The sacrifices
The Faithful Shepherd says that the purpose of the sacrifices is to remove the impure sides and bring the holy sides near. Rabbi Shimon argues that God distributes the food of the sacrifices as appropriate - He gives the nourishment of the Torah to those on the side of holiness, and he gives ordinary food to those on the Other Side. God takes nothing from the sacrifice other than the desire and remorse of the heart. Rabbi Shimon says that the priest is the brain, the Levite is the heart, and Yisrael is the body. The Faithful Shepherd continues the discussion with a higher explanation of the union effected by the sacrifices, and we learn that those who are like animals were commanded to sacrifice animals for atonement, but that those who are like angels offer up their good deeds instead. Moses talks about the Prime Cause, Ein Sof, saying that the four elements have no proximity to one another except when He is among them, and saying that the sacrifices draw them close to Him.
Once again we have a passage that presents consequential findings in regards to the underlying cause of coronary heart disease and other chronic ailments. As such, we will explore each topic one at a time: The Liver and Bile. In verse 216, we learn that the human liver and all of its arteries are the abode of evil angels. The ancient sacrifices serve the same function as the liver: Evil angels devour the fat of the sacrifice just as the liver's bile digests the fat in our blood. Remarkably, it took another 1800 years for medical science to learn this Kabbalistic truth, when, in the 18th century, Swiss biologist Albrecht von Haller discovered that bile helps to digest fats. Spiritually, the fat that is sacrificed correlates to our negative characteristics born of ego. Accordingly, we must meditate to sacrifice and cleanse away these immoral traits from our nature as we read this section. This action engenders healing and wellness of the heart.
We arouse the spiritual influences of the ancient sacrifices to remove poisons, toxins and fat from our cardiovascular system. Furthermore, this action devours toxins and wastes from the spiritual atmosphere.
Our Accuser (the Satan) is hereby relieved of his duties as prosecutor, thus rendering any pending judgments null and void.
The Light we kindle imbues us with holiness so that we may now merit peace in this world and the next. Just as high blood cholesterol and fat eventually harden a man's arteries and destroy his heart, we now turn the tables on the demons as the Light devours their heart and kills off the evil angels.
The Liver, Blood, and Heart. Next, the Zohar reveals remarkable insights into the function of the blood, liver, and the heart. The Zohar speaks of a man's death, stating that "an image of a dog descends" at the time of death if a man is not worthy. The Hebrew word for dog is kelev. This word conceals another word within it - the Hebrew word for heart, which is lev (kelev כ-לב). Dog is therefore a code word for the human heart. Thus, the verse refers to a man's death caused by heart ailments if he is not "meritorious" or worthy. "Not meritorious" means a man is disconnected from the Light of the Creator, enslaved to the will of his ego, ruled by the anger and hostility borne of rash behavior. This, and nothing else, is the root cause of all illness, for it causes darkness on the spiritual level and liver dysfunction on a physical level. This darkness creates an opening for the evil angels to bring sickness upon us, through our liver. The foods we eat are merely an effect and not the ultimate causative factors behind heart disease or other illnesses. They are simply the tools used by negative forces to physically manifest the spiritual darkness caused by our wrongful and insensitive behavior. Moreover, these negative angels deceive us into believing that the disease is caused by physical effects alone, and not the cumulative effect of our reactive emotions, selfish behavior, and rude actions towards others.
Conversely, the Zohar says that if a man is meritorious, then when he leaves this world "the image of a lion descends to welcome his soul." When a man is spiritually aware and accountable for all of his negative behavior during life, then the first image that greets him upon his death is that of a lion. The lion represents the Sfirah of Chesed, which is Mercy. The lion also signifies King David, over whom the Angel of Death has absolutely no control. Moreover, the lion and the heart embody the concept of a king. A King wears a crown signifying the Sfirah of Keter, the highest spiritual dimension. While scanning this passage we are receiving spiritual energy from Keter, which offers us untold mercy and complete refuge from the Angel of Death.
These awesome positive forces now cause the World to Come to become our world in a kindhearted and merciful manner. These sublime secrets reveal Light which heals our hearts, purges any traces of the death force from our body, and deals a final death blow to the Angel of Death himself. And because the concept of immortality is a difficult one for us to believe, these verses strengthen our consciousness so that we perceive death's illusions and liberate our minds from the prison of skepticism and doubt. These benefits are realized only through the power of the sacrifices spoken of herein. What are these sacrifices on a practical level? The Zohar says they are: "a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart..." Namely, we must scan and meditate upon these words with repentance in our soul for the indignities we have shown to others; a broken heart for the disrespect and incivility we have inflicted upon friends and family; and deep remorse and acknowledgement of our discourteous and abusive behavior.
This is our sacrifice, and with it we become clean and purified, having attained all the goodness, Light, and healing that are expounded upon in this powerful passage.
