Patach Eliyahu

September 22, 2016 at 9:26 AM , ,

This mystical portion of the Zohar is recited by many chassidim before themincha prayer on Shabbat eve and by most Sephardi communities before the Shacharit and the Mincha prayers every day. (translation by AvrahamSutton)



But You are He who brought forth ten rectifications – we call them the ten sefirot Atzilut – with which to regulate [the powerful illumination of Your Light that flows down through] hidden worlds that are not revealed [the worlds of Adam Kadmon and Atzilut], as well as worlds that are revealed [BeriyaYetzira and Asiya]. Indeed, it is through these [the ten sefirot of each universe] that You are hidden from human beings [so they can exist and not be overwhelmed by Your Light]. You are He who binds them [sefirot together] and unifies them [to Yourself]. And inasmuch as You are within them, anyone who separates one from the other is regarded as having caused a separation in You [and Your Absolute Unity]. There is no power that directs You – neither above nor below…

These ten sefirot are arranged in a special order [of three columns]. [The right column is said to be] “long” [because it represents Your Love and Kindness]. [The left column is said to be] “short” [because it represents Your Judgment and Power of Restraint and withdrawal]. [The middle column or trunk is said to be] “intermediate” [because it represents Your Mercy, the perfect Harmony of Love and Restraint]. [In this way, the ten sefirot are conduits through which You regulate Your interaction with human beings according to their deeds.] [Above all] it is You alone who directs them. There is no power that directs You – neither above nor below, nor from any direction.

[The ten sefirot of Atzilut thus constitute one entire system or “body”, and You are the Soul that fills it and directs it. Just as the human body disguises the intensity of the soul, the sefirot serve to disguise and conceal Your Light.] You also arranged [a system of three lower worlds, Beriya,Yetzira, and Asiya, that serve as] “garments” [to further cover over thesefirot of Atzilut and protect us from the intensity of Your Light]. It is from these “garments” that the souls [NeshamaRuach and Nefesh] of human beings originate.

[The sefirot of Atzilut are clothed within these “garments”, and for this reason] they are called [“limbs” of] a “body” relative to the “clothes” that cover over them. [These “limbs”] are arranged as follows: chesed (or loving-kindness) is the right arm, gevura(restraint) is the left arm, and tiferet (harmony) is the torso.Netzach (dominance) and hod (empathy) are the two legs, andyesod (foundation or channel) is the body’s extremity, the sign of the Holy Covenant. Malchut (kingship) is the mouth [of the holy covenant]. It is therefore called the “Oral Torah”.

[Above these “limbs” is the “head” in which] chochma (wisdom) is the[right] brain, the seat of thought, and bina (understanding) is[the left brain and] the heart, the heart’s ability to discern. Concerning these, it is written, “The hidden things belong toG‑d [corresponding to chochma] our G‑d [corresponding to bina]”.(Deut. 29:28)

Keter Elyon (Supernal Crown) is the keter of malchut, concerning which it is said, “I [G‑d] declare the end from the beginning”. (Isaiah 46:10). [Keter surrounds and contains the two hemispheres of the brain, chochma and bina, like] the leather box of the Tefillin [that surrounds and contains the parchments].

Within [this unified system of “limbs” and “head” which constitute one “body” or “tree,” is the Divine Name “spelled-out” with alefs, i.e. Mah, thus]:

Yudvavdalet = 20, heialef = 6, vavalefvav= 13, heialef= 6.

[With this name You determine] the way [in which Your Light is transmitted through the sefirot] of Atzilut. This name therefore fills and saturates [the “roots” and the “trunk” of the “tree” of the sefirot, together with] its “limbs” and “branches”, as water irrigates and saturates a tree. [The “tree”] then grows in proportion to how much “water” flows through it.That flow is the very life-force of the ‘tree’ – like a soul to a body…

Eternal Hidden Master of the worlds, You are the Supreme Cause of all causes and the Origin of all effects! You water the tree with that flow. And that flow is the very life-force of the “tree” – like a soul to a body. But no “human” likeness or “bodily” image exists in Your Infinite Essence with which we might liken You to anything within or without.


Through them [through all that exists Below], You make known that which is Above. [You also make known] how all that is above [inAtzilut] and below [in BeriyaYetzira and Asiya] is regulated, and how the higher worlds may be known from the lower But knowledge of Your Essence is completely impossible Without You there is no unity in the higher or lower realms You are therefore known as the Cause of all and the Master of all.You are He who permeates them all, and You are He who perfects them all…

Each sefira corresponds to a specific divine name [or attribute], and it is with these names that angels are called[or, it is with these names that angels can be called down]. You, however, are beyond any name, for You are He who permeates them all, and You are He who perfects them all. Therefore, when You withhold Your Light from [thesefirot], all the Names remain [as empty vessels], like a “body” devoid of “soul”.

As for You, You are intrinsically wise, but not with a knowable attribute of wisdom. You understand, but without a knowable attribute of understanding. No “place” can contain You [You clothed Yourself in the sefirot] only in order to make Your mastery and power known to human beings and to show them how the world is conducted through Justice and Mercy – i.e. that Righteousness and Judgment are meted out in perfect accord with the actions of men.







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