וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃
Y sucedió que, como Jacob vió á Rachêl, hija de Labán hermano de su madre, y á las ovejas de Labán, el hermano de su madre, llegóse Jacob, y removió la piedra de sobre la boca del pozo, y abrevó el ganado de Labán hermano de su madre.
Kedushat Levi
Genesis 29,2. “he saw that there was a well in the field and that three flocks of sheep were lying around it;” …והאבן גדולה על פי הבאר, “and the rock covering the mouth of the well was very great.”
(The text is quoted until the end of verse 10 after Yaakov single-handedly moved the rock to make the water accessible.)
It appears best to explain this whole sequence allegorically. It is a given that G’d on His part is desirous to make available to His creatures an uninterrupted flow of His largesse, especially to His people of Israel. However, from time to time He appears to face interference from the “left” side of the diagram representing the emanations. The only time when G’d does not encounter such interference is when the Jewish people are awakened by feelings of joy, and this joy succeeds in repulsing such interference. This is the image that opened up before Yaakov’s eyes when he is described as וירא והנה באר , “he saw the fountain of G’d’s largesse primed to water the field.” The word שדה, commonly translated as “field,” is also a simile for חקל תפוחים קדישין a concept described in Zohar 1, 152 describing 3 layers of differing degrees of holiness in the celestial spheres that are all perceived as surrounding the באר, the well from which G’d’s largesse flows towards its recipients. On the three pilgrimage festivals, Passover, the festivals of “weeks,” Shavuot, and the festival of huts, these “spigots” of the “well” are especially primed to open as the Jewish people on those festivals are filled with a joy inspired by observing all the commandments associated with these festivals, and the fact that they are on sacred ground in Jerusalem. The three flocks of sheep mentioned in our verse are similes for these festivals. The “great rock” preventing access to the water from the well described is a simile for the powers of Satan, the left side of the emanations, trying to block access to G’d’s largesse for His people. This “rock” is alluded to in the Talmud Kidushin 30, where the Talmud suggests as a remedy against this phenomenon that persons feeling the evil urge as a form of a heavy stone, should proceed to the Torah academy and immerse themselves in Torah study so that this “stone” will melt. The “stone” is perceived in practice as the obstacle for G’d providing His largesse. When the three herds and their shepherds are joined by כל העדרים, “all the other herds,” i.e. all the Jewish people, their combined spiritual power will enable their leader to remove these obstacles to G’d’s largesse as the joy of serving the Lord is powerful enough to accomplish this.
(The text is quoted until the end of verse 10 after Yaakov single-handedly moved the rock to make the water accessible.)
It appears best to explain this whole sequence allegorically. It is a given that G’d on His part is desirous to make available to His creatures an uninterrupted flow of His largesse, especially to His people of Israel. However, from time to time He appears to face interference from the “left” side of the diagram representing the emanations. The only time when G’d does not encounter such interference is when the Jewish people are awakened by feelings of joy, and this joy succeeds in repulsing such interference. This is the image that opened up before Yaakov’s eyes when he is described as וירא והנה באר , “he saw the fountain of G’d’s largesse primed to water the field.” The word שדה, commonly translated as “field,” is also a simile for חקל תפוחים קדישין a concept described in Zohar 1, 152 describing 3 layers of differing degrees of holiness in the celestial spheres that are all perceived as surrounding the באר, the well from which G’d’s largesse flows towards its recipients. On the three pilgrimage festivals, Passover, the festivals of “weeks,” Shavuot, and the festival of huts, these “spigots” of the “well” are especially primed to open as the Jewish people on those festivals are filled with a joy inspired by observing all the commandments associated with these festivals, and the fact that they are on sacred ground in Jerusalem. The three flocks of sheep mentioned in our verse are similes for these festivals. The “great rock” preventing access to the water from the well described is a simile for the powers of Satan, the left side of the emanations, trying to block access to G’d’s largesse for His people. This “rock” is alluded to in the Talmud Kidushin 30, where the Talmud suggests as a remedy against this phenomenon that persons feeling the evil urge as a form of a heavy stone, should proceed to the Torah academy and immerse themselves in Torah study so that this “stone” will melt. The “stone” is perceived in practice as the obstacle for G’d providing His largesse. When the three herds and their shepherds are joined by כל העדרים, “all the other herds,” i.e. all the Jewish people, their combined spiritual power will enable their leader to remove these obstacles to G’d’s largesse as the joy of serving the Lord is powerful enough to accomplish this.
