06 Oct The Symmetry of Noah and Sarah
Book of Bereishit
The Symmetry of Noah and Sarah
An Insight to All Physical and Spiritual Wellness
Includes insights on recovery
Inspired by the teachings of HaRav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth
When the world was created, it was created in balance…
equilibrium…. in symmetry.
The concept of symmetry ( balance, equilibrium) is a thread of consciousness throughout the Torah. It is essential to the elevating and perfecting of Creation.
When G-d created the universe, He spoke 10 Utterances ( the 10 Sefirot aka the 10 Emanations of Light) that were the building blocks for all Creation. These 10 Emanations of Light, the 10 sefirot, were created in perfect symmetry (balance).
Everything created is created through the contraction (tsimtsum) of a single infinite light (Ein Sof), and with the inherent symmetry of the 10 Emanation of Light (the 10 Sefirot) as it was at the time of the original act of creation, and as it continues to be.
It was not until the chet (sin) of Adam and Chava that the symmetry of the universe was disturbed. Since that time it has been the worlds mission to restore symmetry, the balance and equilibrium of the world to its original state (or higher) as it was in Gan Eden. This is the process we know as Tikum Olam, Rectification of the World.
Symmetry and Grace –
‘Grace is defined as a state of balance that reveals the unity above and beyond itself through the symmetrical arrangement of positive and negative elements. The quality of grace (chen) is constantly paired with the attribute of kindness (chesed), and the phrase “grace and kindness” (chen v’chesed) appears often in prayers and blessings. At such times they blend into a single idea that synthesizes each of their separate contributions, forming a linguistic “marriage,” an idiom. As such they become an entity unto themselves. Since chinuch (“initiation/integration”) shares a common root with chen (“grace”), it follows that chesed (“kindness”) would then relate to hadracha (“integration”) and its root derech (“way”). And further, that this particular pair, chen and chesed (“grace” and “kindness”) would mirror the relationship between chinuch and hadracha–between inspiration and integration’. (Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh- A Kabbalistic Approach to Spiritual Growth – pt 31)
Symmetry is defined synonymous with grace as beauty based on-or
characterized by such excellence of proportion.
In everyday language this refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. This experience may also be referred to as serenity. We may typically apply this definition to physical characteristics however this concept also applies to the spiritual aspects of a person as in ‘the symmetry of one’s soul… their rectified midos or character’.
We can see from the Kabbalah Tree of Life (diagram below) that there are forces or emanations to the right, forces to left and forces in the middle. Where all forces are in symmetry, balance or equilibrium, access to the most abundant flow of G-ds Divine Light, the Shefa, is available through its flow through the center-middle axis ( aka the Axis of Truth, The Pillar of Torah). It is here that true authentic joy is experienced. An experience sometimes referred to colloquially as ‘in the moment’ , a point of great clarity. Here on the middle axis (aka axis of Truth, aka Pillar of Torah) that there is an absence of opposing forces and thus there is a state of harmony and balance. Paradoxically, without any opposing forces there is no opportunity to earn a closer relationship to G-d, but only to accept and appreciate the merit of the relationship of efforts already done, and to experience true authentic joy. The opposing forces or sitra achra are necessary.
Middle Axis dia.
Time Symmetry Reversal (TSR) is a Torah-Physics concept (R. Akiva Bernstein) that reveals that with the process of tshuvah, a persons soul reaches a state of symmetry to be included on the Torah Axis of Truth (the middle axis), and is not bound by the restrictions of Time as we know it as a physical being. One (as his soul) can then transcend this ‘pluralistic’ dimension of time, and then be able to spiritually ‘travel’ back in time to erase his chet….tshuvah.
Noah was the quintessential man of symmetry. In fact his name in reverse is Chen, grace-symmetry. The Torah speaks of Noach as ‘perfect and righteous in his time’, in contrast to a time when the world was abundant with corruption and perversion.
In a nutshell, it was Noach mission to resurrect the world anew, to restore symmetry and balance to the world through ‘replanting ‘ the ‘language’ of G-d , i.e. His Spiritual concepts and Laws ( the 7 Noachide Laws) in the ‘newly purified ‘ world following the flood.
To do this, Hashem needed an ‘agent’ who’s midos (character) would not be manipulated one way or another … a man whose mission, much like an angel would not be compromised by a misuse of free will, a man who would carry out his mission pure and untainted. The message to resurrect the world needed to be done by such a man.
Accordingly, Noach lacked any motivation that would divert or compromise his mission. Noach name in fact indicates his essence. The reverse and same gematria of Noach (58) same as Chen; grace, balance, symmetry.
An Example of Symmetry; Where Sarah Laughs, Her Symmetry and Numbers (Vayera , Chayei Sarah)
We increase our experience of true authentic joy as we approach spiritual symmetry . True authentic joy (simcha) is the by-product of our increased harmony , our ability to bring about balance (of character) and experience Hashem’s most abundant light, His Shefa on the Middle Axis of Truth.
The pursuit and actualization of symmetry is key to rectification of ourselves and the World. It is in the understanding of symmetry that we can better understand ‘why Sarah laughs’… and why we laugh.
Joy and laughter is the infinite quality contained within the inner dimension of the un-resolvable, the un-rectifiable…the continuum of the resolve of the paradox . The greater the paradox, the greater the potential for the power of the joy, that is to say, the restoring of symmetry in the un-rectifiable entities. The power of rectification, ie symmetry is then made possible by the infinite power… G-d.
The paradox that existed for Sarah was to hear that she and Avraham were to have a child in their old age. Logically it made no sense that Sarah at 90 and Avraham at 100 were to have children, however in her heart she knew that G-d could do anything. This created a paradox and existential angst between her head and her heart.
