Zohar for Us
אוֹת בְּרִית מִילָה, אוֹת שַׁבָּת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים, וְאוֹת תְּפִלִּין.
The sign of the covenant of circumcision, the sign of Shabbat and festivals, and the sign of tefillin.עָלֶיהָ נֶאֱמַר עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד אֵלֶיךָ לְעֵת מְצוֹא.
Concerning her it is said: “For this let every pious one pray to You in a time of finding.”וּמָצָא אִשָּׁה מָצָא טוֹב וְיָפֶק רָצוֹן מֵה’.
“And whoever finds a wife finds good and obtains favor from Hashem.”וְיַעֲקֹב בֵּרַךְ לְבָנָיו בְּזֹאת, כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב, וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם.
And Jacob blessed his sons with Zot, as it is written: “And this is what their father spoke to them.”וְדָוִד בְּזֹאת הִפִּיק רְצוֹנוֹ מֵה’ כְּשֶׁנִּלְחַם עִם אוֹיְבָיו,
And David with Zot obtained his desire from Hashem when he fought with his enemies,כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב, אִם תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה לֹא יִירָא לִבִּי, בְּזֹאת אֲנִי בוֹטֵחַ.
as it is written: “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; with Zot I trust.”וְהַנָּבִיא כְּשֶׁרָאָה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגָּלוּת לֹא רָאָה לָהֶם מְנוּחָה אֶלָּא בַּעֲבוּר זֹאת,
And the prophet when he saw Israel in exile did not see rest for them except because of Zot,כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב זֹאת אֲשִׁיב אֶל לִבִּי עַל כֵּן אוֹחִיל.
as it is written: “This I will bring back to my heart, therefore I have hope.”וִיהוּדָה לֹא הִתְבָּרֵךְ אֶלָּא בְּזֹאת.
And Judah was not blessed except with Zot.כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה.
As it is written: “And this is for Judah.”וּמֹשֶׁה לֹא בֵּרַךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא בְּזֹאת,
And Moses did not bless Israel except with Zot,וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה.
“And this is the blessing.”וּמִי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁת לִבּוֹ גַּם לְזֹאת, עָלָיו כָּתוּב אִישׁ בַּעַר לֹא יֵדַע וּכְסִיל לֹא יָבִין אֶת זֹאת.
And whoever did not set his heart even to Zot — concerning him it is written: “A brutish man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.”וּכְשֶׁהָאָדָם בָּהּ יַפִּיק רְצוֹנוֹ, וּבָהּ מַשִּׂיג הַשֵּׁם,
And when a person attains his desire with her, and attains the Name with her,שֶׁזֶּהוּ סוֹד עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד,
that this is the secret: “For this let every pious one pray,”עַל זֹאת וַדַּאי, לְשֵׁם ה’ שֶׁהוּא עַל זֹאת,
with Zot certainly, for the Name of Hashem which is upon Zot,לָמָּה תִּקְּנוּ בְּשַׁחֲרִית לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה,
why did they institute in Shacharit a known measure,וְכֵן בְּמִנְחָה לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה, וְכֵן בְּעַרְבִית לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה.
and likewise in Mincha a known measure, and likewise in Arvit a known measure?וְכֵן בְּשַׁבָּת לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה.
And likewise on Shabbat a known measure.וְכֵן בְּיוֹם טוֹב לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה, וְכֵן בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת יְמֵי תְּשׁוּבָה לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה.
And likewise on Yom Tov a known measure, and likewise during the Ten Days of Repentance a known measure.אֶלָּא מַה שֶׁאָמַר עַל זֹאת, הוּא מוֹרֶה שֶׁהֲוָיָה הִיא עַל כָּל סְפִירָה וּסְפִירָה.
Rather what he said “with Zot” teaches that Havaya (the Name) is upon every Sefirah and Sefirah.כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד, לְךָ ה’ הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַגְּבוּרָה.
