Vayetze: Chapter 22

His thought was with Rachel

Synopsis

Jacob thought of Rachel while making love with Leah. This act cost Reuben his patrimony. This is a very important and insightful passage that illuminates the relation of thought to action. Wisdom can be seen on a man's face and in his eyes. On the other hand, whoever indulges in evil contemplation lives in lies, or false consciousness. Such a person is not to be able to see good when it comes. Accordingly, bad acts follow bad contemplation.

Relevance

Consciousness creates reality. For this reason, the Other Side attempts to raise doubts, create uncertainties, and induce immoral and negative thinking. The great gift of contemplation and consciousness even has the power to determine the grade of soul that is drawn to an unborn child at the moment of conception. The spiritual influences of this passage help us abolish doubts and negative thoughts, particularly during moments of intimacy and times of adversity. It is then that we are most vulnerable, and it is then that the Other Side unleashes a mindstorm of negativity.

Birds Fire Flame Hands Key Mishnah Sword

176. Sitrei Torah (Secrets of the Torah). Mishnah. Children of the High One, supernal sages, Blessed of the World, of the inner part of the nut, gather and know: a bird descends every day, and is awakened in the garden with a flame of fire in her wings and three shovels in her left hand as sharp as a sword, and the keys to the treasures in her right hand.

176. (סִתְרֵי תּוֹרָה) מַתְנִיתִין. בְּנֵי עֶלְיוֹן, קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין, בְּרִיכָן דְּעָלְמָא, מוֹחָא דֶּאֱגוֹזָא, כְּנָשׁוּ לְמִנְדַע, הָא צִפֳּרָא נָחֵית בְּכָל יוֹמָא, אִתְעַר בְּגִנְתָא. שַׁלְהוֹבָא דְּנוּרָא, בְּגַדְפָהָא. בִּידָהָא, תְּלָתָא מַגְרוֹפְיָין שְׁנִינָן כְּחַרְבָּא. מַפְתְּחָן גְּנִיזִין, בִּידָא יְמִינָא.

Body Eyes Face Fruit Garden of Eden Honey Light Nukva Righteous Soul, The Tree Tree of Life Wisdom Zeir Anpin

177. She cries out loud, saying TO THE RIGHTEOUS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, Whoever among you has a shining face - THAT IS, WHO MERITS WISDOM, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "A MAN'S WISDOM MAKES HIS FACE SHINE" (KOHELET 8:1) - who entered, left and was strengthened by the Tree of Life. THAT IS, WHOEVER ENTERED BY MEANS OF THE RIGHT COLUMN, LEFT BY MEANS OF THE LEFT COLUMN, AND WAS STRENGTHENED BY THE TREE OF LIFE, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. And whoever touched its branches - CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, INCLUDED WITHIN ZEIR ANPIN, THE SECRET OF THE TREE OF LIFE - AND whoever grasped the roots, THE FIRST THREE SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN; AND whoever eats from its fruits which are sweeter than honey (THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH OF THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE SECRET OF ITS FRUITS.) IT IS SWEET, ACCORDING TO THE MYSTERY IN THE VERSE, "TRULY THE LIGHT IS SWEET...FOR THE EYES" (KOHELET 11:7), AND THE EYES ARE THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH, who revives the soul and heals the body.

177. קָרֵי בְחָיִל וַאֲמַר, מַאן מִנְּכוֹן דִּי נְהִירוּ אַנְפּוֹי, דִּי עָאל וּנְפַק וְאִתְתַּקֵּיף בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, מָטָא בְּעַנְפּוֹי, אָחִיד בְּשָׁרְשׁוֹי, אָכֵיל מֵאִיבֵּיהּ מָתִיק מִדּוּבְשָׁא, יָהֵיב חַיִּין לְנַפְשָׁא, אַסְוָותָא לְגַרְמֵיהּ.

Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Rivers Soul, The Tree Tree of Life

178. SHE ANNOUNCES THAT WHOEVER MERITS ALL THAT IS the one who is kept from the evil contemplation that defies the Tree of Life; from CONTEMPLATION that defiles the river and the spring, which is the source of Yisrael; and from CONTEMPLATION that results in death to the soul and breaking of oneself, so that he has no existence.

178. אִסְתַּמַּר, מֵהִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא, מֵהִרְהוּרָא דִּמְשַׁקַּר בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, מְסָאֵיב נַהֲרָא וְנַחֲלָא מְקוֹרָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּיהֵיב מוֹתָא לְנַפְשָׁא, וּתְבִירוּ לְגַרְמֵיהּ לֵית לֵיהּ קִיּוּמָא כְּלָל.

