Fits and Starts
Erev Tov. I will say a few words before I go to sleep. Please give me a raincheck on the Zohar reading until after I can get some sleep. Sleep was very difficult for me today and I’ve only managed about four hours. The reason is that we have had so many alarms today. I think that there were ten. Every time that I was about to sleep there was another alarm. The Iranians are mad because we spoiled their plans for defending their closure of the strait of Hormuz by killing their naval commander and a large number of his staff and underlings last night at about 3am. When I’m so tired like this I’m just not fully functional. So please excuse me for sleeping first and reading second tonight. We would be very grateful if you would say a little prayer of protection over this land and this people. I’ll be back when I sleep.
Always in love and soul devotion,
Zohar for Us
45.
תִּיקּוּן שְׁלוֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה בְּרֵאשִׁית זוֹ מִצְוָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁנִּרְמְזָה בְּל”ב שְׁבִילִים שֶׁהֵם ל”ב אֱלֹהִים שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית. כ”ב אוֹתִיּוֹת וַעֲשֶׂר אֲמִירוֹת שֶׁנִּכְלְלוּ בָּהֶם. תִּיקּוּן רִאשׁוֹן יִרְאָה. וְעָלֶיהָ נֶאֱמַר רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת ה’, שֶׁיֵּשׁ יִרְאָה וְיֵשׁ יִרְאָה, יִרְאַת ה’ זוֹ הַשְּׁכִינָה מַלְכוּת קְדוֹשָׁה. יִרְאָה רָעָה זוֹ רְצוּעָה לְהַלְקוֹת הָרְשָׁעִים. וּמָה הִיא סַם הַמָּוֶת שֶׁל ס”מ, הַנְּקֵבָה שֶׁלּוֹ. יִרְאַת ה’ הִיא שָׂכָר לְמִי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵר מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. יִרְאָה רָעָה הִיא רְצוּעָה לְהַלְקוֹת לְמִי שֶׁעוֹבֵר עֲלֵיהֶם.
Tikkun thirty-three
Bereshit this is first commandment that is hinted in thirty-two paths that are thirty-two Elohim of the work of creation. Twenty-two letters and ten sayings that are included in them. First Tikkun fear. And concerning her it is said: “The beginning of wisdom is fear of YHVH,” that there is fear and there is fear. Fear of YHVH this is the Shekhinah holy Malkhut. Evil fear this is strap to lash the wicked. And what is the poison of death of Samael, his female. Fear of YHVH is reward for one who guards negative commandments. Evil fear is strap to lash one who transgresses them.
46.
קָם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר, אֶלְעָזָר בְּנִי. יֵשׁ מִי שֶׁיָּרֵא לַקָּבָּ”ה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּחְיוּ בָּנָיו וְיִרְבֶּה עָשְׁרוֹ בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, וְאִם חָסֵר מִזֶּה, לֹא יָרֵא לוֹ. זֶה לֹא שָׂם לוֹ יִרְאַת ה’ לְעִיקָּר. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁיָּרֵא לַקָּבָּ”ה בֵּין בְּטוֹבָה בֵּין בְּצָרָה, הֲרֵי זֶה שָׂם יִרְאַת ה’ בּוֹ לְעִיקָּר. שֶׁשָּׁלֹשׁ דְּרָגוֹת הֵן שֶׁל יִרְאָה. יֵשׁ יִרְאָה בֵּין בְּטוֹבָה בֵּין בְּצָרָה. וְיֵשׁ יִרְאָה שֶׁיָּרֵא לַקָּבָּ”ה בְּטוֹבָה וְלֹא בְּצָרָה. וְיֵשׁ יִרְאָה שֶׁלֹּא שָׂם אוֹתָהּ עָלָיו לְעִיקָּר בֵּין לְטוֹבָה בֵּין לְצָרָה. צַדִּיק גָּמוּר שָׂם אוֹתָהּ עָלָיו לְעִיקָּר בֵּין לְטוֹבָה בֵּין לְדִין. בֵּינוֹנִי שָׂם אוֹתוֹ עָלָיו לְטוֹבָה וְלֹא לְדִין. רָשָׁע גָּמוּר לֹא שָׂם אוֹתוֹ עִיקָּר לֹא בְּטוֹבָה וְלֹא בְּדִין.
