Tikkunei Zohar Reader

For of a completely wicked person, who is a fool, it is stated: (Ḥab. 1:13) Why do you look upon traitors, and are silent, when the wicked-one swallows him who is more righteous than he? And the Masters of the Mishnah have established:lixBT Berakhot 7b ‘one who is relatively more righteous than him, he swallows, but a completely righteous person he does not swallow’. And because of him it is stated: (1 Sam. 2:6)... who takes down to she-ol and raises-up.

Woe to the soul when the spleen swallows it! Woe to Israel when they become swallowed-up by the mixed multitude, for about them it is stated: (Gen. 41:21)... and it was not known that they had entered them, and their appearance was as bad as at first...

At the time of exile, about the appointed-ones of the nations of the world, and of the ‘mixed multitude’ (’eirev) rav,, it is stated of them: (Lam. 1:5) Her adversaries were on top, her enemies were in comfort, her adversaries – surely these are the mixed multitude, about them it is stated: (Is. 1:23) Your princes are deviants, and a company of thieves, all of them, loving bribery... etc.... Her enemies were in comfort... – these are Esau and Yishmael, (Lam. 1:5) and the seventy appointed-ones, who are all in comfort, in wealth, while Israel is oppressed in poverty.

And because of this, woe to the world, when they Israel are swallowed-up in the evil mixture. And what caused it, that they were swallowed-up in their bowels, such that: (Gen. 41:21) and it was not known that they had come into them? It is because of the evil deeds in their hands, it is this that is written: (Ps. 106:35) And they became mixed up among the nations, and they learnt their deeds.

She is complete with positive precepts, it is stated of Her: (Song. 4:7) All of you is beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish in you.

At that time, the Name Y”Y resides upon Her, and it is stated of Her: (Deut. 28:10) And all the peoples of the land will see, that the Name of Y”Y is called upon you, and they will fear you.

And the appointed-ones of the liver and its veins, and the appointed-ones of the spleen and its evil mixture, become subjugated beneath the heart, for the soul (nishmata) is there.

And if the soul is defiled [Var. defected] by sins, or is lacking even one precept of these precepts – as the Masters of the Mishnah have established:lxBT Sotah 21a ‘a transgression extinguishes a precept’ – then in that place [Var. limb] where the transgression resides, and the precept is withdrawn from it, that limb is defective, and it is a blemish of the soul, – because of it, the blessed Holy One does not reside upon the soul. It is this that is written: (Lev. 21:18) Anyone in whom there is a blemish shall not approach – a soul which has a blemish in one of its 248 precepts, does not approach the blessed Holy One because of it.

But a soul from the aspect of the Shekhinah has no blemish. It is this that is written: (Song. 4:7) All of you is beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish in you. If the evil inclination wishes to approach that place, then since the Shekhinah – which is the soul – resides there, it is stated of Her: (Num. 1:51)... and the stranger who approaches will die.

Because of Her it is stated: (Is. 42:8) I am Y”Y, that is My Name, and My glory I shall not give to another... meaning ‘another god’, ‘a foreign god’.

For the soul is His glory, and it is His praise, with which a person praises the blessed Holy One in prayer every day, with many praises and thanksgivings.

And because of this: I am Y”Y, that is My Name, and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to idols – these are the seventy appointed-ones, to whom the blessed Holy One does not give permission to have dominion over Her, those which are the veins of the liver, which is ‘another god’.

The spleen is ‘snake’, the extra lobe of the liver is ‘the whoring wife’, after she has acted dishonestly [Var. immorally ] with ‘other gods’, and has distributed her blood, which is her concentrate, to all the veins, she offers the leftover to the spleen who is her husband, the fool. For the spleen takes only the concentrate [Var. dregs] of blood, but she does not give him of any other blood, and because of this she is called ‘the extra lobe of the liver’, because she gives him only the leftover.

And the liver is the antagonist of the lung, for it raises up a fire from it towards the heart, and were it not that the wings of the lung blow upon it, it would burn up the heart, [Var. and the fire of the heart would burn up the whole body].

The ‘entrails’lxiSee BT Ḥullin 13a is livyatan (Leviathan), corresponding to the impure fat, and upon it is stated:lxiiBT Berakhot 33a ‘Even if a snake is wound around his ankle, he should not interrupt his prayer, but for a scorpion, he interrupts’.

A serpent (saraph) is the gall bladder – the denouncer of the lung, because the bile is the burning (se-reiphah) of the whole body.

