Tikkunei Zohar Reader

Change of place: if he is accustomed to light a specific candle on weekdays, he should change this and not light it on the Sabbath, it is this that is written: (Ex. 35:3) Do not burn fire in all your dwellings, on the Sabbath day.

And there is a further change on the Sabbath, for it needs to change from ‘servant’ to ‘Queen’ – that they not be equal. For the Queen (matronita), She is the place of the blessed Holy One, – it must be changed for the King (malka). It is this that is written: (Esth. 2:9) And he ‘changed her’ and her maidens – on the Sabbath day, for the day of Sabbath is different from the day of the mundane∞ḥol, over which rules the servant of the King.

And furthermore: Your dwellings (Ex. 35:3) – the dwelling of a person is his ‘place’, and furthermore: ‘change of place’ means to arrange the house on Sabbath, to be an ‘addition’ on the mundane.

And furthermore: ‘a change of deed’, if he is of sad disposition on the weekdays, he should be joyous on the Sabbath. If he has a quarrel on the weekdays∞ḥol – with some person or with his wife – he should be at peace with her on the Sabbath.

And in this state, there is no permit to approach, for the ‘poison of death’ – the slain corpse∞ḥalalah, or her husband ‘another god’ – the descration∞ḥilul of the Sabbath, [they have no permit to approach]. And because of this, did ‘the earlier-sages’ say:xcvSee BT Shabbat 118b ‘If Israel would maintain one Sabbath according to its halakhah, [Var. two Sabbaths according to their halakhah], they would immediately be redeemed’.

And so one needs to differentiate: with a lit candle, and a made-up bed, and with a set table, just like this: if he was accustomed, on weekdays, to light a candle with one wick, he should add a second on the Sabbath. And of the table: if he was accustomed to bless ‘Hamotzi’ on one bread, then on the Sabbath he should add a second, so that they are like ‘the double bread’ of the manna.xcviSee BT Shabbat 117b Of the bed, it has been stated, that if he was accustomed ‘to sexually service’ on weekdays, in the midst of argument with his wife and with separation of minds, then he should not couple with his wife on the Sabbath, except in peace. And because of this: ‘The sexual schedule of scholars, is from Sabbath eve to Sabbath eve’.xcviiBT Ketubot 62b

And one needs to differentiate the Sabbath from the weekday, in everything.xcviiiSee BT Shabbat 119a And if they have peace, throughout all six weekdays, they should make an addition on the Sabbath, of appeasement one to the other, with much love, like it is above, for it is stated in relation to the Shekhinah: (Song. 5:2) Open for me my sister, my beloved, my dove, my perfect one... – with additional words of appeasement. Similarly, a person needs to appease his wife on the Sabbath, with additional words of appeasement.

And when the ‘other gods’ see, the differentiation on the Sabbath of everything, they have no permission to approach. It is this that is written: (Num. 1:51)... and the stranger (zar) who approaches will die, because: (Ex. 31:14) It is holy for you, its desecrators∞me-ḥalaleha will surely die... And because of this, it is stated in scripture: (Ex. 31:13)... My Sabbaths you shall keep... etc.

And with these additions, the Shekhinah is called ‘the additional service’ (musaph) of the Sabbath. And when all the levels of the mundane are distanced from Her, and there is no alien domain on the Sabbath, to enter between the blessed Holy One and His Shekhinah, She is called His ‘holiness’. And when they bless Her with the blessing over food, She is called His ‘blessing’. And in both-of-them, She is His unity, His bride. At that time: She, ‘the Sabbath, is equal to the whole Torah’.xcixShemot Rabbah 25:12

And the Sabbath candle is the image of the Menorah, and it needs to be to the right, and about it is stated:cBT Baba Batra 25b ‘One who wants to become wise should head southwards’.

And the Sabbath table should be to the left, and of it is stated:ciibid ‘one who wishes to become wealthy should head northwards.’

The bed should be between north and south.ciiBT Berakhot 5b

And the Sabbath is the sign of the covenant of circumcision, the sign of the phylacteries (tephilin). Whoever desecrates one, it is as if he desecrates the other.

The phylacteries of the head correspond to: (Ex. 20:8) Remember, the phylacteries of the hand correspond to: (Deut. 5:12) Observe.

