Zohar Vayakhel - Section 8 - The Book Above and The Book Below

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel Section 8

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 in this section the written and hidden Torah above and the Oral Torah below. He says that when God created the world, He did so solely for Yisrael so they would come and receive the Torah; by the Torah the world was created and upon the Torah it perseveres. The man who studies Torah is saved from the ordeal of this world, the ordeal of the angel of death who cannot have power over him, and the ordeal of Gehenom. The Torah above, that is Chochmah, is referred to as a book of remembrance, the sign of the holy covenant. The Torah below, that is Malchut, is referred to as a book of reckoning. The supernal wisdom is hidden in the palace of the Torah above, but wisdom is revealed in the lower Torah when one deciphers it.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

The relevance of the Passage has not been revealed yet.

Pasook 98. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, קְחוּ מֵאִתְּכֶם תְּרוּמָה לַיְיָ'. ת"ח קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כַּד בָּרָא עָלְמָא, לָא בָּרָא לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּיֵיתוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, וִיקַבְּלוּן אוֹרַיְיתָא. בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אִתְבְּרֵי עָלְמָא, וְעַל אוֹרַיְיתָא קַיְּימָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי. אוֹרַיְיתָא אִיהִי אַרְכָּא דְּחַיֵּי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאַרְכָּא דְּחַיֵּי בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.

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 Chiya opened the discussion with the text, "Take from among you an offering to Hashem" (Shemot 35:5). Come and see, when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, He did so solely so that Yisrael would come and receive the Torah. By the Torah the world was created and upon the Torah it perseveres. This is the meaning of "Were it not for my covenant that endures day and night, the ordinances of heaven and earth I would not have appointed" (Yirmeyah 33:25). The Torah is length of life in this world and length of life in the World to Come.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. The Torah is the covenant between HaShem and Mankind at the level of souls. The question is how does the body relate?

  • Link to Zohar Index - List of Subjects

    • Pasook 99. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    וְכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדָל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כְּאִלוּ אִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּהֵיכָלֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. דְּהֵיכְלָא עִלָּאָה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אוֹרַיְיתָא אִיהִי וְכַד בַּר נָשׁ עָסִיק בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָאֵים תַּמָּן, וְאָצִית לְקָלֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב, וַיַּקְשֵׁב יְיָ' וַיִּשְׁמָע וְגוֹ'. וְאִשְׁתְּזִיב ב"נ מִתְּלַת דִּינִין: מִדִּינָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וּמִדִּינָא דְּמַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, דְּלָא יָכִיל לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עָלֶיהָ. וּמִדִּינָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם.

    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 whoever studies the Torah, it is as if he labors in the palace of the Holy One, blessed be He; for the palace of the Holy One, blessed be He, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is the Torah. NAMELY, THE ORAL LAW IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT. And when a man studies the Torah, the Holy One, blessed be He, stands and listens to his voice, as says "and Hashem hearkened, and heard it..." (Malachi 3:16). This saves man from three ordeals; the ordeal of this world, and the ordeal of the Angel of Death who cannot have power over him, and the ordeal of Gehenom.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. The Zohar teaches those who study Torah reincarnate rather than experience Gehinom. In other words, one does not go to Gehinom at all.

  • Link to Zohar Index - List of Subjects

    • Pasook 100. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    וַיִּכָּתֵב סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן. מַאי אִיהוּ. אֶלָּא אִית סֵפֶר לְעֵילָּא, וְאִית סֵפֶר לְתַתָּא. זִכָּרוֹן אָת קַיָּימָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּנָטִיל וְכָנִישׁ לְגַבֵּיהּ, כָּל חַיִּין דִּלְעֵילָּא. סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין דְּאִינּוּן חַד, וְרָזָא דָּא שֵׁם הָוָיָ"ה שֵׁם חַד. יְהֹוָ"ה חַד. וְכֹלָּא מִלָּה חֲדָא.

