Tikkunei Zohar Reader

It is this that is written: (Ps. 48:14) Give heed to its walls∞ḥeilah etc. – “to joy”∞ḥolah it is written.vVayiqra Rabbah 11:9 (Ps. 104:27) They all look to you with hope, to give their food in its time, [which are the ‘times’ of the Torah, as the sages of blessed memory have said:viBT Shabbat 31a ‘Did you establish times for the Torah?’] which is ‘the time’ of the Righteous-One. (Ps. 104:28) You give them that they may gather – this is the manna, of which it is stated: (Ex. 16:26) Six days shall you gather it... etc. – from the aspect of the Middle Pillar, which is comprised of six sides.

The Leviathan above is the Righteous-One, like a fish that is

The ‘bariaḥ∞pole snake’: this is the one of whom it is stated: (Ex. 26:28)... the middle pole∞briaḥ within the planks... – and this is the Middle Pillar which is called ‘middle’ (tikhon), because it is the Middle Pillar. Its two ‘fins’, right and left, are from where the Torah is given, its two ‘scales’ – the two pillars of truth☉Netzaḥ-Hod.

Higher Shekhinah is the sea. Lower Shekhinah is: (Prov. 30:19) The way of a ship, in the heart ∞lev (=32) of the sea, which is the 32 mentions of ELQYM in the act of creation.

(Ps. 104:25)... wherein is a swarming without number... – as it says: (Song. 6:8)... and maidens without number etc., and they are ‘decisions of halakhah’, which are: (Ps. 45:15)... virgins following her, her companions... of the Shekhinah.

(Ps. 104:25)... small creatures – these are the letters of ADNY,... together with large – these are the letters of YQV”Q, which are the chariots of the blessed Holy One and His Shekhinah.’

All the companions came to kiss him, but he flew away, and they could not see him at all.

Opened Rabbi El’azar and said: ‘Father! But there are seven seas,viiSee BT Baba Batra 74b and higher sea is above all of them, and it is stated about it: (Deut. 33:19)... for the bounty of the seas will they suckle... To whom do they give suckle?’

He said to him: ‘My son, (Zech. 4:2)... seven into seven... are... tubes. And thus are the firmaments – seven into seven, and thus are the mountains – seven into seven, and so are the lands – seven into seven, the settlements – seven into seven, and their heads are two, and the mystery of the matter: (Gen. 7:9) Two by two... (Gen. 7:2)... seven by seven... and all are male and female, and above, is one that is concealed and hidden, and so are the seven thrones – seven into seven, seven chambers – seven into seven, and so are ‘the appointed’ angels – seven and seven.viiiSee Pirqei de-Rabbi Eli’ezer Ch.4

The Leviathan of the sea is the Righteous-One, the head, which is the Middle Pillar, reaches to the seventh sea, which is the head of them all, and its two fins and two scales in four seas, are their dimensions.

The dimension of the tail of the snake, reaches to the final, seventh sea, – which includes the seven seas – about which it is stated: (Ps. 119:164) Seven times in the day I have praised you.’

Rabbi Shim’on said: ‘My son, behold, ‘masters of defensive shields’, are descending from above, dressed in armour, their bows are bows of fire, and their spears are of fire, and their swords are of flame.

They are all ‘masters of the eyes’, and certainly the masters of shields of the house of study, and they will be aroused with them as weapons, to fight the battle above.

And not only that, but behold ‘the great fish’ is coming – Rabbi Hamnuna the Elder, specifically, with many ‘fish’ – holy warriors of the scholars, who multiply in the sea.

Now it is required to cast a net for them, so that they may be in our domain, and for the masters of shields, to prepare instruments of war.

Now it is required to arrange: the sling, with the stones of the sling, the bow, with the arrows of the bow, with the spear, with the sword, (Ps. 35:2) Take hold of shield and buckler...

For there are masters of defensive shields who are battling with horses, and there are others who are infantry, upon whom it is stated – at the going out from the Egyptian exile – (Ex. 12:37)... about six-hundred thousand on foot... etc.’

Arose Rabbi Shim’on, he opened a discourse, and said: (Mic. 6:2) Hear, O mountains, the ‘argument’ (ryv) of Y”Y... Who is ‘argument’? This is the Shekhinah, Who is the RYV (argument) of Y”Y – which is the same letters as RaBiY (Rabbi). RaV∞Rabbi (arguing): for the sake of Her children, She is ‘argument’, with the titles: RaBY, and RaBaN, and RaBA.

