"That they bring Me an offering"

Synopsis

Frequently in the Zohar, the Rabbis seem to be reinterpreting one verse, "That they bring Me an offering," Again, Rabbi Hamnuna Saba (the elder) opens the discussion on this topic, speaking of the union of Zeir Anpin with Malchut, and of their mutual agreement to offer Malchut a chance to dwell among the children of Yisrael. Malchut is thus the offering spoken of earlier. Rabbi Yeba Saba (the elder) says that even though they take Her, they can only take Her with the permission and approval of Her husband. It is necessary to perform for Him a service of love, and then with His love, "take My offering." This is what happens during the service of prayer. The explanation is followed by a listing of the holy days and of the gifts that accompany each of them. These gifts are gold and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet. After this is the secret of the ten days of Atonement, and their special gifts. And so Malchut is taken and established in her place among those living on earth.

Relevance

During the High Holy Days, specifically between Rosh Hashanah (gold) and Yom Kippur (silver), the dimension of Malchut climbs into the realm of Keter, the highest level of the spiritual atmosphere. Hence, Kabbalistically, atonement signifies not repentance, but rather "at-one- ment," which is union and oneness between the upper and lower worlds. As we acknowledge and uproot our negative traits (the true meaning of "sacrifice" or "offering") and cleanse our souls, we rise to higher spiritual heights. Our sins (scarlet colored) are purified so that we become "white as snow."

This passage ignites the cleansing power of the Ten Days of Atonement right now. This power eradicates all immoral qualities from our nature. It cleanses all the iniquities of humanity, making our souls as white as snow.

In the physical world, this cleansing occurs each and every year during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But because the Zohar is above time and place, above physicality, because this mystical tome deals with the mysteries of the soul and the secrets of secrets, the effect and results are sweeping - universal, macrocosmic, and in the now.

Our actions here are the ultimate atonement and Final Redemption for human civilization, thanks to the righteousness and power of the rabbis cited here and throughout the Zohar.

Offering Zeir Anpin

Heart Offering Righteous

151. "Of every man whose heart prompts him to give you shall take My offering" (Ibid.): HE QUESTIONS, This passage should have said, 'Every man whose heart prompts him,' wherefore "of every man?" HE ANSWERS, Here is the secret for those who understand measurements. Happy are those righteous ones who know how to place the desire of their heart before the supernal Holy King. The entire desire of their heart is not for this world and its vain desire, but rather they know and endeavor to place their desire and to cleave unto above, in order to draw to them the desire of their Master from above to below.

151. מֵאֵת כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ תִּקְחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי. הַאי קְרָא, הָכִי אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְמֵימַר, כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ, מַאי מֵאֵת כָּל אִישׁ. אֶלָּא רָזָא הָכָא לְאִינוּן מָרֵי מִדִין. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּא, דְּיַדְעֵי לְשַׁוָּאָה רְעוּתָא דְּלִבְּהוֹן לְגַבֵּי מַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה קַדִישָׁא, וְכָל רְעוּתָא דְּלִבְּהוֹן לָאו אִיהוּ לְגַבֵּי עָלְמָא דָּא, וּבְכִסּוּפָא בַּטְלָּה דִּילֵיהּ. אֶלָּא יַדְעֵי וּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי לְשַׁוָּאָה רְעוּתְהוֹן וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא לְעֵילָּא, בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא רְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן לְגַבַּיְיהוּ מֵעֵילָּא לְתַתָּא.

Heart Matron Precepts Righteous Zeir Anpin

152. From which place do they take that desire of their Master to draw to them? They take from one place that is holy and lofty, where all the holy desires are. And who is it? IT IS 'every man,' which refers to the Righteous, NAMELY YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, who is called 'every,' as it is written, "Moreover, land has an advantage for everyone" (Kohelet 5:8). "Therefore I esteem all your precepts" (Tehilim 119:128). 'Man' is as it is written, "a just man" (Beresheet 6:9). This is the Righteous, the Master of the house, NAMELY YESOD, WHO IS THE MASTER OF MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'HOUSE.' His desire is always for the Matron, WHICH IS MALCHUT, like a husband who loves his wife always. "Whose heart prompts him," MEANING that he loves her and his heart, namely his Matron, MEANING MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'HEART,' shall prompt him to cleave unto her.

