Vayetze: Chapter 43

"And angels of Elohim met him"

Synopsis

This last passage of the section reiterates some of the first principles of Kabbalah, the existence in all things of an eternal male and female. This reflects the underlying duality of God's creation - which paradoxically also contains the idea of an eternal reality where 'all is one.'

Relevance

The terms "male" and "female" are code words denoting two basic traits of humanity, Desire to Share and the Desire to Receive, respectively. Balancing these two traits is critical if we are two achieve fulfillment and Light in our lives. The wisdom to manage our sharing and receiving attributes is stimulated within us so that we can reconcile and unify these opposite qualities for the purpose of reuniting with the Light of the Creator.

Angels Bread Creation Eyes Female Heart Jacob Male Torah Wine Zeir Anpin

384. "And Jacob went on his way, and angels of Elohim met him..." (Beresheet 32:2). Rabbi Aba began with the verse, "male and female He created them" (Beresheet 5:2). How much it behooves us to look into the words of the Torah, THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Woe to all the hard hearted and blindfolded, WHO CLEAVE TO THE LEFT COLUMN, BLOCKED FROM CHOCHMAH, WHICH IS 'EYES,' AND FROM BINAH, CALLED 'HEART.' For the Torah, WHICH IS OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, calls to them, "Come, eat of my bread (WHICH IS DRAWN FROM THE RIGHT COLUMN OF THE TORAH), and drink of the wine which I have mingled (WHICH IS DRAWN FROM THE LEFT COLUMN OF THE TORAH)" (Mishlei 9:5). "Whoever is simple, WHOEVER CLINGS TO THE LEFT, let him turn in here, as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him" (Mishlei 9:4). But there is no one to pay attention to her.

384. וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹקִים. רִבִּי אַבָּא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם וגו,' כַּמָּה אִית לָן לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בְּמִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וַוי לוֹן, לְאִינוּן אֲטִימֵי לִבָּא, וּסְתִימִין עַיְינִין, הָא אוֹרַיְיתָא קָארֵי קַמַּיְיהוּ, לְכוּ לַחֲמוּ בְלַחְמִי וּשְׁתוּ בְּיַיִן מָסָכְתִּי. מִי פֶּתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה חֲסַר לֵב אָמְרָה לוֹ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַשְׁגַּח.

Adam Astrology Blessing Creation Eve Female Habakkuk Male Moon Sun

385. Come and behold, "MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM," for it contains deep mysteries. It alludes inwardly TO THE MALE AND FEMALE and outwardly TO ADAM AND EVE. THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INNER MALE AND FEMALE, IN GREATNESS, AND A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OUTER MALE AND FEMALE, IN SMALLNESS. It may be understood in this INNER manner, and that OUTER manner. One way to understand this is that the sun and moon, MALE AND FEMALE, are bound as one, about which it is written, "He created them," and "The sun and moon stood still in her habitation" (Chavakuk 3:11). THEY ARE THE SECRET OF THE INNER MALE AND FEMALE. It is also understood FROM THIS VERSE that Adam and Eve were created AND COME from the union OF THE SUPERNAL, OUTER MALE AND FEMALE. Once they were joined as one, Elohim "blessed them" (Beresheet 5:2). This is because blessing dwells only where male and female are found.

385. תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי קְרָא, אִית בֵּיהּ רָזִין עִלָאִין, אִיהוּ לְגוֹ, וְאִיהוּ לְבַר. זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם, אִשְׁתְּמַע לְהַאי גַוְונָא, וְאִשְׁתְּמַע לְהַאי גַוְונָא, וְאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּשִׁמְשָׁא וְסִיהֲרָא בְּחִבּוּרָא חָדָא אִינוּן, דִּכְתִיב בְּרָאָם, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר שֶׁמֶשׁ יָרֵחַ עָמַד זְבוּלָה. וְאִשְׁתְּמַע, דְּאָדָם וְחַוָּה, כַּחֲדָא אִתְבְּרִיאוּ, בְּזִוּוּגָא חַד, וְכֵיוָן דְּאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ בְּזִוּוּגָא חַד, מִיָּד וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם, דְּלֵית בִּרְכָתָא שַׁרְיָא, אֶלָּא בַּאֲתַר דְּאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא.

