The passage begins with "Be-REiShYT" – "In the beginning." This isn't just a starting point; it's described as "an Utterance which is the first of all, comprised of all 'ten sayings'." Think of those ten sayings by which God created the world in Genesis. According to this passage, Be-REiShYT encapsulates all of them.
Now, things get interesting. It speaks of the "32 LaB ELQYMs of ‘the act of Be-REiShYT’." The text then has a variation, suggesting "BRYT-EiSh" – "covenant of fire." Fire plays a key role here. It's said that this came "from the left side...which is Gevurah – the red fire." Gevurah is one of the Sefirot, the attributes or emanations of God, and it represents strength, judgment, and yes, fiery power. And because of this, the text quotes Exodus 3:2, "...in the heart—LaBat—of the fire..." This is the burning bush!
But why a bush? Why fire? According to the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, the Shekhinah, the divine presence, was revealed to Moses in a bush precisely "to show that She was oppressed among the thorns." It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? The Divine Presence suffering. And yet, "the bush was not consumed..." Why not? "Because of the 'roses' – which are Her children, who are Israel."
These roses, the children of Israel, "are destined to be in exile amongst the mixed multitude, who are 'thorns.'" The thorns are the forces that seek to harm and consume the Jewish people. Exile, then, isn't just a geographical displacement; it's a spiritual state of being surrounded by these "thorns."
This brings us to a quote from Jeremiah 46:28: "...when I shall make an end, of all the nations to where you have been expelled, but of you I shall not make an 'end'—khalah..." Even amidst the thorns, even in exile, there's a promise of resilience, a promise that the "roses" will not be consumed.
So, what does it all mean? This passage offers a deeply symbolic reading of the story of the burning bush. It suggests that even in the face of oppression and exile, the divine presence remains, and the Jewish people, like the unconsumed bush, will endure. It’s a message of hope woven into the very fabric of creation, starting with that first word: Be-REiShYT. And isn't that a comforting thought? To know that even in the midst of challenges, the spark of divinity within us remains, waiting to bloom like a rose, even among the thorns.