152. וּמַאן אֲתָר נַטְלֵי הַהוּא רְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן לְאַמְשָׁכָא לֵיהּ לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. נַטְלִין מֵאֲתָר חַד עִלָּאָה קַדִישָׁא, דְּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקִין כָּל רְעוּתִין קַדִּישִׁין. וּמַאן אִיהוּ. כָּל אִישׁ. דָּא צַדִּיק, דְּאִתְקְרֵי כֹּל, כד"א וְיִתְרוֹן אֶרֶץ בַּכֹּל הִיא. עַל כֵּן כָּל פִּקּוּדֵי כֹל יִשָּׁרְתִּי. אִישׁ: כד"א אִישׁ צַדִיק. דָּא אִיהוּ צַדִיק, מָארֵיהּ דְּבֵיתָא, דִּרְעוּתֵיהּ תָּדִיר לְגַבֵּי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, כְּבַעְלָהּ דְּרָחִים לְאִתְתֵיהּ תָּדִיר. יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ אִיהוּ רָחִים לָהּ. וְלִבּוֹ דְּאִיהִי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא דִּילֵיהּ, יִדְּבֶנּוּ לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בֵּיהּ.

Congregation Love Offering

153. Even though THEY HAVE great love between them, and they never separate, STILL IN ALL, from 'every man' THAT IS YESOD, the Master of the house, THAT IS the husband of the Queen, you "shall take My offering" WHICH IS MALCHUT. The way of the world is that if someone wants to take the wife away from a man, he is indignant and does not leave her. But the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so, for it is written, "And this is the offering" (Shemot 25:3), which is the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY MALCHUT, even though all her love is to Him and all His love is to her. They take her from Him to cause her to dwell among them from that lofty place where all the love of a wife and her husband dwell, NAMELY YESOD. From there, you "shall take My offering." Happy is the portion of Yisrael, and happy are they all that merited this.

153. וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּרְחִימוּ סַגִי דָּא בְּדָא, דְּלָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁן לְעָלְמִין, מֵהַהוּא כָּל אִישׁ, מָארֵיהּ בֵּיתָא, מָארֵיהּ דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא, מִנֵּיהּ תִּקְחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי. אָרְחֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, מַאן דְּבָעֵי לְנַסְּבָא אִתְּתֵיהּ דְּב"נ מִנֵּיהּ אִיהוּ קַפִּיד וְלָא שָׁבִיק לָהּ. אֲבָל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָאו הָכִי, כְּתִיב וְזֹאת הַתְּרוּמָה, זוֹ כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אע"ג דְּכָל רְחִימוּ דִּילָהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, וּרְחִימוּ דִּילֵיהּ לְגַבָהּ. מִנֵּיהּ נַטְלִין לָהּ לְאַשְׁרָאָה בֵּינַיְיהוּ, מֵהַהוּא אֲתָר עִלָּאָה, דְּכָל רְחִימוּ דְּאִתְּתָא וּבַעֲלָהּ שַׁרְיָא. מִתַּמָּן תִּקְּחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְזַכָּאִין כֻּלְּהוּ דְּזָכוּ לְהַאי.

Offering

Aba and Ima Dwellings Offering Righteous Yisrael Saba

155. Rav Yeba Saba (the elder) said "of them" MEANS from final Mem, which is the secret of the Supernal World, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT OF BINAH. THE YESOD OF BINAH CALLED 'YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH,' the dwelling place of that righteous who is adorned with Samech, WHICH IS THE SECRET SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, WHICH ARE CHOCHMAH, BINAH, DA'AT, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF BINAH. For he receives life from them to feed all the worlds. AND FROM THIS YESOD OF BINAH WILL THEY RECEIVE THE OFFERING WHICH IS MALCHUT. It is all one thing. The secret is given to the wise and happy is their portion.

155. תּוּ רַב יֵיבָא סָבָא אָמַר, מֵאִתָּם: מֵאָת ם,' דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה. אֲתָר מָדוֹרֵיהּ דְּהַאי צַדִּיק, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְעַטָּר מֵאָת ס,' וּמִתַּמָּן נָטִיל חַיִּין, לְאַתְזְנָא לְעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ. וְכֹלָּא מִלָּה חֲדָא, רָזָא לְחַכִּימִין אִתְיְהִיבַת, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן.

Love Offering Prayer Zeir Anpin

156. Even though they take Her, MALCHUT, they can do so only with the permission of her husband, ZEIR ANPIN, and with His approval. It is necessary to perform a service of love toward Him, and then with His love, "take My offering," WHICH IS MALCHUT. We do all this during the service of prayer, and the improvements that the children of Yisrael perform daily. Another explanation, "Of them" means from the principle of the six supernal extremities OF ZEIR ANPIN. THEREFORE, IT IS WRITTEN "OF THEM" IN THE PLURAL.

156. דְּאע"ג דְּאִינּוּן נַטְלִין לָהּ, לָא יַכְלִין לְנַטְּלָא לָהּ, אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּ דְּבַעְלָהּ, וּבִרְעוּ דִּילֵיהּ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד פּוּלְחָנָא דִּרְחִימוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, וּכְדֵין בִּרְחִימוּ דִּילֵיהּ תִּקְחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי. וְכָל דָּא, בְּאִינּוּן פּוּלְחָנֵי דִּצְלוֹתָא, וְתִקּוּנָא וְסִדּוּרָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מְסַדְרִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא. ד"א מֵאִתָּם, מִכְּלָלָא דְּשִׁית סִטְרִין עִלָּאִין וְכֹלָּא חַד.

