"As among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You"

Synopsis

The mighty spiritual powers of the Creator are often entrusted to the righteous. Thus, Elijah the Prophet and Elisha were given the power to resurrect the dead. Elijah was given the power to stop and start the rain at will. Joshua was able to stop the sun. The secret revealed by the Zohar pertains to the will of the Creator, and to His intention that we ourselves should have the power to generate miracles. The Kabbalists teach us that God does not perform miracles, only man does. It is only our lack of spiritual knowledge of the supernal secrets that prevents us from performing miraculous deeds each day of our lives. Perhaps the most powerful secret for overcoming the limits of nature involves our transformation beyond the tendencies of human nature. When we bring about a miracle - that is, a dramatic spiritual change - within our inner character, the Upper Worlds mirror our actions. They direct supernal forces into our mundane world, and wondrous acts are accomplished. Through the knowledge we are now acquiring by thoughtful meditation upon the Zohar, we draw the strength to transform the fundamental nature of our being.

Fear Heavens Hosts Jeremiah Praise

161. Rabbi Elazar said to Rabbi Shimon, There is a verse that reads, "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For to You it is fitting"(Yirmeyah 10:7). What sort of praise is this? He answered him: Elazar, my son, this verse has been said in many places. And certainly it is not so; ITS MEANING IS NOT A SIMPLE EXPLANATION, because it is written, "For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You" (Ibid.). And this is written as an excuse for the sinners, FOR THOSE who think that the Holy One, blessed be He, is not aware of their plans and their thoughts. And because of this, their folly should be announced in the open. Because once a philosopher of the nation approached me, and said, You claim that your Elohim governs the entire heights of the heavens, and all the heavenly hosts and legions are not able to approach Him, nor do they know His place. But here, this verse does not add a lot to His honor. As it is written, "as among all the wise men of the nations...there is none like You." What kind of a comparison is this, to be compared with human beings who do not have eternal existence?

161. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הַאי קְרָא דִּכְתִיב מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם כִּי לְךָ יָאָתָה, מַאי שִׁבְחָא אִיהוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי, הַאי קְרָא בְּכַמָּה דוּכְתֵּי אִתְּמָר, אֲבָל וַדַּאי לָאו אִיהוּ הָכֵי, דִּכְתִיב כִּי בְכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם, דְּהָא אֲתָא לְמִפְתַּח פּוּמָא דְחַיָּיבִין, דְּחָשְׁבִין דְּקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָא יְדַע הִרְהוּרִין וּמַחְשָׁבִין דִּלְהוֹן, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִית לְאוֹדָעָא שְׁטוּתָא דִלְהוֹן. דְּזִמְנָא חָדָא אֲתָא פִּילוֹסוֹפָא חָדָא דְּאוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם לְגַבָּאי, אֲמַר לִי, אַתּוּן אָמְרוֹן דֶּאֱלָהֲכוֹן שַׁלִּיט בְּכָל רוּמֵי שְׁמַיָא, כּוֹלְהוֹן חַיָּילִין וּמַשִּׁרְיָין לָא אִדַּבְּקָן וְלָא יָדְעֵי אֲתַר דִּילֵיהּ. הַאי קְרָא לָא אַסְגֵּי יְקָרֵיהּ כָּל כָּךְ, דִּכְתִיב כִּי בְכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ. מַאי שִׁקּוּלָא דָא לִבְנֵי נְשָׁא דִּי לֵית לוֹן קִיּוּמָא.

Correction Moses Prophets

162. And furthermore, you commented ON THE VERSE, "And there arose not since a prophet in Yisrael like Moses" (Devarim 34:10), that only in Yisrael has there not arisen, but among the other nations of the world, one like him has indeed risen. So I claim the same, that among all the wise men of the nations...there is none like to Him! But among the wise men of Yisrael there is! And therefore, Elohim who has an equal among the wise men of Yisrael is not an all-powerful Elohim. Look closely into the verse, and you shall see that I am precisely correct!

162. וְתוּ, דְּאַתּוּן אָמְרִין, וְלֹא קָם נָבִיא עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמֹשֶׁה. בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא קָם, אֲבָל בְּאוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם קָם. אוּף הָכֵי, אֲנָא אֵימָא, בְּכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם אֵין כָּמוֹהוּ, אֲבָל בְּחַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִית. אִי הָכֵי, אֱלָהָא דְאִית בְּחַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּוָותֵיהּ, לָאו אִיהוּ עִלָּאָה שַׁלִּיטָא. אִסְתַּכַּל בַּקְּרָא, וְתִשְׁכַּח דְּדַיַּיקְנָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Abraham Correction Earth Elijah Elisha Heavens Prayer Rain

163. I said to him, what you have said is definitely correct, THAT AMONG THE WISE MEN OF YISRAEL THERE IS AN EQUAL TO HIM, because who raises the dead and brings them back to life? It is the Holy One, blessed be He, alone! Yet Elijah and Elisha came and raised the dead back to life. Who causes rain to fall? It is the Holy One, blessed be He, alone! Yet Elijah came and prevented rain, then caused it to fall through his prayer. Who made the heavens and the earth? It was the Holy One, blessed be He, alone! Yet Abraham came and the heavens and the earth were properly established because of him.

