Before the Giving of the Torah they depended on constellations

Synopsis

We are told that before the Torah was given, even children, life and sustenance were dependent on constellations, but afterward God removed Yisrael from the influence of the stars and constellations. If a person does not keep the commandments, however, the stars and constellations will still hold sway over him. Finally we hear again that people grow old and die, and then return again as children.

Relevance

On the wings of Abraham and by the thrust of the letter Hei engraved into the parchment of Torah, we are now propelled above the plane of planetary influence. We become shepherds of the stars, pilots of the planets, reacquiring control over our fate. Our future is hereby transformed to one of an immediate and complete redemption, in a process that embodies the mercy and tenderness of this great Book of Splendor. Illnesses, conferred to us by the stars, flare out of existence, like falling stars in the distant heavens.

The Zohar's words "For PEOPLE die when old and return to this world as children" have the effect of arresting the aging process. The letters kindle Light that regenerates our cells and our souls, infusing us with rejuvenescence so that we become youthful again, like children - for this is the ultimate destiny of human beings.

Abraham Astrology Heaven Mazal Merit Stars Torah

64. And those who do not know this secret say: 'Children, life and sustenance is not a matter of one's merit, rather it depends on constellations (Heb. mazal).' Take the case of Abram, who saw that he was not destined to have a son, and the Holy One, blessed be He, took him outside, as it is said: "And He brought him outside, and said, Look..." (Beresheet 15:5). And it has been taught that He said to him: 'Leave your astrology,' NAMELY DO NOT CONSULT THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS. And He took him up above the stars and said to him: "Look now towards heaven, and count the stars" (Ibid.). So much for the words of the sages, but they have to be interpreted mystically!

64. וְאִינּוּן דְּלָא יַדְעֵי רָזָא דָּא, אַמְרֵי בְּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי לָאו בִּזְכוּתָא תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא, אֶלָּא בְּמַזָּלָא תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא. וְהָא חֲזֵינָא לְאַבְרָהָם דְּחָזָא בְּמַזָּלֵיהּ, דְּלָא הֲוָה עָתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי לֵיהּ בְּרָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַפִּיק לֵיהּ לְבָרָא, כְּדִכְתִּיב וַיּוֹצֵא אוֹתוֹ הַחוּצָה וַיֹּאמֶר הַבֶּט וְגוֹ.' וְאַקְמוּהָ, דא"ל צֵא מֵאִצְטַגְנִינוּת שֶׁלָּךְ, וְהֶעֱלָהוּ לְמַעְלָה מֵהַכֹּכָבִים, וְאָמַר לוֹ הַבֶּט נָא הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וּסְפוֹר הַכֹּכָבִים. עַד הָכָא מִלִּין דְּרַבָּנָן, וְצָרִיךְ לְפָרְשָׁא לוֹן בְּדֶרֶךְ נִסְתָּר.

Abraham Astrology Creation Earth Heaven Heavens Isaac Stars Torah

65. Come and see: All creatures in the world, before the Torah was given to Yisrael, were dependent on Mazal, even children, life and sustenance. But after the Torah was given to Yisrael, He removed Yisrael from the influences of the stars and constellations. This we have learned from Abraham, since his children were destined to receive Hei from Abraham, that is, the five books of the Torah, NAMELY MALCHUT, as it is said: "These are the generations of heaven and earth when they were created (Heb. behibar'am)" (Beresheet 2:4). behibar'am: beHei bera'am (meaning 'He created them with a Hei'). He said to Abraham 'Because of that Hei that was added to your name, the heavens below you and all the stars and constellations that shine in Hei will be subservient to your will' BECAUSE HE RAISED HIM ABOVE THEM. Moreover, it is said: "lo (Heb. he), here is grain for you, and you shall sow the land" (Beresheet 47:23) with Hei. That is, "for in Isaac shall your seed be called" (Beresheet 21:12), WHO IS THE SECRET OF THE LEFT COLUMN, FROM WHICH MALCHUT, THE SECRET OF HEI, IS DRAWN, AND SOWING IS THUS IN MALCHUT.

65. ת"ח, כָּל בִּרְיָין דְּעָלְמָא, קוֹדֶם דְּאִתְיְיהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲווֹ תַּלְיָין בְּמַזָּלָא, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי. אֲבָל בָּתַר דְּאִתְיְיהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אַפִּיק לוֹן מֵחִיּוּבָא דְּכֹכָבַיָּא וּמַזָּלֵי. וְדָא אוֹלִיפְנָא מֵאַבְרָהָם. בְּגִין דַּהֲווֹ עֲתִידִין בְּנוֹי לְקַבְּלָא ה' מֵאַבְרָהָם, דְּאִיהִי חֲמִשָּׁה חוּמָשֵׁי תּוֹרָה. דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ אֵלֶּה תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ בְּהִבָּרְאָם, בְּה' בְּרָאָם. אָמַר לְאַבְרָהָם, בְּגִין הַאי ה' דְּאִתוֹסָף בִּשְׁמָךְ, הַשָּׁמַיִם תַּחְתָּךְ, וְכָל כֹּכָבַיָא וּמַזָּלֵי דִּנְהִירִין בְּה.' וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ הֵ"א לָכֶם זֶרַע, וּזְרַעְתֶּם בְּהֵ"א. כִּי בְּיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע.

Animals Astrology Beasts Stars Torah

66. For this reason, everyone who engages in the Torah is released from the influence of stars and constellations. By learning Torah HERE IS MEANT with the intention of keeping its commandments. If it is not HIS INTENTION TO KEEP ITS COMMANDMENTS, then he is as one who does not engage in Torah, and the stars and constellations hold sway over him. This is even more true with respect to the common people, who are likened to animals, about which it has been taught: "Cursed be he who lies with any manner of beast" (Devarim 27:21). The hold of the stars and constellations over them is certainly not annulled.

66. ובג"ד, כָּל הַמִשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, בָּטִיל מִנֵּיהּ חִיוּבָא דְּכֹכָבַיָּא וּמַזָּלֵי. אִי אוֹלִיף לָהּ כְּדֵי לְקַיְּימָא פִּקּוּדָהָא. וְאִם לָאו, כְּאִלּוּ לָא אִשְׁתְּדַּל בָּהּ, וְלָא בָּטִיל מִנֵּיהּ חִיוּבָא דְּכֹכָבַיָּא וּמַזָּלֵי. כָּל שֶׁכֵּן עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ דְּאִינּוּן אִתְמַתְלָן לִבְעִירָן. דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ עָלַיְיהוּ אָרוּר שׁוֹכֵב עִם כָּל בְּהֵמָה, דְּלָא אִתְבָּטְלוּן מִנְּהוֹן חִיוּבָא דְּכֹכָבַיָּא וּמַזָּלֵי.

Creation Flower Job Reincarnation Tree

67. "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field so he flourishes" (Tehilim 103:15). And ABOUT MAN it is said: "I was young and am now old" (Tehilim 37:25). And later IT IS SAID: "He returns to the days of his youth" (Iyov 33:25). IT IS LIKE a tree from which the old branches were cut off, but they grew again from its roots, as at the beginning. For PEOPLE die when old and return to this world as children. And this is the secret of the Holy One, blessed be He, 'renewing the creation every day continually.' For a thousand die each day and a thousand are renewed each day, REINCARNATING INTO THE WORLD.

67. אֱנוֹשׁ כֶּחָצִיר יָמָיו כְּצִיץ הַשָּׂדֶה כֵּן יָצִיץ, וְאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ, נַעַר הָיִיתִי גַּם זָקַנְתִּי. לְבָתַר יָשׁוּב לִימֵי עֲלוּמָיו. דְּאִילָנָא דְּאִתְקְצִיצוּ עַנְפִין עַתִּיקִין דִּילֵיהּ, וְצָמְחוּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין בְּשָׁרְשׁוֹי, אָהַדְרוּ בְּעָלְמָא כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין. מִיתוּ סָבִין, וְאִתְהַדְרוּ לְהַאי עָלְמָא עוּלְימִין. וְהַיְינוּ רָזָא דִּמְחַדֵּשׁ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכָל יוֹם תָּמִיד מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. דְּמֵתִין אֲלַף בְּכָל יוֹמָא וּמִתְחַדְּשִׁין אֲלַף בְּכָל יוֹמָא.