Just as carrying in the public domain is a desecration of the Sabbath, so is the misuse of the sign of the covenant its desecration, with a whore, who is ‘the alien domain’.

There is no positive or negative precept that is not

found in the Sabbath, and, because of this, the Sabbath is equal to the whole Torah.ciiiShemot Rabbah 25:12

And so, the Lower Shekhinah is also called ‘shophar’ (ram)’s horn, from the aspect of the Higher Shekhinah, which is the ‘the great shophar’: as in ‘blow upon the great shophar for our freedom’.civLiturgical: from the weekday ‘Standing’ Prayer

‘Blow (te-q)’a the shophar’ is a term of te-q’iah single-blast note, for surely the Lower Shekhinah is the te-qi’ah of the blessed Holy One, from the right-hand side, and She is called His ‘she-varim’ broken note, from the aspect of the left-hand side. And She is called His te-ru’ah trilling note, from the aspect of the Middle Pillar – which is Da’at.

And because of this, it is stated: (Ps. 89:16) Happy are the people, knowers of te-ru’ah... ‘knowers’ (yod)’ei – in knowledge, of which it is stated: (Prov. 3:20) With his knowledge (da)’at, the depths are split, (Prov. 24:4) And with knowledge, rooms are filled...

She is shophar, and the blessed Holy One is the ‘sound’ (qol) of the shophar. And when She ascends towards Him, with these three ‘bindings’, it is stated of Him: (Ex. 19:19) And the sound of the shophar, was continuing very strongly, continuously going (holekh) – in te-qi’ah, strongly∞ḥazeq – in she-varim, very (me-od) – in te-ru’ah.

And She is the Day of Atonements. And when She is adorned before Him with beautiful garments, – which are ‘the garments of atonement’ – She is called His ‘diadem’, His ‘turban’, His ‘sash’.

She is comprised of four garments of white, from the right-hand side, and of four garments of gold, from the left-hand side.

At that time, when She is adorned with these ‘garments of atonement’,cvSee BT Zevaḥim 88b it is stated of Her: (Esth. 5:1)... and Esther dressed regally... And with them She enters the innermost place. It is this that is written:... and she stood in the inner courtyard of the house of the King... And with them, She: (Esth. 5:2)... won favour in his eyes...

And the mystery of the matter: (Gen. 9:16)... and I shall see it to remember the eternal covenant... And immediately: (Dan. 9:19) Y”Y’ hear! Y”Y’ forgive! Y”Y’ listen! And act without delay!

She is called Purim, after Yom ha-Ki-PuRiM (Day) of Atonements, in which they are destined to have delight, and to change it from affliction to delight. And because it is the Shekhinah, it is forbidden to wear leather footwear.

At that time, it is stated of Her: (Song. 7:2) How beautiful are your steps in shoes, O noble daughter... And delight and joy and many good things are prepared for Her. And this will be at the time of redemption – soon!

And who causes affliction to the Shekhinah in exile? But the mystery of the matter: (Esth. 4:16)... and thus I shall come to the king, not according to the ‘law’ (ke-dat)... – because She enters without Her husband, of Whom it is stated: (Deut. 33:2)... from His right hand, a ‘fiery law’ (eish) dat for them – for they have neglected in Her the Torah, and this caused the destruction of the First and Second Temple. It is this that is written: (Esth. 4:16)... and if I perish, I perish.

And nevertheless, even though She enters ‘without Her husband’ – Who is DaT∞‘law’ – even so, She enters through the Patriarchs, who are the: (ibid.)... three days, night and day, in which she fasted. And they are witnesses, that a young maiden has entered the house of the King. It is this that is written: (Esth. 2:13) And thus would a maiden come to the king... A maiden (na)’arah, specifically, would come to the King, whom (Gen. 24:16) no man had known Her – except Her husband. And just like: (Esth. 2:14) In the evening she would arrive... – a virgin girl, specifically, here also: (ibid)... in the morning she would return, – a virgin girl, specifically.

And one who is false with the covenant of circumcision, causes to be withdrawn from Him,

the Shekhinah, for She is the unity of the blessed Holy One. And instead, there rules over him a ‘shed’ (demon),cviSee Midrash Tanḥuma, Tzav Ch.14 who is ‘another’∞aḥer.

