Chapter 1 (PDF) - Stanford University Press

the zohar [1:3b]
replied, `I will not create the world by you, for you imply warÐa sharp
``He
and a spear for battle, like a Q (nun). 105 She immediately left His presence.
sword
letter G (vav) entered. She said to Him, `Master of the world, may it
``The
You to create the world by me, for I am a letter of Your name.' 106
please
replied, `G (Vav), it is enough foryou and F (he) to be letters of My
``He
included in the mystery of My name, engraved and carved in My name.
name,
will not create the world by either of you.'
I
letters E (dalet) andD (gimel) entered and made the same request. He
``The
to them as well, `It is enough for you to be with each other, since the
replied
will never cease from the world 107 and need to be treated kindly. E (Dalet)
poor
one another! It is enough for one of you to sustain the other.'
from
letter C (bet) entered. She said to Him, `Master of the world, may
``The
please You to create the world by me, for by me You are blessed above
it
below.' 109
and
blessed Holy One replied, `Indeed, by you I will create the world. You
``The
be the beginning of Creation.'
will
letter B (alef) stood and did not enter. The blessed Holy One said to her,
``The
B (Alef, alef), why do you not enterMy presence like all the otherletters?'
`B,
replied, `Master of the world! Because I saw all the letters leaving Your
``She
fruitlessly. What could I do there? Furthermore, look, [3b] You have
presence
this enormous gift to the letter C (bet), and it is not fitting forthe exalted
given
to take back a gift He has given to his servant and give it to another!'
King
blessed Holy One said, `B, B (Alef, alef)! Although I will create the
``The
with the letter C (bet), you will be the first of all the letters. Only
world
you do I become one. 110 With you all counting begins and every deed
through
the world. No union is actualized except by B (alef).'
in
``The blessed Holy One fashioned high, large letters and low, small letters. 111
poor will never cease... See Deuteronomy
107.
15:11.
dalet: gemol dallim), Renderkindness
(Gimel
the poor.''
to
Ḥagigah 2:1, 77c; Bereshit Rabbah 1:10;
JT
ha-Gadol, Genesis 1:1, 10.
Midrash
Only through you do I become
110.
The B (alef) stands forthe number
one...
(alef). B
high, large letters and low, small
111.
poor; D (gimel) D PG N (gomel), renders, goodness to her. 108 Do not separate
is
16
So, C, C (Bet, bet):
\K[BZ ZC B (Be-reshit bara); B, B (Alef, alef): B OKFN \B
C
105. like a Q (nun) Like the straight line
109. Byme,Youareblessed... C (Bet)
a Q (final nun). The word H K Q (zayin) means
of
for C MZ F (berakhah), ``blessing.'' See
stands
``weapon.''
letter of Your name The third let-
106.
the name K GF F (YHVH).
terof
one and also for Keter, the first sefirah.
The word
(eḥad), ``one,'' begins with
108. E (Dalet) is poor... The letter E
B
I
E
N
(dalet) signifies
E
(dal), ``poor.'' See BT
104a: `` D N"PK \"NE { NGPD OKNE
Shabbat
The initial letters of the first four
letters
words of the Torah are C, C (bet, bet), then