"And, lo, three men"

45. Sitrei Torah (Concealed Torah). The authority and will of the King, NAMELY THE SHECHINAH, appears in three colors, AND THESE ARE THE THREE COLORS OF THE EYE, WHITE, RED, AND GREEN. One color represents the eye's sight from afar. At this distance, the eye is unable to clearly visualize what it sees until it achieves partial vision by contracting itself. Thus, it is written, "Hashem has appeared from afar to me..." (Yirmeyah 31:2) THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, AS THERE CAN BE NO REVELATION OF THE LIGHTS WITHOUT IT!

46. The second color represents the eye's sight when the eye is closed. This color is seen by the eye only through a slight shutting, and therefore it is not a clear vision. THE WAY TO SEE is by closing the eye and then opening it a little, thereby receiving this sight. BECAUSE THIS VISION IS NOT CLEAR, it requires interpretation in order to understand what the eye has perceived. Therefore, it is written, "What do you see" (Yirmeyah 1:13)? THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT COLUMN, WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CHASSADIM.

47. The third color represents the brilliance of the mirror, which can be seen only when THE EYE is shut and it is rolled backward. As a result of this rolling, the shining mirror is seen. THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE RIGHT COLUMN. But THE EYE is able to absorb this THIRD color only by envisioning the illumination of the brilliance by shutting the eye, WHICH MEANS THE SECOND COLOR IS INCLUDED IN THE FIRST COLOR.

48. Therefore, it is written, "The hand of Hashem was upon me..." (Yechezkel 37:1) and "but the hand of Hashem was strong upon me" (Yechezkel 3:14). THIS ABILITY TO SEE BY SHUTTING THE EYE IS ACCOMPLISHED BY WILL POWER AND IS RELATED TO GVURAH. And all these are conceived by the true prophets, NAMELY THE FIRST TWO COLORS. And only Moses, the most faithful, had the ability to see high above to the point at which THE BRILLIANCE is not seen at all. THIS REFERS TO THE THIRD COLOR, WHICH IS THE SHINING MIRROR. Of him it is written, "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all My house" (Bemidbar 12:7).

49. The words "appeared to him" mean that the Shechinah appeared to him through those grades that are attached to Her own aspects, referring to Michael on the right side, Gabriel on the left side, Raphael to the front, and Uriel to the back. This is why the Shechinah appeared to him by the terebinths (lit. 'among those oak trees'), the shadows of the world, to show them the first circumcision - the Holy Imprint according to the secret of the Faith in the whole world.

50. Of the words "and he sat in the tent door," HE ASKS, Where is the tent door? AND HE ANSWERS, This is the place that is called the covenant, which is the secret of faith, NAMELY THE NUKVA. The phrase "in the heat of the day" refers to the secret to which Abraham cleaved, WHICH IS the might of the right side - his own grade.

51. The "tent door" is the secret of the 'gate of righteousness,' the gateway to the Faith, WHICH IS THE NUKVA AND THE SECRET OF THE JUDGMENTS OF THE NUKVA. AND IT IS CALLED THE GATEWAY because Abraham entered the Holy Imprint OF CIRCUMCISION there. WITHOUT THIS, HE WOULD NOT HAVE ENTERED THE COVENANT. THIS IS WHY IT IS CALLED A GATEWAY. (delete space)"In the heat of the day" refers to THE ASPECT OF the righteous, the grade of the 'United Oneness,' which is entered and joined by whoever is circumcised and is signed by the Holy Imprint. Because the foreskin has been removed from him, he enters into the illumination of these two grades, THE RIGHTEOUS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, which are the secret of Faith.

52. The verse, "And, lo, three men," refers to the three angels - messengers who clothe themselves with air and come down to this world in a human image. And they were three, just as there are three above, NAMELY CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN. The rainbow, THE NUKVA, appears only in three colors, white, red, and green. This is exactly LIKE THE THREE COLORS OF CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN.

53. And these three people are the three colors, white, red and green. The white color is Michael, because he is on the right side, AS HE COMES FROM CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS WHITE. The red color is Gabriel, who is on the left side, AS HE COMES FROM GVURAH OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS RED. The green color is Raphael, WHO COMES FROM TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS GREEN. And these are the three colors of the rainbow. And the rainbow, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, does not appear and is not seen without them. Therefore, it is written, "appeared to him," BECAUSE the appearance of the Shechinah is SEEN by these three colors. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VERSE "AND, LO, THREE MEN STOOD BY HIM," EXPLAINS THE VERSE "AND HASHEM APPEARED TO HIM." SO, "AND HASHEM APPEARED" MEANS THAT THE SHECHINAH WAS REVEALED TO HIM. AND THIS REVELATION WAS MADE BY THE APPEARANCE OF THE THREE COLORS, OF WHICH THE VERSE CONCLUDES, "AND, LO, THREE MEN STOOD BY HIM" - NAMELY MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL.