And like Esther, whom He concealed from Aḥashverosh, who was uncircumcised and impure. And He put in her stead a ‘double’ (shenit), in her replicated image, – it is this that is written: (Esth. 2:13)... whatever she would say... etc. (Esth. 2:14) In the evening she would come, and in the morning she would return, to the house of women – ‘the second’ (sheni)...

And He protected her from Haman the wicked, it is this that is written: (Ps. 32:7)... preserve me from trouble... for he Haman is the adversary and the enemy. And because of this jealousy – that the blessed Holy One protected Esther with His sign, for She is His ‘sanctification’ (qedushah), for there is no sanctification less than tencviiBT Megillah 23b – ten lower crowns of ‘the other side’, became enclothed, in the ten sons of Haman, for ‘another god’ is there. For Haman had said: (Esth. 3:9)... and ten thousand talents of silver I will weigh... etc. – and all to take revenge upon Esther and her people, of whom it is stated: (Esth. 5:1) And Esther dressed regally (malkhut)...

And the blessed Holy One gave them up into her hand, and into the hand of her people, (Esth. 9:25)... and they hanged him and his sons upon the tree. And he had made: (Esth. 5:14)... a tree gallows of 50 cubits height... And the blessed Holy One took revenge upon him and his sons, through the Higher Shekhinah – Who had struck the Egyptians with fifty blows.

And furthermore: the Shekhinah is called ‘charity’ (tzedaqah), and the blessed Holy One is ‘the Master of Charity’, and in exile She is poor, and Her children are poor.

And the blessed Holy One, as it were, is poor, when He is outside His place, and because of Her it is stated: (Is. 33:7) Behold their mighty-ones have shouted outside... etc.

And in which place is He poor and is She poor? In the Righteous-One (Yesod) which is the covenant, and because Israel sinned through it below, it is: (Job 14:11)... a river dried up and parched – in the First and Second Temples. And the Shekhinah is dry and parched in it, because they caused to be gathered-up from it (Yesod), the ‘higher waters’, and the Shekhinah was left dry. It is this that is written: (Gen. 1:9)... Let the waters be gathered, from beneath the heavens to one place, that the dry land may be seen...

And so, a poor woman is the Oral Torah, surely, and She is qabalah∞‘receiving’, when She ‘receives’ from the Master of Charity, Who is the Written Torah. When She goes towards Him to receive, She is called halakhah∞‘going’, when She receives from Him, She is called qabalah.

And at that time, She distributes what they give Her to Her servants and children, and to Her young maidens, as it says: (Prov. 31:15)... and she gives provision to her household, and a portion to her maidens – and they receive one from the other, from that which they receive from Her.

The Master of Receiving (qabalah) is the Middle Pillar, and She receives from Him. And in what place does She receive from Him? In the right-side, because of Her is stated: ‘for Your right hand is extended to receive those who return’.cviiiLiturgical: Penitentiary Prayer (taḥanun)

is from the right-hand side. Halakhah (ritual-law) is on the left-side – in relation to Her husband – and ‘receives’ (qabilat) from Him, on the right-side, and then descends full towards the Righteous-One, and because of this: (Ps. 37:25) I have not seen a righteous person forsaken... etc.

And all sephirot are called after Her name: (Lev. 19:36) Righteous scales, righteous weights, a righteous ephah, and a righteous hin... when Her Husband, Who is mercy, becomes distant from Her, the righteous scales which are the two arms☉Ḥesed-Gevurah, the righteous stones, which are the two pillars of truth☉Netzaḥ-Hod, the righteous hin which is the Righteous-One (Yesod).

And when the Middle Pillar is distant from Her, It is ‘justice’ (mishpat), and of it is written: (Ps. 75:8) For ELQYM judges – this one He shall lower, and this one He shall raise.... this one He shall lower – one who causes the lowering of the Shekhinah from Her place,... this one He shall raise – one who causes Her to ascend from Her place.

For the sins of Israel lower Her downwards, and their merit raises Her to Her place. Lo, worthy is he who performs merits, to raise Her to Her place.