Argument, certainly, with all those Tannaim and Amoraim – for She argues with them throughout the six orders of the Mishnah, for the sake of Her husband – Who is the Middle Pillar, inclusive of six ‘orders’☉Ḥesed-to-Yesod. And about them it is stated: (Is. 27:5) If they shall grasp my stronghold, it shall make peace for me, peace it shall make for me... – two times peace: one in the Middle Pillar (Tipheret), and one in the Righteous-One (Yesod), about which it is stated: (Is. 57:19)... peace, peace, to the far and to the near...

For in exile, it is stated of the Middle Pillar: (Jer. 31:2) From afar Y”Y appeared to me... whereas the Righteous-One is close to Her, and it is stated because of it: (Prov. 27:10)... better a close neighbour, than a distant brother.

And thus: Hear, O mountains... (Mic. 6:2) – these are the Patriarchs, the argument of Y”Y – this is the Shekhinah, and She argues with the Patriarchs, because they distance Her from Her husband, for they are called ‘Amoraim’ (Sages) of the Gemara (Mic. 6:2) And the mighty-ones (eiytanim), foundations of the earth – these are the ‘Tannaim’ (Sages) of the Mishnah, and these TaNaYiM are EiTaNYM (mighty-ones) with a reversal of

letters, and they are Netzaḥ and Hod [righteous-ones], – the mighty-ones (eiytanim) of the world. And behold, EiYTaN (mighty) in a switch of letters, is TaNYA∞‘we-have-learnt’, which assists Him in exile, and upon which it is stated: (Num. 24:21)... mighty is your dwelling place, and your nesting which you have placed in the rock.

And of this rock (sel)’a, [It is stated of it, that nothing emerges except a few droplets, of the water of Torah, in these ‘decisions’, and because of: (Num. 20:11) And Moses struck the rock with his staff, twice – this caused that ] only a few droplets emerge from it: (Is. 28:10)... a little there and a little there.

And there are many controversies over these drops. And who causes this? The teachers of halakhah, of whom it is stated:ixBT Berakhot 31b ‘Anyone who teaches halakhah before his teacher is guilty of a capital offence’. And because of this: (Num. 20:10) Hear now, you ‘morim’∞rebels (teachers)! And because of them: And Moses struck the rock with his staff twice (see Num. 20:11).

And the mystery of the matter: (Gen. 1:9) Let the waters be gathered, from under the heavens to one place... etc. ‘One’∞eḥad is Malkhut,... and let the dry land be seen – this is sel’a (rock) – Metatron, for whose sake it is stated: (Gen. 2:21)... and He took one of his ribs (tzel)’a, and He enclosed flesh beneath it...

What is flesh (basar)? It is that of which it is stated: (Gen. 6:3)... in that also he is (beshagam) flesh... And until he Moses caused Her to descend, the ‘rock’ did not ascend and did not give its waters.

And furthermore: (Mic. 6:2) Hear, O mountains, the argument of Y”Y... – these are three Yods,... and the mighty-ones, the foundations of the earth – these are three Vavs. all of which are alluded to, in: (Ex. 14:19–21) Va-yis’a (And-it-travelled) Va-yavo (And-it-came)... Va-yeit (And-he-stretched)....

Arise El’azar! And take the sling, which is the Shekhinah, [and surround it with a crownlet], and shoot from it that stone – the holy drop, about which it is stated: (Gen. 2:6) And a mist (eid) would ascend from the earth... [and because of this:]

The Tannaim and the Amoraim above arose, and they said: ‘Rabbi! Rabbi! How powerful is your sling! For you have raised Her to the Infinite! And you have caused Her to descend to bestow to endless levels!’

He Rabbi Shim’on opened as before and said: ‘ (Mic. 6:2) Hear, O mountains, the argument of Y”Y...’

He said to them: ‘Patriarchs! O Patriarchs! Great mountains! Listen! For of this stone, which was hewn from these your mountains, which is the crown upon the head of all of them,... and the ‘mighty-ones’... (ibid.) which is a crown upon them all, She raises ‘an argument’ about you for the sake of Her Husband.

For She is a well-spring, stopped-up like a stone, until Her husband arrives, it does not give its waters, for tongues are like hammers that strike upon that rock, and there is not one of them, that extracts the flow from Her, except Her Husband, who knows how to draw it out for Her.’

