The nations by the sun and Yisrael by the moon

Synopsis

Here we find a discourse on the moon. The Yisraelites use the cycles of the moon to calculate seasons, holidays, and years. In contrast, the nations of the world use the cycles of the sun, which, we're told, comprise an inferior system.

Relevance

Like the moon, mankind has no Light of its own. As the moon derives its light from the sun, mankind and this entire earthly realm draw spiritual Light from the Upper World domain known as Zeir Anpin. This passage helps us rise above any negative celestial influences that appear throughout the lunar/solar calendar year, connecting us only to the positive energy that the moon and sun release into the cosmos.

Astrology Hands Judah Moon Praise Sun Year

564. יְהוּדָה אַתָּה יוֹדוּךָ אַחֶיךָ יָדְךָ בְּעֹרֶף אוֹיְבֶיךָ וגו.' ר' יוֹסֵי פְּתַח עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ לְמוֹעֲדִים וגו.' עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ בְּגִין לְקַדְּשָׁא בֵּיהּ רֵישׁ יַרְחִין, וְרֵישׁ שַׁתִּין. וּלְעָלְמִין סִיהֲרָא לָא נָהֵיר אֶלָּא מִשִּׁמְשָׁא, וְכַד שִׁמְשָׁא שַׁלִּיט, סִיהֲרָא לָא שָׁלְטָא, כַּד אִתְכְּנֵישׁ שִׁמְשָׁא, כְּדֵין סִיהֲרָא שָׁלְטָא, וְלֵית חוּשְׁבַּן לְסִיהֲרָא אֶלָּא כַּד אִתְכְּנֵישׁ שִׁמְשָׁא.

Astrology Earth Firmaments Heaven Light Moon Shabbat Sun Year

565. The Holy One, blessed be He, made both so that they will shine, as it is written in the verse, "And Elohim set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth" (Beresheet 1:17), to "let them be for signs" (Ibid. 15). Shabbat CALLED SIGN, as in "It is a sign" (Shemot 31:17). "And for seasons," the holidays; "and for days," the days of the beginning of the month; "and years" (Beresheet 1:14), are new year days. The nations in the world reckon by the sun and Yisrael by the moon.

565. וְתַרְוַויְיהוּ עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַנְהָרָא, הה"ד וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם אֱלֹקִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ וגו.' וְהָיוּ לְאוֹתוֹת, אִלֵּין שַׁבָּתוֹת, דִּכְתִיב כִּי אוֹת הִיא. וּלְמוֹעֲדִים, אִינוּן י"ט. וּלְיָמִים, אִלֵּין רֵישֵׁי יַרְחִין. וּלְשָׁנִים, אִלֵּין רֵישֵׁי שְׁנִין. דְּלֶהֱווֹן אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם עָבְדִין חֻשְׁבַּן לְשִׁמְשָׁא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְסִיהֲרָא.

Astrology Earth Light Moon Sun

566. This accords with Rabbi Elazar's discourse upon the verse, "You have multiplied the nation, and increased its joy" (Yeshayah 9:2). The "nation" is Yisrael, of whom it says, "For what nation is there so great" (Devarim 4:7) and "a single nation on the earth" (I Divrei Hayamim 17:21). "Its" means 'for it,' "increased its joy" of the moon, which light grew for Yisrael's sake. The nations of the world RECKON TIMES BY THE CYCLE OF the sun and Yisrael BY THE CYCLE OF the moon. HE ASKS, Which one is superior, THE RECKONING BY THE SUN OR BY THE MOON? HE REPLIES, Surely the moon is above, and the sun of the peoples of the world is underneath this moon. That sun RECEIVES LIGHT from the moon and illuminates. See the difference between Yisrael and THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, The children of Yisrael are attached to the moon and linked to the Supernal Sun. They are united with the place which shines by the Supernal Sun and cleave to it, as it is written, "But you that did cleave unto Hashem your Elohim are alive every one of you this day" (Devarim 4:4).

566. וְאָזְלָא הָא, כִּי הָא דַּאֲמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר, כְּתִיב הִרְבִּיתָ הַגּוֹי לוֹ הִגְדַּלְתָּ הַשִּׂמְחָה. הִרְבִּיתָ הַגּוֹי, אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב בְּהוֹ כִּי מִי גּוֹי גָדוֹל. וּכְתִיב גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ. לוֹ: בְּגִינֵיהּ. הִגְדַּלְתָּ הַשִּׂמְחָה, דָּא סִיהֲרָא, דְּאִתְרְבִיאַת בִּנְהוֹרָא בְּגִינֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם לְשִׁמְשָׁא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְסִיהֲרָא, הֵי מִנַּיְיהוּ עָדִיף. וַדַּאי סִיהֲרָא לְעֵילָא, וְשִׁמְשָׁא דְּאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, תְּחוֹת הַאי סִיהֲרָא הוּא, וְהַהוּא שִׁמְשָׁא מֵהַאי סִיהֲרָא נָהֵיר. חָמֵי מַה בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְהוֹ. יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲחִידוּ בְּסִיהֲרָא, וְאִשְׁתַּלְּשְׁלוּ בְּשִׁמְשָׁא עִלָּאָה, וְאִתְאַחֲדוּ בַּאֲתַר דִּנְהִירָא מְשַׁמְּשָׁא עִלָּאָה, וּמִתְדַּבְּקָן בֵּיהּ, דִּכְתִיב וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיי' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם.