Lech Lecha: Chapter 22

"As the apple tree among the trees of the forest"

Synopsis

The Zohar tells us that Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Chizkiyah were lodging at an inexpensive inn located in the city of Lod. Kabbalistically, these two great sages are actually occupying a specific spiritual dimension as they discuss the many layers of meaning in Biblical scripture. Specifically, these two spiritual giants are discussing a verse in the Torah that tells of an apple tree in the midst of a forest.

Relevance

As the two mystics explore the various Lights and spiritual forces concealed within the text of the Torah, the letters that form this Kabbalistic story arouse our appreciation for the depth, richness, and spiritual Light contained in each word and verse of the Torah.

Torah

195. Rabbi Elazar came to an inn in Lod together with Rabbi Chizkiyah. Rabbi Elazar got up during the night to study Torah. Rabbi Chizkiyah stood by him, BECAUSE THE PLACE WAS SMALL. Rabbi Elazar said, The friends always meet in a narrow place. HE MEANT THAT BECAUSE THE FRIENDS STUDY TORAH MUCH OF THE TIME AND WORK ONLY A LITTLE, THEY MEET IN SMALL AND NARROW INNS; THEY HAVE NO MONEY TO RENT LARGE ROOMS.

195. ר' אֶלְעָזָר אִעֲרַע בְּבֵי אוּשְׁפִּיזָא בְּלוּד, וַהֲוָה עִמֵּיהּ רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה. קָם בְּלֵילְיָא לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, קָם רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה גַּבֵּיהּ, אָמַר לוֹ ר' אֶלְעָזָר, בְּקִיסְטְרָא דְּקוּסְטָא, חַבְרַיְיא שְׁכִיחֵי.

Apples Colors Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Red Seventy Tree

196. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion by saying, "As the apple tree among the trees of the forest..." (Shir Hashirim 2:3). "The apple tree" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, who is precious and decorated by His colors. HIS COLORS - WHITE, RED, AND GREEN - ARE THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLUMNS OF CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET. His tree has no equal among all the other trees, WHICH REPRESENT THE SEVENTY GOVERNORS WHO IMITATE THE HOLINESS, AS AN APE DOES A MAN. He is distinguished from them all, and there is no one like Him.

196. פָּתַח ר' אֶלְעָזָר וְאָמַר, כְּתַפּוּחַ בַּעֲצֵי הַיַּעַר וגו'. כְּתַפּוּחַ, דָּא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּאִיהוּ חָמִיד וּמִתְעַטַּר בִּגְוָונוֹי, מִכָּל שְׁאָר אִילָנִין, דְּלָא אִית דְּדָמֵי לֵיהּ. רָשִׁים אִיהוּ מִכֹּלָּא, רָשִׁים הוּא, דְּלֵית אָחֳרָא כַּוָּותֵיהּ.

Abraham Figs Fruit Isaac Seventy Shadow Shechinah Sin Tree Zeir Anpin

197. Because of this, "I sat down under his shadow with great delight." (Ibid.) The verse reads, "under his shadow," and not under any anyone else's, BECAUSE, BEFORE SHE WAS PROPERLY ESTABLISHED AND WELL AMENDED, THE SHECHINAH LAY UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE LEAVES OF THE FIG TREE. SO "UNDER HIS SHADOW" AND NOT UNDER ANY OTHER'S ALLUDES TO THE OTHER SEVENTY GOVERNORS. "With great delight:" HE ASKS, Since when? WE CANNOT SAY THAT SHE HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED GREAT DELIGHT, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE SIN WHEN SHE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE SEVENTY GOVERNORS!" AND HE SAYS, This is from the day when Abraham came to this world, who loved the Holy One, blessed be He. It is written, "Abraham my beloved" (Yeshayah 41:8), BECAUSE HE FULLY AMENDED THE SHECHINAH AND SHE WAS UNITED AGAIN WITH ZEIR ANPIN." "His fruit was sweet to my taste" refers to Isaac, who is the holy fruit OF ABRAHAM.

197. בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ, בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַדְתִּי. בְּצִלּוֹ: וְלָא בְּצִלָּא אָחֳרָא. בְּצִלוֹ: וְלָא בְצִלָּא דִּשְׁאָר מְמַנָּן. חִמַּדְתִּי, אֵימָתַי, מִן יוֹמָא דַּהֲוָה אַבְרָהָם בְּעָלְמָא, דְּאִיהוּ חָמִיד וְרָחִים לֵיהּ לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאַהֲבָה. כְּד"א אַבְרָהָם אוֹהֲבִי. וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי, דָּא הוּא יִצְחָק, דְּאִיהוּ אִיבָּא קַדִּישָׁא.

