Noach: Chapter 31

"And Hashem smelled the sweet savor"

Synopsis

This complex section concerns the power of aroma to awaken and arouse great Lights. The various processes and conduits that spiritual currents must travel are revealed here by the Zohar. A contemporary example can shed some light on the ideas that are being presented. A computer contains a processor, which must make billions of computations per second in order to accomplish a task. In essence, the Zohar is describing the metaphysical computations taking place within the Ten Sfirot whenever the aroma of incense arouses the spiritual forces of Light. Perusing the Aramaic words connects us to these forces.

Fire Mount Sinai Offering Smoke

233. "And Hashem smelled the weet savor" (Beresheet 8:21). It is also written: "An offering made by fire, of a sweet savor" (Vayikra 1:13). I have heard that THE TERM "an offering made by fire" REFERS TO AN OFFERING IN WHICH smoke and fire are conjoined, since there is no smoke without fire. This is similar to the verse: "Now Mount Sinai was altogether smoke, because Hashem descended upon it in fire" (Shemot 19:18).

233. וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ. וּכְתִיב, אִשֶּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ. אִשֶּׁה, הָכֵי שְׁמַעְנָא תְּנָנָא וְאֶשָׁא מְחֻבָּרִין כַּחֲדָא, דְּהָא לֵית תְּנָנָא, בְּלָא אֶשָׁא, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וְהַר סִינַי עָשַׁן כֻּלּוֹ מִפְּנֵי אֲשֶׁר יָרַד עָלָיו ה' בָּאֵשׁ.

Fire Nose Smoke

234. Come and behold: Fire comes from inside and is tenuous. It must attach itself to something on the outside that is not so tenuous. When fire and matter hold on to each other, smoke rises. Why? Because fire affects whatever reacts to it. An example is the nose, which reacts to the smoke that issue from the fire.

234. תָּא חֲזֵי, אֵשׁ נָפִיק מִלְּגָיו, וְאִיהוּ דַּק, וְאָחִיד בְּמִלָּה אָחֳרָא לְבַר, דְּלָאו אִיהוּ דַּק הָכֵי. וְאִתְאַחֲדָן דָּא בְּדָא, וּכְדֵין תְּנָנָא סָלְקָא, מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דְּאִתְאֲחִיד אֶשָׁא, בְּמִלָּה דְּרָגִישׁ. וְסִימָנָךְ, חוּטְמָא דְּנָפִיק בֵּיהּ תְּנָנָא, מִגּוֹ אֶשָׁא.

Fire Grades Incense Judgment Nose Peace Point Smoke Thought Yisrael Saba

235. Hence it is written: "They shall put incense before You (lit. 'in Your nose')" (Devarim 33:10), MEANING THAT THE JUDGMENTS WHICH ARE THE FIRE AND SMOKE ISSUING FROM THE NOSE ARE APPEASED BY INCENSE. It sends the fire FROM THE NOSE back to its place. Because of the smell of the incense, the nose contracts and reaches its innermost levels, until all are united. THEN EVERYTHING returns to its point of origin and they all come closer to Thought, WHICH IS ARICH ANPIN. Then they are combined into one desire, which is a sweet (Heb. nichoach) savor, which appeases anger and restores satisfaction (Heb. nachat).

235. וְע"ד כְּתִיב, יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ. בְּגִין דְּאַהֲדַר אֶשָׁא לְאַתְרֵיהּ, וְחוֹטְמָא אִתְכְּנִישׁ, בְּהַהוּא רֵיחָא לְגוֹ לְגוֹ, עַד דְּאִתְאַחִיד כֹּלָּא, וְתָב לְאַתְרֵיהּ, וְאִתְקְרִיב כֹּלָּא לְגוֹ מַחְשָׁבָה, וְאִתְעֲבֵיד רְעוּתָא חָדָא. וּכְדֵין רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ דְּנָח רוּגְזָא וְאִתְעֲבֵיד נַיְיחָא.

Angels Candles Face Fire Grades Light Smoke

236. When the smoke is gathered, it enters and folds itself onto the fire, and the fire catches on to the smoke. Together, they enter the innermost levels, until anger is appeased. After they are all united and anger is appeased there is satisfaction and all are bonded together, and it is called 'appeasement', satisfaction, and universal rejoicing, all together. They are the radiance of the candles FROM THE LEFT SIDE and the brightness of the faces FROM THE RIGHT. Thus, it is written: "And Hashem smelled the sweet savor," as one who smells and gathers everything to himself.