Kedushat Levi
Genesis 29,10. “it was when Yaakov saw Rachel, etc.;” [the following has to be understood against the background of Yaakov, until that moment, not having felt capable of removing the stone from the top of the well. Ed.]
This verse is an allusion to the joy experienced by bride and groom, which is also compared to the joy of the Jewish people making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the festivals, as we know from Ezekiel 11,19 where the prophet describes the reaction of the returning exiles being the feeling that a heavy stone has been lifted from their hearts. The “stone” there describes the weight of the left side of the emanations, the seat of the forces of Satan, the crushing weight of which prevented the Jewish people from experiencing prophetic insights while in exile. Our author cites psalms 90,12 ונביא לבב חכמה, “so that we may obtain a wise heart,” as a heart capable of receiving prophetic insights. Yaakov’s being able to remove the rock from the well once he set eyes on Rachel, means that obstacles to serving the Lord were removed by his vision of Rachel.
This verse is an allusion to the joy experienced by bride and groom, which is also compared to the joy of the Jewish people making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the festivals, as we know from Ezekiel 11,19 where the prophet describes the reaction of the returning exiles being the feeling that a heavy stone has been lifted from their hearts. The “stone” there describes the weight of the left side of the emanations, the seat of the forces of Satan, the crushing weight of which prevented the Jewish people from experiencing prophetic insights while in exile. Our author cites psalms 90,12 ונביא לבב חכמה, “so that we may obtain a wise heart,” as a heart capable of receiving prophetic insights. Yaakov’s being able to remove the rock from the well once he set eyes on Rachel, means that obstacles to serving the Lord were removed by his vision of Rachel.
Kedushat Levi
Genesis 29,11. “Yaakov gave Rachel a kiss, etc;” [note that the Torah does not refer to Rachel’s physical appearance until verse 17 after Yaakov had already worked for him for over a month. Ed.]
Genesis 29,17. “and Rachel was shapely and beautiful.” At first glance it is surprising that the Torah appears to link Yaakov’s falling in love with Rachel in verse 18, ויאהב יעקב את רחל, “Yaakov loved Rachel,” to the description of her physical assets in verse 17. Is it possible that Yaakov, the most highly admired of our patriarchs, was attracted by Rachel’s physical features, and that this is why the Torah reports matters in this sequence? Our sages called our attention to Yaakov’s message to his brother Esau in Genesis 32,4 where he told him עם לבן גרתי, ”I have remained a stranger while with Lavan, etc.” The numerical value of the letters in the word גרתי, equals 613, the number of commandments in the Torah. Yaakov reminded his brother that during the entire period that he spent in Charan he had observed the Torah, and therefore had little to fear. A man who could make such a statement certainly did not marry Rachel because he was smitten by lust to possess her shapely body. Anyone who observes the 613 commandments is well aware of the statement by Solomon in Proverbs 31,30 that שקר החן והבך היופי, that external attributes such as physical beauty or even a graceful walk, etc., are deceptive and offer no clue to the owner’s character.
We must look further for the reason why the Torah made a point of mentioning Rachel’s physical attributes. I have heard from my revered teacher the Maggid of Mezeritch Dov Baer, of sainted memory, that we must understand this as follows. We know that the principal attribute used by Yaakov in serving the Lord is the attribute known as תפארת, harmony, located in the center of diagrams of the 10 emanations, ספירות. Any physical matter on earth, containing a “spark” from this emanation, is spiritually elevated by the presence of this spark, regardless of how secular it is by nature. Through this spark of the attribute of תפארת, its host is brought closer to its roots in the celestial regions, and engages in some degree of service to the Lord.
We must look further for the reason why the Torah made a point of mentioning Rachel’s physical attributes. I have heard from my revered teacher the Maggid of Mezeritch Dov Baer, of sainted memory, that we must understand this as follows. We know that the principal attribute used by Yaakov in serving the Lord is the attribute known as תפארת, harmony, located in the center of diagrams of the 10 emanations, ספירות. Any physical matter on earth, containing a “spark” from this emanation, is spiritually elevated by the presence of this spark, regardless of how secular it is by nature. Through this spark of the attribute of תפארת, its host is brought closer to its roots in the celestial regions, and engages in some degree of service to the Lord.
When the Torah (Genesis 39,13) reports that Joseph וינס ויצא החוצה, “fled and went “outside,” to escape the efforts of Potiphar’s wife to seduce him, he did so because he realized that that woman had used her mode of dress to lure him into a sinful relationship (Yuma 35). She had employed whatever holy spark she possessed in a reverse manner, instead of a means to come closer to her Creator. When Joseph escaped from her presence he took with him this “holy spark” thereby serving his Creator and paving the way for this “spark” that had escaped from the Shechinah to find its way back to its roots.
