Chapter 1 (PDF) - Stanford University Press

the zohar [1:5a]
Me, becoming My partner! Just as I made heaven and earth by speaking,
with
is said: By the word of YHVH, the heavens were made (Psalms 33:6), so do
as
Happy are those engaged with Torah!
you.'
if you say that the word of any ignorant person has the same effect,
``Now
and see: One who is unaccustomed to the mysteries of Torah and
come
words he does not fully understandÐwhen that word ascends, a
innovates
of perversity, tongue of falsehood (Proverbs 16:28; 6:17), 189 bursts forth from
man
chasm of the immense abyss, 190 leaping 500 parasangs 191 to obtain that
the
Grabbing her, he takes that word back to his chasm and transmogrifies
word.
a distorted heaven called `chaos.' The man of perversity flies through
herinto
heavenÐ6,000 parasangs in one glide. 192 As soon as the distorted heaven
that
established, a woman of whoredom (Hosea 1:2) 193
emerges, clinging to it,
is
with it. From there she sets out, killing thousands, myriads. For as long
joining
she endures in that heaven, she is empowered to swoop through the entire
as
world in a single moment. 194
those cords of falsehood, and then sin as with a cart rope, that female called
with
who is empowered there to fly and kill human beings. So, Many are those
sin,
has struck dead (Proverbs 7:26). Who has struck them dead? This sin who
she
human beings. Who causes this? A disciple unqualified to teach who
slays
original interpretations of Torah as
tifies
Zion.
man of perversity . . . Samael, the
189.
demon who schemes and accuses
male
falsely.
chasm of the immense abyss The
190.
of demons.
abode
parasangs The Greek parasang
191.
about 3.5 miles.
equals
in one glide The distorted heaven
192.
Samael, providing him a fast celestial
empowers
highway.
woman of whoredom Lilith, the
193.
demon, wife of Samael. Together
female
comprise Sitra Aḥra, ``the OtherSide.''
they
Zohar 1:148a (ST ); 2:245a; Scholem, Kab-
See
356±61.
balah,
in a single moment See BT Bera-
194.
4b: ``A tanna taught: `Michael [reaches
khot
destination] in one [glide], Gabriel in
his
Elijah in four, and the Angel of Death
two,
eightÐin time of plague, however, in
in
one.'''
Woe unto them... See BT Sukkah
195.
``Rabbi Assi said, `The evil impulse at
52a:
resembles the thread of a spider but
first
it resembles cart ropes, as is said:
ultimately
unto them who haul iniquity with cords
Woe
vanity, and sin as with a cart rope.''' Cf.
of
1:57a. Zohar
He The distorted heaven.
196.
A disciple unqualified . . . See BT
197.
22a: ``Rav said, `What is the meaning
Sotah
the verse Many are those she has struck
of
numerous are her slain? Many are those
dead,
has struck deadÐthis refers to a disciple
she
to teach [to decide questions of
unqualified
who teaches. Numerous are her slainÐ
law]
refers to a disciple qualified to teach
this
does not.'''
who
P K (ammi), My people,' but rather `You are T P K (immi),
T
Do not read `You are
Concerning this is written: Woe unto them who
28
iniquity with cords of falsehood, and sin as with a cart rope (Isaiah 5:18). 195
haul
is the male. Who is sin? The female. He 196 hauls the one called iniquity
Iniquity
teaches. 197 May the Compassionate One save us!''