Kabbalah zu Schemot 34:78

When the Torah was given, her tablets that were likened to virginity were broken. And the Holy One, blessed be He, again gave her to Israel to keep her. And the oral Torah is called Halachah given to Moses on Sinai. And the groom of the Torah broke her virginity [just like the first tablets were broken]. Whoever speaks ill of her and says that Torah is not {the same as the original}, since her tablets were broken, the Holy One, blessed be He, will speak to him, who is the girl's father, that daughter who is {hinted at} in the word בְּרֵאשִׁית (In the beginning). [ בְּרֵאשִׁית is spelled with the same letters as 'Bat Roshi', the daughter of my head. The Torah is therefore]the King's daughter. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, spoke: "And they shall spread the cloth" (Deuteronomy 22:17), and the parchment of the Torah scroll unfolds, and they shall see that it is written in it, "Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you did break" (Shemot 34:1).

We learn from this passage that even if the harm [caused by] error is great, it nonetheless appertains only to one who is unqualified to teach and [yet] teaches. However, [with regard to] the subject of teaching oneself, there is no harm at all stemming from error. On the contrary, [such a person] receives a reward—though not as great a reward as that [given to] one who arrives at the truth. The difference between them is similar to that between the barren tree and those trees which bear fruit. Thus holiness increases and bears fruit in the light which emanates from the true Torah of one who knows its secrets and continually teaches them. The same [holds] for the other divisions of the Torah. There is no doubt that [such a teacher] will cause an emanation, and that this emanation and light which is created [through the teaching] will abide forever, bearing fruit for himself and for generations [to come]. Thus it is written, He keeps mercy to the thousandth generation (Exod. 34:7). He retains [His] mercy to a thousand generations with regard to the merit of the fathers and similar things. The essence of the good deed, which constitutes the essence of the light, is kept for him for the world-to-come, where he sits and enjoys [it].

And now we should clarify your understanding regarding one issue dependent on this. Know that the aspects/attributes/middot are dependent on the limbs. How so? The aspect of the eye is vision, the aspect of the ear is hearing, the aspect of the hand is touch, the aspect of the foot is walking. And behold, the aspects/middot are continued through the limbs, and regarding this our sages of blessed memory reminded us "towards Heaven is an expression of middot" [probably related to Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:8, I didn't find the source for this, N.T.] we have to understand regarding the matter of attributes as we understand regarding the matter of ear and hand and foot that we mentioned. And just as there is no quantification among us regarding the limbs, there is no quantification regarding the issue of middot. And since in this book we need to deal with the expression of middot, take care and guard your soul exceedingly from saying that Y"Y of Blessing has a middah that is differentiated and quantifiable, because this is not so. Just as there is no quantification, limit or comparison for the matter of the eye and ear, so too is the standing regarding the middot. And behold our rabbis of blessed memory called their holy names middot, as we learn in the first chapter of Rosh Hashanah: "Rav Yehuda said: A covenant was made with the thirteen attributes that they will not return empty-handed, as it is stated: “Behold, I make a covenant” (Exodus 34:10)." (Rosh Hashanah 17b) And the thirteen middot are Y"Y, Y"Y, E-l compassionate and gracious, slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). And the general rule - you have to believe that there is no comparison between the attributes of Y"Y of blessing and our attributes, even though there is the use of the sign of same word. And regarding this our sages of blessed memory said in several places: "Come and see how the attributes of the Holy One of Blessing are not like the attributes of flesh and blood" (Shabbat 127a, Berakhot 5a, Megillah 14a etc), and after we passed to your hands this key with this introduction, we have to enter the explanation of each and every name of the holy names written in the Torah and clarify your eyes in every place that you find one of these names written, and so that you will understand and become illumined regarding the source of living water that He flows from all His names, may He be blessed. And if you grasp this thing then you will be successful in your way and then you will become illumined.