Rabbi Shimon arose and said: Elazar my son. There is one who fears the Holy One, blessed be He, so that his sons live and his wealth increases in this world, and if he lacks from this, he does not fear Him. This one did not place fear of YHVH as essential for him. But one who fears the Holy One, blessed be He, whether in good or in distress, behold this one places fear of YHVH in him as essential. For there are three degrees of fear. There is fear whether in good or in distress. And there is fear that he fears the Holy One, blessed be He, in good and not in distress. And there is fear that he did not place it upon himself as essential whether for good or for distress. Complete Tzaddik places it upon himself as essential whether for good or for judgment. Middling one places it upon himself for good and not for judgment. Complete wicked one did not place it as essential neither for good nor for judgment.
47.
וְהַשְּׁכִינָה מַדּוּעַ נִקְרֵאת יִרְאָה. שֶׁהֲרֵי הִיא מִצַּד עַמּוּד הָאֶמְצָעִי נִלְקְחָה. אֶלָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעַמּוּד הָאֶמְצָעִי לוֹקֵחַ מֵרַחֲמִים וְדִין שֶׁהֵם יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל, כָּךְ הִיא לוֹקַחַת מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם. מִצַּד שְׂמֹאל זוֹ נִקְרֵאת יִרְאָה פַּחַד יִצְחָק. שֶׁמִּצַּד יָמִין אַהֲבָה נִקְרֵאת. וְזוֹ מִצְוָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אֲהַבְתִּיךְ עַל כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד.
And why is the Shekhinah called fear. For behold she is taken from the side of the middle pillar. Rather, just as the middle pillar takes from mercy and judgment that are right and left, so she takes from both. From the left side this is called fear — “fear of Isaac.” That from the right side love is called. And this is second commandment as it is said in her: “And with everlasting love I have loved you therefore I have drawn you with kindness.”
48.
וּמִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִים אֵלּוּ נִקְרָא עַמּוּד הָאֶמְצָעִי אוֹר וָנֵר. וְהַשְּׁכִינָה אוֹרָה אֲבוּקָה. אוֹרָה, לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה. אֲבוּקָה, כָּךְ נֶאֱמַר שֶׁצַּדִּיקִים עוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה כְּנֵר לִפְנֵי הָאֲבוּקָה. מִצַּד הַיָּמִין יְהוָ”ה, וּמִצַּד שֶׁשְּׂמֹאל אֲדֹנָ”י שֶׁשָּׁם דִּין. וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה, בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקִים יְהִי אוֹר. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲמִשָּׁה אוֹר הֵם בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן. וְהֵם ה’ עֶלְיוֹנָה וּמִשָּׁם מֵאִירִים. י’ בַּשְּׂמֹאל וְזֶה נֵר. וְזֶה ה”י מִן אֱלֹקִים, ה’ לִימִין י’ לִשְּׂמֹאל. ו’ מָל”א מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם, עַמּוּד הָאֶמְצָעִי. בֵּן יָ”ה. וְזֶה הוּא סוֹד אֱלֹקִים מַלָּ”א ה”י. זֶה כָּתוּב רִאשׁוֹן.
And from these two sides the middle pillar is called light and lamp. And the Shekhinah her light is torch. Her light: “To the Jews there was light.” Torch, thus it is said that Tzaddikim stand before the Shekhinah like a lamp before the torch. From the right side YHVH, and from the left side Ado”nai where judgment is. And because of this, on the first day: “And God said let there be light.” Because five lights they are on the first day. And they are upper Hei and from there they shine. Yud on the left and this is lamp. And this is Hei-Yud from Elohim, Hei to the right Yud to the left. Vav full from both, middle pillar. Son of Yah. And this is the secret Elohim malei Hei-Yud. This is first writing.
49.
