Vayera: Chapter 28

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim

Synopsis

Through the Zohar, various mysteries about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are revealed. The penetrating sound of the Shofar has the power to confuse the negative angel called Satan, who acts as prosecutor during these days of judgment and repentance. The ten days that fall between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are likened to a great gift. This period provides us with the chance to remove all the negativity and decrees of judgment that we have brought down upon ourselves through our wrongful actions over the prior year. The prerequisite for accomplishing this goal is accountability and genuine, permanent change in our character.

Relevance

The act of repentance is a profound tool available to each of us anytime we truly choose to change our ways. The energy radiating from the verses revealing the hidden mysteries of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, allows us to continually draw upon the forces of purification throughout the entire year.

Fire Judgment Rosh Hashanah Satan, The Shofar Voice Water Wind Yom Kippur

381. Come and behold, the same applies for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim, when Judgment hovers over the world and the Satan is there to prosecute. The children of Yisrael should be aroused by the Shofar, to create a voice (also: 'sound') that is a combination of water, fire, and wind, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET, which become one in it, and sound that voice from within the Shofar.

381. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּגַוְונָא דָא, בְּיוֹם ר"ה, וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דְּדִינָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעָלְמָא, אִיהוּ קָאֵים לְקַטְרְגָא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעְיָין לְאִתְעָרָא בְּשׁוֹפָר, וּלְאַתְעָרָא קוֹל, דְּכָלֵיל בְּאֶשָׁ"א וּמַיָ"א וְרוּחָ"א, וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ חָד, וּלְאַשְׁמָעָא הַהוּא קוֹל, מִגּוֹ שׁוֹפָר.

Air Breath Fire Jacob Judgment Mercy Mochin Shofar Throne Voice Water Zeir Anpin

382. And this voice rises up to the Throne of Judgment, strikes it, and rises further. And after this voice has reached above, then the voice of Jacob is established on high and the Holy One, blessed be He, is aroused with Mercy. Just as Yisrael uses the Shofar to release a voice from below, which includes fire, water, and air, so a voice is released from on high from the supernal Shofar, WHICH IS BINAH. THE POWER TO BLOW THE SHOFAR IS FIRE, AND THE VOICE IS FORMED BY THE AIR. THE AIR IS MINGLED WITH SWEAT AND HOT BREATH, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF WATER, AND THESE AROUSE THE THREE UPPER COLUMNS OF BINAH, FROM WHERE THE MOCHIN ARE DRAWN DOWN TO ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. And this voice, which consists of fire, water, and air, AND HAS RISEN FROM BELOW; it is established and appears from below, and another appears from above. So the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is established and Mercy prevails.

382. וְהַהוּא קוֹל, סָלְקָא עַד אֲתַר, דְּכָרְסְיָיא דְדִינָא יָתְבָא, וּבָטַשׁ בָּהּ, וְסָלְקָא, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַאי קוֹל מִתַּתָּא, קוֹל דְּיַעֲקֹב אִתְתַּקַּן לְעֵילָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְעַר רַחֲמֵי, דְּהָא כְּגַוְונָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְעָרֵי לְתַתָּא, קוֹל חַד, כָּלֵיל בְּאֶשָׁ"א וְרוּחָ"א וּמַיָ"א, דְּנָפְקֵי כַּחֲדָא, מִגּוֹ שׁוֹפָר, הָכֵי נָמֵי אִתְעַר לְעֵילָא שׁוֹפָר, וְהַהוּא קוֹל דְּכָלֵיל בְּאֶשָׁ"א וּמַיָ"א וְרוּחָ"א אִתְתַּקַּן, וּנְפַק דָּא מִתַּתָּא, וְדָא מֵעֵילָא, וְאִתְתַּקַּן עָלְמָא, וְרַחֲמֵי אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ.

Judges Judgment Mercy Prosecution Punishment Strength Thought

383. Now the prosecutor is confused, because he thought that by executing Judgment, he would punish the world. But when he realizes that Mercy was aroused, he is perplexed, his strength fails, and he is unable to do anything. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the world with Mercy. You may say that Judgment has been executed, but it is not so. Judgment and Mercy are joined, and the world is judged Mercifully.

383. וְהַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא אִעַרְבֵּב, דַּחֲשִׁיב לְשַׁלְטָאָה בְּדִינָא, וּלְקַטְרְגָא בְּעָלְמָא, וְחָמֵי דְּמִתְעָרֵי רַחֲמֵי, כְּדֵין אִעַרְבֵּב, וְאִתְּשַׁשׁ חֵילֵיהּ, וְלָא יָכֵיל לְמֶעְבַּד מִדֵי, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דָּאִין עָלְמָא בְּרַחֲמֵי, דְּאִי תֵימָא דְדִינָא אִתְעֲבֵיד, לָאו הָכֵי, אֶלָּא אִתְחַבָּרוּ רַחֲמֵי בְּדִינָא, וְעָלְמָא אִתְדָּן בְּרַחֲמֵי.

