By the blessing of G-d
ב״ה
With the help of heaven
בס״ד
Everything belongs to Hashem
לה״ו
“One does what one
must—And trusts in
God”[1]
“The hardest thing of all is to be
who you were meant to
be”[2]
Dancing with
AngelsMeditation and
the
Bibleקבלה
התבוננות מן
תורה אל מוסר
אל
נבואה
ישם
נהרות
למדבר,
ומצאי מים
לצמאוןHe
places streams in the wilderness, and one finds water in the parched
land.[3]
Love others in all
God’s land, for every person has his or her
time. Greet every person with honor as they too are
created in the image of G-d.CaVOD –
Glory
–
כבודThis
work is ©Copyrighted 2008.
Permission to duplicate, reuse, and redistribute materials herein is granted for
non-profit purposes. I can be
reached at: “Jeff.Spiegel” ‘at’ “utah”
‘dot’ “edu”.
שאהForty
days before a person is conceived into this world, it is announced in
heaven, the daughter of this man is destined to
marry this man, the house in this place is destined for their
home, and this field (livelihood / business /
profession) is destined for this person. Sota
2a[4]
Version –
4/8/2008
This manual
(frame
version) will prepare one to hear the words of God,
see authentic visions, smell the supernal beauty, touch his/her Grace, and taste
the delights of Eden. Study the manual by browsing the table of contents at the
end of each web page, links, and footnotes. Let your spirit be your guide and
the Ribono Shel Olam (the Master of the World) will reveal what you need to
learn next. The work focuses on learning spirituality through
character improvement and through the
theoretical,
meditative, and
practical kabbalah. This manual uses
prayer,
Midrash,
Torah,
Mussar,
kabbalah, and
meditation to inspire the
soul. While I have written down some of my own
meditative journeys, in the final analysis one must choose ones own path and
with the blessing of G-d reveal another true path to the Infinite.
The Hebrew title for this work is
Cavod –
כבוד that
means
glory
[5],[6],[7],[8],
the light of
tiferet, the heart of
Jacob; honor, Torah and truth. The
gematria of Kavod is
Thirty-two. The Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom
or the
Tree of Life are
ten sefirot: Keter – crown,
Hochmah – wisdom, Binah – understanding, Hesed – kindness,
Gevurah – discipline, Tiferet – beauty,
Netzah – victory,
Hod – acceptance, Yesod – righteousness,
and Malchut – spirituality. There are twenty-two
Hebrew letter paths:
Aleph – energy,
Bet – house, Gimel –
fertility, Dalet – knowledge, Heh – feminine spirit, Vav –
children, Zayin – tools, Het – fences of protection, Tet –
creativity, Yod – divine spark, Caph – helping hand, Lamed –
learning, Mem – wisdom, Nun – falling to climb once more, Samech
– rest and contentment, Ayin – seeing and cleansing, Peh –
opening up, Tzaddik – commandments to holiness, Koof – laughter,
Resh – war and peace, Shin – intelligence, and Tav –
goodness.
Nutrition,
herbs,
diet and
exercise help us take care of our
aging,
back,
teeth,
digestion
(Vit.B, Zinc, MSM),
hair,
head,
heart,
joints,
mind,
muscles,
skin, and
vision so that we may take care of others.
Studying the night sky,
music,
seeking
the
names of God,
numbers,
writing and
prophecy are
keys for
opening spiritual doors. Spending time with
children, in
nature,
walking in
Israel,
and
observing holidays brings us to
joy
and happiness. Studying
astronomy,
biology,
chemistry,
cosmology, geology,
quantum physics,
time and space, etc. increases
appreciation.
