Three Names included as one

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon here discloses some concealed secrets of the supernal tabernacle, Binah, which is built on twelve pearls or supernal limbs. He then speaks of the three names which are combined together and which interpenetrate each other from the Right, Left and Central Columns of Zeir Anpin. The Right Column, Chesed, holds the Alef and Lamed of El. The Left Column, Gvurah, takes those letters and adds Hei-Yud-Mem to form Elohim. Mercy is included with them. The Central Column of Zeir Anpin takes all these and adds Nun-Vav to form Eloheinu, 'Our Elohim'. We can see that the Right Column is included in the Left; but the Left Column is also included in the Right by virtue of the fact that they take letters from the World to Come (Binah) to form Mem-Yud-Mem, Mayim, or 'water'. Rabbi Shimon also explains here how letters are formed and congealed and cocooned.

Relevance

The mention of "Twelve Pearls" indicates the root of the twelve constellations. Thus, we receive power to ascend above the plane of the planets and their respective astrological influences. At this moment we alter our destiny for the better, guaranteeing a redemption that is free of negative influences, judgments, and any form of pain.

When the Zohar discourses on the Three Columns, we are strengthened in our souls so that our behavioral actions embody balance. We receive mercy (Right Column), and it forever tempers and sweetens our acts of judgment towards others. We arouse judgment (Left Column), and it balances excessive mercy, so that we offer tough love in the appropriate measure and time. We receive emotional strength to always resist our selfish desires (Central Column), so that we conjoin our soul with the Supernal Realm, the source of all sustenance and blessing. Finally, the powers of Creation, embodied by the Hebrew letters, bring complete order, balance, and rejuvenation to all existence.

Pearls Tabernacle Twelve

Air Form Holy of Holies Tabernacle Tower Zeir Anpin

600. There are three Names that are combined together. THEY ARE EL, ELOHIM, AND ELOHEINU (ENG. 'OUR ELOHIM'), AS SHALL BE EXPLAINED, and each penetrates the other. El is the first Name, as is set on the right OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF CHESED. THE SYSTEM IS AS FOLLOWS, Aleph, which is first, is to the right, NAMELY CHESED. It was turned into a shapeless lump, then was sculpted in the secret of the right. SMALLNESS IS CONSIDERED AS IF IT WERE AN UNFINISHED FORM, FOR IT IS A FORMLESS LUMP NOT YET COMPLETED, WHILE GREATNESS IS CONSIDERED SHAPED. When it entered and served internally, NAMELY IN BINAH THAT IS CALLED 'SUPERNAL TABERNACLE,' the Lamed joined it. In its secret, it is called 'El (Aleph-Lamed),' because the Lamed emerged from the secret of above inside the Holy of Holies, WHICH IS BINAH, BECAUSE THE LAMED ALLUDES TO THE SECRET OF TOWER THAT FLIES IN THE AIR, NAMELY BINAH.

600. תְּלַת שְׁמָהָן אִינּוּן כְּלִילָן כַּחֲדָא, וְדָא עָיֵיל בְּדָא, וְדָא עָיֵיל בְּדָא. אֵ"ל, קַדְמָאָה וְאִתְסָדַר בִּימִינָא. א, אִיהוּ קַדְמָאָה דְּאִיהִי יְמִינָא, וְאַגְּלִים וְאִתְצָיָיר בְּרָזָא דִּימִינָא, וְכַד עָיֵיל וְקָא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ לְגוֹ אִתְאֲחָד בַּהֲדֵיהּ ל, וְאִקְרֵי בְּרָזָא דִּילֵיהּ אֵ"ל, דְּהָא ל' מֵרָזָא דִּלְעֵילָּא גּוֹ קֹדֶשׁ הַקָּדָשִׁים נָפַק.

Air Firmaments Hebrew Letters Tower World to Come, The Zeir Anpin

601. The Lamed became cocooned there IN BINAH, and it is certain that when it emerged from there, it became cocooned like the other letters, that became cocooned and shapen after emerging from the secret of the World to Come, WHICH IS BINAH. BECAUSE BEFORE THE LETTERS ENTER THE CENTRAL COLUMN, THEY ARE MOIST AND AFTER THEY EMERGE FROM THERE TO THE SECRET OF THE FIRMAMENT - WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN, THEY CONGEAL AND BECOME COCOONED. That Lamed also, even though it is a supernal secret, ALLUDING TO BINAH, THE SECRET OF THE TOWER THAT FLIES IN THE AIR, it did not become cocooned until it emerged outside. Then it is the Name El, which is to the right OF ZEIR ANPIN.

