Vayigash: Chapter 12

"And Joseph made ready his chariot"

Synopsis

The rabbis continue to expound the nature of separation and its ultimate ending. We see the many ways of the Holy One, and we come to understand that His actions in Pharaoh's Egypt are fully explicable through the principles of Kabbalah, as is the potent image of the chariots evoked in the Biblical story. The rabbis conclude this section with Yisrael taking possession of the land of Goshen - an act seen as exemplifying the unworthiness of the Egyptians, who failed in their fight for the land.

Relevance

We have free will to choose our path in life. Two paths are always available ס the path of darkness, personified by Egypt, and the path of Light, denoted by the people of Yisrael and by Torah. We have no control or influence over the consequences and rewards that accompany these paths. We can, however, choose the path that we walk. Our self-destructive impulses impel us to constantly choose the negative path, and the negative energy blanketing our world often blinds us to the folly of our choices. The Light emitted by these verses helps brighten the spiritual landscape, revealing the doorways through which we must pass in order to attain peace, prosperity, and fulfillment.

Animals Chariot Colors Ezekiel Firmaments Head Joseph Likenesses Living Creatures

123. "And Joseph made ready his chariot." Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion with the verse, "And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, like the color of the terrible ice, stretched out over their heads above" (Yechezkel 1:22). This verse has already been explained, yet come and behold, There is a living creature above another living creature, and a holy living creature standing over the heads of the other living creatures.

123. וַיֶּאֱסוֹר יוֹסֵף מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ, ר' יִצְחָק פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, וּדְמוּת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא נָטוּי עַל רָאשֵׁיהֶם מִלְּמַעְלָה, הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי, אִית חַיָּה, לְעֵיל מִן חַיָּה, וְאִית חַיָּה קַדִּישָׁא, דְּקָיְימָא עַל רֵישׁ חֵיוָתָא.

Animals Strength

124. There is a living creature over all the other living creatures. It rules over them all, for when it gives OF ITS STRENGTH and shines upon them, they all travel about, derives STRENGTH FROM the other, and rule one over the other.

124. וְאִית חַיָּה עִלָּאָה, לְעֵילָא עַל כָּל שְׁאָר חֵיוָתָא, וְהַאי חַיָּה שָׁלְטָא עַל כֻּלְּהוּ, בְּגִין דְּכַד הַאי חֵיוָתָא, יָהֲבָא וְנָהֲרָא לְכֻלְּהוּ, כְּדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ נָטְלִין לְמַטְלָנוֹי, וִיהִיבַת דָּא לְדָא, וְשָׁלְטָא דָּא עַל דָּא.

Animals Face Wind

125. And there is a living creature over the lower beings, NAMELY, over the other living creatures below. They are all sustained by it, and the four winds of the world impress upon it certain faces shine upon each wind. It has power over the four winds. It has been explained that there are three of this wind and three of that wind, and so on, to the four winds of the world.

125. וְאִית חֵיוָתָא לְעֵילָא עַל תַּתָּאֵי, עַל שְׁאָר חֵיוָתָא לְתַתָּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְּזָנוּ מִינָהּ, וְד' סִטְרֵי דְעַלְמָא רְשִׁימִין בָּהּ, אַנְפִּין נְהִירִין יְדִיעָן לְכָל סְטַר, וְאִיהִי סָּלְטָא עַל ד' סִטְרֵי, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, דְּאִינוּן ג' לִסְטַר דָּא, וְג' לִסְטַר דָּא, וְכֵן לְד' סִטְרִין דְּעַלְמָא.

Ezekiel Firmaments Rope

126. There is a series of firmaments one on top of the other, and a firmament that reigns over them. They all look to it. It is written, "And under the firmament their wings were held straight, the one toward the other" (Yechezkel 1:23), for they are all in command over what is in their charge. And there is the span of a rope's measurement between them.