Two Kinds of Fat. In verse 220, the Zohar first speaks about the priest as the "brain," then segues into a discussion on the Central Column, and immediately thereafter proceeds to reveal an astonishing truth concerning fat, the liver, the heart, and the arteries. We are told that there are two kinds of fat - pure and impure, as stated in the verse: "...in the body there are pure and impure fatty parts, clean blood without waste matter and blood contaminated with waste matter..." The pure fats, the Zohar says, are associated with a healthy heart and arteries, whereas impure fats are dangerous, used by the evil angel (do not pronounce this name) Samael, who is connected with our liver, to cause ailments of the heart and brain. The brain is the priest that works to overcome the control of Samael over the heart.
This secret is concealed in the following verse: "And if the liver, WHICH IS SAMAEL, wishes to offer fatty parts that are ritually impure to the heart, he takes only the fat of a ritually pure fatty part." Remarkably, 2000 years later, medical science confirmed this ancient observation: Science now understands that the human liver synthesizes cholesterol for the body. Cholesterol is, essentially, a fatty substance ("fatty parts"); and there are, in fact, two kinds of cholesterol - good and bad, pure and impure. ( Good cholesterol is known as HDL (high-density lipoproteins). ( Bad cholesterol is termed LDL (low-density lipoproteins). An overabundance of bad cholesterol clogs the arteries. It helps form plaque, which narrows the arteries and decreases blood flow to the heart and brain. With less blood, the heart receives less oxygen. A lack of oxygen can cause chest pain, called "angina." With a lesser flow of oxygen, one becomes much more susceptible to heart attacks, and strokes. Buildup of bad cholesterol is the most common cause of heart disease. Yet this buildup occurs so slowly, we are not even aware of the increasing danger. In the language of Zohar, bad cholesterol is referred to as the "fatty parts" that are "ritually impure" and "offered" to the heart by the liver, "Samael." Good cholesterol removes bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. It contains an enzyme that helps break down deposits and takes bad cholesterol away from coronary arteries back to the liver, where is it turned into bile, which absorbs and digests the fats; and it is then excreted from the body. Good cholesterol does not collect or stick to the inner linings of the arteries. High levels of good cholesterol reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. The Zohar refers to the good cholesterol as "pure fatty parts," the "clean blood without waste matter."
Good and bad cholesterol levels are inversely connected. When one increases, the other decreases. That is, a constant cholesterol level with an increase in the level of good cholesterol will automatically lower the level of bad cholesterol, and, in turn, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Scientists use the ratio between good and bad cholesterol (LDL/HDL ratio) as a predictor of heart disease and stroke risk. Ratio and balance are the key. This medical truth is found in the Zohar's discussion on the "Central Column." The Central Column balances the Right and Left Columns ("pure" and "impure," respectively) in the appropriate and proper measure.
A malfunctioning liver can cause a dangerous imbalance between the good and bad cholesterols, coronary heart disease, immune dysfunction, and blood sugar problems. The Zohar then reveals the ultimate cause behind heart disease and liver dysfunction when it speaks of "Evil Inclination" and "Good Inclination," which, we are told, are rooted in the arteries of the liver and heart, respectively. This is a very profound insight. Our behavior towards others, our manner of living, be it spiritual or physical, is the ultimate determining factor that decides between health and sickness, according to the Zohar. Disease is not the result of eating habits or other external factors. They are merely the weapons, used by the negative forces, to inflict judgment and manifest the spiritual darkness we have created. If our consciousness and our behavior are rooted in our Evil Inclination, our liver will discharge impure fats into the arteries because the negative angel (do not pronounce this name) Samael seizes the pure fat, as stated in the verse: ."..he takes only the fat of a ritually pure fatty part" and offers "fatty parts that are ritually impure to the heart." Again, we have a verse of Zohar that is profoundly insightful, worthy of deep reflection. If we choose a life of spirituality, sacrificing our selfish impulses in favor of our Good Inclination, the evil being Samael relinquishes control. Clean, purified blood courses through our veins. Liver function is sound, reflecting the well-being of our spiritual state of mind.
This profound insight is further reinforced in the following verse: "...There are two types of people: Yisrael, WHO IS LIKE THE ARTERIES OF THE HEART, and the other nations of the world, WHO ARE LIKE THE ARTERIES OF THE LIVER." Yisrael refers to the spiritual individual - he who embraces the wisdom of Kabbalah and becomes accountable for all of his actions and their consequences. The term "other nations" refers to those of us who live according to the whims of egocentricity, who are guided by intellect alone, neglecting the needs and the will of the soul. The Light of this verse destroys the negative angel Samael and his army, and their destructive influence over our mind and the world. This spiritual energy balances our blood cholesterol levels in favor of the good cholesterol (HDL). Arteries are unclogged and cleansed. We receive healing of the liver, the brain, and entire cardiovascular system. Most importantly, we receive healing of the soul so that we now triumph over the Evil Inclination, once and for all, and bring immortality and joy to the world.
