"Let Us make man," part two

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon shares a lesson with his students, beginning with a question put forth to The Creator by an angel: Why, the angel asks, did The Creator bother to bring man into being, when it is already known that he will sin? Rabbi Shimon explains that when The Creator foresaw the sins of man, He in His infinite wisdom provided man with the power of repentance. But the students then ask their teacher the next logical question: Why did The Creator go to the bother to create evil and repentance? Why not just eliminate evil altogether? Rabbi Shimon explains that we were created with the ability to perfect ourselves through free will, choosing not to respond to our evil urges.

This is the only true way to fully evolve the God-like nature within our soul. We must be responsible for our own elevation and growth. During those times when we fail to use our free will and succumb to evil tendencies, repentance allows us to restore the Light we have lost.

This passage itself provides an opportunity to repent and change our ways. These sacred Hebrew letters, together with a genuine desire to change, can cleanse us of all negative tendencies. The only requirement is complete trust in the power of the holy Zohar.

Angels Likenesses Sin

177. דָּבָר אֲחֵר נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא עַל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת דְּאִנּוּן אָמְרֵי הַאי קְרָא, אֲמַר לְהוֹ, בָּתַר דַּהֲווֹ יָדְעִין מַה דַּהֲוָה, וּמַה דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי, וְאִנוּן הֲווֹ יָדְעִין דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶחֱטֵי, אַמַּאי בָּעוֹ לְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ.

Angels Aza Azael (Supernal Minister) Creation Darkness Light Male Shechinah Sin

178. Not only that, but THE ANGELS Aza and Azael also opposed THE CREATION OF MAN. When the Shechinah said to the Holy One, blessed be He, "Let Us make man," they responded, "What is man that You take knowledge of him?" (Tehilim 144:3). Why do you wish to create man when You know that he shall definitely sin before you, with his wife, who represents darkness, because the light is the male and darkness is the Female principle. SHE IS the Left COLUMN, WHICH IS CONSIDERED the darkness of Creation. At that moment, the Shechinah said to them: You will fall by the same reasoning that you denounce, as it is written: "That the sons of Elohim saw that the daughters of men were fair" (Beresheet 6:2), so they went astray after them. And the Shechinah caused them to fall from their holy state.

178. וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּעַזָּא וַעֲזָאֵל הֲווֹ מְקַטְרְגֵי עֲלֵיהּ בְּזִמְנָא דַּאֲמַר שְׁכִינְתָּא לְקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם אֲמָרוּ מָה אָדָם וַתֵּדָעֵהוּ, מָה אַתְּ בָּעֵי לְמִבְרֵי אָדָם, וַתֵּדָעֵהוּ דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶחֱטֵי קַמָּךְ, בְּאִתְּתָא דִילֵיהּ דְּאִיהִי חֹשֶׁךְ, דְּאוֹר אִיהוּ דְּכוּרָא, וְחֹשֶׁךְ נוּקְבָא שְׂמָאלָא, חֹשֶׁךְ דִּבְרִיאָה, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא שְׁכִינְתָּא אֲמָרַת לוֹן, בְּהַאי דְּאַתּוּן מְקַטְרְגִין, אַתּוּן עֲתִידִים לְמִנְפַּל, כְּדִכְתִיב וַיִּרְאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹקִים אֶת בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם, כִּי טוֹבוֹת הֵנָּה וגו' וְטָעוֹ בְהוֹן וְאַפֵּיל לוֹן שְׁכִינְתָּא מִקְּדוּשָׁה דִּלְהוֹן.

Adam Angels Atonement Aza Azael (Supernal Minister) Daughter Hosts Repentance Shechinah Sin Tree Women

179. The friends said, Rabbi, Rabbi, Aza and Azael did not lie, AND THE SHECHINAH SHOULD NEVERTHELSS HAVE ANSWERED THEIR ARGUMENTS, because Adam definitely was destined to sin by his wife AS AZA AND AZAEL SAID, AS WRITTEN "THE WOMAN WHOM YOU DID GIVE TO BE WITH ME, SHE GAVE ME OF THE TREE, AND I DID EAT" (BERESHEET 3:12). He replied: This is what the Shechinah said, You, AZA AND AZAEL, have laid accusations before me that go beyond those of all the hosts above. If you were better than man in your actions, you would have had a right to accuse him, but man will sin only with one woman while you are destined to sin with many women. Therefore, your sins are greater than those of human beings, as it is written: "The sons of Elohim saw the daughters of man." It is not written: 'the daughter of men,' but rather "the daughters of men," WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WERE MANY WOMEN. As man sinned, I prepared atonement for him to amend his sin, AS REPENTANCE TAKES PRECEDENCE IN THE WORLD. BUT ON THE ANGELS, ATONEMENT HAS NO EFFECT AT ALL.

