Vayeshev
Creation Fire Grades Hail Heavens House Nukva Pillar Righteous Seven Universe Voice Wisdom Zeir Anpin

145. Rabbi Yehuda quoted the verse, "Hashem also thundered in the heavens, and the highest gave His voice; hail and coals of fire" (Tehilim 18:14). Come and behold, when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the universe, THAT IS, WHEN THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, EMANATED THE NUKVA, CALLED 'WORLD,' He made seven pillars for it BY ILLUMINATING ON HER WITH THE SEVEN SFIROT: CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT OF ZEIR ANPIN. All of them are supported by one single pillar, NAMELY YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN.' In the verse, "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars" (Mishlei 9:1), it was explained that they all stand on one grade called 'YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN;' "the righteous is an everlasting foundation" (Mishlei 10:25).

145. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, וַיַּרְעֵם בַּשָּׁמַיִם יי' וְעֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ בָּרָד וְגַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַלְמָא, אַתְקֵין לֵיהּ שִׁבְעָה סְמָכִין, עַל מַה דְּקָיְימָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ סְמָכִין, קָיְימֵי בְּחַד סָמְכָא יְחִידָאי, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ דִּכְתִיב חָכְמוֹת בָּנְתָה בֵיתָהּ חָצְבָה עַמּוּדֶיהָ שִׁבְעָה, וְאִלֵּין כֻּלְּהוּ, אִינוּן קָיְימֵי בְּחַד דַּרְגָּא מִנַּיְיהוּ, דְּאִקְרֵי צַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם.

Chassadim Creation Earth Faith Light Nukva Point Strength Sun Universe Zion

146. When the universe was created, it issued from the spot that included the world with its improvements, which the point in the middle of the world, which is Zion, THE INNER YESOD OF THE NUKVA. As it is written, "A psalm of Asaf. The mighty one, El, Elohim Hashem, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof" (Tehilim 50:1). Where did He speak from? From Zion, as it is written, "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, Elohim has shone forth" (Tehilim 50:2), the place that constructs faith to perfection. Zion is the strength, THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH, and the point of the whole world - THAT IS THE SECRET OF THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM - on which the world has been constructed BY THE CHOCHMAH IN IT, and wherein it is nourished, BY THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM IN IT.

146. וְעַלְמָא כַּד אִתְבְּרֵי, מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר אִתְבְּרֵי, דְּאִיהוּ שִׁכְלוּלָא דְּעַלְמָא וְתִקּוּנוֹי, דְּאִיהוּ חַד נְקוּדָה דְעַלְמָא, וְאֶמְצָעִיתָא דְכֹלָּא, וּמַאן אִיהוּ, צִיּוֹן, דִּכְתִיב מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף אֵל אֱלֹהִים יי' דִּבֶּר וַיִּקְרָא אֶרֶץ מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ עַד מְבוֹאוֹ. וּמֵאָן אֲתַר, מִצִּיּוֹן, דִּכְתִיב מִצִּיּוֹן מִכְלַל יוֹפִי אֱלֹהִים הוֹפִיעַ, מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר, דְּאִיהוּ סִטְרָא דְּשִׁכְלוּלָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, וְצִיּוֹן תַּקִּיפוּ וּנְקוּדָה דְּכָל עַלְמָא, וּמֵהַהוּא אֲתַר אִשְׁתַּכְלַל כָּל עַלְמָא וְאִתְעֲבֵיד, וּמִגַּוֵּיהּ כָּל עַלְמָא אִתְּזָן.

Chassadim Faith Grades Heavens Jerusalem Judgment Mercy Voice Zion

147. Come and behold, after stating, "Hashem also thundered in the heavens" (Tehilim 18:14), why add, "And the Highest gave His voice," WHICH IS REDUNDANT? RABBI YEHUDA ANSWERS, Here is the secret of the faith I mentioned. For Zion constructs and beautifies the world, and the world is nourished by Zion FROM ITS TWO ASPECTS, NAMELY CHOCHMAH AND CHASSADIM. This is similar to the two grades that are one, namely Zion and Jerusalem; the former of Judgment and the latter of Mercy, and both are one. Judgment is issued from one, and Mercy is issued from the other.

147. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, וַיַּרְעֵם בַּשָּׁמַיִם ה' וְעֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ וגו,' כֵּיוָן דַּאֲמַר וַיַּרְעֵם בַּשָּׁמַיִם ה' אַמַּאי כְּתִיב וְעֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ, הָא הָכָא רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא דַּאֲמִינָא דְּצִיּוֹן אִיהוּ שִׁכְלוּלָא וְשַׁפִּירוּ דְּעַלְמָא, וְעַלְמָא מִנֵּיהּ אִתְּזָן, בְּגִין דִּתְרֵין דַּרְגִּין אִינוּן, וְאִינוּן חַד, אִינוּן: צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַם, דָּא דִינָא, וְדָא רַחֲמֵי, וְתַרְוַויְיהוּ חַד, מֵהָכָא דִּינָא וּמֵהָכָא רַחֲמֵי.

Fire Hail Heavens Judgment Lights Mercy Nukva Voice Water

148. From high up, REFERRING TO BINAH, a voice resounds. THIS IS THE CENTRAL RECONCILING COLUMN OF BINAH. When it is heard, WHEN IT RECONCILES THE NUKVA, AND THE LIGHTS OF RIGHT AND LEFT ARE HEARD THAT IS, ILLUMINATE, Judgments issue forth FROM THE NUKVA and the paths of Judgment and Mercy may be seen diverging. "Hashem also thundered in the heavens," refers to the Merciful Court. And although the highest, BINAH, may be neither found nor known, because the same voice comes out AND RECONCILES RIGHT AND LEFT, all is then under Judgment and Mercy. THAT IS, IT SUSTAINS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT COLUMNS. So it is written, "And the Highest gave His voice" (Tehilim 18:14). ONCE IT GAVE HIS VOICE, AS THE HIGHEST, BINAH, GIVES ITS VOICE TO THE NUKVA AND RECONCILES HER TWO COLUMNS. Then came "hail and coals of fire" - water and fire.

148. מֵעֵילָא לְעֵילָא נָפְקָא קוֹל דְּאִשְׁתְּמַע, לְבָתַר דְּהַהוּא קוֹל נָפְקָא וְאִשְׁתְּמַע, נָפְקֵי דִינִין, וְאָרְחֵי דְּדִינָא וְרַחֲמֵי נָפְקִין וּמִתְפָּרְשָׁן מִתַּמָּן, וַיַּרְעֵם בַּשָּׁמַיִם ה,' דָּא בֵּי דִינָא בְּרַחֲמִי. וְעֶלְיוֹן: אַף עַל גָּב דְּלָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח וְלָא אִתְיְידַע, כֵּיוָן דְּהַהוּא קוֹל נָפֵיק, כְּדֵין אִשְׁתַּכַּח כֹּלָּא, דִּינָא וְרַחֲמֵי, הה"ד וְעֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ, כֵּיוָן דְּיִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ, כְּדֵין בָּרָד וְגַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ, מַיָא וְאֶשָׁא.

Chariot Egypt Joseph Judah Throne

149. Come and behold, when Judah was born, it was written, "And she left off bearing" (Beresheet 29:35). This refers to the fourth of the four foundations, CALLED CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT,' because they are the Supernal Chariot OF BINAH, and this is one of the four legs OF THE THRONE, CALLED MALCHUT. THEREFORE, IT WAS WRITTEN WITH REGARD TO HIM, "AND SHE LEFT OFF BEARING," FOR HE IS THE LAST SFIRAH, MALCHUT. It is written of him: "And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers" (Beresheet 38:1). He was their king, BEING MALCHUT, BUT AFTER SELLING JOSEPH, HE WAS DEPOSED. Why? Because Joseph was brought down to Egypt.

149. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּאִתְיְלֵיד יְהוּדָה, מַה כְּתִיב, וַתַּעֲמֹד מִלֶּדֶת, בְּגִין דְּדָא הוּא יְסוֹדָא רְבִיעָאָה מֵאִינוּן אַרְבַּע, דְּאִינוּן רְתִיכָא עִלָּאָה, סַמְכָא חַד, מֵאִינוּן אַרְבַּע סַמְכִין, מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ, וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִיא וַיֵּרֶד יְהוּדָה מֵאֵת אֶחָיו דַּהֲוָה מַלְכָּא עֲלַיְיהוּ, מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דְּיוֹסֵף נָחֲתוּ לֵיהּ לְמִצְרַיִם כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן.