It's like peering into a swirling vortex of divine secrets, where everything is symbolic and layered with meaning.

Today, we're going to untangle a particularly intriguing passage. It begins with the almost wistful acknowledgement, "As we have heard, so have we seen…" It's a reminder that these teachings aren't just abstract concepts; they're meant to be experienced, felt in the depths of our being. The text goes on to say that none of them endured, but Malchut exists now in the aspect of the male that dwells with her. Who are they talking about?

The passage then quotes from Bereshit (Genesis 36:39), describing a king named Hadar: "and Hadar reigned in his place, and the name of his city was Pa’u; and his wife’s name was Mehetavel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Mei-Zahav." Seems straightforward, right? Not so fast! In the world of Kabbalah, everything is a code waiting to be cracked.

The Aggadah of Rav Hamnuna Saba, a collection of stories and interpretations, sheds light on this. It explains that Hadar, whose name means "goodly" or "majestic," isn't just a king. He represents Yesod, one of the sefirot, the emanations of God. Yesod is called the "goodly tree," echoing the verse, "the fruit of the majestic (hadar) tree" (Leviticus 23:40). Malchut, often seen as the feminine aspect of divinity, is then the "fruit" of that tree. Think of it as the potential that becomes manifest.

And what about Hadar’s wife, Mehetavel? The text connects her to the "branches of palm trees" (Leviticus 23:40). The verse "The righteous man flourishes like the palm tree" (Psalms 92:13) reminds us that flourishing requires both male and female aspects. A palm tree, you see, needs both to thrive. So, Mehetavel, in this context, represents the feminine principle essential for Yesod to bear fruit.

But the symbolism goes even deeper. Mehetavel is described as "the daughter of Matred." Matred, the text tells us, represents the place that everyone is busy (tarud) trying to attain – the realm of Chochmah, or Wisdom, associated with the divine Father. It’s that elusive, primordial spark of insight that we constantly seek. It is also written, “Man cannot know its price; nor is it found in the land of the living” (Job 28:13). Thus, everyone strives to attain it. Another interpretation suggests that Matred is connected to Binah, Understanding, the divine Mother, from which judgments arise, bothering (matridim) everyone.

Finally, Mehetavel is "the daughter of Mei Zahav." Mei Zahav literally means "gold water." This refers to the two streams of divine energy: Chesed (loving-kindness), represented by water (mei), and Chochmah (wisdom) represented by gold (zahav). Malchut, then, receives illumination from both sides, balancing mercy and judgment, right and left.

So, what does it all mean? It's a complex tapestry, but at its heart, it speaks to the interconnectedness of the divine attributes, the interplay between male and female, and the constant striving to reach higher levels of understanding. It’s a reminder that the divine isn’t some distant, abstract concept, but a living, breathing force that permeates all of creation. And it invites us to contemplate our own role in that cosmic dance, our own striving for balance and wholeness. Where are we trying to attain? What fruits do we hope to bear?