Kabbalah - Rabbi Aryeh Rotenberg

260625.Balak v029
Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Yehuda encounter the small son of Rav Hamnuna Saba, and find that he is preternaturally wise. The child rebukes them for not having read the Kriat Sh'ma and for having started to say grace while their hands were still dirty. He talks about the five fingers on the hand, the five bars of acacia wood, and the five hundred years, and he concludes from this that all the blessings of the priest are dependent on the fingers. The boy discusses the grace before the meal and the grace after the meal. When his mother begs the rabbis to look at her son with a benevolent eye, the child says he is not afraid of an evil eye because he is the son of a great and worthy fish, and a fish has no harm from the evil eye as the water acts as a protection for it. He talks about the fact that Malchut is called 'angel' when she is an emissary from Aba and Ima, but when she is at rest over the two Cherubim she is called Adonai. We read that Malchut appeared to Moses as an angel but to Abraham as Adonai, and that Jacob called to Malchut in the name of angel when he died. Moses joined with Malchut during his lifetime while still in his body but Jacob joined with her only in spirit after he died. We read about Metatron and Sandalphon who are from the great ocean, Malchut, and that they are fruitful and multiply in the land. When the wise boy says the blessing over the cup of blessing he speaks of Rabbi Yitzchak's nearness to death and says that he should find a guarantor down below, meaning Rabbi Shimon. The rabbis leave the boy's house, and Rabbi Shimon, when encountered, says that the boy will not live long. Next the rabbis wonder why Moses' merit did not protect the Midianites from destruction even though Ruth and Naamah protected Moab from destruction. Rabbi Shimon explained that Moab had not yet produced Ruth and her offspring so it had to be protected. Three of the rabbis return to see the boy, who welcomes them and who knows without being told that they have been talking about Amon and Moab. He discusses the secret of the wave offering and why barley is offered. They talk about wheat, saying that it is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We hear that the Other Side has a part - the chaff - in all the five kinds of grain, and the chaff is exempt from tithe because it has no share in holiness. The boy says that even if the snake had not tempted Eve, Adam would still have produced offspring immediately, due to God's commandment to be fruitful and multiply. The boy talks about the grapevine known as sanctity and the grapevine of the Other Side; he tells why water must be added to wine for the blessing after the meal, to add compassion to mercy. We hear about the bad advice that the elders of Midian gave to Moab, and how they were punished. The boy informs the rabbis that Moab was punished later by David after Ruth had come out of that country. Generations later the Midianites were still longing to attack Yisrael. We learn that King David summoned the hosts of heaven and included his soul with them to bless God, and that later Yisrael took over the task of the serving angels. The boy and Rabbi Elazar talk about sanctification and blessings and about the mighty ones who perform God's bidding. Finally we hear about the great importance of teaching the Torah to one's son.

260623.Chukat v035
Chukat: Verse 35
"Then came the children of Yisrael, the whole congregation into the desert of Zin..." (Bemidbar 20:1). Rabbi Yehuda said: Why is the passage about the laws of the red cow near to the death of Miriam? The explanation was already established. HE RESPONDS: However, since the Judgment was executed upon this cow in order to purify the unclean, Judgment was executed upon Miriam for the purpose of cleansing the world, SINCE THE DEATH OF THE JUST ATONES FOR THE WORLD, and she departed from this world. When Miriam departed, the well that accompanied the children of Yisrael in the desert was gone. And the well of everyone was gone; THAT IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT.
Chukat: Verse 36
Rabbi Aba said that it is written: Now, you "son of man, take up a lamentation" (Yechezkel 28:12), about the virgin of Yisrael, THAT IS MALCHUT. HE ASKS: Is it about her alone? HE RESPONDS: No. It is only that everyone was broken because of her, since it was for her that the breaking of the right OF ZEIR ANPIN followed, THAT IS THE SECRET OF THE DEPARTURE OF CHESED DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF MALCHUT. FOR CHESED was bringing her near to the body, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. And the body, which is the sun, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN THAT INFLUENCES MALCHUT, was dimmed for her, SINCE IT HAD NOBODY TO INSPIRE. This is the secret of: "save with Your right hand, and answer me" (Tehilim 60:7), MEANING SAVE THE RIGHT HAND THAT WAS SEVERED BY THE SEPARATION OF MALCHUT. ALSO, this affected the body, as it is written: "I clothe the heavens with blackness" (Yeshayah 50:3), since the sun, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, was darkened because of her. Similar to this is the verse: "And Miriam died there" (Bemidbar 20:1), BECAUSE THAT INDICATES THE DEPARTURE OF MALCHUT. AS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE WEAKENING OF THE RIGHT ALSO OCCURRED AND ZEIR ANPIN WAS DARKENED.
