{"id":169,"date":"2011-08-16T15:53:17","date_gmt":"2011-08-16T15:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravashlag.wordpress.com\/?p=169"},"modified":"2011-08-16T15:53:17","modified_gmt":"2011-08-16T15:53:17","slug":"r-ashlags-introduction-to-the-zohar-ch-41","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/2011\/08\/16\/r-ashlags-introduction-to-the-zohar-ch-41\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u2019 Ashlag\u2019s \u201cIntroduction To The Zohar\u201d: Ch. 41"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ch\u2019s 41-55 will go to great lengths to explain why we humans would need all the upper worlds God created for us in the first place, while the rest of the book will address the humdrum spirituality of our age, and how our knowledge of the Zohar (whose stellar qualities Ashlag then expands upon) in particular and Kabbalah in general would help rectify us and satisfy God\u2019s intention for creation.<\/em><\/p>\n

1.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019d still need to clarify in fact why humankind would need all the supernal worlds that the Creator forged for it, though. What use are they to it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That will be solved for the most part by Ch. 56. But before we can understand the answer we\u2019d first need to learn some things about the supernal worlds, about how they\u2019re connected to humankind, and about what all that has to do with Torah and mitzvot. In fact we\u2019ll find that they\u2019re all intimately, even congenitally linked.<\/p>\n

It’s important to realize that unlike most of Ashlag\u2019s works, this one isn\u2019t a Kabbalistic book per se<\/em>, though these next few chapters will draw on certain Kabbalistic ideas and motifs. So while we\u2019ll try to offer insight into their import and meaning, we won\u2019t be providing the kind of detailed Kabbalistic comments here in our notes that would be called for in a fully Kabbalistic text.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 You\u2019d need to know, though, that reality is comprised of five (supernal) worlds en toto<\/em> that are termed: Adam Kadmon<\/em>, Atzilut<\/em>, Briah<\/em>, Yetzirah<\/em>, and Asiyah<\/em>, each of which is comprised of an infinite number of elements. <\/strong><\/p>\n

These utterly nonmaterial, inchoate \u201cworlds\u201d can best be depicted as whole, largely unfathomable realms that somehow emanate and devolve downward from God\u2019s nonmaterial, transcendent Being, and then culminate in our material universe.<\/p>\n

Adam Kadmon<\/em> (\u201cPrimordial Man\u201d) is the first supernal, utterly transcendent world to have emerged from God\u2019s Infinitude. It\u2019s termed Adam<\/em> (or, Man) because it\u2019s the supernal basis of humankind, and Kadmon<\/em> (or, Primordial) since it\u2019s nearly as primeval as God\u2019s original idea to create the universe in the first place.<\/p>\n

Atzilut<\/em> is the world that flowed forth from Adam Kadmon<\/em>. It\u2019s termed that both because it\u2019s aristocratic, if you will, in its import, high standing, and inaccessibility (from atzil<\/em>), and because it\u2019s adjacent to and next after Adam Kadmon<\/em> (from eitzel<\/em>) in sweeping consequence.<\/p>\n

Briah<\/em> (\u201cCreation\u201d) is termed that because it\u2019s the first utter-existent appearing out of the relative formless nothingness of Adam Kadmon<\/em> and Atzilut<\/em>, which are so utterly unfathomable and immaterial.<\/p>\n

Yetzirah<\/em> (\u201cFormation\u201d) is the first realm in which “something\u201d came about, and where the raw undefined \u201cstuff\u201d that was created out of the formless Divine began to assume shape.<\/p>\n

And while Asiyah<\/em> (\u201cActivation\u201d) is just as much a spiritual realm essentially as the others, it still-and-all grazes against the physical universe, and is thus able to provoke or activate formed and molded materiality.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to recall, as Ashlag put it above, that each one of the five worlds is comprised of an infinite number of elements. For not only is each one of the worlds extensive in implication, they\u2019re likewise comprehensive in scope, and each part of each is interwoven with each other part in an infinite amalgamation. Those elements are known as the sephirot<\/em>, which we\u2019ll discuss below. They too are infinitely divisible.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Those (five) worlds correspond to the five (primary) sephirot<\/em>, termed K.C.B.T.M. (Keter<\/em>, Chochma<\/em>, Binah<\/em>, Tipheret<\/em>, and Malchut<\/em>), in that Adam Kadmon<\/em> corresponds to Keter<\/em>, Atzilut<\/em> corresponds to Chochma<\/em>, Briah<\/em> corresponds to Binah<\/em>, Yetzirah<\/em> corresponds to Tipheret<\/em>, and Asiyah<\/em> corresponds to Malchut<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

There are ten sephirot<\/em> (\u201cspheres\u201d, as in spheres-of-influence or of- concern) altogether in fact: Keter<\/em> (\u201cCrown\u201d), Chochma<\/em> (\u201cWisdom\u201d), Binah<\/em> (\u201cUnderstanding\u201d), Chessed<\/em> (\u201cKindness\u201d), Gevurah<\/em> (\u201cStrength\u201d), Tipheret<\/em> (\u201cBeauty\u201d), Netzach<\/em> (\u201cEndurance\u201d), Hod<\/em> (\u201cSplendor\u201d), Yesod<\/em> (\u201cFoundation\u201d) and Malchut<\/em> (\u201cKingship\u201d).<\/p>\n

