03 Jul PROPHECY; BALAK – PINCHAS
Inspired by the teachings of Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth
In the Moment…
an infinite experience.
In Parshas Balak, King Balak of Moab hires Balaam destroy the Jewish Nation by getting Balaam to use his unique (limited) power of prophecy.
As we know that G-d is Infinite and lacks nothing, we also know that he does not lack the ability to be angry. Balaam the ‘prophet’ had the unique (albeit limited) ability to know the one moment each day when G-d is angry and is hired by King Balak to capitalize on that moment to get G-d to curse the Jewish Nation .
Prophecy is an ‘In the Moment’ experience .
A Moment…
A moment may be defined as an amount of time, usually brief, or as a period of time or point in history (as in a moment in history). But all definitions of ‘a moment’ are in agreement on the single mutual concept; a specific point in time of ‘a moment’ is indeterminable. It cannot truely be defined.
Time and creation-
When we look at Creation in the Torah in Parshas Bereishit we are able through Kabbalistic insight to begin to understand the concept of time.
The first word of the Torah is Bereishit, and the first letter of the Torah is ‘beit’ which has a gematria value of 2 suggesting that from a single Infinite source of ‘Oneness’ came a pluralistic world of the physical and spiritual. This is the point referred to as ‘the beginning’. The actual specific point of creation is ex-nihilo (something from nothing) and thereforoe cannot be determined as it comes from the realm of infinity (ein sof) or nofhingness. Nothingness like Infinity cannot be quantified.
Before ‘Time’ was enclothed in Space as known as ‘time and space’ (a pluralistic representation of the letter Beit-2), Time remained undefined. Time exists in this world and beyond. It is a component of all creation. The Torah and Mitzvot are a conduit of G-ds Infinity and Time is a crucial component of the effects of the actions of the ‘Run and Return’ of spiritual energies. The greater our ability to put Torah and Mitzvot into Action, the more we are able to connect to infinity and The Infinite Being through the mechanism of Run and Return (shov – ratzon). Time is the common thread of the finite and infinite.
A clue to the understanding of ‘Time’ and ‘a Moment’ can be found in the first verse of the Torah; ‘In the beginning’. We must first understand that in the Torah and the Laws of Physics (yes, they too are in the Torah); there are no absolutes. So where there exists for example a circle, the absolute center, the center of the center point can never be ‘absolutely’ defined. It can always be calibrated ‘more’ of the center point. Therefore, the center point of anything is ultimately infinite. This gives rise to deep kabbalistic commentary of the verse from Bereishit; ‘don’t eat from the tree in the center (middle) of the garden’ , accordingly the middle or the center point of the Tree of Knowledge (and theTree of Life ) are thus on the point that is infinite.
Where the Torah says ‘In the Beginning’, the ‘Beginning’, is a vessel of the creation of the ‘new’ pluralistic world that then allows it , ‘the beginning’, to house a center point that is infinite, thus the concept of ‘IN’ refers to IN the center infinite point of ‘the beginning’ having the Infinite Point of Something from Infiniteness or Nothing[ness]… CREATION of plurality. The sages thus say that the universe was created with infinity, and the infinite tool used to created the universe was TIME which becomes relevant with the plurality of the creation.
Mazel and Time
The Mazel – Constellations is the last point of the flow of energy as it enters our earthly realm ( Asya, this the world of action). It is at this point the flow of energy is ‘deterministic’. However, it is the ability of a Jewish neshama that can override the deterministic flow of the stars and reach the highest realms. This actually describes the mechanism of Tshuva. We can metaphysically go back in time to make change. (Time Symmetry Reversal, R A. Bernstein).
The acquiring of a greater experience of shalom-completion (peace, serenity… symmetry) leads to a greater ability to use each moment to the greatest potential.When we accomplish the necessary powerful spiritual connection (not limited to a single moment), we can eventually become able to access the potential of all moments as they become one eternal moment. We can do this through an elevating program of unifying our hearts and minds by Living, Learning and Teaching Torah, and for those in recovery, a program of wellness may also include The 12 Steps of Recovery and Torah.
