Zohar Vayera - Section 38 - "In all their affliction He was afflicted"

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayera Section 38

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:

In the same way that a parent suffers when his or her child is hurting, the Zohar reveals that the Creator equally suffers when anyone in this world undergoes pain.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

The conventional religious view of the Creator is of a deity who metes out punishments and rewards. In reality, the Creator is an infinite force of sharing whose essence is only goodness, whose sole desire is to bestow unending pleasure upon the souls of man. The Creator neither punishes nor rewards. It is man's actions that determine which path to endless fulfillment he will take. The gifts of the Torah and the Zohar were revealed so that man could choose the path of mercy and fulfillment. When we suffer or hurt, it is the inherent nature of the Creator to feel and experience this pain along with us. Awareness of this profound truth connects our soul to the Creator, helping to dissipate quickly any darkness that is causing pain in our life. We create the consciousness that the Creator is always with us, feeling our pain whenever we hurt. ​

Pasook 509 from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayera

Vayera: Verse 509 פָּתַח וְאָמַר בְּכָל צָרָתָם לֹא צָר וּמַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו הוֹשִׁיעָם וגו'. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּכָל צָרָתָם דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, כַּד אִזְדַּמַּן לוֹן עָאקָן, כְּתִיב לֹא בְּאל"ף, וּקְרִי בְּוא"ו, בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עִמְּהוֹן בְּעָקוּ. לֹא בְּאל"ף, אֲתַר עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר, אַף עַל גַּב, דְּלָאו בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר, רוֹגְזָא וְעָקוּ, לְהָתָם לְעֵילָא, מָטָא עַקְתָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. לֹא בְּאל"ף, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר הוּא עָשָׂנוּ וְלֹא אֲנַחְנוּ. כְּתִיב בְּאל"ף, וּקְרִי בְּוא"ו.

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 opened the discussion with the verse, "In all their affliction He was (Heb. lo) afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them" (Yeshayah 63:9). Come and behold, during the time when Yisrael are afflicted with troubles, "lo ('not')" is spelled with the letter Aleph, but pronounced "LO ('HE WAS')" with the letter Vav, because the Holy One, blessed be He, is distressed by their affliction. So lo with an Aleph, WHICH MEANS THAT HE WAS NOT DISTRESSED, refers to a higher place. Even though there is no sorrow or grief up there, at the place DESCRIBED BY THE WORDS, "STRENGTH AND GLADNESS ARE IN HIS PLACE" (I DIVREI HAYAMIM 16:27).NEVERTHELESS, the afflictions of Yisrael reach this high place. The term "lo" with an Aleph is used similarly in "it is He that has made us and not (Heb. lo) ourselves" (Tehilim 100:3), where "lo" is written with an Aleph, but pronounced with a Vav, WHICH LITERALLY MEANS 'AND WE BELONG TO HIM (Heb. LO).'

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. To fully understand this pasuk read the 2 verses and recognize their difference innthe spelling of the word "lo"

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    • Pasook 510. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayera

    Vayera: וּמַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו הוֹשִׁיעָם. וְהָא אִיהוּ עִמְהוֹן, בְּהַהוּא עָקוּ, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ הוֹשִׁיעָם. אֶלָּא מוֹשִׁיעָם לֹא כְתִיב אֶלָּא הוֹשִׁיעָם, מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא, דְּאִיהוּ זַמִּין, בְּהַהוּא עָקוּ, לְמִסְבַּל עִמְּהוֹן. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּכָל זִמְנָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִינוּן בְּגָלוּתָא, שְׁכִינְתָּא עִמְּהוֹן בְּגָלוּתָא, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, דִּכְתִיב וְשָׁב יי' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וְרִחַמְךָ וגו'.