Astrology Evil Judgment Mercy Moon Rosh Hashanah Satan, The Serpent Shofar Year

384. Come and behold. It is written, "Blow the Shofar at the new moon, at the time appointed (lit. 'when the moon is covered') on our solemn feast day" (Tehilim 81:4), when the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is covered, because at that time, AS A RESULT OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT, that evil Serpent prevails and may bring harm to the world. But when Mercy is aroused BY BLOWING THE SHOFAR, the moon rises and moves away FROM THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT. THUS, THE SATAN is confused and loses control. Then he is removed FROM THE MOON and never comes near again. This is why on Rosh Hashanah, THE SATAN IS dumbfounded, as is a person who has just been awakened and is still half asleep.

384. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֶּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ דְּאִתְכַּסְיָא סִיהֲרָא, דְּהָא כְּדֵין, שָׁלְטָא הַאי חִיוְיָא בִּישָׁא, וְיָכֵיל לְנַזְקָא עָלְמָא, וְכַד מִתְעָרֵי רַחֲמֵי, סָלְקָא סִיהֲרָא, וְאִתְעֲבָרַת מִתַּמָּן, וְאִיהוּ אִתְעַרְבֵּב, וְלָא יָכֵיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה, וְאִתְעֲבַר, דְּלָא יִתְקְרַב תַּמָּן, וְעַל דָּא, בְּיוֹם ר"ה, בָּעֵי לְעַרְבְּבָא לֵיהּ, כְּמַאן דְּאִתְעַר מִשִּׁנְתֵיהּ, וְלָא יְדַע כְּלוּם.

Astrology Judgment Mercy Moon Offering Rosh Hashanah Satan, The Yom Kippur

385. On Yom Hakippurim, we should pacify and appease THE SATAN by offering him a scapegoat. BY SENDING IT TO THE DESERT, WHICH IS HIS PLACE, then he will become a defender for Yisrael. But on Rosh Hashanah, he is confused, and loses his abilities. He does not know, nor is he able to do anything, as he sees Mercy aroused from below and endowed from on high. And the moon, WHICH IS THE MALCHUT, rises in between them. This is when he is perplexed and no longer knows anything. Thus, he loses his power.

385. בְּי"ה בָּעֵי לְנַיְיחָא, וּלְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ נַיְיחָא דְּרוּחָא, בְּשָׂעִיר דְּקָרֵבִין לֵיהּ, וּכְדֵין אִתְהַפַּךְ סַנֵּיגוֹרְיָא, עֲלַיְיהוּ דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲבָל בְּיוֹמָא דְּר"ה, אִתְעַרְבֵּב, דְּלָא יְדַע וְלָא יָכֵיל לְמֶעְבַּד כְּלוּם. חָמֵי אִתְעֲרוּתָא דְּרַחֲמֵי סָלְקִין מִתַּתָּא, וְרַחֲמֵי מִלְּעֵילָא, וְסִיהֲרָא סָלְקָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, כְּדֵין אִתְעַרְבֵּב וְלָא יְדַע כְּלוּם, וְלָא יָכֵיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה.

Atonement Judges Judgment Mercy Repentance Rosh Hashanah Sin Ten Yom Kippur

386. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, judges Yisrael with Mercy. He has pity on the children of Yisrael and gives them time - the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim - to accept those who repent before Him, and atone for their sins. Then He raises them up to THE SANCTITY OF Yom Hakippurim.

386. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דָּן לְהוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרַחֲמֵי, וְחָיֵיס עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְאִשְׁתְּכַח לְהוֹ זִמְנָא כָּל אִינוּן י' יוֹמִין, דְּבֵין ר"ה לְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, לְקַבְּלָא כָּל אִינוּן דְּתָיְיבִין קַמֵּיהּ, וּלְכַפָּרָא לוֹן מֵחוֹבַיְיהוּ, וְסָלֵיק לוֹן לְיוֹמָא דְכִפּוּרֵי.

Earth Judgment Mercy Precepts Satan, The Shofar

387. From that day forward, to keep all in order, the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded Yisrael to perform the precept OF 'THE BLOWING OF THE SHOFAR' so that the Satan would not have dominion over them. THIS MEANS TO ABOLISH THE SATAN AND HIS PERSECUTION, so that Mercy, and not Judgment, will prevail, and so they will be worthy on earth OF THE MERCY OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, which is like the Mercy of a father towards his children. All this depends on THE AROUSAL OF THE LOWER BEINGS by action and words. And all this has already been explained.

387. וְעַל דָּא, בְּכֹלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא פַּקֵּיד לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לְמֶעְבַּד עוֹבָדָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עֲלַיְיהוּ, מַאן דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, וְלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עֲלַיְיהוּ דִינָא, וִיהוֹן כֻּלְהוֹן זַכָּאִין בְּאַרְעָא, כִּרְחִימוּ דְּאַבָּא עַל בְּנִין, וְכֹלָּא בְּעוֹבָדָא וּבְמִלִּין תַּלְיָא, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלִּין.

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