"And he blessed Joseph"

Synopsis

From the explanations provided by Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Elazar, we learn that "And he blessed Joseph" se indicates that a blessing was conferred on both Joseph and his sons because a man's children are his own blessing. We also learn that the particle Et placed before Joseph is an allusion to Malchut. This means that he blessed the sign of the Holy Covenant, Malchut. According to the rabbis, all blessings originate in Binah, the source of life. They are then received by Jacob and passed to Malchut. Therefore, when a blessing is given, God must be blessed first if it is to be fulfilled. During morning prayer, we should first bless God and then bless the people of the world. We learn that when Jacob's father blessed him, he first blessed God in the statement, "the smell of my son is like the smell of a field"

The discussion then turns to the meaning of the verse, "These are your gods, Yisrael," The word "these," we are told, is a reference to the Serpent and its rider, the male and female of the Other Side who are not joined in unity like the Male and Female of Holiness. Following this, the verse, "For these I weep" is explained as a reference to the sin of the golden calf and the destruction of the temple. The word "these" is also written in relation to Holiness. However, through the Holy Spirit, Jacob saw that Jeroboam worshipped idols and correctly interpreted the verse, "These are your gods, Yisrael." He therefore blessed God and his sons, and ensured that his blessing would not be bestowed upon Jeroboam.

Relevance

By connecting us to the supernal blessings bestowed upon Joseph, we draw countless blessings upon our world, the dimension referred to as Malchut. This connection also ensures that all of our blessings take place after the blessings of our Creator. The Light aroused herein helps protect us from the Other Side and remove the negativity and darkness in our world resulting from the building of the Golden Calf and the destruction of the second temple.

Blessing Joseph

371. וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמַר הָאֱלֹקִים אֲשֶׁר וגו,' בְּהַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בֵּיהּ, וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת יוֹסֵף, דְּלָא אַשְׁכְּחָן הָכָא בְּרָכָה דִּבְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְיוֹסֵף אֶלָּא לִבְנוֹי, אִי לִבְנוֹי, וַיְבָרֲכֵם מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַהוּ וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת יוֹסֵף, וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחָן הָכָא דְּאִתְבְּרִיךְ יוֹסֵף.

Blessing Ephraim Joseph Menashe, King of Judah

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Joseph Righteous

Abraham Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Isaac Zeir Anpin

374. הָאֱלֹקִים אֲשֶׁר הִתְהַלְּכוּ אֲבוֹתַי לְפָנָיו. הָאֱלֹקִים: דָּא רָזָא דִבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא, קְיָימָא קַדִּישָׁא. אֲבוֹתַי לְפָנָיו, דַּיְיקָא לְפָנָיו, דְּאִינוּן קַדְמָאֵי עִלָּאֵי, מִקַּמֵּי רָזָא דְנָא, אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק, דְּהָא מִנְּהוֹן אִתְּזָן וְיָנְקָא הַהוּא אֲתַר.

Blessing Jacob Joseph Male Shepherd Zeir Anpin

375. "The Elohim who has been my shepherd:" HE ASKS, What is the reason he repeats the word "The Elohim?" HE ANSWERS, This is a high secret. He blessed the place, MALCHUT, in the secret of living Elohim, BINAH, the source of life, whence blessings are drawn. He therefore mentioned himself in this place by saying, "The Elohim who has been my shepherd." For all blessings originate in the source of life, BINAH, and are received by Jacob, THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN. When he receives them, that place, MALCHUT, receives them from him, as all comes from the male, JACOB. Hence it says, "And he blessed et Joseph," ET BEING MALCHUT WHICH RECEIVED HER BLESSINGS FROM JACOB, ZEIR ANPIN.

375. הָאֱלֹקִים הָרוֹעֶה אוֹתִי, מַאי טַעְמָא זִמְנָא אָחֳרָא הָאֱלֹקִים. אֶלָּא רָזָא עִלָּאָה אִיהוּ, וְהָכָא בָּרֵיךְ לְהַהוּא אֲתַר, בְּרָזָא דְּאֱלֹקִים חַיִּים, מְקוֹרָא דְחַיֵּי, דְּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקִין בִּרְכָאן, וּבְגִין דָּא אַדְכַּר גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּהַאי אֲתַר, וַאֲמַר הָאֱלֹקִים הָרוֹעֶה אוֹתִי, בְּגִין דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן דְּנָגְדֵי מִמְּקוֹרָא דְחַיֵּי, יַעֲקֹב נָטֵיל לוֹן, וְכֵיוָן דְּנָטֵיל לוֹן אִיהוּ, הַאי אֲתַר נָטַל בִּרְכָאן, וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ תַּלְיָיא בְּדִבּוּרָא, וְעַל דָּא וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת יוֹסֵף כְּתִיב.