236. דְּהָא תְּנָנָא אִתְכְּנֵישׁ, וְעַיֵּיל וְקָמִיט בְּאֶשָׁא, וְאֶשָׁא אָחִיד בִּתְנָנָא, וְעַיְילֵי תַּרְוַויְיהוּ לְגוֹ לְגוֹ, עַד דְּנָח רוּגְזָא. וְכַד אִתְאֲחֵיד כֹּלָא דָּא בְדָא, וְנָח רוּגְזָא, כְּדֵין הוּא נַיְיחָא, וּקְשִׁירוּ חַד, וְאִתְקְרֵי נַיְיחָא. נַיְיחָא דְרוּחָא. חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֹלָּא כַּחֲדָא. נְהִירוּ דְּבוֹצִינִין. נְהִירוּ דְּאַנְפִּין. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ. כְּמַאן דְּאָרַח וְכָנִישׁ כֹּלָּא, לְגוֹ אַתְרֵיהּ.

Correction Shechinah

237. Rabbi Yesa then approached THE YOUNG BOY and kissed him, saying that he did not realize that the boy possessed all these precious goods, and added that he would change his route in order to accompany the boy. So they all proceeded together. Rabbi Chizkiyah said: We are walking along this route accompanied by the Shechinah, so it is cleared for us! He then took hold of the young boy's hand and walked on. Then both rabbis requested that he tell them one of the scriptural expositions that his father has told him.

237. אַתָא ר' יֵיסָא וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ. אֲמַר, וּמַה כָּל הָדֵין טָבָא, אִית תְּחוֹת יְדָךְ וְלָא יְדַעְנָא בֵּיהּ. אֲמַר, אַהֲדַרְנָא מִן אוֹרְחָא, וְנִתְחַבֵּר בַּהֲדָךְ. אֲזָלוּ, אֲמַר רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, אָרְחָא דָא, בַּהֲדֵי שְׁכִינְתָּא נְהַךְ, דְּהָא מְתַקְנָא קַמָּן. אָחִיד בִּידָא דְּהַהוּא יְנוּקָא, וַאֲזָלוּ. אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ, אֵימָא לָן קְרָא חַד, מֵאִינוּן דַּאֲמַר לָךְ אֲבוּךְ.

Face Fire Form Kisses Nose

238. The young boy started with the verse, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth" (Shir Hashirim 1:2). This, he continued, is the supernal passion. Because when the fire was issued, the desire came from the mouth and not from the nose. Because when one mouth is connected TO SOMEONE ELSE'S for the purpose of a kiss, fire emerges in the form of desire, brightness of face, the rejoicing of all, and satisfied union.

238. פְּתַח הַהוּא יְנוּקָא וַאֲמַר, יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ, דָּא הוּא תְּאוֹבְתָּא עִלָּאָה, דְּיִפּוֹק רְעוּתָא מִפּוּמָא. וְלָא נָפִיק מֵחוֹטְמָא, כַּד אֶשָׁא נָפְקָא, דְּהָא כַּד אִתְחַבֵּר פּוּמָא לְנַשְׁקָא נָפִיק אֶשָׁא, בִּרְעוּתָא, בִּנְהִירוּ דְאַנְפִּין, בְּחֶדְוָה דְּכֹלָא, בְּאִתְדַּבְּקוּתָא דְנַיְיחָא.

Drunkenness Eyes Face Love Wine

239. This is also why IT IS WRITTEN: "For your love is better than (also 'from') wine" (Ibid.). That is wine, it is come from the wine that brightens the face and causes the eyes to laugh, bringing affection and friendship. It is not from the wine that leads to drunkenness and that brings anger and rage, causing darkening of the face and burning of the eyes.

239. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כִּי טוֹבִים דּוֹדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן. מֵהַהוּא יַיִן, דְּמֶחֱדֵי וְנָהֵיר אַנְפִּין, וְחָיְיכִין עַיְינִין, וְעָבִיד רְעוּתָא. וְלָאו מִיַּיִן דִּמְשַׁכֵּר, וְעָבִיד רוּגְזָא, וְאַחְשִׁיךְ אַנְפִּין וְלָהֲטָאן עַיְינִין, יַיִן דְּרוּגְזָא.