וְסוֹד הַדָּבָר הֵ”א. אֱלֹקִים זֶה מְלֵאָה בְּהִפּוּךְ אוֹתִיּוֹת. וְזוֹ ה’ קְטַנָּה, שֶׁהִיא מְלֵאָה מִשָּׁלֹשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת, וְנַעֲשֵׂית הֲוָיָה. לְמַעְלָה הוּא הֲוָיָה. וּבָהּ מַתְחִילוֹת אוֹתִיּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה ה”ו וְאַחַ”כ ט”י. וְאָנָה נִמְצֵאת ה’ אַחֲרוֹנָה. אֶלָּא ד’ הָיְתָה לִהְיוֹת ה’. אֶלָּא מִי גָּרַם שֶׁפָּרַח מִמֶּנָּה ו’ שֶׁהוּא יָרֵךְ שֶׁלָּהּ, אֶלָּא נְתָנָנִי שׁוֹמֵמָה כָּל הַיּוֹם דָּוָה. זֶה הוֹד שֶׁהוּא יָרֵךְ שֶׁלָּהּ שֶׁחוֹזֶרֶת הִיא דָּוָה בְּאֶלֶף הַחֲמִישִׁי. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁפָּרַח מִמֶּנָּה יָרֵךְ, שֶׁעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר וַתֵּקַע כַּף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב. נִכָּר שֶׁמִּיָּמִין מַתְחִילָה לִמְנוֹת אוֹת ד’ עַד נֶצַח. וְהוֹד הוּא יָרֵךְ שְׁלֵמוּת שֶׁלָּהּ. וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁנִּתַּן לְמֹשֶׁה, כְּמַה שֶׁכָּתוּב וַיִּתֵּן הוֹד לְמֹשֶׁה.
And the secret of the matter Hei. Elohim this is full in inversion of letters. And this is small Hei, that she is full from three letters, and becomes Havayah. Above it is Havayah. And in her begin the letters of Torah Hei-Vav and afterward Tet-Yud. And where is the last Hei found. Rather Dalet was to be Hei. Rather who caused that Vav her thigh flew away from her, rather “He has made me desolate all the day faint.” This is Hod that is her thigh that she returns faint in the fifth thousand. Because her thigh flew away from her, concerning which it is said: “And the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was touched.” It is recognized that from the right she begins to count the letter Dalet until Netzach. And Hod is the thigh of her completeness. And this is what was given to Moshe, as it is written: “And He gave majesty to Moshe.”
50.
תִּיקּוּן שְׁלוֹשִׁים וְאַרְבָּעָה בְּרֵאשִׁית ב’ נְקֵבָה פְּתוּחָה לְקַבֵּל מִיָּמִין אֶת אוֹתוֹ שֶׁגּוֹמֵל חֶסֶד עִמָּהּ. וּמַדּוּעַ, שֶׁאוֹת י’ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. כְּמוֹ כֵן ג’, וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה הָרוֹצֶה לְהַחְכִּים יַדְרִים. אִם כֵּן מַדּוּעַ ג’ אָחוֹר לְב’. אֶלָּא סוֹד הַדָּבָר וְאִישׁ כִּי יִקַּח אֶת אֲחֹתוֹ בַּת אָבִיו אוֹ בַּת אִמּוֹ וְרָאָה אֶת עֶרְוָתָהּ וְהִיא תִּרְאֶה אֶת עֶרְוָתוֹ חֶסֶד הוּא. ב’ מַחְזִירָה פָּנֶיהָ מֵא’, ג’ מַחְזִירָה פָּנֶיהָ מִב’, ד’ מַחְזִירָה פָּנֶיהָ מִג’, ה’ מַחְזִיר פָּנָיו מִד’. כָּל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת מַחְזִירוֹת פָּנִים זוֹ מִן זוֹ וְאֵין הֵן פֵּ”ב פֵּ”ף. וּמַדּוּעַ. אֶלָּא סוֹד הַדָּבָר וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי, וּמַדּוּעַ מַחְזִירוֹת פָּנִים זֶה מִן זֶה? מִפְּנֵי עֲרָיוֹת שֶׁהֵן כְּנֶגְדָּן. א’ כְּנֶגְדּוֹ אָרוּר שֶׁהוּא עֶרְוָה, וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר אָרוּר שׁוֹכֵב עִם אֲחֹתוֹ. שֶׁאֵלּוּ עֲרָיוֹת כָּל אֶחָד שׁוֹכֵב עִם אִמּוֹ וְעִם אֲחֹתוֹ וְעִם בִּתּוֹ וּמַחְזִירִים פָּנִים אֵצְלָם שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם בֹּשֶׁת פָּנִים. אֲבָל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת מַחְזִירוֹת פְּנֵיהֶן בְּבֹשֶׁת בְּעַנְוָה. עֶרְיָה תֵּעוֹר. וּבִגְלָלָהּ נֶאֱמַר וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשׁוֹל. עִוֵּר שֶׁהוּא עוֹר. וְסוֹד הַדָּבָר, עָרוּם, רָאָה רָעָה וְנִסְתָּר.