Death Death and the Afterlife Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Light Nefesh (Soul) Other Side Soul (Nefesh) Soul, The Tree Tree of Life Zeir Anpin

179. The contemplation, which defiles the source OF THE TREE OF LIFE, ZEIR ANPIN, produces a tree of lies because that contemplation rises and exchanges one soul for another, THAT IS, THE SOUL (NEFESH) OF THE LIGHTS OF THE OTHER SIDE IS EXCHANGED FOR THE SOUL (NEFESH) OF THE LIGHTS OF HOLINESS. FOR BECAUSE OF THAT CONTEMPLATION, the Tree of Life is gone and the Tree of Death, from which he draws his soul, clings to him.

179. הִרְהוּרָא דִּמְסָאֵיב הַהוּא מְקוֹרָא דִילֵיהּ, עָבֵיד אִילָנָא דְשִׁקְרָא, בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא סָלְקָא, וְאַחְלַף נַפְשָׁא תְּחוֹת נַפְשָׁא. אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי אִסְתַּלַּק, וְאִילָנָא דְמוֹתָא אִתְתַּקֵּיף בֵּיהּ, נַפְשָׁא מִתַּמָּן מָשֵׁיךְ.

Death Death and the Afterlife Fruit Jeremiah Juniper Light Tree Tree of Life Wormwood

180. Woe to him who, because of that contemplation, is uprooted from the Tree of Life and attached to the Tree of Death, which has no branches. THIS MEANS THAT ITS LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATES. He who clings to it never sees goodness. He is dry, without the LIGHT'S moisture , and his fruits are as bitter as wormwood. Of him it is said, "For he shall be like the juniper tree in the desert, and shall not see when good comes" (Yirmeyah 17:6).

180. וַוי לֵיהּ, דְּאִתְעַקַּר בְּהַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא, מִגּוֹ אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בְּאִילָנָא דְמוֹתָא. עַנְפִין לֵית בֵּיהּ, לָא חָמָא טָבָא לְעָלְמִין, יְבֵשָׁא אִיהוּ בְּלָא לַחוּתָא כְּלָל, אִנְבֵּיהּ מָרִיר כְּלַעֲנָה, עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמָר וְהָיָה כְּעַרְעָר בָּעֲרָבָה וְלֹא יִרְאֶה כִי יָבֹא טוֹב וגו.'

Blessing Fruit Rivers Soul, The Tree Tree of Life Waters

181. But good contemplation ascends and seizes the Tree of Life, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN, embracing its branches and eating its fruits. All that is holy and all blessings come from it. He inherits life for his soul and healing for himself. Of him it is said, "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out its roots by the river..." (Ibid. 8)

181. בְּגִין דְּהִרְהוּרָא טָבָא סָלֵיק לְעֵילָא, אָחִיד בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, אַתְקֵיף בְּעַנְפוֹי, אָכֵיל מֵאִנְבֵּיהּ, כָּל קִדּוּשִׁין וְכָל בִּרְכָאן נָפְקִין מִנֵּיהּ, אַחְסִין חַיִּין לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ וְאַסְוָותָא לְגַרְמֵיהּ, עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמָר וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל מַיִם וְעַל יוּבַל יְשַׁלַּח שָׁרָשָׁיו וְלֹא יִרְאֶה כִּי יָבֹא חוֹם וגו.'

Thought

182. Every act in the world follows thought and contemplation. Of this the scripture reads, "You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy" (Vayikra 11:44), because sanctities in the world are manifested and drawn by means of good contemplation.

182. כָּל מִלִּין דְּעַלְמָא, אָזְלִין בָּתַר מַחְשָׁבָה וְהִרְהוּרָא, וְע"ד וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדוֹשִׁים, בְּגִין דְּכָל קִדּוּשִׁין דְּעַלְמָא אַפֵּיק וּמָשֵׁיךְ בְּהִרְהוּרָא טָבָא.

Evil Grades Women

183. He who is defiled by the evil contemplation of thinking about another woman while inseminating his wife, will confuse the supernal high grades BY SWITCHING the Holy grade with the grade of Defilement. As he changes his thoughts from his wife to another woman, so he causes change above.