179. אֲמָרוּ חַבְרַיָּיא, רַבִּי רַבִּי, אַדְּהָכֵי עַזָּא וַעֲזָאֵל לָא הֲווֹ מְשַׁקְרִין בְּמִלּוּלַיְיהוּ דְּוַדַּאי בְּנוּקְבָא עֲתִיד אָדָם לְמֶחֱטֵי, אֲמַר לְהוֹ הָכֵי אָמְרָה שְׁכִינְתָּא, אַתּוּן אִזְדַּמַּנְתּוּן לְקַטְרְגָא קֳדָמַי יַתִּיר מֵחֵילָא דִּמְרוֹמָא, אִי אַתּוּן הֲוֵיתוּן שַׁפִּירִין מֵאָדָם בְּעוֹבָדַיְיכוּ, יָאוֹת לְכוֹ לְקַטְרְגָא עֲלֵיהּ, אֲבָל אִיהוּ עֲתִיד לְמֶחֱטֵי בְּאִתְּתָא חָדָא, אַתּוּן בִּנְשִׁין סַגִּיאִין חִבָּתֵיכוֹן, יַתִּיר מִבְּנֵי נְשָׁא, כְּמָה דִּכְתִיב וַיִּרְאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹקִים אֶת בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם וגו' אֶת בַּת הָאָדָם לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא אֶת בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא אִם אָדָם חָב, הָא אַקְדִּים לֵיהּ תְּשׁוּבָה, לְאַהֲדָרָא לְמָארֵיהּ לְאַתְקָנָא בַּמֶּה דְּחָב.

Atonement Briyah Creation Darkness Death Death and the Afterlife Destruction Evil Good Inclination Light Precepts Punishment Repentance Sin Worlds

180. The friends asked, If so, why all this? IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE REASON FOR CREATING MAN WAS TO ENABLE HIM TO REPENT AND ATONE FOR HIS SIN, THEN WHY ALL THIS? IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD DARKNESS NOT BEEN CREATED IN THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE AND MAN NOT SINNED AT ALL. Rabbi Shimon replied: If the Holy One, blessed be He, had not created the Evil and Good Inclinations, which are light and darkness, there would not have been any precepts or transgressions for the man of Briyah. So man was created with both LIGHT AND DARKNESS, as it is written: "See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil" (Devarim 30:15). THIS IS WHY PRECEPTS AND TRANSGRESSIONS APPLY TO MEN AND WHY MEN ARE PRESENTED WITH THE CHOICE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. They asked him: why all this? Better He had not created darkness. Then man would have no reward or punishment as opposed to being created and having to sin, thereby causing much DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION.

180. אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ חַבְרַיָּיא אִי הָכֵי אַמַּאי כּוּלֵי הַאי, אָמַר רָבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לַחַבְרַיָּיא, אִי לָא דַּהֲוָה הָכֵי, דִּבְרָא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִצְרָא טָבָא וּבִישָׁא, דְּאִנוּן אוֹר וְחֹשֶׁךְ, לָא הֲוָה זְכוּ וְחוֹבָה, לְאָדָם דִּבְרִיאָה, אֶלָּא, דְּאִתְבְּרֵי מִתַּרְוַויְיהוּ. וּבְגִין דָּא רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם אֶת הַחַיִּים וגו'. אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ כּוּלֵי הַאי אַמַּאי, וְלָא הֲוָה שַׁפִּיר דְּלָא אִתְבְּרֵי, דְּלָא לְמֵיחַב וּלְגַרְמָא כָּל מַה דְּגָרֵים לְעֵילָא, וְלָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ, לָא עוֹנֶשׁ וְלָא שָׂכָר.

