by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Texts
Tradition attributed to Hai Gaon by Nathan ben Yehiel of Rome in his Talmudic lexicon, Sefer he-‘Arukh Aruch Completum, 1-14 This is explained in Hekhalot Rabbati and Hekhalot Zutarti. They [the mystics] would do certain actions, pray certain prayers in purity,...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Texts
“And the people saw it” (Exod. 20-15). What did they see? They saw the great Glory (kavod gadol). R. Eliezer said- Whence do we know that the Israelite maidservant saw that which the greatest of prophets did not see? It is written, “And the people saw it.” What did...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Texts
The Holy One, blessed be He, said, Certainly “I spoke to the prophets,” but “I multiplied visions,” for the prophecy of one was not like that of another. Amos saw Me standing… Isaiah saw Me sitting… Moses saw Me as a warrior… Daniel saw Me as an elder… Therefore it...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Texts
The secret of the splendor of the supernal light, the good that is hidden for the souls of the righteous, “no eye has seen, O God, but You” (Isa. 64-3). We must believe and know that the supernal Garden of Eden is the secret of the bundle of life, and the Holy One,...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Texts
Sefer Hasidim, § 978 The essential strength of pietism is that, even though [people] insult him, he does not abandon his piety, and his intention is directed to God and he does not look at women whereas others apart from him do look. Thus he merits the abundant...
by hadassah | Oct 30, 2016 | Texts
It is written “I will make all My goodness pass before you” (Exod. 33-19). The word “all” (kol) [in the expression “all My goodness,” kol tuvi] numerically equals fifty [which corresponds to the fifty] gates of understanding. Upon each and every gate there is...