    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

    Of the verse, "And the angel of His presence saved them" (Yeshayah 63:9), HE ASKS, But He is together with them in their affliction, AS THE BEGINNING OF THE VERSE STATES. Now you are saying that He "saved them." IF HE IS STILL TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THEIR AFFLICTION, THEN He HAS NOT YET "SAVED THEM." AND HE REPLIES, It is not written, 'saves them,' but "saved them," IN THE PAST TENSE, meaning that they had already been saved. THIS MEANS THAT HE "SAVED THEM" by staying together with them in the same affliction and suffering with them. Come and behold, every time the children of Yisrael are in exile, the Shechinah is with them; this has already been explained, as it is written, "Then Hashem your Elohim will return your captivity, and have compassion upon you" (Devarim 30:3). THE VERSE 'WILL RETURN YOUR CAPTIVITY,' LITERALLY MEANS 'WILL RETURN' USING THE INTRANSITIVE, MEANING TO INFORM US THAT THE SHECHINAH IS WITH THEM IN EXILE NAMLY 'WILL SIT.'

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. To understand remember to HaShem the affliction once start3ed isw considered complete. There is no process within HaShem.

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    • Pasook 511. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayera

    דָּבָר אֲחֵר וּמַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו הוֹשִׁיעָם, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּאִיהִי עִמְּהוֹן בְּגָלוּתָא וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ דְּאִיהוּ הוֹשִׁיעָם. אֶלָּא הָכֵי הוּא וַדַּאי, דְּאִלֵּין אִינוּן, מִשְׁכְּנוֹתָיו דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּגָלוּתָא, וּבְגִין דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא עִמְּהוֹן, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַדְכַּר לוֹן, לְאוֹטָבָא לוֹן, וְלַאֲפָקָא לוֹן מִן גָּלוּתָא, דִּכְתִיב וָאֶזְכֹּר אֶת בְּרִיתִי, בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה צַעֲקַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָה אֵלַי.

    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

    A different explanation of the verse, "And the angel of His presence saved them," is that it refers to the Shechinah, which is with them in exile, AS IS STATED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE VERSE. You claim that He "saved them," BUT IF HE IS TOGETHER WITH THEM IN EXILE, THEN HE HAS NOT YET "SAVED THEM." AND HE REPLIES, IT is certainly true that the residing places of the Holy One, blessed be He, in exile are WHEREVER THE AFFLICTIONS OF YISRAEL ARE - MEANING THAT THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, IS PRESENT IN EVERY SINGLE AFFLICTION AND SORROW BROUGHT UPON YISRAEL. And because the Shechinah resides with them, the Holy One, blessed be He, remembers to benefit them and draw them out of exile, as it is first written, "and I have remembered my covenant" (Shemot 6:5), WHICH REFERS TO THE SHECHINAH. Later, it is written, "and now, behold, the cry of the children of Yisrael has come to me" (Shemot 3:9). SO HE ACTUALLY "SAVED THEM" BY BEING WITH THEM IN THEIR AFFLICTION. AND EVEN THOUGH THE FORMER VERSE APPEARS AFTER THE LATTER, THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION HERE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE IN THE TORAH.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. Just think about it.

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    • Pasook 512. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayera

    וְגַם רָאִיתִי. לְאַסְגָּאָה רְאִיָה אָחֳרָא, דְּאִיהוּ קַדְמָאָה דְּכֹלָּא, וּכְתִיב וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת בְּרִיתוֹ, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא. אֶת אַבְרָהָם, לְאַבְרָהָם מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא אֶת אַבְרָהָם, דָּא הוּא, חַבְרוּתָא וְזִוּוּגָא דִילָהּ, בַּאֲבָהָן. אֶת אַבְרָהָם, דָּא הוּא, מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית. אֶת יִצְחָק, דָּא הוּא, צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית. וְאֶת יַעֲקֹב, דָּא הוּא, זִוּוּגָא חָדָא, כְּלָלָא חָדָא, זִוּוּגָא שְׁלִים, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

