161. THE WORDS, "Let there be luminaries (Heb. me'orot) in the firmament of heaven" (Beresheet 1:14) are for the inclusion of the evil serpent, who befouled and caused the separation between the sun and the moon. As a result, they are not able to mate. The word me'orot IS THEREFORE SPELLED WITHOUT A VAV so that it means 'curses.' The adjustment to the spelling IS BECAUSE THE SERPENT caused the earth to be cursed, as is written: "cursed is the ground for your sake" (Beresheet 3:17). THAT IS, THE SERPENT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SIN OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, A CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH WAS THAT THE EARTH WAS CURSED. Hence it is written me'orot WITHOUT A VAV, WHICH MEANS CURSES.

162. "Let there be luminaries" refers to one LUMINARY, AS IT IS SPELLED WITHOUT THE VAV (CONNOTING SINGULAR LUMINARY). It is the moon. And THE WORDS, "the firmament of heaven," refer to the sun. THUS, THE ENTIRE EXPRESSION, "LET THERE BE LUMINARIES IN THE FIRMAMENT OF HEAVEN," INDICATES THAT both THE SUN AND MOON CHEST OF ZEIR ANPIN and below. It is written "on the earth," and not "in the earth," to indicate RADIANCE above and below, AND TO TEACH US THAT all calculations are done according to the moon.

163. Rabbi Shimon said that numerical measurements, determination of periods, and intercalary calculations are all made according to the moon, because, above THE MOON, THIS MATING cannot be found TO RADIATE THE MOCHIN OF NUMERICAL CALCULATIONS. Rabbi Elazar said to him, However, this is not so, AS THERE ARE THE MOCHIN OF CALCULATIONS AND MEASUREMENT ABOVE THE MOON, for many calculations and measurements are made by our friends. But RABBI SHIMON explained that this is not what he meant. The MOCHIN OF calculation are made in the moon AND NOT IN ANY OTHER LEVEL, yet from this BASIS a man may proceed further and grasp CALCULATIONS IN higher LEVELS. INDEED, FROM THERE A MAN MAY ALSO PROCEED TO ATTAIN THE MOCHIN OF CALCULATIONS FROM LEVELS BEYOND THE MOON. RABBI ELAZAR said to him, Yet it is written: "Let them be for signs (Heb. otot), and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Beresheet 1:14). THIS USE OF THE PLURAL INDICATES THAT THE MOCHIN OF CALCULATION IS REVEALED BOTH IN THE MOON AND IN THE SUN, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. RABBI SHIMON said to him: Otot is spelled without Vav, INDICATING THE SINGULARITY OF THE MOON AND EXCLUDING THE SUN. RABBI ELAZAR said: It is written, "Let them be," INDICATING PLURALITY, THUS INCLUDING THE SUN. RABBI SHIMON said: THIS IS NOT SAID ABOUT THE SUN AND MOON, BUT ABOUT THE PHASES OF THE MOCHIN. They were all within THE MOON, WHICH IS like a boat, filled with everything, but calculating them all is done only according to the moon, NOT THE SUN.

164. Come and see: There is one point, which is the beginning of reckoning and account. THAT IS, ARICH ANPIN, CALLED BEGINNING. That which is within, THAT IS, AND BEYOND ARICH ANPIN is completely unknowable. There is one point above, where all is hidden, unrevealed, and unknown. IT IS BINAH OF ARICH ANPIN. From there start the reckoning AND THE REVELATION of all that is hidden and deep, NAMELY THE SEVEN LOWER SFIROT OF BINAH OF ARICH ANPIN. There is also a point below, NAMELY THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN, which is the starting point OF THE REVELATION of all calculations and numbers. Consequently, it is the place from where THE MOCHIN RADIATE UPON all numerical measurements, determinations of seasons, intercalary days, festivals, holy days, and Shabbatot. And Yisrael who cleave to the Holy One, blessed be He, reckon by the moon, AS THE SAGES HAVE SAID "YISRAEL RECKON BY THE MOON AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD BY THE SUN." They cleave to it and ascend it TO CLOTHE THE SUPERNAL BINAH, as it is written: "But you that did cleave of Hashem your Elohim are alive every one of you this day" (Devarim 4:4).