Tools of the Baal Shem Tov
The Baal Shem Tov teaches the Chassidic philosophy of Chash Mal Mal or Submission, Separation and Sweetening. In brief it refers to; 1 Submission- nullification (bitul)/humility and quiet/silence to be able to receive. 2 Separating– ourselves from a previous less rectified reality to give birth to a new elevated state of being… a new reality. 3 Divinity-having done the necessary work of mind, heart and action, G-ds Divinity, His Sweetness will be bestowed upon you, to receive and elevate your efforts as in our tshuvah.
To appreciate and harness the power and potential of each moment, a program of clarity and rectification is essential.
There are ‘levels’ of prophecy. The ability to have prophecy is a lofty level of clarity of mind and heart is an ‘in the moment’ experience to be able to recognize and utilize the power of that intimate connection to G-d s infinity.
Bilaam had a limited prophecy was limited to a specific moment whereas Moses, the greatest prophet of all time had constant prophecy all of his moments.
May all your moment be used to the greatest potential as G-ds Will and…
May your efforts be blessed with His Sweetness.
Don’t waste a moment.
>2- PINCHAS
Inspired by the teachings of HaRav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth
Prophecy is an ‘In The Moment’ experience.
A moment can be described as the smallest amount of time.
This article on Parshas Pinchas continues the idea of Prophecy as Part 2 of Parshas Balak Pt1. In that article I described ‘a moment’ as having a center point, and that the center point of anything is undefinable, it is infinite. This reveals a Torah and Physics principle that there are no absolutes in this world (other than ‘G-d is One’), as all of Creation stems from Infinity….G-d, an Infinite Being. Any and all moments (all are an expression of the spiritual realm is thus a single eternal moment) and hold the potential of connecting to infinity ergo The Infinite Being.
The model known as ‘The Kabbalah Tree of Life’ can be used to understand the mechanism(s) that allows us to tap into the power the divine infinite flow. The Tree will show the ‘right axis’ as CHOCHMA, Wisdom of the Mind (intellect), a ‘left axis’ as BINAH, Wisdom of the Heart (emotive), and a Middle axis also known as the Axis of Truth or the Pillar of Torah.
We need to nurture the potential of both Mind (right) and Heart (left) through the mechanisms contained within creation and the learning and living of the righteous ways of Torah, to bring about the unifying of opposites. When this is done in an appropriate manner, the result is the greatest connection to the Middle Axis, also known as the Pillar of Torah or The Axis of Truth. This middle axis culminates the harmony, symmetry and equilibrium of one’s Mind and Heart thus allowing for the greatest connection to Truth… G-d’s Truth… His Infinite Wisdom. The midlde axis is where the greatest experience of the Shechina and the flow of prophecy occurs.
We may recall from last week’s parsha Balaam’s ‘special gift’ of prophecy was for destructive purposes, but this special prophetic ability was limited to only ‘a moment’ each day.
It was the prophetic ability of Pinchas ‘in the moment’ to know the right thing to do, along with his gift of zeal to act quickly and save the Jewish Nation during a plague of immorality, when others did not. Although there were great prophets amongst the Jewish Nation at the time, including Moshe the greatest of all prohets, yet it was Pinchas’ unique connection that made it possible for him to have the tremendous clarity on Mind and action of Heart ‘in that moment’ to have put his life in danger to save the Nation. The proof of the clarity of his prophesy was that Pinchas was not rebuked for killing Kozbi and Zimri (although he could have incurred the death penalty), but was rewarded with the only ever ‘additional’ appointment to be a Kohen.
In the moments of our lives are contained the potential to acquire a greater Truth through opposing forces as we approach the balance and harmony of the middle axis, coming closer to the flow of the infinite light, the shechina and allow us the experience of a greater connection to G-d’s Infinity. How we live, learn and apply the Righteous Way’s of Torah, the commandments and the philosophies of Judaism help determine our potential to receive a most rectified connection. For those dealing with issues of addiction or other malady, the practicing of the Righteous Ways helps in the journey to find the connection to symmetry; a centered-ness, and clarity and shalom-completion.
Every person needs to find and use his unique ability to pursue truth and clarity. The more ‘symmetrical and balanced’ we are, the better our ability to have clarity to tap into the power of the Middle Axis; The Axis of G-ds Truth, The Pillar of Torah, the shechina, and experience a more pure and abundant connection to the Infinite Being. We must emulate the Clarity and Zeal of Pinchas.
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
lawrencejlax@gmail.com