Chukat: Verse 37
"And there was no water for the congregation" (Ibid. 2), since the well of above departed, WHICH IS MALCHUT, as well as the lower, WHICH IS MIRIAM. Then the right was broken, as it is written: "Aaron shall be gathered to his people" (Ibid. 24). HE IS THE SECRET OF CHESED, WHICH IS THE RIGHT. Following that, the sun dimmed, as it is written: "and die in the mount...and be gathered to your people" (Devarim 32:50), AND MOSES WAS THE CHARIOT TO ZEIR ANPIN, REFERRED TO AS 'SUN.' We see here that the right arm was broken and the body, which is the sun, became darkened.
Chukat: Verse 38
Come and behold: there was no generation in the world similar to the generation when Moses as well as Aaron and Miriam lived in the world. If you say that the times of Solomon were similar, it is not so. In the times of Solomon, the moon was dominant, SINCE THAT GENERATION WAS RECEIVING FROM THE MOON, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the sun was gathered, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE FROM ZEIR ANPIN, REFERRED TO AS 'SUN.' During the time of Moses, the moon was gathered, so THAT THEY DID NOT RECEIVE FROM MALCHUT, and the sun was dominant, AS THEY WERE RECEIVING FROM ZEIR ANPIN, REFERRED TO AS 'SUN.'
Chukat: Verse 39
There were three siblings, Moses, Aaron and Miriam, as it says: "and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam" (Michah 6:4). Miriam is the moon, MALCHUT, Moses is the sun, ZEIR ANPIN, Aaron is the right arm, CHESED, and Hur is the left arm, GVURAH. Some say that Nahshon, the son of Amminadab WAS THE LEFT ARM. At first Miriam died, and the moon departed and the well disappeared. Afterward, the right arm that always brings near the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, joyfully and with friendship, broke. Therefore, it is written: "and Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took..." (Shemot 15:20). Surely she is Aaron's sister, for he is the arm that brings her near in unity and brotherhood with the body, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN.

260622.Chukat v031
Chukat: Verse 31
After all this, WHEN ALL THE HIGHER AND LOWER GRADES WERE FILLED WITH ABUNDANCE FROM ABA AND IMA, IT SAYS: "the earth is satiated with the fruits of Your works" (Ibid.); that is, the sanctified land up high, MEANING MALCHUT. When it is blessed, all the worlds are gladdened and are blessed, and that happens when the blessings prevail from the watering of the stream, WHICH IS THE SPRING MENTIONED ABOVE, THAT IS ABA AND IMA, the deepest of all.
Chukat: Verse 32
At the time when the blessings are not available to descend upon the world, WHICH ARE CHASSADIM, AND MALCHUT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH FROM THE LEFT WITHOUT THE CHASSADIM, the world, THAT IS MALCHUT, sits in Judgment. From the left side stirs a spirit that extends over the world, and many regiments of harmful angels dwell in the world and rest over the people, SINCE WHEN CHOCHMAH IS WITHOUT CHASSADIM, ALL THE HARSH JUDGMENTS EMANATE FROM HER. And that spirit defiles them, similar to a person who dies and has a Spirit of Defilement dwell upon him. This is true for whoever comes near that SPIRIT FROM THE LEFT.