And now we should clarify your understanding regarding one issue dependent on this. Know that the aspects/attributes/middot are dependent on the limbs. How so? The aspect of the eye is vision, the aspect of the ear is hearing, the aspect of the hand is touch, the aspect of the foot is walking. And behold, the aspects/middot are continued through the limbs, and regarding this our sages of blessed memory reminded us "towards Heaven is an expression of middot" [probably related to Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:8, I didn't find the source for this, N.T.] we have to understand regarding the matter of attributes as we understand regarding the matter of ear and hand and foot that we mentioned. And just as there is no quantification among us regarding the limbs, there is no quantification regarding the issue of middot. And since in this book we need to deal with the expression of middot, take care and guard your soul exceedingly from saying that Y"Y of Blessing has a middah that is differentiated and quantifiable, because this is not so. Just as there is no quantification, limit or comparison for the matter of the eye and ear, so too is the standing regarding the middot. And behold our rabbis of blessed memory called their holy names middot, as we learn in the first chapter of Rosh Hashanah: "Rav Yehuda said: A covenant was made with the thirteen attributes that they will not return empty-handed, as it is stated: “Behold, I make a covenant” (Exodus 34:10)." (Rosh Hashanah 17b) And the thirteen middot are Y"Y, Y"Y, E-l compassionate and gracious, slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). And the general rule - you have to believe that there is no comparison between the attributes of Y"Y of blessing and our attributes, even though there is the use of the sign of same word. And regarding this our sages of blessed memory said in several places: "Come and see how the attributes of the Holy One of Blessing are not like the attributes of flesh and blood" (Shabbat 127a, Berakhot 5a, Megillah 14a etc), and after we passed to your hands this key with this introduction, we have to enter the explanation of each and every name of the holy names written in the Torah and clarify your eyes in every place that you find one of these names written, and so that you will understand and become illumined regarding the source of living water that He flows from all His names, may He be blessed. And if you grasp this thing then you will be successful in your way and then you will become illumined.

“And give ear to His commandments,” refers to Netzach, for one should not insert this sign into a heathen woman, nor be false with it to Netzach. For it is written: “And also the Eternal One (lit. ‘Netzach’) of Yisrael will not lie” (I Shmuel 15:29). And he who observes this, THE HOLY COVENANT, fulfills His commandments, as is written: “For you shall worship no other El” (Shemot 34:14).

The punishment of one who has relations with a Cutite is stated in the Zohar in Chayei Sarah: 214. For that reason, he who cleaves to a woman from the heathen nations is defiled, and the child that she bears him receives the spirit of defilement. You may ask, Is it not of Yisrael from the side of its father? If so, why should it receive the spirit of defilement? Come and behold: First its father was besmirched when he united with that tainted woman. All the more so, the child that she bears will receive the spirit of defilement upon it. Furthermore, he also transgressed the Torah, as it is written: “For you shall worship no other El; for Hashem whose name is jealous, is a jealous El” (Shemot 34:14), which means that He is zealous of the covenant, SO THAT IT WILL NOT BE TAINTED BY HEATHEN WOMEN. 216. Come and behold: Whoever puts the holy covenant in a woman of a heathen nation causes another place to be defiled; NAMELY, HE BLEMISHES THE SUPERNAL COVENANT AND CAUSES IT TO GIVE PLENTY TO THE HANDMAID. Thus, it is written: “For three things the earth is disquieted...” (Mishlei 30:21).

Keri comes because of a few reasons and we need to explain them. The first is what Rabbi Shimon said in the Zohar in Kedoshim regarding “Do not turn to the idols” and it is the issue of looking at women, since that leads a person to negative thoughts and impurity, and he goes against the precept of “do not make for yourself molten gods” (Leviticus 19:4) since after his entire body warms up from the spirit of defilement it is considered like he made himself into a molten god. And the meaning of “for yourself” is like saying “do not make yourself into a molten god”, as it explains in the Zohar in Tetzaveh regarding anger, that it says anger is different from all other defilements: 60. Other impurities are different, for they cannot do more THAN DEFILE HIM ON THE OUTSIDE, but one WHO GETS ANGRY is different from them all, for his whole body becomes defiled inside and out, and he contaminates the soul and everything else. 61. Therefore, it is written: “You shall make you no molten Elohim” (Shemot 34:17). “Make you” MEANS you shall NOT harm yourself.

If one makes an effort to know the six orders of the Mishnah by heart, how great and how pleasant is his portion, since the main study of the Mishnah is to know it by heart, as it says “for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel” (Exodus 34:27), and teachings that are Oral are not permitted to be said in writing, and they only wrote down [the Mishnah] because ‘the time has come to do for the Creator’ (meaning in those times they had to write them down or else it would have been forgotten). Those who know it by heart (orally) is meritorious, as Rabbi Shimon said in the Zohar in Beresheet B that in the Chamber of Etzem Hashamayim there are Serafim with six wings, and this is what it says: 77. From the totality of those lights, THROUGH THEIR JOINING, the Seraphim were created. Each has six wings, as is written: “Above it stood the Seraphim, each one had six wings” (Yeshayah 6:2). They all have six WINGS, because they originated from THIS CHAMBER CALLED etzem hashamayim. These Seraphim burn (Heb. sorphim) all those who do not revere their Master’s glory, THAT IS, THOSE WHO DEAL WITH THE THREE TOP SFIROT, and it is said that he who exploits the crown of Torah shall fade away, BECAUSE THE SERAPHIM BURN HIM. And whoever reads and learns the Six Orders of the Mishnah knows how to arrange and connect with his Master’s unity, as is fitting. It is he who knows how to sanctify his Master’s Holy Name each day always.