Altar Eyes Face Love Offering Sacrifice Wine

240. Therefore, because this wine is good, it brightens the face, makes the eyes merry, and arouses the passion for love. Thus, it is offered daily as a sacrifice on the altar in a specific amount that makes whoever drinks it merry and satisfied. As it is written: "And the wine offering thereof shall be a fourth part of a hin" (this is a unit of measurement) (Bemidbar 28:7). This is the reason IS, "your love is better from wine," for wine induces love and passion.

240. וְעַל דָּא, בְּגִין דַּחֲמַר דָּא טַב, נָהֵיר אַנְפִּין, וְחָדֵי עַיְינִין, וְעָבִיד תֵּיאוּבְתָּא דִרְחִימוּ, מַקְרִיבִין לֵיהּ כָּל יוֹמָא, עַל גַּבֵּי מַדְבְּחָא. שִׁעוּרָא דְּמַאן דְּשָׁתֵי לֵיהּ, חָדֵי לֵיהּ, וְעָבִיד לֵיהּ נַיְיחָא, דִכְתִיב וְנִסְכּוֹ רְבִיעִית הַהִין. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כִּי טוֹבִים דּוֹדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן. מֵהַהוּא יַיִן, דְּאִתְעַר רְחִימוּתָא וְתֵיאוּבְתָּא.

Blessing Candles Destruction (Holy) Temple Light Love Nukva Smoke

241. And all, as it occurs below arouses love above. For there are two candles, and when the light of the one on high is extinguished by rising smoke from the one below, the upper one is lit. Rabbi Chizkiyah then said that it is clearly true that the upper world, WHICH IS BINAH, depends on the lower world, WHICH IS THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE. FOR, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE REKINDLES THE EXTINGUISHED BINAH. The lower world, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, depends on the upper world, BINAH, BECAUSE THE LIGHT THAT THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE CAUSED TO SHINE IN BINAH IS MERITED BY THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE AS WELL. The fact that since the destruction of the Temple, there are no more blessings above IN BINAH or below IN THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, shows that the two depend on each other.

241. וְכֹלָּא, כְּמָה דִלְתַתָּא, אִתְעַר רְחִימוּתָא דִּלְעֵילָא. תְּרֵין שְׁרַגִּין כַּד אִתְדָעַךְ נְהוֹרָא דִּלְעֵילָא, בִּתְנָנָא דְסָלִיק, מֵהַהוּא דִלְתַתָּא, אִתְדְּלִיק הַהוּא דִלְעֵילָא. אָמַר רָבִּי חִזְקִיָה, הָכֵי הוּא וַדַּאי, דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה, תַּלְיָא בְּתַתָּאָה, וְתַתָּאָה בְּעִלָּאָה וּמֵזִמְנָא דְּאִתְחְרֵיב בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, בִּרְכָאן לָא אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא. לְאַחֲזָאָה דְּדָא בְּדָא תַּלְיָא.

Blessing Candles Curse Land of Yisrael Light Smoke

242. And Rabbi Yosi said that there are no blessings, but curses do exist, because sustenance is drawn from that side, NAMELY, FROM LIGHTING THE UPPER CANDLE WITH THE SMOKE THAT RISES FROM THE LOWER ONE. Why? Because Yisrael do not reside in the land of Yisrael and do not worship properly. To worship properly is to light the candles, TO LIGHT THE UPPER CANDLE WITH THE LOWER ONE, and to draw down the blessings TO BE PASSED ONTO THE WORLDS. This is why there are no blessings above or below. Therefore the world is not maintained as it should.

242. וַאֲמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, בִּרְכָאן לָא אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ, וּלְוָוטִין אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ, דְּהָא יְנִיקוּ דְּכֹלָּא, בְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא נָפְקֵי. מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא שַׁרְיָין בְּאַרְעָא, וְלָא פָּלְחֵי פּוּלְחָנָא דְאִצְטְרִיךְ, לְאַדְלָקָא בּוֹצִינִין, וּלְאִשְׁתַּכָּחָא בִּרְכָאן, וּבְגִין כָּךְ לָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא, וְעָלְמָא לָא יָתֵיב בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Curse Destruction Fire Ground Judgment Nukva Smoke

243. Then Rabbi Chizkiyah asked: What is the meaning of the verse that reads: "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake" (Beresheet 8:21)? COULD IT BE THAT THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, FEELS REGRET? Rabbi Yesa answered that he had heard it was so from Rabbi Shimon, who said that as long as the upper fire OF BINAH spreads, THEN the smoke, which is the lower Judgment OF THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE intensifies the anger and destroys everything. For when the fire FROM BINAH comes forth, it does not stop until the punishment OF THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, WHICH IS SMOKE, is carried out completely. So when the Judgment from below, THE SMOKE, ceases to gain strength by the Judgment from above, FROM THE FORCE OF THE FIRE, then the Judgment is done and stopps, and is not executed until destruction. That is why it is written, "I will not again," MEANING I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE FIRE in order to intensify the Judgment down below, WHICH IS THE SMOKE.

