The Book of Splendor

Main Text (Zohar)

The smoke ascended, and this matter rests after all the spirit of the sacrifice rises up. And come and see the reason that faith is found below, as the vision above proves. It is like a King who prepared a feast for himself but did not prepare it for his servants. When he came to his servants, he ate from his own feast and they ate from theirs. This is what is written Song of Songs 5:1 "I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey"—this is the feast of the King. "Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved"—this is their feast from the leftovers of the sacrifice. Because of this, it is called "a sweet savor unto the Lord." "Savor" for His servants, "Sweet" for the Lord. This is from the mystery of the Ancient One term: Atika (The Ancient One) - the highest, most hidden aspect of the Divine that is found. And for this reason, the King’s feast is delayed for the sake of the feast of His servants. Because of this, Israel provides sustenance for their Father in Heaven through the daily offerings. And from the King’s feast, everyone is nourished. Portions of strength are distributed to the righteous.

Furthermore, he opened his discourse and said Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity." Worthy are the people of Israel, for at all times the Holy One, blessed be He, desires them to be at ease, and His Presence rests upon them more abundantly. He holds onto their existence; first He called them "servants" before the Holy One, as it is written Leviticus 25:55 "For unto Me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants." Afterwards, He called them "children," as it is said Deuteronomy 14:1 "Ye are the children of the Lord your God." Afterwards, He called them "brothers," as it is written Psalm 122:8 "For my brethren and companions' sakes." And because He called them brothers, He desired to settle His dwelling place among them and never depart from them. Then it is written: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity."

And the Holy Scripture says this: "Behold, how good and how pleasant" is the general rule, and "a man shall not rise up against his sister"—this refers to the Community of Israel term: Knesset Yisrael - the mystical personification of the people of Israel, often identified with the Shekhinah or Divine Presence who is called the "sister" of the Holy One, blessed be He. It lacks "rising up for his sister"—why is this? It lacks Hesed term: Hesed - the Divine attribute of Loving-kindness, the Kindness of Abraham. They have established this, and regarding this: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity"—this refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Community of Israel. The word "also" original: "gam" (גם) comes to include Israel below, when they are refined in that hour when the Community of Israel is as one. The Community of Israel below dwells as one, and we have learned that they "also" cling to the Holy One, blessed be He, and therefore "also in unity" is written.

And like a flower to the Great One, as it is called here "also in unity" to include the Righteous One note: likely referring to the Sefirah of Yesod toward this Community of Israel. They are one preparation and everything is one matter. And we have learned in the section of "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One" The Shema prayer: What is "One"? This is the Community of Israel which is united with the Holy One, blessed be He. For Rabbi Shimon said: The union of male and female is called "One." After the female rests [with the male], He is called "One." What is the reason? Because a male without a female is called "half a body," and a half is not "one." When they are joined as one, two halves become one body, and then it is called "One." But now [in exile], the Holy One, blessed be He, is not called "One" [in the lower worlds].

And the secret of the matter: The Community of Israel is like a garden, and the Holy One, blessed be He, ascends higher and higher, and goes to spread out. This holy flow is Hesed (Kindness), which is complete, and below it is not called [One]. But it will be called "One" at the time when the Matronita term: Matronita - The Noble Lady/Queen, a title for the Shekhinah is found with the King and they are coupled as one. This is what is written Obadiah 1:21 "And the kingdom shall be the Lord's." See, "Kingdom" is the Community of Israel, through which the King is established. Then Zechariah 14:9 "In that day shall the Lord be one, and His name one." And regarding this: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity."

And it is written Psalm 133:2 "It is like the precious oil upon the head." See, "the precious oil" is the Kindness (Hesed) of the holy softness that flows and emerges from the Holy Ancient One, which is found in that Supernal Crown (Keter), the Holy Beard term: Dikna Kadisha - the "Holy Beard," a Kabbalistic metaphor for the channels of Divine mercy flowing from the highest source that is prepared to kindle the lamps. And that Kindness flows onto the head of the King, and from its mystery to the glory of the Holy Beard, and from there it flows to all those garments of glory of the King which are perfected by them. This is what is written: "that ran down upon the beard." "Upon the beard"—this is Kindness, and these are the crowns of the King of the holy heavens that are found in them. Come and see: all the treasures and all the joy of the worlds do not come to be blessed except through those holy crowns, through those [emanations] of the Holy King. And thus: "that ran down upon the beard." "The beard" certainly—everything is according to Aaron note: Aaron the High Priest represents the attribute of Hesed/Kindness, and so it shall be, according to the measures that weaken and flow to all the worlds, so that blessings are found for all. And come and see, this precious oil...