Lech Lecha Bs”d
After GOD told Avraham that his decedents shall be as the stars of the sky its said that he had Faith in GOD and it was counted for him as Righteousness. This contains an important lesson. As the mitler Rebbe said peace unto him, Emuna (faith) is the Yesod (foundation-gateway of energy) of every Mitzvah. Or as the Maharall of Prague explains in Givurot GOD that it is a person’s faith which sustains him in all his endeavors. Or as we can learn out from our verse ” He had faith in Yhv”h and it was counted to him as Righteousness”. The Zohar tells us that sedek (Righteousness) is Yesod (foundation-gateway of energy). Yesod being as a gate allowing varying degrees of revelation. The degree is determined by the extent of ones emuna . It is through this that we can be as the Malbim understands the Jewish people ”a mighty force”. Meaning for the revelation of GOD’s light in the world. The Yesod is where the stars interact in what is called astrology. We are taught The 248 limbs of the king (bones) are part of the sefirot ”yosher”, above nature, above astrology dictated by the stars.1Certain aspects of time are established by the planets , stars and constellations. There influence is described in astrology. The stars and planets physical bodies dress the sefirot of Atzilut. Yesod is the most hidden part of the body. Becouse of this its work is hidden, and called rekia. In it are the stars and constellations. The Chassadim of the 5 fingers of the hand can touch in the Yesod arousing with in it.2 The influence of time exists but time is what we make of it. Yisrael can rise above the celestial influence of astrology, or fall beneath its benefit from sin. The arrangement of astrology (mazel) is according to the Divine service of Yisrael. Especially according to their alignment with the kingship of GOD on RoshHashanah. The 70 nations nullify, God forbid, nullify the nanhagot (divine providence) of Yisrael measure for measure (through Yisrael’s errors and lackings). Flow of הכל אדון upon the creations is according to the arrangement of the stars and mazolot (constellations). Yisrael is above this level of Divine supervision by their Unity with GOD throught the will of GOD in the Torah.3
Being as Avraham foresaw when seeing the heifer, goat and ram were divided in half when a thick darkness fell, a smoking furnace and a torch of fire passed between them dividing them. The smoke and fire being emissaries of the Shechinah. The darkness and fire being the same which was revealed at Sinai. This act of dividing the 2 carcasses is a pact demonstrating that 2 parties are a one. Through the cloud, smoke and fire. The Chuchmah of GOD’s Torah. At Sinai there was cloud, smoke and fire as its written :
“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice which was not heard again. And he wrote them in two tablets of stone, and delivered them to me.” (deut 19:5)
And
“And Mount Sinai was altogether in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount trembled greatly.”(ex18:19)
We also see a covenant made in a cloud after the flood as its written :
“I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.” ( 13:9Gen)
We also see the the cloud, smoke and fire as GOD’s force in the Desert as its written :
“ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” (ex 21:13)
It was these same forces that protected Yisrael and led the Egyptians to destruction as its written:
“And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these; so that the one came not near the other all the night. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked to the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and brought confusion to the army of the Egyptians,”(20-24:14Ex)
We also see the mystery of the cloud, smoke and fire as GOD’s force in :
“And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came from the north, a great cloud, and a fire flaring up, and a brightness was around it, out of its midst, as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. And everyone had four faces, and everyone had four wings.” (Ezek 4-6:1)
This is the Mystery of the Markava (chariot). The deepest of secrets.
Only because of this oneness created through our covenant with GOD are we compared to the stars through which GOD guides mazel the providence of creation. So too, each of us continue to take part in the creation which is continual. It is up to us whether Mashiach will come to us because of our great suffering in wars, or He will show his glory miraculously to the world without Yisrael needing to suffer at all.
A way of revealing this oneness revealing the shechinah hastening the Mashiach’s arrival is shown by Melchizedek king of Shalem who brought forth bread and wine and then blessed Avraham in the name of GOD maker of the Heaven and earth. This is similar to what we do every Shobot when we have bread on our table and we make a blessing on wine in Kidush in the name of GOD remembering the work of creation. The future is set in motion with Avraham’s decedents promised the land of Israel, and their nature as said before will be a mighty force. While the decedents of Yishmoyal (the Arab states) are given their blessing ” And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him” (16:12). This makes it clear that our Arab neighbors are not a people that GOD has blessed with the quality of being a cooperative, brotherly, understanding, compassionate people of peace. But their nature is quite the opposite. Violence being a major role of theirs in the world. It is from this understanding that we should deal with them. If he is blessed by GOD to be a maniac can we hate what GOD has intended him to be ?. Should we hate the mentally ill if their disposition is violent ?. Or should they be cured of their mental illness. One thought should never be fooled by Yishmoyal’s facade it he talks as a peaceful people. It is clear that our Arab neighbors are not people that GOD has blessed with the quality of being a cooperative, brotherly, understanding, compassionate people of peace. But their nature is quite the opposite. Violence being a major role of theirs in the world. It is from this understanding that we should deal with them. But violence is best avoided we should seek peace first. Violence is only a last resort.
