The latter half of this week's Torah portion contains the basic laws of kashrut, detailing which animals may and may not be eaten. Kosher animals include domesticated animals (cattle, sheep, and goats), seven species of wild beasts, four types of locusts, plus various species of fowl and fish.
Know that all domesticated animals, wild beasts, fowl, fish, and locusts derive from malchut, which is Nukva [of Zeir Anpin].
In fact, the crown of the five states of gevura is given to the Nukva, and the origin of all these species comes from this.
But you already know that there are two crowns: one of the [five] states of chesed and the other of the [five] states of gevura. These are manifest as the two divine names, the name Mah [= 45] and the name Ban [= 52].
The five states of chesed are manifest as the name Mah and the fives states of gevura as the name Ban.
The numerical value of the word for "domesticated animal" ["beheima"] is 52, indicating that these derive from the crown of [the five states of] gevura, present in malchut.
This covers the origin of domesticated animals. What about the wild animals?
Regarding wild beasts, our sages stated that, "Wild beasts are included in term 'beheima' [when it is used in a general sense]." (Chulin 70b)
The mystical significance of this is as follows: The numerical value of the above-mentioned [spelling-out of G‑d's] name, produced by [spelling out the name Havayah with] the letter hei, as we said, is 52, the same as that of the word "beheima". If we spell out this spelling-out, i.e. spell out the letters a second time, we use 23 letters, as follows:
Yud-vav-dalet, vav-alef-vav, dalet-lamed-tav, hei-hei hei-hei, vav-alef-vav vav-alef-vav, hei-hei hei-hei.
Or, viewed schematically: 1
Name |
first spelling-out |
second spelling-out |
yud |
yud |
yud |
vav |
||
dalet |
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vav |
vav |
|
alef |
||
vav |
||
dalet |
dalet |
|
lamed |
||
hei |
hei |
hei |
hei |
||
hei |
hei |
|
hei |
||
vav |
vav |
vav |
alef |
||
vav |
||
vav |
vav |
|
alef |
||
vav |
||
hei |
hei |
hei |
hei |
||
hei |
hei |
|
hei |
[23 is] the numerical value of the word for "wild beast" [in Hebrew, "chaya"].
"Chaya" is spelled: chet-yud-hei = 8 + 10 + 5 = 23.
Thus, "chaya" alludes to the spelling-out of the spelling-out of the name Ban, and thus "chaya" [i.e. the term for wild animals] is "included" within "beheima" [domesticated animals].
We will now explain this in greater detail.
When the states of gevura combine with their sweetening agent…the two corresponding names Havayah also join together….I have already explained that after the states of chesed descend from the yesod of Imma [into Zeir Anpin], only three of them [continue and] fall into the yesod of Zeir Anpin. These three are the states of chesed of netzach, hod, and tiferet, which are exposed, as is known. These are the ones that descend into yesod [of Zeir Anpin].
The five states of chesed and the five states of gevura are the two sides of the origins of the five sefirot from chesed to hod as they exist within daat, or higher, within bina. Therefore, we may speak of the five states of chesed as the chesed-gevura-tiferet-netzach-hod states of chesed, and the five states of gevura as the chesed-gevura-tiferet-netzach-hod states of gevura.
The upper, basic states of chesed, the chesed and gevura states, remain covered by yesod of Imma, as we have explained previously. Only the derivative states of tiferet-netzach-hod are "dim" enough to descend further, into yesod of Zeir Anpin, where they can be prepared to be transmitted further.
After this, the states of gevura also descend as far as yesod [of Zeir Anpin], and as they descend there they are sweetened. The higher three states of gevura of the five are sweetened by the three exposed states of chesed. This is what happens as [the states of chesed and gevura] descend.
This leaves the lower two states of gevura unsweetened.
