), meaning that he entered the cloud as if he were donning a garment. And here, IN THE SCRIPTURE "AND HE SAID TO MOSES, COME UP TO HASHEM" he also donned a cloud and entered it. And in the cloud he approached the fire, and could come nearer. So it was with Elijah, as was written: "And Elijah went up by a storm of wind," meaning that he was clothed with the storm of wind and went up'.

chanoch's Commentary

Every human being wears garments. These two righteous people also wear "clouds" and "storm of wind" as garment. What we need to realize, in my opinion, exactly what these terms actually mean.

Pasook 46. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

וְרָזָא אַשְׁכַּחְנָא, בְּסִפְרָא דְּאָדָם קַדְמָאָה, דְּאָמַר בְּאִינּוּן תּוֹלְדוֹת דְּעָלְמָא, רוּחָא חֲדָא יְהֵא דְּיֵּחוֹת לְעָלְמָא בְּאַרְעָא, וְיִתְלַבָּשׁ בְּגוּפָא, וְאֵלִיָּהוּ שְׁמֵיהּ. וּבְהַהוּא גּוּפָא יִסְתָּלַק, וְאִשְׁתְּלִיל מִגוּפֵיהּ, וְיִשְׁתְּאַר בַּסֳּעָרָה. וְגוּפָא דִּנְהוֹרָא אַחֲרָא יִזְדָּמַן לֵיהּ, לְמֶהֱוֵי גּוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי. וְכַד יֵחוּת, יִתְלַבָּשׁ בְּהַהוּא גּוּפָא, דְּיִשְׁתְּאַר בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, וּבְהַהוּא גּוּפָא יִתְחָזֵי לְתַתָּא, וּבְגוּפָא אַחֲרָא יִתְחָזֵי לְעֵילָּא. וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא, דְּמִי עָלָה שָׁמַיִם וַיֵּרַד. לָא הֲוָה בַּר נָשׁ דְּסָלִיק לִשְׁמַיָּא רוּחָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְנָחִית לְבָתַר לְתַתָּא, בַּר אֵלִיָּהוּ, דְּאִיהוּ סָלִיק לְעֵילָּא וְנָחִית לְתַתָּא.

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 I found a secret in the book of Adam, which talked about the offspring THAT WOULD COME into the world: that there would be a spirit that would go down to the world to earth, and don a body and which name is Elijah. In that body he would quit the world and then remove the body and remain in the storm of wind. And another body of light would present itself before him, that he may go with it among the angels. And when he descends INTO THIS WORLD, he would don that body that was left in the other world, NAMELY IN THE STORM OF WIND. In this body he shall be seen down below, and in that other body OF LIGHT he would be seen above. And this is the secret of "Who has ascended up into heaven, and come down again? (Mishlei 30:4), for there was no man whose spirit would ascend to heaven AFTER THE BODY IS GONE, and come down again later, like Elijah, who went up and came down.

chanoch's Commentary

Actually in the next cycle of 7000 years there will be more people capable of doing this reality of going up to heaven in a physical body and then being able to return to earth in that same physical body. It has happened to seven people - both men and women who accomplish this. Yet only Elijah who comes down also.

Pasook 47. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

ד"א מִי עָלָה שָׁמַיִם, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ. וַיֵּרַד, דָּא יוֹנָה, דְּנָחַת לֵיהּ נוּנָא גּוֹ תְּהוֹמֵי, לְעִמְקֵי יַמָּא. יוֹנָה מֵחֵילָא דְּאֵלִיָּהוּ קָא אָתָא, אֵלִיָּהוּ סָלִיק, יוֹנָה נָחִית, דָּא שָׁאִיל נַפְשֵׁיהּ לְמֵימַת, וְדָא שָׁאִיל נַפְשֵׁיהּ לְמֵימַת, וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִקְרֵי בֶּן אֲמִתַּי. וּכְתִיב, וּדְבַר יְיָ' בְּפִיךָ אֱמֶת.

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

Another explanation: "Who ascended up into heaven" refers to Elijah, and "came down" refers to Jonah, whom the fish brought down deep into the ocean. Jonah draws from the strength of Elijah, FOR HE HAD ELIJAH'S SPIRIT, Elijah ascended and Jonah descended. The one wanted to die and the other wanted to die. That is why Jonah is called "son of Amitai " (Yonah 1:1), as says the verse "and that the word of Hashem in your mouth is truth (Heb. emet)" (I Melachim 17:24).

chanoch's Commentary

How do you remember that there are multiple explanations for every verse in the Torah? This pasuk is just reminding us of this truth. Also the shoresh or root for Amitai is Emet - truth. There is also a hint to what will become the Halacha, in the orthodox tradition, for the modern discussion of "assisted suicide", in my opinion.