Tikkun thirty-four
Bereshit Bet female open to receive from the right that one who does kindness with her. And why, that the letter Yud is on her head. Likewise Gimel, and because of this one who wishes to become wise should go south. If so why Gimel is behind Bet. Rather the secret of the matter: “And a man who takes his sister daughter of his father or daughter of his mother and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness — it is kindness.” Bet turns her face from Aleph, Gimel turns her face from Bet, Dalet turns her face from Gimel, Hei turns his face from Dalet. All the letters turn their faces one from another and they are not Pe-Bet Pe-Fey. And why. Rather the secret of the matter: “And you shall see My back,” and why do they turn faces one from another? Because of the forbidden relations that are opposite them. Aleph opposite it is cursed that is nakedness, and concerning it is said: “Cursed is one who lies with his sister.” That these forbidden relations each one lies with his mother and with his sister and with his daughter and they turn faces toward them that they have no shame of face. But the holy letters turn their faces in shame with humility. Nakedness shall be uncovered. And because of her it is said: “And before the blind you shall not put a stumbling block.” Blind that is skin. And the secret of the matter: “Cunning,” he saw evil and hid.
51.
וּלְאַחַר שֶׁמִּתְפַּשְּׁטִים מֵהֶם מִתְיַחֲדִים כֻּלָּם וְלֹא יִתְבּוֹשָׁשׁוּ. וּמִתְיַחֲדִים אַבָּא עִם אִמָּא, אָח עִם אֲחֹתוֹ. עַתָּה שֶׁעֶרְוָה בֵּינֵיהֶם יֵשׁ פֵּירוּד בָּאוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁהֵן יְהוָ”ה. כְּמַה שֶׁכָּתוּב כִּי הַמָּוֶת יַפְרִיד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ. לְאַחַר שֶׁנַּעֲבֹר עֲרָיוֹת מֵהֶן, יִהְיֶה ה’ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד. וְסוֹד הָאֶחָד אָח ד’. עֶרְוָה שֶׁל שְׁנֵיהֶם אַחֵר. בִּזְמַן שֶׁמִּסְתַּלֵּק הַקּוֹץ מִן ד’ מִן אֶחָד, נִשְׁאַר אַחֵר. וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל תְּגַל.
And after they spread from them they all unite and are not ashamed. And Father unites with Mother, brother with his sister. Now that nakedness is between them there is separation in the letters that are YHVH. As it is written: “For death will separate between me and you.” After the forbidden relations pass from them, “YHVH will be one and His name one.” And the secret of “one” is brother of Dalet. Nakedness of both is “other.” At the time that the thorn is removed from Dalet from “one,” “other” remains. And concerning it it is said: “And the secret of another do not reveal.”
52.
