GO INTO YOURSELF
LEKH LEKHA – THIS WEEK’S TORAH READING
The Source of Life (YHVH) speaks and Avram listens. You go! Leave your birthplace and life as you have known it.
Avram sets out with Sarai – his wife, Lot – his nephew and the “souls they had made”. Lot and his camp separate from Avram’s camp.
BATTLE AND RESCUE
Then they get in trouble, and become prisoners of war. Avram saves him and his community. Malkhi-Tzedek, King of Salem, High Priest of El Elyon – Divine Most High comes to meet Avram following this victory. Avram gives a tribute of 10 % to Malkhi-Tzedek. They make a pact and seal it with bread, wine, and blessings. This is the first tithing recorded.
PACT BETWEEN THE HALVES
Following these events, The Source of Life (YHVH) directs Avram through a ritual of sacred sacrifice that is known as the “Pact between Halves”. Avraham goes into a trance and it is revealed to him that his descendants will be enslaved and oppressed as a community in a land that is not theirs, they will suffer for 400 years, yet they will prevail.
BIRTH OF ISHMAEL.
Ishmael is born to HaGar. This upsets Sarah.
SPIRITUAL NAMES
Avram and Sarai receive names marking their enlightenment – Avram becomes Avraham and Sarai becomes Sarah.
CIRCUMCISION
Avraham and all those born male in the household are circumcised.
HIGHLIGHTS
SOULS THEY HAD MADE (Gen 12:5)
The people who they helped turn their hearts to The Source of Life, G!D Who Is, Was and Will Be. (Rashi, Ibn Ezra from Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan z”l) It can also mean their servants. (Rashi)
Avraham goes into a trance & it is revealed … (Gen 15:12)
This prophetic vision is included in the Pesah Hagadah and read at the seder tables year after year. It is an important aspect of Jewish identity. The end being planted in the beginning is a repeating theme in Jewish liturgy and consciousness. Consider the phrase from Lekha Dodi “Sof Ma-aseh B’makhshavah T’hilah” – the ending manifestation was in the initial thought.
DAVVENEN – PRAYER AS A PORTAL
Malkhi-Tzedek blessed Avram by saying, Blessed be Avram to “El Elyon” – G!D Most High.
El Elyon is a name of G!D found in the first blessing the Amidah – silent standing prayer called Avot – ancestors. This Name alludes to this Torah portion and the meeting between Malkhi-Tzedek and Avram. Malkhi-Tzedek was a priest to El Elyon.
PRACTICE
The next seven times you pray the Amidah, pause briefly when you get to the words “El Elyon”. Reflect on the sound of the words, their literal meeting, and the sacred meeting described. Imagine what was said, felt, sensed, and experienced. Recall Avram’s generosity in tithing, the bread, wine, and blessing shared. Allow it to elevate.
Return to the Amidah.
LOCAL COSMOS
Autumn has settled in. It is getting chilly in the Northern Hemisphere. Earth is moving into deep sleep as winter approaches – going into herself as the days continue to get shorter. Lekh Lekha, Lekhi Lakh.
S’FIRAH COUNTING AND SYMBOLS OF INTEREST
Tiferet in Hesed, Harmony in Benevolence
Parashat Lekh Lekha begins with creation having found a sense of balance (Tiferet). Avram, our ancestor is introduced. His father, Terah, earned his living by crafting idols, which was the spiritual technology of that time. Avraham gets called by G!D Who Is, Was, and Will Be – The Source of Life (YHVH) – and received direction to leave his father’s house go out into the world. He brings Sarai – his wife, Lot – his Nephew, and his people with him.
TREE OF LIFE REFERENCES
The Hesed of the creative process needed to create the world has found balance (Tiferet). This process of balance is propelled forward through, not only the initial Hesed of creation, but the additional Hesed of Avraham Avinu who is the icon of Hesed.