History,
philosophy and
religion help separate the
silver from the
dross of cabala. Within
Kavod, one
will find the
soul of Christianity. The
Nefesh – body relates to
physical health as the
Ruach – spirit relates to
mental health. The
Neshamah – soul relates to
moral health. The
Chaya – community is the
[9]. Finally,
Yechidah is divine connection, which gives us
hope and
faith that
everything will
work out for the best. Improving
our
Conversations improves our ability to
relate with each other and involves all seven qualities of the image of
G-d:
9
- Start with Heart – What do you want to achieve for yourself and others
– Hesed
- Learn to Look – See what is around you, recognize your own emotions
– Gevurah
- Make it Safe – Make the conversation safe to increase the pool of
shared meaning – Tiferet
- Master my Stories – You determine the story of a situation –
Netzah
- State your Path – Express your goals – Hod
- Explore Others’ Paths – Ask, Mirror, Paraphrase, and Prime
– Yesod
- Move to Action – Implement the results – Malchut
For easy browsing, there is an abbreviated table of contents
at the end of each web page. Please download the Hebrew true-type font to view
native Hebrew text. To install the Hebrew true type font is easy:
- Click on hebrew.ttf and save it in
C:\Windows\fonts or C:\WinNT\fonts and you’re done
- Restart the browser for the new fonts to take
effect.
Psalm 29 presents the word ‘Kavod’ four times, twice as honor
and twice as glory. Kavod associates with the sefira of Tiferet. Tiferet has
the color of violet when it represents the
honor of G-d, violet being the color of
royalty (see
Table 17-6: Sefirot and
Colors explaining that Kavod is the light of Tiferet). Tiferet has the
color yellow when it represents the
glory of
God, yellow being the color of sunlight. The four Kavods correspond to the four
temples in the worlds of
Asiyah,
Yetzirah,
Beriyah, and
Atzulut.
A Psalm by David. Render to the Lord, children of the mighty, render to
the Lord honor and strength.
Render to the Lord honor due to
His Name; bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness. The
VOICE of the Lord is over the waters,
the God of glory thunders; the
Lord is over mighty waters. The VOICE
of the Lord resounds with might; the
VOICE of the Lord resounds with majesty.
The VOICE of the Lord breaks cedars; the
Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them leap like a calf; Lebanon
and Sirion like a young wild ox. The
VOICE of the Lord strikes flames of
fire. The VOICE of the Lord makes the
desert tremble; the Lord causes the desert of Kadesh to tremble. The
VOICE of the Lord causes does to calve,
and strips the forests bare; and in His Sanctuary all proclaim His
glory. The Lord sat at the
Flood; the Lord will sit as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His
people; the Lord will bless His people with
peace.[10]The psalm
mentions seven voices, each day a voice goes forth and proclaims His
glory.
[11]
Table 1-1: The Seven Voices of Psalm 29
|
Sefira
(Zohar)
|
|
Passages from Psalm 29 in Verse Order
|
Commentary (Zohar sefirot ordering)
|
|
Hesed (Abraham)
|
Hesed – love and water
|
The Voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders; the
Lord is over mighty waters
|
This is the right pillar of the tree of life, whose water is with thunder
that is the awe of God.
|
|
Gevurah (Isaac)
|
Gevurah
|
The Voice of the Lord resounds with might –
כח
|
This is strength
|
|
Tiferet (Jacob)
|
Hod – splendor
|
The Voice of the Lord resounds with splendor –
הדר
[12]
|
This is beauty
|
|
Netzah (Victory)
|
Yesod – Joseph’s bow
|
The Voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of
Lebanon.
|
This is victory over the northern enemies.
|
|
Hod (Majesty)
|
Tiferet – makes peace between fire and water
|
The Voice of the Lord strikes flames of fire.
|
This is the left pillar of the tree of life whose fire purifies one of
sin.
|
|
Yesod (Tzaddik – Righteous One)
|
Netzah – alluded to in the word “eternity”
|
The Voice of the Lord makes the desert tremble; the Lord causes the
desert of Kadesh to tremble
|
This is the holy desert (Kadesh), the mystical foundation of the Tree of
Life. Trembling is the meditative ascent.
|
|
Malchut
|
Malchut – alluded to by “Glory” of kingship
|
The Voice of the Lord causes does to calve, and strips the forests
bare
|
The flow of energy leads to reproduction. Even as the forests lose their
leaves in winter, the seed awaits to be born in the spring.
