When morning arrives and the congregation is present in the synagogue, they should be immersed in the psalms and songs of David. We have established that the order is to awaken love Above and below, to cause rectification and arouse {supernal] joy. So the Levites were singing these psalms and songs to awaken love and joy Above.

And one who speaks about mundane matters in the synagogue: Woe to him for he shows dissension [in the supernal worlds], woe to him for he lessens the faith [in the Divine Unity] and woe to him for he has no part in the G‑d of Israel [for he isn't ashamed to interrupt His praises], because he shows that [he considers in his mind that] G‑d is not present there [in the synagogue]. And he does not fear Him and he disgraced the supernal perfection of Above [through interruption of prayer with worthless speech].

For at the time that Israel are reciting in the synagogue the sequence of psalms and praises and the order of prayer, then three camps of supernal angels gather. One camp are the holy angels who praise G‑d during the day, for there are other [angel]s who praise G‑d during the night, and those [angels] who praise G‑d [by day] say psalms and praises [the verses of praise between Baruch She'amar and Yishtabach] together with Israel during the day.

The second camp are holy angels that are present for every Kedusha prayer that Israel recite below
[saying "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh"], and under their dominion are all those [angels] who are aroused in all the firmaments with that prayer of Israel.

The third camp are the supernal Maidens, that are prepared together with the Matronita [Shechinah] , and they perfect [and decorate] her in order to bring her before the King. These are the highest camps above all others.

They are all perfected with the prayer sequence of Israel, who prepare themselves below with these psalms and praises and with that prayer that they recite. As soon as these three camps are gathered, the children of Israel start to sing before their Master. That one camp which is appointed to praise its Master during the day gathers with the children of Israel and sings together wiht them as one, these praises of King David, as we have established.

BeRahamim LeHayyim: The Zohar from Sunday now continues with the intentions of the morning prayer.

Why did the Ari and Chida choose this, and what are we to learn from it?

What is Above is below. We have learned this matter several times before in our review of the Holy Zohar. Here is revealed an important secret: our words have supernal effect. By praying properly, and ideally with a group according to the above, we are in tandem with angelic camps. What we say, they say. What they say, we say. As we elevate, we proceed to higher levels.

If this isn't a reason to stay focused in prayer, I don't know what is!

What does the above mean to you, and why is it revealed to you now?


Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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