Bereshit A: Chapter 12

The three lights

Synopsis

The complete and all-embracing Light proceeds into our world through three stages. These three stages comprise the Right, Left, and Central Columns of spiritual energy. The three stages express themselves through the spiritual vessels of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the first phase, the Light is unknowable and too unimaginably luminous for any single vessel to contain. The second phase produces a diminishing of the Light, and the third phase brings a final diminution, achieving a suitable level of Light for all vessels to safely receive. The Hebrew letters composing this section bring the appropriate measure of Light to the areas of our lives where it is most needed.

Endless Hebrew Letters Light Thought

137. The Endless Light has no mark on it to grasp; it is not subject to any question or mental formulation. From within this most concealed of all concealed things, with the beginning of the descent of the Endless Light FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING SEEN, a thin, almost imperceptible light shone. It was concealed by a fragile imprint, as delicate as a needlepoint. THUS, ALTHOUGH A TINY SLIT WAS OPENED, IT WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE LIGHT TO BE GRASPED. This is the secret of the concealed thought. It remained unknown until an illumination extended from it to the place on which the letters were imprinted. Everything emerges from there.

137. אֵין סוֹף לֵית בֵּיהּ רִשּׁוּמָא כְּלָל, וְלָא תַּלְיָא שְׁאֵלְתָּא בֵּיהּ, וְלָא רַעֲיוֹנָא לְאִסְתַּכְּלוּתָא דְּמַחֲשָׁבָה כְּלָל. מִגּוֹ סְתִימָא דִסְתִימָא, מֵרֵישׁ נְחִיתוּ דְּאֵין סוֹף, נְהִיר נְהִירוּ דַּקִּיק, וְלָא יְדִיעַ, סָתִים בִּרְשִׁימוּ כְּחִדּוּדָא דְמַחֲטָא, רָזָא סְתִימָא דְּמַחֲשָׁבָה. וְלָא יְדִיעַ, עַד דְּאִתְפְּשַׁט נְהִירוּ מִנֵּיהּ, בַּאֲתַר דְּאִית בֵּיהּ רְשִׁימִין, דְּאַתְוָון כָּלְהוֹ מִתַּמָּן נַפְקָן.

Echad (One) Grades Head One (Echad)

138. In the beginning, THE LETTER Aleph, which is the beginning and end of all the grades, WAS INSCRIBED. Although it is the imprint on which the upper and lower grades were imprinted, it is still referred to in the singular as Echad (one), WHICH MEANS THAT THE ALEPH IS ONE IN NUMERICAL VALUE. IT TEACHES US that, although it contains many forms AND INCLUDES ALL THE GRADES, it remains only one. THUS, ALL THE GRADES ARE AS ONE IN IT. Assuredly, THE LETTER Aleph is the letter upon which the upper and the lower beings depend.

138. בְּרֵישׁ כֹּלָּא א' רֵישָׁא וְסוֹפָא דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין, רְשִׁימוּ דְּאִתְרְשִׁים בֵּיהּ דַּרְגִּין כָּלְהוֹ, וְלָא אִקְרֵי אֶלָּא אֶחָד, לְאַחֲזָאָה דְּאַף עַל גָּב דְּאִית בֵּיהּ דְּיוֹקְנִין סַגִּיאִין, לָאו אִיהוּ אֶלָא חַד. וַדַּאי אִיהוּ אָת דְּעִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין תַּלְיָין בֵּיהּ.

Firmaments Head Living Creatures Thought

139. The upper tip (head) of the letter Aleph, REFERRING TO THE SHAPE OF THE UPPER YUD, represents the secret of the supernal thought. The expansion of the upper firmament IS STILL entirely concealed within the upper tip OF THE LETTER ALEPH IN ITS UPPER YUD. So when the SHAPE OF THE LETTER Aleph emerges from that firmament, it will be in the image of the secret of the beginning (head) of Thought. Within that Central COLUMN of THE LETTER Aleph, there are six grades - NAMELY, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. These contain the secret of all the supernal and concealed living creatures that are connected to the inside of Thought, WHICH IS BINAH.