And after this introduction, here I am going to explain. You should know that the name YHV"H, may the One be blessed, dresses itself and beautifies itself in holy names, and every holy name seizes itself [or. Hebrew is מתאחזין] in the truth of this Name, may it be blessed, and each name teaches a specific issue individually. How? When the Holy Name wants to have compassion on God's world and have pity on them, then God clothes Godself in the clothing of Compassion [Hesed] and Mercy [Hemlah] and then the High Name, which is YHV"V brings out the banner of compassion and mercy, and in that same banner is carved the name E"l, and the sign is "each on its banner by signs" (Bamidbar 2:2). And when the Blessed Name brings this banner out, then God does good and has compassion and bestows grace on human beings and is happy with them, and this is the secret of "May the glory of YHV"H be forever, YHV"H will be happy in His works" (Psalms 104:31), and the secret of "and he [Avraham] called the name YHV"H E-l Olam" (Genesis 21:33), and the secret of "E-l King that sits on the throne of Mercy", and the secret of "Y'Y Y'Y E-l Rahum veHanun (Shemot 34:6) and the secret of "because E-l Rahum Y'Y your God" (Deut. 4:31), and the sign is "because E-l, great, Y'Y and a great king over all E-lohim" (Psalms 95:3) - E-lohim, the aspect of judgment, that is to say that the aspect of Mercy is greater than the aspect of judgment. And from this you will understand "And E-lohim tested Avraham" (Genesis 22:1) - E-lohim, that is, the aspect of Judgment, gave the miracle/nes and the banner in the hands of Avraham, who is the secret of the aspect of E-l, who is the secret of the aspect of Hesed, and this is the expression "tested/nisah Avraham", from the expression "raise a banner/nes over the peoples" (Isaiah 62:10). And this is the secret of "God of Abraham, God of Isaac" (E-lohei Avraham, E-lohei Yitzchak) and we don't say "and God of Yitzchak", since the aspect of Judgment is conquered under the aspect of Compassion, since the banner of Yitzchak, which is the aspect of E-lohim is given over to the hand of Avraham, who is the secret of the aspect of E-l.

We have learned that when Moses went up, "he was there with Hashem forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water" (Shemot 34:28) in order not to deviate from the custom of the place he went to. And of the angels, when they descended, it is written, "and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate" (Beresheet 18:8). Here also, the descending angel could not struggle with Jacob unless clothed in a body, as is done in this world. Therefore Jacob wrestled with him the whole night. But if he were not clothed (in human form), Jacob could not have wrestled with him.

The unknowable head extended a single sway that is included in the forehead
That concealed unknowable head at the head Atika, that is, the first head, extended a sway that is prepared to shine, then used it to strike that brain, concealed Chochmah of Arich Anpin, which was engraved, namely, reduced to the phase of immaturity. It then received maturity as well by that sway and scintillated with many lights, both with Chassadim and Chochmah. Concealed Chochmah produced its illumination and marked this conclusion on the forehead. Another light that is called will was marked on the forehead, and the will spread down the thirteen features of the beard of Arich Anpin, down to where it settled in the beard that is called supreme Chesed. This is the attribute that is called “keeping troth (Chesed)” (Shemot 34:7), the eighth of the thirteen features of the beard. When the will is revealed by this attribute, judgment bearers behold it and surrender.

When Moses was taken before Pharaoh, God took it from him, and did not give it again until he stood upon the mount of Sinai to receive the Torah. Thenceforth Moses had it for his until the end of his life, and therefore he could not be approached by the Israelites until he had put a veil upon his face {Exod. 34:33}.