163. אַמִינָא לֵיהּ, וַדַּאי שַׁפִּיר קָא אֲמַרְתְּ. מָאן מְחַיֶּה מֵתִים, אֶלָּא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, אֲתָא אֵלִיָּהוּ וֶאֱלִישָׁע, וְאַחֲיוּ מֵתַיָיא. מָאן מוֹרִיד גְּשָׁמִים אֶלָּא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, אֲתָא אֵלִיָּהוּ, וּמְנַע לוֹן וּנְחֵית לוֹן בִּצְלוֹתֵיהּ. מָאן עֲבַד שְׁמַיָּא וְאַרְעָא, אֶלָּא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, אֲתָא אַבְרָהָם, וְאִתְקַיָּימוּ בְּקִיּוֹמוֹהִי בְּגִינֵיהּ.

Astrology Fear Joshua Moon Moses Righteous Samuel Silence Sun

164. Who governs the sun? It is the Holy One, blessed be He, alone! Yet Joshua came and silenced it, commanding it to stand still in its place - and it stood still in silence. As it is written, "And the sun stood still and the moon stayed" (Yehoshua 10:13). The Holy One, blessed be He, issues decrees, yet Moses as well issued a decree, and it was fulfilled. Furthermore, the Holy One, blessed be He, issues decrees, while the righteous of Yisrael cancel them. As it is written: "just, ruling (in) the fear of Elohim" (II Shmuel 23:3). Even more so, He, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, has commanded them to walk along (literally) 'in His steps' and to be like Him in every way! The philosopher then went to Kfar Shachalayim and became a proselyte. And they called him Yosi the young. He studied much and joined the wise and pious men of that place.

164. מָאן מַנְהִיג שִׁמְשָׁא אֶלָּא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֲתָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְשָׁכִיךְ לֵיהּ וּפַקֵּיד לֵיהּ דְּיֵקוֹם עַל קִיּוּמֵיהּ וְאִשְׁתְּכַךְ, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּדּוֹם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ עָמָד. קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גּוֹזֵר גְּזַר דִּין, אוֹף הָכֵי מֹשֶׁה גָּזֵיר גְּזַר דִּין, וְאִתְקַיָּימוּ. וְתוּ, דְּקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גּוֹזֵר גִּזְרִין, וְצַדִּיקַיָּא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מְבַטְּלִין לוֹ, דִּכְתִיב צַדִּיק מוֹשֵׁל יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים. וְתוּ דְּאִיהוּ פַּקֵּיד לוֹן לִמְהַךְ בְּאוֹרְחוֹי מַמָּשׁ, לְאִתְדְּמָא לֵיהּ בְּכֹלָּא. אֲזַל הַהוּא פִּילוֹסוֹפָא וְאִתְגַיַּיר בִּכְפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, וְקָרוֹן לֵיהּ יוֹסֵי קְטִינָאָה. וְאוֹלִיף אוֹרַיְיתָא סַגְיָא, וְאִיהוּ בֵּין חַכִּימִין וְזַכָּאִין דְּהַהוּא אֲתַר.

Fear Heavens Jeremiah

165. We should have a closer look at this verse, now. It is written: "All the nations are as nothing before Him" (Yeshayah 40:17). What is so special about this? He answers: Rather, "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?" (Yirmeyah 10:7) Is He the King of the other nations, and not the King of Yisrael?! The Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to be glorified by Yisrael. Therefore, He is always called in relation to the name of Yisrael, as is written, "Elohim of Yisrael," "Elohim of the Hebrews" (Shemot 5:3). In addition, it is written: "Thus says Hashem, the King of Yisrael" (Yeshayah 44:6) - the King of Yisrael explicitly! The other nations of the world said, We have a different Guardian up in the heavens, because your King governs over you alone, and not over us.

165. הַשְׁתָּא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בַּקְּרָא, וְהָא כְתִיב כָּל הַגּוֹיִם כְּאַיִן נֶגְדוֹ. מַאי רִבּוּיָא הָכָא. אֶלָּא מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם, וְכִי מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם אִיהוּ וְלָאו מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֶלָּא בְּכָל אֲתַר, קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּעָא לְאִשְׁתַּבָּחָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלָא אִתְקְרֵי אֶלָא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דִּכְתִיב אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים. וּכְתִיב כֹּה אָמַר יי' מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַדַּאי. אֲמָרוּ אוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם, פַּטְרוֹן אָחֳרָן אִית לָן בִּשְׁמַיָא, דְּהָא מַלְכֵיכוֹן לָא שָׁלֵיט אֶלָא עֲלַיְיכוּ בִּלְחוֹדֵיכוֹן, וַעֲלָנָא לָא שָׁלֵיט.

