קבלה אויף משלי 22:4

Now, although it is true that about fear of HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, the verse states,³⁵⁸Job 28:28 “The fear of HaShem-יהו״ה, that is wisdom,” and similarly,³⁵⁹Isaiah 33:6 “Fear of HaShem-יהו״ה, that is His treasure,” nevertheless, our sages, of blessed memory, stated,³⁶⁰Talmud Yerushalmi, Shabbat 1:3; Midrash Tanchuma BeHa’alotcha “What wisdom proclaimed to be the crown of its head, humility made into a heel (Eikev-עקב) for its sandal, as it states,³⁶¹Proverbs 22:4 – This verse is usually translated, “The result of humility is fear of HaShem-יהו"ה.” ‘The heel (Eikev-עקב) of humility is fear of HaShem-יהו״ה.’”

And one finds that all the levels needed to reach holiness are inside the aspect of respect, and holiness as a general rule, and respect is tied with humility. And so the words of R. Shimon Bar Yochai PBUH: “and humility is included in awe/respect, as it is written ‘the effect of humility is respect for Hashem’ (Proverbs 22:4)’ (Tikkunei Zohar 5b) and we added more in the third chapter of The Gate of Awe/Respect.

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).”