Chapter 1 (PDF) - Stanford University Press

et). Letters above and letters below. They were all as one, from the
(Elohim
world and the lower world.
upper
(Be-reshit)? With Wisdom. 112
Wisdom on which the world
the
which one enters hidden, high mysteries. Here were engraved
standsÐthrough
vast, supernal dimensions, from which everything emerges, from which
six
six springs and streams, flowing into the immense ocean. 113
This is
issued
(bara shit), created six, 114 created from here. Who created them? The
\
the hidden unknown.'' 115
unmentioned,
Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yose were walking on the way. As they reached the
Rabbi
of a certain field, Rabbi Ḥiyya said to Rabbi Yose, ``What you have saidÐ
site
(bara shit)Ðis certainly true, for there are six supernal days in the
\
not more; the others are concealed. 116 But in the Secrets of Creation we
Torah,
discovered this:
have
holy hidden one 117 engraved an engraving in the innards of a recess,
```The
punctuated by a thrust point. 118
B (alef, alef). Although the first word,
B,
\ (be-reshit), does open with a large C
K[BZC
the emphasis here is not on the size of
(bet),
letters but rather their origin. The first
the
each pair derives from Binah, the higher
of
the second of each from Shekhinah,
world;
lowerworld.
the
Zohar 1:159b; 2:132a, 174a, 180b; 3:2a,
See
Targum Yerushalmi (frag.), Genesis 1:1:
See
wisdom God created.'' Wisdom
``With
is the second sefirah, the primordial
(Ḥokhmah)
point of emanation.
with Wisdom appears widely.
beginning,
Wolfson, Philo, 1:242±45, 266±69; Bereshit
See
1:1; Azriel of Gerona, Peirush ha-
Rabbah
81; Naḥmanides on Genesis 1:1;
Aggadot,
1:2a, 15a, 16b, 20a, 145a; Moses de
Zohar
n, Sheqel ha-Qodesh, 21±22 (25±26);
LeoÂ
Major Trends, 391, n. 80.
Scholem,
six vast, supernal dimensions . . .
113.
Ḥokhmah, the six sefirot from Ḥesed
Within
Yesod are etched, subsequently emerging
to
flowing to the ocean of Shekhinah. See
and
Yetsirah 1:13.
Sefer
Midrash ha-Gadol, Genesis 1:1, 11±12; Seder
See
Rabbah di-Vreshit, 1 (Battei Midrashot,
1:15b, 39b.
Zohar
The unmentioned, the hidden
115.
six supernal days . . . the others . . .
116.
mystical Torah, Tif'eret, includes the six
The
from Ḥesed to Yesod, the six primordial
sefirot
days of Creation, whereas the higher
are concealed.
sefirot
holy hidden one Apparently Keter.
117.
Zohar 1:10a; 3:66b.
See
recess...thrust point Binah is the
118.
or womb, penetrated by the primordial
recess,
point of Ḥokhmah.
Haqdamat Sefer ha-Zohar
[1:3b]
Rabbi Yudai said, ``What is
\K[BZC
\ (Be-reshit), In the beginning.
K[BZC
This is
K[ BZC
K[ BZC
17
He engraved that engraving, hiding it away,
like one who locks up everything under a single key, which locks everything
K[ \ (bara shit)... The word
BZ
114. C
\ (Be-reshit) is divided in two and
K[BZC
read as
BZ K[ \ (bara shit), ``created six.''
C
1:19), where it is said that the world was
created by six letters (the divine names
220a; ZḤ 66c (ShS), 74c (ShS).
FK
F [YHVH]); BT Sukkah 49a;
[YH] and
K
C K[BZ \ (Be-reshit)? With Wisdom
112.
GF
unknown
The hidden source of emanation,
Ein Sof or Keter; the unnamed subject
identification of Z K[B \ (reshit),
The
of the verb
C
Z
B
(bara), ``created.''