Kabbalah Class Tonight @ 7:30pm MiYaD "Kabbalah of JEWISH STARS" All Levels FREE 235 N Robbins Lane Syosset, NY 11791 “A star steps out of Jacob and a rod rises out of Israel.” -Balak 24:17 One source, cited in the Jerusalem Talmud, Targum and Midrashim, states that this verse refers to Moshiach. Another passage in the Jerusalem Talmud interprets that it refers to every Jew. This apparent disagreement can be resolved by a teaching of the Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, who said that every Jew contains within himself a spark or part of the soul of Moshiach. Both interpretations thus converge, for ultimately they state one and the same thing. This does not mean that the spark of Moshiach inherent in every Jew is no more than some latent aspect. After all, our verse states; “A star steps out of Jacob and a rod rises out of Israel.” These expressions imply that it comes out into the open. This means, therefore, that every Jew is able to bring the spark of Moshiach within himself out into the open. In simple terms: Every Jew is able to bring about the actual manifestation of Moshiach. One is able to do so by means of Torah and mitzvot. For Torah and mitzvot effect a purification and refinement of the physical world. Impurity is reduced and nullified, to the point of “I shall remove the spirit of impurity from the earth” (Zechariah 13:2). This will be achieved with the coming of Moshiach who shall reveal goodness and holiness in the world, culminating in “The earth shall be full with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). “(Israel) couches, lies down like an ari (lion) and like a lavi (fierce lion), mee (who) shall make him rise!” -Balak 24:9 The Midrash states that this verse speaks of the era of galut. Galut relates to the physical reality of the Jew (the body). One might think that it relates also to the soul, that is, to the aspects of Torah and mitzvot which are bound up with the soul. Thus it is said, “He couches, lies down.” This is not the surrender of one who has lost his strength, but a considered restraint-“like a lion, like a fierce lion”-by Divine decree. Thus even in galut-the time of “couching, lying down”-the nations of the world do not have mastery over Israel, Heaven forbid. Jews are always like an ari and lavi, except that “Mee (literally, Who) shall make him rise.” Mystical texts interpret the term Mee as a reference to the Almighty. In our context, then, “Mee shall make him rise” refers to G-d who will redeem us from the galut, as it is said, “Out of Zion, Mee shall grant the salvation of Israel...” (Psalms 14:7). Even in galut Israel remains like an ari and a lavi. The soul, in terms of Torah and mitzvot, is not subjected to the galut. Realization of this principle, and living by it, will bring about the salvation of the Messianic redemption.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:32:58 +0000
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