Get Think Jewish Delivered to your Home or Office
HOME | CONTACT US | DONATE LoginLOGIN Ask the RabbiASK THE RABBI
Chabad.org - Torah, Judaism and Jewish Info Mezuzah
 
Chabad.org » Mitzvahs & Traditions » Mezuzah » Anthology » Chapter 2--A Deeper Look » In Kabbalah
  Guide   Handbook   Insights   Stories   Anthology   Videos
PrintSend this page to a friendShare this
CommentComment

In Kabbalah


Zoharic literature identifies mezuzah with the Sefirah of Malkhuth 1. Specifically, the doorpost (lit. mezuzah) is identified with Malkhuth, the feminine aspect of G‑dliness, while the mezuzah-parchment attached to the doorpost is identified with Z”A 2 (Zeir Anpin 3), the masculine aspect of G‑dliness, or with its lowest Sefirah, Yesod.

Thus, Rayah Mehemnah states that the Shekhinah (which is Malkhuth) is called mezuzah. It states further that the Tetragrammaton, inside the mezuzah, represents Ze’er Anpin, and the name Shad‑dai, on the outside, represent the Sefirah of Yesod or Kudsha Brikh Hu (the Holy One). In another place, Rayah Mehemnah states that mezuzah, on which the name Shad‑dai is written, is the Tzaddik, Righteous One, represented by the Sefirah of Yesod; the Shekhinah is the gate to which the mezuzah is affixed, as it is written:

This is the Gate of G‑d (Psalms CXVIII, 20).

Rabbi Chayim Vital states in the “Gates of the Commandments” that the doorpost represents Malkhuth. The mezuzah is placed at the bottom of the upper third of the doorpost. The upper third represents the chest of Z”A (Zeir Anpin), while the bottom of the upper third corresponds to Malkhuth (or Nukva 4 d’Z”A).

Similarly, in the “Gate of Introductions” he states that the place where the mezuzah is affixed is Nukva d’Z”A. The gematria of mezuzah is the same as that of Ado-nai (65), which hints to Nukva5. Nukva comes from behind Z”A. The purpose of the mezuzah is that the forces of evil, Klipoth (shells, husks) should not have a hold on the domain “behind” Z”A.

Z”A represents the male aspect of the Divine Persona while Nukva or Malkhuth represents the female. The Zohar explains:

And why is the female called Nekevah 6? Because she has more orifices than the male.

The place where mezuzah is affixed is called the chest of Z”A represented by the Sefirah of Tifereth. Tifereth is beauty and harmony, in this case the harmony between male and female in Divinity.


« Previous
Next »

PrintSend this page to a friendShare this
CommentComment
FOOTNOTES
1. Malchuth is the last Sefirah, which serves as a channel for the Divine light. A doorway may be also viewed as a channel leading into a house or a room, hence the parallel. Furthermore, anthropomorphically, Malchuth represents a mouth, which is an opening just as a doorway. (Note the similarity between the words peh - mouth and petach - doorway.)
2. A partzuf (in this case Z”A) is conceptualized as a human-like form consisting of ten primary parts: Kether - skull, Chochmah - right brain, Binah - left brain, Chesed - right arm, Gevurah - left arm, Tifereth - chest (or torso), Netzach - right leg, Hod - left leg, Yesod - male organ. Malchuth is either the mouth or a woman.
3. Ze’er Anpin – Divine Persona (partzuf ) literally translated as “Small Face”. In Lurianic Kabbalah itnrepresents the Male aspect in Divinity and corresponds to the Six Midoth (Chesed through Yesod).
4. Nukva d’Z”A – Divine Persona (partzuf) literally translated as “Female”. In Lurianic Kabbalah represents Female aspect in Divinity and corresponds to Malchuth.
5. All Divine Names correspond to Sefiroth. The name Ado-nai means literally “my Lord or Master” and corresponds to Malchuth - the Sefirah of Kingship.
6. Nukva (in Aramaic) and Nekevah (in Hebrew) mean "female”.

By Alexander Poltorak   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Dr. Alexander Poltorak, who holds a PhD in theoretical physics, is a noted lecturer on the intersection of science and Torah and author of books on the Jewish holidays, intellectual property management, and A Light unto My Path -- A Mezuzah Anthology. He is CEO of General Patent Corporation, a patent licensing and enforcment firm

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.
 



 


Chapter 2--A Deeper Look
A Deeper Look
In Chassidism
In Kabbalah
Mezuzah and Astrology
Mezuzah in Letters and Numbers
Meditations on Mezuzah
The Supernal Mezuzah
Showing 1 - 7 of 12