Pasook 48. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

מִי צָרַר מָיִם, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ, דְּצָּרִיר צְרוֹרָא דְּמַיָּא בְּעָלְמָא, וְלָא נַחְתּוּ טַלָּא וּמִטְרָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא. בַּשִּׂמְלָה, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ, דַּהֲוָה מַיְיתֵי אַדַּרְתֵּיהּ לְמֶעְבָּד נִסִּין. מִי אָסַף רוּחַ בְּחָפְנָיו, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ, דְּאַהֲדָר רוּחָא דְּבַר נָשׁ לְגוֹ מֵעוֹי.

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

"Who has bound the waters" (Mishlei 30:4) alludes to Elijah, who knotted the knot of water in the world, and there was no dew nor rain from the sky. "In a garment" (Mishlei 30:4) also refers to Elijah, who brought his mantle when he committed miracles. FOR HE DIVIDED, TOGETHER WITH ELISHA, THE JORDAN BY USING HIS MANTLE (II MELACHIM 2:7-8). "who has gathered the wind (or: 'spirit') in his fists?" (Mishlei 30:4) refers to Elijah, who brought a spirit of a man back into his body AFTER HE DIED (I MELACHIM 17:22-24).

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is explaining many different verses.

Pasook 49. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

מִי הֵקִים כָּל אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ. דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ, דִּלְבָתַר דְּצָרַר מַיִם, וְאוֹמֵי עַל מִטְרָא, לְבָתַר אָהֲדַּר בִּצְלוֹתֵיהּ, וְאוֹקִים כָּל עָלְמָא, וְנָחִית מִטְרָא, וְאִתְיְהִיב מְזוֹנָא לְכֹלָּא. מַה שְּׁמוֹ, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ. וּמַה שֶּׁם בְּנוֹ, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ. מַה שְּׁמוֹ, כַּד סָלִיק לְעֵילָּא, אֵלִיָּהוּ. וּמַה שֶּׁם בְּנוֹ, כַּד נָחִית לְתַתָּא, וְאִתְעָבֵיד שְׁלִיחָא לְמֶעְבַּד נִסִּין, אֵלִיָּהוּ שְׁמֵיהּ.

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

"Who has established all the ends of the earth?" refers to Elijah who after bagging the water in the world, and restrained the rain by oath, prayed again, thus reviving the world, so rain and food would be given to everyone. "What is his name"-Elijah, "and what is his son's name?" also Elijah. AND HE EXPLAINS, what is his name?-when he ascended up-it is Elijah. "And what is his son's name" refers to the time he came down, and became a messenger to perform miracles, and his name is Elijah.

chanoch's Commentary

This is a wonderful pasuk that explains another understanding of this verse of who goes up and comes down and who is that persons son?

Pasook 50. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

דָּבָר אַחֵר מִי עָלָה שָׁמַיִם, דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא. וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה, מִ"י, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא. וְהָכָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דִּרְתִיכָא עִלָּאָה, אַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעָלְמָא, דְּאִינּוּן יְסוֹדֵי קַדְמָאֵי דְּכֹלָּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ תַּלְיָין בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר עִלָּאָה דְּאִקְרֵי מִ"י, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר.

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

Another interpretation: "who (Heb. mi) has ascended up into heaven" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, as we already learned. The secret of it is that the word "Mi" is used. We already said THAT THIS WORD IS THE NAME OF BINAH. AND THE EXPLANATION IS THAT HEAVEN, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, LIFTS BINAH, WHICH IS CALLED "MI," and this is the secret of the upper Chariot, composed of the four directions of the world, NAMELY, THE FOUR SFIROT CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, FROM THE CHEST UPWARD OF ZEIR ANPIN, THAT FORM A CHARIOT TO BINAH THAT IS CALLED "MI." They are the primordial elements that come all from that place which is called Mi, NAMELY, THEY ARE ITS CHARIOT, as we learned.

chanoch's Commentary

Tonight March 1st in our question and answer session this pasuk will help answer why we say Adonai Melech etc.