Angels Camp Dreams Haran Jacob Marriage Tribes

386. Come and behold, when Jacob turned to go toward Charan, he was unmarried. It is written, "And he lighted on a certain place" (Beresheet 28:11). Then he was answered only in a dream. After he was married and came to all the tribes, the supernal camps met him and entreated him, as it is written, "And angels of Elohim met (also: 'entreated') him." Now they came to meet him, NAMELY, TO ENTREAT HIM. First he WAS BEGGING, as it is written, "And he lighted (Heb. vayifga) on a certain place." Now they BEGGED, AS IT IS WRITTEN "and angels of Elohim met (Heb. vayifgeu) him."

386. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד נְפַק יַעֲקֹב לְמֵיהַךְ לְחָרָן, בִּלְחוֹדוֹי הֲוָה, דְּלָא אִתְנְסֵיב, מַה כְּתִיב וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם וגו,' וְלָא אָתִיבוּ לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא בְּחֶלְמָא, הַשְׁתָּא דְאִנְסִיב, וַהֲוָה אָתֵי בְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְטִין, כִּבְיָכוֹל מַשִּׁרְיָין עִלָּאִין, פָּגְעִין בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְחַנְּנוּ לֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ, אִינוּן אַהֲדָרוּ לְמִפְגַּע בֵּיהּ. בְּקַדְמֵיתָא אִיהוּ וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם, הַשְׁתָּא אִינוּן וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ.

Angels Camp Dreams Eyes Jacob Nukva Seas Tribes Water

387. The reason is that Jacob and the tribes were given water from the great sea, THE PLENTY OF THE NUKVA AT TIME OF GREATNESS, THEN CALLED THE 'GREAT SEA.' THEY THEREFORE ENTREATED HIM TO DRAW PLENTY ON THEM. Also, at first, he saw them at night in a dream, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "AND HE DREAMED...AND BEHOLD THE ANGELS OF ELOHIM ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON IT." Now he saw them with his eyes during the daytime, as it is written, "And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is Elohim's camp" (Beresheet 32:2).

387. בְּגִין דִּבְגִינֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, וּבְאִינוּן שִׁבְטִין, אִתְשַׁקְיָין אִינוּן, מִמַּיָא דְיַמָּא רַבָּא, וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא בַּלַּיְלָה בְּחֶלְמָא. הַשְׁתָּא בְּחֵיזוּ דְעֵינָא, וּבִימָמָא. הה"ד וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹהִים זֶה וגו.'

Angels Camp Dreams

388. HE ASKS, How did he recognize them TO BE ANGELS OF ELOHIM? HE ANSWERS, He saw they were the same angels as in his dream. He therefore called them "Machanayim (lit. 'two camps')," THAT IS, AFTER THE VERSE, "AND BEHOLD THE ANGELS OF ELOHIM ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON IT," WHOM HE SAW IN HIS DREAM. Those who were seen above and below FORMED TWO CAMPS.

388. בַּמֶּה אִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע לוֹן, אֶלָא חָמָא, דְּאינוּן הֲווֹ, אִינוּן דְּחָמָא בְּחֶלְמָא, בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ קָרָא לוֹן מַחֲנָיִם, מַשִּׁרְיָין דְּאִתְחֲזוּ לְעֵילָא, וּמַשִּׁרְיָין דְּאִתְחֲזוּ לְתַתָּא.

Angels Benjamin Fear House Jacob Jeremiah Shechinah Twelve Twelve Tribes of Israel

389. HE ASKS, Why were THE ANGELS now revealed to him to entreat him? HE ANSWERS, The Shechinah went to take Jacob his house ?, SO AS TO HAVE JACOB'S WHOLE HOUSEHOLD. THE SHECHINAH waited for Benjamin to take the house together with Jacob properly, NAMELY, WITH ALL THE TWELVE TRIBES. THE ANGELS WERE THEN REVEALED TO HIM, TO COMPLETE HIM. Then scripture reads, "And Jacob shall return, and be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid" (Yirmeyah 46:27).

