신명기 10:12 카발라: Zohar, The Wars & Sha'arei Orah

R. Isaac opened his discourse with the text: “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We also read: “Serve the Lord with gladness, come before him with singing.” These verses seem to contradict one another. But the truth is that “Serve the Lord with fear” means that all service which a man renders to his Master should begin with fear and awe of Him, and through this fear he will come to perform the precepts of the Torah with joy.

27) 27) This is the understanding of the Zohar and the subsequent Kabbalistic teachings that all our service and prayers are specifically directed to Zeir Anpin (the Lesser Countenance). As it is stated in the Zohar, "Look, fear the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 10:12). It is written not as "elohaykha" (your God) but as "et Hashem elohaykha" (the Lord your God). What is the meaning of "et," which precedes the word "Hashem"? It is explained in the Galyon Malkhut (an exposition of the Zohar) with the interpretation "et Hashem elohaykha" means "Fear the 'et' of the Holy One, blessed be He." Because from there, "Bar Nash" (the Son) needs to fear before his Master, for He is in the house of judgment. And that service, which is of a higher degree, sustains the lower degree and is not revealed to the worlds. "Et" and "v'et" are connected and are not separated. What is "v'et"? It is the sign of the Holy Covenant, an eternal sign, for that quality does not descend, and it does not reveal itself but rather ascends. But that quality ascends on high. Therefore, "v'et" signifies service (meaning the service is to Zeir Anpin, as it is stated: "And serve Him, and cleave to Him" (Deuteronomy 13:5)). Refer to the Sefer Hamitzvot (Book of Commandments) in the prayer of Elijah the Prophet, which is explained at length. This is the language of the Zohar, according to the commentary of the Rashba (Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet) in Galyon. The intention of the Zohar is to interpret why it is not written, "Fear the Lord your God and serve Him," but rather it is written "et" (the word "et" adds emphasis). This is to include and amplify the attribute of Malchut (Kingship), which is the female aspect of Zeir Anpin, in the aspect of fear. And from what is written "v'et oto ta'avod" (and you shall serve Him), it minimizes it from the service, specifically "v'et oto ta'avod" (and you shall serve Him), and not "oto ta'avod" (Him you shall serve). This means that it amplifies the aspect of fear and minimizes it from the service, because the service is specifically to Zeir Anpin.

This being so, contemplate wherever in Torah you find the word Fear-Yirah-יראה, and know that it hints at this Sefirah, which is the place of fear. That is, no one has the power to contemplate this in thought, being that it is beyond limit and measure. I will hint at this matter further. The verse states,²¹⁵Job 28:28 “And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear-Yirat-יראת of the Lord-Adona”y-אדנ״י, that is wisdom-Chochmah-חכמה, and refraining from evil is understanding-Binah-בינה,” in that wisdom-Chochmah and understanding-Binah are hinted in this verse and there are many other such verses, It likewise states,²¹⁶Proverbs 22:4 “The heel of humility is fear-Yirat-יראת of HaShem-יהו״ה.” That is, humility-Anavah-ענוה is the secret of the Crown-Keter, which is the thorn of the letter Yod-י, whereas the heel-Eikev-עקב of the thorn is the letter Yod-י itself. Likewise, another verse states,²¹⁷Psalms 111:10 “The beginning-Reishit-ראשית of wisdom-Chochmah is the fear-Yirat-יראת of HaShem-יהו״ה.” About this our sages, of blessed memory, said,²¹⁸Talmud Yerushalmi Shabbat 1:3 “That which wisdom-Chochmah made as a crown for its head-Rosh-ראש, humility-Anavah made as a heel-Ekev-עקב for its sandal.” All this is included in the secret of these two Sefirot, Crown-Keter and Wisdom-Chochmah, both of which are included in the secret of the Yod-י, which includes both Humility-Anavah and Wisdom-Chochmah, with fear-Yirah-יראה adhering to both, fear-Yirah-יראה being the place of their bonding and adhesion. Thus, these two verses have been clearly explained, along with the third verse,²¹⁹Job 28:28 “Behold, the fear-Yirat-יראת of the Lord-Adona”y-אדנ״י, that is wisdom-Chochmah-חכמה.” For, fear-Yirah-יראה of HaShem-יהו״ה is the highest of all levels.²²⁰See Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 31b – “Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: The Holy One, blessed is He, only has fear of Heaven in His world (that is, it is singular), as it states (Deuteronomy 10:12), ‘And now, Israel, what does HaShem-יהו״ה your God, ask of you, but to fear HaShem-יהו״ה your God.’ And it is written, ‘And He said to man, ‘Truly-Hein-הן, fear of the Lord-Adona”y-אדנ״י is wisdom,’ in that in Greek, ‘one-Achat-אחת’ is called ‘Hein-הן’ (signifying its singularity).”