As GOD said to Avraham ”I will give of you to the nations”. The Hamak Hadavar explains this as meaning that you will be a teacher of wisdom to the nations. Concerning the words ” Kings shall come from you” the Hamak Hadavar explains Kings will come from the decedents of Avraham who will suppress the idolatry of the nations” May we see this completely realized with the arrival of the King know as Mashiach quickly in our days !
- 1sulam on zohar
- 2Safer Lecutim p.230, Adir Bamarom p.235
- 3Avodat Yisrael p.59
Filed under: Astrology, Avraham, Renewal, Zohar, aretz israel, divine thought, exile, foundation stone-source
All the supernal forces that govern the various countries and cities of our world are brought to light by the Zohar. Abraham masters the knowledge concerning all these diverse metaphysical intelligences that rule and administer over the cosmos. However, the Creator tells him not to direct his mind towards these supernal matters. Rather, Abraham should focus upon his spiritual work in this physical realm, placing his trust in the Creator regarding the workings of the metaphysical dimension. Spirituality is to make the world a better place where the God is more revealed. It is not a escape from this world, though one receives great delight from this spiritual work, and it gives one more joy and pleasure in all that they do !
The great sage Hillel, who was asked to reveal all the supernal mysteries and secrets of the Torah in the short time that he can remain standing on one leg. “Love thy neighbor as thyself. All the rest is commentary. Now and go and learn,” the sage replied. From this attitude we begin our “spiritual work”, It is the true beginning. With out this one will have nothing.
“Now Hashem said to Abram, Get you out ” According to Rabbi Elazar go out for yourself, to fulfill yourself and complete your grade. “Get you out,” for you must not stay here among the wicked. The secret “Get you out” is that the Holy One, blessed be He, inspired Avraham with the spirit of wisdom. He knew how to judge the spirits of the civilized world. He observed them, weighed them in the scales, and knew how to connect them to the powers entrusted to govern the inhabited places on earth. When he reached the middle point of civilization, he weighed it in the scales, but could not reach any conclusion. He tried to see and to know what sort of power governed that place, but could not conceive it. He weighed a few more times before realizing that the whole world sprouts from that place and is established upon it. He observed carefully, and measured, so as to understand the subject, and concluded that the supernal force above it could not be measured, that it is deep and hidden, and that it does not resemble the different parts of the inhabited land. He watched attentively, weighed, and realized that the middle point of the inhabited world is the point from which the whole world moves out to all its corners. Similarly, he knew the power that now prevails over the point. all other powers that govern the corners of the world originate from that point and all energies hold to it.
From the Temple mount at the place called the Even stiyah (stone of drinking), called the foundation stone. Abraham later would bring Isaac to sacrifice, till God told Him not to. Here is where the “Dome of the rock” is. From here a Beam of supernal light descends from above to nourish and sustain the world both spiritually and physically.
Then “they went out with them from Ur Chasidim, to go to the land of Canaan.”
Abraham knew and checked all the governors and rulers of the world that had dominion over the entire civilized world. And he was examining all those who govern and rule over the directions of the world’s inhabited land, all those that have dominion over the stars and the constellations. Abraham was inquiring into the spiritual forces that propel the influences called astrology. The science of which he was the greatest master. By study of Astrology Avraham came to knowledge of the the spiritual forces that propel the influences called astrology, By this he came to Be aware of the one superpower over all God. He learned how they exercise their power over one another. In considering all the inhabited places in the world, he did well. But when he reached that place, he saw the force of the depths. And he could not withstand it.
As soon as the Holy One, blessed be He, noticed his awakening and his passion, He immediately revealed Himself to Avraham and said: “Get you out” in order to learn about and perfect yourself. Saying to Abraham “GET YOU OUT” means from that Wisdom with which he studied horoscopes, determined by watching and examining the moment, hour, and time of birth, and the planet and the sign under which one is born. The god was leading Abraham to much higher level of Divine knowledge
The verse, “And from your father’s house,” Never look upon your father’s house again, REFERRING TO CHARAN, Therefore, “Get you out” of this wisdom and this observance. The god was leading Abraham to much higher level of Divine knowledge
We always must be moving Higher, exploring new levels of Spirituality we have not seen or
worked with before. Renew Yourself !
