Números 15:31 Cábala: Sha'arei Kedusha

We already explained that there is one light, in the form of man (Adam-אדם), that spreads forth in all four worlds of Emanation, Creation, Formation, and Action (Atzilut, Briyah, Yetzirah, Asiyah), until the end of the four foundational elements of this lowly world. This light adheres to the lights of Supernal Man, which is called the ten Sefirot, and they manifest within the light that is called, “the light of the source of the souls,” within which all the lower souls are included. When they descend to this world to manifest in bodies, they leave their roots, from where they were hewn, which remain in a state of adhesion above, and only the branches of those roots alone descend in a manner of spreading down. These aspects alone manifest in bodies in this world. This is compared to the branches of a tree that are bound to the tree and adhere to it, and are literally rooted in the trunk of the tree. Nonetheless, they extend and bend down, to the point that even though they are attached to the trunk of the tree, they touch the ground. When a person commits a sin for which he is liable of excision (Karet), that branch becomes severed from the body of the tree and remains separate from it. It thus remains fixed in this world like the spirit of an animal. This is the meaning of the verse,⁸⁷⁷Numbers 15:31 “For he scorned the word of HaShem-יהו״ה and broke His commandment; that person will surely be cut off, his sin is upon him.” This is also the inner meaning of the words,⁸⁷⁸Deuteronomy 20:19 “For man is the tree of the field.”

Our sages, of blessed memory, stated,⁵³⁷Mishnah Avot 6 “Every day, a Heavenly voice (Bat Kol) goes forth from Mount Chorev and proclaims, ‘Woe to the creatures for their contempt of Torah.’ For, whosoever does not occupy himself in the study of Torah is called censured-Nazuf, meaning excommunicated from Heaven. Our sages, of blessed memory, stated,⁵³⁸Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 99b; Yalkut Shimoni Remez 749 “The following verse applies to such a person,⁵³⁹Numbers 15:31 ‘For he had contempt the word of HaShem-יהו״ה and violated His commandment, that soul shall surely be cut off – his sin is upon him.’ Rabbi Nechemiah says: This refers to anyone who is able to engage in Torah study but fails to do so.” Similarly,⁵⁴⁰Talmud Bavli, Bava Batra 79a “Rav said: “Whoever excuses himself from studying the words of Torah, a fire consumes him.” Likewise, our sages, of blessed memory, stated,⁵⁴¹Talmud Bavli, Chagigah 12b; Ketubot 111b; Brachot 63a and elsewhere. “Whoever weakens or stops his study of words of Torah to engage in idle chatter, will be fed the hot coals of a Juniper tree, as written,⁵⁴²Job 30:3 ‘They pluck saltwort and the leaves of wormwood and the roots of the Juniper tree is their bread.’” Our sages, of blessed memory, likewise stated,⁵⁴³Mishnah Avot 3:4 “One who turns his heart to idle matters is mortally guilty,” as written,⁵⁴⁴Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only beware for yourself and greatly beware for your soul, lest you forget the words⁵⁴⁵The word “Dvarim-דברים” is generally translated as “things” but also means “words” and in the above verse refers to the words of Torah and the Ten Commandments (which are called (Exodus 34:28) “Aseret HaDvarim-עשרת הדברים”), as stated in the continuing verse (Deuteronomy 4:10), “The day that you stood before HaShem-יהו״ה, your God, at Chorev.” that your eyes have beheld and lest you remove them from your heart all the days of your life etc.”