Chukat: Verse 33
That is what is meant when it says: "You hide Your face, they are troubled" (Ibid. 29). What does this verse mean? It is only, "You hide Your face, they are troubled." That is because THOSE LEVELS were not watered so that blessings would prevail in the world, SINCE "YOUR FACE" MEANS CHASSADIM AND BLESSINGS. THEN, "You take away their breath (also: 'spirit'), they die" (Ibid.), because another spirit stirs from the left direction, WITHOUT THE RIGHT. The Spirit of Defilement dwells upon people, upon those who died, those who were with them, and on the rest of humanity, MEANING THAT THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT EXPANDS OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. What is its remedy? This is what is written: "and return to their dust" (Ibid.). That means the dust of the burning of this offering in order to have purification, and that is the secret meaning of, "all are of the dust" (Kohelet 3:20), even the sun's circle.
Chukat: Verse 34
After returning to this dust in order to be purified through it, AS MENTIONED NEARBY, the Spirit of Defilement is removed. And another Holy Spirit is aroused, which prevails upon the world. This is what it says: "You send forth your breath (also: 'spirit'), they are created" (Ibid. 30); they are created and healed with the loftier remedy of another spirit. "And You renew the face of the earth" (Ibid.); since it was purified, the moon is renewed and all the realms are blessed. Praised is the lot of Yisrael, since the Holy One, blessed be He, gave them counsel. All of it is a remedy in order to gain life in the World to Come, and for them to be considered purified in this world and sanctified for the World to Come. About them, it is written: "then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean" (Yechezkel 36:25).
Chukat: Verse 35
"Then came the children of Yisrael, the whole congregation into the desert of Zin..." (Bemidbar 20:1). Rabbi Yehuda said: Why is the passage about the laws of the red cow near to the death of Miriam? The explanation was already established. HE RESPONDS: However, since the Judgment was executed upon this cow in order to purify the unclean, Judgment was executed upon Miriam for the purpose of cleansing the world, SINCE THE DEATH OF THE JUST ATONES FOR THE WORLD, and she departed from this world. When Miriam departed, the well that accompanied the children of Yisrael in the desert was gone. And the well of everyone was gone; THAT IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT.

260621.Chukat v029
Chukat: Verse 29
AFTER ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT DRINK, "they give to drink to every wild beast" that which is written: "and from thence it was parted, and branched into four streams (lit. 'heads')" (Beresheet 2:10). These four heads are "every wild (lit. 'field,' Heb. sadai) beast," WHICH ARE FOUR CREATURES, LION, OX, EAGLE AND MAN, WHICH ARE THE CHARIOT OF MALCHUT. They are the inclusion of all the camps and legions THAT ARE IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH to which Shadai, THAT IS METATRON THAT IS CALLED 'SHADAI,' is attached, WHO IS ABOVE ALL OF THEM. Do not pronounce it Sadai WITH SIN, but rather Shadai, WITH SHIN, which is METATRON that receives and perfects IN HIMSELF the Name from Yesod, the Foundation of the world. This is SINCE THE NAME SHADAI IS IN YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, AND METATRON, BEING A CHARIOT TO YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, RECEIVES THIS NAME.
Chukat: Verse 30
"The wild asses quench their thirst" (Tehilim 104:11). These are the ones about whom it is written: "and the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels" (Yechezkel 1:20). What is "the living creature?'' These are the wild beasts, which are four, and each one of them is in one direction OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS of the world, and is called a 'living creature.' There are FOUR wheels to each one OF THE FOUR CREATURES, and none OF THE WHEELS move except from the spirit of the living creature that goes over it, MEANING EACH ONE OF THE WHEELS FROM THE CORRESPONDING SPIRIT IN THE CREATURES. When these LIVING CREATURES AND WHEELS are imbued with that higher drinking liquid, all the rest of the legions are fed and saturated and are rooted in their sources, and they unite with each other at certain levels. This is what is written: "beside them dwell the birds of the sky...He waters the hills from His upper chambers..." (Tehilim 104:12-13). These are the rest of the higher levels.
Chukat: Verse 31
After all this, WHEN ALL THE HIGHER AND LOWER GRADES WERE FILLED WITH ABUNDANCE FROM ABA AND IMA, IT SAYS: "the earth is satiated with the fruits of Your works" (Ibid.); that is, the sanctified land up high, MEANING MALCHUT. When it is blessed, all the worlds are gladdened and are blessed, and that happens when the blessings prevail from the watering of the stream, WHICH IS THE SPRING MENTIONED ABOVE, THAT IS ABA AND IMA, the deepest of all.