Of Angels, Supernal Worlds, and other Lofty things. The remainder of this passage speaks in deeply obscured prose concerning angels, sacrifices, supernal worlds, matings, the Tetragrammaton יהוה, different classes of souls, and other sublime matters. Most relevant to us is the Light that is cast from this narrative. This Light ignites the pertinent ancient sacrifices on our behalf. We are cleansed of sin. Supernal worlds are aligned, then connected, allowing divine Energy to cascade downward upon creation. The Energy of the Faithful Shepherd - Moses - becomes a beacon of Light for all mankind, leading us to our Final Redemption, only through peace and kindness.
216. Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd). The Faithful Shepherd said: THE PURPOSE OF the sacrifices is to remove the impure aspects and bring the holy aspects near. And we learned in the first compilation that among the arteries of the liver, WHICH ARE THE FORCES OF SAMAEL, AS ABOVE, there are large ones and there are those that are both large and small, and they spread out from there in a number of directions, and they take the parts and the pieces and fats that are consumed on the altar the whole night, for the whole of the sacrifice belongs to Hashem, AND THE OTHER SIDE TAKES ONLY THE PARTS AND THE FATS.
216. (רעיא מהימנא) אָמַר רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא, לֵית קָרְבְּנִין, אֶלָּא לְרַחֲקָא סִטְרִין מִסְאֲבִין, וּלְקָרְבָא דַּרְגִּין קַדִּישִׁין. וְאִתְּמַר בְּחִבּוּרָא קַדְמָאָה, דִּלְהוֹן, עַרְקִין דְּכַבְדָא, אִית מִנְּהוֹן רַבְרְבִין, אִית מִנְּהוֹן רַבְרְבִין וּזְעִירִין, וּמִתְפַּשְׁטִין מִנְּהוֹן לְכַמָּה סִטְרִין. וְאִלֵּין נַטְלִין אֵבָרִין וֶאֱמוּרִין וּפְדָרִין דְּמִתְאַכְּלִין כָּל הַלַּיְלָה, דְּהָא קָרְבָּן כֹּלָּא לַיְיָ.'
217. The Holy Luminary, THAT IS, RABBI SHIMON, said, O, Faithful Shepherd, did you not say before that the only purpose of the sacrifices of the Holy One, blessed be He, is to draw close the Yud to the Hei and the Vav to the Hei? Nevertheless, although all the sacrifices have to be offered before Him, BEFORE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, He distributes the foodstuffs of the sacrifices to all the various camps, to each as befits it. To the mental ones, NAMELY ON THE SIDE OF HOLINESS, HE GIVES the nourishment of the Torah, and drinks of the wine and water of the Torah, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN THAT IS CALLED 'TORAH,' BY WHICH ALL THE LIGHTS ARE CORRECTED. To the natural ones, which are the demons who are like people, NAMELY THE OTHER SIDE, He gives them natural foodstuffs, and their fire descends to devour them, NAMELY THE ILLUMINATIONS COMING FROM THE LEFT COLUMN OF SEPARATION, WITHOUT THE RECONCILING OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN THAT IS CALLED 'TORAH.'
217. אָמַר בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא, וַהֲלֹא אַמְרַת לְעֵיל דְּקָרְבְּנִין דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָאו אִינּוּן אֶלָּא לְקָרְבָא י' בה' ו' בה.' אֶלָּא, אע"ג דְּכָל קָרְבָּנִין צְרִיכִין לְקָרֵב קַמֵּיהּ, אִיהוּ פָּלִיג לְכָל מַשִּׁרְיָין, מַאֲכָלִין דְּקָרְבְּנִין, לְכָל חַד כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי לֵיהּ, לְשִׂכְלִיִּים, מְזוֹנֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּמִשְׁתְּיָיא דְּיֵינָא וּמַיָּא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. לְטִבְעִיִּים, דְּאִינּוּן שֵׁדִים דְּאִינּוּן כִּבְנֵי אָדָם, יָהִיב לוֹן אִלֵּין מַאֲכָלִין טִבְעִיִּים, דְּנָחִית אֶשָּׁא דִּלְהוֹן, לְמֵיכַל לוֹן.
218. And this is as the sages taught. If Yisrael are meritorious, He would descend like a lion of fire to devour the sacrifices, but if they were not meritorious, He would descend like a dog of fire. Likewise, when a man dies, if he has been meritorious, the image of a lion descends to welcome his soul, but if he has not BEEN MERITORIOUS, an image of a dog descends, concerning which David said: "Deliver my soul from the sword; my only one from the power of the dog" (Tehilim 22:21).
218. כְּמָה דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ רַבָּנָן, אִי זָכוּ, הֲוָה נָחִית כְּמוֹ אַרְיֵה דְּאֶשָּׁא לְמֵיכַל קָרְבְּנִין. וְאִי לָא, הֲוָה נָחִית תַּמָּן כְּמִין כַּלְבָּא דְּאֶשָּׁא. וְאוֹף הָכִי כַּד מִית ב"נ, אִי זָכֵי, נָחִית בִּדְמוּת אַרְיֵה, לְקַבְּלָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ. וְאִי לָאו בִּדְמוּת כֶּלֶב, דְּאָמַר דָּוִד עָלֵיהּ, הַצִּילָה מֵחֶרֶב נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד כֶּלֶב יְחִידָתִי.
