Vayera: Chapter 10

"Her husband is known in the gates"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda reveals a powerful secret, The Light of the Creator manifests itself in direct proportion to a person's degree of certainty in the reality of the Creator. If we doubt the existence of the Creator, there is no God force in our personal life. It is our consciousness that creates our existence. For this reason, it is only our absolute conviction and certainty that will bring forth the Creator's existence and influence in our lives, giving us an active role in the process of Creation.

Relevance

All of us are born into this world with varying degrees of doubt in the existence of the Creator. Moreover, the essence of spiritual work and the notion of free will involves removing these layers of uncertainty throughout our life. Doubt, however, is a formidable foe requiring a large measure of certitude and conviction in return. Certainty in the existence of the Creator emerges from this passage, combined with a recognition in the power of our consciousness to influence and shape our reality.

Creation Gates Wisdom

151. Rabbi Yehuda said, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land" (Mishlei 31:23). Come and behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, was exalted in His glory, because He is hidden and greatly elevated. Since the creation of the world, nobody has ever been able to grasp and conceive His entire wisdom. Thus, no one is able to comprehend it.

151. ר' יְהוּדָה פָּתַח, נוֹדַע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעֲלָהּ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם זִקְנֵי אָרֶץ. תָּא חֲזֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִסְתַּלַּק בִּיקָרֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ גָּנִיז וְסָתִים, בְּעִלוּיָא סַגְיָא. לָאו אִיתֵי בְּעָלְמָא, וְלָא הֲוָה מִן יוֹמָא דְּאִתְבְּרֵי עָלְמָא, דְּיָכִיל לְקָיְימָא עַל חָכְמָתָא דִילֵיהּ, וְלָא יָכִיל לְקָיְימָא בֵּיהּ.

Earth Ezekiel Gates Heavens Shechinah

152. He is concealed and exalted high above the reach of all the lower and supernal beings. He is so far above that they all proclaim, "Blessed be the glory of Hashem from His place" (Yechezkel 3:12). The people on earth say that THE SHECHINAH is high above, as it is written, "His glory is above the heavens" (Tehilim 113:4), but the supernal beings say that THE SHECHINAH is down below, as it is written, "His glory is over all the earth" (Tehilim 57:12). So that all the supernal and human beings declare, "Blessed be the glory of Hashem from His place," because He is unknowable, and no one is able to grasp Him. Thus, how does one explain the verse, "Her husband is known in the gates?"

152. בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ גָּנִיז וְסָתִים, וְאִסְתַּלַּק לְעֵילָא לְעֵילָא, וְכָלְהוֹ עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי לָא יָכְלִין לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא, עַד דְּכָלְהוֹ אָמְרִין בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד ה' מִמְקוֹמוֹ. תַּתָּאֵי אָמְרֵי דְּאִיהוּ לְעֵילָא, דִּכְתִיב עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ. עִלָאֵי אָמְרֵי דְּאִיהוּ לְתַתָּא, דִּכְתִיב עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ. עַד דְּכָלְהוֹ עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי, אָמְרֵי בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד ה' מִמְקוֹמוֹ. בְּגִין דְּלָא אִתְיְידַע, וְלָא הֲוָה מַאן דְּיָכִיל לְקָיְימָא בֵּיהּ, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעֲלָהּ.

Gates Wisdom

153. Most certainly, "Her husband is known in the gates" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, who is known and conceived according to what each one assumes in his mind and is able to grasp with the Spirit of Wisdom. Thus, he is able to understand according to what he is able to assume. Therefore, it is written, "Her husband is known in the gates (Heb. she'arim)," WHICH REFERS TO THOSE ASSUMPTIONS (HEB. SHI'URIM) THAT EVERYONE FORMS ACCORDING TO HIS OWN MIND, even though full knowledge of Him is far beyond the reach of anyone.

153. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי, נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ. דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. דְּאִיהוּ אִתְיְדַע וְאִתְדַּבַּק, לְפוּם מַה דִּמְשַׁעֵר בְּלִבֵּיהּ, כָּל חַד, כַּמָּה דְּיָכִיל לְאִדַּבְּקָא בְּרוּחָא דְּחָכְמְתָא. וּלְפוּם מַה דִּמְשַׁעֵר בְּלִבֵּיהּ, הָכֵי אִתְיְדַע בְּלִבֵּיהּ. וּבְגִינֵי כָךְ, נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים, בְּאִינוּן שְׁעָרִים. אֲבָל דְּאִתְיְדַע כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, לָא הֲוָה מַאן דְּיָכִיל לְאִדַּבְּקָא וּלְמִנְדַע לֵיהּ.

Door Gates Grades Head

154. Rabbi Shimon asks, "Her husband is known in the gates." What are the gates? They are the same as the gates mentioned in, "Lift up your heads, gates, and lifted them up, you everlasting doors" (Tehilim 24:9). It is through these gates, which are the supernal grades, that the Holy One, blessed be He, is known. For were it not FOR THESE GATES, no one would have been able to commune with Him.

154. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֲמַר, נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעֲלָהּ. מַאן שְׁעָרִים. כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וְהִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם. וּבְגִין אֵלּוּ שְׁעָרִים, דְּאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין עִלָּאִין, בְּגִינַיְיהוּ אִתְיְדַע קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאִי לָא, לָא יָכְלִין לְאִתְדַּבָּקָא בֵּיהּ.

Body Gates Grades Soul, The

155. Come and behold, even the soul of man cannot be understood directly. It is grasped only through the members of the body, which represent the grades THAT BELONG TO THEM, which reveal the actions of the soul. This is why THE SOUL is conceivable and at the same time inconceivable. IT IS CONCEIVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY, BUT IS NOT CONCEIVABLE IN ITS OWN ESSENCE. In such a manner, the Holy One, blessed be He, is conceivable and inconceivable. He is the soul to the soul and the spirit to the spirit, hidden and concealed from all. But to he WHO MERITS those gates, NAMELY, THE SUPERNAL GRADES that are the openings of the soul, the Holy One, blessed be He, is made known. SO HE IS CONCEIVABLE BY THE SUPERNAL GRADES, WHICH ARE HIS DOINGS, BUT HE IS INCONCEIVABLE FROM THE ASPECT OF HIS OWN ESSENCE.

155. תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּהָא נִשְׁמָתָא דְּבַּר נָשׁ, לָאו אִיהוּ מַאן דְּיָכִיל לְמִנְדַע לָהּ, אֶלָּא בְּגִין אִלֵּין שַׁיְיפִין דְּגוּפָא, וְאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין דְּעָבְדִין אוּמָנוּתָא דְּנִשְׁמָתָא, בְּגִין כָּך אִתְיְדַע וְלָא אִתְיְדַע. כָּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִתְיְדַע וְלָא אִתְיְדַע. בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ נִשְׁמָתָא לְנִשְׁמָתָא, רוּחָא לְרוּחָא, גָּנִיז וְטָמִיר מִכֹּלָּא, אֲבָל בְּאִינוּן שְׁעָרִים, דְּאִינוּן פִּתְחִין לְנִשְׁמָתָא אִתְיְדַע קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Door Gates Grades Tents

156. Come and behold, there is gate upon gate, grade upon grade, through which the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, is made known. This REFERS TO the "tent door," which is the gate of righteousness, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Thus, it is written, "Open to me the gates of righteousness" (Tehilim 118:19). And this is the first gate to enter. From this gate, all the other supernal gates can be seen. Therefore, whoever enters this gate knows the other gates as well, because they all rest on it.

156. תָּא חֲזֵי, אִית פִּתְחָא לְפִתְחָא, וְדַרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ יְדִיעַ יְקָרָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא הוּא פִּתְחָא דְצֶדֶק. כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר פִּתְחוּ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק וגו'. דָּא פִּתְחָא קַדְמָאָה, לְאָעֳלָא בֵּיהּ, וּבְהַאי פִּתְחָא, אִתְחַזּוּן כָּל שְׁאָר פִּתְחִין עִלָּאִין, מַאן דְּזָכֵי לְהַאי, זָכֵי לְמִנְדַע בֵּיהּ, וּבְכָלְהוֹ שְׁאָר פִּתְחִין, בְּגִין דְּכָלְהוֹ שָׁרָאן עֲלֵיהּ.

Door Exile Gates Grades Tents

157. But now, this LOWER gate, WHICH IS CALLED THE "TENT DOOR" AND THE "GATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" is unknown, because the children of Yisrael are in exile. As a result, all the gates are gone from it. Thus, they are incapable of knowledge and conception. But when Yisrael shall return from exile, all the supernal grades will be destined to dwell upon this gate of righteousness, as should properly be.

157. וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּפִתְחָא דָא לָא אִתְיְדַע, בְּגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגָלוּתָא, וְכָלְהוֹ פִּתְחִין אִסְתַּלָּקוּ מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא יָכְלִין לְמִנְדַע וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא. אֲבָל בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִפְקוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן גָּלוּתָא, זְמִינִין כָּלְהוֹ דַּרְגִּין עִלָּאִין, לְמִשְׁרֵי עֲלֵיהּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Door Fear Gates Messiah, The Poor Tents Wisdom

158. Then, people will have knowledge of the supernal Wisdom, of which they previously knew nothing, as it is written, "And the spirit of Hashem shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of Hashem" (Yeshayah 11:2). In the future, all these shall rest upon this lower gate, which is the "tent door," NAMELY MALCHUT. And they shall all rest upon King Messiah to judge the world, as it is written, "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor..." (Ibid. 4)

158. וּכְדֵין יִנְדְעוּן בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, חָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה יַקִּירָא, מַה דְּלָא הֲווֹ יָדְעִין מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא. דִּכְתִיב וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ ה' רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה רוּחַ עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה רוּחַ דַּעַת וְיִרְאַת ה'. כָּלְהוֹ זְמִינִין לְאַשְׁרָאָה עַל הַאי פִּתְחָא תַּתָּאָה, דְּאִיהוּ פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְכָלְהוֹ זְמִינִין לְאַשְׁרָאָה עַל מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא, בְּגִין לְמֵידַן עָלְמָא. דִּכְתִיב וְשָׁפַט בְּצֶדֶק דַּלִּים וגו'.

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