Vayera: Chapter 6

"Who shall ascend into the mountain of Hashem"

Synopsis

When an individual strives to understand his purpose in life and seeks the truth of the Creator, his soul will seek to reunite with the Light of the Creator upon leaving this world. Unfortunately, the vast majority of mankind journeys through this physical world without any inkling of its true purpose, or understanding as to the meaning of its existence. Consequently, a man who directs no effort towards spiritual enlightenment and blindly pursues the material world, will automatically seek the path of negativity when he leaves his physical existence. The paths of the spiritual world mirror the pathways we forge in the physical world.

Relevance

There are definite negative blockages within our consciousness that repress our intrinsic desire to seek the meaning of our existence and purpose in life. By helping to remove these impediments, the words and wisdom of this passage stimulate us to pursue the truth of our being. A well-known Kabbalistic principle states that the more we seek to comprehend our purpose and the reality of the Creator, the more spiritual Light we receive.

Creation Earth Mountains

76. Rabbi Aba opened the discussion with the text, "Who shall ascend into the mountain of Hashem? Or who shall stand in His holy place?" (Tehilim 24:3). Come and behold, no man is aware of the reason for his existence in the world. MEN DO NOT SEEK TO KNOW THE PURPOSE OF THEIR LIVES ON EARTH. As the days pass by WITH NO RETURN, they rise up and stand before the Holy One, blessed be He, as they were all created AND HAVE ACTUAL EXISTENCE OF THEIR OWN. How do we know that they were created? Because it is written, "The days were created" (Tehilim 139:16).

76. ר' אַבָּא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, מִי יַעֲלֶה בְהַר ה' וּמִי יָקוּם בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא לָא חָמָאן עַל מָה קָיְימֵי בְּעָלְמָא, וְיוֹמִין אָזְלִין וְסָלְקִין, וְקָיְימֵי קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כָּל אִינוּן יוֹמִין, דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא קָיְימֵי בְּהוֹ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, דְּהָא כָּלְהוֹ אִתְבְּרִיאוּ וְכָלְהוֹ קָיְימֵי לְעֵילָא, וּמְנָלָן דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ, דִּכְתִיב יָמִים יוּצָרוּ.

David Jacob

77. And when the days depart from this world, they all approach the Supernal King, as it is written, "And the days drew close for David to die" (I Melachim 2:1), "...and the days drew close for Jacob to die" (Beresheet 47:29).

77. וְכַד מָטָאן יוֹמִין לְאִסְתַּלָּקָא מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, כָּלְהוֹ קְרֵיבִין קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה, הה"ד וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי דָּוִד לָמוּת. וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָמוּת.

Creation Garden of Eden Soul, The

78. When a person is in this world, he is not aware of nor does he look for the reason he was created. For him, every day is considered as if it passes by in emptiness. And when the soul leaves this world, it does not recognize the path through which it is elevated, because the path that leads up to the place where the luminous sublime souls shine, WHICH IS THE GARDEN OF EDEN, is not shown to all souls. After it departs from him, THE SOUL follows the same way that person followed while in this world.

78. בְּגִין דְּכַד בַּר נָשׁ אִיהוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, לָא אַשְׁגַּח וְלָא אִסְתַּכַּל, עַל מַה קָאֵים, אֶלָּא כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא חָשִׁיב כְּאִילּוּ הוּא אָזֵיל בְּרֵקַנְיָיא, דְּהָא כַּד נִשְׁמָתָא נָפְקַת מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, לָא יָדְעַת לְאָן אוֹרְחָא סָלְקִין לָהּ, דְּהָא אוֹרְחָא לְסַלְקָא לְעֵילָא לַאֲתַר דִּנְהִירוּ דְּנִשְׁמָתִין עִלָּאִין נָהֲרִין, לָא אִתְיְהֵיב לְכָלְהוֹן נִשְׁמָתִין, דְּהָא כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִיהוּ אַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הָכֵי אִתְמַשְׁכַת לְבָתַר דְּנָפֵיק מִנֵּיהּ.

Soul, The

79. Come and behold, if a person is drawn after the Holy One, blessed be He, and longs for Him while in this world, then later, when he departs from this world, he also follows THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. And he is shown a path to climb that rises upward TO THE PLACE WHERE SOULS SHINE. IN OTHER WORDS, it follows and continues the same path that his desire followed and longed for each day while in this world.