219. And since the Holy One, blessed be He, desired to save the bodies of Yisrael from them, and their souls, too, He commanded that sacrifices be offered of beasts and bodies in their stead, SO THAT THE OTHER SIDE SHOULD NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THEM, BUT SHOULD ENJOY THEM (THE SACRIFICED ANIMALS). This fulfills the verse: "If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty give him water to drink" (Mishlei 25:21). AND THUS WILL THE ACCUSER BECOME COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE. But the Holy One, blessed be He, takes nothing FROM THE SACRIFICE except the wish of the heart and the bearking of the heart, as it is written: "The slaughtered sacrifices for Elohim are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, Elohim, You will not despise" (Tehilim 51:19). They are like earthenware vessels, about which it is said: 'After they are broken, they become clean.'
219. וּבְגִין לְשֵׁיזָבָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא גּוּפֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִנְּהוֹן וְנַפְשֵׁהוֹן. מָנֵי, לְקָרֵב קָרְבְּנִין דִּבְעִירָן וְגוּפָן בְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ, לְקַיֵּים אִם רָעֵב שׂוֹנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִילֵהוּ לָחֶם וְאִם צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מָיִם. אֲבָל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לָא נָטִיל אֶלָּא רְעוּתָא דְּלִבָּא, וּתְבִירוּ דִּילֵיהּ. הה"ד, זִבְחֵי אֱלֹֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה לֵב נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה אֱלֹֹהִים לֹא תִבְזֶה. כְּגַוְונָא דִּכְלֵי חֶרֶס, דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן נִשְׁבָּרוּ נִטְהָרוּ.
220. The priest is the brain, STANDING FOR ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS RIGHT. Levi is the heart, STANDING FOR MALCHUT, WHICH IS ON THE LEFT. Yisrael is the body, NAMELY THE CENTRAL COLUMN, FOR WHEN THE SOULS OF YISRAEL RISE UP TO MAYIN NUKVIN (LIT. ' FEMALE WATERS'), THEY BECOME THE CENTRAL COLUMN, BETWEEN ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. And it is said about them: 'The priests at their service, the Levites at their stand, and Yisrael at their post.' And if the liver, WHICH IS SAMAEL, wishes to offer fatty parts that are ritually impure to the heart, it receives only the fat of a ritually pure fatty part. For just as in the body there are pure and impure fatty parts, clean blood without waste matter and blood contaminated with waste matter, as the arteries of blood in the heart, WHICH IS MALCHUT, are the holy hosts, while the arteries of the liver, WHICH IS SAMAEL, are the impure hosts. Here also, there are camps of the Evil Inclination and camps of the Good Inclination. The latter are appointed over the arteries of the heart and the former over the arteries of the liver. Similarly, too, there are two types of people: Yisrael, WHICH IS LIKE THE ARTERIES OF THE HEART, and the other nations of the world, WHO ARE LIKE THE ARTERIES OF THE LIVER.
220. כַּהֲנָא מוֹחָא. לֵוִי לִבָּא. גּוּפָא יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן, כֹּהֲנִים בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם, וּלְוִּיִם בְּדוּכָנָם, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמַעֲמָדָם. וְאִי כָּבֵד בָּעֵי לְקָרְבָא לְגַבֵּי דְּלִבָּא, חֶלְבֵּיהּ דְּאִינּוּן מִסְאֲבִין, אִיהוּ לָא נָטִיל. אֶלָּא שַׁמְנוּנוֹ דְּחֵלֶב טָהוֹר. כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִית בְּגוּפָא, חֵלֶב טָהוֹר וְחֵלֶב טָמֵא, דָּם צָלִיל בְּלָא פְּסוֹלֶת, וְדָם עָכוּר בַּפְּסוֹלֶת. וְעַרְקִין דְּלִבָּא, חַיָּילִין קַדִּישִׁין. וְעַרְקִין דְּכָבֵד, חַיָּילִין מִסְאֲבִין. אוֹף הָכִי אִינּוּן מַשִׁרְיָין דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, וּמַשִׁרְיָין דְּיֵצֶר הַטּוֹב, אִלֵּין מְמָנָן עַל עַרְקִין דְּלִבָּא, וְאִלֵּין מְמָנָן עַל עַרְקִין דְּכַבְדָא. אוֹף הָכִי תְּרֵי אוֹמֵי, יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאוּמִין דְּעָלְמָא עכו"ם.
221. The Faithful Shepherd said to him: What you have said is altogether beautiful, but even Yisrael are not all equal, for there are among them the children of royalty, from the side of the holy Malchut that is composed of ten Sfirot and all the names of Yud Hei Vav Hei and their titles. And there are those that are like slaves, from the side of the servant, METATRON, who is "the eldest servant of his house" (Beresheet 24:2), NAMELY OF MALCHUT. There are also those who are like animals, about whom it is said: "And you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men" (Yechezkel 34:31). And the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded those who are like sheep to sacrifice animals in their stead, to make atonement for them. But the sacrifices of those who are like angels are the good deeds, over which are appointed angels who offer the good deeds before the Holy One, blessed be He, in their stead.
221. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא, שַׁפִּיר קָא אַמְרַת בְּכֹלָּא, אֲבָל אֲפִילּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאו כֻּלְּהוּ שָׁוִין, דְּאִית בְּהוֹן בְּנֵי מַלְכוּת, מִסִּטְרָא דְּמַלְכוּת קַדִּישָׁא, כְּלִילָא מֵעֲשַׂר סְפִירָאן, וּמִכָּל הֲוָויִין וְכִנּוּיִין. וְאִית מִנְּהוֹן עַבְדִּין, מִסִּטְרָא דְּעֶבֶד, דְּאִיהוּ עַבְדּוֹ זְקַן בֵּיתוֹ. וְאִית מִנְּהוֹן כִּבְעִירָן, וְאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן, וְאַתֵּן צֹאנִי צֹאן מַרְעִיתִי אָדָם אַתֶּם. וְאִינּוּן דְּדַמְיָין לְעָנָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָנֵי לְקָרְבָא בְּעִירָן בְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ, לְכַפְּרָא עָלַיְיהוּ. וְאִינּוּן דְּדַמְיָין לְמַלְאָכִין, קָרְבְּנִין דִּלְהוֹן אִינּוּן עוֹבָדִין טָבִין, דִּמְמָנָן עָלַיְיהוּ מַלְאָכִים, דִּמַקְרִיבִין לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ.
222. And there are those who are the children of Yud Hei Vav Hei, about whom it is written: "You are the children of Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 14:1). It is because of their sins that the letters OF YUD HEI VAV HEI become separated, FOR THERE IS NO SUPERNAL UNION OF YUD-HEI, AND THERE IS NO UNION OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, WHICH ARE VAV-HEI. And their correction lies in the Torah, which is the name of Yud Hei Vav Hei, to bring the letters together by means of their sacrifice: Yud with Hei, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE UNION OF ABA AND IMA, and Vav with Hei, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE UNION OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT.
222. וְאִינּוּן דַּהֲווֹ בְּנִין לַיְדֹוָד, הה"ד בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַיְיָ' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. בְּחוֹבִין דִּלְהוֹן מִתְפָּרְדֵי אַתְוָון, וְתִקּוּנָא דִּלְהוֹן הוּא אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁם יְדֹוָד, לְקָרְבָא אַתְוָון, י' בְּה,' ו' בְּה,' בְּקָרְבְּנָא דִּלְהוֹן.
223. And in all the sacrifices, whether OF THOSE WHO ARE animal-LIKE, or those who are like the ASPECTS OF angels appointed over the precepts, or of those WHO ARE OF THE ASPECT of Malchut, or OF THOSE WHO ARE of the name OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI, in all cases THE SACRIFICE has to offer them all to the Holy One, blessed be He, THE UNION OF THE FOUR holy letters OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI. AND THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, mounts WITH THE FOUR LETTERS OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI on the four living creatures of the angels, MICHAEL, GABRIEL, URIEL AND RAPHAEL, WHICH ARE THE CHARIOT THAT IS IN BRIYAH. AND THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE rides, WITH THE FOUR LETTERS OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI, on the four elements OF FIRE, WIND, WATER AND EARTH, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF CHESED AND GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, THAT ARE IN YETZIRAH, WHICH ARE THE ASPECT OF YESOD. From them were created the four natural beings, NAMELY CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, THAT ARE IN THE WORLD OF ASIYAH. AND THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, Himself brings water close to fire, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE TWO COLUMNS CHESED AND GVURAH AND ARE THE SECRET OF YUD-HEI, and of wind to the earth NAMELY TIFERET, THAT IS CALLED 'WIND,' TO MALCHUT, THAT IS CALLED 'EARTH,' THIS BEING THE SECRET OF VAV-HEI. And this is as it is written: "He makes peace in His high places" (Iyov 25:2). And so also, He brings together THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES OF THE ANGELS, NAMELY: Michael, who is considered mental water, with Gabriel, who is mental fire, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF RIGHT AND LEFT, AND THE PRINCIPLE OF YUD-HEI; and He also brings close Uriel, who is air, namely the mental wind, with Raphael, dust, who is mental earth, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF VAV-HEI. For the moment the Holy One, blessed be He, departs from among them, they have no strength.