As David said: “Yours, Hashem, is the greatness and the might.”וְאֵין לְךָ פְּעֻלָּה בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי מַלְכוּת,
And You have no action in the lower worlds except by means of Malchut,שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בְּכָל מָשָׁלָה,
concerning which it is said: “And His kingdom rules over all.”אֲבָל בִּזְמַן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַקָּבָּ”ה לְהַצְדִּיק לַצַּדִּיק,
But when the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to justify the righteous,וְלַעֲשׂוֹת עִמּוֹ צְדָקָה שֶׁהִיא מַלְכוּת, עִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים,
and to perform with him charity which is Malchut, with the lower ones,נִכְלָלִים בּוֹ כָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת, וְנִקְרָאִים צַדִּיקִים עַל שְׁמוֹ ה’ נִקְרָא עַל שְׁמוֹ צַדִּיק,
all the Sefirot are included in him, and they are called righteous after His name; Hashem is called after his name righteous,שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר צַדִּיק ה’ בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו.
as it is said: “Hashem is righteous in all His ways.”וּמְרַחֵם עַל בְּרִיּוֹתָיו בִּצְדָקָה,
And He has mercy on His creatures with charity,אֵין צְדָקָה אֶלָּא תְּפִלָּה,
there is no charity except prayer,צ’ אָמֵנִים, ד’ קְדוּשׁוֹת, ק’ בְּרָכוֹת, ה’ חֲמִשָּׁה חֻמְּשֵׁי תּוֹרָה,
Tzadi — ninety Amens, Dalet — four Sanctifications, Kuf — one hundred blessings, Heh — five books of Torah,וְזֶהוּ צְדָקָה תְּרוֹמֵם גּוֹי,
and this is “Charity exalts a nation,”וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר לְאַבְרָהָם וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לוֹ צְדָקָה.
and concerning him it is said to Abraham: “And He accounted it to him as righteousness.”וּכְשֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה בָּהּ נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ וַיִּלְבַּשׁ צְדָקָה כַּשִּׁרְיָן.
And when He desires her it is said concerning her: “And He put on righteousness as a breastplate.”מִצַּד ה’ הִיא צְדָקָה,
From the side of Heh it is righteousness,וּמִצַּד י’ הִיא כּוֹבַע עַל רֹאשׁ צַדִּיק אוֹת בְּרִית,
and from the side of Yod it is a helmet on the head of the righteous — the sign of the covenant,עֲטָרָה בְּרֹאשׁ כָּל צַדִּיק.
a crown on the head of every righteous one.וּמִצַּד ו’ נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ אֲרוּכָה מֵאֶרֶץ מִדָּה.
And from the side of Vav it is said concerning her: “Its measure is longer than the earth.”מִצַּד ה’ עֶלְיוֹנָה וּרְחָבָה מִנִּי יָם.
From the side of the upper Heh: “and broader than the sea.”וּכְשֶׁרוֹצֶה הַקָּבָּ”ה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ נְבוּאָה,
And when the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to draw down prophecy,כָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת כְּלוּלִים בָּהֶם, וְנִקְרָאִים נְבִיאִים,
all the Sefirot are included in them, and they are called prophets,וּמַלְכוּת הִיא דִּמְיוֹן כֻּלָּם.
and Malchut is the likeness of all of them.שֶׁכָּתוּב וּבְיַד הַנְּבִיאִים אֲדַמֶּה,
As it is written: “And by the hand of the prophets I will be likened,”כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַנָּבִיא וְדִבַּרְתִּי עַל הַנְּבִיאִים,
as the prophet said: “And I spoke concerning the prophets,”שֶׁהִיא כְּמוֹ הַמַּרְאֶה שֶׁכָּל הַפָּנִים נִרְאִים בָּהּ,
that she is like the mirror in which all faces are seen,כֵּן כָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת מַרְאִים בָּהּ כֹּחָם וְדִמְיוֹנָם וְצוּרָתָם,
so all the Sefirot show in her their strength and their likeness and their form,לְכָל נָבִיא כְּפִי הַשָּׂגָתוֹ לְמַעְלָה,
to every prophet according to his attainment above,וּכְמוֹ כֵן לְמַטָּה הִיא מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת בְּכִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד,
and likewise below she clothes herself in the throne of glory,וּבְכָל הַמַּלְאָכִים וְהָאוֹפַנִּים וְחַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ,
and in all the angels and the Ophanim and the holy living creatures,וּבְכָל הָרְקִיעִים, וְהַכִּסְּאוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם,
and in all the firmaments and the thrones that are in them,וְהַמַּלְאָכִים הַתְּלוּיִים מֵהֶם, שֶׁיֵּשׁ מַלְאָכִים גְּבוֹהִים עֲלֵיהֶם,
and the angels that hang from them, for there are angels higher than they,שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי גָּבֹהַּ מֵעַל גָּבֹהַּ שֹׁמֵר וּגְבֹהִים עֲלֵיהֶם.
