The Book of Zohar. Chapter “Supernal Wisdom” (abridged)

40. Rabbi Yudai asked, “What does the word BERESHEET (“In the beginning” – the first word of the Torah) mean?” It is the wisdom, upon which the world, Partzuf ZA of the world of Atzilut, is established to enter the concealed supernal secrets, namely the Light of Bina of Partzuf AVI of the world of Atzilut. Here are the six Supernal and great properties, VAK de Bina, from which everything emerges (from which the entire Light descends and constructs, governs, corrects and fulfills all the souls throughout their entire path from the beginning of creation to its end). The six river mouths, VAK de ZA, that flow into the Great Sea (Malchut of the world of Atzilut) were formed from them. The word BERESHEET consists of the words BARAH (created) and SHEET (Aramaic for six), meaning that in the beginning the Creator CREATED SIX properties. Who created them? He who is unmentioned, concealed, and unknown: Partzuf Arich Anpin (AA) of the world of Atzilut.

My Comment: In the world of Atzilut there is the concealed Light of Hochma in AA, and there is the Light that descends from Bina to ZA. That is why the word Beresheet means Be-resheet, from Hochma, but not concealed in AA, rather descending from Bina to ZA.

The word BARA is contained within the word BERE-SHEET, which alludes to the fact that everything is created by the concealed Light of Hochma of AA. His action is BARA (created), from the word BAR – brought Bina down, outside, so that its lower part fell to ZA, and through ZA facilitated the correction of Malchut, in which all human souls are incorporated.

“Supernal Wisdom” – full commentary

Related Material:
Study the Zohar

Filed under: Zohar - No Comments →

I had a conversation that was recorded for an upcoming TV series on the topic of the Upper Force. I spoke with:

Daniel Lamberg – attorney and insurance expert,
Shlomi Buchana – Professor of Economics at Bar-Ilan University,
Ben-Tzion Gertz – writer and host of the program.

We only perceive a small part of the world and we don’t know what will happen to us a moment later or in the distant future. We don’t know what desires will suddenly appear in our heart, or what thoughts will appear in our mind that might force us to act contrary to our common sense and prior desires.

We write off anything we don’t know as the “Upper Force” – some superior force that causes an unexpected turn of events and often excuses us from liability for them. Judicial authorities, insurance companies, and financial markets all view this “intrusion” of the Upper Force into our lives differently and interpret it in their own way.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: Where Do Thoughts, Ideas, and Dreams Come from?
Laitman.com Post: The Crowd Within
Laitman.com Post: How Will We Know That the Revelation of the Upper World Is Not an Illusion?
Laitman.com Post: The Connection Between Spirituality and Corporeality
Kabbalah Today Article: “Spiritual Education”

Filed under: Notices - No Comments →

A question I received: Why is “the end of the world” such a popular topic today?

My Answer: You’re right. Instead of attaining immortality, people are building the Arctic Doomsday Seed Vault on Spitsbergen to store seeds of all the plant species, so they could restore the planet’s vegetation after a global war or a natural catastrophe. They are also thinking of storing a sperm bank in outer space, and other such ideas. However, people aren’t doing this because of the romantic notion of the end of the world, but out of the sensation of hopelessness. This sensation is alluring and tempting in a way, and this is why the idea of the end of the world is so popular in movies, books, and computer games.

So the answer to your question is that our egoism attracts us to death, lures us toward a catastrophe, and enjoys watching the tired old world disappear, according to the verse, “Revel and enjoy, since tomorrow we’ll die!” (Nuchal ve Nishte Ki Macharo Namut.) Since “tomorrow” is becoming more and more menacing, we are feeling more and more indifferent and indolent to “today.”

According to Kabbalah, if one isn’t on the path of correction yet, then this is actually the next best attitude to have toward the future, because one reveals hopelessness, the fact that there is no solution in our world, and thoughts that aren’t typical of an ordinary person living on the animate level. Later these thoughts and feelings will develop, because egoism will keep growing and it will demand fulfillment – a solution to these problems.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: The Writings of the Last Generation
Laitman.com Post: The Peace (Baal HaSulam)
Kabbalah Today Article:  “What’s Happening to Our Youth?”
Kabbalah Today Article:  “Better than the Virtual World!?”

Filed under: World - 2 Comments →