Because of this, the horn-blasts te-qi’ah, she-varim, and te-ru’ah are the means of their smashing, and of them it is stated: (Ps. 89:16) Happy is the nation, those who know the te-ru’ah, Y”Y, they shall walk in the light of Your face. What is... Your face? These are te-qi’ah, she-varim, te-ru’ah, which are: te-qi’ah – the white of the face, she-varim – the red of the face, te-ru’ah – the green of the face. And through it te-ru’ah Israel emerges from exile, when the faces of Israel are transformed to green, like a pregnant woman.lxiiiSee BT Sanhedrin 98b

of which: (Lev. 13:21)... and it is not lower than the skin and it is dim, – and this is the ‘lowness’ of the soul in the body.

N-R: [Var: When] The soul and spirit and animating-soul are exiled (it-galyan) in the liver, the gallbladder, and the spleen, all those limbs of the body, which are the holy People, all of them are distressed in bitterness, because of the soul, her place is the brain, the holy dove (yonah).

The soul is an eagle, through which this dove is sustained, with many prayers and services.

The boat of Jonah∞yonah (dove) is the cranium, and there are many appointed-ones in this ship who direct it, and they are ears, eyes, nose, mouth, – there are seven ‘appointed-ones’, and they add up to ‘the seventy languages that were in the ship of Jonah’.lxivMidrash Tanḥuma, Vayiqra Ch.8

And the ‘dove’ is prayer – Lower Shekhinah, the ‘eagle’ through which it is sustained – is Higher Shekhinah.

If Israel do not strive in the prayers and supplications and services, of the eagle, which is the lung, then immediately: (Jon. 1:4) And Y”Y threw a great wind∞ru-aḥ to the sea – which is ‘the wind of the storm’. (Is. 63:14)... the spirit∞ru-aḥ of Y”Y will guide him... – at first – the wind∞ru-aḥ that blows in the wings of the eagle, which is the Middle Pillar, through which the eagle flies up in by means of these two lips, the ru-aḥ∞wind (spirit) that blows in everything – this is the wind of the nose.

And if the limbs of the body, who are the masters of the ship – who are the holy People – are not conducting themselves in accordance with the Torah – which is soul (nishmata) – and in precept (mitzvah) – which is animating-soul (naphsha) – then the spirit flies away from between them.

At that time: (Jon. 1:4) And Y”Y cast a great wind∞ru-aḥ to the sea... which is the ‘the wind of storm’, which is the decree of harsh judgement, which storms the body of the person, who is Israel, and Israel are then in the storm, and the boat, which is the body,... threatens to break up.

Right then: (Jon. 1:5)... and Jonah descended to the lower parts of the ship... – this is the Lower Shekhinah, of which it is stated: (Ruth 3:7)... and she uncovered his feet and she lay down – she lay down in the dust. And this is: (Jon. 1:5)... and he lay down and he slept. And why did She fall? Because the spirit∞ru-ḥa had flown up from Her, which is the Middle Pillar that was supporting Her, and She fell.

And at that time, it is stated of Her: (Lam. 1:1) How She sits alone... And what has caused Her descent? It is because Israel have neglected Torah and precept.

At that time, when She has descended between the legs, Israel, Her children, are held tight between the legs, and they are in sickness and disease.

At that time, when the body – which is Israel – is in the house of the sick, and the Shekhinah – who is the ‘dove’ (yonah) – is with them, what is written of it? (Jon. 1:6) And the captain (rav) ha-ḥovel approached him... – he that destroys∞ḥavil flesh in the house of the sick.

And furthermore: who is the captain? He of whom it is stated: (Ex. 22:25) If you surely sequester as security∞ḥavol taḥbol your friend’s garment... ḥavol (sequester) in the First Temple, taḥbol (surely-sequester) – in the Second Temple, and he is the captain of all the directors of the ship.

And what did he the captain say to him Jonah? ‘ (Jon. 1:6)... Get up! Call to your God!’ – for judgements are coming upon you, and upon your children. Behold the ‘masters of debts’ are gathering, they are surrounding your boat, they who are the evil winds. Look to your merits! – at those limbs which strive in the Torah and in good deeds – and they will return the Higher Shekhinah, – Who is ‘repentance’ – to be upon you, and She shall protect you.

For about Her it is stated: (Deut. 32:11) Like an eagle that arouses its nest, – this is Jerusalem, upon its chicks it will hover – who are Israel, it shall spread its wings – upon them, on Sabbath and festivals, and because of Her they bless on those days:

‘Blessed are You Y”Y, who spreads the tabernacle of peace.’lxvLiturgical: Sabbath and Festival Evening Service

And when She spreads Her wings over Israel it is stated: (Deut. 32:11)... He takes them, He lifts them up with His pinion. As they have established: (Ex. 19:4)... and I lifted you on eagles’ wings... etc.

And because of this: (Jon. 1:6) Get up! Call to your God! which is the Higher Shekhinah, which is your repentance, and return through it to your Master, who is the blessed Holy One.