126. וְאִית רָקִיעַ לְעֵיל מִן רָקִיעַ, וְהַאי רָקִיעַ דְּשָׁלְטָא עֲלַיְיהוּ, כֻּלְּהוּ מִסְתַּכְּלָן לְגַבֵּיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב, וְתַחַת הָרָקִיעַ כַּנְפֵיהֶם יְשָׁרוֹת אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֹתָהּ וגו,' בְּגִין, דְּכֻלְּהוּ שָׁלְטִין עַל מַה דְּאִתְפָּקְדוּ, וּשְׁלִיחוּ דְּקוּסְטָא דְּקוּפְטְרָא בְּהוֹ.

Firmaments Nukva Wind

127. There are THREE FIRMAMENTS to every wind, nine on each of the four sides of the world, 36 FIRMAMENTS in all. When they are united, they become one, NAMELY, ONE FIRMAMENT, in the secret of the one name - THE NUKVA CALLED 'NAME' - within the whole, as it should be.

127. וְאִינוּן לְכָל סְטַר תִּשְׁעָה, לְד' סִטְרִין דְּעַלְמָא, וְאִינוּן ל"ו בְּחוּשְׁבְּנָא, וְכַד מִתְחַבְּרָן כֻּלְּהוּ, אִתְעֲבִידוּ רְשִׁימָא חָדָא, בְּרָזָא דִשְׁמָא חָדָא, בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים כִּדְקָחָזֵי.

Ezekiel Firmaments Head Likenesses Nukva Sapphire Stone Throne Zeir Anpin

128. When they are shaped like a throne, it is written, "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone, and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it" (Yechezkel 1:26). It has been explained that when the precious stone, THE NUKVA, is fixed into the throne that stands upon its four legs, and when the image of a man is upon the throne, ZEIR ANPIN, to be united with him, THEN THE THRONE WHICH IS THE NUKVA IS JOINED WITH THE MAN ABOVE IT, ZEIR ANPIN, and is fully blessed by him.

128. וְכַד מִתְתַּקְנֵי לְגַבֵּי כָּרְסְיָא, מַה כְּתִיב וּמִמַּעַל לָרָקִיעַ אֲשֶׁר עַל רֹאשָׁם כְּמַרְאֵה אֶבֶן סַפִּיר דְּמוּת כִּסֵּא וְעַל דְּמוּת הַכִּסֵּא דְּמוּת כְּמַרְאֶה אָדָם עָלָיו מִלְּמָעְלָה, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא דְּהַאי אֶבֶן טָבָא בְּכָרְסְיָא, דְּקָיְימָא עַל ד' קָיְימִין, וְעַל הַהוּא כָּרְסְיָא דְּיוֹקְנָא דְאָדָם, לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בֵּיהּ כַּחֲדָא, וּלְאִתְבָּרְכָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Adam Animals Chariot Firmaments Form Goshen Joseph Nukva Righteous Throne Zeir Anpin

129. When THE FIRMAMENTS AND THE ANIMALS THAT ARE THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA are fixed to form a Chariot for that man, ZEIR ANPIN, then it is written, "And Joseph made ready his chariot," who is the righteous - YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, CALLED 'JOSEPH THE RIGHTEOUS' - "and went up to meet Yisrael his father, to Goshen." Yisrael is the secret of Adam (man), THE MAN UPON THE THRONE, ZEIR ANPIN. " ...to Goshen" is derived from their approaching (Heb. gisha) to be joined and united.

129. וְכַד אִיהִי מִתְתַּקְנָא לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּאָדָם, לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָּא רְתִיכָא חָדָא, לְהַאי אָדָם, כְּדֵין כְּתִיב, וַיֶּאֱסוֹר יוֹסֵף מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ דָּא צַדִּיק, וַיַּעַל לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבִיו גּשְׁנָה. לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל: דָּא רָזָא דְּאָדָם. גּשְׁנָה: תִּקְרוֹבְתָּא חָדָא, לְאִתְקְרָבָא כַּחֲדָא, בְּקָרְבָּנָא חָדָא, וְיִחוּדָא חָדָא.