And furthermore: the Shekhinah is ‘the sending of the nest’. What is Her ‘nest’? It is Jerusalem. And above, is Her nest (qein), that of which it is stated: (Ex. 34:7)... and He surely will not acquit (naqeh) – and this is Metatron, of whom it is stated:cxMishnah Avot 4:20 ‘Do not look upon the vessel (qanqan), but upon that which is inside it’.

And this is: (Deut. 22:6) When a bird’s nest (qan) happens before you, on the way, in any tree, or upon the ground...... in any tree... – this is ‘body and covenant’, the Righteous-One is the covenant and it is ‘everything’∞kol (Yesod),... a tree... – this is ‘the Middle Pillar’ (Tipheret),... or upon the ground... – this is ‘Lower Mother’ (Malkhut),... the chicks... – two arms☉Ḥesed-Gevurah,... or the eggs... – two thighs☉Netzaḥ-Hod,... and the mother is lying down... – this is ‘Higher Mother’ (Binah). You will surely send away the mother... (Deut. 22:7) – this is Lower Mother, with direct-object indicator: ET – specifically.

From the aspect of Isaac, which is the Festival of Rosh haShanah (New) Year, it is stated of it: (Gen. 8:11) And the dove came to him at evening time... – and this is the ‘evening of Isaac’. And from the aspect of the Righteous-One, it is stated of Her:... and behold it had torn-off an olive leaf with its mouth, and Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the Earth.

And in every place, where there is not found – for those below – the image of Her Husband in Torah, She does not reside upon it. It is this that is written: (Gen. 8:9) And the dove did not find rest for her foot... – in the exile. As soon as She has found Her husband, ‘the Faithful Shepherd’, She resides upon Him and does not return to the ark.

It is this that is written: (Gen. 8:12)... and she no longer returned to him, at all. And about this it is stated: (Gen. 2:24) Therefore a man should leave, his father and his mother... etc. – she cleaves to Him, and He to Her.

At that time: (Gen. 8:6)... and Noah opened the window, of the ark which he had made – and they all emerged, and went towards ‘the dove’ and Her Husband.

And it is stated in relation to Noah... and Noah opened... What is... and Noah opened? But it alludes to: (Ex. 2:6) And she opened and saw the boy child... (Ps. 51:17) ADNY! Open my lips... – and this is Israel, who begin repentance with crying, and then immediately:... and she took pity upon him... (Ex. 2:6)

And furthermore: the Shekhinah is called ‘Festival’∞ḥag, at all special times and holidays – the ‘festival’ of the three pilgrimages of which it is stated: (Ex. 23:14) Three

pilgrimages you will celebrate for Me in the year... and because of it (Ex. 23:17)... all of your males will be seen... to fulfil: (Ex. 20:8) Remember and (Deut. 5:12) Observe – Remember (zakhor) for a male, and Observe (shamor) for a female, all those who go to gaze at [Var. to be included in] the Shekhinah, should give Her a present (dorona) – it is this that is written: (Deut. 16:16)... and they will not be seen before Ha-Shem empty handed.

And one should rejoice in Her – it is this that is written: (Deut. 16:14) And you shall rejoice in your festival, for She is called ‘the joy of the blessed Holy One’, and one who goes to see Her, should guard himself from sadness, which is Lylyt, who is darkness, depression, sheol, spleen – for she is ‘blemish’ (moom) – and upon that it is stated: (Lev. 21:18)... whoever has a blemish will not approach.

(Deut. 16:17) Each man according to his ability to give (matnat)... – this is the Higher Shekhinah, upon Whom it is stated: (Prov. 21:14) A gift (matan) in secret will subdue anger... Because She is concealed, the world to come is called ‘a gift’ (matanah), and about that is stated:cxiLiturgical: Sabbath Morning ‘Standing’ Prayer ‘Moses will rejoice in the giving (matnat) of his portion’, because: (Ecc. 3:13)... it is the gift (matat) of ELQYM.

(Deut. 16:17)... as the blessing of Y”Y your God which He has given you – this is the Lower Shekhinah, one from the right-hand side – blessing, and one from the left-hand side – gift.

And furthermore: the Shekhinah is the calculation of seasons (te-quphot), and zodiacal constellations (mazalot), and calendrical months and leap years.

