THEMES of Featured Zohar Articles

Intermediate

Kabbalah teaches the significance of some customs of the Havdalah ceremony.

From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation and commentary by Shmuel-Simcha Treister, based on Metok MiDevash

The Zohar teaches that smell sustains the Nefesh in man; the soul enjoys the smell - not the body. Thus, when Shabbat departs a person should smell aromatic spices when the extra Ruach which a person receives when Shabbat enters has now departed and the Nefesh of the person is left bereft. (Ruach is derived from the same root as re'ach/smell.)

When G-d Alone Works

Based on Zohar Shemot 89B

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

Those who study the Torah have their conjugal union only on Shabbat, when people do not work, but when G-d alone works. And what is G-d's work? Union with the Shechinah in order to bring forth new holy souls into the world.

Intermediate

The Basics of Prayer

Kabbalah teaches that via our daily prayers, we ascend spiritual worlds.

From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation and commentary by Shmuel-Simcha Treister, based on Metok MiDevash

The Zohar notes that the rectification of the body through prayer is a striking concept. The prayer shawl is made of wool and encompasses the body. The tefillin are made of animal skin and parchment and are worn directly on the skin and the first part of the prayer deals with sacrifices that are related to the blood. Thus all three levels: external, surface, and internal are rectified by the morning prayers.