Unique Places in Israel - chapter 15
Translation and commentary by Rabbi David Slavin
Most of this material is from the book Kanfei Yona [by
Rama'a from Pano a student of students of the Arizal], despite
the difficulty of comprehending the content, even for those who are well trained
in these areas. Nonetheless I copied them here based on the merits of those
passages that were of substance.
Know that 'Yerushalayim' [Hebrew for 'Jerusalem'] in
'small gematria' equals 19 which is the same 'small gematria'
as " malchut". The reason for this is that Jerusalem is from the
aspect of malchut.
Shechem is from the aspect of yesod, for yesod
is a hint for Joseph, That is why Shechem was given to Joseph, who he
himself represented yesod.
 | | " Divine providence over those that reside in Safed is through the 13 Attributes of Mercy...." | | |
The 'small gematria' of 'Teveria' [Hebrew for
'Tiberias'] is 19 which corresponds to hod [i.e. the same numerical
value] with the value of its letters and word included. The gist of Tiberias
is 'tibur ha'aretz' [literally 'the navel of the land'). The 'land'
is the malchut and Tiberias is hod. 'Tibur' in 'small
gematria' is 13, which corresponds to the 13 Attributes of Mercy.
The town of Safed hints at netzach, for 'Tzefat'
[Hebrew for 'Safed'] in 'small gematria' is 21 (= Eh-yeh +1
for the kolel=22) and netzach is 22. This hints to us that the
divine providence over those that reside in Safed is through the 13
Attributes of Mercy that stems from the realm of keter. That's why
it's one of the cities of refuge that saves the souls of accidental
murderers. Safed also hints at the 22 letters of the Torah, this symbolizes
that Safed is conducive for attaining the true depth of the Torah wisdom. It
is well known that there is no purer air than that of Safed [as the Talmud
states, "The air of Israel wisens"]. Further more, netzach is equal
to 'kemach' [Hebrew for 'flour'], this directs us to the adage from
the sages "If there is no flour, there is no Torah."
Meron hints at tiferet. The Targum translates the
word 'tzon' [meaning 'sheep'] as 'merona', and sheep indicate
tiferet. That is why the children of Israel are referred to as sheep,
as in the verse, "Now you are My sheep of my pasture, you are man" (Ezekiel
34 31). Also the 'small gematria' of 'Meron' is 12, hinting to the
sefira of tiferet which is called 'emet' [Hebrew for
'truth'] whose 'small gematria' together with the three letters
equals 12. If you take 'emet' with its three letters as well as the
kolel altogether you have 13 which represents the 13 Attributes of
Mercy.
| | " The Cave of Machpela in Hevron...is a passageway to the earthly Garden of Eden...." | | |
The Cave of Machpela in Hebron (may it be speedily rebuilt),
is the burial place of the Forefathers. It is well known that this cave is a
passageway to the earthly Garden of Eden, for it is stated [in the
scriptures when Abraham purchased the cave and field from Efron the Hitite],
"ovair lasocher" [literally "currency for the merchant", and "lasocher"
has the numerical value of 298, which is also the value of "orach lagan"
["the passageway to the garden"] (keeping in mind that it is written missing
the letter vav). That is the same value of "chatzer" [meaning
"courtyard"], which hints to us that the Cave of Machpela is the courtyard
of the Garden of Eden. The value of "ovair lasocher" is 570 "taka'ah"
[meaning "firm" or "planted (deeply)"], which hints to us that all those
that live in Hebron are secure. All those that pass away there merit to
elevate their souls. For Hebron is that "firm stake" ["yated
takuah"] opening a passage to the earthly Garden of Eden without
neither hindrance nor protest. This provides a pain free entry to Garden of
Eden.
The word "taka'ah" appears three times in the Torah:
"And Jacob firmly planted his tent on the
mountain"(Gen. 31:25)
"And Laban planted his brothers at the mount of
Gilad" (Gen. 31:25)
"And he imbedded the indent of the thigh of Jacob"
(Gen. 32:25)
The first verse implies that Jacob wanted to "plant" his tent
(referring to his wife) and himself on the mountain [in Hebron] of Cave of
Machpela . For the caves were multi-layered, the upper ones being on the cave of
the higher mountain and the lower cave being in the lower mountain. The way he
did this was to pray to G-d with earnest intent that he and his wife should
merit burial at this place [the passageway to Garden of Eden]. This was
preordained from the six days of Creation.
| | " All those that live in Safed during these times of exile has an advantage over all [those that dwell in] the other cities of Eretz Yisrael...." | | |
Laban also "planted" his brothers, for Laban understood
through his powers of evil what significance this place has. Therefore he
attempted to prevent Jacob from meriting burial there. He really wanted to
kill Jacob and replace him for his brothers. His brothers refer to Esau and
Ishmael, whom have some attachment to the cave through Abraham and Isaac. If
Jacob wouldn't be buried there, then none of his descendants would be able
to use that passageway. Rather all the nations who are connected to Esau and
Ishmael would gain access through their attachment to those that were
previously buried there (Abraham and Isaac). This is what is meant when the
Sages tell us that "Laban wanted to uproot everything" ( Midrash HaGadol
31:22, Haggadah of Pesach, S'mag Positive Commandments 140).
This was the intention of the archangel of Esau attacking Jacob.
As it says, "And he imbedded the indent of the thigh of Jacob" (Gen. 32 25). He
wanted to make Jacob blemished, in order that he be disqualified from burial in
Cave of Machpela together with the Forefathers - and instead replace him with
Esau and his wife. Yet his plans were foiled by G-d's healing of Jacob
immediately after their conflagration. As is stated, "And Jacob arrived
complete" (Gen. 33 18), which The Sages interpret as being complete in the
physical sense.
Likewise "Safed" is also numerically valued at 570/"taka'ah"
which implies that all those that live in Safed during these times of exile
has an advantage over all [those that dwell in] the other cities of Eretz
Yisrael. That being as follows, he who passes away in Safed, because it is
an elevated place and its air is the most pure of all places in the land,
his soul upon passing away will float and fly to the earthly Garden of Eden
and from there ascend to the heavenly Garden of Eden.
To return to the previous article in this series on the Land of Israel,
To Die in Israel, click here
To go on to the next article in this series on the Land of Israel,
Kabbalah Prophecies Redemption, click here
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