There are Four ‘severities’ (te-quphan), which are called ‘the four seasons’ (tequphot), and to each season three months, and in them are twelve zodiacal constellations, and they correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel, and all are bound in this Name of ADNY – it is the Lower Shekhinah Who is ‘severe’ (taqipha), through the four ‘seasons’ (tequphinn), which are from the left-side – strong and severe, and they are: ALePh DaLeT NuN YoD.

And through it, one needs to equate the solar year with the lunar year, and to unite them with the ‘middle way’, – which is the Middle Pillar.

And if a person knows how to count intercalate, and to equate the solar year with the lunar year, and to unite them, he knows when Passover will be in the ‘month of Aviv’ (Spring), and with this he unites Father and Mother, Son and Daughter. It is this that is written: (Deut. 4:6) And you will observe and you will do, for it is your ‘wisdom’∞ḥokhmah and your ‘understanding’ (binah)... And you will observe, and you will do – this is V-Q, for it is your wisdom and your understanding – this is Y-Q.

And if they are offered in prayers to the blessed Holy One, and suffer many afflictions, then it is this that is written: (Ps. 44:23) For over you we are killed all the day, we are considered as flock for the slaughter, – they appear as if: (Ex. 20:24) And you shall slaughter upon it, your burnt offerings and your peace offerings... etc. For this saves them from the death of the Angel of Death, it is this that is written: (Ps. 36:7) Man and beast You will save, Y”Y.

And of those whose actions are like the beasts of the field, who eat without prayer, their death will be like the beasts of the field, and the Angel of Death slaughters them, measure for measure.

And not only that, but with a defective knife he slaughters them, and they are called ‘carcass’ (ne-veilah), and about them it is stated: (Is. 26:19)... my corpses (ne-veilah) will arise...

What is ‘a defective knife’? This is Samael – another god. A defective knife it is specifically called, and it is ‘the defect’ of the ‘poison of death’, the torn-one and the carcass.

And since they have been given into their hands, they have already received their punishment, and because of this:... my corpses will arise.

And all the lung-adhesions (sirkh-an) of the poison of death, are her legs, and about them it is stated: (Prov. 5:5) Her feet descend unto death... And there are 18∞ḥaiy lung-adhesions, about them it is written: (Gen. 8:21)... and I will not again strike all life∞ḥaiy (=18), as I have done. This is said to those who pray with the 18 blessings of prayer.

[And who causes the waters of the flood to overwhelm? Whoever pours the ‘water’ of seed of the covenant of circumcision, into a menstruant, a maidservant, a gentile, a whore]

And always, the ‘rose’ (varda) of the lung with an adhesion in any place, is rendered unfit and does not live – for in every place where she adheres as a sirkha to a person, she kills him through its that limb’s sins.

And furthermore: the Shekhinah is the precept of ‘the gathering of fish’, of the sea of Torah, of whom it is stated:cxviiiSee BT Ḥullin 27b ‘fish and locusts do not require slaughtering’, and these are ‘the scholars of the Master’s school’, who increase in the sea of Torah, about whom it is stated,cxixSee ibid. that ‘their gathering’ permits them for consumption, it is this that is written: (Num. 11:22)... will be gathered for them and found for them – this specifically frees them from slaughter.

And the wings of the Shekhinah, are the ‘covering of the blood’ of a beast or bird’, for they are the wings of the dove, and they are ‘the wings of precept’ which cover their blood, so that ‘the dogs that are brazen’ do not rule over them, who are angels of destruction, and so that the prosecutors of sin do not recognize them, thus is: (Deut. 12:23)... the blood is the soul (naphesh), and the dust which covers it alludes to: (Deut. 32:43)... and will appease His land, His people.

And furthermore: the Shekhinah is ‘the examination of the indicators (simanim)’, of a beast or bird, of people who are compared to beasts, animals and birds, about whom it is stated: (1 Sam. 14:34)... and you will slaughter with ‘this’ (zeh) – ‘examine like this’,cxxSee BT Ḥullin 17b – for they are suffering afflictions, as they have established: (Ps. 44:23) For Your sake we are killed all the day, and they never lapse in prayer on any day, and the blessed Holy One ‘examines’ them with many afflictions.