Blessing

376. בְּגִין כָּךְ, בְּכָל אֲתַר דְּבִרְכָאן אִצְטְרִיכוּ לְבָרְכָא, בָּעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאִתְבָּרְכָא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר אִתְבָּרְכוּ אָחֳרָנִין, וְאִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא אִתְבָּרֵיךְ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, אִינוּן בִּרְכָאן לָא מִתְקָיְימִין.

Blessing Isaac Jacob Morning

377. But you may say that when Jacob's father blessed him, he did not first bless the Holy One, blessed be He. HE ANSWERS, Come and see that when Isaac blessed Jacob, he did not do so before blessing the Holy One, blessed be He. After this, he blessed Jacob. How do we know that? From the verse, "...And said, 'See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which Hashem has blessed'" (Beresheet 27:27). There is a blessing here for the Holy One, blessed be He, in the words "which Hashem has blessed," and He was blessed with the establishment of the blessings. Then it says, "Therefore the Elohim give you" (Ibid. 28) since the field, MALCHUT, was established by the blessings, for they issue only from it after it is already established by the blessings. In the same manner, first Jacob blessed the Holy One, blessed be He, and then did he bless his sons. Come and see; in the morning, a man should first bless the Holy One, blessed be He, and then the other inhabitants of the world. We have explained it in relation to the verse, "In the morning shall he devour the prey..." (Beresheet 49:27).

377. וְאִי תֵימָא, הָא יַעֲקֹב, דְּבָרְכֵיהּ אֲבוּהָ, וְלָא בָּרְכֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא. תָּא חֲזֵי , בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבָרֵיךְ יִצְחָק לְיַעֲקֹב, לָא בָּרְכֵיהּ, עַד דְּבָרֵיךְ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, כֵּיוָן דְּבָרֵיךְ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, בָּרְכֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב. מנ"ל, דִּכְתִיב וַיֹּאמֶר רְאֵה רֵיחַ בְּנִי כְּרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרֲכוֹ ה,' הָכָא קַיַּים בְּרָכָה לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב אֲשֶׁר בֵּרֲכוֹ ה,' אִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּקִיּוּמָא דְּבִרְכָאן, וּלְבָתַר כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ, וְיִתֶּן לְךָ וגו.' כֵּיוָן דְּהַהוּא שָׂדֶה אִתְקַיַּים בְּקַיְימָא דְּבִרְכָאן, דְּנָפְקֵי מִינֵיהּ בִּרְכָאן, לְבָתַר דְּאִיהוּ אִתְקַיַּים בְּבִרְכוֹי. כְּגַוְונָא דָא בָּרֵיךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּקַדְמֵיתָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְבָתַר בָּרֵיךְ לִבְנוֹי. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּצַפְרָא בָּעֵי ב"נ לְאַקְדָּמָא בִּרְכָאן לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְבָתַר לִשְׁאָר בְּנֵי עַלְמָא, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא דִּכְתִיב בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד וגו.'

Ephraim Evil Female Holiness (Kedushah) Idolatry Jacob Jeroboam Joseph Kedushah (Holiness) Male Other Side Samael Serpent Unity

378. Come and see, When Jacob wanted to bless the sons of Joseph, he saw through the Holy Spirit that Jeroboam, son of Nevat would issue from Ephraim. He opened the discussion with the words, "Who are these" WHO SAID, "THESE ARE YOUR ELOHIM, YISRAEL?" (SHEMOT 32:4). HE ASKS, What is the reason he said, in relation to idol worshipping, " ...these are your Elohim, Yisrael?" HE REPLIES, This is a secret. Of all the sides of the evil serpent, there is the side of the spirit of defilement considered to be the aspect of the serpent, and there is its rider, SAMAEL - IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE MALE AND FEMALE. When they mate, they are called 'these' IN THE PLURAL, TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE NOT JOINED IN UNITY LIKE THE MALE AND FEMALE OF HOLINESS BUT ARE SEPARATED, BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE BEGINS UNITED BUT ENDS IN SEPARATION. They appear in the world in their several aspects; ALL THAT ARE DRAWN FROM THE SERPENT ISSUE FROM THE MATING OF THE MALE AND THE FEMALE CALLED 'THESE.'

378. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד בָּעָא יַעֲקֹב לְבָרְכָא לְאִינוּן בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף, חָמָא בְּרוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא, דְּזַמִין לְנָפְקָא מֵאֶפְרַיִם יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט, פְּתַח וַאֲמַר מִי אֵלֶּה. מַאי שְׁנָא דַּאֲמַר בַּעֲבוֹדָה דָא דְסִטְרָא דַּע"ז אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֶלָּא רָזָא אִיהוּ, כָּל אִינוּן סִטְרִין דְּהַהוּא חִוְיָא בִּישָׁא, וּמִסִּטְרָא דְּהַהוּא רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא הַהוּא חִוְיָא וְאִית מַאן דְּרָכֵיב עֲלֵיהּ, וְכַד מִזְדַּוְוגָן, אִקְרוּן אֵלֶּה. וְאִינוּן מִזְדַּמְּנִין בְּעַלְמָא, בְּכָל אִינוּן סִטְרִין דִּלְּהוֹן.

Brit (Covenant) Circumcision Covenant (Brit) Female Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Male Nukva Other Side Praise Samael Serpent Zeir Anpin Zot (This, Fem.)

Destruction Golden Calf Nukva Other Side Samael Serpent Sin Temple, The Zeir Anpin

380. Therefore it is written, "Even these may forget" (Yeshayah 49:15), REFERRING TO THE MALE AND FEMALE OF THE OTHER SIDE, "and I" - the secret of this, THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN - "will not forget." It is also written, "For these I weep" (Eichah 1:16), for the sin OF THE GOLDEN CALF CALLED THESE brought them much weeping, BEING THE CAUSE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE. Another explanation for, "For these I weep:" The reason for this is that permission was given to this place, NAMELY TO THE SERPENT AND SAMAEL, to rule over Yisrael and destroy the Temple. Since they were given permission I weep, I being the Holy Spirit, NAMELY THE NUKVA called I.

380. וּבְג"כ כְּתִיב גַּם אֵלֶּה תִּשָּׁכַחְנָה, וְאָנֹכִי רָזָא דְזֹאת, לֹא אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ, וּכְתִיב עַל אֵלֶּה אֲנִי בּוֹכִיָה, דְּהַהוּא חוֹבָא גָּרְמָא לוֹן לְמִבְכֵּי כַּמָּה בְּכִיָּין. ד"א עַל אֵלֶּה אֲנִי, מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּאִתְיְיהֵיב רְשׁוּ לַאֲתַר דָּא לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּלְחָרָבָא בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, וּבְגִין דְּאִתְיְיהֵיב לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְשַׁלְּטָאָה, אֲנִי בּוֹכִיָה, דָּא רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא דְּאִקְרֵי אֲנִי.

Beasts Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Curse Female Male Other Side Serpent Torah

381. It may be said that it is written, "These are the words of the Covenant" (Devarim 28:69). CAN YOU SAY THAT 'THESE' IS THE NAME OF THE MALE AND FEMALE OF THE OTHER SIDE? HE ANSWERS, Assuredly those curses are not fulfilled save through these, WHICH ARE OF THE OTHER SIDE, where all the curses abide, like we explained about THE SERPENT that it is cursed, "CURSED ABOVE...EVERY BEAST OF THE FIELD" (BERESHEET 2:14). The Torah therefore preceded, saying "these" for those who transgress the words of the Covenant.

381. וְאִי תֵימָא, הָא כְתִיב אֵלֶּה דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית. הָכֵי הוּא וַדַּאי, דְּכָל אִלֵּין לָא מִתְקַיְימֵי, אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ אֵלֶּה, דְּתַמָּן כָּל לְוָוטִין שָׁרְיָין, כְּמָה דְאוֹקִימְנָא דְּאִיהוּ אָרוּר, וּבְגִין דָּא אַקְדֵּים וַאֲמַר אֵלֶּה, דְּקָיְימָא לְמַאן דַּעֲבַר דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית.

Canaan Ham Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Noah Other Side Precepts Purification Torah

382. HE ASKS, "These are the commandments, which Hashem commanded" (Vayikra 27:34), WHY IS IT WRITTEN "THESE" EVEN IN RELATION TO HOLINESS? HE ANSWERS, This is because all the precepts of the Torah purify man so he shall not deviate from the path and shall keep away FROM THE OTHER SIDE. THEREFORE, IT SAYS IN RELATION TO THE COMMANDMENTS "THESE." What then about, "And these are the generations of the sons of Noah" (Beresheet 10:1)? WHY DOES IT SAY 'THESE?' HE REPLIES, Surely here too IT IS A NAME OF THE OTHER SIDE, for Ham, the father of Canaan, of whom it is written "Cursed be Canaan" (Beresheet 9:25). This is the secret of 'these.'