139. רֵאשִׁיתָא דְּאָלֶף, טְמִירוּ דְּרָזָא דְּמַחֲשָׁבָה עִלָּאָה, וְהַהוּא אִתְפַּשְׁטוּ דְּהַהוּא רָקִיעַ עִלָּאָה כֹּלָּא סָתִים בְּהַהוּא רֵישָׁא, בְּגִין דְּכַד נָפֵיק א מֵהַאי רָקִיעַ, בְּדִיּוֹקְנָא דְּרָזָא דְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַחֲשָׁבָה נַפְקָא. בְּהַהוּא אֶמְצָעִיתָא דְּאָלֶ"ף, שִׁית דַּרְגִּין כְּלִילָן בֵּיהּ, רָזָא דְּכָלְהוֹ חַיּוֹת טְמִירִין עִלָּאִין, דְּתַלְיָין מִגּוֹ מַחֲשָׁבָה.

Abraham Door Light Tents

140. One light that shone and was concealed is the light of the letter Bet of Beresheet. THIS IS HINTED AT IN THE VERSE: "The heat of the day" (Beresheet 18:1), as Abraham was sitting "in the tent door IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY." This door leads from below upward AND THOSE DOWN BELOW ASCEND THROUGH IT. "The heat of the day" shines through that door FROM BELOW UPWARD. From there, it also shines DOWNWARD.

140. חַד נְהִירוּ דְּנָהֵיר וְאִתְגְּנֵיז, דָּא נְהִירוּ דְּאָת בּ דִּבְרֵאשִׁית. חוֹם הַיּוֹם, דַּהֲוָה אַבְרָהָם יָתֵיב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דְּאִיהִי פִּתְחָא מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא, וְחוֹם הַיּוֹם נָהֵיר עַל הַהוּא פִּתְחָא וְנָהֲרָא מִתַּמָּן.

Darkness Esau Field Grades Isaac Jacob Light Minchah Prayer Vision

141. The second LIGHT is the light that gradually fades away before nightfall. THIS IS the secret of the prayer of Isaac, to properly amend and establish this grade, as it is written: "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide" (Beresheet 24:63). The vision at "eventide" and all sorts of darkness are related to him, ACCORDING TO THE SECRET OF MINCHAH (THE AFTERNOON PRAYER). At this eventide, Jacob looked at the minister of Esau, ABOUT WHOM IT IS WRITTEN: "AND THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM" (BERESHEET 32:25).

141. תִּנְיָנָא, נְהִירוּ דַּאֲזֵיל לְאִתְחַשְׁכָא לְעֵת פְּנוֹת עֶרֶב, רָזָא דִצְלוֹתָא דְיִצְחָק, לְאַתְקָנָא הַאי דַרְגָא, דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה לִפְנוֹת עֶרֶב, אִסְתַּכְּלוּתָא דְּעֶרֶב, וַחֲשׁוֹכָן כָּלְהוֹ לְגַבֵּיהּ. בְּהַאי פְּנוֹת עֶרֶב, אִסְתַּכַּל יַעֲקֹב בְּהַהוּא מְמַנָּא דְעֵשָׂו.

Darkness Jacob Light Lights Sun Thigh Zeir Anpin

142. The third LIGHT is the light that combines these two lights, WHICH REPRESENT THE RIGHT AND LEFT COLUMNS. IT IS THE LIGHT that shines for healing. The secret of that which is written about Jacob: "And the sun rose upon him" (Ibid. 32) IS RELATED TO THIS THIRD LIGHT. AND THE VERSE IS REFERRING assuredly to the time after JACOB became included within that eventide, NAMELY THE DARKNESS OF THE LEFT COLUMN, AND WAS IN NEED OF HEALING. THEREFORE, IT IS WRITTEN: "AND THE SUN ROSE UPON HIM" TO HEAL HIM FROM THE DARKNESS OF THE LEFT. From here onward - THAT IS, AFTER JACOB DREW DOWN THE LIGHT OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN - THE VERSE CONTINUES, "And he limped upon his thigh." "HIS THIGH" IS AN ALLUSION TO THE SFIRAH OF Netzach OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CALLED Yisrael, BECAUSE THE TWO SFIROT - NETZACH AND HOD - ARE CALLED THE TWO THIGHS.

142. תְּלִיתָאָה, נְהִירוּ דְּכָלֵיל תְּרֵין אִלֵין, נְהִירוּ דְּנָהֵיר בְּאַסְוָותָא, רָזָא דִּכְתִיב בְּיַעֲקֹב וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וגו', וַדַּאי כַּד אִתְכְּלֵיל בְּהַהוּא פְּנוֹת עֶרֶב, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ, דָּא אִיהוּ נֶצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל.