54. And each OF THE THREE ANGELS served a different purpose. Raphael, who governs the power to heal, helped Abraham recover from the circumcision. Another, Michael, who came to inform Sarah that she shall bear a son, rules over the right side. All the abundance and the blessings of the right side are handed over to him.

55. And Gabriel, who came to overturn Sodom, rules over the left side and is responsible for all Judgments in the world, AS JUDGMENTS COME from the left side. And the execution is done by the Angel of Death, THE KING'S CHIEF BAKER, who executes THE SENTENCES THAT ARE PASSED UNDER GABRIEL'S RULE.

56. Each and every angel accomplished his mission, as is proper. Gabriel goes on his mission to the holy Neshamah, while the Angel of Death goes on his mission to the Nefesh of the Evil Inclination. In spite of all this, the soul does not leave the body until it sees the Shechinah.

57. When ABRAHAM saw THE THREE ANGELS join one another, he saw the Shechinah in Her own colors. And he knelt, BECAUSE THE ANGELS ARE THE THREE COLORS OF ZEIR ANPIN IN WHICH THE SHECHINAH CLOTHES HERSELF, As it is written, "...and knelt himself toward the ground." This is similar to what is described of Jacob, of whom it is written, "...and Yisrael knelt himself upon the bed's head" (Beresheet 47:31). THAT IS, HE BOWED to the Shechinah, WHICH IS CALLED THE BED'S HEAD. SO HERE, AS WELL, HE BOWED TO THE SHECHINAH.

58. And he addressed the Shechinah by the name "Adonai," AS HE SAID, "ADONAI ('MY LORDS') IF NOW I HAVE FOUND FAVOR..." (BERESHEET 18:3). IN THE SAME MANNER, the righteous is addressed, WHO IS YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, called Adon ('Master'). Then THE SHECHINAH is called 'ADON', "the Lord of All the Earth" (Yehoshua 3:11), because She is lit up by the righteous one, WHO IS CALLED ADON ('MASTER'), and shines in Her colors. THE COLORS ARE DRAWN FROM THE THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN because She reaches perfection on high through them.

59. From this we learn that the "mirror" of below, REFERRING TO THE SHECHINAH, is drawn from BINAH above. These colors, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF THE THREE ANGELS, acquire the power to draw of the Lights from above - from those supernal sources THAT ARE THE THREE COLUMNS OF BINAH ITSELF.

60. Because they accompany and support Her with everything, She is called Adonai. This name was revealed to ABRAHAM entirely through the secrets of the supernal ones - BY THE LIGHTS OF BINAH. And they appeared to him completely exposed, which did not happen before he was circumcised. Clearly, before he was circumcised, the Holy One, blessed be He, did not wish to issue a holy seed from him. However, as soon as he was circumcised, a holy seed immediately came forth. THAT SEED WAS ISAAC.

61. Because of this, BECAUSE OF HIS CIRCUMCISION, the Shechinah appeared to him in those holy grades, IN KEEPING WITH THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "And the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament..." (Daniel 12:3) THE FIRST brightness is the brilliance that shines when it is lit up. THE SECOND brightness lights up, shines and sparkles in many directions.

62. The brightness moves up and then down, shines throughout all aspects, is drawn and comes forth, and never ceases to shine. And the brightness procreates.

63. This brightness, which is hidden and concealed, glows brighter than any sparkle, WHICH MEANS THAT ITS SPARKLE IS GREATER THAN ANY OTHER SPARKLE IN THE WORLDS. And all the grades are located within It. It goes forth and disappears, concealed yet exposed, sees yet does not see. This book, WHICH REFERS TO THE BORDER OR LIMITATION, AS THE HEBREW TERM MEANS BOTH BOOK AND BORDER, is the source of the well, WHICH IS THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. It comes out TO SHINE ONLY during the day, BECAUSE ZEIR ANPIN SHINES DURING THE DAY. And It disappears at night, WHEN HE DOES NOT SHINE. And He delights Himself at midnight WITH THE COMPANY OF THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS THAT ARE the offspring he issued, IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

64. The brightness shines and lights up the entire Torah, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH, to all. This is seen, AS IT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH, because all the colors are concealed within it. It is called Adonai. The three colors are seen below it. And three colors are seen above it. Everything is received from the THREE above, AND STILL, they are not seen, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RECEIVE CHOCHMAH DIRECTLY THEMSELVES. And it sparkles with twelve sparkles and lights that emanate from it. Altogether there are thirteen, ACCORDING TO THE SECRET OF 'ONENESS' THAT INCLUDES THEM ALL, by the secret of the Holy Name, YUD HEI VAV HEI, within the secret of the Endless World (Heb. Ein-Sof). THAT WHICH INCLUDES THEM ALL is called Yud Hei Vav Hei, WHILE THE TWELVE GRADES OF THE NUKVA ARE CALLED ADONAI.

