Chapter 1 (PDF) - Stanford University Press

(zakhor). 232
the zohar [1:6a]
233
That is why there is no strife above, because of the two peaces
(zakhor).
one, Jacob; the other, Joseph. 234 So it is written twice: Peace, peace to the
below:
and the near (Isaiah 57:19). To the far refers to Jacob, [6a] and the near refers
far
Joseph. To the far, as is said: From afar, YHVH appeared to me (Jeremiah
to
235 His sister stood far off (Exodus 2:4). 236 And the near, as is said: New
31:2),
who came from nearby (Deuteronomy 32:17). 237 From afar is the highest
[gods]
feminine, which is signified by the
the
word of the fourth of the Ten
opening
indicates the union of male and
observe,
female.
BT Berakhot 20b; Bahir 124 (182); Ezra
See
Gerona, Peirush Shir ha-Shirim, 496±97;
of
on Exodus 20:8; Zohar 1:47b,
Naḥmanides
164b; Moses de LeoÂn, Sefer ha-Rimmon,
48b,
(zakhar), ``male.'' Although often depict-
as the Divine Mother, Binah is also describeed
as ``World of the Male,'' encompassing
entire configuration of sefirot from Ḥesed
the
Yesod. Togetherthey constitute a
through
entity ready to join Shekhinah.
masculine
Zohar 1:96a, 147a, 149a, 160b, 246a,
See
2:127b; ZḤ 72b (ShS). Cf. 1:17b, 46b,
248b;
2:4a. 163a;
`the King who possesses peace' . . .
233.
midrashic literature this phrase is applied
In
God. See Pesiqta de-Rav Kahana 1:2; Shir
to
Rabbah on 1:2. Here it designates
ha-Shirim
who contains Yesod, who is called
Binah,
eitherbecause He mediates between
``peace''
right and left poles of the sefirot, or
the
He unites Tif'eret with Shekhinah.
because
BT Shabbat 152a, where Rabbi Shim'on
See
of Ḥalafta refers to the phallus as
son
the home.''
``peacemakerof
two peaces below . . . Jacob symbo-
234.
Tif'eret; Joseph symbolizes Yesod, the
lizes
phallus, since he withstood the test
divine
sexual temptation in Egypt (Genesis 39).
of
TZ 21, 43b, 45b. Both of these mediate
See
right and left, and unite with Shekhinah,
between
insuring peace in the sefirotic realm.
From afar, YHVH appeared . . . Tif'-
235.
who is called YHVH, appeared from afar.
eret,
Rashi, ad loc.; Zohar 1:120a.
See
His sister stood far off Miriam, the
236.
of the sentence, symbolizes Shekhinah,
subject
who faces Tif'eret. See BT Sotah 11a.
from nearby Idiomatic for``recently.''
237.
Joseph, Yesod, represents a more re-
emanation than Jacob, Tif'eret. This
cent
is striking, since the verse in Deu-
citation
refers to false gods.
teronomy
From afar is the highest point . . .
238.
Referring back to the two Sab-
Yesod and Shekhinah, who are indicatebaths,
togetherby the plural verb \ GZGP[
is not included here in [ GP Z (Shamor), Observe, but rather in H ZGM
Sabbath
Remember (Exodus 20:8), forthe supreme King is completed by H ZGM
(Zakhor),
So He is called `the King who possesses peace,' and His peace is
Z GMH
standing in its palace. 238 So it is written: \ ZGP[ G (Tishmoru), You are to
point,
included in [ GP Z (Shamor), Observe. 239 My sanctuary you are to hold in
observe,
[ GP Z (Shamor), Observe
Commandments:
34
Sabbath day to keep it holy. This word
the
the feminine because the otherver-
signifies
sion of the Ten Commandments (Exodus
(Zakhor), Remember, the
reads: H GM Z
20:8)
day, and H GM Z (zakhor) suggests H ZM
Sabbath
(zakhar), ``male.'' In the verse in Leviticus 19,
(tishmoru), You are to
plural verb \ ZGP[ G
the
118.
completed by H GM Z (zakhor) Binah,
232.
supreme King and higher Sabbath, finds
the
completion in the masculine sefirah of Ye-
its
sod, signified by
H
GM
Z
(zakhor), which implies
Z
MH
the primordial point of emanation,
Ḥokhmah,
is situated in the palace of Binah. Tif'eret
issues from them, from afar.
(Shamor),
So it is written . . . [ GP Z
239.
Observe
(Tishmoru), You are to observe.