Esau Grades Jacob Patriarchs Prophecy Samuel Thigh

143. Note that it is written "upon his thigh" and not 'upon his thighs'. THIS MEANS THAT this is the fourth grade, NAMELY NETZACH, from where no prophecies were issued until Samuel arrived. About it, it is written: "And also the Eternal One (Heb. Netzach) of Yisrael" (I Shmuel 15:29). NETZACH, which had been weak ever since Jacob the patriarch was endangered by the minister of Esau, was thus firmly reestablished.

143. עַל יְרֵכוֹ, יְרֵכוֹ כְּתִיב וְלֹא יְרֵכָיו, דָּא דַרְגָא רְבִיעָאָה, דְּלָא אִתְנַבֵּי בַּר נָשׁ מִתַּמָּן, עַד דַּאֲתָא שְׁמוּאֵל, וַעֲלֵיהּ כְּתִיב וְגַם נֵצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו', כְּדֵין אִתְקַן, דַּהֲוָה חָלְשָׁא מִכַּד אִסְתַּכֵּן יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ בִּמְמַנָּא דְעֵשָׂו.

Body Esau Female Grades Jacob Judgment Male Strength Thigh

144. HE EXPLAINED MORE FULLY THE VERSE: "He touched the hollow of his thigh" (Beresheet 32:26). When the minister of Esau came upon Jacob, JACOB derived strength from that eventide by the power of Judgment. Thus, Jacob became included within it - THAT IS, THE LEFT COLUMN - AND he was not able to overcome him. "And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh": hence, JACOB attained strength from there. HE EXPLAINS THE REASON FOR THIS. Because the thigh is located outside the torso and because Jacob IS THE SFIRAH OF TIFERET THAT IS CALLED the torso, his body comprises the secret of two grades, MALE AND FEMALE, according to the secret that is called man. As soon as JACOB derived power, WHICH IS LOCATED outside of his body, the Esau's ministering angel ? struck "and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint" (Ibid.).

144. וַיִּגַּע בְּכַף יְרֵכוֹ, כַּד אֲתָא לְגַבֵּי דְיַעֲקֹב, נְטַל תּוּקְפָא מֵהַהוּא פְּנוֹת עֶרֶב, בְּדִינָא תַּקִּיפָא, וְיַעֲקֹב הֲוָה אִתְכְּלֵיל בֵּיהּ, וְלָא יָכֵיל לֵיהּ, וַיַּרְא כִּי לֹא יָכוֹל לוֹ וַיִּגַּע בְּכַף יְרֵכוֹ, נְטַל תּוּקְפָא דְדִינָא מִתַּמָּן, בְּגִין דְּיַרְכָא אִיהוּ לְבַר מִגּוּפָא, דְּיַעֲקֹב גּוּפָא הֲוָה, וְגוּפֵיהּ הֲוָה כָּלֵיל בְּרָזָא דִתְרֵין דַּרְגִּין, בְּרָזָא דְאִקְרֵי אָדָם, כֵּיוָן דְּנָטַל תּוּקְפָא לְבַר מִגּוּפָא, מִיָּד וַתֵּקַע כַּף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב.

Angels David Esau Grades Hands Jacob Joshua Moses Prophecy Prophets Samuel Thigh

145. No man prophesied from there until Samuel, WHO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED THE SFIRAH OF NETZACH. Therefore, it is written: "And also the Eternal One of Yisrael...for He is not a man." Joshua received his prophecy from THE SFIRAH OF Hod of Moses, as it is written: "And you shall put some of your honor (Heb. Hod) upon him" (Bemidbar 27:20). AS JOSHUA PRECEDED SAMUEL THE PROPHET, HE COULD NOT RECEIVE HIS PROPHECY FROM NETZACH BECAUSE OF THE WEAKNESS CAUSED BY THE TOUCH OF ESAU'S MINISTER. THIS IS THE REASON WHY HE RECEIVED HIS PROPHECY FROM HOD, which is the fifth grade. Netzach is the left thigh of Jacob. David came forth and combined it with the right, as it is written: "At Your right hand are pleasures for evermore (Heb. Netzach)" (Tehilim 16:11). It is not written: 'Your right,' but rather "at Your right," WHICH MEANS THAT BEFORE THE TIME OF DAVID, NETZACH WAS NOT "AT THE RIGHT." DAVID BROUGHT NETZACH BACK TO THE ASPECT OF THE RIGHT, FOR FROM THE TIME OF JACOB UNTIL SAMUEL AND DAVID, NETZACH WAS CONSIDERED THE ASPECT OF THE LEFT.