223. הֲרֵי בְּכָל קָרְבְּנִין, בֵּין דִּבְעִירֵי, בֵּין דְּמַלְאָכִין דִּמְמָנָן עַל פִּקוּדִין, בֵּין בְּמַלְכוּתָא, בֵּין בִּשְׁמֵיהּ. כֹּלָּא צָרִיךְ לְקָרְבָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאַתְוָון קַדִּישִׁין. וְאִיהוּ רָכִיב בְּאַרְבַּע חֵיוָן דְּמַלְאָכִים. וְאִיהוּ רָכִיב בְּאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדִין, דְּמִנְּהוֹן אִתְבְּרִיאוּ אַרְבַּע חֵיוָן טִבְעִיִּים. וְאִיהוּ הוּא דִּמְקָרֵב מַיָּא בְּאֶשָּׁא, וְרוּחָא בְּעַפְרָא. הה"ד, עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. וְאוֹף הָכִי הוּא מְקָרֵב מִיכָאֵל דְּאִיהוּ מַיִם שִׂכְלִיִּים, עִם גַּבְרִיאֵל. דְּהוּא אֵשׁ שִׂכְלִי. וְאִיהוּ מְקָרֵב אוּרִיאֵל, דְּאִיהוּ אַוִּיר. דְּהַיְינוּ רוּחַ שִׂכְלִי. עִם רְפָאֵל, דְּאִיהוּ אֵפֶר, דְּהַיְינוּ עָפָר שִׂכְלִית. דְּמִיָּד דְּאִסְתַּלָּק קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, לֵית בְּהוֹן חֵילָא.
224. You might suggest that since it is written that all the sacrifices are to Yud Hei Vav Hei, and ask how, therefore, it can be said that there is a separation of the letters OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, AND THAT THE SACRIFICE NOW COMES TO UNITE THEM. HE ANSWERS, This is said about those stages that were created and called by His name and not that they are He Himself, as it is written: "every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory; I have formed him; yea, I have made him" (Yeshayah 43:7). And there are the four letters of Yud Hei Vav Hei in Atzilut, containing no separation nor cessation, for they are as fountains FOR ALL THE WORLDS, watering the trees. And regarding those that were created, NAMELY VIS-A-VIS THE YUD HEI VAV HEI ATTIRED IN THE WORLD OF CREATION, THE FOUR LETTERS OF ATZILUT are likened, the Yud to a head, the Vav to a body, while the two Hei's ARE LIKENED to ten fingers.
224. וְאִי תֵּימָא, הָא כְּתִיב בְּכָל קָרְבְּנִין לַיְדֹוָ"ד, וְאֵיךְ אָמַרְנָא דְּאִית פִּרוּדָא בְּאַתְוָון. אֶלָּא הַאי אִתְּמַר, בְּדַרְגִּין דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ וְאִתְקְרִיאוּ בִּשְׁמֵיהּ. וְלָא דְּאִינּוּן אִיהוּ מַמָּשׁ. הה"ד, כֹּל הַנִקְרָא בִשְׁמִי וְלִכְבוֹדִי בְּרָאתִיו יְצַרְתִּיו אַף עֲשִׂיתִיו. דְּאִית אַתְוָון דַּיְדֹוָ"ד בַּאֲצִילוּת, דְּלֵית בְּהוֹן פֵּרוּדָא וְהַפְסָקָה, דְּאִינּוּן כְּמַבּוּעִין לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, דְּאַשְׁקְיָּין לְאִילָנִין. וּבְגִין אִלֵּין דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ, אִדָמְיָין י' לְרֵישָׁא, ו' לְגוּפָא, ה' ה' לְעֶשֶׂר אֶצְבְּעָן.
225. But the Cause of Causes, NAMELY THE ENDLESS LIGHT, BLESSED BE HE, who is over everything, who is called Yud Hei Vav Hei, THAT IS, ITS LIGHT IS ATTIRED IN THE YUD HEI VAV HEI, about Him it is said: "To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal? says the Holy One" (Yeshayah 40:25). "To whom then will you liken El, or what likeness will you compare to Him?" (Ibid. 18) "For I am Hashem, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). The sins of the creatures BELOW do not touch Him, nor separate in Him the letter Yud from the letter Hei, nor the Vav from the Hei. For there is no separation in Him and it is said about Him, "nor shall evil dwell with You" (Tehilim 5:5). He rules over all and there is none who rules over Him. He comprehends all and there is none who comprehends Him. And He is not called by Yud Hei Vav Hei, nor by all the other names, but is known by His light that spreads over them, OVER THE LEVELS THAT ARE IN THE FOUR WORLDS, ATZILUT, BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH. And when He departs from them, He has, of Himself, no name at all. "exceeding deep, who can find it?" (Kohelet 7:24).
