The mitzvah to take a lulav [palm branch] on that day [of Sukkot] with the different species [myrtle, willow, citron] is a secret that we have learned and have been taught by the Companions [the disciples of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai]. Just as the Holy One Blessed Be He takes Israel [as his own] on these days and rejoices in them, so Israel also takes Him as their portion and rejoices in Him. This is the secret of the palm branch and the three species bound up with it - for this is the secret of the form of man, of which we will learn [via the verse:] "And you will take on the first day [of Sukkot] a citron and branch of palm..." (Lev. 23:40)
At the time of union of the male and female, 'image' and 'likeness' combine….
Rebbe Shimon began his discourse as follows: "Everyone who is called by My name - for I have created him for My glory - I have formed him; yes, I have made him." (Isaiah 43:7) "Everyone who is called by My name" refers to Adam, because the Holy One Blessed Be He created him for His glory. This is as it is written: "So G-d made man in His own image, in the image of G-d [Elokim] He created him;" (Gen. 1:27) and He called him by His name.
At the time that he [man] brings out truth and judgment in the world, he too is called "Elokim", as it is written, "You shall not revile Elokim [literally, 'judges']" (Ex. 22:27). He called him in His name, as it is written, "in the image of G-d [Elokim] He created him", and it was a worthy name. This we have already established, as it is written, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness," (Gen. 1:26) discussing the time of union. At the time of union of the male and female, "image" and "likeness" combine. So it was that man was created from male and female.
If only the eye was given permission to see it, a person would see an image of himself hovering over his head….
"So G-d [Elokim] created man in His Own image." (ibid. 1:27) In King Solomon's book we found that at the time of union [of man and wife] below, the Holy One Blessed Be He sends an image like the face of that man and it hovers over that union. If only the eye was given permission to see it, a person would see an image of himself hovering over his head, and in that very image a man is created.
Until the time that this image, which was sent by his Master, appears over his head and is present, that new person will not be created. That is what is written: "So G-d created man in his own image." This very image is ready and waiting specifically for that person until he comes out into the world. When he comes out into the world he grows in that image and walks about in that image. This is what is meant by the verse "Surely every man will walk in his image," (Psalms 39:7) and this image is the image above. At the time when those spirits go out from their place, each and every spirit is fixed before the Holy King in fittings of honor, in the face that it stands in this world.
It is in this face dressed in glory that the image goes forth. This is the third part of the ruach, and it is present in This World even before the time of union - and there is no union that takes place in this world where this image is not present among them. But the people of Israel are holy, and this image is holy, and it issues from a holy place to be among them. And for idolaters this image issues forth from those forms of wickedness, it comes to them from the side of impurity. So it is that a person should not mix his image with the image of idolaters, because this image is holy and that is impure.
Based on Zohar parashat Emor, p.103b; translation and commentary by Simcha-Shmuel Treister
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