79. תָּא חֲזֵי, אִי בַּר נָשׁ אִתְמְשֵׁיךְ בָּתַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְתֵיאוּבְתָּא דִּילֵיהּ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, לְבָתַר כַּד נָפֵיק מִנֵּיהּ, אִיהוּ אִתְמְשֵׁיךְ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, וְיָהֲבִין לֵיהּ אוֹרַח לְאִסְתַּלָּקָא לְעֵילָא, בָּתַר הַהוּא מְשִׁיכוּ דְּאִתְמְשֵׁיךְ בִּרְעוּתָא, כָּל יוֹמָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא.

East Wisdom

80. Rabbi Aba said, One day, I came upon a town that belonged to the children of the East. They shared with me a part of the wisdom that they knew from antiquity. Then they searched for books of their own wisdom and gave me one.

80. אָמַר רָבִּי אַבָּא, יוֹמָא חַד אִעַרְעָנָא בְּחַד מָתָא, מֵאִינוּן דַּהֲווֹ מִן בְּנֵי קֶדֶם, וַאֲמָרוּ לִי מֵהַהִיא חָכְמְתָא דַּהֲווֹ יָדְעִין מִיּוֹמֵי קַדְמָאֵי, וַהֲווֹ אַשְׁכְּחָן סִפְרִין דְּחָכְמְתָא דִּלְהוֹן, וּקְרִיבוּ לִי חַד סִפְרָא.

81. Inside this book, it was written that according to the intention of a person's desire in this world, he draws a spirit from above upon himself similar to the desire that he clung to. If his desire is to achieve something holy and divine, then he draws the same from above and brings it down upon himself.

81. וַהֲוָה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ, דְּהָא כְּגַוְונָא דִּרְעוּתָא דְּבַּר נָשׁ אִיכַוֵּון בֵּיהּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הָכֵי אַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מִלְּעֵילָא, כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַהוּא רְעוּתָא דְּאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ, אִי רְעוּתֵיהּ אִיכַוֵּין בְּמִלָּה עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, אִיהוּ אַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ לְהַהִיא מִלָה, מִלְּעֵילָא, לְתַתָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ.

Deeds Other Side

82. If he wishes to cleave to the Other Side, and is intent upon it, he draws the same from above down and brings it upon himself. They used to say THAT TO DRAW SOMETHING DOWN FROM ABOVE depends mainly on speech, deed, and the wish to cleave to it. This is how that certain side that he cleaves to is drawn down from above.

82. וְאִי רְעוּתֵיהּ, לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא, וְאִיכַוֵּין בֵּיהּ, אִיהוּ אַמְשִׁיךְ לְהַהִיא מִלָּה מִלְּעֵילָא לְתַתָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ. וַהֲווֹ אָמְרֵי דְּעִקָּרָא דְּמִלְּתָא תַּלְיָיא בְּמִלִּין, וּבְעוֹבָדָא, וּבִרְעוּתָא לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא, וּבְדָא אִתְמְשַׁךְ מִלְּעֵילָא לְתַתָּא הַהוּא סִטְרָא דְּאִתְדַּבַּק בָּהּ.

Astrology Constellation Stars

83. And I have found IN THAT BOOK all the rites and ceremonies for worshipping the stars and constellations, as well as what is required to worship them and how to direct one's will toward them in order to draw them closer.

83. וְאַשְׁכַּחְנָא בֵּיהּ, כָּל אִינוּן עוֹבָדִין וּפוּלְחָנִין דְּכֹכְבַיָא וּמַזָּלֵי, וּמִלִּין דְּאִצְטְרִיכוּ לוֹן, וְהָאֵיךְ רְעוּתָא לְאִתְכַּוְּונָא בְּהוֹ, בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא לוֹן לְגַבַּיְיהוּ.

Heart

84. In the same manner, for whoever desires to cling to the Holy Spirit above, success depends on the act, words, and the intent of the heart, so that he may succeed in drawing it down upon himself so that he may cling to it.

84. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, מַאן דְּבָעֵי לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא לְעֵילָא, בְּרוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא, דְּהָא בְּעוֹבָדָא וּבְמִלִּין, וּבִרְעוּתָא דְלִבָּא לְכַוְּונָא בְּהַהִיא מִלָּה, תַּלְיָיא מִלְּתָא לְאַמְשָׁכָא לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּהַהִיא מִלָּה.

Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness)

85. And they were saying, Whatever path a person follows in this world is the path along which he is drawn when he leaves this world. And whatever he clung to and pursued while in this world, he clings to in the World of Truth - if to holiness then to holiness; if to impurity then to impurity.