Ephraim Fruit Jacob Jeremiah Joseph Righteous Shadow Soul, The

198. Another explanation of the verse, "I sat down under his shadow with great delight," is that it refers to Jacob, WHO IS THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN. "And his fruit was sweet to my taste" refers to Joseph the righteous, WHO IS THE SECRET OF YESOD, who brought forth holy fruits to the world, NAMELY SOULS. Therefore, it is written, "These are the generations of Jacob, Joseph" (Beresheet 37:2), which shows that all the generations of Jacob are established by Joseph the righteous, WHO IS THE ASPECT OF THE YESOD OF JACOB. And because of this Yisrael is called by the name of Ephraim, as it is written, "Ephraim my dear son" (Yirmeyah 31:19).

198. דָּבָר אֲחֵר, בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי, דָּא יַעֲקֹב. וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי, דָּא יוֹסֵף הַצַּדִּיק, דַּעֲבַד פֵּירִין קַדִּישִׁין בְּעָלְמָא. וְע"ד כְּתִיב אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף. דְּכָל אִינוּן תּוֹלְדוֹת דְּיַעֲקֹב בְּיוֹסֵף הַצַּדִּיק קָיְימֵי, דַּעֲבֵיד תּוֹלְדוֹת. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, אִקְרוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל שְׁמָא דְאֶפְרַיִם, דִּכְתִיב הֲבֵן יַקִּיר לִי אֶפְרַיִם וגו'.

Abraham Apples Ezekiel Faith Tree

199. Another explanation of the verse "as the apple tree among the trees of the forest" is that the words refer to Abraham, who was like a fragrant apple tree and was distinguished from others of his generation by his complete faith. And he became distinguished as one both above and below. As is written, "Abraham was one" (Yechezkel 33:24).

199. דָּבָר אֲחֵר כְּתַפּוּחַ בַּעֲצֵי הַיַּעַר. דָּא אַבְרָהָם. דְּדָמֵי לֵיהּ לְתַפּוּחַ, דְּסָלֵיק רֵיחִין, וְאִתְרְשִׁים בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא, עַל כָּל בְּנֵי דָרֵיהּ, וְאִתְרְשִׁים חַד לְעֵילָא, וְאִתְרְשִׁים חַד לְתַתָּא, דִּכְתִיב אֶחָד הָיָה אַבְרָהָם.

Abraham Converts Faith Grades Haran Sarah Soul, The Women

200. HE ASKS, Why was he 'one'?" AND HE SAYS, Because there was no other then in the world, who had elevated himself by the faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, besides him. Rabbi Chizkiyah said to him, But it is written, "and the souls that they had made in Charan," WHICH MEANS THAT ABRAHAM BROUGHT MEN AND SARAH BROUGHT WOMEN TO BE CONVERTED. SO THERE WERE PEOPLE WITH FAITH IN THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, BESIDES HIM! He told him, Nevertheless, they did not reach the supernal grades with which Abraham was adorned!

200. מַאי טַעְמָא הֲוָה אֶחָד. דְּלָא הֲוָה אָחֳרָא בְּעָלְמָא, דִי סָלֵיק לִמְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בַּר אִיהוּ. אָמַר לוֹ ר' חִזְקִיָּה, וְהָא כְתִיב וְאֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ בְחָרָן. אָמַר לוֹ עַד כְּעָן, אִינוּן לָא הֲווֹ בְּדַרְגִּין עִלָאִין, דְּאִתְעַטַּר בְּהוֹ אַבְרָהָם.

Abraham Apples Colors Isaac Jacob Red Tree White

201. Later, he said to him, I have also heard that Abraham was not referred to as one, until he became united with Isaac and Jacob. Only after he became associated with Isaac and Jacob and the three were the fathers of the world was Abraham named "one." THIS MEANS THAT ONLY AFTER HE COMBINED ALL THREE COLUMNS TO ONE WAS HE NAMED one;" then he was CALLED the apple tree of the world, WHICH WAS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS THREE COLORS (WHITE, RED, AND GREEN), WHICH ALLUDE TO THE THREE COLUMNS. "Thus, he was distinguished and different from all the people of his generation." He responded to him, Well said!

201. לְבָתַר אָמַר לוֹ, תוּ שְׁמַעְנָא, דְּלָא אִקְרֵי אַבְרָהָם אֶחָד, עַד דְּאִסְתַּלַּק בְּיִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתַּלַּק בְּיִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, וַהֲווֹ כָּלְהוֹ תְּלָתְהוֹן אֲבָהָן דְּעָלְמָא, כְּדֵין אִקְרֵי אַבְרָהָם אֶחָד. וּכְדֵין הוּא תַּפּוּחַ בְּעָלְמָא. רְשִׁים מִכָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ שַׁפִּיר קָא אֲמַרְתְּ.