601. לָאו דְּתַמָּן אַגְּלִים, אֶלָּא וַדַּאי כַּד נָפַק אַגְּלִים, כִּשְׁאַר אַתְוָון, דְּכַד נָפְקוּ מֵרָזָא דְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, אַגְלִימוּ וְאִתְצָיָירוּ. אוּף הָכִי הַאי ל,' אע"ג דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, לָא אַגְּלִים, עַד דְּנָפַק לְבַר, וּכְדֵין אֵ"ל. וְדָא רָזָא דִּימִינָא.

World to Come, The

Grades Hebrew Letters Judgment Mercy Point World to Come, The Zeir Anpin

603. HE ANSWERS, Certainly it is so, but when the grades emerge in the secret of letters from the World to Come, WHICH IS BINAH, the name ELOHIM has to be revealed and erected, and point at that place from where they emerged, MEANING AT THE ORDER OF THEIR EMERGING IN BINAH. THEREFORE, this name was erected in this way, First Aleph and Lamed on the right side became included LATER within the left and the left took it, AND BECAME JOINED WITH ITS LETTERS, HEI, YUD, MEM, and is called 'Elohim.' AS THEY EMERGED IN BINAH SO DID THEY EMERGE IN ZEIR ANPIN. This is the secret of the right, WHICH IS EL THAT IS PRESENT in the Name Elohim. According to that secret IS FOUND that there is Mercy wherever there is Judgment, BECAUSE JUDGMENT, WHICH IS LEFT, includes it, and is erected and visible in it.

603. וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא. אֶלָּא, כַּד נָפְקוּ דַּרְגִּין, בְּרָזָא דְּאַתְוָון מִגּוֹ עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, בָּעָא שְׁמָא דָּא לְאִתְחֲזָאָה וּלְאִתְבְּנֵי, לְאַחֲזָאָה עַל הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּנַפְקֵי מִתַּמָּן, וְאִתְבְּנֵי שְׁמָא דָּא, כְּגַוְונָא דָּא. אֵ"ל בְּקַדְמֵיתָא בְּסִטְרָא דִּימִינָא, אִתְכְּלִיל גּוֹ שְׂמָאלָא, וְנָטִיל לֵיהּ שְׂמָאלָא, וְאִקְרֵי אֱלֹהִים, וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דִּימִינָא, בִּשְׁמָא דֶּאֱלֹהִים, וְעַל רָזָא דָּא, בְּכָל אֲתָר דְּאִיהוּ דִּינָא, תַּמָּן אִיהוּ רַחֲמֵי, דְּהָא כָּלִיל אִיהוּ דִּינָא, וְהָא אִתְבְּנֵי וְאִתְחַזֵּי.

East Hebrew Letters Holy Name Key Wells West Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH) Zeir Anpin

604. The one that emerged from there, FROM BINAH, IN THE SENSE OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN OF ZEIR ANPIN, receives them both, NAMELY THE NAME EL AND THE NAME ELOHIM, and is completed to be called 'Eloheinu' (Eng. 'Our Elohim'). Here is the completeness that appears from the secret of the Supernal World, WHICH IS BINAH. It is all combined one with the other, BECAUSE THERE ARE HERE IN THE NAME ELOHEINU SIX LETTERS, ALEPH-LAMED ON THE RIGHT - HEI-YUD ON THE LEFT AND NUN-VAV IN THE CENTER AND THEY ARE COMBINED TOGETHER. Since this Central COLUMN is completed, the Holy Name dwells upon it, which is the key to everything that is called Yud Hei Vav Hei, Then THE CENTRAL COLUMN takes all the sides, the upper and lower, WHICH ARE NETZACH HOD, right and left, WHICH ARE CHESED AND GVURAH, and all the other directions, WHICH ARE EAST AND WEST. Therefore, when it is completed with the secret of the two sides, NAMELY WITH THE TWO COLUMNS, from right and left, it is called 'Eloheinu,' for there is right, left and center in this name, AS MENTIONED. It is visible and erected as is the secret of letters that emerge from there erected and visible, each and every one, AS WILL BE EXPLAINED.