85. וַהֲווֹ אָמְרֵי, כַּמָּה דְּבַר נָשׁ אִתְמְשַׁךְ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הָכֵי נָמֵי מָשְׁכִין לֵיהּ, כַּד נָפֵיק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא. וּבַמֶּה דְאִתְדַּבַּק בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאִתְמְשַׁךְ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, הָכֵי אִתְדַּבַּק בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, אִי בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּקוּדְשָׁא, וְאִי בִּמְסָאֲבָא בִּמְסָאֲבָא.

Angels Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness)

86. If to holiness, then he is drawn toward that same side OF HOLINESS. He clings to it above, and becomes a serving minister before the Holy One, blessed be He, among all the angels. And so he is attached to the supernal WORLD and stands among those holy beings, as it is written, "Then I will give you access among these that stand by" (Zecharyah 3:7).

86. אִי בְּקוּדְשָׁא, מָשְׁכִין לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּי הַהוּא סְטַר, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ לְעֵילָא, וְאִתְעֲבֵיד מְמַנָּא שַׁמָּשָׁא, לְשַׁמָּשָׁא קַמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בֵּין אִינוּן שְׁאָר מַלְאָכִין. כְּמָה דְּהָכֵי אִתְדַּבַּק לְעֵילָא, וְקָאֵים בֵּין אִינוּן קַדִּישִׁין, דִּכְתִיב וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים הָאֵלֶה.

Demons Punishment

87. And so, in the same manner, if HE HAS CLEAVED to impurity WHILE IN THIS WORLD, then he is drawn to the IMPURE side. He becomes one of them and is attached to them. And they are called the 'demons of people.' So when he departs from this world, they take him and cast him into Gehenom - into that place where the impure, who have defiled themselves and their spirits, are judged and punished. He then clings to them, becoming 'a demon,' just like the demons of the world.

87. הָכֵי נָמֵי כְּגַוְונָא דָא, אִי בִּמְסָאֲבָא, מָשְׁכִין לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּי הַהוּא סְטַר, וְאִתְעֲבֵיד כְּחַד מִנַּיְיהוּ, לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּהוֹ, וְאִינוּן אִקְרוּן נִזְקֵי בְּנֵי נְשָׁא. וּבְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּנָפֵיק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, נָטְלִין לֵיהּ וְשָׁאֲבִין לֵיהּ בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם, בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּדַיְינֵי לוֹן לִבְנֵי מְסָאֲבָא, דְּסָאִיבוּ גַּרְמַיְיהוּ וְרוּחַיְיהוּ, וּלְבָתַר אִתְדַּבַּק בְּהוֹ. וְאִיהוּ נִזְקָא, כְּחַד מֵאִינוּן נִזְקֵי דְעָלְמָא.

Heaven Torah

88. I said to them, My sons, the sayings of this book are close to the sayings of the Torah. But you should stay away from these books, so that you will not be attracted to those beliefs and all those aspects that are mentioned there. Otherwise, heaven forbid, you may abandon the service of the Holy One, blessed be He!

88. אֲמִינָא לוֹן, בָּנַי, קְרִיבָא דָא לְמִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אֲבָל אִית לְכוֹ לְאִתְרַחֲקָא מֵאִינוּן סִפְרִין, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִסְטֵי לִבַּיְיכוּ לְאִלֵּין פּוּלְחָנִין, וּלְכָל אִינוּן סִטְרִין דְּקָאֲמַר הָכָא, דִּילְמָא חַס וְשָׁלוֹם תִּסְטוּן מִבָּתַר פּוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Abraham Directions East Wisdom

89. People are led astray because of these books. The people of the east were wise and inherited this wisdom from Abraham, who gave it to the sons of the concubines. As it is written, "But to the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country" (Beresheet 25:6). Afterward, they developed their wisdom in many directions.

89. דְּהָא כָּל סְפָרִים אִלֵּין, אַטְעַיָּין לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, בְּגִין דִּבְנֵי קֶדֶם חַכִּימִין הֲווֹ, וִירוּתָא דְּחָכְמְתָא דָא, יָרְתוּ מֵאַבְרָהָם, דִּיהַב לִבְנֵי פִּלַּגְּשִׁים, דִּכְתִיב וְלִבְנֵי הַפִּלַּגְּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לְאַבְרָהָם נָתַן אַבְרָהָם מַתָּנוֹת וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם מֵעַל יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ בְּעוֹדֶנוּ חַי קֵדְמָה אֶל אֶרֶץ קֶדֶם. וּלְבָתַר אִתְמַשְׁכוּ בְּהַהִיא חָכְמָה לְכַמָּה סִטְרִין.