The sign of the covenant of circumcision, the sign of Shabbat and festivals, and the sign of tefillin.עָלֶיהָ נֶאֱמַר עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד אֵלֶיךָ לְעֵת מְצוֹא.
Concerning her it is said: “For this let every pious one pray to You in a time of finding.”וּמָצָא אִשָּׁה מָצָא טוֹב וְיָפֶק רָצוֹן מֵה’.
“And whoever finds a wife finds good and obtains favor from Hashem.”וְיַעֲקֹב בֵּרַךְ לְבָנָיו בְּזֹאת, כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב, וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם.
And Jacob blessed his sons with Zot, as it is written: “And this is what their father spoke to them.”וְדָוִד בְּזֹאת הִפִּיק רְצוֹנוֹ מֵה’ כְּשֶׁנִּלְחַם עִם אוֹיְבָיו,
And David with Zot obtained his desire from Hashem when he fought with his enemies,כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב, אִם תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה לֹא יִירָא לִבִּי, בְּזֹאת אֲנִי בוֹטֵחַ.
as it is written: “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; with Zot I trust.”וְהַנָּבִיא כְּשֶׁרָאָה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגָּלוּת לֹא רָאָה לָהֶם מְנוּחָה אֶלָּא בַּעֲבוּר זֹאת,
And the prophet when he saw Israel in exile did not see rest for them except because of Zot,כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב זֹאת אֲשִׁיב אֶל לִבִּי עַל כֵּן אוֹחִיל.
as it is written: “This I will bring back to my heart, therefore I have hope.”וִיהוּדָה לֹא הִתְבָּרֵךְ אֶלָּא בְּזֹאת.
And Judah was not blessed except with Zot.כְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה.
As it is written: “And this is for Judah.”וּמֹשֶׁה לֹא בֵּרַךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא בְּזֹאת,
And Moses did not bless Israel except with Zot,וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה.
“And this is the blessing.”וּמִי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁת לִבּוֹ גַּם לְזֹאת, עָלָיו כָּתוּב אִישׁ בַּעַר לֹא יֵדַע וּכְסִיל לֹא יָבִין אֶת זֹאת.
And whoever did not set his heart even to Zot — concerning him it is written: “A brutish man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.”וּכְשֶׁהָאָדָם בָּהּ יַפִּיק רְצוֹנוֹ, וּבָהּ מַשִּׂיג הַשֵּׁם,
And when a person attains his desire with her, and attains the Name with her,שֶׁזֶּהוּ סוֹד עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד,
that this is the secret: “For this let every pious one pray,”עַל זֹאת וַדַּאי, לְשֵׁם ה’ שֶׁהוּא עַל זֹאת,
with Zot certainly, for the Name of Hashem which is upon Zot,לָמָּה תִּקְּנוּ בְּשַׁחֲרִית לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה,
why did they institute in Shacharit a known measure,וְכֵן בְּמִנְחָה לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה, וְכֵן בְּעַרְבִית לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה.
and likewise in Mincha a known measure, and likewise in Arvit a known measure?וְכֵן בְּשַׁבָּת לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה.
And likewise on Shabbat a known measure.וְכֵן בְּיוֹם טוֹב לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה, וְכֵן בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת יְמֵי תְּשׁוּבָה לְמִידָּה יְדוּעָה.
And likewise on Yom Tov a known measure, and likewise during the Ten Days of Repentance a known measure.אֶלָּא מַה שֶׁאָמַר עַל זֹאת, הוּא מוֹרֶה שֶׁהֲוָיָה הִיא עַל כָּל סְפִירָה וּסְפִירָה.
Rather what he said “with Zot” teaches that Havaya (the Name) is upon every Sefirah and Sefirah.כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד, לְךָ ה’ הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַגְּבוּרָה.
