"How great is Your goodness, which You have laid up"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda opens the discussion by reciting this verse, "How great is your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You; which You have performed for those who trust in You in the sight of the sons of men!" He goes on to discuss the various levels and worlds and he reveals the code words that speak of their wondrous roles in the process of creation. For instance, there is the highest level, which is 'the secret of the higher world,' and is called "who;" then there is the lowest level, which is 'the secret of the lower world,' and is called "what." Although the Sfirah of Chochmah is connected to the lower world through the quality of Binah, it does not become revealed until it is completed here in Malchut, the earthly kingdom. The word "what" is "mah," we are told, which is contained in Chochmah.

Next, we learn that the foundation of the world is laid upon goodness that is distributed by God, and the Light that is concealed in this foundation is a testament to the goodness with which He crafted the whole world as well as the souls and spirits. The tabernacle was made with the same divine secret as the secret of the whole world - the image of the world above manifested in the world below. This, we are told, is Understanding manifested in the Kingdom.

Relevance

We come to this earth for "what" we may learn, and in the University of this Universe, we study to grow, transform, and become perfected. This endeavor is the manner in which we express our Godly nature, and thus become (co)-creators of our wisdom and Light, which are purposely concealed in this realm. Our meditation here completes our own unique role in creation, the tasks that we have been sent into the world to perform in order to facilitate our personal transformation.

In addition, the vast mysteries of the Tabernacle are revealed here. By virtue of all this great energy, the tasks of all mankind are now completed and the final correction is achieved through the Light of the Zohar. World peace and immortality are now attained in a kind, compassionate, and merciful process.

Fear Offering

14. וְיִקְחוּ לִי תְּרוּמָה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח, מָה רַב טוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִּירֵאֶיךָ פָּעַלְתָּ לַחוֹסִים בָּךְ נֶגֶד בְּנֵי אָדָם. הַאי קְרָא הָא אוּקְמוּהָ וְאִתְּמַר. אֲבָל רָזָא דָּא, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, גּוֹ רָזִין עִלָּאִין.

Fifty Grades Hundred Mah (What) What (Mah) Who (Mi)

15. The highest level, which is the secret of the highest world, NAMELY BINAH, is called 'mi (Eng. 'who').' The lower level, which is the secret of the lower world, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is called 'mah (Eng. 'what').' We learned THAT IT IS WRITTEN, "WHAT (HEB. 'MAH') DOES HASHEM YOUR ELOHIM REQUIRE OF YOU?" (DEVARIM 10:12). Do not pronounce it as 'mah,' but rather as 'me'ah (Eng. 'one hundred)',' because all the levels are sublime in perfection THERE ARE FIFTY OF THEM, here IN MALCHUT. THEREFORE, IT IS CALLED 'ONE HUNDRED.'

15. דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה, דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה, אִקְרֵי מִ"י. דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דְּעָלְמָא תַּתַּאָה, אִקְרֵי מַ"ה. וְתָנֵינָן, אַל תִּקְרֵי מַ"ה אֶלָּא מֵאָה, בְּגִין דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין עִלָּאִין בְּאַשְׁלְמוּתְהוֹן הָכָא אִינּוּן.

Form Grades Mah (What) What (Mah) Zeir Anpin

16. Another REASON why MALCHUT is called 'Mah:' Although the pull from above OF CHOCHMAH is conducted BY WAY OF THE HIGHER LEVELS, BINAH AND ZEIR ANPIN, it is not revealed until it is completed here IN MALCHUT. This is the last place of all the levels and the end of all the continuance, and it stands revealed IN THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH. Even though it is more revealed than all of them, one is allowed to ask what (Heb. mah), as in what did you see and what do you know, as it is written, "For you saw no manner of form" (Devarim 4:15).

