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I wrote this several months ago in response to the fear that many
orthodox Jews have concerning the Kaballah. I thought you might like it.
For me it has to do with the anniversaries of the passing of Rabbi Shimon
bar Yochai this week and Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto next week.
David
The Two Trees of the Garden of Eden
The four Hebrew letters of the Holy Name Y-H-V-H
represent four universes which are hinted at in this verse,
"All who are called by my Name
and for my glory
I have created
formed
even made". (Isaiah 43:7)
These four letters are seen as two pairs.
The first pair is YH - the upper unification - a place of love.
The second pair is VH - the lower unification - a place of fear.
The first letter of the Name
Y is the universe of nearness - atzilut -
a never-ending source of life for all - "for my glory" (Isaiah 43:7).
This universe is wisdom -the soul of the Torah -
Kaballah, the ability to come near and receive.
When we drink from this infinite spring of nothingness,
we cling to eternal life.
The second letter of the Name,
the upper H creates the universe of beriyah -
"I have created" (Isaiah 43:7) a throne for my glory.
Here we receive the wisdom of Kaballah,
understanding that this hidden Torah resides in our souls.
We then become a throne for higher levels of being -
sitting and experiencing eternal life.
This upper unification - YH - is a soul connection.
It can't be severed by death or defiled by evil.
This is the Torah of unconditional love - the tree of life.
When we eat its fruit we "live forever". (Genesis 3:22)
Then we are called children of G-d -
who enter the garden of eden and "eat from all its trees" (Genesis 2:16)
at any time without fear.
The third letter of the Name,
V forms the universe of yetzirah -
This is Mishnah - the body of the Torah.
Angelic scholars "formed" (Isaiah 43:7) this universe.
Running and returning through a mighty river of knowledge.
Choosing wrong or right, separating good from evil.
Clarifying the beautiful revealed Torah of practical moral truths.
The fourth and final letter of the Name,
the lower H makes the universe of asiyah.
Here the consequences of our moral choices are "even made" (Isaiah 43:7)
Sometimes we make good choices and reside comfortably in our bodies
and sometimes we choose badly and then our bodies hurt.
We learn lessons here through the mistakes that we make.
This lower unification - VH - is a body connection.
This can be severed because this is the place of death,
and when you eat from this tree "you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17).
Here is the revolving sword of judgement,
wielded by a frightening angel who guards the path to the tree of life.
When we eat the sometimes bitter fruit of this
tree of knowledge of good and evil
we're called servants of G-d.
There are good servants and bad servants.
A good servant connects to the source of all life
and forms a healthy Torah body, a great stream of spiritual knowledge -
the tree of knowledge of good.
A bad servant doesn't connect to the spring of living waters
and chooses death, becoming a withered and unwholesome Torah body.
Who dries up and becomes just a small trickle of bitter water -
the tree of knowledge of evil.
If we sever our bodies (H) from our spirits (V) there is reason to fear,
because then our Torah bodies are partched.
We toil like slaves for a few drops of knowledge.
We angrily beat upon hearts of stone wtih staffs of petrified wood
hewn from this frightening tree of knowledge
while we learn the lessons of this revolving sword of judgement
until we open our eyes and know that we are naked
when we could be garments for infinite light.
Then we can pass through and return to the garden of eden.
We then become whole again - eat from the tree of life
and rest in the Torah of unconditional love.
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