65. When the lower brightness, WHICH IS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE TWELVE CALLED Adonai, joined the upper brightness, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, CALLED Yud Hei Vav Hei, they formed one name through which the true prophets attain THEIR PROPHECIES and look into the supernal brightness. The NAME is Yud-Aleph-Hei-Dalet-Vav-Nun-Hei-Yud, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF YUD HEI VAV HEI AND ADONAI. THROUGH THIS COMBINED NAME, THEY ACHIEVE sublime visions, BECAUSE BY THIS NAME THE VISION OF THE HIDDEN SECRETS CAN BE ACHIEVED, as it is written, "and out of the midst of it, it were the color of electrum out of the midst of the fire" (Yechezkel 1:4).

66. Mishnah, To you who are supernal, great, and good, from the right side, THE FOLLOWING SECRET HAS BEEN TOLD: the nine vowels that appear in the Torah are divided by the letters. These letters secretly take short trips. These nine rulers issue these letters, which then expand. The nine vowels remain intact as so as to have the letters. THE LETTERS move only after THE VOWELS appear.

67. These LETTERS are in accordance with the secret of Ein-Sof and are under its influence. The sealed letters travel ONLY as much as THE VOWELS travel. The hidden secrets, upon which these letters rest, are both revealed and not revealed.

68. Nine names are engraved in ten: Eheyeh IS KETER; Yud-Hei IS CHOCHMAH; Eheyeh Asher Eheyeh IS BINAH; Yud Hei Vav Hei, WHOSE VOWELS ARE LIKE ELOHIM IS YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH; El IS CHESED; Elohim IS GVURAH; Yud Hei Vav Hei IS TIFERET; Tzva'ot IS NETZACH AND HOD; and Adon and Shadai BOTH REFER TO YESOD. ADON IS THE CROWN OF YESOD; SHADAI IS YESOD ITSELF.

69. These ten Names are each engraved according to Its aspect. And all these Names were engraved and entered the Ark of the Covenant. Which one is it? It is Adonai, the one that was revealed and appeared AFTER THE CIRCUMCISION to Abraham. IN OTHER WORDS, THE NAME ADONAI IS THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA AFTER SHE HAD RECEIVED THE OTHER TEN NAMES, WHICH ARE ALL THE GRADES OF ATZILUT. BUT BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED, HE DID NOT ACHIEVE THE SECRET OF 'SEEING.' UNTIL THE CIRCUMCISION, HE SAW ONLY THROUGH THE NUKVA, WITHOUT HER BEING ATTACHED TO THE UPPER GRADES.

70. Michael is the name of the right, THAT IS, CHESED, which cleaves to the name ADONAI and serves It more than the other ANGELS. Wherever the secret of the name ADONAI appears, SO DOES Michael. If Michael disappears, so does Elohim, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, together with Shadai, WHICH IS YESOD.

71. In the beginning, there were three men who were dining while enclothed in an image of air. They most certainly ate, because their fire ate and consumed everything, thus bringing contentment to Abraham. AND HE CLARIFIES THAT they were truly fire. This fire was covered by an image of the air and was not seen. The food that they ate was a burning fire. And they ate it, and Abraham received pleasure from this.

72. As the Shechinah departed, it is written, "and Elohim went up from Abraham" (Beresheet 17:22). So Michael immediately departed with Her, as it is written, "And there came two angels to Sodom..." (Beresheet 19:1). At the beginning, it is written three, but now it reads "two angels." FROM THIS, WE CONCLUDE THAT THE ANGEL Michael, who is to the right, also departed as the Shechinah rose. AND ONLY TWO ANGELS REMAINED.

73. The angel seen by Manoach, who descended and was enclothed by air, is Uriel. He did not come with those angels of Abraham, but came down on his own to inform Manoach, who is a descendant of Dan, THAT HE SHALL HAVE A SON.

74. Because MANOACH is not as important a man as Abraham, it is not written that he (the angel) ate. Rather, it is written, "Though you detain me, I will not eat of your bread..." (Shoftim 13:16) and "For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven...that the angel of Hashem ascended in the flame of the altar..." (Ibid. 20). Here, however, it is written, "and Elohim went up from Abraham;" IT IS NOT WRITTEN THAT THE ANGELS DEPARTED FROM ABRAHAM. THIS IS because Michael left WITH ELOHIM, while Raphael and Gabriel remained.

75. Of them it is written, "And there came two angels to Sodom at evening." "...At evening..." when Judgment hovers above the world. And afterward, one angel departed, and Gabriel alone remained TO OVERTHROW SODOM. Because of the merit of Abraham, Lot was saved. Therefore, he was also privileged to have the two angels come and visit him. End of Sitrei Torah.