Bereshit A: Chapter 11

The luminaries of the light and the luminaries of the fire

Synopsis

On the Sabbath, an immense amount of spiritual Light is revealed in the cosmos, while during the week the Light is extremely diminished. The Zohar explains how we can create a continuous connection to the Shabbath through the closing rituals of the Sabbath itself, such as reflecting candle light off the enamel of the finger nails. If we should ever fall into negativity - Heaven Forbid - no matter how deep that descent might be, reading this section can establish a life-line to the Light of The Creator.

Astrology Blessing Candles Fire Grades Light Lights Moon Point Shabbat Sun

128. "And Elohim made the two great lights" (Beresheet 1:16). The sun is one and the moon is the other. Because of this, the lights that ascend are called the luminaries of the light whereas those that descend are called luminaries of the fire. These LUMINARIES OF THE FIRE are the lower grades and rule over all the weekdays. Because of this, a blessing is recited over the candle when Shabbat ends because, at that point, THE LUMINARIES OF THE FIRE are given permission to rule again.

128. וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹקִים אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת, דָּא מָאוֹר, וְדָא מָאוֹר, בְּגִין כָּךְ אִנוּן נְהוֹרִין דְּסָלְקֵי לְעֵילָא, אִקְרוֹן מְאוֹרֵי אוֹר, וְאִנוּן נְהוֹרִין דְּנָחֲתוּ לְתַתָּא, אִקְרוֹן מְאוֹרֵי אֵשׁ, דְּאִנוּן דַּרְגִּין לְתַתָּא, וְשָׁלְטֵי כָּל יוֹמֵי דְחוֹל, וְע"ד כַּד נָפֵיק שַׁבַּתָּא מְבָרְכִין עַל שְׁרַגָא, דְּהָא אִתְיְהֵיב לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְשַׁלְטָאָה.

Fingernails Fingers Fire Grades Shabbat

129. The fingers of man represent the most hidden of all grades and secrets of the supernal world, and are divided into front and back. The back of the fingers represents the external part, an allusion to the fingernails. As such, man may look at his fingernails as Shabbat ends. As they shine by the candlelight and are bright from that fire, that rules OVER THE DAYS OF THE WEEK.

129. אֶצְבְּעָן דְּבַר נָשׁ, אִינוּן סִתְרָא דְּדַרְגִּין, וְרָזִין דִּלְעֵילָא, וְאִית בְּהוֹ פְּנִימָאִין, וַאֲחוֹרַיִם, אֲחוֹרַיִם אִנוּן לְבַר, וְאִינוּן רֶמֶז לְטוֹפְרִין דְּאֶצְבְּעָן, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִיתּ רְשׁוּ לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בַּטּוֹפְרִין בְּמ"ש, דְּהָא נָהֲרִין מֵהַהוּא שְׁרַגָּא, וְנָהֲרִין מֵהַהוּא אֵשׁ, לְשַׁלְטָאָה.

Blessing Face Fingernails Fingers Fire Shabbat

130. THE FINGERNAILS are visible, but it is not permissible to see the inner part of the fingers by this candlelight, because they shine only from above. And THE INNER PART OF THE FINGERS is called the inner face. This is the secret of the verse: "And you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen" (Shemot 33:23), which means that a person should not look at the inside of his fingers at the end of Shabbat, as he recites the blessing: 'Creator of the luminaries of the fire (Heb. bore me'orei ha'esh)'. The phrase: "And you shall see My back" refers to the external part OF THE FINGERS, which is hinted at in the fingernails AND SHINES AS SHABBAT ENDS. "But My face shall not be seen" refers to the inside of the fingers, WHICH CANNOT RECEIVE FROM THE LUMINARIES OF THE FIRE. THE INTERNAL PART OF THE FINGERS rules on Shabbat. THE EXTERNAL PART OF THE FINGERS rules during the weekdays.

130. אִלֵּין אִתְחַזְיָין אֶצְבְּעָן לְגוֹ, לָא אִית רְשׁוּ לְאִתְחַזְיָיא בְּהַהוּא שְׁרַגָּא, דְּהָא מִלְּעֵילָא נָהֲרִין, וְאִקְרוֹן פָּנִים, פְּנִימָאִין, וְרָזָא דָא וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחוֹרָי, וּפָנַי לֹא יֵרָאוּ, דְּלָא יִסְתַּכַּל בַּר נָשׁ בְּמ"שׁ בְּאֶצְבְּעָן לְגוֹ, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דַּאֲמַר בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ, וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחוֹרָי, אִלֵּין פָּנִים דִּלְבַר, דְּאִתְרְמִיזוּ בְּטוּפְרֵי, וּפָנַי לֹא יֵרָאוּ, אִלֵּין אֶצְבְּעָן לְגוֹ, אִלֵּין שָׁלְטֵי בְּשַׁבַּתָּא, וְאִלֵּין שָׁלְטֵי בַּחוֹל.