And this is the secret: "And E-lohim tested Avraham" (Gen. 22:1) that the name E-lohim gave its banner [nes] in the hand of Avraham whose aspect is E-l. And this is the secret of "and he took in his hand the fire and the knife" (Genesis 22:6): if Avraham had not taken in his hand the strengths of Yitzchak, which are the fire and the knife, the whole creation would not have been able to stand in front of 'the fear of Yitzchak'. And this is the secret of 'and abundant in mercy' (Exodus 34:6 and Numbers 14:18) of the aspect of Avraham, that diminished the aspect 'fear of Yitzchak' and took in his hand the fire and the knife. And this is why the aspect of Avraham is called Gedulah, because it is greater than Gevurah, and this is the secret that He said to Avraham "I will make your name great" (Genesis 12:2) and this is the secret of "because a great E-l is YHV"H and king over all E-lohim" (Psalms 95:3) - and therefore the banner of Yitzchak does not get out until the banner of Avraham has finished teaching all the merit. And this is the secret of "and Y"Y went, after He finished speaking with Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place" (Genesis 18:33) - and what is written after? "And it was, when E-lohim destroyed the two cities of the plain" (Genesis 19:29). Even though E-lohim destroyed, when He remembered Avraham, who is the secret of the aspect E-l, He saved Lot, and this is what is written: "And it was that, when E-lohim destroyed the cities of the Plain, E-lohim remembered Avraham and sent Lot away from the midst of the upheaval" - truly from the middle of the upheaval He saved him. And the reason [is] because Avraham took in his hand the fire and the knife, and therefore Avraham saved many times [other people] even though the end of the judgment was death, because this is the secret of "abundant in mercy", and this is the secret of "compassionate and gracious" of the aspects called as "Avraham". And after Avraham took with His permission the fire and the knife, which are the weapons of war of Yitzchak, who is the aspect of E-lohim, the banner of E-lohim does not come out to complete the punishment until Avraham has finished teaching/exposing the merit of the one being judged. And when he does not find merit, the aspect of Avraham joins [into the aspect of E-lohim/Yitzchak] and then E-lohim, which is the aspect of Yitzchak, completes the punishment and the judgment, as it says "and Avraham returned to his place," and after this "And it was that, when E-lohim destroyed the cities of the Plain". And you should know that, once Avraham took the fire and the knife, E-lohim cannot act of punish until Avraham agrees with the judgment. And this is the secret of "And Avraham took the fire and the knife and the two of them walked together". "And the two of them walked together", obviously, since the aspect of Yitzchak cannot walk without the permission of the aspect of Avraham, and its command and its agreement. And this is the secret of "God of Avraham, God of Yitzchak AND God of Ya'akov" (Exodus 3:9) and it is not written AND God of Yitzchak, as it is written "and God of Ya'akov", so that greatness is not divided to the aspect of Yitzchak, and so that the aspect of "Fear of Isaac" is always under "Kindness of Avraham." And this is the secret of "and the two of them walked together", that the aspect of Yitzchak does not have permission to walk unless the aspect of Avraham has exposed the merit, because otherwise the aspect of Yitzchak would destroy the world, and this is the secret of 'And E-lohim tested Avraham." And you should know that Avraham bound Yitzchak up so that the aspect of Yitzchak would be tied up by its hands and feet, and would be conquered, under the aspect of Avraham.

The face of the Queen, these are the forty-nine facets of purity (through which the Torah can be interpreted), shining like a rose, white and red, drawing in from the right and from the left. White, from the clarity of humility; Red, from the shame of fear - yar'e boshet (an anagram of Bereshit, "In the beginning"). When [Her face] becomes golden-green, this is the Groom who has risen up to the sun, who is the Supernal Mother. From these three colours of the face emanate the seventy-two facets (of the divine name), whose numerical value equals that of Hesed (Loving-kindness), and which is comprised of two hundred and sixteen letters, the numerical value of which equals that of Gevurah (Might). This is the mystery [hinted at in the words] (Exodus 34:6) Vaya'avor Ado-nai, "And God passed before", which itself is the mystery of 'Ibbur (Impregnation or intercalation. Both Vaya'avor and 'Ibbur are comprised of the letters representing 72 and 216). He illuminates the Bride with four faces, as it is written, (Ezekiel 1:6) "Four faces [belonging] to [each] one." The middle column is the Vav [which models the additional month added to] the leap year, comprised of has thirteen months, and alluded to by the initials of Vaho Ani Vaho. Within this Vav is a pregnant woman, the mystery of the impregnation of Yesod (Foundation), containing a drop (of semen) by which impregnation takes place. This is Vav, for without such a drop no impregnation could occur. This is the mind containing wisdom.