Chukat: Verse 32
At the time when the blessings are not available to descend upon the world, WHICH ARE CHASSADIM, AND MALCHUT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH FROM THE LEFT WITHOUT THE CHASSADIM, the world, THAT IS MALCHUT, sits in Judgment. From the left side stirs a spirit that extends over the world, and many regiments of harmful angels dwell in the world and rest over the people, SINCE WHEN CHOCHMAH IS WITHOUT CHASSADIM, ALL THE HARSH JUDGMENTS EMANATE FROM HER. And that spirit defiles them, similar to a person who dies and has a Spirit of Defilement dwell upon him. This is true for whoever comes near that SPIRIT FROM THE LEFT.
Chukat: Verse 33
That is what is meant when it says: "You hide Your face, they are troubled" (Ibid. 29). What does this verse mean? It is only, "You hide Your face, they are troubled." That is because THOSE LEVELS were not watered so that blessings would prevail in the world, SINCE "YOUR FACE" MEANS CHASSADIM AND BLESSINGS. THEN, "You take away their breath (also: 'spirit'), they die" (Ibid.), because another spirit stirs from the left direction, WITHOUT THE RIGHT. The Spirit of Defilement dwells upon people, upon those who died, those who were with them, and on the rest of humanity, MEANING THAT THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT EXPANDS OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. What is its remedy? This is what is written: "and return to their dust" (Ibid.). That means the dust of the burning of this offering in order to have purification, and that is the secret meaning of, "all are of the dust" (Kohelet 3:20), even the sun's circle.

260618.Chukat v025
Chukat: Verse 25
Therefore, it is called "water of sprinkling (Heb. nidah)." THAT MEANS water for purification when the world dwells in Judgment and the defiled aspect expands in the world, AS BY THE UNCLEANNESS OF A MENSTRUATING WOMAN (HEB. NIDAH). Here are gathered together a variety of unclean things and a variety of methods of purification. Consequently, defilement and purification are the most important rules of the Torah, and the friends have already explained this. Rabbi Shimon said: Elazar, you have accomplished so much that your friends will not be speaking of anything following you, SINCE FROM THE GREAT WISDOM AND WHOLESOMENESS OF YOUR SPEECH THEY WILL BE SHY TO GIVE THEIRS.
Chukat: Verse 26
Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd). "A red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish..." It is forbidden to plow during the Shabbat with an ox and plow, as it says, "the plowers plowed upon my back" (Tehilim 129:3), and the lower Shechinah, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is a red cow from the aspect of Gvurah. She is without defect from the aspect of Chesed, which is a level of Abraham, of whom it says, "walk before Me, and be perfect (Heb. tamim)" (Beresheet 17:1). "...In which there is no blemish..." She is from the aspect of the Central Column, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN THAT UNITES HER LEFT AND RIGHT. The verse continues, "and upon which never came a yoke," which is from the aspect of the higher Shechinah, which is liberty, MEANING BINAH at the location where she dominates, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT IS COMPRISED OF EVERYTHING MENTIONED ABOVE. "And the stranger that comes near SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH." There is no authority for the Other Side to rule, not for Satan, not for the Destroyer, and not for the Angel of Death, all of which are from the side of Gehenom. End of Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd).
Chukat: Verse 27
Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion with the verse: "He sends the springs into the valleys...they give drink to every wild beast..." (Tehilim 104:10-11). These verses were uttered by King David in the Holy Spirit, and they require studying. Come and behold: there was a time when the higher wisdom imprinted its engravings, MEANING AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE HIGHER CHOCHMAH AND BINAH UNITED TOGETHER, even though THE HIGHER CHOCHMAH is the most hidden of all the hidden, SINCE IN HIGHER CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA ABOVE, THE YUD DOES NOT EMERGE FROM THE AIR. It is an opening from which flows a river full of higher gates, THAT IS BINAH.