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 | Shabbat is for Keeping
The creation of the primordial world of Tohu
("Chaos") was not a "mistake" or a miscalculation on G-d's part, but rather a
necessary stage in the unfolding of Creation. G-d did not create time, of
course, until He created our physical world, but before time there was a
sequential progression of spiritual steps leading to our universe.
The rectification the sefirot of Tohu
lacked was their ability to contain or absorb the "light", i.e. creative energy,
of G-d. In their fragility, they shattered as soon as the higher light attempted
to shine through them.
By screening the divine light, G-d created a new,
more stable world that could withstand and transmit the light it received. The
intensity of each sefira would be less, but this lack of intensity would
enable each sefira to accommodate the "personality" of its sister-sefirot. | |
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 | Honoring the Masculine and Feminine
In Egypt, Moses asked Pharaoh to grant the Jewish people one day off a week from making bricks in order that they have strength to produce more on the other six days. Pharaoh agreed, and gave them the Shabbat day off.
The Sages state that if the Jewish people would keep two Shabbats
properly, they would be redeemed immediately.
This is usually understood to mean
two Shabbats in a row, but the Ari comments that the mystical meaning of this
statement is that we must keep the two spiritual aspects of the Shabbat - the
feminine and masculine aspects, which are the Shabbat night and the Shabbat day.
Thus, the two Shabbats are clearly the partzufim of Zeir Anpin and
Nukva, and by "honoring" them, that is, observing the Shabbat in
accordance with its mystical dynamics, we fulfill the commandment to honor our
"parents", i.e. our spiritual roots, and will be redeemed. | |
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