|
Text
1-2: Zohar on the Seven Voices
In Psalm XXIX, the “Voice of the Lord” is mentioned seven
times, and R. Jose explained them thus: “The voice of the Lord is on the
waters”; this is Abraham. “The voice of the Lord is in
strength”; this is Isaac. “The voice of the Lord is in
beauty”; this is Jacob. “The voice of the Lord breaketh the
cedars”; this is Netzah (Victory). “The voice of the Lord heweth
flames of fire”; this is Hod (Majesty). “The voice of the Lord
causeth the wilderness to tremble”; this is Zaddik (Righteous One). And
all bring blessings on to the world from the replenishment, which they
themselves receive. On all other days of the year these Seven are roused to
activity by the prayer of men's mouth, but on this day it depends on action, and
we require action, because at this season the whole year is
blessed.[13]
The season is Sukkot, the seventh day is Hoshana Rabbah as the Zohar
discusses further:
[14]
Text
1-3: Seventh Day of Sukkot
On the seventh day of Tabernacles the judgment of the world is finally
sealed and the edicts are sent forth from the King, and God's might is aroused,
and the “willows of the brook” [Tr. note: Nezah and Hod] depend on
it, and we require to awaken the might which sends the rain and to go round the
altar seven times and sate it with the water of Isaac, because the well of Isaac
is filled with water, and then all the world is blessed with water. We therefore
pray that the rain-giving power may be manifested, and afterwards destroy willow
twigs, since judgment is closed on this day.
Text
1-4: Bahir on the Seven
Voices
He (Rabbi Amorai) said: What is the meaning
of the verse (Exodus 20:15) , "And all the people
saw the voices." These are the voice regarding which King David spoke. It is
thus written (Psalm 29:3), "The voice of God is
upon the waters, the God of glory thunders." [This is the first voice.] [The
second voice is] (Psalm 29:4), "The voice of God
comes in strength." Regarding this it is written (Isaiah
10:13) , "By the strength of my hand have I done it." It is likewise
written (Isaiah 48:13), "Also My Hand has founded
the earth." [The third voice is] (Psalm 29:4), "The
voice of God is with majesty." It is also written (Psalm
111:3), "Splendor and majesty are His works, his righteousness stands
forever." [The fourth voice is] (Psalm 29:5),
"God's voice breaks the cedars." This is the bow that breaks the cypress and
cedar trees. [The fifth voice is] (Psalm 29:7),
"God's voice draws out flames of fire." This is what makes peace between water
and fire. It draws out the power of the fire and prevents it from evaporating
the water. It also prevents [the water] from extinguishing it. [The sixth voice
is] (Psalm 29:8), "God's voice shakes the desert."
It is thus written (Psalm 18:51) "He does kindness
to his Messiah, to David and his descendants until eternity" more than [when
Israel was] in the desert. [The seventh voice is] (Psalm
29:9), "God's voice makes hinds to calf, strips the forests bare, and
in His Temple, all say Glory." It is thus written (Song of
Songs 2:7) "I bind you with an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, with
the hosts, or with the hinds of the field." This teaches us that the Torah was
given with seven voices. In each of them the Master of the Universe revealed
Himself to them, and they saw Him. It is thus written, "And all the people saw
the voices."[15]
The second verse of the Shema alludes to the eighth voice, which will usher
in the World to Come.
Text
1-5: The Voice of the World to Come
May his Name be blessed forever and
ever.Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever
and ever.[16]
The
mystery of ‘forever and
ever’ alludes to the
eighth voice for the
day that will last forever, the
day of immortal
[17]y. Where is this
day?
17 It is located in the fifth
glory, the fifth
world, Olam
[18]bah – the World to Come.
18
The second verse of the Shema contains the word for glory; He is the light of
the World to Come. There, Ribono shel Olam brings about the
resurrection of the dead.
The
[19]ighth voice is the voice of song as the
Zohar teaches:
19
Text
1-6: Zohar on the Voice of Song
In another place the waves of the sea roar and descend a
certain number of degrees,
and there other hosts proclaim with the
voice of song:
“Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his
place”
(Ezekiel 3:12)
“His place” is Olam Habah – the World to Come. The
Zohar teaches that Torah learning has the level of Tiferet while prophecy is
lower at Netzah and Hod.
[20] The
spirit of holiness is lower still, at Malchut with the Shechinah. Thus, the
higher level is accessible to us all. In the final analysis by studying Torah
lishmah – ‘for its own
sake’ all things are
p
[21]sible.