Atzilut Creation Earth Face Light Seven Shabbat Throne

131. On Shabbat day, the Holy One, blessed be He, rules alone over this inner face, sitting upon his Throne of Glory. All are included within him, and the dominion is his. This is why THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, transmits calmness to all the worlds, and the holy nation, which is called the one nation on earth, receives the inheritance of this day. The luminaries of the light ORIGINATE FROM the side of the right, which is the primal light that was on the first day OF THE SEVEN DAYS OF CREATION. THIS ALLUDES TO THE LIGHT THAT IS MENTIONED IN THE VERSE: "LET THERE BE LIGHT." On the day of Shabbat, the luminaries of the light shine alone and govern, illuminating all THE WORLDS below ATZILUT.

131. וּבְיוֹמָא דְשַׁבַּתָּא, קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שַׁלִּיט בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, בְּאִנוּן פָּנִים פְּנִימָאִין, עַל כּוּרְסֵי יְקָרֵיהּ, וְכָלְהוֹ אִתְכְּלִילָן בֵּיהּ, וְשָׁלְטָנוּתָא דִילֵיהּ אִיהוּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אַחְסִין נַיְיחָא לְכָל עָלְמִין, וְיַרְתִין יְרוּתָא דְיוֹמָא דָא עַמָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִקְרוֹן עַמָּא חַד בְּאַרְעָא. מְאוֹרֵי אוֹר מִסִּטְרָא דְּיָמִינָא, דְּאִיהוּ אוֹר קַדְמָאָה, דַּהֲוָה בְּיוֹמָא קַדְמָאָה, דִּבְיוֹמָא דְשַׁבַּתָּא, נָהֲרִין אִנוּן מְאוֹרֵי אוֹר בִּלְחוֹדַיְיהוּ, וְשָׁלְטִין, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ נָהֲרִין כָּלְהוֹ לְתַתָּא.

Candles Fire Light Shabbat

132. When Shabbat is over, the luminaries of the light are hidden and the luminaries of the fire govern THE WORLDS, WITH each and everyone in its place. THAT IS, THE LUMINARIES OF LIGHT RULE DURING SHABBAT AND THE LUMINARIES OF FIRE DURING WEEKDAYS. HE ASKS: When do they rule? HE REPLIED, From the end of Shabbat until Shabbat eve. Thus, it is necessary to receive light from that candle, as Shabbat ends.

132. וְכַד נָפֵיק שַׁבַּתָּא, גְּנִיזִין מְאוֹרֵי אוֹר, דְּלָא אִתְגַּלְיָין, וּמְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ שָׁלְטִין, כָּל חַד וְחַד עַל דּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ. אֵימָתַי שָׁלְטִין, בְּמ"ש עַד מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְּשַׁבַּתָּא, וְעַל דָּא אִצְטְרִיכוּ לְאִתְנַהֲרָא מֵהַהוּא שְׁרַגָּא בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת.

Eyes Ezekiel Living Creatures Metatron Wheel

133. The verse: "And the living creatures ran and returned" (Yechezkel 1:1 4) MEANS THAT the eye is not able to observe the revealed living creatures as they run to and fro. THIS REFERS TO THE LOWER LIVING CREATURES, OF WHICH IT IS WRITTEN: "AND YOU SHALL SEE MY BACK." This is because the wheel (Heb. ofan) that is stationed in their midst is Metatron, who is far greater and more important than the rest of THE LIVING CREATURES. HE IS higher than they by 500 parasangs.

133. וְהַחַיּוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב, דְּלָא יָכֵיל עֵינָא לְמִשְׁלַט בְּהוֹ, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב, חַיּוֹת דְּאִתְגַּלְּיָין אִנוּן, דְּהַהוּא אוֹפָן קָאֵים בְּגַוַּויְיהוּ, וּמָאן אִיהוּ דָּא מטטרון, אִנוּן רב ויקיר משאר אִלֵּין, וְעִלָּאָה חֲמֵשׁ מְאָה פַּרְסֵי.

