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THEMES of Featured Mystical Classics Articles

Paradoxical Laws
Via irony we can approach an understanding of the Divine.
The Maharam from Padua comments how contradictory many phenomena of nature are and that we fail to comprehend their mysteries. It may likewise appear to us that G‑d legislated illogical laws. Nonetheless, it must be that they are beneficial for us, though we do not understand how, due only to the limitation of our perceptive faculties.
Under the Yoke of the Oral Torah
How holy was the Red Heifer?
The Red Cow is an allusion to the Oral Torah, the attribute of Justice in its most severe form and the source of ritual impurity. Purity is derived from an influence exerted by the attribute of Mercy, an emanation higher than that of gevura, the attribute of Justice responsible for every impurity.
Honor of the Heavenly Serpent
G-d cares more for the honor of the righteous that of His own.
G-d dispatched serpents against the people because of their having criticized Him and venomous snakes because of their having criticized Moses. After the people repented, G-d told Moses to make a "seraph" for himself and put it on a pole, etc. Moses however, did not make a seraph; he rather made a snake, for he considered restoring G-d's honor as more important than restoring his own.
Wickedness Acknowledging Good
In the Messianic Era, all previous curses will turn into blessings.
Balaam realized clearly that every single day that passes contains elements of the total Redemption although he didn't see clearly the date on which this process will be complete.

He reveals that curses may be a hidden display of G-d's love, for once they have fulfilled their purpose, they eventually enable Him to turn them into blessing.
The Prophecy of Balaam
Kabbalah teaches that even the forces of evil are agents of the Divine Plan.
The Shelah teaches that Balaam communicated with the forces of impurity, forces considered by the nations as deities. When he spoke about being privy to the Supernal Knowledge, the listener got the impression that Balaam claimed to be privy to G-d's range of knowledge, whereas in fact he was privy only to the "highest" of the forces of impurity that G-d has allowed to govern part of nature.
The Nation that Covered the Land
Balaam had invoked a magic formula which permanently prevented slaves from escaping from Egypt.
"Here there is a people who have come out of Egypt…Behold! it has covered the eye of the land."

When Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites, he had three advisors, one of whom was Balaam. Balaam had invoked a magic formula designed to permanently prevent slaves from escaping from Egypt. Balak suggested that Balaam owed him something seeing it was Balaam’s magic the Israelites had managed to invalidate.
Bad Advice
"Since Moses’ strength is in his mouth, we will combat them with a man whose strength is in his mouth."
Balaam is the development/descendant of a shattered part of the Divine mind. The whole episode of Balaam striking his donkey represents a mental dynamic whereby a fearful mind becomes exaggerated and fears future pain.
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