It is known that Joseph, though, of course also serving the Lord, did not do so by using principally the attribute of harmony as his father was in the habit of doing. However, at this critical juncture, in his fateful seclusion with the wife of his master Potiphar, he resorted to the attribute of תפארת as the means to avoid sinning.
It is also known that every tzaddik who serves the Lord, regardless of which of the attributes in the diagram of the emanations he uses as his primary model, will be granted a vision of the tzaddik who had made that attribute his primary role model in serving the Lord. When the Talmud Sotah 36 relates that at the critical moment before the seduction, Joseph had a vision of his father, it is a vision of the emanation of תפארת that the Talmud refers to as having been seen by Joseph.
Genesis 29,17. “and Rachel was shapely and beautiful.” At first glance it is surprising that the Torah appears to link Yaakov’s falling in love with Rachel in verse 18, ויאהב יעקב את רחל, “Yaakov loved Rachel,” to the description of her physical assets in verse 17. Is it possible that Yaakov, the most highly admired of our patriarchs, was attracted by Rachel’s physical features, and that this is why the Torah reports matters in this sequence? Our sages called our attention to Yaakov’s message to his brother Esau in Genesis 32,4 where he told him עם לבן גרתי, ”I have remained a stranger while with Lavan, etc.” The numerical value of the letters in the word גרתי, equals 613, the number of commandments in the Torah. Yaakov reminded his brother that during the entire period that he spent in Charan he had observed the Torah, and therefore had little to fear. A man who could make such a statement certainly did not marry Rachel because he was smitten by lust to possess her shapely body. Anyone who observes the 613 commandments is well aware of the statement by Solomon in Proverbs 31,30 that שקר החן והבך היופי, that external attributes such as physical beauty or even a graceful walk, etc., are deceptive and offer no clue to the owner’s character.
We must look further for the reason why the Torah made a point of mentioning Rachel’s physical attributes. I have heard from my revered teacher the Maggid of Mezeritch Dov Baer, of sainted memory, that we must understand this as follows. We know that the principal attribute used by Yaakov in serving the Lord is the attribute known as תפארת, harmony, located in the center of diagrams of the 10 emanations, ספירות. Any physical matter on earth, containing a “spark” from this emanation, is spiritually elevated by the presence of this spark, regardless of how secular it is by nature. Through this spark of the attribute of תפארת, its host is brought closer to its roots in the celestial regions, and engages in some degree of service to the Lord.
We must look further for the reason why the Torah made a point of mentioning Rachel’s physical attributes. I have heard from my revered teacher the Maggid of Mezeritch Dov Baer, of sainted memory, that we must understand this as follows. We know that the principal attribute used by Yaakov in serving the Lord is the attribute known as תפארת, harmony, located in the center of diagrams of the 10 emanations, ספירות. Any physical matter on earth, containing a “spark” from this emanation, is spiritually elevated by the presence of this spark, regardless of how secular it is by nature. Through this spark of the attribute of תפארת, its host is brought closer to its roots in the celestial regions, and engages in some degree of service to the Lord.
When the Torah (Genesis 39,13) reports that Joseph וינס ויצא החוצה, “fled and went “outside,” to escape the efforts of Potiphar’s wife to seduce him, he did so because he realized that that woman had used her mode of dress to lure him into a sinful relationship (Yuma 35). She had employed whatever holy spark she possessed in a reverse manner, instead of a means to come closer to her Creator. When Joseph escaped from her presence he took with him this “holy spark” thereby serving his Creator and paving the way for this “spark” that had escaped from the Shechinah to find its way back to its roots.
It is known that Joseph, though, of course also serving the Lord, did not do so by using principally the attribute of harmony as his father was in the habit of doing. However, at this critical juncture, in his fateful seclusion with the wife of his master Potiphar, he resorted to the attribute of תפארת as the means to avoid sinning.
It is also known that every tzaddik who serves the Lord, regardless of which of the attributes in the diagram of the emanations he uses as his primary model, will be granted a vision of the tzaddik who had made that attribute his primary role model in serving the Lord. When the Talmud Sotah 36 relates that at the critical moment before the seduction, Joseph had a vision of his father, it is a vision of the emanation of תפארת that the Talmud refers to as having been seen by Joseph.