    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

    The phrase, "moreover I have seen," includes another 'seeing,' which is the first among all, as it is written, "And Elohim remembered His covenant" (Shemot 2:24), which is the Shechinah. THIS VERSE APPEARS BEFORE THE VERSE, "AND I HAVE REMEMBERED MY COVENANT...with (et) Abraham." HE ASKS, It should have been written 'REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT for Abraham's sake?' AND HE ANSWERS, "With Abraham" alludes to the union and joining OF THE SHECHINAH with the Patriarchs, BECAUSE THE PARTICLE "ET," WRITTEN BEFORE "ABRAHAM," IS THE NAME OF THE SHECHINAH. SO "with Abraham" means the Southwest, THAT IS, THE "EMBRACING" OF THE RIGHT, BECAUSE THE SOUTH IS THE SECRET OF THE RIGHT AND OF CHESED, WHICH IS ABRAHAM. THE WEST IS THE SECRET OF THE SHECHINAH, WHICH IS CALLED ET AND WHICH ABRAHAM 'EMBRACES' WITH CHASSADIM. "...With Isaac..." refers to the Northwest, NAMELY THE 'EMBRACING' OF THE LEFT, BECAUSE THE NORTH IS THE SECRET OF THE LEFT AND OF GVURAH, WHICH IS CALLED ISAAC. AND THE WEST IS THE SECRET OF THE SHECHINAH, WHICH IS CALLED "ET" AND WHICH ISAAC 'EMBRACES' WITH HIS GVUROT. "...And with Jacob..." means One Union, One Whole - a perfect and complete union, as should properly be. THIS ALLUDES TO THE MATING OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CALLED JACOB, WITH THE SHECHINAH, WHICH IS CALLED "ET." AND THE MATING CANNOT BE COMPLETED WITHOUT THE CENTRAL COLUMN, WHICH IS JACOB. SO WITH ABRAHAM AND ISAAC, THERE WAS ONLY 'EMBRACING.' THEREFORE, IT IS WRITTEN OF JACOB, ONE UNION. THUS THE PHRASE "AND WITH (HEB. VE-ET) JACOB" CONSISTS OF THEM BOTH, AS ONE WHOLE. SO THE EXTRA LETTER VAV IN "VE-ET" ALLUDES TO THE PERFECTION OF THIS MATING, WHICH IS A PERFECT AND COMPLETE MATING.

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments.

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    • Pasook 513. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayera

    כְּגַוְונָא דָא, אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, דָּא הוּא, כְּלָלָא מִדַּת לַיְלַה בַּיּוֹם. וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, דָּא מִדַּת יוֹם בְּלַיְלָה כַּחֲדָא. אוֹף הָכָא, בְּכֻלְּהוּ אֶת, וּבְיַעֲקֹב וְאֶת, לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָּא, זִוּוּגָא חָדָא, דְּלָא מִתְפַּרְשִׁין דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא לְעָלְמִין. וְזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְאַכְרָזָא בְּכָל עַלְמָא, וּלְאַשְׁמָעָא קָל, דְּיֵימָא, וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ עַמִּי הֵמָּה בָּנִים לֹא יְשַׁקֵּרוּ וַיְהִי לָהֶם לְמוֹשִׁיעַ.

    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

    Similarly, IT IS WRITTEN, "(et) the heavens" (Beresheet 1:1), which is the quality of the night, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, with day, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. "...And the (ve'et) earth..." refers to the union of the quality of the day with THE QUALITY OF the night, as one. THIS REFERS TO THE INCLUSION OF ZEIR ANPIN IN THE NUKVA, BECAUSE THE LETTER VAV IN "VE'ET ('AND THE')" ALLUDES TO UNION OF THE MALE WITH THE FEMALE. So the term "et" ('the')" appears in them all, AS IN "WITH (ET) ABRAHAM" AND "WITH (ET) ISAAC." However, in reference to Jacob it is written, "And with (ve-et)," WHICH SHOWS THAT they are in complete union, for the Male and Female never depart from each other. And the Holy One, blessed be He, in the future shall make His voice heard and announce to all the world, "For He said, Surely, they are My people, children that will not deal falsely; so He was their savior" (Yeshayah 63:8).

    chanoch's Commentary

    This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. This is also true in the Amidah.

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