225. אֲבָל עִלּוֹת הָעִלּוֹת עַל כֹּלָּא, דְּאִתְקְרֵי יְדֹוָ"ד, אִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ, וְאֶל מִי תְּדַמְּיוּנִי וְאֶשְׁוֶה יֹאמַר קָדוֹשׁ. וְאֶל מִי תְּדַמְּיוּן אֵל וּמַה דְּמוּת תַּעַרְכוּ לוֹ. אֲנִי יְיָ' לֹא שָׁנִיתִי. לָא מָטֵי בֵּיהּ חוֹבִין לְאַפְרְשָׁא אַתְווֹי, י' מֵה,' ו' מֵה,' דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ פֵּרוּדָא. וְעָלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר, לֹא יְגוּרְךָ רָע. אִיהוּ שַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּשָׁלִיט בֵּיהּ. אִיהוּ תָּפִיס בְּכֹלָּא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּתָפִיס בֵּיהּ. וְאִיהוּ לָא אִתְקְרֵי יְדֹוָ"ד, וּבְכָל שְׁמָהָן, אֶלָּא בְּאִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת נְהוֹרֵיהּ עָלַיְיהוּ. וְכַד אִסְתְּלִיק מִנַּיְיהוּ, לֵית לֵיהּ מִגַּרְמֵיהּ שֵׁם כְּלָל מִנְּהוֹן. עָמוֹק עָמוֹק מִי יִמְצָאֶנּוּ.
226. And there is no light that can withstand His radiance without appearing dark, even upper Keter OF ATZILUT, whose light is stronger than all of the levels and all the hosts of the upper and lower heavens, and it is said about it, IN RELATION TO HIMSELF: "He made darkness His secret place" (Tehilim 18:12). Concerning Chochmah and Binah, IT IS SAID, "cloud and mist are round about Him" (Tehilim 97:2). How much more is it so for the other Sfirot and for the celestial beings, and the elements that are dead, WITHOUT LIFE. He surrounds all the worlds, and none but He surrounds them in any direction, up or down or to the four corners of the world, and no one has left His domain for the outside, for He fills all the worlds and there is no other that fills them.
226. לֵית נְהוֹרָא יָכִיל לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ, דְּלָא אִתְחַשְּׁכַת. אֲפִילּוּ כֶּתֶר עֶלְיוֹן, דְּאִיהוּ נְהוֹרֵיהּ תַּקִּיף עַל כָּל דַּרְגִּין, וְעַל כָּל חֵילֵי שְׁמַיָא, עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין, אִתְּמַר עָלֵיהּ, יָשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ סִתְרוֹ. וְעַל חָכְמָה וּבִינָה, עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל סְבִיבָיו. כ"ש שְׁאַר סְפִירָאן. כ"ש חֵיוָן. כ"ש יְסוֹדִין, דְּאִינּוּן מֵתִים. אִיהוּ סוֹבֵב עַל כָּל עָלְמִין, וְלֵית סוֹבֵב לוֹן לְכָל סִטְרָא, עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, וּלְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין, בַּר מִנֵיהּ. וְלֵית מַאן דְּנָפִיק מֵרְשׁוּתֵיהּ לְבַר. אִיהוּ מְמַלֵא כָּל עָלְמִין. וְלֵית אוֹחֲרָא מְמַלֵא לוֹן.
227. He grants life TO ALL THE WORLDS, and there is no other Eloha above Him to give Him life, as it is said: "and You do preserve them all" (Nechemyah 9:6), and for Him Daniel said: "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He does according to His will in the host of heaven" (Daniel 4:32). He joins together and unites members of each species above and below, and the four elements have no proximity TO EACH OTHER apart from when the Holy One, blessed be He, is among them.
227. אִיהוּ מְחַיֶּה לוֹן וְלֵית עָלֵיהּ אֱלָהָא אַחֲרָא, לְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ חַיִּין. הה"ד, וְאַתָּה מְחַיֶּה אֶת כּוּלָם. וּבְגִינֵיהּ אָמֹר דָּנִיאֵל, וְכָל דְּאָרֵי אַרְעָא כֹּלָּא חֲשִׁיבִין וּכְמִצְבְּיֵיהּ עָבֵיד בְּחֵיל שְׁמַיָא. אִיהוּ מְקַשֵּׁר וּמְיַחֵד זִינָא לְזִינֵיהּ, עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא. וְלֵית קוּרְבָא לְהוּ בְּד' יְסוֹדִין, אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כַּד אִיהוּ בֵּינַיְיהוּ.
228. Immediately, when those who are called "You are the children of Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 14:1), WHO ARE FROM THE SIDE OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI, sinned, He removes Himself from the letters OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI, which are left separated from each other. How is this to be corrected? By bringing together the letters in the Holy One, blessed be He, Yud to Hei, WHICH IS THE UNION OF CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, Vav to Hei, WHICH IS THE UNION OF TIFERET AND MALCHUT. So also: those who are His servants, WHO ARE FROM THE SIDE OF METATRON, AND ARE from the side of the living creatures MICHAEL, GABRIEL, URIEL AND RAPHAEL, whose sins caused HIS DIVINITY to leave them, how are they to be corrected? By AGAIN bringing the Holy One, blessed be He, down to them, and to bring them close TO EACH OTHER. So also with those who are from the four elements, FIRE, WIND, WATER AND EARTH, which are CALLED 'the flock of the Holy One, blessed be He,' who, BY THEIR SINS, cause the Holy One, blessed be He, to ascend from them, what is their correction? It is to draw them close to the Holy One, blessed be He.
