The secrets of the sacrifices

Synopsis

Here the Zohar discusses the mysteries that surround the ritual of sacrifice. We connect to the Light through the sacrifices that were made during the time of the Temple. The secret of this ritual concerns the sacrifice that must occur within the self. We must become the sacrifice, spiritually speaking, by giving up our own ego and Evil Inclination. This section gives us the strength of character to approach the people in our lives with honesty, and to sacrifice our own egos by admitting any jealousies and insecurities in our relationships with them.

Altar Other Side Sacrifice

118. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הֲוָה יָתֵיב יוֹמָא חַד קַמֵּיהּ דְּר"ש אֲבוֹי. אָמַר לוֹ הַאי קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר, אִתְהַנֵּי מֵאִינוּן קָרְבָּנִין דַּהֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקָרְבִין עַל גַּבֵּי מַדְבְּחָא אוֹ לָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ כֹּלָּא הֲווֹ מִסְתַּפְּקֵי כַּחֲדָא, לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא.

Adam Animals Deer Evil Female Waters (Mayin Nukvin) Levites Mayin Nukvin (Female Waters) Sacrifice Sheep Sin Singing Waters

119. Come and behold: the priests, the Levites and Yisrael are THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLUMNS - RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRAL - AND ARE called 'man', through the union of the holy desires that rise from them, AS MAYIN NUKVIN (FEMALE WATERS). DESIRE RISES FROM THE PRIESTS BY THEIR WORK; FROM THE LEVITES BY THEIR SINGING; AND FROM YISRAEL BY THEIR ATTENDANCE AT THE TIME OF THE OFFERINGS OF THE SACRIFICE. And when a sheep, or a deer or any other animal is brought to be sacrificed, all sins and evil desires and intentions must be confessed over them. Then the sacrifice is called 'a beast,' as it is now burdened with all the sins and evil intentions THAT WERE CONFESSED OVER IT.

119. וְתָא חֲזֵי, כַּהֲנֵי וְלֵיוָאֵי וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אִינוּן אִקְרוּן אָדָם, בְּחִבּוּרָא דְּאִינוּן רְעוּתִין קַדִּישִׁין דְּסָלְקִין מִגַּוַויְיהוּ. הַהוּא כִּשְׂבָּא אוֹ אִמְרָא, אוֹ הַהִיא בְּהֵמָה דְּקָרְבִין, אִצְטְרִיךְ עַד לָא יִתְקְרֵיב עַל גַּבֵּי מַדְבְּחָא, לְפָרָשָׁא עֲלָהּ כָּל חַטָּאִין וְכָל רְעוּתִין בִּישִׁין, לְאִתְוַדָּאָה עֲלָהּ. וּכְדֵין הַהִיא אִתְקְרֵי בְּהֵמָה בְּכֹלָּא, בְּגוֹ אִינוּן חַטָּאִין וּבִישִׁין וְהִרְהוּרִין.

Adam Altar Sacrifice Sin

120. This is similar to the sacrifice of the scapegoat, of which it is written: "and he shall confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Yisrael" (Vayikra 16:21). So here as well, OVER EVERY SACRIFICE, THERE SHOULD BE A CONFESSION OF THE SINS. Because when the sacrifice is raised upon the altar AND IS NOT SENT TO THE DESERT, it bears a twofold burden, each of which is raised to its own place. The first is the secret of man, WHICH IS ALSO THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLUMNS; the latter is in the secret of the beast, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT COLUMN ONLY, as it is written: "Hashem, You preserve man and beast" (Tehilim 36:7).

120. כְּגַוְונָא דְּקָרְבָּנָא דַּעֲזָאזֵל, דִּכְתִיב וְהִתְוַדָּה עָלָיו אֶת כָּל עֲוֹנוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו'. הָכֵי נָמֵי הָכָא, וְכַד סָלְקָא עַל גַּבֵּי מַדְבְּחָא, מָטוֹ לָהּ עַל חַד תְּרֵין, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, דָא סַלְקָא לְאַתְרֵיהּ, וְדָא סַלְקָא לְאַתְרֵיהּ, דָּא בְּרָזָא דְאָדָם, וְדָא בְּרָזָא דִבְהֵמָה, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה תּוֹשִׁיעַ ה'.

Adam Altar Faith Levites Meal offering Offering Oil Prayer Prosecution Singing Smoke

121. Fried meal offerings and all other meal offerings arouse the Holy Spirit, NAMELY THE ASPECT OF MAN, through the desire of the priests, the singing of the Levites and the prayer of Yisrael, WHO COLLECTIVELY ARE THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLUMNS. And from the smoke, the oil and the flour that rise UPON THE ALTAR, all the prosecutors replenish themselves, and are appeased. Once appeased, they become powerless to pursue the indictment that has been delivered into their hands, AND THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE ASPECT OF THE BEAST. SO THE MEAL OFFERINGS PERTAIN TO MAN AND BEAST ALIKE, and both are drawn at the same time. IN OTHER WORDS, BOTH MAN AND BEAST ARE DRAWN AT THE TIME OF THE SACRIFICIAL OFFERING. Come and behold: everything is arranged in accordance with the secret of faith - both sides are replenished and sent above up to the Endless Light.

121. חֲבִיתִין, וְכָל שְׁאָר מְנָחוֹת, לְאַתְעָרָא רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא, בִּרְעוּתָא דְּכַהֲנֵי וְשִׁירָתָא דְּלֵיוָאֵי, וּבִצְלוֹתָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּבְהַהוּא תְּנָנָא וְשַׁמְנָא וְקִמְחָא דְּסָלֵיק מִתְרַוָּון וּמִסְתַּפְּקִין כָּל שְׁאָר מָארֵי דְדִינִין, דְּלָא יָכְלִין לְשַׁלְטָאָה בְּהַהוּא דִינָא דְאִתְמְסַר לוֹן וְכֹלָּא בְּזִמְנָא חָדָא. תָּא חֲזֵי, כֹּלָּא אִתְעֲבֵיד בְּרָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא לְאִסְתַּפְּקָא דָּא בְּדָא, וּלְאִסְתַּלָּקָא לְעֵילָא, מָאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ, עַד אֵין סוֹף.