13 Jun Beha’alotcha: Beauty and Harmony – The Vessels of The Temple
Beyond pshat, the superficial layer of torah study we can find a connection of letters, words, verses, numbers and concepts that reveal deeper insights in way that no other book in the world can even come close to. To study torah at this deeper level can reveal the unparalleled divinity and infinite power of G-ds creation as contained in this text. The teachings Chassidut and Kaballah can reveal these ‘inner dimensions of Torah.
At the time of creation, in the world of tohu, the entities we may call ‘kingdoms’ were autonomous. There was no interaction amongst them. They are Kabbalistically considered ‘masculine’ as they were only able to ‘give but not interact with the other kingdoms to receive, a feminine attribute. . It was not until one of those ‘kingdoms’ evolved and transformed into a feminine entity (likened to Adam having within him the feminine energy of the potential of chava) that there was then the birth to something new…. the Big Bang, the world of Tikun. A universe created of masculine and feminine energies referred to also as a binary or pluralistic universe. ‘ In the beginning’ the universe was in balance and harmony which was altered when Adam and Chava at the fruit of the Tree if knowledge.
All of the worlds blemishes today are a result of that first sin. It remains our purpose to bring rectification of all the worlds blemishes to restore the balance and harmony of the world as it was’ in the beginning’.
The seven lamps signify the seven basic types o souls, each having its particular path in accomplishing God’s purposes based on one of the seven basic emotions. Just as the seven lamps are all part of one candelabrum, all the diverse types of Jews form one collective body.
Still, because our Divine mission is the purpose of our existence, our separate paths in achieving it makes us separate “lamps”; what we do defines who we are. However, there is a deeper level of the soul, where it has intrinsic value beyond its Divine mission. At this level, the soul is an end in itself rather than merely a means to an end, and there is therefore no differentiation of souls based on the differences in the way they achieve their Divine mission.
The Torah therefore first refers to the lamps in general, rather than to a specific number, for the elevation it requires us to seek is intended to reach the level where we are all one. (Kehot 8.1)
There are 7 branches to the Menorah, and equal number in balance on each side of the cente. According to a general kabbalistic understanding , the Right side (of the sefirot) is masculine and the Left side is feminine; Right 3 lights chochma- chesed, netzech, Left; 3lights gevurah , netzech. The center branch the 7th, is associated Malchut-Kingship which functions as both feminine and masculine, as a receiver and a giver.
19 Vessels of the Mishkan
There are 19 vessels of the Mishkan teaching us 19 times that the building of the Mishkan will provide us with greater clarity of G-d.
There are 19 vessels of the Mishkan teaching us 19 times that the building of the Mishkan will provide us with greater clarity of G-d.
19 is the value of ‘Chava’ (Eve) who represents the counterpart (opposite) to Adam. This dynamic of masculine and feminine energy can be seen throughout the universe in interactions of people, a things such as the objects of the Mishkan.
For example, the Aron (Holy Ark) with its 2 cherubim represents the symmetry of feminine energy, and the menorah (7 branches) is masculine, and so too there is a masculine and feminine correspondence for all 19 vessels of the Mishkan. It is through the interaction of Masculine and Feminine energies that we may ‘give birth’ to something new. All interactions in the universe that ‘gives birth’ to something new follows this principle.
The relationship of Hashem and Man can also be understood in terms of Masculine and Feminine energy/attributes. G-d as a giver is a masculine attribute. G-d as a receiver as in receiving our prayers or our tshuvah is a feminine attribute. G-d is not bound by limitation so we understand that G-d is both masculine and feminine and neither.
There is an unusual term ‘Ifcha Mistabra’ that appears in the Babylonian Talmud 19 times and means ‘the opposite is true’, giving us cause to continually question to find a higher truth through the power of opposites … to the eventuality and eternal resolve of plurality to a higher truth, G-ds truth, and the unity of Oneness.
In G-ds highest realm where there culminates the resolve of all plurality elevated beyond the physical to the spiritual, Masculine and Feminine energies are elevated and rectified as One.
The mechanisms of change
The mechanism of Laws mitzvoth were given to us to guide us to establish an equilibrium in order to elevate us physically and spiritually to hoghr refitted state of beauty and harmony through the increased consciousness of Hashem in our thoughts and actions.
Balance and harmony to restore the world to its rectified state is essential to the process of Tikun-rectification of our body mind soul, National level and Tikun Olam, the rectification of the world
It is our purpose to transform chaos to Tikun, order and rectification.
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
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