    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 a book of remembrance was written" (Ibid.): HE ASKS: What is a book of remembrance? AND REPLIES THAT there is a book above, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH, and a book below, WHICH IS MALCHUT. 'Remembrance' is the sign of the holy covenant, WHICH IS YESOD, that receives and gathers to itself all life from above, ALL THE SUPERNAL MOCHIN. The book of remembrance consists of two grades that are one. This is the secret of the name of Yud Hei Vav Hei: name is one, NAMELY MALCHUT, Yud Hei Vav Hei is one, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN. Together they are one word; IN THE SAME MANNER THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE IS ONE WORD, THOUGH IT INCLUDES TWO GRADES: MALCHUT AND YESOD.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. The purpose of creation is to bring the wisdom of chochmah into Malchut.

  • Link to Zohar Index - List of Subjects

    • Pasook 101. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    בְּגִין דְּאִית שֵׁם, וְאִית שֵׁם, שֵׁם לְעֵילָּא, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְרְשִׁים מִמַּה דְּלָא יְדִיעַ, וְלָא אִתְרְמִיז בִּידִיעָה כְּלַל. וְדָא אִקְרֵי נְקוּדָה עִלָּאָה. שֵׁם לְתַתָּא, דְּאִקְרֵי שֵׁם, מִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעַד קְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם, בְּגִין דִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם אִקְרֵי זִכָּרוֹן. וְהַאי שֵׁם, אִיהוּ נְקוּדָה דִּלְתַתָּא, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁם מֵהַהוּא זִכָּרוֹן, דְּאִיהוּ קְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם, דְּנָטִיל כָּל חַיִּין דִּלְעֵילָּא. וְדָא אִיהוּ קְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם דִּלְתַתָּא. וְשֵׁם דִּילֵיהּ אִיהִי נְקוּדָה דִּלְתַתָּא. נְקוּדָה דָּא, אִיהוּ סֵפֶר דְּקַיְּימָא בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא, וְדָא הוּא וּלְחוֹשְׁבֵי שְׁמוֹ. סֵפֶר דְּקָאָמַרָן, וְשֵׁם, חַד מִלָה הוּא, בְּכָל סִטְרִין.

    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

    For there is a name and there is a name. HE EXPLAINS, THERE IS a name above, that is implied by that which is unknown and not alluded to by any information, NAMELY BY KETER, called the upper point, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. AND THERE IS a name below, MALCHUT, that is called 'name', AS WRITTEN: "and from the one end of the heaven to the other" (Devarim 4:32). The end of the heaven, THAT IS YESOD, is called remembrance, and that name is the point below YESOD, NAMELY MALCHUT, which is the name of that remembrance, which is the end of the heaven that draws all supernal vitality, THAT IS THE MOCHIN. And there is the lower end of heaven, YESOD, whose name is the lower point, MALCHUT. This point is a book that can be numbered, MEANING THE MOCHIN OF COUNTING, which is the meaning of: "for those who...took heed of (lit. 'counted') His name," AS WRITTEN: "AND A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE HIM FOR THOSE WHO FEARED HASHEM, AND TOOK HEED OF HIS NAME" (MALACHI 3:16). AND THIS BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE IS FOR THOSE WHO "COUNTED HIS NAME," WHICH BESTOWS MOCHIN OF RECKONING AND COUNTING. The book that we mentioned and the name are the same in all respects, NAMELY MALCHUT.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. This pasuk describes the process of the Light of Chocmah reaching Yesod it automatically reaches Malchut.

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    • Pasook 102. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    נְקוּדָה דָּא בְּגִין דְּקַיְּימָא בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא, אִיהִי עִלָּאָה עַל כָּל דְּאִתְאַחֲדָן בָּה. שִׁית סִטְרִין, אִתְאַחֲדָן בְּסֵפֶר עִלָּאָה, וְאִיהוּ עִלָּאָה עָלַיְיהוּ. שִׁית סִטְרִין אִתְאַחֲדָן בְּסֵפֶר תַּתָּאָה, וְאִיהוּ עִלָּאָה עָלַיְיהוּ. וְעַל דָּא, סֵפֶר עִלָּאָה, סֵפֶר תַּתָּאָה, וְכֹלָּא אִקְרֵי תּוֹרָה.

    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

    This point is superior to all that were united in it, since it is situated in the center. HE EXPLAINS THAT six ends, YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, were united in the upper book, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH, and it is above them. Six ends, THE SIX CHAMBERS OF BRIYAH, were united in the lower book, WHICH IS MALCHUT, which is above them. Therefore there are a higher book and a lower book, and everything is considered Torah.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. Do you understand why everything is considered Torah? If not contemplate this pasuk.

