Pekudei: Chapter 35

The calf

Synopsis

We learn that the golden calf gave the spirit of unholiness a place of focus in which it could strengthen. Furthermore, even though the children of Yisrael had been free of death from the time they stood upon Mount Sinai they now brought death upon themselves and upon all future generations. We are told that Aaron had to be purified for seven days because if it were not for him the golden calf would not have existed. Rabbi Shimon says that the golden calf is from the left side. The children of Yisrael had drawn upon itself the Evil Inclination with their worship of the calf, and when they wanted to become purified again they had to offer a goat, the goat being a part of the Evil Inclination. Next we are told that when the calf was made, as in: "I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf," it was made by sorcerers. Rabbi Shimon tells us of successful and unsuccessful sorcerers, some men are fit for sorcery and some are not. In the event of the creation of the golden calf, everything that was necessary for the spirit of defilement was ready and waiting: a completely wasted desert, enough gold, and Aaron who was willing to sin in this way. Everything was ready for the Other Side, and the deed was done. When Aaron was ready to be redeemed he offered a calf on the altar, thus executing judgment and subduing the rulers of the Other Side.

Aaron Death Death and the Afterlife Faith Holiness (Kedushah) Mount Sinai Purification Serpent Seven Sin Sin-offering

313. The spirit of unholiness, which forever dwells in the desert, then found a place in which to strengthen. And Yisrael, though purified from the first defilement, thrown BY THE SERPENT upon the world, bringing death to all, from the time they stood upon Mount Sinai. Meaning? Now THE SIN OF THE CALF caused them to be defiled as before, and brought death upon them AGAIN and upon the whole world, and upon their generations after them. This is the secret meaning of the verse, "I had said, 'You are angels...' Nevertheless, you shall die like men" (Tehilim 82:6-7). Aaron therefore was purified again in the secret of divine Faith for seven holy days, THE CONSECRATED DAYS, and then purified by a calf FOR A SIN OFFERING.

313. וְרוּחַ מִסַאֲבָא דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח תָּדִיר בְּמַדְבְּרָא, אַשְׁכַּח אֲתָר בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא לְאִתַּתְקְפָא בֵּיהּ. וּמַה דַּהֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּכְיָין, מֵהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא קַדְמָאָה, דְּאָטִיל בְּעָלְמָא, וְגָרִים מוֹתָא לְכֹלָּא, כַּד קַיְימוּ עַל טוּרָא דְּסִינַי, גָּרַם לוֹן כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, לְסָאֲבָא לוֹן, וּלְאִתַּתְקְפָא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְגָרִים לוֹן מוֹתָא, וּלְכָל עָלְמָא, וּלְדָרֵיהוֹן בַּתְרֵיהוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם וְגוֹ'. אָכֵן כְּאָדָם תְּמוּתוּן וְגוֹ'. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, אַהֲרֹן אַהְדָּר לְבָתַר לְאִתְדַכְּאָה, בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה, בְּאִינּוּן שִׁבְעָה יוֹמִין קַדִּישִׁין, וּלְבָתַר לְאִתְדַכְּאָה בְּעֶגְלָא.

Aaron Gold Holiness (Kedushah) Purification Strength Sun

314. Come and see: Aaron had to be purified more, because had it not been for him, the calf would not have been made. Why? Because Aaron is the right, and the strength of the sun. Gold is from the sun, FOR THE SUN, WHICH IS TIFERET, IS COMPRISED OF RIGHT AND LEFT. HENCE GOLD COMES FROM THE LEFT, BUT THE STRENGTH AND RULING OF THE SUN IS RIGHT. The spirit of unholiness descended to be included IN THE GOLD, THAT MADE THE CALF, and so were the children of Yisrael defiled and so was he, AARON, until they became purified.

314. וְתָא חֲזֵי, בְּכֹלָּא בָּעָא אַהֲרֹן לְאִתְדַכְּאָה, דְּאִלּוּ אִיהוּ לָא הֲוָה, לָא נָפַק עֶגְלָא. מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּאַהֲרֹן אִיהוּ יְמִינָא. וְאִיהוּ תּוּקְפָּא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, וְדַהֲבָא מִשִׁמְשָׁא. רוּחַ מִסַאֲבָא נָחַת, וְאִתְכְּלִיל תַּמָּן, וְאִסְתְּאָבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִסְתְּאַב אִיהוּ, עַד דְּאִתְדָּכוּ.

Aaron Cows Ezekiel Face Golden Calf Heifer Holiness (Kedushah) Ox Sin Sin-offering

315. Why was he defiled? HE ANSWERS: Because of the golden calf, which is of the left side. The bull is of the left side, whence the calf emerged. THERE ARE FOUR ASPECTS TO THE LEFT: A BULL, A COW, A CALF, AND A HEIFER, WHICH ARE CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT OF THE LEFT. It is of the left, as it is written, "And they four had the face of an ox on the left side" (Yechezkel 1:10). And in Aaron, who is right, the left was included, whence it emerged. Therefore, he offered AS A SIN OFFERING a calf, as the one he made.

