"Now I will praise...And she called his name Judah"

Synopsis

Here the Zohar relates a discussion between Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi concerning the secrets of the name "Judah." Once again, the unity of all things is stressed in the verse, "I will praise the Creator with my whole heart." Both the good and evil in one's soul must be brought to God in prayer - that is, with total honesty. "Judah embraces all sides."

Relevance

Kabbalah's unique perspective on the evil that men do is revealed in this section. The ultimate objective of spirituality is not to remove the existence of evil or humanity's negative traits. Instead, we must confront and transform these dark forces, for it is only through the struggle of transformation that we ignite the spark of divinity within us. The name "Judah" expresses this profound Kabbalistic notion, and our connection to this name invokes in us the courage to confront and triumph over our evil tendencies.

Congregation David Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination Heart Holy Name Praise Tetragrammaton Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

167. "Now will I praise Hashem..." Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion with the verse, "I will praise Hashem with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation" (Tehilim 111:1). HE ASKS, Why is it written, "with my whole heart (Heb. levav)," instead of THE MORE COMMON lev? HE ANSWERS, David, in the supernal secret of the Holy Name, YUD HEI VAV HEI, wanted to praise the Holy One, blessed be He. "I will praise Hashem with my whole heart," MEANS with both the Good Inclination and the Evil Inclination, THE TWO HEARTS, THAT IS, THE TWO INCLINATIONS THAT DWELL IN THE HEART, the two sides, right and left.

167. הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת ה,' רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, אוֹדֶה ה' בְּכָל לֵבָב בְּסוֹד יְשָׁרִים וְעֵדָה, בְּכָל לֵבָב, בְּכָל לֵב מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא, דָּוִד בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה דִשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, קָא בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְאוֹדָאָה לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אוֹדֶה ה' בְּכָל לֵבָב בְּיֵצֶר טוֹב וּבְיֵצֶר רָע, וְאִלֵּין תְּרֵין סִטְרִין, חַד יָמִינָא וְחַד שְׂמָאלָא.

Congregation Heart Judah Likenesses North Nukva South Testimony Torah

168. "...In the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation..." refers to the other aspects of this world, THE NUKVA, for the whole heart resembles south and north, CHESED AND GVURAH. "In the assembly of the upright," are the other sides, which are altogether six EXTREMITIES formed in the likeness of above, THAT IS, IN THE IMAGE OF CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. They abide "in the assembly of the upright," NAMELY, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, "and in the congregation (Heb. edah)," which refers to the place of Judah, NAMELY, MALCHUT. It is also written, "And my Testimony (Heb. edoti) that I shall teach them" (Tehilim 132:12), WHICH REFERS TO THE ORAL TORAH, MALCHUT.

168. בְּסוֹד יְשָׁרִים וְעֵדָה, אִלֵּין אִינוּן שְׁאָר סִטְרִין, דְּהַאי עַלְמָא, דְּהָא לֵבָב, כְּגַוְונָא דְדָרוֹם וְצָפוֹן. בְּסוֹד יְשָׁרִים: אִלֵּין אִינוּן שְׁאָר סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא, דְּאִינוּן שִׁית כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא. וְעֵדָה: דָּא הוּא אֲתַר דִּיהוּדָה, וּכְתִיב וְעֵדוֹתִי זוֹ אֲלַמְּדֵם.

Chassadim Grades Heart Judah Praise Tetragrammaton Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

169. It is written, "Judah still rules (Heb. rad) with El" (Hoshea 12:1). THIS MEANS THAT JUDAH - MALCHUT CONNECTED TO YUD HEI VAV HEI - WENT DOWN (HEB. YARAD) FROM THE SIX-SIDED NAME OF YUD HEI VAV HEI TO THE NAME El, A NAME OF MALCHUT, IN THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "AND AN El WHO HAS INDIGNATION EVERY DAY" (TEHILIM 7:12). It is also written, "I will praise You with my whole heart: before princes (lit. 'Elohim') I will sing praise to You" (Tehilim 138:1), TO THE NAME ELOHIM, AND NOT THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI, because he praised this grade OF MALCHUT, CALLED 'ELOHIM,' in order to unite it with the right side OF CHASSADIM. THEREFORE, IT IS WRITTEN HERE, "I WILL PRAISE YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART (HEB. LIBI)," AND NOT LEVAVI, BECAUSE HE PRAISED ONE PLACE ONLY, THAT IS, MALCHUT OF THE LEFT, WHICH DOES NOT CLEAVE TO THE NAME OF YUD HEI VAV HEI.

Body Chariot East Judah North Praise Reuben Simeon South

170. Come and behold, THE NAME Judah is attached to all sides. It is attached to the south and the east because JUDAH comes from the left side. It starts in the north and holds to the south. From there it goes to the right side, CHESED, and takes hold of the body, TIFERET. AND SO IT HOLDS ALL THE SIDES. Therefore, it is written, "Now will I praise Hashem," WHICH INDICATES THAT IT INCLUDES ALL THE SIDES. In the phrase, "and she left off (lit. 'stood from') bearing," 'stood' means that she stood firm, stood properly, FOR NOW THAT SHE HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO FOUR SONS, REUBEN, SIMEON, LEVI, AND JUDAH - CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT - the entire holy Chariot is fixed, WHICH IS CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT.