  • Link to Zohar Index - List of Subjects

    • Pasook 103. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי. אֶלָּא, סֵפֶר עִלָּאָה אִיהוּ תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָּב. בְּגִין דְּאִיהִי סְתִימָא, וְלָא קַיְּימָא אֶלָּא בִּכְתַב, דְּתַמָּן אִיהוּ אֲתָר לְאִתְגַלָאָה לְתַתָּא. וּמַאן אִיהוּ עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. סֵפֶר תַּתָּאָה, דָּא תּוֹרָה דְּאִקְרֵי תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, וּמַאן אִיהוּ עַל פֶּה, אִלֵּין רְתִיכִין דִּלְתַתָּא, דְּאִיהִי קַיְּימָא עָלַיְיהוּ. וּבְגִין דְּלָאו אִינּוּן בִּכְלָלָא דִּכְתִּיבָה דִּלְעֵילָּא, אִקְרוּן עַל פֶּה.

    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

    HE ASKS: What is THE DIFFERENCE between them, THE HIGHER BOOK AND THE LOWER BOOK, AND ANSWERS: the higher book is the Written Law, WHICH IS SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH, for it is concealed and available only in writing, NAMELY, IT IS WORTHY OF BEING REVEALED. For there is a place there, YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, where Chochmah may be revealed down below, IN MALCHUT, and that place is the World to Come, YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH. The lower book is the Torah which is called the Oral Law; by 'oral' are meant the lower Chariots, THE SEVEN CHAMBERS OF BRIYAH, upon which MALCHUT stands, AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, and since they are not part of the supernal writing, they are considered oral. THAT IS, THEY ARE NOT IN THE REALM OF THE HIDDEN AS IS SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH IN YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, THAT IS CALLED WRITING, AND HENCE they are called oral, WHICH IS THE REVELATION OF ALL THAT IS CONTAINED IN WRITING.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. The written Scroll consists of a revealed component and a concealed component. The concealed is within the white spaces of the parchment. Oral is Written Torah not yet revealed.

  • Link to Zohar Index - List of Subjects

    • Pasook 104. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    וְתוֹרָה דָּא קַיְּימָא עַל פֶּה, בְּגִין דִּכְתִּיב וּמִשָּׁם יִפָּרֵד וְהָיָה לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים וְתוֹרָה עִלָּאָה, אע"ג דְּאִיהִי קַיְּימָא לְעֵילָּא, לָא אִקְרֵי עַל הַכְּתָב, אֶלָּא שֶׁבִּכְתָּב, דְּקַיְּימָא בִּכְתָּב, וְהַהוּא כְּתָב אִתְעָבֵיד הֵיכָלָא לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְאִיהִי קַיְּימָא גּוֹ הַהוּא הֵיכָלָא, וְאִתְטַמְּרָת תַּמָּן. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִקְרֵי תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָּב, וְלָא עַל כְּתָב.

    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 this Torah is established orally, THAT IS, ON SEVEN CHAMBERS THAT ARE ITS MOUTH, BY WHICH CHOCHMAH MAY BE REVEALED. For it is written: "and from thence it was parted, and branched into four streams" (Beresheet 2:10), TO WIT, FROM THE GARDEN (MALCHUT) DOWNWARD BEGINS THE WORLD OF SEPARATION, THEN THE SEVEN CHAMBERS OF BRIYAH ARE ALREADY IN THE WORLD OF SEPARATION. THEREFORE MALCHUT STANDS ON THEM, NAMELY 'ORAL' (LIT. 'ABOVE THE MOUTH'). And the supernal Torah, WHICH IS SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH, though it too stands upon ITS CHARIOT, YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, NEVERTHELESS is not called 'TORAH above writing' but only 'Torah in writ' for it is in the midst of the writing. And that writ, YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, becomes a chamber ABOVE THE SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH, WHICH stands in that chamber, and is hidden there. THAT IS, THE WRITING, THAT IS YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, IS ALSO THE WORLD OF ATZILUT LIKE SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH, AND HENCE THE SCRIPT IS CONSIDERED ITS CHAMBER, and it is therefore called (lit.) the Torah in writing and not Torah above the writing.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. The last sentence makes this pasuk clear.