243. וְאָמַר רָבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, לֹא אוֹסִיף לְקַלֵּל עוֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּר הָאָדָם. מַאי הוּא, אָמַר רָבִּי יֵיסָא הָכֵי שְׁמַעְנָא מֵרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, דַּאֲמַר כָּל זִמְנָא דְּאֶשָׁא דִּלְעֵילָא אוֹסִיף לְתָקְפָא, תְּנָנָא דְּאִיהוּ דִינָא דִלְתַתָּא, אַתְקֵיף רוּגְזָא, וְשֵׁצֵי כֹּלָּא. בְּגִין דְּכַד נָפִיק אֶשָׁא, לֵית לֵיהּ פֶּסֶק, עַד דְּיִשְׁתְּלֵים דִּינָא. וְכַד דִּינָא דִּלְתַתָּא לָא אוֹסִיף לְאִתְתַּקְפָא בְּדִינָא דִלְעֵילָא, עָבִיד דִּינָא וּפָסִיק, וְלָא יִשְׁתַּלַּם דִּינָא לְשֵׁיצָאָה. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב לֹא אוֹסִיף. לְמֵיהַב תּוֹסֶפֶת, לְאִתְתַּקְפָא דִינָא דִלְתַתָּא.

Adam Angel of Death Angels Correction (Tikun) Earth Evil Face Mount Sinai Noah Sacrifice Serpent Sin Tikun (Correction)

244. The young boy said: I heard that the words, "Cursed is the ground for your sake" (Beresheet 3:17), indicate that the land has been cursed because of the sin of Adam, when the evil serpent received permission to rule over it. It is the destructive force in the world, THROUGH WHOM EVIL WAS SLOWLY REVEALED UNTIL IT BROUGHT THE FLOOD UPON THE EARTH and destroyed all the people of the world. IN OTHER WORDS, THE FLOOD REVEALED EVIL AND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE BAD FROM THE GOOD. But from the day when the Holy One, blessed be He, smelled Noah's sacrifice, HE SEPARATED THE BAD FROM THE GOOD, AND granted permission to the land to leave the dominion of the serpent and depart from the defiled side. FOR EVIL WAS SEPARATED FROM THE LAND. Therefore, Yisrael offer sacrifices to the Holy One, blessed be He, to brighten the face of the earth, WHICH IS MALCHUT. THAT IS, BECAUSE NOAH HAD NOT YET COMPLETED THE CORRECTION, YISRAEL STILL NEED TO OFFER SACRIFICES. Rabbi Chizkiyah said that this is indeed so, because THAT CORRECTION did not occur until Yisrael stood at Mount Sinai. THEN THE EVIL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE LAND, THE POLLUTION CEASED, AND THERE WAS FREEDOM FROM THE ANGEL OF DEATH, AS IS KNOWN.

244. אֲמַר הַהוּא יְנוּקָא, שְׁמַעְנָא, בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב, אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרְךָ. דְּהָא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְלַטְיָא אַרְעָא, בְּחוֹבָא דְאָדָם. אִתְיְיהֵיב רְשׁוּ לְשַׁלְטָאָה עֲלָהּ, הַהוּא חִוְיָא בִישָׁא, דְּאִיהוּ מְחַבְּלָא דְעָלְמָא, וְשֵׁצֵי בְּנֵי עָלְמָא. מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּקָרֵיב נֹחַ קָרְבָּנָא, וְאָרַח לֵיהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִתְיְיהֵיב רְשׁוּ לְאַרְעָא, לְנַפְקָא מִתְּחוֹת הַהוּא נָחָשׁ, וְנָפְקָא מִמְסָאָבָא. וְעַל דָּא מַקְרִיבִין יִשְׂרָאֵל קָרְבָּנָא לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּגִין לְאַנְהָרָא אַפֵּי אַרְעָא. אָמַר רָבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, יָאוֹת הוּא, וְהַאי הֲוָה תָּלֵי עַד דְּקָיְימוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל טוּרָא דְסִינַי.