16. תּוּ אֲמַאי אִקְרֵי מַ"ה. אֶלָּא אע"ג דִּמְשִׁיכוּ עִלָּאָה אִתְמְשַׁךְ, לָא אִתְגַּלְיָא עַד דְּאִשְׁתְּלִים הָכָא, דְּאִיהוּ אֲתָר סוֹפָא דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין, סוֹפָא דְּאַמְשָׁכוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, וְקַיְּימָא בְּאִתְגַּלְיָא. וְאע"ג דְּאִתְגַּלְיָא יַתִּיר מִכֹּלָּא, קַיְּימָא לִשְׁאֵלָא, מַ"ה. מַה חָמֵית, מַה יָדַעְתְּ, כד"א כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כָּל תְּמוּנָה.

Craftsmanship Female Light Mah (What) Male Mochin Righteous Soul, The What (Mah) Zeir Anpin

17. Therefore, it is written, "How (Heb. mah) great is Your goodness," WHERE MAH IS MALCHUT. "How great is Your goodness" is the foundation of the world, NAMELY YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, which is called 'great goodness,' as it is written, "And the great goodness toward the House of Yisrael" (Yeshayah 63:7). This is because the first light THAT IS INCLUDED IN YESOD is merely called 'good.' Male and female are included here, SINCE THE FEMALE, WHO IS ALSO CALLED 'MAH' (SINCE CHOCHMAH IS REVEALED IN HER), IS ALSO INCLUDED HERE, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "HOW GREAT IS YOUR GOODNESS." IT IS THEREFORE WRITTEN "GREAT" BECAUSE IT POINTS TOWARD THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH. "Which You have laid up:" this light is concealed, just as the first light was hidden and kept FOR THE RIGHTEOUS. "You have performed," because here, IN MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'MAH,' BECAUSE OF THE INCLUSION OF BINAH IN IT, is the craftsmanship of everything, the craftsmanship of the whole world and the craftsmanship of the souls and spirits.

17. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, מָה, רַב טוּבְךָ, דָּא אִיהוּ יְסוֹדָא דְּעָלְמָא, דְּאִקְרֵי רַב טוּב. כד"א וְרַב טוּב לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגִין דְּהַאי אִיהוּ רַב טוּב. אוֹר קַדְמָאָה, אִקְרֵי טוֹב סְתָם, וְהָכָא כְּלִילָן דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָּא כַּחֲדָא. אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ, דְּהַאי אִתְגְּנִיז, כְּגַוְונָא דְּאוֹר קַדְמָאָה, דְּאִתְגְּנִיז וְאִתְטָמַּר. פָּעַלְתָּ: דְּהָכָא אִיהוּ אוּמָנוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, אוּמָנוּתָא דְּכָל עָלְמָא, אוּמָנוּתָא דְּנִשְׁמָתִין וְרוּחִין.

Craftsmanship Creation Earth Grades Heavens Offering

18. The Holy One, blessed be He, made the craftsmanship of the whole world, in this secret OF BINAH BEING COMPRISED IN MALCHUT. This is the secret of the verse, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth" (Beresheet 1:1). The tabernacle was made and built by this means, which is the image of the world above, WHICH IS BINAH, and in the image of the lower world, WHICH IS MALCHUT. This is what is meant by, "That they bring Me an offering," and "Me an offering" ARE two levels, BINAH AND MALCHUT, which are one when combined together.

18. בְּרָזָא דָּא עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוּמָנוּתָא דְּכָל עָלְמָא, וְרָזָא דָּא בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ. בְּרָזָא דָּא אִתְעָבֵיד מַשְׁכְּנָא וְאִתְבְּנֵי, דְּאִיהוּ בְּדִיּוּקְנָא דְּעָלְמָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, וּבְדִיּוּקְנָא דְּעָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה, הה"ד וְיִקְחוּ לִי תְּרוּמָה. לִי. תְּרוּמָה. תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין, דְּאִינּוּן חַד, דְּמִתְחַבְּרָן כַּחֲדָא.