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    • Pasook 105. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    אֲבָל תּוֹרָה דִּלְתַתָּא, אִיהִי קַיְּימָא עַל רְתִיכָהָא, וְאִקְרֵי עַל פֶּה, דְּקַיְּימָא עָלַיְיהוּ. וּבְגִין דְּלָא אִתְחַשִׁיבָת מִלְּגוֹ, מִכְּלָלָא דִּכְתִּיבָה, לָא אִתְעָבֵידוּ הֵיכָלָא לְהַאי נְקוּדָה, כְּהַהִיא נְקוּדָה עִלָּאָה. וּבְגִין דְּקַיְּימָא עָלַיְיהוּ אִקְרֵי תְּרוּמָה.

    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

    But the lower Torah, MALCHUT, is situated on its Chariot and is literally called 'on mouth', because it stands upon them. It is not considered the inner part of the writing. THAT IS, CHOCHMAH WITHIN IT DOES NOT DISAPPEAR BECAUSE OF THE CHAMBERS, AS IS THE WRITTEN TORAH, SINCE WRITING INDICATES THE HIDDEN, UNTIL SOMEONE COMES, READS THE WRITING AND EXHIBITS IT, AND CHOCHMAH THEREIN IS REVEALED IN THE CHAMBERS AND IS NO LONGER A MYSTERY. THEREFORE THE SEVEN CHAMBERS did not become a chamber to that point, MALCHUT AS YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH BECAME A CHAMBER to the higher point, SINCE A CHAMBER MEANS A COVER, AND THESE DO NOT COVER. HOWEVER, BY THEMSELVES THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERED CHAMBERS. And since MALCHUT stands upon them, she is called a heave-offering.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. Malchut of Atzilut is standing on Zeir Anpin of Briah.

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    • Synopsis of Section 9 - Two Out of One Hundred

    Here Rabbi Chiya explains the meaning of "heave-offering," that is the tithing of two parts out of one hundred. Each of the ten Sfirot includes ten Sfirot, so this makes one hundred. To lift Malchut, she must be raised with her husband Yesod, so these two Sfirot are called a heave-offering.

    THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

    The relevance of the Passage has not been revealed yet.

    Pasook 106. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayakhel

    תּוּ שְׁמַעְנָא מִבּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא. תְּרוּמָה. מַהוּ תְּרוּמָה. כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא, תְּרֵי מִמֵּאָה. ת"ח, כָּל אִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין קַדִּישִׁין, דִּי בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְגְּלֵי בְּהוֹן, אִינּוּן עֲשַׂר דַּרְגִּין, וְאִינּוּן עֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן, כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ. וְאִלֵּין עֲשַׂר סַלְּקִין לַמְּאָה, וְכַד אִצְטְרִיךְ לָן לְהַאי נְקוּדָה תַּתָּאָה לְאַרְמָא לָהּ, אָסִיר לָן לְנַטְלָא לָהּ בִּלְחוֹדָהָא. אֶלָּא לָהּ וּלְבַעְלָהּ. וְאִינּוּן תְּרֵי מֵאִינּוּן מֵאָה דְּקָאָמַרָן, בְּגִין דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַפְרְשָׁא לוֹן כְּלָל, אֶלָּא לְיַחֲדָא לָהּ וּלְבַעְלָהּ. וְעַל דָּא אִתְקְרֵי תְּרוּמָה בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא.

    Transliteration

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    Translation

    I also heard from the holy luminary: what is heave-offering (Heb. trumah)? It is like we explained ABOUT SETTING ASIDE THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRIEST, TO WIT, two (Aramaic tri) PARTS out of hundred (Aramaic me'ah) PARTS. Come and see, all those sacred grades that are part of the Faith, in which the Holy One, blessed be He, is revealed, are ten grades, which are ten sayings, NAMELY, THE TEN SFIROT, like we said. And these ten amount to a hundred, BECAUSE EACH SFIRAH INCLUDES TEN SFIROT. And when we have to lift this lower point, MALCHUT, we must not take her by herself, but with her husband YESOD; and these are two SFIROT, YESOD AND MALCHUT, out of the said hundred. For she must never be separated, but united with her husband. Therefore she is called a heave-offering, an inclusive term, A COMBINATION OF YESOD AND MALCHUT.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. Wave = Heave = lifting Malchut to unite with Zeir Anpin.

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