Shemot: Chapter 33

"The one as well as the other"

Synopsis

The discussion here begins with an interpretation of "The one as well as the other," revealing that the earthly realm corresponds symbolically in all its aspects to the heavenly realm. Rabbi Aba's comment regarding human ignorance of lost wisdom pertaining to the natural world leads to a discourse on the classification of trees and herbs and their relationships to divine elements. We learn that it is forbidden to "sow your field with mingled seed" because each seed has an individual name, a separate secret, and an appointed supervisor above. Planting mixed seeds mingles their authority and their names. This concept also applies to the twelve Tribes, and explains the Scriptural emphasis on the names of these tribes, as seen in the verse, "These are the names of the children of Israel."

Relevance

Our entire physical world, down to the smallest detail, including the laws of nature, such as the process of a seed giving birth to a tree bearing fruit, mirrors and corresponds to spiritual forces that occupy the supernal realms. The knowledge and awareness of this awesome truth has been lost to mankind, and we have thus disconnected ourselves from the Upper World. When we again possess the wisdom that identifies the relationship between our world and the Upper world, we immediately acquire the power to ignite and summon the spiritual forces of Light.

The Zohar possesses all this divine wisdom. Hence, in the act of meditating upon its verses, the reader reaches into the supernal dimensions to taste of the heavenly fruits and spiritual herbs that will heal our bodies and souls. Just as each living creature possesses its own unique DNA, composed of the genetic alphabet, each living entity on Earth has its own unique "name--spiritual DNA - including the trees and herbs that grow from the Earth. Here we connect to the spiritual DNA level of our world to capture the divine essence of reality. Strangely enough, our diversity is the quintessence of our underlying unity. For instance, when sunlight shines through a prism, the white ray of light refracts into the seven colors of the rainbow. Each color has its own unique name and frequency. However, when they unite as one, they create a perfect and complete ray of white sunlight. Each of us has a unique "name" and "color" in the spectrum of Creation. Yet, each of us is also a part of the one Light of the Creator. When we love our neighbor as ourselves, and we show respect and awe for the trees, flowers, and herbs that populate our planet, we unite as one Divine Light to heal and bless the entire world. This spectacular unification and arousal of blessings occurs now.

Earth Fruit Heaven Tree Wisdom

263. Rabbi Yehuda said, What is the meaning of that which is written, "The Elohim has made the one as well as the other" (Kohelet 7:14)? IT INSTRUCTS US THAT similar to those things that are in heaven, the Holy One, blessed be He, made on earth, AND ALL THAT THERE IS ON THE EARTH alludes to what is above IN THE SKY. For when Rabbi Aba saw a tree whose fruits were ripe and from which the birds flew, he wept and said, If people knew what they were suggesting, they would rend their clothes down to their navel, because this wisdom was forgotten by them. Even more so for the other things that the Holy One, blessed be He, has made on earth.

263. א"ר יְהוּדָה, מַאי דִּכְתִּיב, גַּם אֶת זֶה לְעֻמַּת זֶה עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים. כְּגַוְונָא דִּרְקִיעָא, עָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאַרְעָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ רְמִיזָא לְמַה דִּלְעֵילָּא. דְּכַד הֲוָה חָמֵי ר' אַבָּא, חַד אִילָנָא, דְּאִבֵיהּ אִתְעָבֵיד עוֹפָא דְּפָרַח מִנֵּיהּ, הֲוָה בָּכֵי וְאָמַר, אִי הֲווֹ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא יַדְעֵי לְמַאי רְמִיזָאן, הֲווֹ מְבַזְעֲן מַלְבּוּשֵׁיהוֹן עַד טַבּוּרֵיהֹן, לְמַאי דְּאִתְנְשֵׁי חָכְמָה מִנְּהוֹן. כ"ש בִּשְׁאַר מַה דְּעָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאַרְעָא.

Apples Fruit Ground Tree Wisdom

264. As Rabbi Yosi said, The trees from which wisdom is visible - meaning the Carob tree, Palm tree, and Ground Nut tree, WHICH IS A KIND OF NUT TREE, and those similar to them - were all grafted into one, because all these trees that produce fruit, except for apples, WHICH ARE NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, have the same principle, WHICH ALLUDES TO TIFERET. That is, except for the paths in which they are separate, BECAUSE EVERY TREE HAS A UNIQUE PATH IN WHICH IT ILLUMINATES.

