Pekudei: Chapter 20

Sacred robes

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon describes how the sacred robes of Michael, the High Priest, were made from the supernal light that sparked off purple and blue. In the same way that Michael does not enter the sanctuary until he is robed, Moses did not go up into the mountain before he donned the cloud, as in: "Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mountain." These garments are called 'uniforms' since they were made from the residue of the supernal lights. It is because the High Priest wears the robe that he is allowed to enter the Temple. Rabbi Shimon talks about "Yisrael is holy to Hashem, His first fruits of the increase," saying that "Yisrael is holy" because all the colors are in Yisrael and the colors are the Priests, the Levites and Yisrael itself. They are also the colors of Chesed, Gvurah and Tiferet - white, red and green. We learn that the soul does not ascend until it is worthy of donning the highest garments, and that the soul does not descend to earth until it wears the clothes of this world. This is also true of the holy angels when they have a mission here. When Adam and Eve were still in the Garden of Eden they wore clothes of celestial light, but when they were driven out they wore the clothes of this world: "Hashem Elohim made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them." Rabbi Shimon repeats that man's raiment of the next world is made from the good deeds he performs in this world, as they draw light from the supreme radiance. To summarize, the reason that the soul has special garments in the two worlds is so that it has wholeness, both in the world below and the world above.

Colors Form High Priest Light Michael (Angel) Mirror Zeir Anpin

162. Out of the supernal light, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, a spark shines out and into the mirror, which does not shine, NAMELY, SHINES UPON MALCHUT. This spark is comprised of all the illuminating colors, and is called 'purple'. When purple strikes, GIVING PLENTY TO that darkened light, WHICH IS MALCHUT, another spark, not as glowing, comes out, WHICH IS BLUE. They intermingle, and form the sacred robes which Michael, the High Priest, donned.

162. מִגּוֹ נְהוֹרָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, נָפַק חַד נְצִיצוּ דְּנָצִיץ, וְאַנְהִיר בְּגוֹ אַסְפָּקָלַרְיָא דְּלָא נַהֲרָא, וְהַהוּא נְצִיצוּ כָּלִיל מִכָּל גַּוְונִין דִּנְהִירִין, וְאִקְרֵי אַרְגָּמָן. וְכַד בָּטַשׁ הַאי אַרְגָּמָן בְּהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא חֲשׁוֹכָא, כְּדֵין נָפַק חַד נְצִיצוּ אַחֲרָא דְּלָא לָהִיט, וְאִתְעָרְבוּ דָּא בְּדָא. וְאִינּוּן הֲווֹ לְבוּשִׁין דְּקוּדְשָׁא, דְּאִתְלָבַּשׁ בְּהוּ מִיכָאֵל כַּהֲנָא רַבָּא.

Cloud High Priest Michael (Angel) Moses Mountains Sanctuary

163. AND WHEN MICHAEL is attired with these glorious robes, he enters to minister in the sanctuary. He does not enter the sanctuary before he is thus attired. In the same manner "Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mountain" (Shemot 24:18). We learned that Moses donned a cloud, and then went up into the mountain, for he could not go up the mountain before he donned the cloud. The High Priest also did not enter the sanctuary before he put on these robes.

163. וְכַד אִתְלְבַּשׁ בְּהוּ בְּאִינּוּן לְבוּשֵׁי יְקָר, כְּדֵין עָאל לְשַׁמְּשָׁא בְּקוּדְשָׁא, וְעַד לָא לְבִישׁ בְּמַלְבּוּשִׁין אִלֵּין, לֹֹא עָאל לְקוּדְשָׁא. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה בְּתוֹךְ הֶעָנָן וַיַּעַל אֶל הָהָר, וְאוֹלִיפְנָא דַּהֲוָה מִתְלָבַּשׁ בַּעֲנָנָא. וְכַד הֲוָה מִתְלָבַּשׁ בַּעֲנָנָא, כְּדֵין וַיַּעַל אֶל הָהָר. וְעַד לָא אִתְלָבַּשׁ בֵּיהּ, לָא יָכִיל לְמֵיעַל לְגוֹ. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא כַּהֲנָא רַבָּא, לָא עָאל לְקוּדְשָׁא, עַד דְּאִתְלָבַּשׁ בְּאִלֵּין לְבוּשִׁין, בְּגִין לְאַעֲלָא לְקוּדְשָׁא.