Apples Mount Sinai Shadow Shechinah Torah Tree

202. A different explanation of the verse, "As the apple tree among the trees of the forest," is that it refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, THE RIGHT COLUMN; "so is my beloved" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, THE LEFT COLUMN; AND "under his shadow" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. "I sat down...with great delight" refers to the day on which the Holy One, blessed be He, appeared on Mount Sinai, and Yisrael received Torah and said, "Will we do, and obey" (Shemot 24:7). THEN, THE SHECHINAH SAID, "I SAT DOWN...WITH GREAT DELIGHT."

202. דָּבָר אֲחֵר, כְּתַפּוּחַ בַּעֲצֵי הַיַּעַר, דָּא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. כֵּן דּוֹדִי, דָּא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בְּצִלּוֹ, דָּא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. חִמַדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי, בְּיוֹמָא דְאִתְגְּלֵי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עַל טוּרָא דְסִינַי, וְקַבִּילוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹרַיְיתָא, וַאֲמָרוּ נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמַע.

Fruit Honey Righteous Soul, The Torah

203. "And his fruit was sweet to my taste" refers to the words of Torah, which are described as "sweeter than honey and the honeycomb" (Tehilim 19:11). According to another explanation, "And his fruit was sweet to my taste" refers to the souls of the righteous, who are all the fruit of the handiwork of the Holy One, blessed be He, and abide with Him above.

203. וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי. אִלֵּין מִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דִּכְתִיב בְּהוֹ וּמְתוּקִים מִדְּבַשׁ וְנוֹפֶת צוּפִים. דָּבָר אֲחֵר וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי, אִלֵּין נִשְׁמַתְהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָא, דְּכָלְהוֹ אִיבָּא דְּעוֹבָדוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְקָיְימֵי עִמֵּיהּ לְעֵילָא.

Female Fruit Male Soul, The

204. Come and behold, All the souls in the world, who are the fruit of the handiwork of the Holy One, blessed be He, are one in the same secret. IN THE UPPER WORLD, THEY ARE NOT YET DISTINGUISHED AS MALE AND FEMALE. Only when they descend to the world are their souls separated to male and female. And every soul has a male and female part, united together as one.

204. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל נִשְׁמָתִין דְּעָלְמָא, דְּאִינוּן אִיבָּא דְּעוֹבָדוֹי דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כָּלְהוֹ חַד, בְּרָזָא חַד, וְכַד נָחֲתֵי לְעָלְמָא, כָּלְהוֹ מִתְפָּרְשִׁין, בִּגְוָונִין דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא, וְאִינוּן דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא מְחוּבָּרִין כַּחֲדָא.

Female Male Nefesh (Soul) Soul (Nefesh)

205. Come and behold, the passion of the female to the male brings forth a Nefesh. And the passion of the male towards the female, and his clinging to her, also brings forth a Nefesh, which includes THE NEFESH FROM the passion of the female. Thus the passion of the lower, THE FEMALE, is united with the passion of the upper, THE MALE, and BOTH NEFASHOT become one desire without any separation.

205. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, תֵּיאוּבְתָּא דְנוּקְבָא לְגַבֵּי דְכוּרָא, עָבֵיד נְפָשׁ. וּרְעוּתָא דְּתֵיאוּבְתָּא דִּדְכוּרָא, לְגַבֵּי נוּקְבָא, וְאִתְדַּבְּקוּתָא דִילֵיהּ בָּהּ, אַפֵּיק נְפָשׁ, וְכָלֵיל תֵּיאוּבְתָּא דְנוּקְבָא, וְנָטֵיל לָהּ. וְאִתְכְּלֵיל תֵּיאוּבְתָּא תַּתָּאָה, בְּתֵיאוּבְתָּא דִּלְעֵילָא, וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ רְעוּתָא חָדָא, בְּלָא פֵּרוּדָא.

Female Male Pregnancy Soul, The

206. Then the female includes everything within herself BY TAKING BOTH NEFASHOT and becoming pregnant with them through the male. And the passion of both of them conjoins them as one. Therefore, each is included within the other. And when the souls come out, male and female are within them together, as one.

206. וּכְדֵין כָּלִיל כֹּלָא נוּקְבָא, וְאִתְעַבְּרַת מִן דְּכוּרָא, וְתֵיאוּבְתִּין דְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ מִתְדַּבְּקָן כַּחֲדָא, וְעַל דָּא, כֹּלָּא כָּלִיל דָּא בְּדָא. וְכַד נִשְׁמָתִין נָפְקִין, דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא כַּחֲדָא נָפְקִין.

Female Key Male Soul, The

207. Later, when they descend TO THIS WORLD, they are separated from each other, THE MALE FROM THE FEMALE. Each one turns his way. And the Holy One, blessed be He, mates them again. The key to mating them is given only to the Holy One, blessed be He. Only He knows the proper mate for each to properly reunite them, SO THE MALE AND FEMALE WILL BE OF THE SAME SOUL.