It is the insurmountable distance between opposing or paradoxical ideals that illustrates to us the infinite expanse of resolve of rectification toward perfection between ourselves and G-d.
As Sarah demonstrates, laughter has the power to unify opposites, to bring unity and symmetry to the head and heart. The healing of the equilibrium and the symmetry as its result is an authentic act of compassion (rachmunis) of Hashem.
Sarah’s true authentic laughter heals the angst between
her head and her heart, and her symmetry is restored.
Count on this…
In Parshas Chayei Sarah, her 127 years are enumerated upon her death as ‘she was 100, 20 and 7′. In Torah tradition, numbers (gematria) are considered to represent ‘pure essence’. Numbers are not influenced in any way. So we can say that numbers reveal the greatest symmetry (chen).
- Sarah at 100 reveals the interinclusion of the emanation of chochma (wisdom and it’s 10 inclusive sefirot-emanations) – multiplied by (X) binah (understanding and it’s 10 inclusive sefirot-emanations) equals 100… also written as the interinclusion of each of the 10 sefirot – emanations contained within each of chochma and binah may be shown as;
- 10 (of chochma) ×10 ( of binah) = 100 as keter (crown). This refers to her super conscience. The number 10² (= 100) represents a rectified (perfected) number. (Kabbalistically a number squared is a ‘perfected’ number) .
NB each sefirot contains all 9 of the other sefirot so each sefirot contains a total of 10 emanations.
- Sarah at 20 = chochma + binah or 10 + 10 = 20. This refers to her conscience. Keter is also has a gematria reference of 20 as the first letter of Keter ; kuf is 20.
- Sarah at 7 = the 7 unified emotive experiences of the heart. This refers to her emotions (the lower 7 sefirot).
- Rashi writes; At the age of 100, Sara was still as pure of soul as a 20 year old, and at the age of 20, Sara was as beautiful as a child of 7. We see then the rectified consummate symmetry of Sarah.
The condition of the world is very much a place of might (gevurah) and desire. Finding a quick fix of joy, pleasure and comfort may be done consciously or unconsciously as a result of an unhealthy spiritual existence. In a quick fix scenario, the process of ‘a healthy resolve of a paradox ‘ is often bypassed or eliminated thus causing a default or counterfeit experience . The interaction of the body and the mind may then be manipulated or subjugated by self will. Pleasures of this ‘counterfeit’ type are short lived and damaging , causing compromised experiences of intimacy on all levels.
Regarding addiction …
When we experience these types of counterfeit pleasure we lessen our ability and sensitivity to be able to experience real authentic joy. Real authentic joy becomes compromised and counterfeit experiences become the ‘normative’ or ‘default’ mechanism; the ‘wiring’ of satiating our desires changes and becomes compromised. Our free will and choice becomes corrupted. Our heart becomes hardened. This is the result of addiction.
Addiction comes in many forms. As substance abuse or as
behaviors (anger, pride manipulation gambling etc.) that remove us
from true authentic reality and joy.
A person in a good state of symmetry will not succumb to addiction.
The lack of spiritual symmetry is the root cause of all the worlds maladies.
In a society so focused on material and intellectual success, the tools to deal with failure have all but been lost. From the perspective of Jewish Wisdom there is no ‘failure’. There may be a shortfall or interim phase in achieving a goal , but according to G-d and Jewish Wisdom, all is for our good [in our pursuit to succeed]. We say the most abundant sparks of holiness are contained (concealed) within those things that are not yet rectified. We call it tshuvah, the process of elevating that which lacks Holiness to return to a Holy pristine state (as in or beyond the Garden of Eden). We certainly don’t promote failure… and we certainly should not attach shame failure. If we were to do that, why would anyone pursue change or life as Jew in a Jewish community? The elevating of our brother is essential to his personal, and our overall common unified goal.
Life in symmetry
We should be aware that media, Jewish sources or otherwise, negatively impacting forces prey on our ‘symmetry’ by arousing our gevurah, our inner sense of ego and might. This can be a danger to our inner sense of peace and harmony as its purpose is to incite change , sometimes may be referred to as ‘inflaming or gas-lighting’ by getting people agitated. Almost always these types of publications or speakers never teach us how to resolve the issues or teach us how to effect change at the root cause. We .are therefore left (also as an accumulative effect) in a conscious or unconscious state of unhealthy angst or unhealthy state of symmetry without resolve. This leads to feelings of despair, helplessness and apathy. It ultimately compromises our ability to experience joy
Depression and other barriers of joy
There are those who may have greater challenges to experience true authentic joy. They may have issues with depression or other types of disorders such as substance abuse. In these situation we must do our best to bring these people close and help them feel our true chesed, loving kindness and compassion. Where a person is uncertain of how to deal with this or other sensitive situations, they should seek expert help. Many with issues of depression suffer in silence. They may have unknowingly become accustomed to a deficient quality of life.
As long as the heart is hardened and a person remains stiff necked, the ability to experience or sustain true authentic joy will be compromised. The mechanism and compassion of ‘good’ laughter is that is helps to re align our midos (character), a reset button if you will, on the symmetry of our head and heart… an indication of what true authentic symmetry and joy feels like.
Summary-
Our mechanism for establishing symmetry in our lives is the gateway to true authentic joy…simchah. Simchah is not a goal in-of itself but the by-product of symmetry through our a alignment with G-d of our body and soul. The key to this experience is accomplished through the learning and living of Torah … and let us not forget to have a good laugh.
A complete, holistic well balanced program in life will restore symmetry and the ability to experience true authentic joy. The learning and living of Torah is such a program.
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
www.lawrencelax.com
lawrenceJlax@gmail.com
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