📕 TUESDAY PRAYER: HOD-MAIN READING OF THE WEEK – THE ZOHAR BOOK
READING: SUNSET MONDAY
Main Reading for PRAYER OF MANY, today with ENGLISH ZOHAR READING, page 228
ARVUT OF : Robin Anderson
- One Shabbat was left, unmentioned Above, and felt ashamed. She said to
Him, “The Creator of the universe, from the day I was created, I am called
Shabbat, but there is no day without night.” The Creator replied to her: “My
daughter, you are Shabbat, and I have given you this name. But now I am
surrounding and adorning you with the most exalted adornment.” He then
raised His voice and proclaimed, “Those who sanctify shall fear. And this is
the night of Shabbat that radiates fear.” But who is she? It is the merging
together of I (Malchut, the nights of Shabbat) with the Creator Himself (ZA)
into a single whole. And I’ve heard from my father that the word Et refers
to the boundaries-borders of Shabbat. Shabbatot (two Sabbaths) denote a
circle and a square within, which total two. According to them, there are
two sanctities we should mention during the Shabbat blessing: Vayechulu
consists of thirty-five words, and Kiddush, too, consists of thirty-five words.
Collectively, they make up to the seventy names of ZA, with which ZA (the
Creator), and Malchut (the Assembly of Israel) adorn themselves. - Since the circle and square are Shabbatot, they are both included in the
instruction, “My Shabbatot you are to observe.” However, the Upper Shabbat
is not included in the instruction “Observe,” but rather in “Remember.” For
the Supernal King, Bina is as perfect as memory. This is why Bina is called
“King,” whose perfection lies in peace and in memory. Hence, there is no
contradiction Above.
Malchut de Malchut is called the central point of creation, and receives no
Light even on Shabbat, as, being a Man’ula (lock), she is closed to the Light.
And the entire Light enters her only in the form of Miftacha (key), into Yesod de
Malchut, in Malchut that joins Bina with her properties, while Malchut herself is
therefore referred to as “locked.”
This central point of creation is the only thing that the Creator created, and
is comprised of all the creatures, including human souls. And she argues with
the Creator that in the beginning of creation, in the world of AK, the entire
Light was revealed and shone upon the creatures thanks to her, for there was no
other Malchut in the world of AK, except for the central point. And only due to
Tzimtzum Bet (second restriction), now in the world of Atzilut, was she restricted
and closed to the reception of Light.
And this is a great and wonderful secret, for, as Malchut objects, even on
the first day, it is said: “And there shall be evening, and there shall be morning—
one day.” (Beresheet, 1:6) In other words, unity is revealed in both night and
day together. Yet, why is the night of the first Shabbat not mentioned in the
THE DONKEY DRIVER 229
Torah, and only the words “on the seventh day” are used? The Creator replied
to Malchut that a future Shabbat is implied—Shabbat of the seventh millennium,
when the day of Shabbat will come and remain forever.