TIFERET AS COVENANT
Covenants are made in this portion reflecting Tiferet‘s harmony and balance. Avram makes a covenant with Malkhi Tzedek. Later on, as Avraham, he and his household take on the covenant of circumcision – a practice that many Jews and non Jews take on to this day.
Miryam is the Matriarch embodying Hesed.
RAM HESHVAN
The holidays are complete. The next holiday, Hanukah, is almost two months away. It is getting colder, giving a sense of distance from The Source of Life.
As a result, Heshvan is often called Mar Heshvan “bitter” Heshvan. Heshvan’s astrological symbol is the Scorpion. They walk sideways and so, are indirect. They sting.
BNAI YISASKHAR TORAH
Bnai Yisaskhar (Hassidic Master mid 1850’s) teaches that often during this time of year new decrees come down from government. Interestingly, election day in the US come in during this time frame and with them new laws and leadership showing truth in this teaching in the 20th and 21rst century US.
The Holy Bnay Yiasakhar shares that in the future this month will receive its fullness since Heshvan is the month designated for dedicating the third Temple.
MAR HESHVAN CREATES A VACUUM, AN OPENING
The perceived distance creates a vacuum – tzim tzum; a potency calling for more blessings to enter. An energetic vacuum filled with potential.
TURNING BITTERNESS INTO EXULTATION
Many refer to this month as Ram Heshvan – exalted Heshvan making room The Time That is Coming. When all people open to and are able to receive Moshiah consciousness. The awareness will land on each individual, one at a time and they will light up – like popcorn popping. When this happens Heshvan will elevate to its true form Ram Heshvan.
THE TIME THAT IS COMING
There are many visions of what the third Temple is or will be and what the practices will be. Rav Avraham Isaac Kook zt”l, who was known to eat meat only on Shabbat and holidays shared a vision of no animal sacrifice in the Third Temple, only meal offerings. Others see the third Temple as the human body itself – the vehicle humanity is gifted with upon entry into this Space-Time continuum. This is a call toward self care and attuning to the potencies lying dormant with in the body.
ELEVATING HESHVAN
The month commonly referred to as Mar-Heshvan מר חשבן (bitter Heshvan) will be transformed into Ram-Heshvan רם חשבן (exalted Heshvan) in the future and any lingering bitterness will be released. Many already use the name Ram-Heshvan as a way of inviting higher awareness into life. May it happen soon!
Four Letter Name Permutation for Raam Heshvan:
VYHH according to Rivaad on Sefer Yetzirah.
LETTERS RULING THIS SHABBAT
Sefer Yetzirah offers a three letter designated for any particular day. One letter for the season, one letter for the month, and one letter for the day.
Sefer Yetzirah teaches that the letter Nun נ rules Ram Heshvan. Nun for Nefesh; Soul. Nun for Neshamah; Spirit, Nun for Ness; miracle , the letter associated with Shabbat is ת , the letter for the autumn is א
ת נ א
Probe them visually and/or phonetically, permute them, meet them with curiosity, and play with them and to find what meant for you to fine. Rabbi Avraham Abulafia z”l teaches that wisdom may come through in any language in many ways. Have fun with this sacred play.
Shabbat Shalom
Dear Rabbi T’mimah, Thank you for your Holistic Jew blog. As a relative newbie in Kabbalah, I am trying to understand the references that you make to the Etz Chayyim. I am generally aware that there are different kabbalistic understandings of the sefirotic tree, and I was curious whether your blogging is guided by any specific set of understandings of a particular work that we could reference as a foundation to understanding your blog.
Shabbat Shalom,
Dear Rabbi Julius,
The Classical Kabbalah Connectivity Sheet, found at the end of the post, offers a quick reference to is what is being used.
The references being used here are the norms used in Kabbalah siddurim, like siddur Oz HaT’fillah, my favorite.
Much of it can be found in the Kabbalah classic called Shaarei Orah by Rabbi Yoseph Gikatilla. Having said that, the book offers many references for each S’firah. We are using a more limited set.
I hope this is useful to your process.
Blessings,