Daniel Deeds Earth Fear Heaven Jeremiah Kingdom Punishment Wisdom

166. Thus, this verse that reads: "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations," which means that He is a Supernal King, OVER THEM, has dominion over them, punishes them and controls them, as He wishes to "...for to You it is fitting" to be feared above and below" "For among all the wise men of the nations" refers to the governors and rulers UP ABOVE who govern them. "And in all their kingdoms" (Yirmeyah 10:7) refers to the kingdom above. There are four ruling kingdoms above, and they govern all the other nations according to the desire OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. And even with all this, they are not able to accomplish even the tiniest deed without Him commanding them. As it is written, "and He does according to His will in the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth" (Daniel 4:32). The "wise men of the nations" are the governors and rulers of above, from whom the Wisdom OF THE OTHER NATIONS is derived. "And in all their kingdoms" refers to the aforementioned kingdom that rules OVER THEM, which is the Literal meaning of the verse.

166. אֲתָא קְרָא וַאֲמַר, מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם, מַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה, לְרַדָּאָה לוֹן וּלְאַלְקָאָה לוֹן וּלְמֶעְבַּד בְּהוֹן רְעוּתֵיהּ. כִּי לְךָ יָאָתָה, לְדַחֲלָא מִנָּךְ לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא. כִּי בְכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם, אִלֵּין שַׁלִּיטִין רַבְרְבָן דִּי מְמַנָּן עֲלַיְיהוּ. וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם, בְּהַהוּא מָלְכוּ דִּלְעֵילָא, דְּהָא אַרְבַּע מַלְכְּוָון שַׁלִּיטִין אִית לְעֵילָא, וְשָׁלְטִין בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ עַל כָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, לֵית בְּהוּ דְּיַעֲבֵד אֲפִילּוּ מִלָּה זְעֵירָא, אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְּפַקֵּיד לוֹן, דִּכְתִיב וּכְמִצְבְּיֵה עָבֵיד בְּחֵיל שְׁמַיָא וְדָיְירֵי אַרְעָא. חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם, אִינוּן מְמַנָּן וְרַבְרְבָן דִּלְעֵילָא, דְּחָכְמְתָא דִּלְהוֹן מִנַּיְיהוּ הֲוָה. בְּכָל מַלְכוּתָם, מַלְכוּתָא דְּשָׁלֵיט, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר. וְדָא הוּא קְרָא כִּפְשָׁטֵיהּ.

Creation Deeds Earth Form Heavens Hosts Jeremiah Kingdom Void

167. But I have found these words in the books of the ancients: "for among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms--" so that even though they, the hosts and legions UP ABOVE, were put in charge of worldly affairs and You ordered each one to fulfill his mission, who can do it like You?! Because You are marked by excellence and by Your deeds. And this is the meaning of "There is none like You" (Ibid.), Hashem. Who is the holy and concealed, above and below, who can do what You do, or be like You, in all the doings of the Holy King up in the heavens, or down on earth?! So they "are all of them vain, and the things they delight in do not help" (Yeshayah 44:9). While of the Holy One, blessed be He, it is written, "In the beginning Elohim created," (Beresheet 1:1) and about their kingdom, it is written, "and the earth was without form and void" (Ibid).

167. אֲבָל בְּכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם, וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם. הַאי אַשְׁכַּחְנָא בְּסִפְרֵי קַדְמָאֵי, דְּאִינוּן מַשִּׁרְיָין וְחַיָילִין, אע"ג דְּאִתְפַּקְּדָן עַל מִלִּין דְּעָלְמָא, וּפַקֵּיד לְכָל חַד לְמֶעְבַּד עֲבִידְתָּא, מָאן הוּא דְּיַעֲבֵיד שׂוּם חַד מִנַּיְיהוּ כָּמוֹךָ, בְּגִין דְּאַנְתְּ רָשִׁים בְּעִילוּיָא, וְאַתְּ רָשִׁים בְּעוֹבָדָךְ מִכָּלְּהוֹ. וְדָא הוּא מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ יי', מָאן הוּא סְתִימָאָה קַדִּישָׁא דְּיַעֲבֵיד וְלֶהֱוֵי כָּמוֹךָ, עֵילָא וְתַתָּא, וִיהֵא דָּמֵי לָךְ בְּכָל עוֹבָדָא דְמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ. אֲבָל אִינוּן תֹּהוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶם בַּל יוֹעִילוּ. בְּקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּתִיב, בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים וגו', בְּמַלְכוּתָם כְּתִיב וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ.

Bride Canopy Wedding (Chupah) Chambers Chupah (Wedding Canopy) Marriage Zeir Anpin

168. אָמַר רָבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְחַבְרַיָיא בְּנֵי הִלּוּלָא דָא, כָּל חַד מִנְּכוֹן יְקַשֵּׁט קִשּׁוּטָא חַד לַכַּלָּה. אֲמַר לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ. אֶלְּעָזָר: הַב נְבַזְבְּזָא חַד לַכַּלָּה דְּהָא לְמָחָר אִסְתַּכַּל, כַּד יֵעוֹל לַחוּפָּה בְּאִינוּן שִׁירִין וְשְׁבָחִין, דְּיַהֲבוּ לָהּ בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא לְקַיְּימָא קַמֵּיהּ.