207. לְבָתַר, כֵּיוָן דְּנָחֲתֵי, מִתְפָּרְשָׁן דָּא לְסִטְרָא דָא, וְדָא לְסִטְרָא דָא, וְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְזַוֵּוג לוֹן לְבָתַר. וְלָא אִתְיְיהֵיב זִוּוּגָא לְאָחֳרָא, אֶלָּא לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דְּאִיהוּ יָדַע זִוּוּגָא דִּלְהוֹן לְחַבְּרָא לוֹן כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Deeds Female Fruit Male Nefesh (Soul) Soulmates Soul (Nefesh)

208. Happy is the person who is meritorious in his deeds and walks the Path of Truth, so they will unite one Nefesh with the other, THE MALE WITH THE FEMALE, as they were before THEY CAME TO THIS WORLD. For if he is worthy in deeds, he is a complete man. BUT IF HE IS NOT MERITORIOUS, THAN HE SHALL NOT BE GIVEN HIS SOUL MATE. This is why it is written about him, "And his fruit is sweet to my taste." Because this man is blessed with reunion OF MALE AND FEMALE, AS IT SHOULD PROPERLY BE. And the world is blessed by him THROUGH HIS SWEET FRUIT, NAMELY GOODLY CHILDREN, because everything depends on whether a person's actions have been meritorious or not.

208. זַכָּאָה הוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דְּזָכֵי בְּעוֹבָדוֹי וְאָזֵיל בְּאוֹרַח קְשׁוֹט. בְּגִין דְּאִתְחַבַּר נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֶפֶשׁ, כְּמָה דַּהֲוָה מֵעִיקָרָא. דְּהָא אִי זָכֵי בְּעוֹבָדוֹי, דָּא הוּא בַּר נָשׁ שְׁלִים כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי. דְּהוּא בְּתִקּוּנָא מְבֹרָךְ, לְאִתְבָּרְכָא מִנֵּיהּ עָלְמָא, בְּגִין דְּכֹלָּא בְּעוֹבָדִין דְּבַר נָשׁ תַּלְיָא, אִי זָכֵי אִי לָא זָכֵי.

Congregation Female Fruit Male Nefesh (Soul) Shechinah Soul (Nefesh)

209. Rabbi Chizkiyah said, I have heard of the verse, "From me is your fruit found" (Hoshea 14:9). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH, "From me assuredly is your fruit found." It is "your fruit," rather than "my fruit," TO TEACH US that the passion of the female forms the Nefesh, which combines with the might of the male, so that the Nefesh OF THE FEMALE is conjoined with the Nefesh OF THE MALE, and they become one, each including the other, as we have already explained. Later, they are separated to two in this world. We see clearly that through the power of the male results the fruit of the female in this world.

209. אָמַר רָבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, הָכֵי שָׁמַעְנָא, דִּכְתִיב מִמֶּנִּי פֶּרְיְךָ נִמְצָא. קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אֲמַר לָהּ לִכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִמֶּנִּי וַדַּאי, פֶּרְיְךָ נִמְצָא, פֶּרְיִי נִמְצָא, לָא כְתִיב, אֶלָּא פֶּרְיְךָ, הַהוּא תֵּיאוֹבְתָּא דְּנוּקְבָא, דַּעֲבֵיד נְפָשׁ, וְאִתְכְּלֵיל בְּתוֹקְפָא דִדְּכוּרָא, וְאִתְכְּלֵיל נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֶפֶשׁ, וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ חָד, כָּלֵיל דָּא בְּדָא, כִּדְאֲמָרָן. לְבָתַר אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ תַּרְוַויְיהוּ בְּעָלְמָא, וְדָא בְּחֵילָא דִּדְכוּרָא, אִשְׁתְּכַח אִיבָּא דְנוּקְבָא.

Female Fruit Male Nefesh (Soul) Soul (Nefesh)

210. Another explanation OF THE VERSE, "FROM ME IS YOUR FRUIT FOUND" is that the passion of the female, WHENCE THE FEMALE ASPECT OF THE NEFESH COMES, is the source of the fruit of the male, because without the passion of the female to the male, there would not have been any fruit in the world. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY OFFSPRING. Therefore, it is written, "From me is your fruit found!"

210. דָּבָר אֲחֵר בְּתֵיאוּבְתָּא דְּנוּקְבָא, אִשְׁתְּכַח אִיבָּא דִדְכוּרָא, דְּאִי לָאו תֵּיאוּבְתָּא דְּנוּקְבָא לְגַבֵּי דְכוּרָא, לָא אִתְעֲבִידוּ פֵּירִין לְעָלְמִין, הה"ד מִמֶּנִּי פֶּרְיְךָ נִמְצָא.

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