Opened Rabbi Shim’on and said: ‘Worthy is he who prays, and knows how to elevate his will above, for his mouth produces Holy Names, and his fingers write mysteries.

from his mouth, many birds open their wings above to receive them, and many angelic ‘beasts’ of the Chariot, all avail themselves towards them, to take them.

How much more so if the Shekhinah resides in his prayer, and ascends to the blessed Holy One! And the mystery of the matter: (Ps. 68:14) If (im) you lie down between ‘lips’. Do not read im (if) but, rather, eim (mother).

Worthy is he who elevates Her, with his prayer that he prays with his lips, upwards, towards Her Husband.

In the prayer of the morning service, he elevates Her through the Name that is called EL, ‘The Great EL’ – specifically.

In the prayer of the afternoon service, She ascends with the Name that is called ELQYM.

In the prayer of the evening service, She ascends with the Name that is called YQV”Q.

And the mystery of the matter: (Ps. 50:1) EL ELQYM Y”Y spoke, and He called the earth.

And the Masters of the Mishnah have said:xiSee BT Berakhot 32b that a person is required in his prayer, ‘to pause, one hour before praying, and one hour after he prays.’

And the mystery of the matter, is that he should pause (yish-hei) for an hour in his prayer, because it is stated: (Gen. 24:21) And the man was astonished (mishta-eh) at her, silently... – He of Whom it is stated: (Ex. 15:3) Y”Y is a man (iysh) of war...

And after a person has paused and prayed, if his prayer was fluent in his mouth, then his prayer has certainly been accepted.xiiSee BT Berakhot 34b

And the mystery of the matter: ‘A man is required to pause or: wait and a woman to precede’,xiiiSee BT Nidah 31b as it says: (Lev. 12:2)... woman when she conceives, and gives birth to a male...

[And the mystery of the matter is: ‘if a woman conceives first before the man, she gives birth to a son’,xivBT Nidah 31a and furthermore: (Ps. 136:23)... that in our lowness He remembered us. And the mystery of the matter, is that in the lowness of a person, He shall remember him for good.]

And furthermore: If his prayer is fluent in his mouth, it is the mystery of: (Gen. 24:15) And it was, before he had finished speaking, and behold Rebeccah emerged... And the mystery of the matter: (Is. 65:24) And it shall be, before they shall call, that I shall answer, while they are yet speaking, I shall hear.

Worthy is he, who does not prevent the Queen from ascending to the King! For anyone whose prayer is fluent in his mouth – without obstruction – that person hurries the Queen to the King.

Woe to those people who are closed of heart and eyes, who do not strive to know the glory of their Master, to favour Him with His Shekhinah, with many supplications and appeasements, for Him to descend towards the Shekhinah.

How much more so, to arouse in Him love towards Her, as they have prescribed: ‘Who chooses His people Israel with love.’xvLiturgical: Morning service – blessings before Shm’a

And when they stand before Him, they should stand before Him in fear.

Worthy are they, Israel, who know to appease their Master appropriately, and to combine in their mouths, during their prayers, these two Names, which are: Y-A-Q-D-V-N-Q-Y.

For at that time: (Is. 58:9) Then (AZ) you will call and Y”Y shall answer.... and Y”Y – He and His Court of Judgement, and this is the Shekhinah, [Var. and this is Higher Ḥokhmah and the Shekhinah] [Var. Ḥokhmah] higher and lower.

And this is the mystery of: (Ps. 68:14) If you shall lie down between the ‘lips’ (se-phatayim), which is the ‘offering’ (qorbana) of the blessed Holy One. For surely the Shekhinah is His ‘sacrificial-offering’ (qorbana), and because of this, they the sages established prayer in lieu of sacrifice.xviBT Berakhot 26a

‘ (Lev. 6:2) She’ is the burnt offering (’olah) – the ‘olah (ascending) certainly!