Chariot Endlessness Grades Hebrew Letters Living Creatures Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

134. The concealed living creatures are hidden beneath the upper concealed letters, Yud-Hei OF THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI, which govern Vav-Hei OF THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI. The ones are a Chariot for the others; THAT IS, THE LETTERS VAV-HEI ARE A CHARIOT FOR THE LETTERS YUD-HEI. THIS MEANS THAT THEY REVEAL THEIR ILLUMINATION AS A RIDER IS SEEN IN HIS CHARIOT. AS A RESULT, BY REVEALING THEIR ILLUMINATION, THE LOWER LIVING CREATURES ARE A CHARIOT FOR THE UPPER LIVING CREATURES. And that which is most concealed, which is completely unknown, IS THE SECRET OF THE ENDLESSNESS LIGHT, WHICH IS HINTED AT BY THE TIP OF THE LETTER YUD OF THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI. It controls everything and rides upon them all, WHICH MEANS THAT ALL THE GRADES MANIFEST ITS DOMINION OVER THE WORLDS. The living creatures, which are revealed, are down below the upper and concealed living creatures. Their illumination comes from them, and they travel according to them. IN OTHER WORDS, THE LOWER LIVING CREATURES HAVE NO MOTIVATION OF THEIR OWN, EXCEPT FOR WHAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE UPPER LIVING CREATURES.

134. חַיּוֹת דְּמִטַּמְרָן, אִנוּן תְּחוֹת תְּרֵין אַתְוָון עִלָּאִין דְּאִתְכַּסְיָין, י"ה, אַתְוָון שַׁלִּיטִין עַל ו"ה, אִלֵּין רְתִיכָא לְאִלֵּין, וְהַהוּא טְמִירָא לְכָל טְמִירִין דְּלָא אִתְיְיַדע כְּלָל, שַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא, וְרָכֵיב עַל כֹּלָּא, חַיּוֹת דְּאִתְגַּלְּיָין אִנוּן לְתַתָּא, תְּחוֹת אִלֵּין עִלָּאִין דְּמִטַּמְרָן, וְאִתְנַהֲרָן מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְנָטְלִין בְּגִינַיְיהוּ.

Colors Ezekiel Firmaments Head Heaven Lights Likenesses Living Creatures

135. The upper living creatures, WHO ARE CONCEALED, are all included in the "firmament of heaven" as it is written of them: "Let there be luminaries in the firmament of heaven" (Beresheet 1:14). The verse: "And let there be for luminaries in the firmament of heaven" INFORMS US that all THE LIGHTS are suspended from that "firmament of heaven." That is the firmament above the living creatures, about which it is written: "And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, as the color of the terrible ice" (Yechezkel 1:22). This is the primal FIRMAMENT.

135. חַיּוֹת עִלָּאִין, כָּלְהוֹ כְּלִילָן בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, וַעֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, וְהָיוּ לִמְאוֹרוֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, כָּלְהוֹ תַּלְיָין בְּהַהוּא רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, רָקִיעַ שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי הַחַיּוֹת, דָּא הַהוּא דִכְתִיב וּדְמוּת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח, דָּא הַהוּא קַדְמוֹן.

Firmaments Form Point Thought

136. From this point upward, ABOVE THE PRIMAL FIRMAMENT, no person can comprehend or grasp any thoughts because they are concealed within THE SECRET OF Thought. The thought of the Holy One, blessed be He, is hidden and concealed above; nobody can conceive and understand man's thought. Even more true is that nobody can understand anything originating in supernal Thought. The actual Thought itself is all the more BEYOND ANY PERSON'S ABILITY TO GRASP. More inner than thought - WHICH IS BINAH - who may form any idea OF SUCH A CONCEPT? There is no understanding at all; not enough to even ask a question, not to mention comprehending the answer.

136. דְּהָא מִתַּמָּן וּלְהָלְאָה, לֵית מָאן דְּיָכֵיל לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא וּלְמִנְדַע. מ"ט, מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיהוּ סָתִים בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה, וּמַחֲשָׁבָה דְּקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, טְמִירָא סְתִימָא עִלָּאָה, מַחֲשָׁבָה דְּבַר נָשׁ, בְּכָל עָלְמָא, לָא יָכֵיל לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא וּלְמִנְדַע לָהּ, מִלִּין דְּתַלְיָין בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה עִלָּאָה, לֵית מָאן דְּיָכֵיל לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא לוֹן, מַחֲשָׁבָה מַמָּשׁ עאכ"ו לְגוֹ מִן מַחֲשָׁבָה מַאן אִיהוּ דַּעֲבֵיד רַעֲיוֹנֵי, דְּהָא לֵית סוּכְלְתָנוּ לְמִשְׁאַל, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן לְמִנְדַע.

<
>