61 passagesc. 1290 CEHebrew / AramaicCC-BY; Public Domain; CC0
Individual passages from Zohar, shown in source order. Page 1 of 2.
Zohar turns to The Infinite Being. Think of it: before anything existed, there was only the Ein Sof – the Infinite Being. This isn't just an old idea; it's a foundational concept i...
Jewish mystical tradition isn't afraid to ask big questions. And sometimes, the answers come in the form of dazzling imagery. The Zohar, that foundational text of Jewish mysticism,...
Why would the same God appear in so many different forms across the sacred texts, at times as a warrior, at times as a teacher, at times as a comforting presence? The Hasidic maste...
Zohar turns to The Body Of God. These aren't just pretty metaphors. The tradition explores the very measurements of God. His little finger, His tongue stretches from one end of the...
Jewish tradition actually grapples quite intensely with the idea of a God who experiences suffering, even to an unimaginable degree. It's a challenging concept, isn't it? How can a...
One powerful answer lies in the concept of the Shekhinah (שְׁכִינָה). The Shekhinah, often described as the divine feminine presence, the immanent glory of God, has a fascinating a...
That’s right. According to some mystical traditions, particularly within Kabbalah, the Temple was literally the place where God, the King, and His Shekhinah (שְׁכִינָה), His Divine...
It wasn't just bricks and mortar that crumbled, you see. Something far more profound was shattered. The story, as told in the Zohar (2:175a), isn't just about her departure. It's a...
The Jewish mystics had a powerful image for that kind of pain: the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, weeping. It’s a radical idea, isn’t it? God, or at least this aspect of God, expe...
Think of the Shekhinah as the feminine aspect of God, the immanent presence that dwells among us. She’s not a separate deity, but rather the way God makes Godself known and felt in...
It all starts, as many intense stories do, with a separation. Specifically, the separation of God and the Shekhinah (שכינה), God's Divine Presence, often seen as the feminine aspec...
Jewish mysticism, particularly the Kabbalah, grapples with this very question, offering profound and beautiful answers. One of the most evocative images comes from the Zohar, the c...
Some stories tell us it all started with a division. A grand sorting. The tradition says when God created the world, it wasn't a uniform, homogenous blob. No, no. It was divided ri...
The Bible tells us that in the beginning, the earth was tohu and vohu – usually translated as "unformed and void," but really meaning something closer to chaos and emptiness. But w...
We look up and see blue, maybe clouds, but according to ancient Jewish wisdom, it's so much more than that. It’s a carefully maintained separation, a cosmic balancing act between t...
It paints a picture of a moment teeming with… competition. Adam's body is there, perfectly formed. The first human. But he’s… inert. Lifeless. And according to the Zohar (Zohar 3:1...
One of the most vivid? The Tree of Souls. Deep within Paradise, there stands a magnificent tree. Not just any tree, but a Tree of Souls, resplendent with blossoms of pure, nascent ...
One fascinating path: the soul’s journey to the Garden of Eden. The moment a righteous person departs, three companies of angels appear. Not just any angels, but legions of celesti...
There's a place, a hidden realm, far beyond our everyday perception, where souls reside in a truly remarkable way. A field. Not just any field, but one overflowing with life, with ...
Not in some abstract, philosophical way, but literally. Imagine a map so complete, so comprehensive, that it contains everything that ever was, is, or will be. Sounds like somethin...
Heaven is often remembered as a visual paradise, shimmering light and breathtaking vistas. But what about the auditory experience? Jewish tradition paints a picture of a heaven con...
What they've imagined is According to tradition, within Paradise – also known as Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden, paradise) – lie not just one, but six palaces, each a home for the so...
It's so much more than just a physical act; it’s a profound moment steeped in tradition, faith, and ancient promises. And at the heart of it all stands a powerful, unexpected figur...
The familiar telling remembers the benevolent angels, the messengers, the healers. But what about the ones who fall from grace? In Jewish tradition, Dumah wasn't always the oversee...