Colors Garments High Priest Holy Name Lights Red Sanctuary Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH) Zeir Anpin

164. Since they emanate from high principles, and are a reflection of above, they are called 'uniforms' (Heb. serad), FROM RESIDUE (HEB. SARID). For they are the residue of the supernal garments, being made of what was left of the light of the supernal splendors. Blue, MALCHUT, and purple, ZEIR ANPIN, are the colors of the Holy Name, that is considered a full name, Yud Hei Vav Hei Elohim. FOR YUD HEI VAV HEI IS THE SECRET OF PURPLE, AND ELOHIM THE SECRET OF BLUE. This is the secret of what the High Priest wears when he enters the sanctuary: the scarlet is the red color, CORRESPONDING TO GVURAH, and blue and purple, CORRESPONDING TO MALCHUT AND ZEIR ANPIN, which are comprised of all these colors. And since the High Priest wears garments of these colors, he enters inside and is not ejected outside.

164. וּבְגִין דְּנַפְקוּ מֵרָזִין עִלָּאִין, וְאִינּוּן כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, אִקְרוּן בִּגְדֵי שְׂרָד. בְּגִין דְּאִשְׁתְּאָרוּ מֵאִינּוּן לְבוּשִׁין עִלָּאִין, בְּגִין דַּהֲווֹ מִמַּה דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר מִנְהוֹרִין דְּזִיוִין עִלָּאִין. תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן, גַּוְונִין דְּרָזָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִקְרֵי שְׁמָא שְׁלִים, יְדֹוָ"ד אֱלֹהִים. וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא, לְאִתְלַבְּשָׁא כַּהֲנָא רַבָּא, לְמֵיעַל לְקוּדְשָׁא. תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי אִינּוּן גַּוְונִין סוּמָקָא, וְתִכְלָא וְאַרְגְּוָונָא, דְּאִיהוּ כָּלִיל בְּכָל אִינּוּן גַּוְונִין. וּמִגּוֹ דְּאִיהוּ אִתְלָבַּשׁ בְּהוּ בִּלְבוּשִׁין דִּגְוָונִין אִלֵּין, הֲוָה עָאל לְגוֹ וְלָא דַּחְיָין לֵיהּ לְבַר.

Colors Faith First Fruits Garments Grades Jeremiah Levites Red Sanctuary White

165. Come and see: All is done in the secret of the Faith, NAMELY, IN THE GRADES OF MALCHUT CALLED 'FAITH', so as to reflect what is above. Therefore it is written, "The uniforms for service in the holy place" (Shemot 39:41). They are called 'holy garments' only when these colors are in them as it is written, "these are holy garment" (Vayikra 16:4), and, "Yisrael is holy to Hashem, the first fruits of His increase" (Yirmeyah 2:3). "Yisrael is holy" since all the colors are seen in Yisrael, WHICH ARE the Priests, Levites, and Yisrael. THEY ARE THE COLORS OF CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET, WHITE, RED AND GREEN. THE PRIESTS ARE WHITE, THE LEVITES RED AND YISRAEL GREEN. These are the colors that are seen inside THE SANCTUARY.

165. ת"ח, כֹּלָּא אִתְעָבֵיד בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָּא כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא. וע"ד כְּתִיב, בִּגְדֵי הַשְּׂרָד לְשָׁרֵת בַּקֹּדֶשׁ. וְאִקְרוּן בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ בְּגִין דְּלָא אִקְרוּן קֹדֶשׁ, אֶלָּא כַּד שָׁרָאן בֵּיהּ אִינּוּן גַּוְונִין. דִּכְתִּיב בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ הֵם. וּכְתִיב קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַיְיָ' רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתֹה. קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל: בְּגִין דִּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִתְחָזוּן כָּל גַּוְונִין. כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִּיִם וְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן גַּוְונִין לְאִתְחֲזָאָה לְגוֹ.

Garments Soul, The

166. Come and see: The soul does not go up to be seen before the Holy King, before it is worthy of donning the garments of above so it may be seen there. In the same manner, it does not descend to below, until it wears the clothes of this world.

166. ת"ח, נִשְׁמְתָא לָא סַלְּקָא לְאִתְחֲזָאָה קָמֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, עַד דְּזָכָאת לְאִתְלַבְּשָׁא בִּלְבוּשָׁא דִּלְעֵילָּא לְאִתְחֲזָאָה תַּמָּן. וְכֵן כְּגַוְונָא דָּא לָא נַחְתָּא לְתַתָּא, עַד דְּאִתְלַבְּשַׁת בִּלְבוּשָׁא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא.

Angels Fire Garments Soul, The Wind

167. It is the same with the holy angels of above, of which it is written, "Who makes the winds His messengers, the flames of fire His ministers" (Tehilim 104:4). When they have a mission in this world, they do not descend until they wear the clothes of this world. Everything is according to the place visited. And we explained that the soul does not ascend unless it dons the luminous garment.

167. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא מַלְאֲכִין קַדִּישִׁין דִּלְעֵילָּא, דִּכְתִּיב בְּהוּ עוֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחוֹת מְשָׁרְתָיו אֵשׁ לוֹהֵט. כַּד עַבְדִּין שְׁלִיחוּתָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, לָא נַחְתִּין לְתַתָּא, עַד דְּמִתְלַבְּשִׁין בִּלְבוּשָׁא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאָזִיל תַּמָּן. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, דְּנִשְׁמְתָא לָא סַלְּקָא, אֶלָּא בִּלְבוּשָׁא דְּנָהִיר.

Adam Colors Eden Garments Light

168. Come and see: When Adam was in the Garden of Eden, he wore a garment looking like the supernal garment, a clothing of celestial light. When he was driven away from there, he needed the colors of this world, as it is written, "Hashem Elohim made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them" (Beresheet 3:21). Before that they were coats of light, of the supernal light, which ministered in the Garden of Eden.

168. וְתָא חֲזֵי, אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן כַּד הֲוָה בְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, הֲוָה מִתְלָבַּשׁ בִּלְבוּשָׁא כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, וְאִיהוּ לְבוּשָׁא דִּנְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְתָּרַךְ מִגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, וְאִצְטְרִיךְ לִגְוָונִין דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, מַה כְּתִיב וַיַּעַשׂ יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים לְאָדָם וּלְאִשְׁתּוֹ כָּתְנוֹת עוֹר וַיַּלְבִּישֵׁם. בְּקַדְמֵיתָא הֲווֹ כָּתְנוֹת אוֹר, אוֹר, דְּהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה, דְּשִׁמֵּשׁ בֵּיהּ בְּגַן עֵדֶן.

Adam Eden Garments Light

169. Since in the Garden of Eden, the supernal shining light served him; therefore, when Adam entered the Garden of Eden, the Holy One, blessed be He gave him a raiment of that light and led him in. And he could not enter before wearing that raiment of light. Since he was driven thence, he needed another garment. Then "Hashem Elohim made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them." All is as it should be. In the same manner, the uniforms were made for the service in the holy place, to bring him there.

169. בְּגִין דְּהָא גִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, נְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה דְּנָהִיר מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בֵּיהּ. וְעַל דָּא, אָדָם קַדְמָאָה כַּד עָאל לְגוֹ גִּנְתָּא, אַלְבִּישׁ לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְבוּשָׁא דְּהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא, וְאָעִיל לֵיהּ תַּמָּן. וְאִי לָא אִתְלָבַּשׁ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא בְּהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא, לָא יֵיעוּל לְתַמָן. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְתָּרַךְ מִתַּמָּן, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְמַלְבּוּשָׁא אַחֲרָא, כְּדֵין, וַיַּעַשׂ יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים לְאָדָם וּלְאִשְׁתּוֹ כָּתְנוֹת עוֹר. וְכֹלָּא כְּמָה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְהָכָא כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, עָשׂוּ בִּגְדֵי שְׂרָד לְשָׁרֵת בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, לְאַעֲלָא בְּקוּדְשָׁא.

Deeds Light Mirror Temple, The

170. And we established that the good deeds man performs in this world draw light from the supreme radiance and fix him a raiment of that world so he may be seen before the Holy One, blessed be He. And by that clothing which he dons, he has pleasure and looks into the shining mirror, as it is said, "To behold the beauty of Hashem, and to inquire in His Temple" (Tehilim 27:4).

170. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּעוֹבָדִין טָבִין דְּבַר נָשׁ דְּעָבֵיד בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, אִינּוּן עוֹבָדִין מַשְׁכֵי מִנְּהוֹרָא דְּזִיוָא עִלָּאָה, לְבוּשָׁא, לְאִתְתַּקְנָא בֵּיהּ לְהַהוּא עָלְמָא, לְאִתְחֲזָאָה קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וּבְהַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא דְּלָבִישׁ, אִתְהֲנֵי וְחָמֵי גּוֹ אַסְפָּקָלַרְיָא דְּנַהֲרָא, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם יְיָ' וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ.

Garments Righteous Soul, The

171. For that reason the soul dons special garments for the two worlds, so it may have wholeness in all, in this world below and in the world above. Therefore it is written, "Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name, the upright shall dwell in Your Presence" (Tehilim 140:14) - "Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name" in this world, and "the upright shall dwell in Your Presence" in that world.

171. וע"ד, נִשְׁמְתָא אִתְלַבְּשַׁת בִּתְרֵין עָלְמִין, לְמֶהֱוֵי לָהּ שְׁלִימוּ בְּכֹלָּא, בְּהַאי עָלְמָא דִּלְתַתָּא, וּבְעָלְמָא דִּלְעֵילָּא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ יֵשְׁבוּ יְשָׁרִים אֶת פָּנֶיךָ. אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, יֵשְׁבוּ יְשָׁרִים אֶת פָּנֶיךָ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא.

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