145. וְלָא אִתְנַבֵּי בַּר נָשׁ מִתַּמָּן, עַד דַּאֲתָא שְׁמוּאֵל, וְע"ד נֶצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ, כִּי לֹא אָדָם הוּא, יְהוֹשֻׂעַ אִתְנַבֵּי מֵהוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, דִּכְתִיב וְנָתַתָּ מֵהוֹדְךָ עָלָיו. הוֹד, וְדָא דַרְגָא חֲמִישָׁאָה. נֶצַח יַרְכָא שְׂמָאלָא דְּיַעֲקֹב, וּבְגִּין כָּךְ אֲתָא דָוִד וְכָלֵיל לֵיהּ בְּיָמִינָא, דִּכְתִיב נְעִימוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח, יְמִינְךָ לָא כְּתִיב אֶלָּא בִּימִינְךָ.

Face Holiness (Kedushah) Jacob Judgment Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Samuel Strength Thigh

146. HE ASKS: What weakened Jacob's thigh? HE REPLIED: The side of impurity approached him and derived strength from him. THUS, THE OTHER SIDE CLINGS TO EVERY PLACE WHERE A LACK APPEARS IN HOLINESS. So THE FIXING OF IT was delayed until Samuel appeared. That is why SAMUEL came, to remind us that this is the thigh of Yisrael, as it is written: "And also the Eternal One (Heb. Netzach) of Yisrael" (I Shmuel 15:29). This is also the reason why all SAMUEL'S words were based on Judgment, both in the beginning and in the end.

146. מ"ט אִתְחַלַּשׁ יַרְכָא דְּיַעֲקֹב, בְּגִין דְּאִתְקָרַב בֵּיהּ סְטַר מְסָאָבָא, וְנָקִיט תּוּקְפָא מִנֵּיהּ, וְאִתְעַכֵּב עַד שְׁמוּאֵל, וְע"ד אֲתָא לְאַדְכָּרָא, דְּדָא אִיהוּ יַרְכָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב וְגַם נֶצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְע"ד כָּל מִילוֹי הֲווֹ בְּדִינָא, בְּשֵׁירוּתָא וּבְסוֹפָא.

Aaron David Grades Moses Priests Samuel Saul

147. Furthermore, the Holy One, blessed be He, included him with THE SFIRAH OF Hod. HE ASKS: When WAS THAT? HE REPLIES, After he had anointed the kings, SAUL AND DAVID. For this, Samuel is ranked as Moses and Aaron. Just as Moses and Aaron were SEPARATED on two sides above, THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT, so was SAMUEL down below DIVIDED in the two aspects, RIGHT AND LEFT. What are those TWO ASPECTS? THEY ARE Netzach and Hod, the same as Moses and Aaron on high. All the grades were included within one another BY SAMUEL AND THIS IS HOW HE BECAME RANKED AS MOSES AND AARON TOGETHER, as is written: "Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name" (Tehilim 99:6). Thus, six aspects, THE SIX SFIROT - CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD - were included within one another and combined.

147. וְתוּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּלֵיל לֵיהּ לְבָתַר בְּהוֹד, אֵימָתַי, לְבָתַר דִּמְשַׁח מַלְכִין. וְע"ד שָׁקִיל אִיהוּ כְּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, מַה מֹּשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין דִּלְעֵילָא, אַף הוּא לְתַתָּא, כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִנוּן תְּרֵין סִטְרֵי, וּמָאן אִנוּן נֶצַח וְהוֹד, כְּגַוְונָא דְמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן דִּלְעֵילָא: וְכָלְהוֹ דַּרְגִין אֲחִידָן דָּא בְּדָא, דִּכְתִיב מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן בְּכֹהֲנָיו, וּשְׁמוּאֵל בְּקוֹרְאֵי שְׁמוֹ, דְּהָא שִׁית סִטְרִין אִתְכְּלִילוּ וַאֲחִידָן דָּא בְּדָא.

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