In Jewish folklore, demons can be born from impurity. The Zohar, that foundational text of Jewish mysticism, tells us that any impurity can engender demons. But the tradition goes ...
I'm talking about Lilith. The tales surrounding Lilith are wild and varied, and one particular story, found woven within the mystical threads of the Zohar (1:19b), paints a fascina...
Zohar turns to The Light Of Gehenna. You might imagine Gehenna as a place of utter, unremitting darkness. But there’s a stunning image in the Zohar (2:211b) that flips that idea on...
Zohar turns to Creating New Heavens And A New Earth. The story goes that when Moses received the Torah on Mount Sinai, the angels were, shall we say, less than thrilled. Jealous of...
One of my favorites involves nothing less than the Torah itself, envisioned as a radiant bride. The sixth day of Creation is wrapping up. God surveys everything He has made and dec...
The Shekhinah? What's that? Well, the Shekhinah (שְׁכִינָה) is often understood as the dwelling or presence of God, particularly in the world and among the Jewish people. Where doe...
It's not a cable, not a chain, but a string. Where does this image come from? It's a beautiful folk allegory, one that resonates deeply, especially during the Yamim Noraim, the Day...
Zohar turns to The High Priest Enters The Holy Of Holies. Our focus? The High Priest, his heart pounding, preparing to enter the Kodesh HaKodashim, the Holy of Holies, the innermos...
There's a beautiful idea that just before the solemnity of Kol Nidrei, the service that begins Yom Kippur, a tremendous light descends from the heavens. Imagine it: a cascade of pu...
The holiday of Sukkot, as we know, is based on the biblical verse, "You shall live in booths seven days" (Leviticus 23:42). We build these temporary dwellings, the sukkot (plural o...
What's happening on high? Well, according to a beautiful passage in the Zohar (2:40b-41a), the foundational text of Jewish mysticism, God isn't just observing. God's hosting a cele...
You might be surprised. It’s not just about commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. According to some mystical traditions, Shavuot (the Festival of Weeks) is actually...
It's a portal, a moment when the entire cosmos shifts. According to ancient wisdom, Shabbat (the Sabbath) isn't just about our rest, it's about the universe taking a collective bre...
The Zohar, that foundational text of Kabbalah (Zohar 2:88b-89a), paints a stunning picture. It tells us that on the Sabbath, when the Torah itself is crowned – – it isn't just stan...
Jewish mystical tradition paints a breathtaking picture of the Sabbath – not just as a day of rest, but as a sacred marriage, a cosmic coronation, a weekly reunion between God and…...
The Zohar, that foundational text of Kabbalah, tells us that the angels hold their own Sabbath feast in heaven. Imagine thousands of them gathered in the fourth heavenly palace, a ...
The Torah tells us that Abraham did. But the story, like so many in our tradition, is layered with meaning, prompting centuries of interpretation and debate. The scene is set in Ge...
The familiar story is this: he led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Torah on Mount Sinai, and brought his people to the edge of the Promised Land. But then… he just disapp...
It's not alone, of course. Nearby, almost like a tempting whisper, is the Etz haDa'at (Knowledge) Tov v'Ra, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God Himself walks in the gar...
Jewish tradition often speaks of a profound connection between the heavens and the earth – “as above, so below,” as the Kabbalists say. But what happens when tragedy strikes here? ...
It wasn't just a simple "pack your bags and leave," it was a journey into something far more profound. In some fascinating strands of Jewish tradition, Adam’s exile didn't end with...
Some mystical teachings say the soul of the Messiah dwells in a celestial palace, waiting. It’s a powerful image, isn't it? A soul, shimmering with potential, poised to descend and...
This isn't just any palace; it's a secret place, holding within it a thousand halls of yearning. Imagine the sheer depth of longing contained within those halls! And according to t...
Maybe that’s because the rainbow we see today isn’t the rainbow of the Messiah. Not yet, anyway. the rainbow we know is a promise, a beautiful one, certainly. It's a reminder of Go...