Worthy is he who elevates Her towards Him appropriately, for He enquires of Her: (Song, 3:6) Who is ‘this’ (zot) rising (’olah)... – rising, certainly!... from the desert?... – from the desert certainly! For his mouth which utters prayer, the blessed Holy One considers as Mount Sinai, and because of this: Who is this that is rising from the desert? etc.... perfumed with myrrh... – this is the prayer of the morning service, established by Abraham, who is myrrh.xviiShir HaShirim Rabbah 3:8

And furthermore:... perfumed with myrrh... (Song. 1:13) A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me... – and this is Netzaḥ, which he elevates for Her on the right-hand side, it is this that is written: (Ps. 16:11)... pleasantness in your right hand forever∞netzaḥ. (Song. 3:6)... and frankincense... – this is Hod, which he elevates for Her in Gevurah.... over all the powder of the perfumer – this is the Righteous-One, which he elevates for Her in the Middle Pillar.

And if he does not elevate the Shekhinah with his prayer, as an ‘offering’ to the blessed Holy One, then a dog descends to eat his offering. Woe to him! It were better had he not been created in the world, and about him it is stated: (Prov. 19:2) Also without knowledge, a soul is not good...

And when the Shekhinah ascends through his prayer, many angelic-beasts, and the Chariot, and the wheels of the throne, are all aroused towards Her in joyous song, and they all open their wings to receive Her, and thus have they established: (Ez. 1:11) And their faces and their wings, were separated from above...

And when She ascends, She ascends like a dove, and when She descends, She descends like an eagle – for She is the Queen – who does not fear any of the birds of the world.

And She descends with much sustenance for Her children. It is this that is written: (Deut. 32:11) Like an eagle arouses its nest, it hovers over its chicks...

Who are... its chicks...? These are Israel, who are like chicks, chirping to Her, with the many chirpings of prayer, and She descends towards them. To each one She brings down the sustenance appropriate to him: to one She brings down the sustenance of Torah, which is sustenance of the soul, to another She brings down sustenance of the body – to each according to his desire.

Another word on the verse: Eim (Ps. 68:14) ∞mother if you will lie down... – this is Higher ‘Mother’ (imma), which is the Sabbath prayer – whom the ‘lips’ are required to receive on the eve of Sabbath, for She is ‘the soul of all life’ (nishmat) kol ḥaiy, She descends upon ‘the head of the righteous’, – which is the seventh day.

(Is. 50:4)... a tongue of studies they call it, and She resides upon it ‘between the two lips’, which are Netzaḥ and Hod.

And the Sabbath is the mouth [Var. pataḥ or petaḥ∞opening ], which is opened on the Sabbath eve, to receive Her with this prayer of the Sabbath.

And they have established this,xixBT’Eiruvin 18b about the dove: for it says: (Gen. 8:11)... and behold, it had torn-off an olive leaf with its mouth... And why an olive leaf? But the dove said: ‘Master of the Worlds! May my sustenance be delivered by Your hand, though it be bitter like an olive, and let it not be delivered by a messenger though it be sweet’, and ‘the messenger’ in this instance is Metatron.

And furthermore, the Shekhinah is called: ‘the prayer of the Passover’ from the right-hand side, ‘the prayer of New Year’ from the left-hand side, ‘the prayer of the Festival of Shavu’ot’ Weeks from the aspect of the Middle. YQV”Q is in every place to receive Her. [and to prepare weapons of war]

Another word: (Mic. 6:2) Hear, O mountains, the argument of Y”Y... What is ‘the argument (ryv) of Y”Y’? And who are the mountains? The ‘argument of Ha-Shem’ is the Shekhinah, the mountains are the Patriarchs, the argument – She is controversy and debate for the blessed Holy One, over Her children who are in exile.

And when they are not in exile, She is an argument for Him over those impoverished-ones, who go wandering from their place, so that He should have mercy upon them.

And the verse proves it since, it is this that is written: (Is. 27:5) If he would grasp My stronghold, he will make peace for Me, peace shall he make for Me – two of peace: one with the Shekhinah, who argues with Him for the sake of the impoverished.

And who is the ‘impoverished’ for whose sake She makes argument? This is the impoverished who is from the aspect of the Righteous-One. How much more so when the Righteous-One is ‘parched and dry’, of the ḥaiy (=18)∞life blessings of prayer. And they cry out towards the blessed Holy One, and it is stated in relation to them: (Prov. 1:28) Then shall they call Me and I will not answer.

And just as the Lower Shekhinah (Malkhut) is ‘argument’, for the sake of the Righteous-One (Yesod), who is ‘the life-force∞ḥaiy of the worlds’, when it is dry and parched, [‘dry’ of the Temple, ‘and parched’ of libations and burnt offerings] so is the Higher Shekhinah (Binah) an argument for its sake, with the blessed Holy One.