170. תָּא חֲזֵי יְהוּדָה אָחִיד בְּכָל סִטְרִין, אָחִיד בְּדָרוֹם, וְאָחִיד בְּמִזְרָח, דְּהָא אִיהוּ מִסְּטַר שְׂמָאלָא קָא אַתְיָא, וְשֵׁירוּתֵיהּ בַּצָּפוֹן, וְאָחִיד בְּדָרוֹם, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אָזֵיל לִימִינָא, וְאִתְאֲחֵיד בְּגוּפָא, בְּגִין כָּךְ הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת ה.' וַתַּעֲמֹד מִלֶּדֶת, וַתַּעֲמֹד, דְּקָיְימָא בְּקִיּוּמָא דְּקָיְימָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, דְּהָא אִתְתַּקַּן כֹּלָּא רְתִיכָא קַדִּישָׁא.

Torah

Abraham Eyes Lot Vision

172. רִבִּי אַבָּא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר וַה' אָמַר אֶל אַבְרָם אַחֲרֵי הִפָּרֶד לוֹט מֵעִמּוֹ וגו,' שָׂא נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה וגו.' וְכִי לְפוּם חֵיזוּ דְאַבְרָהָם יָרִית אַרְעָא וְלָא יַתִּיר, עַד כַּמָּה חָמֵי בַּר נָשׁ, תְּלַת פַּרְסֵי, אוֹ אַרְבַּע, אוֹ חָמֵשׁ פַּרְסֵי, וְאִיהוּ אֲמַר כִּי אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רוֹאֶה וגו.'

Chariot Land of Yisrael Nukva Wind Zeir Anpin

173. HE ANSWERS, Because he saw the four winds of the world, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND EASTWARD, AND WESTWARD," he saw the whole land. For the four winds of the world comprise the whole world. Another explanation is that the Holy One, blessed be He, lifted him above the Land of Yisrael, THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA, and showed him that it is connected to the winds of the world, THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE SECRET OF THE CHARIOT. Then he saw everything. Similarly, whoever sees Rabbi Shimon sees the whole world, BECAUSE HE, TOO, COMPRISES THE WHOLE WORLD. He is the joy of high and low.

173. אֶלָּא, כֵּיוָן דְּאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעַלְמָא חָמֵי, כָּל אַרְעָא חָמֵי, דְּהָא אַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי דְעָלְמָא, כְּלָלָא דְכָל עָלְמָא. תוּ, זְקַף לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַל אַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאַחְמֵי לֵיהּ, דְּאִיהִי קְשִׁירָא בְּסִטְרֵי דְעַלְמָא, וַהֲוָה חָמֵי כֹּלָּא. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, מַאן דְּחָמֵי לֵיהּ, לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, כָּל עַלְמָא חָמֵי, חֶדְוָותָא דְּעֵילָא וְתַתָּא.

Cubits Lamps Land of Yisrael

174. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, "the land on which you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed" (Beresheet 28:13). HE ASKS, Did the Holy One, blessed be He, promise him only this place, a mere four or five cubits, and no more? HE ANSWERS, At that time the Holy One, blessed be He, folded the whole land of Yisrael underneath him, so that this place included the whole land. If this place included the whole land, then Rabbi Shimon, the luminary of the whole land, is of equal value with the whole world.

174. פְּתַח רִבִּי חִיָּיא וַאֲמַר הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה שׁוֹכֵב עָלֶיהָ לְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה וּלְזַרְעֶךָ, וְכִי הַהוּא אֲתַר בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, אַבְטַח לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּהָא אַרְבַּע אַמִּין, אוֹ חַמְשָׁא הֲווֹ, וְלָא יַתִּיר. אֶלָּא, בְּזִמְנָא הַהוּא, בְּאִינוּן אַרְבַּע אַמִּין, כָּפֵיל לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כָּל אַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אִשְׁתַּכַּח הַהוּא אֲתַר, כְּלָלָא דְכָל אַרְעָא, וּמַה הַהוּא אֲתַר אִיהוּ כְּלָלָא דְכָל אַרְעָא, רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן דְּאִיהוּ בּוּצִינָא דְכָל אַרְעָא, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, דְּשָׁקִיל כְּכָל עַלְמָא.

Judah Lights Pillar Praise Throne Torah

175. Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the verse, "Now will I praise Hashem." HE ASKS, Did it not behoove her to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, for each of the sons she bore and not only this son? HE ANSWERS, Judah is the fourth son of the throne, BEING MALCHUT, THE FOURTH LEG, and he completed the throne. Therefore, Judah alone perfects the throne; he is the pillar that supports all the other pillars, BECAUSE HE COMPLETES THE THRONE. How many lights shine because of Rabbi Shimon, who illuminates the world much more with the Torah, BEING THE PILLAR OF ALL PILLARS.

175. פְּתַח רִבִּי יוֹסֵי וַאֲמַר, הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת ה,' וְכָל בְּכֻלְּהוּ דְּאוֹלִידַת, לָא אִתְחֲזֵי לְאוֹדָאָה לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אֶלָּא בְּהַאי. אֶלָּא יְהוּדָה אִיהוּ בְּרָא רְבִיעָאָה לְכָרְסְיָיא, וְאִיהוּ אַשְׁלֵים לְכָרְסְיָיא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, יְהוּדָה בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, תִּקּוּנָא דְכָרְסְיָיא וּסְמָכָא דְּכֻלְּהוּ סְמָכִין. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן דְּנָהֵיר כָּל עַלְמָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וְכַמָּה בּוּצִינִין נָהֲרִין בְּגִינֵיהּ, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.