Abraham Faith Isaac Jacob

90. But the seed of Isaac, the portion of Jacob, is not so. As it is written, "And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac" (Ibid. 5). This is the holy portion of faith that Abraham cleaved to. And from this side and fate did Jacob come. What is written about him? It is written, "And, behold, Hashem stood above him," (Beresheet 28:13) and "But you, Yisrael, are my servant, Jacob..." (Yeshayah 41:8). For this reason, a person should be drawn after the Holy One, blessed be He, and cleave to Him always, as it is written, "and to Him shall you cleave..." (Devarim 10: 20).

90. אֲבָל זַרְעָא דְּיִצְחָק חוּלָקָא דְיַעֲקֹב, לָאו הָכֵי, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּתֵּן אַבְרָהָם אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לְיִצְחָק. דָּא חוּלָקָא קַדִּישָׁא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ אַבְרָהָם. וּנְפַק מֵהַהוּא עַדְבָא, וּמֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא יַעֲקֹב. מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ וְהִנֵה ה' נִצָּב עָלָיו. וּכְתִיב וְאַתָּה יַעֲקֹב עַבְדִּי וגו'. בְּגִינֵי כָךְ בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, לְאִתְמַשְׁכָא בָּתַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בֵּיהּ תָּדִיר, דִּכְתִיב וּבוֹ תִדְבָּק.

Body Hands Heart Idolatry Mountains Other Side

91. Come and behold. It is written, "Who shall ascend into the mountain of Hashem..." (Tehilim 24:3) And after this, he continues to explain that "he that has clean hands." THIS MEANS THAT he has not made an idol with his hands, and his hands did not hold what they should not have held. Furthermore, IT SHOULD BE EXPLAINED THAT THE PHRASE "CLEAN HANDS" MEANS HIS HANDS were not defiled, and he did not defile the body with them, as those who defile themselves with their hands and become impure. This is what "clean hands" means. A "pure heart" is the heart of someone who has not diverted his heart to the Other Side, but rather is drawn after the service of the Holy One, blessed be He!

91. תָּא חֲזֵי מִי יַעֲלֶה בְּהַר ה' וגו'. וּלְבָתַר אַהֲדַר וּפֵירַשׁ. נְקִי כַפַּיִם. דְּלָא עֲבֵיד בִּידוֹי טוֹפְסָא, וְלָא אִתְתַּקַּף בְּהוֹ בַּמֶּה דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ. וְתוּ, דְּלָא אִסְתָּאַב בְּהוֹ, וְלָא סָאֵיב בְּהוֹ לְגוּפָא, כְּאִינוּן דִּמְסָאֲבִין גַּרְמַיְיהוּ בְּיָדִין לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא, וְדָא הוּא נְקִי כַפַּיִם. וּבַר לֵבָב, כְּגַוְונָא דָא דְּלָא אַמְשִׁיךְ רְעוּתֵיהּ וְלִבֵּיהּ, לְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא, אֶלָּא לְאִתְמַשְּׁכָא בָּתַר פּוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Blessing David Deeds Faith Nefesh (Soul) Nukva Soul (Nefesh) Soul, The Zeir Anpin

92. Of the verse, "who has not lifted up his soul (Nefesh) in vain," observe that it is written "Nafsho" ('his soul'), but pronounced "Nafshi" ('my soul'). The explanation is that 'my soul' is the soul of David, the aspect of faith WHICH IS THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN; 'his soul' is actually the soul of a human being. THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS WRITTEN AND HOW IT IS PRONOUNCED. Thus, when a person passes away from this world and his soul (Nefesh) leaves with proper deeds, he will have the privilege of being among all those holy ones, as it is written, "I will walk before Hashem in the land of the living" (Tehilim 116:9). THEREFORE, HE SAYS, Because he "has not lifted up his soul in vain...He shall receive the blessing from Hashem..."

92. אֲשֶׁר לֹא נָשָׂא לַשָׁוְא נַפְשִׁי. נַפְשׁוֹ כְתִיב, נַפְשִׁי קְרִי, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ נַפְשִׁי דָּא נֶפֶשׁ דָּוִד, סִטְרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא. נַפְשׁוֹ דָּא נֶפֶשׁ דְּבַר נָשׁ מַמָּשׁ. בְּגִין דְּכַד יִפּוֹק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, וְנַפְשֵׁיהּ יִסְתַּלַּק בְּעוֹבָדִין דְּכָשְׁרִין, עַל מַה דְּיִתְקַיַּים בְּהוֹ, לְמֵיהַךְ בֵּין כָּל אִינוּן קַדִּישִׁין, כד"א אֶתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי ה' בְּאַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים. וּבְגִין דְּלָא נָשָׂא לַשָּׁוְא נַפְשִׁי, יִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת ה' וגו'.

<
>