ב"ה
THEMES of Featured Mystical Classics Articles
Kabbalah shows how Jacob's travels hint at the nature of the human soul.
"Jacob departed from Beer Sheva…"
Kabbalah teaches that these words describe the soul when it first departs from the higher spiritual worlds and takes up residence within a body. This body is called "Jacob" on account of the Evil Inclination, which constantly tags along at our heels. |
Advanced
The various increments of time each have their unique spiritual roots.
Wasting time is fraught with profound significance, as every particle of time is as an extension of G-d's eternity, or a mini-branch of the branches represented by His Ineffable Name. Note that the name Havayah implies "being" in the past, present, and future.
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She became convinced that their souls would not become separated in the Hereafter as she was his true soul-mate.
Righteous Leah had shed tears about her fate to become evil Esau's wife. When she now saw that she had become Jacob's wife, she realized that he was not her true destined soulmate. When she had a son she attributed this to an act of mercy by G-d, who had seen that she was not loved.
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Beginner
Refined in character, Jacob felt little need to speak in 'polite' terms.
Jacob and Leah were on a spiritual level approaching that which existed in the Garden of Eden, when there was no feeling of shame or embarrassment attached to the act of copulation. They therefore expressed themselves in a totally unrestrained manner. Jacob also kissed Rachel the moment they met and this was not considered suggestive.
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"And he dreamed, and behold! ...angels of God were ascending and descending upon it."
Even within man himself, the 3 elements of Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama attain the power to elevate themselves and the higher worlds only when they descend into this material world and enter the physical body of man. |