See that the evil maidservant is ruling over you, who is ‘the putrid drop’, And upon her it is stated: (Job 1:7) And Y”Y said to the Satan: ‘From whence do you come?’ For all sins are from the limbs of the ‘putrid drop’, for whose sake it is stated in relation to the wicked:lxviMishnah Avot 3:1 ‘From whence did you come? From a putrid drop.’

(Jon. 1:13) And the men strove to return to the dry land... – with repentance,... and they could not, for the sea... – which is the decree of judgement – was becoming stormier upon them.

At that time, (Jon. 2:1) And Y”Y appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah – this is the first exile, of which it is stated: (Jon. 1:5)... and Jonah descended to the lower parts of the ship... and this is: (Gen. 46:4) I shall go down with you to Egypt... As they the sages have established:lxviiBT Megilah 29a ‘In every place that Israel are exiled, the Shekhinah is with them.’

All these cycles of decrees were by his hand, and this is... the great fish... of which it is stated: (see Ez. 29:3)... the great crocodile... This is the ‘fish’ (dag) of Egypt, and its female partner is ‘the female fish’ (dagah). (Jon. 2:2) And Jonah prayed to Y”Y his God from the bowels of the fish. Who are the ‘bowels of the fish’? They are the Egyptians.

And furthermore: And Y”Y appointed a great fish... (Jon. 2:1) – this is the spleen, Lylyt, which is the mixed multitude (’eirev) rav, from that captain (rav) ha-ḥovel, [Var. this is Samael, dagah (female) fish this is the snake – Lylyt, his coupling partner, from that ‘captain,’ the spleen, which is ‘the mixed multitude’] of whom it is stated: (Ex. 12:38) And also a mixed multitude... etc. And the spleen is: (Ecc. 7:6) the mirth of the fool. Of it is stated: (Ecc. 7:9) For anger lies in the lap of fools...

... to swallow Jonah – this is the soul (naphsha). (Jon. 2:1) From its the spleen’s aspect: (Ex. 6:9) And they did not listen to Moses, from shortness of spirit... and from hard servitude – from the aspect of the liver (kaved), of which it is stated: (Ex. 7:14) The heart of Pharaoh is heavy (kaved), (Ex. 5:9) Let the work become ‘heavy’, from the aspect of the gall bladder (marah): (Ex. 1:14) And they embittered (mare-ru) their lives...

... a great fish (Jon. 2:1) is the ‘mixed multitude’ (’erev) rav, who are [Var. who is] the ‘captain’ (rav) ḥovel. Who is a destroyer∞ḥovel, if not the ‘leader’ (rav) of all the angels of destruction? He is ḥovel (destroyer), and she is female ḥabalah (destruction). The mixed multitude are the children of Lylyt the wicked, through whom Israel sinned, and ‘destroyed’ their flesh with the sign of covenant. They are ‘rav’∞multitudinous (argumentative) upon them in exile, and they are the female fish (dagah) for Israel, and because of this they said: (Num. 11:5)... we remember the fish (dagah)... etc.

And when Israel went out of Egypt, He killed many of them,lxviiiSee Shemot Rabbah 14:3 and in the final exile, the blessed Holy One is destined, to kill them, and this is: (Ex. 7:18) And the fish (dagah) that was in the river died, and the river (ye-aur) became putrid... – this is the Torah (auraiyta), of which it is stated: (Prov. 6:23)... and Torah is light (aur)... – which became putrid for them.

And it is stated of Israel: (Ex. 1:22)... every son born you shall throw to the river (ye-aur)... Light (aur) is the numeric equivalent of ‘mystery’ (raz, =207), ‘to the river’ (ha-ye-aurah) is the female partner, of that light of which it is stated: (Ex. 10:23)... and for all the Children of Israel, ‘there was light’ (hayah) aur in their habitation.

In like manner, in the final exile [to the river], the word ha-zohar (the-radiance), in which are the words hayah raz (there) be mystery, which is the light of the final redemption, to fulfil: (Mic. 7:15) Like the days of your exodus from the land of Egypt, I shall show him wonders, and this is:... every son born you shall throw to the river (ha-ye-aurah), (Ex. 1:22) and every daughter you shall let live – those who strive in the Oral Torah.

Another word: (Jon. 2:1) And Y”Y appointed (va-ye-man) a great fish to swallow Jonah – this is poverty, which is sadness (’etzev), and its female is depression (’itzavon). The masculine is dag (fish), female is dagah. This is: (Jon. 2:2) And Jonah prayed to Y”Y his God, from the bowels of the fish (dagah), from the hunger of poverty, which reaches to ‘the bowels’ of Israel.