389. אַמַּאי אִתְגַּלִּיאוּ לְמִפְגַע לֵיהּ. אֶלָא שְׁכִינְתָּא אָזְלָא לְגַבֵּיהּ, לְנַטְלָא לְבֵיתֵיהּ, וּמְחַכָּא לֵיהּ לְבִנְיָמִן, לְנַטְלָא בֵּיתָא עִמֵּיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, וּכְדֵין כְּתִיב וְשָׁב יַעֲקֹב וְשָׁקַט וְשַׁאֲנָן וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד.

Angels Camp Jacob Shields Sword

390. Sitrei Torah (Secrets of the Torah). "And Jacob went on his way, and angels of Elohim met him." Mishen, The shields of the ministers are standing upright, and the bright blade of the revolving sword is appointed over all the armies and camps.

390. (סתרי תורה) וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹקִים. מַתְנִיתִין, תּוֹקְפֵי דְהוּרְמְנֵי, זְקִיפִין מִלְּעֵילָא, וְשִׁנְּנָא דְחַרְבָּא דִמְלַהֲטָא מְמַנָּא עַל כָּל חֵילִין וּמַשִּׁרְיָין.

Angels Blood Grades Red Sword Women

391. That bright, revolving sword is a red sword, about which it is written, "The sword of Hashem is filled with blood" (Yeshayah 34:6). On this sword the revolving OF THE ANGELS WHO ARE now men, now women, depends. From this ASPECT several other aspects of grades are derived.

391. הַהוּא חַרְבָּא מְלַהֲטָא, הִיא חַרְבָּא סוּמְקָא, דִּכְתִיב חֶרֶב לַיי' מָלְאָה דָם, הַהוּא חַרְבָּא, דְּתַלְיָא בֵיהּ הִפּוּכָא, אִינוּן דִּמְהַפְּכֵי לְכַמָּה גְוָונִין, הוּא נַשְׁיָין, הוּא גוּבְרִין, בְּסִטְרִין סַגִּיאִין, מִתְפָּרְשִׁין גְּוָונִין אָחֳרָנִין לְכַמָּה דַרְגִּין.

Dew Heaven Jacob Mochin Pearls Pillar Throne Tree Tree of Life Wind

392. From the side of the Tree of Life come those who are joined by the union of the bond. These holy ones are always filled by the dew of the heaven. THEY ARE CALLED THE 'DEW OF HEAVEN.' The name of Elohim is perfected through them. By the four winds of the world, THE MOCHIN WERE MADE for the legs of the throne. They are all pearls, limbs and pillars, and are never divided from that name. They are tied to Jacob, who chose them as his portion, and was perfected with this name. They all issued from Jacob.

392. מִסִּטְרָא דְאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, נָפְקֵי אִינוּן, דְּמִתְיַחֲדֵי בְּיִחוּדָא בְּקִשּׁוּרָא. קַדִּישִׁין אִלֵּין, אִשְׁתָּאֲבָן תָּדִיר מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם, שְׁמֵיהּ דֵּאלֹקִים, אִתְתַּקֵּין בְּהוֹ. בְּאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעָלְמָא, אִתְעֲבִידוּ סַמְכִין דְּכָרְסְיָיא, כֻּלְּהוּ מַרְגְּלִיטִין, שַׁיְיפִין וְסַמְכִין, לָא מִתְפָּרְשִׁין לְעַלְמָא, מִגּוֹ דָא שְׁמָא, אִינוּן קִשּׁוּרִין דְּיַעֲקֹב, דְּבָרֵיר לְחוּלָקֵיהּ, וּמִתְקַשְּׁרָן בִּשְׁמָא דָא, כֻּלְּהוּ נָפְקוּ בְּיַעֲקֹב.

Camp Corners Jacob Tree

393. When Jacob went on his way, the four sides, the four corners of the world, surrounded and guarded him. Only for a short time did the supernal place stir in order to maintain the tree below. Then "And Jacob said, when he saw them 'this is a camp (Heb. machaneh) of Elohim'" then "he called the place Machanaim" (Beresheet 32:3).