Astrology Exile Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Light Moon Nukva Sun Temple, The Zeir Anpin

130. "...And presented himself to him (lit. 'and he was seen to him')." THE WORDS "WAS SEEN" ARE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, FOR THEY MEAN THAT HE WAS SEEN AND THEN GONE. WHAT DOES THE VERSE MEAN? HE SAID, When the sun reflects on the moon, the moon shines, and illuminates all those below IN THE WORLD. In the same manner, as long as Supernal Holiness, THE LIGHT OF ZEIR ANPIN, hovers above the Temple below (THE NUKVA) the Temple shines and stands erect. BUT HERE IT IS WRITTEN, "AND HE WAS SEEN TO HIM," WHICH MEANS THAT THE LIGHT WAS SEEN TO HER AND THEN GONE, and after THE SUPERNAL LIGHT OF ZEIR ANPIN was gone from her, THE SCRIPTURE READS, "and wept on his neck a good while," for they all wept for the Temple that was destroyed. THE SCRIPTURE ADDS, "a good while," which means until the last exile.

130. וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו, דְּכַד אִתְחֲזֵי שִׁמְשָׁא בְּסִיהֲרָא, כְּדֵין נָהֵיר סִיהֲרָא, וְאַנְהֵיר לְכֻלְּהוּ דִלְתַתָּא, וְכֵן כְּגַוְונָא דָא, כָּל זִמְנָא דִּקְדּוּשָּׁה דִלְעֵילָא, שָׁרָא עַל מַקְדְּשָׁא דִלְתַתָּא, אִתְנְהֵיר בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, וְקָיְימָא בִּשְׁלֵימוּתֵיהּ, וְכַד אִסְתַּלַּק מִנֵּיהּ, וְאִתְחָרֵיב בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, כְּדֵין, וַיֵּבְךֹּ עַל צַוָּארָיו עוֹד, דְּבָכוֹן כֹּלָּא, עַל מַקְדְּשָׁא דְּאִתְחָרֵיב. עוֹד, מַאי עוֹד. דָּא גָלוּתָא בַּתְרָאָה.

Aba and Ima Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Face Female Jacob Joseph Male

131. When Jacob looked and saw that all was completed below BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE as it is above BETWEEN ABA AND IMA, he said, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive," which means, you live by the secret of the Holy Covenant called "the life of the worlds." Thus, he said, "You are still alive." He had already said before, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive" (Beresheet 45:28), he being the secret of the Living One, as has already been explained.

131. כְּדֵין כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא יַעֲקֹב וְאִסְתַּכַּל, דְּהָא תִּקּוּנָא דִלְתַתָּא, אִשְׁתַּכְלֵל כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא, כְּדֵין אֲמַר אָמוּתָה הַפָּעַם וגו.' כִּי עוֹדְךָ חַי, דְּאִתְקָיְימַת בְּרָזָא דִּבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִקְרֵי חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כִּי עוֹדְךָ חָי. וְע"ד בְּקַדְמֵיתָא אֲמַר, רַב עוֹד יוֹסֵף בְּנִי חָי, דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֵיקַם בְּרָזָא דְחַי, וְהָא אִתְּמָר.

Aba and Ima Atzilut Evil Jacob Pharaoh, The

132. Come and behold, "and Jacob blessed Pharaoh" (Beresheet 47:10). Rabbi Yosi said, We do agree that Pharaoh was AN EVIL KLIPAH ACCORDING TO HOMILETIC INTERPRETATION, even though it was explained in regard to another mystery THAT HE IS NOT AN EVIL KLIPAH BUT DESCENDS FROM IMA OF ATZILUT.

132. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיְבָרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב אֶת פַּרְעֹה, אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, פַּרְעֹה אע"ג דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ בְּרָזָא אוֹחֲרָא, סָמַךְ דְּקָא סַמְכִינָן בְּעַלְמָא.

Chariot Holiness (Kedushah) Judgment Kedushah (Holiness) Love Mercy Other Side Pharaoh, The

133. Yet come and behold, "I compare you, my love, to a mare of the chariots of Pharaoh" (Shir Hashirim 1:9). Come and behold, There are Chariots on the left in the secret of the Other Side, and Chariots on the right on the side of holiness. The ones OF HOLINESS correspond to the others. The holy ones are of Mercy, and those OF THE OTHER SIDE are of Judgment.

133. אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי, לְסוּסָתִי בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה דִּמִּיתִיךְ רַעֲיָתִי, תָּא חֲזֵי, אִית רְתִיכִין לִשְׂמָאלָא, בְּרָזָא דְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא, וְאִית רְתִיכִין לִימִינָא, בְּרָזָא דִלְעֵילָא דִקְדּוּשָּׁה, וְאִלֵּין לָקֳבֵל אִלֵּין, אִלֵּין דְּרַחֲמֵי, וְאִלֵּין דְּדִינָא.

Chariot Edom Egypt Firstborn Garments Judgment Love Other Side Pharaoh, The Soul, The

134. When the Holy One, blessed be He, executed judgment on Egypt, He did it exactly the same way as the Chariots OF THE OTHER SIDE and in the same manner as that side. As it kills and takes souls, so the Holy One, blessed be He, did the same, as it is written, "that Hashem slew all the firstborn" (Shemot 13:15), ALTHOUGH HE IS USUALLY MERCIFUL. IN THE SAME WAY, whatever He did in Egypt was in the very same manner. Therefore it is written, "I compare you, my love," because she is compared TO THE CHARIOTS OF PHARAOH IN KILLING AND TAKING THE SOULS OF MEN the same way THE CHARIOTS OF PHARAOH, WHO IS THE OTHER SIDE, kill, as it is written, "I am Hashem, I am He and not another." Later, it is written, "Who is this that comes from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Botzrah?" (Yeshayah 63:1). FOR THEN TOO, HASHEM WILL KILL THEM, AND NO MESSENGER.

134. וְכַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבַד דִּינָא בְּמִצְרָאֵי, כָּל דִּינָא דְּעָבֵיד, כְּהַהוּא גַוְונָא, דְּאִינוּן רְתִיכִין מַמָּשׁ, וּכְגַוְונָא דִילֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא מַמָּשׁ, מַה הַהוּא סִטְרָא קָטֵיל וְאַפֵּיק נִשְׁמָתִין, אוֹף קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד בְּהַהוּא גַוְונָא מַמָּשׁ, דִּכְתִיב וַיַּהֲרֹג ה' כָּל בְּכוֹר, וְכֵן כֹּלָּא בְּמִצְרַיִם, בְּהַהוּא גַוְונָא מַמָּשׁ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ דִּמִיתִיךְ רַעֲיָתִי, כְּגַוְונָא דִילָהּ מַמָּשׁ לְקָטְלָא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֲנִי הוּא וְלֹא אַחֵר. וּלְזִמְנָא דְאָתֵי מַה כְּתִיב, מִי זֶה בָּא מֵאֱדוֹם חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים מִבָּצְרָה וגו.'

Egypt Egyptians Goshen Tribes

135. Come and behold, It is written, "And Yisrael dwelt in the land of Egypt in the country of Goshen; and they took possession of it, and grew and multiplied exceedingly" (Beresheet 47:27). "And took possession of it" means as a permanent heritage. "And they took possession of it" because they, AND NOT THE EGYPTIANS, were worthy of taking possession of it, as has already been explained. " ...And grew and multiplied exceedingly" because surely they had nothing to vex them and they lived in royal luxury AS LONG AS THE TRIBES WERE ALIVE. They therefore grew and multiplied exceedingly.

135. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּאֶרֶץ גּוֹשֶׁן וַיֵּאָחֲזוּ בָהּ וַיִּפְרוּ וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד. וַיֵּאָחֲזוּ בָהּ, אַחְסָנַת עָלְמִין. וְיֵּאָחֲזוּ בָּהּ, דְּהָא לְהוֹן אִתְחֲזֵי, כְּמָה דְאוֹקְמוּהָ. וַיִּפְרוּ וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד, וַדַּאי, דְּהָא צַעֲרָא לָא שָׁרַאת בְּהוֹ, וְקָיְימֵי בְּתַפְנוּקֵי עַלְמָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ וַיִּפְרוּ וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד.

<