It follows that the [upper] three states of gevura have combined with the three [exposed] states of chesed. And, as you know, every state of gevura or state of chesed is manifest as a name Havayah. Thus, when the states of gevura combine with their sweetening agent, this being a state of chesed, the two corresponding names Havayah also join together.
The numerical value of each of these names Havayah is 52. Thus, [the combination of] the three sweetened states of gevura with the three states of chesed [that sweeten them] yields three times 52.
We would have expected this to yield six times 52. The reason this is not so is that the three states of chesed leave the three states of gevura and ascend out of yesod of Zeir Anpin. Thus, the three states of gevura are left by themselves. However… 2
Even though these states of chesed return and ascend out of yesod [of Zeir Anpin] as reflected light, nonetheless, it is also known that a holy entity leaves an impression or residue wherever it goes.
When the states of chesed return and ascend, they sweeten the two states of gevura that had remained unsweetened….[In our case,] since the states of gevura have been sweetened by the states of chesed, the residue of the states of chesed remains inside the states of gevura, even though afterwards the states of chesed ascended back up.
And therefore, their residue keeps the states of gevura in a sweetened state. However, since they themselves are no longer there, they are not counted as names Havayah, and only the three states of gevura (manifest as names Havayah) are counted, making for 3 x 52.
It follows that the three sweetened states of gevura are termed the three "sons".
Each is a 52-Name, and the abbreviation for 52 [beit-nun] spells "son".
[As we said,] this process leaves the two lower states of gevura, which originate from netzach and hod, unsweetened. These two also combine together, since they are both in the same state, that is, unsweetened. This is especially probable since they originate in netzach and hod, which are termed "the children".
Netzach and hod are so close that sometimes they are considered two halves of the same sefira. Also, whereas chesed-gevura-tiferet are identified with the three patriarchs, or "fathers", netzach-hod are identified as their "offspring", or "sons".
In any case, they combine and form a fourth name Ban [52], for these two states of gevura are manifest as two names Ban.
Thus, we have four sons, and corresponding to them we say in the Passover Haggadah: "The Torah speaks of four sons…."
Now, when the states of chesed return and ascend, they sweeten the two states of gevura that had remained unsweetened. They sweeten them now as they ascend.
Thus, the first three states of gevura, originating in chesed-gevura-tiferet, become sweetened first, when [the states of chesed and gevura] descend, while the lower two states of gevura, originating in netzach-hod, are only sweetened as [the states of chesed] ascend.
Animals are heavier in their movements than all other creatures….We will now explain these details, with G‑d's help. We note that animals are heavier in their movements than all other creatures. This is because they derive from those two [lower] states of gevura that were not sweetened [at first]. [As we said,] the numerical value [of these two states of gevura] is 52, which is also the numerical value of "beheima". For they comprise two names Havayah together, the lowest of all of them, and therefore they are heavy and do not fly.
Domesticated animals ["beheima"] derive from the first spelling-out of the name Ban, and wild animals ["chaya"] derive from the second spelling-out of the name Ban as explained above.
The fact that these animals are derived from the lower, least spiritual of the five states of gevura is reflected in the fact than in their physical incarnation they are also the lowest, heaviest, most corporeal of creatures.
But the domesticated animals are heaver and slower than wild animals, for the wild animals derive only from the spelling-out of the spelling-out [of the 52-Name], as mentioned.
If such animals possess signs of purity, it indicates that…derive from the two lower states of gevura that have been sweetened….Now, there are pure and impure [i.e. kosher and non-kosher] species of both domesticated and wild animals. Their purification is affected by their sweetening [that occurs] on the ascent, as mentioned, for unsweetened states of gevura are in a state of absolute severe judgment, and the forces of evil are able to attach themselves to them. This is why [animals derived from these unsweetened states of gevura] are forbidden. But if such [animals] possess signs of purity, it indicates that they are already rectified and derive from the two lower states of gevura that have been sweetened.