Briyah Creation Darkness Earth Evil Light Punishment Righteous Torah Worlds

181. He said to them: It was right to create him thus WITH LIGHT AND DARKNESS, because the Torah was created for the sake OF MAN, for it contains punishments for the sinful and rewards for the righteous. Thus, there can be no reward for the righteous or punishment for the sinful without the man of Briyah, WHO CONSISTS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS. IT IS WRITTEN: "He did not create it a wasteland (lit. 'formless'), He created it to be inhabited" (Yeshayah 45:18). THE WORLD WAS NOT CREATED TO BE FORMLESS, TO BE IN DARKNESS BECAUSE OF THE SINFUL, BUT "TO BE INHABITED," WHICH MEANS FOR THE SAKE OF REWARDING THE RIGHTEOUS. THIS REWARD IS THE CONCEPTION OF THE TORAH, AS IT IS WRITTEN: "FOR THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF HASHEM" (YESHAYAH 11:9), FOR THE TORAH AND THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, ARE ONE AND THE SAME. HAD MAN NOT BEEN CREATED BY LIGHT AND DARKNESS, WHICH ENABLE HIM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL AND REWARD AND PUNISHMENT, THEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO REVEAL THIS REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS. THIS REWARD REFERS TO WHAT IS ATTAINED FROM THE TORAH THAT WAS CREATED FOR HIS SAKE. THE FRIENDS said, Indeed, we have certainly now heard what we had never heard before. It is now clear that the Holy One, blessed be He, did not create anything that he did not require.

181. אֲמַר לוֹן, מִן הַדִּין, הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמִבְרְיֵיהּ כָּךְ, בְּגִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּגִינֵיהּ אִתְבְּרִיאַת, דִּכְתִיב בַּהּ עוֹנָשָׁא לְרַשִּׁיעַיָּיא, וְאַגְרָא לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא, וְלָא הֲוָה אַגְרָא לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא וְעוֹנָשָׁא לְרַשִּׁיעַיָּיא אֶלָּא בְּגִין אָדָם דִּבְרִיאָה, לֹא תֹּהוּ בְּרָאָהּ לְשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ. אֲמָרוּ וַדַּאי כְּעָן שְׁמַעְנָא מַה דְּלָא שְׁמַעְנָא עַד הַשְׁתָּא, דְּוַדַּאי לָא בְרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִלְּתָא דְּלָא אִיהוּ צָרִיךְ.

Briyah Creation Darkness Garments Light Punishment Shechinah Sin Torah Worlds

182. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא דִּבְרִיאָה אִיהוּ לְבוּשָׁא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, וְאִי אָדָם לָא הֲוָה עֲתִיד לְמִבְרֵי, הֲוַת שְׁכִינְתָּא בְּלָא כִסּוּיָיא כְּגַוְונָא דְעָנִי. וּבְגִין דָּא כָּל מָאן דְּחָב, כְּאִלּוּ אַפְשֵׁיט לִשְׁכִינְתָּא מַלְבּוּשָׁהָא, וְהַאי אִיהוּ עוֹנָשָׁא דְּאָדָם.

Exile Garments Hebrew Letters Light Precepts Shechinah Sin Skin Torah Tzitzit White

183. Whoever performs the precepts of the Torah acts as if he is dressing the Shechinah in Her garments. According to this, THE VERSE about the garment of the Tzitzit reads, "For that is his only covering, it is his raiment for his skin; in what shall he sleep?" (Shemot 22:26). THIS APPLIES DURING THE PERIOD in exile, BECAUSE THEN THE SHECHINAH, DUE TO THE SINS OF YISRAEL, LOST HER GARMENTS. Come and behold: Darkness is THE SECRET OF black in the Torah (THE BLACK INK WITH WHICH THE LETTERS ARE WRITTEN). Light is the white in the Torah, REFERRING TO THE PARCHMENTS ON WHICH THE LETTERS ARE WRITTEN.

183. וְכָל מָאן דִּמְקַיֵּים פִּקּוּדִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא לָבֵישׁ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא בִּלְבוּשָׁהָא, וּבְגִין דָּא אוֹקְמוּהָ בְּכִסּוּיָא דְצִיצִית וּתְפִלִּין כִּי הִיא כְסוּתוֹ לְבַדָּהּ הִיא שִׂמְלָתוֹ לְעוֹרוֹ בַּמֶּה יִשְׁכָּב בְּגָלוּתָא וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ. ת"ח חֹשֶׁךְ אִיהוּ אוּכְמוּ דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, אוֹר חֵיוְרוּ דְאוֹרַיְיתָא.