The Zohar speaks of this parsha as a special blessing and that to study Torah particularly around midnight offers an opening so that our consciousness expands – here indicated by the colors of the four worlds that Kabbalah tells us that we live in simultaneously. And to make love at this time too is a blessing. And it also speaks…
Who is to take on the challenging work for us? Actually all of us participate, as did the entire congregation in the desert, when once a year one of two goats would be selected by lot by the Kohen Gadol – the high priest – and all would contribute to the purchase of this creature, and…
What are the consequences for evil speech? The Zohar speaks of those who speak with a vicious tongue attacking others. Their behavior will revert back on themselves. A form of leprosy will attest to their cruelty. In the past their homes would reveal their sinister activities and have to be destroyed and out of this would emerge combating spirits…
How do we celebrate? This week’s parsha has the very troubling story of the two sons of Aaron who entered the Holy of Holies, and their souls were pulled out from them in a fire stream from Hashem. Sages have discussed the causes for this and among them is that the two were drinking before they came…
How do we get rid of evil thoughts? This week’s parsha speaks of the various sacrifices made to deal with intentional and unintentional sins and guilt. This all revolves around fire. Burning the sacrifices are substitutes in a way for ourselves. The Zohar expands on this saying that there is a river of fire that will incinerate our negative…
This week’s parsha speaks about the sacrifices made at the Mishkan. Today these seem like ancient primitive endeavors. But the Zohar points out that though there were those who could offer the more valued ox or goat, it was the poorest – like this woman here – who, making their offering with doves for peace and forgiveness,…
In this parsha the elements of the Mishkan are defined including the Incense Alter which the Zohar describes as a connection between us and Hashem. The column of smoke rises to make this relationship, here reflecting the colors of the Sehpirot which extend upwards to release the unpronounceable name of God and when acknowledged the chariots of…
The Zohar responds to the making of the idol of the golden calf that it was forced on Aaron (here in orange the color associated with him in Kabbalah). Idol worshipping people who went along with the Hebrews who left Egypt despite experiencing the revelation at Mount Sinai they did not accept Hashem’s wonders and…