228. מִיַּד דְּחָבוּ, אִלֵּין דְּאִתְקְרִיאוּ בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַיְדֹוָד אֱלֹֹקֵיכֶם, אִסְתְּלַּק מִן אַתְוָון, אִשְׁתְּאָרוּ בְּפֵרוּדָא. וּמַאי תִּקּוּנֵיהּ, לְקָרְבָא אַתְוָון בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, י' בְּה,' ו' בְּה.' אוֹף הָכִי אִינּוּן עַבְדִּין דִּילֵיהּ, מִסִּטְרָא דְּחֵיוָן. בְּחוֹבִין דִּלְהוֹן גָּרְמוּ לֵיהּ, לְאִסְתַּלְּקָא מִנְּהוֹן. מַאי תָּקַנְתָּא דִּלְהוֹן. לְנַחְתָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלַיְיהוּ, לְקָרְבָא לוֹן. אוֹף הָכִי אִינּוּן דַּהֲווֹ מֵאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדִין, דְּאִינּוּן עָאנָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּגַרְמוּ לְסַלְּקָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִינַּיְיהוּ. מַאי תַּקְנָה. לְקָרְבָא לוֹן לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.
229. And this is why He commanded for all of them a sacrifice to Yud Hei Vav Hei, NAMELY IN ORDER TO UNITE THE LETTERS OF THE YUD HEI VAV HEI, THAT WERE SEPARATED AND REMOVED, AS EXPLAINED ABOVE. "My offerings, the provisions of My sacrifices made by fire" (Bemidbar 28:2). Also: "The one lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer towards evening" (Ibid. 4), and: "two turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Vayikra 5:7). One goes after its own kind, AND JOINS IT. And the Holy One, blessed be He, brings all together in this place, for He is the cause of all; there is no Eloha beside Him, and none but He is able to bring the forces together.
229. וּבְגִין דָּא בְּכֻלְּהוּ מָנֵי, קָרְבָּן לַיְדֹוָד, אֶת קָרְבָּנִי לַחְמִי לְאִשַּׁי. אוֹף אֶת הַכֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד תַּעֲשֶׂה בַבֹּקֶר וְאֶת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם. וּכְתִיב שְׁתֵּי תוֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְנֵי יוֹנָה, כָּל זִינָא אָזִיל לְזִינֵיהּ. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְקָרֵב כֹּלָּא בַּאֲתָר דָּא, אִיהוּ עִלַּת עַל כֹּלָּא, דְּלֵית אֱלָהָא בַּר מִנֵּיהּ. וְלֵית מַאן דְּיָכִיל לְקָרְבָא חֵילִין, בַּר מִנֵּיהּ.
230. But the forces of the idol-worshipping nations are from the side of Separation. Woe to him who by his sins brings SEPARATION to the letters, living creatures and elements, for the Holy One, blessed be He, immediately removes Himself from Yisrael, and the idol-worshipping nations come in among them. THE IDOL-WORSHIPPERS have no proximity to the Holy One, blessed be He, since there are no sacrifices outside the Land of Yisrael, WHERE THE IDOL-WORSHIPPERS DWELL. In this context, the sages taught: 'He who lives outside the Land of Yisrael is comparable to one has no Eloha.' As THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERD said these things, all the holy letters FROM ATZILUT, and the holy living creatures FROM BRIYAH, and the four elements IN YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH came down to him, blessed him, and said: "By your doing, O Faithful Shepherd, did the Holy One, blessed be He, descend upon us, and each kind was drawn close to its own kind. You are blessed to the Holy One, blessed be He, by the four elements. Now everything has been clarified in its rightful place." End of Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd).
230. אֲבָל חֵילִין דְּאוּמִין עעכו"ם, אִינּוּן מִסִּטְרָא דְּפֵרוּדָא. וַוי לְמַאן דְּגָרִים בְּחוֹבוֹי, לְאַעֲלָא אַתְוָון וְחֵיוָן וִיסוֹדִין. דְּמִיָּד אִסְתַּלָּק קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְיֵיעָלוּן אוּמִין עעכו"ם בֵּינַיְיהוּ. לֵית לוֹן קְרִיבוּת בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּלֵית קוֹרְבְּנִין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ. ובג"ד אוּקְמוּהָ רַבָּנָן, הַדָּר בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ דּוֹמֶה כְּמִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֱלוֹהַּ. בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּאָמַר מִלִּין אִלֵּין, נַחְתּוּ כָּל אַתְוָון קַדִּישִׁין, וְחֵיוָן קַדִּישִׁין, וְד' יְסוֹדִין, לְגַבֵּיהּ, וּבָרִיכוּ לֵיהּ וְאָמְרוּ, עַל יְדָךְ רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא, נָחִית עֲלָן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּמִתְקָרְבִין זִינָא לְזִינֵיהּ, בְּרִיךְ אַנְתְּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדִין. כְּעַן אִתְבְּרִיר כֹּלָּא עַל בּוּרְיֵיהּ. (ע"כ רעיא מהימנא)