183. מַאן דְּאִסְתָּאַב בְּהִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא, כַּד אָתֵי לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא בְּאִתְּתֵיהּ וְשַׁוֵּי רְעוּתֵיהּ וְהִרְהוּרֵיהּ בְּאִתְּתָא אָחֳרָא, וְזָרַע זַרְעָא בְּהִרְהוּרָא אָחֳרָא, דָּא הוּא דְּאַחְלַף דַּרְגִּין, עִלָּאִין דִּלְעֵילָא, דַּרְגָּא דְקוּדְשָׁא, בְּגִין דַּרְגָּא דִּמְסָאֲבָא. כְּמָה דְּהִרְהוּרָא דִילֵיהּ עָבֵיד חִלּוּפִין לְתַתָּא, אוֹף הָכֵי עֲבַד חִלּוּפִין לְעֵילָא.

Body Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Soul, The

184. As the body of the son he begets is called a 'changed son,' so his soul is also called 'changed son,' as his contemplation was not drawn from holiness, and his soul was thus changed into another grade, NAMELY, A GRADE FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

184. כְּמָה דְגוּפָא דְּהַהוּא בְּרָא דְּיוֹלִיד, אִקְרֵי בֶּן תְּמוּרָה, אוֹף הָכֵי בְּנַפְשָׁא בֶּן תְּמוּרָה אִקְרֵי. דְּהָא לָא מָשִׁיךְ מְשִׁיכוּ קַדִּישָׁא בְּהַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא, וְנַפְשָׁא דִילֵיהּ אִתְחַלַּף בְּדַרְגָּא אָחֳרָא.

Intercourse Jacob Leah Rachel Thought

185. It was revealed before the Holy One, blessed be He, that all Jacob, the perfect one, did was true, and that he harbored thoughts of Truth. The night he had intercourse with Leah, his thoughts were of Rachel. He was with Leah and thought of Rachel, and his issue came from that thought.

185. יַעֲקֹב שְׁלֵימָא דְכֹלָּא, גַּלֵּי קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּכָל אָרְחוֹי בִּקְשׁוֹט הֲווֹ, וְהִרְהוּרָא דִקְשׁוֹט הִרְהֵר תָּדִיר בְּכֹלָּא, בְּהַהוּא לֵילְיָא דִּמְשַׁמֵּשׁ בְּאִתְּתֵיהּ בְּלֵאָה, הִרְהוּרָא דִילֵיהּ בְּרָחֵל הֲוַת, מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בְּלֵאָה וְחָשִׁיב בְּרָחֵל, וּמְקוֹרָא דִילֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא דִילֵיהּ אָזְלָא.

Jacob Jeremiah Leah Reuben Tribes

186. Unknowingly HE DID THIS, because he did not know IT WAS LEAH. Therefore Reuben was not given a proper name. Yet the Holy One, blessed be He, knew IT WAS LEAH, and He showed him, and said, See, a son is born into the world. It is therefore written, "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?" (Yirmeyah 23:24) Do not read er'enu ('see him'), but ar'enu ('show him'). It was known before the Holy One, blessed be He, that it was not intentional and that Jacob wished to contemplate the way of Truth. Thus, Reuben was not disqualified as a member of the holy tribes; THAT IS, HE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A CHANGED SON. If it were not so, he would have been disqualified.

186. וְלָאו לְדַעְתָּא, דְּהָא לָא הֲוָה יָדַע, בְּגִין כָּךְ, לָא סָלֵיק רְאוּבֵן בִּשְׁמָא. קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דַּהֲוָה יָדַע, אַחְמֵי לֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר רְאוּ בֵן דְּאִתְילֵיד בְּעַלְמָא. וְע"ד כְּתִיב אִם יִסָּתֵר אִישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִים וַאֲנִי לֹא אֶרְאֶנּוּ, אַל תִּקְרֵי אֶרְאֶנּוּ, אֶלָּא אַרְאֶנּוּ, דְּיִסְתַּכְּלוּן בֵּיהּ, וּבְגִין דְּאִתְגְּלֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּהָא לָאו לְדַעְתָּא הֲוָה וּבְאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט הִרְהֵר בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ יַעֲקֹב, לָא אִיפְסַל מִגּוֹ שִׁבְטִין קַדִּישִׁין, דְּאִי לָאו הָכֵי הֲוָה אִיפְסַל.