604. הַהוּא דְּנָפַק מִתַּמָּן, אֶמְצָעִיתָא, נָטִיל לְתַרְוַויְּיהוּ, וְאִשְׁתָּלִים, וְאִקְרֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ. הָא הָכָא שְׁלִימוּ דְּאִתְחָזֵי מֵרָזָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה, וְכֹלָּא אִתְכְּלִיל דָּא בְּדָא. כֵּיוָן דְּהַאי אֶמְצָעִיתָא אִשְׁתְּלִים, שָׁרָא עָלֵיהּ שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, מַפְתְּחָא דְּכֹלָּא, דְּאִקְרֵי יְהוָֹ"ה, וּכְדֵין נָטִיל לְכָל סִטְרִין, עֵילָּא ותתָּא, יְמִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא, וּלְכָל סִטְרִין אַחֲרָנִין. וְעַל דָּא, כַּד אִשְׁתְּלִים מֵרָזָא דִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין מִימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא, אִקְרֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ, הָא הָכָא יְמִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא וְאֶמְצָעִיתָא בִּכְלָלָא דִּשְׁמָא דָּא. וְדָא אִתְחָזֵי וְאִתְבְּנֵי. רָזָא דְּאַתְוָון נָפְקוּ מִתַּמָּן, כְּגַוְונָא דָּא אִתְבְּנֵי וְאִתְחַזֵּי, כָּל חַד וְחַד.

605. הָא אִתְכְּלִיל יְמִינָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְנָטִיל שְׂמָאלָא שְׁמָא דִּימִינָא, יְמִינָא אָן כָּלִיל בְּגַוֵּיהּ שְׂמָאלָא, לְמֶהֱוֵי נָטִיל יְמִינָא רָזָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא. אֶלָּא, כַּד אִתְכְּלִיל יְמִינָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְנָטִיל שְׂמָאלָא שְׁמָא רָזָא דִּימִינָא, שְׁמָא אֵ"ל. יְמִינָא כָּלִיל בְּגַוֵּיהּ שְׂמָאלָא, וְאִיהוּ הי"ם.

Hebrew Letters Water World to Come, The

606. HE QUESTIONS, Why is it so? HOW COULD THE RIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THE LEFT? HE ANSWERS, When that place whence they emerged was erected, NAMELY IN THE THREE COLUMNS OF BINAH, the left received two letters, OUT OF THE LETTERS HEI-YUD-FINAL MEM WHICH ARE IN THE LEFT COLUMN OF BINAH, and the right took one letter OF THE LETTERS HEI-YUD-FINAL MEM that are in the World to Come, WHICH IS BINAH. The left took two, which are HEI-YUD of Hei-Yud-final Mem. Then the right included the left in itself and took the last letter OF HEI-YUD-FINAL MEM - WHICH IS Mem. It also took the Yud, which was to the left; the Mem it received is fully spelled Mem-Mem. Together with the Yud it received, the word Mayim (Eng. 'water,' Mem-Yud-final Mem) was constructed. Then does the right include the left within it.

606. אֲמַאי הָכִי. אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְבְּנֵי הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּנַפְקוּ מִתַּמָּן, נָטִיל לִשְׂמָאלָא תְּרֵין אַתְוָון, יְמִינָא נָטִיל חַד, מֵרָזָא דְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. שְׂמָאלָא תְּרֵין, וְאִיהוּ הי"ם. כְּדֵין יְמִינָא כָּלִיל בְּגַוֵּיהּ לִשְׂמָאלָא, וְנָטִיל לְאָת בַּתְרָאָה ם, וְנָטִיל י' דַּהֲוָה בִּשְׂמָאלָא, ם אִיהוּ בִּשְׁלִימוּ מֵ"ם, וְאִתְבְּנֵי הָכִי מַיִם, בְּהַהוּא י' דְּנָטִיל יַתִּיר. כְּדֵין יְמִינָא כָּלִיל לֵיהּ לִשְׂמָאלָא בְּגַוֵּיהּ.