As we see here, the ten are often lumped together into a cluster of five: Keter<\/em>, Chochma<\/em>, Binah<\/em>, Tipheret<\/em> (which itself incorporates Chessed<\/em>, Gevurah<\/em>, Tipheret<\/em> itself, Netzach<\/em>, Hod<\/em>, and Yesod<\/em>), and Malchut<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Suffice it to say that each sephirah<\/em> has a unique luster and timbre, and that their names help explain that, but that\u2019s all beside Ashlag\u2019s point here. He assumes we know all this already (or perhaps he’s whetting our appetite for all this in hopes of encouraging us to study Kabbalah, which he\u2019ll argue for later on in this work), and he means only to explain how the lot of them interact with our beings and the mitzvah-system as we indicated above.<\/p>\n

2.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 The (supernal) lights that are engarbed in those five worlds are termed Y.C.N.R.N. (i.e., Yechidah<\/em>, Chaya<\/em>, Neshama<\/em>, Ruach<\/em>, and Nephesh<\/em>).\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

What Ashlag terms the \u201clights\u201d are the five primary depths of the soul, from Yechidah<\/em> to Chaya<\/em> to Neshama<\/em> to Ruach<\/em> to Nephesh<\/em> in descending order.<\/p>\n

Each term could be translated as either soul or spirit, but the Yechidah<\/em>, the most sublime level, is termed \u201cthe soul\u2019s source\u201d, the Chaya<\/em> is \u201cthe soul\u2019s soul\u201d, the Neshama<\/em> is \u201cthe soul\u201d itself, the Ruach<\/em> is perhaps best termed \u201cthe spirit\u201d, while the Nephesh<\/em> is what\u2019s termed \u201cthe \u00e9lan vital\u201d.<\/p>\n

Each of these is encased and irradiates in a corresponding world, so…<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 The light of Yechidah<\/em> shines in Adam Kadmon<\/em>, the light of Chaya<\/em> shines in Atzilut<\/em>, the light of Neshama<\/em> shines in Briah<\/em>, the light of Ruach<\/em> shines in Yetzirah<\/em>, and the light of Nephesh<\/em> shines in Asiyah<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 And all these worlds and everything included in them are incorporated in the holy name (spelled) \u201cYud<\/em>, Hey<\/em>, Vav<\/em>, and Hey<\/em>\u201d as well as the tip of the Yud<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We can\u2019t perceive anything of the first world, Adam Kadmon<\/em>, whatsoever, which is why it\u2019s alluded to by the tip of the Yud<\/em> and why we never speak of Adam Kadmon<\/em> (itself) but only cite the four worlds A.B.Y.A. (Atzilut<\/em>, Briah<\/em>, Yetzirah<\/em>, and Asiyah<\/em>). The Yud<\/em> corresponds to Atzilut<\/em>, the (first) Hey<\/em> corresponds to Briah<\/em>, the Vav<\/em> corresponds to Yetzirah<\/em>, and the final Hey<\/em> corresponds to Asiyah<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Ineffable Name (known as \u201cThe Tetragramatton\u201d, often misspelled as \u201cJehovah\u201d), which is the basis for all of creation, is spelled out with the Hebrew letters Yud<\/em>, Hey<\/em>, Vav<\/em>, and Hey<\/em>. Each letter serves a particular function.<\/p>\n

The letter Yud<\/em>\u2019s tip is considered a separate and fifth \u201cletter\u201d if you will. Since it\u2019s unapparent and because we\u2019re only vaguely aware of it if at all, the tip of the Yud<\/em> corresponds to Adam Kadmon<\/em>, which \u201cwe can\u2019t perceive anything of\u201d and which isn\u2019t spoken of in Kabbalistic literature because it\u2019s so extramundane. And Yud<\/em> itself corresponds to Atzilut<\/em>, the first Hey corresponds to Briah, etc.<\/p>\n

In the end then the following is true:<\/p>\n

The tip of the Yud<\/em> = Yechidah<\/em> = Keter<\/em> = Adam Kadmon<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Yud<\/em> = Chaya<\/em> = Chochma<\/em> = Atzilut<\/em><\/p>\n

The first Hey<\/em> = Neshama<\/em> = Binah<\/em> = Briah<\/em><\/p>\n

Vav<\/em> = Ruach<\/em> = Tipheret<\/em> = Yetzirah<\/em><\/p>\n

And the final Hey<\/em> = Nephesh<\/em> = Malchut<\/em> = Asiyah<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Thus we see that the letters of God’s Name, our souls, the sephirot<\/em>, and the supernal worlds do indeed interact with each other, and we’ll soon determine how all that ties in with the mitzvah-system.<\/p>\n

(c) 2011 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n

AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n

You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n

Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ch\u2019s 41-55 will go to great lengths to explain why we humans would need all the upper worlds God created for us in the first place, while the rest of the book will address … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iqlA-2J","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/ravashlag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}