393. כַּד נָפַק לְמֵיזַל לְאָרְחֵיהּ, לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין אֲקִיפוּ לֵיהּ, לְאַרְבַּע זָוְויָין דְּעַלְמָא נָטְרוּ לֵיהּ, בְּשַׁעְתָּא קַלָּה אִתְרְגֵישׁ מֵאִילָנָא לְעֵילָא, לְמִיטַר אִילָנָא דִלְתַתָּא, וּכְדֵין וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹקִים זֶה. כְּדֵין וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא מַחֲנָיִם.

394. FROM HERE UNTIL THE END OF THE PORTION HAS BEEN EXPLAINED ABOVE, VERSES 246-251.

394. אֲמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, תָּא חֲזֵי שְׁלֵמוּתֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, דְּלָא בָּעֵי לְמֵיזַל אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ דְּלָבָן, וְאִי תֵימָא, זִמְנָא אָחֳרָא אַמַּאי לָא, אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּדָחֵיל יַעֲקֹב, דְּלָא יִשְׁבּוֹק לֵיהּ, וְיִשְׁתְּלִימוּ תְּרֵיסַר שִׁבְטִין בְּאַרְעָא אָחֳרָא, וְע"ד כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא דְּמָטָא שַׁעְתָּא דְבִנְיָמִין, בָּרַח, כד"א וַיִּבְרַח הוּא וְכָל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ. דְּכֵיוָן דְּאִתְיְלֵיד בִּנְיָמִן, אִתְקַשַּׁר שְׁכִינְתָּא בְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְטִין, וּנְטַל בֵּיתָא בְהוֹ. וְיַעֲקֹב הֲוָה יָדַע בְּרוּחָא דְחָכְמְתָא, דְּכַד יִשְׁתַּלִּימוּ תְּרֵיסַר שִׁבְטִין, דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא תִּתְקַשַּׁר בְּהוֹ, וְרָחֵל תָּמוּת, וְאִיהִי נָטְלָא בֵּיתָא.

395. SEE VERSES 246-251.

395. וְתָא חֲזֵי, הָכֵי אוֹלִיפְנָא, עַלְמָא תַּתָּאָה, אִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, כְּמָה דְּאִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ לְמשֶׁה, אֶלָּא דְּלָא יְכֵילַת, עַד דַּהֲווֹ י"ב שִׁבְטִין בְּבֵיתָא, לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא בְּהוֹ. וּכְדֵין, אִתְדַּחְיַית רָחֵל, וּנְטָלַת אִיהִי בֵּיתָא, בְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְטִין, וַהֲוַת עִקְרָא דְּבֵיתָא, וּכְדֵין מוֹשִׁיבִי עֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת, אֲמַר יַעֲקֹב, הָא מָטָא זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׁתַּלִּימוּ י"ב שִׁבְטִין, וּוַדַּאי עַלְמָא דִלְעֵילָא יֵיחוֹת לֵיהּ לְבֵיתָא, וְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא בְּהוֹ, וּמִסְכְּנָתָא דָא אִתְדַּחְיָיא קַמֵּיהּ, אִי תֵימוּת הָכָא, לָא אֶפּוֹק מִכָּאן לְעָלְמִין. וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא בְּאַרְעָא דָא, לָא אִתְחֲזֵי לְאַשְׁלָמָא בֵּיתָא, בְּגִין כָּךְ, וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה רָחֵל אֶת יוֹסֵף, עַד לָא יִשְׁתַּלִּימוּ שִׁבְטִין.

396. SEE VERSES 246-251.

396. שְׁמַע רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אֲמַר, וַדַּאי כָּל מִלּוֹי דְּרִבִּי יְהוּדָה שַׁפִּיר, וְדָא סָלֵיק עַל כֹּלָּא. וְאִי תֵימָא, אַמַּאי לָא אָזַל לֵיהּ לְאָרְחֵיהּ מִיָּד. אֶלָּא, כָּל זִמְנָא דְרָחֵל לָא מִתְעַבְּרָא מִבִּנְיָמִן, אִתְעַכַּב תַּמָּן, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא זִמְנָא דְּבִנְיָמִן. עָרַק, וְלָא בָעָא רְשׁוּתָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִתְעַכַּב תַּמָּן, וְאִתְחַבַּר יַעֲקֹב בְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְטִין, בַּאֲתַר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ.

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