[The signs of purity] are chewing the cud and having split hooves. The numerical value of the word for "cud" [in Hebrew, "geira"] is four times 52, referring to the five states of gevura, as stated, which are manifest as the four sons, alluded to in the numerical value of the word for "cud".
"Geira" is spelled: gimel-reish-hei = 3 + 200 + 5 = 208.
4 x 52 = 208.
Chewing [the Hebrew implies "elevating"] the cud indicates that this fourth name Ban [52] ascended, that is, [it alludes to how] the two lower states of gevura were sweetened on the ascent [of the states of chesed], and can then combine with the three other "sons", for they are now sweetened just like they are. When they all combine, they produce the numerical value of "cud".
[A kosher animal] must also have split hooves. The letters that spell the word for "hoof" [in Hebrew, "parsa"] can be divided into two: the numerical value of the first two letters [pei-reish] is 280, and that of the second two letters [samech-hei] is 65.
The significance of this is that the numerical value of the five states of chesed is 280, the five final letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the numerical value of the name Ado-nai is 65.
The five states of gevura are also signified by the five letters of the Hebrew alphabet that have final forms: mem-nun-tzadik-pei-kaf. The combined numerical value of these letters is 40 + 50 + 90 + 80 + 20 = 280.
"Ado-nai" is spelled: alef-dalet-nun-yud = 1 + 4 + 50 + 10 = 65.
The word for "parsa" thus indicates how all five states of gevura combine together [in their sweetened state] and are given from the yesod of Zeir Anpin to his Nukva, and that they are untouched by the forces of evil, remaining unscathed, and are given to Malchut together, with no defect.
In order for an animal to be kosher, it must embody…the successful and safe transference of these five states into Nukva….The name Ado-nai signifies Malchut, or Nukva, and therefore the word "parsa" indicates how the 5 states of gevura [indicated by the numerical value 280 of pei-reish] are transmitted to Nukva [indicated by the numerical value 65 of samech-hei].
In other words, in order for an animal to be kosher, it must embody (1) the five sweetened states of gevura - indicated by chewing the cud, and (2) the successful and safe transference of these five states into Nukva, the feminine consciousness of expression - indicated by splitting the hoof.
Lack of either sign indicates that at some point, divine beneficence has been siphoned off by the forces of evil, judgment, anger, self-orientation, etc.
The following paragraph is the same idea as it appears in the parallel passage in Shaar HaPesukim:
When [the five states of gevura] have all been sweetened in the yesod of Zeir Anpin, they issue forth from behind this yesod, and are transmitted to the daat of Nukva, which is positioned right there. When they combine together after they have become sweetened, and they issue forth [from Zeir Anpin] and are transmitted to the daat of Nukva, the forces of evil can gain no control over them. Rather, they are all transferred there together as one complete unit. In this way, they all remain kosher and pure. Were this not to happen, they would not be pure, even though they had been sweetened, because the forces of evil would gain control over them. Therefore, in order to indicate this, [the Torah] requires a second sign of purity [i.e. kashrut], which is possessing split hooves.
It follows that even if [animals] chew their cud, they are not kosher unless it be known that nothing [of them] escaped to the forces of evil. This [latter state] is indicated by their having split hooves.
We have thus explained the two signs of kashrut of animals.
The following paragraph concludes this section in Shaar HaPesukim:
Regarding wild animals, they are also derived from the lower two states of gevura as mentioned, and therefore they also require the two signs [of kashrut]. But they only derive from the spelling-out of the spelling-out, and therefore there are other, additional signs that differentiate between them and domesticated animals, as mentioned in the Talmud. (Chulin 59ab) I did not receive the mystical interpretation of their explanation [from my master].
Translated and adapted by Moshe-Yaakov Wisnefsky from Sefer HaLikutim and Shaar HaPesukim; subsequently published in "Apples From the Orchard."
Reprinted with permission from Chabad of California. Copyright 2004 by Chabad of California, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work or portions thereof, in any form, without permission, in writing, from Chabad of California, Inc.
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