Pekudei: Chapter 51

The chamber of desire - Tiferet

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon tells us about the sixth chamber, the chamber of desire that is called: "word that proceeds out of the mouth of Hashem." Here all the wishes and petitions in the world are granted. This is the chamber where Moses was taken after death. We learn of the spirit in charge of this chamber who is named Raziel, and we learn of the roles of Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel, who are instrumental in defence, in healing, in bringing medicine and in carrying messages.

Rabbi Shimon talks about water, fire, air and dust that are Chesed, Gvurah, Tiferet and Malchut. He tells us that Rabbi Akiva reached this chamber and died with complete love; he was not judged, because he drew the light of Wisdom from below upward, rather than from above downward. We learn about the ten martyrs, whose souls rose up to God but whose bodies were delivered to the Other Side. Rabbi Shimon comes to the conclusion that holiness is joy and that the Other Side is sadness. He talks about how all the lower chambers are included in this chamber, standing on pillars. The officers in charge of these chambers look after the marriage of males and females, all births, the speech of children who study the Torah, the declarations of judgment, and the gladdening of the world.

We read about the supernal kisses that unite the lower and higher grades, and of what happened when Jacob reached this chamber. We hear of how Abraham and Isaac comprised Love and Judgment together, and how there is no justice without merit. This explains how the Sanhedrin began to develop the criminal laws. Then we are told about the prophets, and how the seers get their visions and dreams from the chambers of Brightness and Splendor. There is a description of the sixth chamber of the Other Side, where all the wicked pleasures are found. Rabbi Shimon says that there are things the body delights in, and things the soul delights in. He tells us that all the souls of the chambers below the sixth chamber are included in the sixth chamber, and there are two names that include all the other names - they are Yud Hei Vav Hei Elohim and Yud Hei Vav Hei Tzevaot. The first name is of Jacob, and the second of Joseph. These are the secret of the first Temple and the second Temple.