Vayishlach: Chapter 15

"And Elohim went up from him"

Synopsis

Here Rabbi Shimon discusses Jacob's unique and privileged position as revealed by the title quotation. Because Jacob encompasses all the Patriarchs, he is a Holy Chariot to Zeir Anpin by himself. Indeed, his perfection was completed by the name 'Israel,' which the Shechinah bestowed upon him. We learn of the great good fortune of the children of Yisrael, who alone among nations have God to receive their prayers and petitions.

Relevance

A reading of this section helps elevate us to experience some of the perfection embodied by the Patriarchs, inspiring us to follow the path of righteousness and summon down more Light.

Astrology Chariot Jacob Moon Nukva Patriarchs Zeir Anpin

163. "And Elohim went up from him in the place where He talked with him" (Beresheet 35:13). Rabbi Shimon said, Here we learn that Jacob, together with the other Patriarchs, became a holy Chariot TO HASHEM. Come and behold, Jacob is a supernal, holy Chariot TO ZEIR ANPIN, shining on the moon, THE NUKVA. He is a Chariot by himself, BECAUSE HE INCLUDES THE PATRIARCHS, CHESED AND GVURAH, AS TIFERET INCLUDES THEM BOTH. This is the meaning of the verse, "And Elohim went up from him," AS SOMEONE ALIGHTING FROM HIS CHARIOT.

163. וַיַּעַל מֵעָלָיו אֱלֹהִים בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ, רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֲמַר מִכָּאן דְּאִתְעֲבֵיד רְתִיכָא קַדִּישָׁא, בַּהֲדֵי אֲבָהָן. וְתָא חֲזֵי, יַעֲקֹב אִיהוּ רְתִיכָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה, דְּקַיְימָא לְאַנְהָרָא לְסִיהֲרָא, וְאִיהוּ רְתִיכָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיַּעַל מֵעָלָיו אֱלֹהִים.

Grades Prayer Shechinah

164. He began the discussion with the verse, "For what nation is there so great that has Elohim so near to them, as Hashem our Elohim is in all things that we call upon Him for" (Devarim 4:4)? Come and behold, how fond the Holy One, blessed be He, is of Yisrael. No nation or tongue among all the heathen people in the world will have Elohim to receive their prayers in the way that the Holy One, blessed be He, will in the future receive the prayers and petitions of Yisrael in their hour of need, when they pray for the sake of their grade alone. (Meaning, THE SHECHINAH -- THAT IS, WHENEVER THEIR PRAYER IS FOR THE PERFECTION OF THE SHECHINAH.

164. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, כִּי מִי גּוֹי גָדוֹל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרוֹבִים אֵלָיו כַּה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ בְּכָל קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אִינוּן חֲבִיבִין יִשְׂרָאֵל קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּלֵית לָךְ עַם וְלִישָׁן בְּכָל עַמִּין עע"ז דְּעַלְמָא, דְּאִית לֵיהּ אֱלָהָא דְּיִשְׁמַע לוֹן, כְּמָה דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא זַמִּין לְקַבְּלָא צְלוֹתְהוֹן וּבָעוּתְהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּכָל שַׁעְתָּא דְאִצְטְרִיךְ לוֹן לְמִשְׁמַע צְלוֹתָא, דְאִינוּן בָּעָאן, בְּגִין הַהוּא דַרְגָּא דִלְּהוֹן.

Israel Jacob Moses Shechinah

165. Come and behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, called Jacob by the name Yisrael, NAMELY, THAT IS THE SHECHINAH DID, as it is written, "your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Yisrael shall be your name, and he called his name." Who gave him that name? The Shechinah did, as in, "and He called to Moses," WRITTEN WITH A SMALL ALEPH, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH. IT IS ALSO WRITTEN, "And Elohim said to him" (Beresheet 35:10), WHICH IS A NAME FOR THE SHECHINAH.

165. תָּא חֲזֵי, יַעֲקֹב קָרֵי לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב לֹא יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עוֹד יַעֲקֹב כִּי אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה שְׁמֶךָ, וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ, מַאן וַיִּקְרָא. דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה. וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים.

Grades Israel

166. We explained that, after he achieved perfection, he was raised in his grade, and was perfected by that name. In this manner, "and He called his name Yisrael," has already been explained.

166. לְעֵיל אוֹקִימְנָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּהָא אִשְׁתַּלֵּים בְּכֹלָּא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, וּכְדֵין אִסְתַּלַּק בְּדַרְגֵּיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּלֵים בִּשְׁמָא דָא, וְעַל דָּא וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָא אִתְּמָר.

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