382. אֵלֶּה הַמִּצְוֹת אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה,' בְּגִין דְּכָל פִּקּוּדָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא לְאִתְדַּכָּאָה ב"נ, וְלָא יִסְטֵי מֵאוֹרְחָא דָא, וְיִסְתַּמַּר מִתַּמָּן, וְיִתְפָּרֵשׁ מִנַּיְיהוּ. וְאִי תֵימָא אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת נֹחַ. הָכֵי הוּא וַדַּאי, דְּהָא נָפַק חָם, דְּאִיהוּ אֲבִי כְנַעַן, וּכְתִיב אָרוּר כְּנַעַן וְאִיהוּ רָזָא דָא דְאֵלֶּה.

Aaron Fire Gold Klipot (Shells – Negativity) Shells (Klipot)

383. וְע"ד כְּתִיב וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכָל הַנֵּי הַתּוֹכָא סוֹסְפִיתָא דְּדַהֲבָא. אַהֲרֹן קָרֵיב דַּהֲבָא, דְּאִיהוּ סִטְרָא דִילֵיהּ, דְּכָלֵיל אִיהוּ בְּתוֹקְפָא דְאֶשָׁא, וְכֹלָּא חַד, וְסִטְרָא דָא דַּהֲבָא וְאֶשָּׁא. רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, דְּאִשְׁתַּכַּח תָּדִיר בְּמַדְבְּרָא, אַשְׁכַּח אֲתַר בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, לְאַתְקָפָא בֵּיהּ.

Adam Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Golden Calf Mount Sinai Purification Serpent Sin Tree Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

384. Before, Yisrael were purified from the primordial filth OF THE SERPENT, which he injected into the world and brought death unto it THROUGH THE SIN OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. FROM THIS, THEY WERE PURIFIED when they stood by Mount Sinai, but it returned again and the serpent defiled them as before and overpowered them and brought death unto them and unto the whole world for generations after. This is the meaning of the words, "I had said, 'You are angels... Nevertheless, you shall die like a man'" (Tehilim 6:7), FOR DUE TO THE SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF, DEATH HAD POWER OVER THEM LIKE OVER ADAM.

384. וּמַה דַּהֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל דָּכְיָין מֵהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא קַדְמָאָה דְּאַטֵיל בְּעַלְמָא, דְּגָרֵים מוֹתָא לְעַלְמָא, כַּד קָמוּ עַל טוּרָא דְסִינַי, לְבָתַר אַהֲדָרוּ, וְגָרֵים לוֹ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, לְסָאֲבָא לוֹן, וּלְאִתְתַּקְפָא עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְגָרֵים לוֹן מוֹתָא, וּלְכָל עַלְמָא, לְדָרֵיהוֹן בַּתְרַיְיהוּ, הה"ד אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹקִים אַתֶּם וגו' אָכֵן כְּאָדָם וגו.'

Angels Blessing Evil Idolatry Jacob Jeroboam Shechinah

385. Therefore, when Jacob saw, through the Holy Spirit, Jeroboam, son of Nevat - who worshipped idols - who said, "These are your Elohim, Yisrael," he was shaken and asked, "Who are these?" When he later wished to bless them, he first blessed the Shechinah and then his sons. After blessing the Holy One, blessed be He, he then blessed them from that place, which he blessed first. Hence it says, "The angel who redeemed me from all evil..." (Beresheet 48:16); MEANING, THE SHECHINAH CALLED ANGEL SHALL BLESS THEM. THIS WAY HE WAS SURE HIS BLESSING WOULD NOT BE CONFERRED UPON JEROBOAM, SON OF NEVAT.

385. וְע"ד כַּד חָמָא יַעֲקֹב לְיָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט דַּעֲבַד כו"ם, וַאֲמַר אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אִזְדַּעְזַע, וַאֲמַר מִי אֵלֶּה, כַּד בָּעָא לְבָתַר לְבָרְכָא לוֹן, בָּרֵיךְ לֵיהּ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר בָּרֵיךְ לִבְנוֹי, כֵּיוָן דְּבָרֵיךְ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, לְבָתַר מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּבָרֵיךְ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, בָּרֵיךְ לוֹן, הה"ד הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגּוֹאֵל אוֹתִי מִכָּל רָע וגו.'