264. כִּדְאָמַר ר' יוֹסֵי, אִלָּנִין, אִינּוּן דְּאִתְחָזֵי מִנְּהוֹן חָכְמְתָא, כְּגוֹן חֲרוּבָא, דְּקַל, פִּסְתּוּקָא, וְכַדּוֹמֶה לוֹן, כֻּלְּהוּ בְּחַד רְכִיבָא אִתְרְכָבוּ. כָּל אִינּוּן דְּעַבְדִין פֵּירִין, בַּר מִתַּפּוּחִין, רָזָא חֲדָא אִינּוּן, בַּר שְׁבִילִין דְּאִתְפָּרְשָׁן.

Fruit Hyssop Nukva Willow

265. All these trees that do not produce fruits, all the large ones - except for the willow, which has its own secret similar to above, WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD - gain nourishment from one source. THEY GAIN NOURISHMENT FROM THE EXTERIOR PART, WHICH IS THE MEANING OF ANOTHER EL THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT. And every one of the small trees except for the Hyssop, WHICH ALLUDES TO YESOD, was born of one mother, MEANING THE NUKVA.

265. כָּל אִינּוּן דְּלָא עַבְדִין פֵּירִין, וְאִינּוּן רַבְרְבִין, בַּר מֵעַרְבִין דְּנַחֲלָא, דְּאִית לְהוּ רָזָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, מֵחַד יְנִיקָא יְנִיקוּ, וְכָל חַד מֵאִינוּן דְּאִינְהוּ זוּטְרֵי, בַּר מֵאֵזוֹבָא, מֵאִימָא חֲדָא אִתְיְלִידוּ.

Earth Heaven Heavens Jacob Job Stars Tribes

266. All the herbs of the earth have powerful ministers appointed over them in heaven. FOR THERE IS NO PLANT ON EARTH THAT DOES NOT HAVE A STAR AND CONSTELLATION IN THE SKY THAT PRODS IT AND SAYS, GROW. Each and every one of them has a separate secret, similar to above, JUST AS THEY HAVE INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED SUPERVISORS ABOVE THEM. Therefore it is written, "You shall not sow your field with mingled seed" (Vayikra 19:19), because each one enters alone and emerges alone. FOR NO APPOINTEE MINGLES WITH ANOTHER, AND ONE WHO PLANTS MINGLED SEEDS, MINGLES THEIR AUTHORITY, ONE WITH ANOTHER. This is the meaning: "Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, can you establish His dominion in the earth" (Iyov 38:33), and, "He calls them all by names" (Yeshayah 40:26). Everything in the world has its own secret and the Holy One, blessed be He, did not want to reveal it FROM ITS PLACE and mix it WITH ANOTHER, and thus called, EACH AND EVERY ONE by name. The sons of Jacob, who are holy tribes, who maintain the world, all the more so, as it is written, "These are the names of the children of Israel" (Shemot 1:1).

266. כָּל עֲשָׂבִין דְּאַרְעָא, דְּאִתְמְנֵי עֲלֵיהוֹן רַבְרְבִין תַּקִּיפִין בִּשְׁמַיָּא. כָּל חַד וְחַד רָזָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, וּבְגִין כַּךְ כְּתִיב, שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרַע כִּלְאָיִם. דְּכָל חַד וְחַד עָאל בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְנָפִיק בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, הה"ד, הֲיָדַעְתָּ חֻקּוֹת שָׁמָיִם אִם תָּשִׂים מִשְׁטָרוֹ בָּאָרֶץ. וּכְתִיב לְכֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא. וּמַה בְּכָל מַה, דִּבְעָלְמָא רָזָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי וְלָא בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְגַלָּאָה לוֹן, וּלְעַרְבְבָא לוֹן, וּקְרָאן בִּשְׁמָהָן. בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב דְּאִינּוּן שְׁבָטִין קַדִּישִׁין, דְּאִינּוּן קִיּוּמָא דְּעָלְמָא, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, הה"ד וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.

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