At that time: (Jon. 2:11) And Y”Y spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah... etc. Through the oppression of their worry (de-agah), for they worry because of poverty, from oppression they will go out of exile. It is this that is written: (2 Sam. 22:28) And a poor people you will save... This is the prophecy of Jonah that was prophesied: that Israel will emerge from exile, through the worry (de-agah) [Var. through the oppression] of poverty.

because the Righteous-One (Yesod), ‘the life-force of the worlds’, is the ‘poor man’ that is bound through the right-hand, which is Passover, just like Israel of whom it is stated: (Ez. 16:7)... and you were naked and bare.

And whoever brings out this seed, which is the flow from above, without bringing it to ‘this dry land’, causes a separation in that flow. It is as if, as it were, the flow of the Shekhinah has been interrupted, and the flow of ‘the other side’ is increased, which are the waters of the flood, it is this that is written: And the waters prevailed, (Gen. 7:19) exceedingly much, upon the earth...

At that time, when there is no flow in that dry land which is ‘heavy’ (kveidah), it is made opposite-of-heavy ‘light’ (qalah), to be withdrawn from upon Israel, and it is stated of it: (Gen. 7:17)... and it lifted up from the earth. And it did not descend until the seventh month, when She becomes filled with Her merits, and ‘heavy’ She descends, it is this that is written: (Gen. 8:4) And the ark came to rest in the seventh month, which is Tishrei, the left arm.

For if they Israel would emerge from exile in it Tishrei, they would emerge in death, and there would not remain except: (Jer. 3:14)... one from a town, and two from a family.... one from a town... – like Noah,... and two from a family... – like Shem and Japheth. And from the others: (Gen. 7:9) Two, two... (Gen. 7:2)... seven, seven... – from those ‘people of the land’, who are likened to animals and birds and beasts.

And these are they that honour holy days and festivals, which are two, two – the two days: one of New Year, and one of the Festival of Weeks, – the two days of Purim,lxxSee BT Megillah 16b... seven, seven... – these are the seven days of Passover, and the seven days of Tabernacles.

Or: those who pray with the 18∞ḥaiy (life) blessings of prayer, every day,

which amount to the numeric-value of: two, two and seven, seven equalling 18∞ḥaiy (life).

These they accept in repentance, which is Noah’s ark – the Day of Atonement. But others they do not accept in repentance, and if they emerge on the Day of Judgement – those that have not been observant – it is stated of them: (Gen. 7:21) And all the flesh that crawls on the earth perished... And they are called ‘the completely wicked’, who are judged immediately for death,lxxiBT Rosh HaShanah 16b for it is through them, in six days, that the Shekhinah has wandered.

It is this that is written: (Gen. 8:9) And the dove (yonah) did not find rest for her foot... – and these are the weekdays.

The ‘completely righteous’ – these are they that observe ‘18’, and Sabbaths and festivals – about them it is stated: (Gen. 8:11) And the dove returned to him towards the evening – and this is refers to Sabbath and Festival eves, for the Shekhinah arrives to reside upon them, because they are holy, as it says: (Jer. 2:3) Holy is Israel to Y”Y...

(Deut. 4:4) And you who cleave to Y”Y your God, are all of you living∞ḥayyim this day, and they are ‘the completely righteous’, who are written and sealed immediately for life, and written in the Book of Life, as it says:lxxiiLiturgical: from the ‘Standing Prayer’ of the Ten Days of Repentance. ‘and in the Book of Life, blessing, etc.’

‘Average-ones’ (beinonim), who are comprised of mundane and holy, are suspended in judgement until the Day of Atonement, which is like Noah’s ark. If they return in repentance, it accepts them, and they are written for life, and if not, they are written for death – with the others of whom it is stated: (Gen. 7:21) And all flesh perished... etc.

And average people, because there are, in them, precepts and sins, it is stated of them: (Gen. 6:19) And from every living thing, from all flesh... etc.... from every living thing... – from the aspect of merits,... from all flesh... – from the aspect of sins.

[And furthermore: for at the time that the messiah will arrive, all those who guarded the sign of the covenant will be saved from death, for at that time death will be annulled, as prophesied by those prophets of ‘the looking glass that does not shine’ – that there would not remain except... one from a town, and two from a family, (Jer. 3:14) like that which is written: (Gen. 7:9) Two by two they came to Noah...

And there is the view that says: (Gen. 7:2)... seven by seven... – from the aspect of Bat Sheva∞‘daughter of-seven’. And these are:... one from a town. (Jer. 3:14) Noah – this is Sabbath, in which is the rest inherited by a righteous-one. Two by two... (Gen. 7:9) – two days: one of New Year, and one of the Day of Judgement, for the second day is from doubt,lxxiiiSee BT Beitzah 4b and one day of the Day of Atonement, and one day of the Festival of Weeks, and... seven by seven... (Gen. 7:2)... are: the seven days of Tabernacles, and the seven days of Passover, for whoever observes these days is destined to be saved in the exile.]