תִּיקּוּן שְׁלוֹשִׁים וְחָמֵשׁ בְּרֵאשִׁית, בְּתִשְׁרֵי נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. חָסֵר א’ לִהְיוֹת בְּרָאשִׁי”ת, זֶה אָדָם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּתִשְׁרֵי. וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֲתִידָה הָאָרֶץ לְהִתְקַלֵּל בִּגְלָלוֹ, זֶה הוּא אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ. הִסְתַּלֵּק מִן תִּשְׁרֵי. וּפָתַח בְּב’ שֶׁהִיא בְּרָכָה לְהִתְבָּרֵךְ הָאָרֶץ וּלְהוֹצִיא אוֹתָהּ מִן הַקְּלָלוֹת. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁתִּשְׁרֵי הוּא דִּין, לֹא נִזְכַּר שָׁם בְּתִשְׁרֵי, שֶׁלֹּא יִתָּכֵן בּוֹ זְמַן אַחֵר. כְּמַה שֶׁכָּתוּב נֵר ה’ נִשְׁמַת אָדָם.
Tikkun thirty-five
Bereshit, in Tishrei the world was created. Aleph is lacking to be Berashi”th, this is Adam who was created in Tishrei. And because the earth is destined to be cursed because of him, this is: “Cursed is the ground for your sake.” It departed from Tishrei. And it opened with Bet that is blessing for the earth to be blessed and to bring her out from the curses. And not only but because Tishrei is judgment, “there” is not mentioned in Tishrei, that another time is not fitting in it. As it is written: “The lamp of YHVH is the soul of man.”
53.
תִּיקּוּן שְׁלוֹשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ בְּרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁהוּא שַׁבָּת בְּרֵאשִׁית. שֶׁהֲרֵי שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת הֵן. וּלְכָל אַחַת יֵשׁ לָהּ שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. וְכָל יוֹם שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ”ה הוּא אֶלֶף שָׁנִים, כְּמַה שֶׁכָּתוּב כִּי אֶלֶף שָׁנִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ כְּיוֹם אֶתְמוֹל. וְשַׁבָּת בְּרֵאשִׁית, שִׁשָּׁה יָמִים שֶׁלָּהּ הֵם שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תֹּהוּ, שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תּוֹרָה, שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ.
Tikkun thirty-six
Bereshit, that is Shabbat Bereshit. For behold there are seven Shabbatot. And for each one she has six days of work. And every day of the Holy One, blessed be He, is a thousand years, as it is written: “For a thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday.” And Shabbat Bereshit, her six days are two thousand tohu, two thousand Torah, two thousand days of Messiah.5
4.
שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תֹּהוּ וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹּהוּ. שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תּוֹרָה וְרוּחַ אֱלֹקִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם וְאֵין מַיִם אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה. פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם שְׁנֵי פָּנִים שֶׁלָּהּ, שֶׁהֵם מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה וּמִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. לָבָן וְאָדֹם, יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל. וְאֵלּוּ הֵם שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תּוֹרָה. שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים יְמוֹת מָשִׁיחַ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר. עֲלֵיהֶם נֶאֱמַר עַל כֵּן בָּאוּרִים כַּבְּדוּ ה’. עַל כֵּן וְדַאי. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ וַיְהִי כֵּן וְאֵלּוּ שִׁבְעִים. וְעַל שְׁנֵי מְאוֹרוֹת אֵלּוּ נֶאֱמַר שְׁנֵי פַּרְצוּפִים זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה. יְהִי אוֹר זֶה פֶּסַח, אוֹר לְאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר. וַיְהִי אוֹר רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם.
Two thousand tohu and the earth was tohu. Two thousand Torah and spirit of God hovers over the face of the waters and there is no water except Torah. Face of the waters two faces of her, that they are positive commandments and negative commandments. White and red, right and left. And these are two thousand Torah. Two thousand days of Messiah. “And God said let there be light and there was light.” Concerning them it is said: “Therefore with lights they honored YHVH.” Therefore certainly. As it is said in him: “And it was so” and these are seventy. And concerning these two luminaries it is said two faces male and female. “Let there be light” this is Pesach, light for the fourteenth. “And there was light” Rosh Hashanah, as it is said in him: “And it was the day.”