The Zohar (1:1b)

An ongoing series

[I recently purchased the new, English translation of the Zohar, the book that laid the foundation for Jewish mystical thought and the Kabbalah. It is the most important book in Judaism after the Bible and the Talmud. As I go through the Zohar, I will be publishing excerpts here for any readers who may be interested in addition to my series of commentaries on each week's Torah portion.]

Haqdamat Sefer HaZohar (1:1b)

בראשית (In the beginning.)

Rabbi Shim’on opened, “The blossoms have appeared on the earth, [the time of pruning has arrived; the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land] (Song of Songs 2:12). The blossoms are the act of Creation, which appeared on the earth. When? On the third day, as is written: The earth brought forth vegetation (Genesis 1:12). Then they appeared on the earth. The time of pruning has arrived — the fourth day, on which the pruning of tyrants (Isaiah 25:5) took place. מארת (Me’orot), Lights, spelled deficiently. The voice of the turtledove is the fifth day, as is written: Let the waters swarm [with a swarm of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth, across the expanse of the sky] (Genesis 1:20), generating offspring. Is heard is the sixth day, as is written: Let us make a human being (Genesis 1:26), who was destined to declare acting before hearing, for here is written נעשה (Na’aseh), Let us make, a human being, and there is written: נעשה (Na’aseh), We will do, and we will listen (Exodus 24:7). In our land is the Sabbath day, paradigm of the land of eternal life.

“The blossoms are the patriarchs, who entered the divine mind before Creation and entered the world that is coming, where they were treasured away. From there, they emerged secretly and were concealed within him. When Joseph entered the Holy Land, he planted them there. Then they appeared on earth, were revealed there. When are they visible? When the rainbow is revealed in the world. When the rainbow appears, they are revealed. Then, the time of pruning has arrived, time to excise the wicked from the world. Why are they spared? Because the blossoms have appeared on the earth. Had they not appeared, they would not remain in the world, nor would the world endure. Who sustains the world, enabling the patriarchs to be revealed? The voice of children engaging in Torah. For the sake of those children, the world is saved. Corresponding to them, We will make you wreaths of gold (Song of Songs 1:11). These are little children, youngsters, as it is written: Make two cherubim of gold (Exodus 25:18).