Gênesis 17:14 Cabalá: Sha'arei Orah

In the terminology of our sages, of blessed memory, this Sefirah is called Return-Teshuvah-תשובה.¹⁸¹The term “Teshuvah-תשובה,” generally translated as “Repentance,” also means “Return,” in that one returns to the state of purity that preceded sinning. It also means an “Answer” or “Responsa” in that this quality of Understanding-Binah provides resolutions and answers to questions and doubts. (Also see Pardes Rimonim, Shaar 23, section on “Teshuvah-תשובה.” The reason is because the level of souls called Neshamot-נשמות are emanated from this place, the level of souls called Ruchot-רוחות are from the place of Splendor-Tiferet, and the level of souls called Nefashot-נפשות are from the Sefirah of Kingship-Malchut. They all are bound together [and ascend] until they all merit to unify with the Sefirah of Understanding-Binah. How so? The Nefesh level is bound to the Ruach, the Ruach is bound to the Neshamah, and the Neshamah is bound to the Sefirah of Understanding-Binah. However, if a soul-Nefesh sins,¹⁸²See Leviticus 5:1, 17, 21 etc., which specify “When a Nefesh-נפש sins.” God forbid, and transgresses a sin for which the punishment is severance (Karet), it then becomes severed from the Ru’ach to which it adhered, and thus loses the bestowal of goodness. Moreover, since it has been severed from the Supernal Tree to which it adhered, it has no way by which to ascend to the Coming World (Olam HaBa-עולם הבא).¹⁸³The Sefirah of Understanding-Binah, called the Coming World-Olam HaBa-עולם הבא, and is the World of Mercy-Olam HaRachamim-עולם הרחמים, as mentioned before, and as will be mentioned shortly. This is the secret of excision (Karet) mentioned in Torah, as in the verse,¹⁸⁴Genesis 17:14 “That soul-Nefesh-נפש shall be cut off from its people.”

HaShem-יהו״ה therefore said to Avraham, “Avraham, My son, walk before Me and be perfect.”²³³See Genesis 17:1 Avraham answered, “Master of the worlds, how shall I stand before You in perfection?” HaShem-יהו״ה responded, “When you remove the foreskin-Orlah-ערלה from your body, since that is the portion of the nations who are called ‘uncircumcised-Areilim-ערלים.’” HaShem-יהו"ה therefore said to him,²³⁴Genesis 17:14 “An uncircumcised-Arel-ערל male who will not circumcise-Yimol-ימול the flesh of his foreskin-Orlato-ערלתו, that soul shall be cut off.” Why is he cut off? Because he did not cut off the foreskin and enter the covenant of circumcision-Brit Milah-ברית מילה. Thus, the verse states,²³⁵Genesis 17:12 “He that is born in your household shall surely be circumcised-Himol Yimol-המול ימול.” However, because all the nations are called “uncircumcised-Areilim-ערלים,” David therefore stated,²³⁶Psalms 118:10 “All the nations surround me, in the Name of HaShem-יהו״ה, I cut them off-Amilam-אמילם!” That is, just as in the covenant of circumcision-Brit Milah-ברית מילה man cuts off the foreskin-Orlah-ערלה, so likewise, with the Name HaShem-יהו״ה I will cut off the four obstructions that stand between me and HaShem-יהו״ה. This is the secret of the verse, “In the Name of HaShem-יהו״ה, I cut them off-Amilam-אמילם!”