HOME | CONTACT US | DONATE LoginLOGIN Ask the RabbiASK THE RABBI
Chabad.org - Torah, Judaism and Jewish Info
 
Chabad.org » Kabbalah Online » Weekly Torah » Archives » Bereishit - Genesis » Bereishit » Staff Favorites  » Bereishit 5772
PrintSend this page to a friendShare this
CommentComment

Bereishit 5772

One from each genre

The Zohar

Shabbat: Blessing for All Creation

From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation & commentary by Simcha-Shmuel Treister

All the six supernal days [i.e. the six attributes Above, chesed, gevura, tiferet, netzach, hod, yesod] are blessed by malchut , the final sefira, and each of them receives its sustenance down Below in This World from the blessing with which the seventh day is blessed.

For this reason, a person of faith must set his table and prepare a meal for Shabbat night and day, so that his table will be blessed from Above all six days of the coming week, for blessing is not found upon an empty table.

The Holy Ari

For the World of the Chariot

From the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria; translated and edited by Moshe Yakov Wisnefsky

The Torah is called 'the Torah of Beriya,' for it speaks about the world of Beriya, not the world of Atzilut. In the world of Atzilut; the revelation of G-d in this world is so great that it leaves absolutely no room for self-awareness. On the other hand, a person involved in understanding the implications, applications, and ramifications of an insight he has received is very aware of himself and the way he perceives the world; it is precisely this self-awareness that he uses to evaluate the effect of his insight.

This self-awareness is what distinguishes the world of Beriya from the world of Atzilut. In Beriya, for the first time, there is such a thing as self-awareness or self-consciousness; the beings that exist in this world are aware of themselves as entities distinct from G-d.

Mystical Classics

Need for a Name

From the Ohr HaChaim commentary by Rabbi Chaim (ben Moshe) Ibn Atar

G-d named both the man and the woman jointly, ADAM, a name of great distinction. After Adam's wife had been seduced by the serpent and had suffered a spiritual decline, she no longer qualified for this name. Therefore, Adam now gave his wife a new name, Chavah, which reflected her function in life, namely that she became the "mother" of all human beings.

Chasidic Masters

Adam's Super-Consciousness

Adapted from the works of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi by Yossi Marcus

In divine knowledge, good and evil remain separate; all is clearly defined. Before their sin, Adam and Eve did not know evil at all. After partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Eve knew good and evil. But unlike G-d and the angels, the human internalizes knowledge and good and evil become a part of him. The same blending of good and evil also occurs throughout all of Creation. Evil receives sustenance from good and vice versa.

There is an advantage to subjective knowledge. One who has never fallen into sin will not pursue righteousness with the same zeal as someone who has. However, there is heavy price to be paid for the passion of the Fall, and that is the loss of innocence and purity.

By overcoming the evil within him, man can realize his Divine potential in the fullest. When the process is finished, and good is fully extricated and once again completely separate from evil throughout Creation, all will return to the spiritual state of the Garden of Eden before the sin. Nonetheless, man will still retain the appreciation of and drive toward divinity he acquired during his stay outside the garden. In the future, redeemed world, the advantages of both states of being - pristine naïveté and wisdom born of sad experience - will be wed.

Contemporary Kabbalists

Naming with Divine Inspiration

From the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; translated and annotated by Moshe-Yaakov Wisnefsky.

The Hebrew name of anything is an expression of its essence and nature. By naming each creature, Adam had to analyze the essence and nature of each one and thereby deduce its name. By naming the animals in accordance with their spiritual source, Adam articulated the notion that physical reality can and should express its spiritual origin and be true to its spiritual essence, while animating the bond between the animal and its source. Thus Adam began the process of fulfilling the purpose of Creation, of making the world into a home for G-d.

Ascent Lights

Genesis and the Goodness of G-d

by Shaul Yosef Leiter

One of the most important concepts in Judaism is that G-d constantly maintains His creation; the universe is being re-created each and every instant. Similar to all of Creation, we too are also being constantly renewed from nothing and naught.

When a person realizes that his entire existence is G-dliness, it can change his perspective and priorities. He will want every aspect of my life to reflect that. Putting G-d and His commandments first will never detract from our lives; it will only help us fulfill our purpose, spiritually and physically.

Mystic Story

Return From Israel

by Yerachmiel Tilles

After only a few days he decided to leave Eretz Yisrael; his old friends were surprised to see him back in Europe.

PrintSend this page to a friendShare this
CommentComment

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.
 



 


Staff Favorites
Bereishit 5770
Bereishit 5771
Bereishit 5772