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From Zohar Chadash, Genesis 18b; translation and commentary by Simcha Treister
On Rosh Hashanah, the entire world is judged - both
the physical bodies of mankind and the souls. They are all brought to attention
and are judged on everything that they did over the entire year that passed. We
have been taught that even the footsteps that a person makes are counted and are
brought for judgment on that day, as is written "All my steps are counted" (Job
31:4).
It is explained in the commentary Chaim Umazon
that the reason that mankind was not created with wings is so that he would not
be able to fly immediately to do a sinful act. Since a person has to walk to do
so, it is possible that as he proceeds he will have second thoughts and a more
pure spirit will be aroused within him, counteracting the wicked thought and
giving him the chance to repent before acting. Walking, instead of flying, gives
him time for this introspection. His steps are therefore counted, and he is
punished for failing to take advantage of this time (and the signs along the
way) in order to repent of his bad intentions. Conversely he receives a reward
for the very steps he takes to perform a mitzvah. (Based on the commentary
Matok M'dvash)  | | " Three groups of heavenly angels stand in the judgment on Rosh Hashanah..." | | |
Rabbi Yossi taught that three groups enter [for
judgment] on the Day of Judgment: the group of the completely righteous, the
group of the completely wicked, and the group of those in between [known as "beinonim"].
Corresponding to these, there are three powers in a person: the power of the
holy Neshama [relating to the righteous who empower their soul to control
their body], the power of lust and desires [relating to the wicked who empower
their lust-driven illusions to defeat the desire of their holy soul], and the
power to prevent wrongdoing [relating to the beinonim].
What is the power to prevent wrongdoing? Rabbi Yehuda
explained that this is a power that grows and prevents the body from achieving
all its requirements.
The third group, the beinonim, is controlled by
the nature of their bodies. This nature dictates to them what they think they
need to do. Their failure is that they don't bring the actions so generated,
such as eating and talking etc. which are not forbidden, into the realm of the
holy. (Based on the commentary Matok M'dvash)
Rabbi Yossi ben Pazzi said: Come and see the mercy
shown by the Holy One Blessed Be He. Even though the heavenly court comes to
stand in judgment [for misdeeds] and to judge the Creation, there also appear
those who give evidence before Him of a person's merits and [not just] misdeeds.
This is as Rabbi Yossi ben Pazzi taught that three groups of heavenly angels
stand in the judgment on Rosh Hashanah. There are those that give evidence on
the good that a person has done on the side of his merits. And there are those
that show his bad deeds to the side of his guilt [and the third group is to
execute the judgment].
"Reprinted with permission from KabbalaOnline.org.
Copyright 2003 by Ascent of Safed.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work or portions
thereof, in any form, unless with permission, in writing, from Ascent of Safed."
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