Prologue: Chapter 19

Torah and prayer

Synopsis

The Zohar reveals that the study of Torah connects us to the Tree of Life reality, a realm of pure fulfillment and infinite spiritual Light. This Tree of Life connection, which is achieved by learning Torah, radiates a powerful protective Light. This Light is instantly drawn into our lives at the moment we gaze upon the Aramaic verses.

Face Fear Hezekiah Torah Tree Tree of Life Walls

180. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion by speaking about the verse: "Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Hashem" (Yeshayah 38:2). Come and see how powerful is the might of the Torah, and how high it rises above all! Because whoever conducts his life according to the Torah has no fear of those above or below, and mishaps or illnesses of this world do not concern him. Through the Torah, he is attached to the Tree of Life and learns from it every day.

180. פָּתַח רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וַאֲמַר, מַאי דִכְתִיב וַיַּסֵּב חִזְקִיָּהוּ פָּנָיו אֶל הַקִּיר וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֶל ה', ת"ח כַּמָּה הוּא חֵילָא תַּקִּיפָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכַמָּה הוּא עִלָּאָה עַל כֹּלָא, דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לָא דָּחֵיל מֵעִלָּאֵי וּמִתַּתָּאֵי, וְלֹא דָּחֵיל מִמַּרְעִין בִּישִׁין דְּעַלְמָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אָחִיד בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי וְיַלִּיף מִינֵּיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא.

Repentance Torah Tree Tree of Life

181. The Torah teaches every person how to walk a straight path. It gives advice how to repent and return to one's Master to cancel the decree against him. Because even though a decree has been given not to cancel the decree against him, it shall nevertheless be canceled and not be applied to him anymore in this world. So for this purpose, man should occupy himself in the study of the Torah day and night, not deviate from it. As it is written, "you shall meditate therein day and night" (Yehoshua 1:8). So if he deviates from the Torah - or he abandons it - it is as though he abandons the Tree of Life.

181. דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא תּוֹלִיף לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֵיזַל בְּאוֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, תּוֹלִיף לֵיהּ עֵיטָא הֵיךְ יָתוּב קַמֵּיהּ מָארֵיהּ, לְבַטְלָא הַהִיא גְּזֵרָה, דַּאֲפִילּוּ אִתְגְּזַר עֲלֵיהּ דְּלָא יִתְבַּטֵּל הַאי גְּזֵרָה, מִיָּד אִתְבַּטֵּל וְאִסְתַּלֵּק מִנֵּיהּ וְלָא שַׁרְיָא עֲלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יְמָמָא וְלֵילֵי, וְלָא יִתְעַדֵי מִינָהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְהָגִיתָ בוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה, וְאִי אִתְעַדֵּי מִינָּהּ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אוֹ אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִינָהּ כְּאִלּוּ אִתְפְּרַשׁ מֵאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי.

Disease Evil Soul, The

182. Come and see: Good advice for people. When a person lies on his bed at night and goes to sleep, he should wholeheartedly accept upon himself the heavenly Kingdom, and he should quickly prepare to return his entrusted soul to Him. Then he shall be immediately spared from all bad diseases and evil spirits, and they shall have no power over him.

182. תָּא חֲזֵי עֵיטָא לְבַר נָשׁ כַּד אִיהוּ סָלֵיק בְּלֵילְיָא עַל עַרְסֵיהּ בָּעֵי לְקַבְּלָא עֲלֵיהּ מַלְכוּתָא דִּלְעֵילָא בְּלִבָּא שְׁלִים, וּלְאַקְדְּמָא לְמִמְסַר קַמֵּיהּ פִּקְדוֹנָא דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ, וּמִיָּד אִשְׁתְּזֵיב מִכָּל מַרְעִין בִּישִׁין וּמִכָּל רוּחִין בִּישִׁין וְלָא שָׁלְטִין עֲלֵיהּ.

Fear House Love Morning Patriarchs Praise Prayer Sanctuary Temple, The

183. And in the morning, as he rises from his bed, he should then praise his Master, enter into His house, and bow in front of His sanctuary in great awe. And afterward, he should recite his prayers. For he should take advice from the holy patriarchs, as it is written, "But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your love; and in the fear of You, I will bow down toward Your holy temple" (Tehilim 5:8).

183. וּבְצַפְרָא, קָם מֵעַרְסֵיהּ, בָּעֵי לְבָרְכָא לְמָארֵיהּ, וּלְמֵיעַל לְבֵיתֵיהּ וּלְמִסְגַּד קַמֵּי הֵיכָלֵיהּ בִּדְחִילוּ סַגְּיָא, וּבָתַר כֵּן יִצְלֵי צְלוֹתֵיהּ, וְיִסַּב עֵיטָא מֵאִינוּן אֲבָהָן קַדִּישִׁין, דִּכְתִיב וַאֲנִי בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ.

Abraham Fear House Isaac Jacob Love Prayer Temple, The

184. This verse has been explained as follows. A person should not enter the synagogue unless he first consulted, NAMELY, RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM, Abraham, Issac and Jacob, because they have prepared and instituted the prayer to the Holy One, blessed be He. As it is written, "I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your love" refers to Abraham, WHO IS CHESED; "I will bow down towards Your holy temple" refers to Isaac, BECAUSE FROM HIS ASPECT MALCHUT IS CALLED A TEMPLE; "in the fear of You" refers to Jacob, WHO IS THE SECRET OF TIFERET THAT IS ALSO CALLED FEARSOME. Therefore, he should include himself with them and then enter the synagogue and recite his prayers. Then the scripture reads, "And He said to me, you are My servant, Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified" (Yeshayah 49:3).

184. הָכֵי אוֹקְמוּהָ, לָא לִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְעַאֲלָא לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא, אֶלָּא אִי אִמְלִיךְ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא בְּאַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן תְּקִינוּ צְלוֹתָא לָקֳמֵי קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. הה"ד, וַאֲנִי בְּרוֹב חַסְדֶּךָ אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ, דָּא אַבְרָהָם, אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשֶׁךָ, דָּא יִצְחָק. בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ, דָּא יַעֲקֹב. וּבָעֵי לְאַכְלָלָא לוֹן בְּרֵישָׁא, וּבָתַר כֵּן יֵיעוֹל לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא, וִיצַלֵּי צְלוֹתֵיהּ, כְּדֵין כְּתִיב, וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר.

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