"I am black, but comely"

Synopsis

In answer to questions regarding the verse, "And these are the names of the children of Israel," Rabbi Yehuda explains the title verse, "I am black but comely..." This, we learn, is a reference to the Shechinah who is described as "black" because the children of Yisrael are in captivity, but "comely" because they cleave to the Torah and good deeds. For this, they will inherit the heavenly Jerusalem.

Relevance

The Zohar emanates spiritual forces that end our personal and global Exile upon the merit of the Torah's awesome powers. The Heavenly Jerusalem becomes our world, a place of boundless blessings and endless fulfillment.

Any area or aspect of our personal life that is in exile or darkness is redeemed and eternally illuminated.

Congregation Curtain Deeds Egypt Exile Jacob Jerusalem Lights Merit Peace Precepts Shechinah Soul, The Tents Torah Zeir Anpin

233. Another explanation of, "And these are the names of the children of Israel" (Shemot 1:1). HE WAS PRESENTED WITH THIS DIFFICULTY, YISRAEL IS THE NAME OF GREATNESS, AND SO WHY IS THIS NAME MENTIONED WHEN THEY CAME TO THE EXILE IN EGYPT? AND WHY DOES HE REPEAT AFTERWARDS "WITH JACOB," WHICH IS THE NAME OF SMALLNESS? AND TO ANSWER THIS, Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion saying: "I am black, but comely..." (Shir Hashirim 1:5). "I am black, but comely," refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, THAT IS, THE SHECHINAH that is black from the exile, "but comely" with Torah, commandments and good deeds THAT YISRAEL DO. "O, daughters of Jerusalem;" THESE ARE THE SOULS, WHO ARE OCCUPIED WITH TORAH AND THE PRECEPTS. Therefore, they merit inheriting the celestial Jerusalem, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH. "Like the tents of Kedar" (Ibid.) - although she is blackened (Heb. koderet) in exile, STILL IN ALL in actions she is "like the curtains of Solomon" (Heb. Shlomo), MEANING like the curtains, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE LIGHTS of the King, to Whom peace (Heb. shalom) belongs, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN.

233. ד"א וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח וְאָמַר, שְׁחוֹרָה אֲנִי וְנָאוָה וְגוֹ,' שְׁחוֹרָה אֲנִי וְנָאוָה, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּהִיא שְׁחוֹרָה מִן גָּלוּתָא, וְנָאוָה, דְּהִיא נָאוָה בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּבְפִקּוּדִין, וּבְעוֹבָדִין דְּכַשְׁרָן. בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַםִ, דְּעַל דָּא, זַכָּאִין לְיָרְתָאָה יְרוּשְׁלֵם דִּלְעֵילָּא. כְּאָהֳלֵי קֵדָר, אַף עַל גַּב דְּהִיא קוֹדֶרֶת בְּגָלוּתָא, בְּעוֹבָדִין הִיא כִּירִיעוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה, כִּירִיעוֹת, דְּמַלְכָּא דִּשְׁלָמָא כֹּלָּא דִּילֵיהּ.