As David said: “Yours, Hashem, is the greatness and the might.”וְאֵין לְךָ פְּעֻלָּה בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי מַלְכוּת,
And You have no action in the lower worlds except by means of Malchut,שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בְּכָל מָשָׁלָה,
concerning which it is said: “And His kingdom rules over all.”אֲבָל בִּזְמַן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַקָּבָּ”ה לְהַצְדִּיק לַצַּדִּיק,
But when the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to justify the righteous,וְלַעֲשׂוֹת עִמּוֹ צְדָקָה שֶׁהִיא מַלְכוּת, עִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים,
and to perform with him charity which is Malchut, with the lower ones,נִכְלָלִים בּוֹ כָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת, וְנִקְרָאִים צַדִּיקִים עַל שְׁמוֹ ה’ נִקְרָא עַל שְׁמוֹ צַדִּיק,
all the Sefirot are included in him, and they are called righteous after His name; Hashem is called after his name righteous,שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר צַדִּיק ה’ בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו.
as it is said: “Hashem is righteous in all His ways.”וּמְרַחֵם עַל בְּרִיּוֹתָיו בִּצְדָקָה,
And He has mercy on His creatures with charity,אֵין צְדָקָה אֶלָּא תְּפִלָּה,
there is no charity except prayer,צ’ אָמֵנִים, ד’ קְדוּשׁוֹת, ק’ בְּרָכוֹת, ה’ חֲמִשָּׁה חֻמְּשֵׁי תּוֹרָה,
Tzadi — ninety Amens, Dalet — four Sanctifications, Kuf — one hundred blessings, Heh — five books of Torah,וְזֶהוּ צְדָקָה תְּרוֹמֵם גּוֹי,
and this is “Charity exalts a nation,”וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר לְאַבְרָהָם וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לוֹ צְדָקָה.
and concerning him it is said to Abraham: “And He accounted it to him as righteousness.”וּכְשֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה בָּהּ נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ וַיִּלְבַּשׁ צְדָקָה כַּשִּׁרְיָן.
And when He desires her it is said concerning her: “And He put on righteousness as a breastplate.”מִצַּד ה’ הִיא צְדָקָה,
From the side of Heh it is righteousness,וּמִצַּד י’ הִיא כּוֹבַע עַל רֹאשׁ צַדִּיק אוֹת בְּרִית,
and from the side of Yod it is a helmet on the head of the righteous — the sign of the covenant,עֲטָרָה בְּרֹאשׁ כָּל צַדִּיק.
a crown on the head of every righteous one.וּמִצַּד ו’ נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ אֲרוּכָה מֵאֶרֶץ מִדָּה.
And from the side of Vav it is said concerning her: “Its measure is longer than the earth.”מִצַּד ה’ עֶלְיוֹנָה וּרְחָבָה מִנִּי יָם.
From the side of the upper Heh: “and broader than the sea.”וּכְשֶׁרוֹצֶה הַקָּבָּ”ה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ נְבוּאָה,
And when the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to draw down prophecy,כָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת כְּלוּלִים בָּהֶם, וְנִקְרָאִים נְבִיאִים,
all the Sefirot are included in them, and they are called prophets,וּמַלְכוּת הִיא דִּמְיוֹן כֻּלָּם.
and Malchut is the likeness of all of them.שֶׁכָּתוּב וּבְיַד הַנְּבִיאִים אֲדַמֶּה,
As it is written: “And by the hand of the prophets I will be likened,”כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַנָּבִיא וְדִבַּרְתִּי עַל הַנְּבִיאִים,
as the prophet said: “And I spoke concerning the prophets,”שֶׁהִיא כְּמוֹ הַמַּרְאֶה שֶׁכָּל הַפָּנִים נִרְאִים בָּהּ,
that she is like the mirror in which all faces are seen,כֵּן כָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת מַרְאִים בָּהּ כֹּחָם וְדִמְיוֹנָם וְצוּרָתָם,
so all the Sefirot show in her their strength and their likeness and their form,לְכָל נָבִיא כְּפִי הַשָּׂגָתוֹ לְמַעְלָה,
to every prophet according to his attainment above,וּכְמוֹ כֵן לְמַטָּה הִיא מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת בְּכִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד,
and likewise below she clothes herself in the throne of glory,וּבְכָל הַמַּלְאָכִים וְהָאוֹפַנִּים וְחַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ,
and in all the angels and the Ophanim and the holy living creatures,וּבְכָל הָרְקִיעִים, וְהַכִּסְּאוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם,
and in all the firmaments and the thrones that are in them,וְהַמַּלְאָכִים הַתְּלוּיִים מֵהֶם, שֶׁיֵּשׁ מַלְאָכִים גְּבוֹהִים עֲלֵיהֶם,
and the angels that hang from them, for there are angels higher than they,שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי גָּבֹהַּ מֵעַל גָּבֹהַּ שֹׁמֵר וּגְבֹהִים עֲלֵיהֶם.