315. מ"ט אִסְתְּאַב. בְּגִין דְּנָפַק עֵגֶל, דְּאִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, דְּאִיהוּ שׁוֹר, וּמִימִינֵיהּ עֵגֶל. וְאִיהוּ שְׂמָאלָא, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר, דִּכְתִּיב וּפְנֵי שׁוֹר מֵהַשְּׂמֹאל לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן. וְאַהֲרֹן דְּאִיהוּ יְמִינָא, אִתְכְּלִיל בֵּיהּ שְׂמָאלָא, וְנָפַק עַל יְדֵיהּ. וְעַל דָּא, אִתְיְיהִיב לֵיהּ עֵגֶל, כְּמָה דְּאִיהוּ גָּרִים.

Evil Evil Inclination Goats Holiness (Kedushah) Purification Sin

316. That is why the spirit of defilement became stronger and ruled AGAIN over the world as before. For when the children of Yisrael committed the sin OF THE CALF, they drew upon themselves the Evil Inclination as before. And when the children of Yisrael became purified, and wanted to purge themselves, they had to offer a goat, being a part of the Evil Inclination, the said spirit of defilement.

316. ובג"כ, כַּד הַאי רוּחָא מְסַאֲבָא אִתְתָּקַּף, וְשָׁלִיט כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין עַל עָלְמָא, דְּהָא בְּזִמְנָא דְּחָאבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַמְשִׁיכוּ עָלַיְיהוּ הַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין. כַּד אִתְדָּכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבָעוּ לְאִתְדַכָּאָה, אִצְטְרִיכוּ לְקָרְבָא שָׂעִיר, בְּגִין דְּשָׂעִיר אִיהוּ חוּלָקָא דְּהַהוּא יצה"ר, הַהוּא רוּחַ מְסַאֲבָא כִּדְקַאמְרָן.

Aaron Earth Holiness (Kedushah) Likenesses Ox Shechinah

317. It is written, "Thus they exchanged their glory for the likeness of an ox that eats grass" (Tehilim 106:20). "The likeness of an ox" is a calf. An ox is of the left side, and Aaron is of the right. The left was included in it, strengthened by it and came out of it. Come and see: "they exchanged their glory," referring to the Shechinah that went before them, for a place of defilement, another El. Therefore, defilement does not pass from the world until the time the Holy One, blessed be He will remove it thence. This is the meaning of, "and I will cause the unclean spirit to pass out of the earth" (Zecharyah 13:2), as explained.

317. כְּתִיב וַיָּמִירוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדָם בְּתַבְנִית שׁוֹר אוֹכֵל עֵשֶׂב. מַאי תַּבְנִית שׁוֹר. דָּא עֵגֶל. שׁוֹר מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, אַהֲרֹן יְמִינָא, אִתְכְּלִיל שְׂמָאלָא בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְתָּקַף בֵּיהּ, וְנָפַק עַל יְדֵיהּ. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיָּמִירוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדָם, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּאַזְלַת קָמַיְיהוּ, וְאַחְלְפוּ לָהּ בְּדוּכְתָּא מְסַאֲבָא, אֵל אַחֲרָא. ובג"כ לָא אִתְעַבָּר זוּהֲמָא דָּא מֵעָלְמָא, עַד הַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּיְעָבַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מֵעָלְמָא, כד"א וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר מִן הָאָרֶץ, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא.

Aaron Fire Gold Holiness (Kedushah)

318. It is written, "and made it a molten calf" (Shemot 32:4), and "I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf" (Ibid. 24), indicating that he did not make it, BUT IT WAS MADE BY ANOTHER. What does it mean, then, "and made it"? HE ANSWERS: Assuredly it is as we stated, that if it were not for Aaron, the spirit of defilement was not strong enough to become a part of the gold. But every work needs to be done, AND THIS ONE WAS DONE BY SORCERERS.

318. כְּתִיב וַיַעֲשֵׂהוּ עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה, וּכְתִיב וָאַשְׁלִיכֵהוּ בָאֵשׁ וַיֵּצֵא הָעֵגֶּל הַזֶּה, מַשְׁמַע דְּלָא עָבֵד לֵיהּ, אִי הָכִי מַאי וַיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא, דְּאִלְמָלֵא אַהֲרֹן, לָא אִתְתָּקַּף רוּחָא מְסַאֲבָא לְאִתְכַּלְּלָא בְּדַהֲבָא, אֲבָל כָּל תִּקּוּנָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ, אַשְׁכַּח לְאִתְבְּנָאָה.

Holiness (Kedushah) Sorcery Witchcraft

319. Come and see: Some practice sorcery and do well, and some do not succeed, though they practice in the same manner, because for these practices there is need for a suitable man.

319. תָּא חֲזֵי, אִית מַאן דְּעָבֵיד חַרְשִׁין וְאַצְלַח בִּידוֹי. וְאִית מַאן דְּעָבֵיד לוֹן כְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא מַמָּשׁ, וְלָא אַצְלַח בִּידוֹי, דְּהָא לְעוֹבָדִין אִלֵּין גַּבְרָא מְתֻקְּנָא אִצְטְרִיךְ.