Atonement Brass Gold Job Judgment North Purification Silver Sin White Year

157. "Of them:" Of these holidays and Shabbatot SHALL YOU TAKE THEM, and it is all one secret. THEY ARE THE SECRET OF "gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet... " (Shemot 25:3). Gold is in the secret of the day of Rosh Hashanah (the New Year), which is the day of gold, NAMELY the Day of Judgment. That side OF LEFT dominates, as it is written, "Gold comes out of the north" (Iyov 37:22) AND NORTH IS LEFT. Silver refers to Yom Kippur, when the sins of Yisrael become white like snow, as it is written, "Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Yeshayah 1:18). AND SILVER IS ALSO COLORED WHITE. It is also written "For on that day will He forgive you, to cleanse you" (Vayikra 16:30).

157. מֵאִתָּם, מֵאִינּוּן זִמְנֵי וְשַׁבָתֵּי, וְכֹלָּא רָזָא חֲדָא. זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וּנְחֹשֶׁת וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי. זָהָב, בְּרָזָא דְּיוֹמָא דְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, דְּאִיהוּ יוֹמָא דְּזָהָב, יוֹמָא דְּדִינָא, וְשָׁלְטָא הַהוּא סִטְרָא, כד"א מִצָּפוֹן זָהָב יֶאֱתֶה. וָכֶסֶף, דָּא יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דְּמִתְלַבְּנָן חוֹבֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּתַלְגָּא, כד"א אִם יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים כַּשֶּׁלֶג יַלְבִּינוּ. וּכְתִיב כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם.

Brass Chariot Colors Destruction Dreams Egypt Faith Judgment Mountains Passover Seventy

158. "And brass" refers to the offerings on Sukkot (holiday of booths), which are the Chariots of the heathen peoples, FOR WE OFFER SEVENTY BULLOCKS FOR THEM and they are called 'the secret of the brass mountains.' Therefore, THE BULLOCKS ON SUKKOT progressively lessen every day. "And blue" is Pesach (Passover), for the dominion of the secret of Faith, NAMELY MALCHUT, is the secret of the color blue. It is blue THAT HINTS TO JUDGMENTS, BECAUSE BLUE (HEB. TECHELET) IS THE DERIVATIVE OF KLAYAH (ENG. 'DESTRUCTION'). It did not dominate until it killed and destroyed all the first-born of Egypt, as it is written, "And Hashem will pass through to smite Egypt" (Shemot 12:23). Therefore, all the colors are good in a dream except blue.

158. וּנְחֹשֶׁת. יוֹמֵי דְּקָרְבְּנִין דְּחָג, דְּאִינּוּן רְתִיכֵי דְּעַמִּין עכו"ם, וְאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן רָזָא דְּהָרֵי נְחֹשֶׁת, וּבְגִין כַּךְ מִתְמַעֲטִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְאַזְלִין. וּתְכֵלֶת, דָּא פֶּסַח, שׁוּלְטָנוּ דְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, רָזָא דְּגַוְונָא תִּכְלָא, וּבְגִין דְּהִיא תִּכְלָא, לָא שַׁלְטָא עַד דְּשֵׁצִיאַת וְקַטִּילַת כָּל בּוּכְרֵי דְּמִצְרָאֵי, כד"א וְעָבַר יְיָ' לִנְגֹּף אֶת מִצְרַיִם. בג"כ, כָּל גַּוְונִין טָבִין בְּחֶלְמָא, בַּר מִן תִּכְלָא.

Av (Month) Colors Garments Hands Torah

159. "And purple" is Shavuot (holiday of the Weeks), which is the secret of purple, because the Written Torah, which was given through it, is combined of two sides, right and left, as it is written, "From His right hand went a fiery law for them" (Devarim 33:2). This is purple, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF MANY COLORS. "And scarlet" is the fifteenth day of Av, when the daughters of Yisrael used to go out in garments of scarlet, as it is written, "That were brought up in scarlet" (Eichah 4:5).

159. וְאַרְגָמָן, דָּא שְׁבוּעוֹת, רָזָא דְּאַרְגְוָונָא, דְּתוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב דְּאִתְיְהִיבַת בֵּיהּ, כְּלִילָא מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין, מִימִינָא וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא, כד"א מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ, וְדָא אִיהוּ אַרְגָמָן. וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי, דָּא אִיהוּ ט"ו בְּאָב, דִּבְנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲווֹ נַפְקֵי בְּמָאנֵי מִלַּת, כד"א הָאֱמֻנִים עֲלֵי תוֹלָע.