Aba and Ima Adam Astrology Correction Curse Earth (Holy) Temple Light Moon Noah Nukva Offering Sacrifice Serpent Sin Wisdom Year

245. Rabbi Yesa said that the Holy One, blessed be He, diminished the moon, WHICH WAS THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, EVEN BEFORE ADAM SINNED and the serpent took over. But because of Adam's sin, it was cursed as well, in order to curse the world THAT RECEIVES LIGHT FROM IT. On the day THAT NOAH OFFERED HIS SACRIFICE, only the land, WHICH IS THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, was freed from the curse, but the moon's light was still diminished. Only when there is an offering in the world and the nation of Yisrael live in their land WILL THE MOON'S DEFICIENCY BE SET RIGHT. THIS REFERS TO THE TIME OF KING SOLOMON, AND CONTRADICTS THE WORDS OF THE YOUNG BOY, WHO SAID THAT NOAH'S OFFERING RESULTED IN PERMISSION FOR THE EARTH TO LEAVE THE DOMINION OF THE SERPENT. HE CLAIMED THAT THE CURSE HAD BEEN CANCELED, BUT THE DOMINION OF THE SERPENT STILL PREVAILED. THAT IS WHY THE OFFERINGS OF YISRAEL ARE REQUIRED IN THE TEMPLE. Rabbi Yesa then asked the young boy for his name. He replied: Aba (which means father). Rabbi Yesa continued, "You shall be a father in all things; you shall be A FATHER in wisdom and in years." And he applied to him the verse: "Your father and your mother will be glad and she that bore you shall rejoice" (Mishlei 23:25).

245. אֲמַר ר' יֵיסָא, קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַזְעֵיר לָהּ לְסִיהֲרָא, וְשָׁלְטָא הַהוּא נָחָשׁ, אֲבָל בְּגִין חוֹבָא דְּאָדָם, אִתְלַטְיָיא, בְּגִין לְמֵילַט עָלְמָא. בְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא, נַפְקַת אַרְעָא מֵהַהִיא קְלָלָה, וְקָיְימָא סִיהֲרָא בְּהַהִיא גְרִיעוּתָא, בַּר בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְקוּרְבָּנָא אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ בְּעָלְמָא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יָתְבִין עַל אַרְעֲהוֹן. אֲמַר רַבִּי יֵיסָא לְהַהוּא יְנוּקָא, מַה שְּׁמָךְ, אָמַר לוֹ אַבָּא. אָמַר לוֹ אַבָּא תְּהֵא בְּכֹלָּא, בְּחָכְמָה וּבִשְׁנִין. קָרָא עֲלֵיהּ יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ.

Death Death and the Afterlife Earth Face

246. Rabbi Chizkiyah said that the Holy One, blessed be He, shall remove the spirit of uncleanliness from the world, as it is written, "And I will cause...the unclean spirit to pass out of the land" (Zecharyah 13:2) and also, "He will swallow up death forever, and Hashem Elohim will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the insult of His people shall He take away from off all the earth, for Hashem spoke" (Yeshayah 25:8).

246. אָמַר רָבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, זַמִּין קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַעֲבָרָא רוּחַ מְסָאֳבָא מִן עָלְמָא, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר מִן הָאָרֶץ. וּכְתִיב בִּלַּע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח וּמָחָה ה' אֱלֹקִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים וְחֶרְפַּת עַמּוֹ יָסִיר מֵעַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כִּי ה' דִּבֶּר.

Astrology Creation Darkness Evil Light Moon Serpent Seven Sun

247. And the Holy One, blessed be He, shall restore the moon to its full brightness and remove it from the darkness into which the evil serpent caused it to fall. As it is written: "And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of the seven days" (Yeshayah 30:26). So HE ASKS: What is the light OF THE SEVEN DAYS? AND HE ANSWERS: IT is the light that the Holy One, blessed be He, hid away in the seven days of Creation!

247. וְזַמִּין קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַנְהָרָא לְסִיהֲרָא, וְלַאֲפָקָא לָהּ מֵחֲשׁוֹכָא, בְּגִין הַהוּא חִוְיָא בִישָׁא. כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וְהָיָה אוֹר הַלְּבָנָה כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה וְאוֹר הַחַמָּה יִהְיֶה שִׁבְעָתַיִם כְּאוֹר שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים. מַאי אוֹר, הַהוּא אוֹר, דְּגָנִיז לֵיהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּעוֹבָדָא דִבְרֵאשִׁית.

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