Balaam Blind Eyes Hands Holiness (Kedushah) Other Side Sorcery Witchcraft

320. We know this from Bilaam who was suitable for sorcery, as it is written, "the speech of the man, whose eye is open (Heb. satum)" (Bemidbar 24:3). An open eye (Heb. satum; lit. 'covered') and a closed eye (Heb. satum) are the same, for he had one of his eyes always closed and was looking askance in the other. HE WAS THEREFORE SUITABLE FOR PRACTICING THE ART OF SORCERY. It is written, "and shall send him away by the hand of an appointed man" (Vayikra 16:22), MEANING THAT THE MAN is fit TO DO THIS ERRAND, in that he would not look straight before him. NAMELY, HE TOO SHOULD BE DEFORMED, BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE CLINGS TO DEFORMITY AND WANT. But whoever serves the Holy Spirit, it is said, "For whatsoever he be that has a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man nor a lame" (Vayikra 21:18).

320. תָּא חֲזֵי מִבִּלְעָם, דְּאִיהוּ הֲוָה מְתֻקְּנָא, לְאִינּוּן חַרְשִׁין דִּילֵיהּ, לְאַצְלְחָא בִּידוֹי, בְּגִין דִּכְתִּיב וּנְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן. שְׁתוּם הָעָיִן, סְתוּם הָעַיִן כֹּלָּא חַד. דְּחָד עֵינָא סָתִים תָּדִיר, וְחֵיזוּ דְּעֵינוֹי לָא הֲוָה בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר, מוּמָא הֲוָה בֵּיהּ בְּעֵינוֹי. כְּתִיב וְשִׁלַּח בְּיַד אִישׁ עִתִּי, זַמִּין בְּכֹלָּא, חֵיזוּ דְּעֵינוֹי דְּלָא יִתְכְּשַׁר. אֲבָל רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא, מַאן דְּיִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בַּהֲדֵיהּ מַה כְּתִיב, כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ מוּם לֹֹא יִקְרָב אִישׁ עִוֵּר אוֹ פִסֵּחַ.

Aaron Deeds Gold Golden Calf Holiness (Kedushah) Other Side Sin

321. In here, THE SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF, everything was ready to give way to the spirit of defilement, so it may rule, for he found a desert completely wasted, as it is said: "venomous serpents, and scorpions..." (Devarim 8:15), whence his power issues. He found enough gold to fit, he found Aaron, through whom it may be strengthened by the right and be included into. Then the place OF THE OTHER SIDE was ready on all sides as fit. It came out and the deed was done.

321. וְהָכָא, כֹּלָּא אִתְקַּן לְרוּחָא מְסַאֲבָא, לְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ דּוּכְתָּא לְשַׁלְּטָאָה. אַשְׁכַּח מַדְבְּרָא דְּאִיהוּ חָרוּב מִכֹּלָּא, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב נָחָשׁ שָׂרָף וְעַקְרָב וְגוֹ', דְּמִתַּמָּן אִיהוּ שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ. אַשְׁכַּח דַּהֲבָא סִפּוּקָא כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. אַשְׁכַּח אַהֲרֹן, לְאִתַּתְקְפָא בִּימִינָא, וּלְאִתְכַּלְלָא בֵּיהּ. כְּדֵין אַשְׁלִים דּוּכְתֵּיהּ כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת, וְנָפִיק וְאִשְׁתָּלִים עוּבְדָּא.

Aaron Altar Holiness (Kedushah) Judgment Offering Serpent Sin Sin-offering

322. Whence do we know the spirit of defilement was there? From what is written, "Oh, this people has sinned a great sin" (Shemot 32:31), referring to the spirit of defilement, the primordial serpent, we mentioned in several places. When Aaron wanted to be purged, he offered a calf AS A SIN OFFERING, to deal punishment to that side, BY SLAUGHTERING AND OFFERING IT ON THE ALTAR. At first, he let it rule, and now he deals it Judgment to subdue it, because when Judgment is executed upon that side, all its rulers are subdued.

322. וּמְנָלָן דְּרוּחַ מְסַאֲבָא הֲוָה. דִּכְתִּיב אָנָא חָטָא הָעָם הַזֶּה חַטָאָה גְּדוֹלָה, דָּא רוּחַ מְסַאֲבָא, נָחָשׁ קַדְמָאָה, כִּדְקַאמְרָן בְּכַמָּה דּוּכְתִּין. וּבְזִמְנָא דְּבָעָא אַהֲרֹן לְאִתְדַכְּאָה, אַקְרִיב עֵגֶל, מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא, לְמֶעְבַּד בֵּיהּ דִּינָא. בְּקַדְמֵיתָא עָבֵד לֵיהּ לְשַׁלְּטָאָה, וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּיַעֲבֵיד בֵּיהּ דִּינָא, לְאַכְפְּיָיא לֵיהּ, דְּהָא כַּד אִתְעָבֵיד דִּינָא בְּסִטְרָא דָּא, אִתְכַּפְיָין כָּל אִינּוּן דְּשַׁלְטִין מִסִּטְרֵיהּ.

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