Anointment Atonement Brass Goats Gold Hair Incense Light Linen Oil Red Silver Spices Stones Ten

160. Until here, IT CORRESPONDS TO six sides, NAMELY "GOLD, AND SILVER, AND BRASS, AND BLUE, AND PURPLE, AND SCARLET." From here and further is the secret of the ten days of Atonement, which are "fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and badger skins, and Acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set" (Shemot 25:4-6). Until here are nine corresponding to nine days, which Yom Kippur completes to ten.

160. עַד הָכָא, שִׁית סִטְרִין, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה רָזָא דְּי' יְמֵי תְּשׁוּבָה. וְשֵׁשׁ, וְעִזִּים, וְעוֹרוֹת אֵילִם מְאָדָּמִים. וְעוֹרוֹת תְּחָשִׁים. וַעֲצֵי שִׁטִּים. וְשֶׁמֶן לַמָּאֹר. וּבְשָׂמִים לְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וּלִקְטוֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים. וְאַבְנֵי שׁוֹהַם. וְאַבְנֵי מִלּוּאִים. עַד הָכָא תִּשְׁעָה, לָקֳבֵל תִּשְׁעָה יוֹמִין וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אַשְׁלִים לַעֲשָׂרָה.

Daughter Gold Offering Shields Year Yom Kippur

161. We take the offering of Hashem, MEANING MALCHUT, from all these, IN THE SECRET OF THE PASSAGE, "AND THIS IS THE OFFERING WHICH YOU SHALL TAKE OF THEM" (SHEMOT 25:3). We take it at every time, MEANING AT ALL THE HOLY DAYS, in order to cause it to dwell over us. At Rosh Hashanah, we take the offering of Hashem, which is the secret of New Year that comes from the side of Gold, WHICH IS GVURAH, BECAUSE MALCHUT IS GVURAH. On Yom Kippur, we take Her for She is the Yom Kippur, because the daughter, WHICH IS MALCHUT, inherits Her mother, WHICH IS BINAH, THAT IS CALLED 'YOM KIPPUR.' On Sukkot (Eng. 'the Festival of Tabernacles'), we take Her for She is a tabernacle that covers and shields us. It is written, "On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly" (Bemidbar 29:35). This is the offering of Hashem, NAMELY MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'ASSEMBLY.'

161. וּמִכָּל אִלֵּין, אֲנָן נַטְלִין תְּרוּמַת יְיָ,' בְּכָל זִמְנָא וְזִמְנָא, בְּגִין לְאַשְׁרָאָה עֲלָן. בְּר"ה אֲנָן נַטְלִין תְּרוּמַת יְיָ,' וְאִיהוּ רָזָא דְּר"ה, דְּאַתְיָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּזָהָב. בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אֲנָן נַטְלִין לָהּ, וְאִיהִי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים דְּיָרְתָא בְּרַתָּא לְאִימָּא. בַּסֻּכּוֹת אֲנָן נַטְלִין לָהּ, וְאִיהִי סוּכָּה סוֹכֶכֶת וְאַגִינַת עֲלָן, וּכְתִיב בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם וְדָא אִיהִי תְּרוּמַת יְיָ.'

Av (Month) Bread Colors Light Passover Torah

162. On Pesach also, we take Her and She is CALLED 'Pesach.' We have already established that She is the secret of the color of the light of blue. We take Her on Shavuot, and She is the two loaves of bread. BY THE GIVING OF THE TORAH, it is written, "And Elohim spoke all these words, saying... " (Shemot 20:1). We take the Oral Torah, WHICH IS MALCHUT, from the Written Torah. On the fifteenth day of Av, MALCHUT stands in joy upon the daughters of Yisrael, and all the other days are there to establish MALCHUT. Therefore, it is written, "You shall take of them" IN THE PLURAL.

162. בַּפֶסַח אוּף הָכִי אֲנָן נַטְלִין לָהּ, וְאִיהִי פֶּסַח. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, רָזָא דְּגָוֶון דִּנְהוֹרָא תִּכְלָא. בְּשָׁבוּעוֹת אֲנָן נַטְלִין לָהּ, וְאִיהִי שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם. וּכְתִיב וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה לֵאמֹר, וַאֲנָן נַטְלִין מִתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב, תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה. ט"ו בְּאָב, אִיהוּ קַיְּימָא בְּחֶדְוָה, עַל בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל. כָּל שְׁאָר יוֹמִין, אִינּוּן לְתִקּוּנָא דִּילָהּ. וְעַל דָּא אֲשֶׁר תִּקְחוּ מֵאִתָּם כְּתִיב.