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Tikunei Zohar p.23a; translation and commentary by Simcha Treister
The following Zohar begins with an analysis of
the verse: "If a bird's nest chances to be before you in any tree or on the
ground as you travel, whether there are chicks or eggs, and the mother is
sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the
young. You shall let the mother go and take the chicks, that it may be well with
you and that you may prolong your days."(Deut. 22:6)
Those Neshamot which emanate from the aspect of
the higher Shechina are called "chicks". Those whose Nefesh
emanates from the lower Shechina are called "eggs". This is the secret of
the verse [we read on Friday night as we are about to receive the extra
Neshama] "Who spreads his tabernacle [in Hebrew, "sukkat"] of peace
over us." This is the Higher Mother [ Imma Ilaah, related to bina,
associated with the Shechina], which is the sukka of peace, which
is a protective covering above us. Peace is with her as is written, "I hereby
give him my covenant of peace". (Num. 25:12)
Peace (shalom) is another name for the sefira
of yesod, which represents the covenant/brit and the male
reproductive organ; yesod is associated with Zeir Anpin, which
corresponds to the vav of the name Havayah. Sukka, which in
its highest form represents the source of all souls, represents the sefira
of malchut, associated with the final hei of the name Havayah.
The sukka of peace thus represents the union of Zeir Anpin and
Malchut in the higher spiritual realms.
There is a lower Sukka that is made up of the
letters kaf, vav and hei samech. This is the union
of the name Havayah and Ado-nai.
The gematria (numerical value) of the letters
kaf and vav is 20 plus 6 = 26, which is the same value as the name
Havayah: yud and hey and vav and hei, 10 + 5
+ 6 + 5. The gematria of hei and samech is 5 plus 60 = 65,
which is the same as the holy name Ado-nai spelled aleph, dalet,
nun, yud or 1 + 4 + 50 + 10 = 65. The significance of this is that
the very word "sukka" can represent the union of Havayah
(associated with Zeir Anpin) and Ado-nai (which is associated with
malchut). This powerful union signifies peace and protection. It is also
reflected in the very spelling of the word "sukka",
which is 26 - kaf vav, i.e. Havayah - couched in the midst
of 65, represented by the first letter samech and the last letter hei,
i.e. Ado-nai.
The "tabernacle [in Hebrew, 'sukkat',
spelled samech, vav, kav, and tav] of peace" can be
understood [when its letters are rearranged] as a cup [in Hebrew, "kos",
spelled kav, vav, and samech] of the letter tav,
which represents [the sefira of] tiferet.
In the same way that the sukka of peace unites
the name Havayah (corresponding to the letter vav of the Name) and
Ado-nai (corresponding to the final hei of the Name), so too does
it unify the sefirot of tiferet (associated with the letter vav)
and that of malchut (associated with the final hei). Malchut
"below" becomes a cup - or vessel -which contains, so to speak, the divine flow
from "above", as represented by the sefira of tiferet.
It is also possible to interpret the verse "If a
bird's nest chances to be before you" as referring to the sukka, which is
Higher Mother [Imma Ilaah]. [This is the surrounding light
represented by the branches on the roof of the sukka]. "In any tree"
[relates to the 4 species] as is written, "And you shall take on the first day,
the fruit of a citrus tree, branches of palm trees, etc." (Lev.23:40)
"Chicks" are the seven days of the festival of Sukkot
[each day of the festival representing a different sefira].
"...or eggs" these represent the seven times the bima
is surrounded, [once each day when the "Hoshanot" are recited].
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