Birthright Firstborn Joseph Rachel Reuben Thought

187. Because contemplation is so important and translates into action, the Holy One, blessed be He, who knew the place to which that contemplation clung during THE INSEMINATION OF the first drop, kept the birthright FOR THAT PLACE - as it is written, "For he was the firstborn; but since he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to Joseph" (I Divrei Hayamim 5:1). For to the place to which contemplation followed at the time of insemination of the first drop, the birthright was taken from Reuben and given to the place he thought of. He thought of Rachel and the desire clung to her; thus, the birthright was attached to Rachel, and everything followed thought and contemplation.

187. וּבְגִין דְּהִרְהוּרָא עִקָּרָא אִיהוּ, וְעָבֵיד עוֹבָדָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דַּהֲוָה יָדַע הַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא, בַּאֲתַר דְּאִתְדַּבְּקָא. בְּהַהִיא טִפָּה קַדְמָאָה, אִסְתַּמַּר לֵיהּ בְּכֵירוּתָא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי הוּא הַבְּכוֹר וגו,' נִתְּנָה בְּכוֹרָתוֹ לְיוֹסֵף, בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּהִרְהוּרָא אָזְלָא וְאִתְדַּבַּק בְּהַהִיא טִפָּה, תַּמָּן אִתְדַּבַּק וְאִתְמְסַר הַהוּא בְּכוֹרָה, וְאִתְנְטֵילַת בְּכוֹרָה מֵרְאוּבֵן, וְאִתְמְסַר בַּאֲתַר דְּהִרְהוּרָא אִתְדַּבַּק בָּהּ, בְּרָחֵל הִרְהֵר וְאִתְדַּבַּק רְעוּתָא, בְּרָחֵל אִתְדַּבַּק בְּכֵירוּתָא, וְכֹלָּא אִתְהַדַּר בָּתַר הִרְהוּרָא וּמַחֲשָׁבָה.

Deeds Foreigner Marriage Soul, The Thought

188. In the same manner, WE FOUND THAT contemplation and thought result in deeds and draw from what man secretly attaches himself to, as it is written, "The wife of the dead shall not marry abroad to a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in to her" (Devarim 25:5). Here, his thought and desire should cleave TO THE SOUL OF HIS DEAD BROTHER, and by that desire and thought he draws and does his duty, so that the dead man's name shall not be erased from the world.

188. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, הִרְהוּרָא וּמַחֲשָׁבָה, עָבֵיד עוֹבָדָא, וְאִתְמְשַׁךְ מְשִׁיכוּ, בְּכָל מַה דְּאִתְדַּבַּק בַּר נָשׁ בְּסִתְרָא, דִּכְתִיב לֹא תִהְיֶה אֵשֶׁת הַמֵּת הַחוּצָה לְאִישׁ זָר, יְבָמָהּ יָבֹא עָלֶיהָ, וְהָכָא אִצְטְרִיךְ הִרְהוּרָא וּרְעוּתָא לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא, וּבְהַהוּא רְעוּתָא וּמַחֲשָׁבָה, מָשִׁיךְ מְשִׁיכוּ, וְעָבֵיד עוֹבָדָא דְאִצְטְרִיךְ, וְלָא יִשְׁתְּצֵי שְׁמָא דְמִיתָא מֵעָלְמָא.

Breath Flow Heart Job Neshamah (Soul) Prayer Ruach (Soul) Soul (Neshamah) Soul (Ruach) Thought

189. This is the secret of the verse, "If he set his heart upon man, if he gather to himself his spirit and his breath (Ruach and Neshamah)" (Iyov 34:14). Assuredly this is so. Will and thought produce flowing and perform action in everything needed. Therefore in prayer, we need to desire and contemplate upon it. Thus, in every service of the Holy One, blessed be He, contemplation and thought act and are drawn to that which is in need of them. End of Sitrei Torah (Secrets of the Torah).

189. וְסִתְרָא דָא אִם יָשִׂים אֵלָיו לִבּוֹ רוּחוֹ וְנִשְׁמָתוֹ אֵלָיו יֶאֱסֹף, דְּהָא וַדַּאי רְעוּתָא וּמַחֲשָׁבָה, מָשִׁיךְ מְשִׁיכוּ, וְעָבֵיד עוֹבָדָא בְּכָל מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְעַל דָּא, בִּצְלוֹתָא אִצְטְרִיךְ רְעוּתָא וְהִרְהוּרָא לְכַוְּונָא, וְכֵן בְּכָל אִינוּן פּוּלְחָנִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הִרְהוּרָא וּמַחֲשָׁבָה עָבֵיד עוֹבָדָא, וּמָשִׁיךְ מְשִׁיכוּ בְּכָל מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. (עד כאן סתרי תורה)

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