21
Text
1-7: Zohar on Torah, Prophecy, and Holiness
What, now, is the difference between those who study the Torah and the
faithful prophets? The former are ever superior, since they stand on a higher
level. Those who study the Torah stand in a place called Tiferet (Beauty), which
is the pillar of all faith, whereas the prophets stand lower in the place called
Netzah (Victory) and Hod (Majesty); and those who merely speak in the spirit of
holiness stand lower still. He who studies the Torah needs neither peace
offerings nor burnt offerings, since the Torah is superior to all and the bond
of faith; wherefore it is written “Her ways are ways of pleasantness and
all her paths are peace” (Prov. III, 17), and also, “Great peace
have they which love thy law and they have no occasion for stumbling” (Ps.
CXIX, 165).’
From Mishnah Avot 6, we learn the power of
lishmah to raise one out of the dust and ashes to walk upon the clouds of
glory:
Text
1-8: Perkei Avot 6 on Learning Torah for its own
Sake
R. MEIR SAID: WHOEVER OCCUPIES HIMSELF WITH THE TORAH FOR ITS OWN
SAKE, ACQUIRES BY MERIT MANY THINGS, NAY MORE, THE WHOLE OF THE WORLD IS WORTH
WHILE FOR HIS SAKE. HE IS CALLED A FRIEND, A BELOVED, ONE THAT LOVES THE
ALL-PRESENT, ONE THAT LOVES [HIS FELLOW-] CREATURES. ONE THAT GLADDENS GOD, ONE
THAT GLADDENS MAN; AND IT [I. E. THE TORAH] CLOTHES HIM WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR,
AND FITS HIM TO BE RIGHTEOUS, PIOUS, UPRIGHT AND FAITHFUL; IT ALSO KEEPS HIM FAR
FROM SIN, AND BRINGS HIM NEAR TO MERIT [ORIOUS CONDUCT]; AND MEN BENEFIT FROM
HIM BY [WAY OF] COUNSEL, SOUND KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND STRENGTH, AS IT IS
SAID, COUNSEL IS MINE AND SOUND WISDOM; I AM UNDERSTANDING, POWER IS MINE; AND
IT GIVES HIM SOVEREIGNTY AND DOMINION, AND [THE FACULTY TO BE] SEARCHING IN
JUDGMENT; AND THEY REVEAL TO HIM THE SECRET MEANINGS OF THE
TORAH,[22] AND HE IS MADE AS A WELL
THAT EVER GATHERS FORCE, AND LIKE A STREAM THAT NEVER CEASES; AND HE BECOMES
MODEST, LONG-SUFFERING AND FORGIVING OF INSULT TOWARDS HIMSELF; AND IT MAKES HIM
GREAT, AND EXALTS HIM ABOVE ALL THE WORKS [OF GOD].The principle of
lishmah is defined in Talmud Pesachim 50b:
Raba contrasted [two verses]. It is written, For thy mercy is great
unto the heavens; whereas it is also written, For thy mercy is great above the
heavens? How is this [to be explained]? Here it refers to those who perform
[God's behest] for its own sake; there it refers to those who perform [it] with
an ulterior motive. And [this is] in accordance with Rab Judah. For Rab Judah
said in Rab's name: A man should always occupy himself with Torah and good
deeds, though it is not for their own sake, for out of [doing good] with an
ulterior motive there comes [doing good] for its own sake.Tiferet
represents Torah study. Yet above, we find Hesed and Gevurah. This teaches
that a person by acts of loving-kindness and self-discipline arrives at a level
even above Torah study. One rises to Hesed by charity and helping others where
women often excel. Gevurah requires one to have reached the level of
stoicism that is a detachment from praise and
insult. Nevertheless, Torah study inspires one to acts of kindness and
discipline, while the lack of Torah study leads to apathy, has
vshalom.
Features:
- A PDF Version
with built-in Hebrew and full Hyperlinks (8 MB): older version
- Temple Emanuel’s PDF Version
- A frame based version: always
current
- Index
- Left frame contains:
- Table of Contents
- List of Equations
- List of Figures
- List of Meditations
- List of Tables
- List of Text
Recommended
Kabbalah links:
Biblical Genealogy Timeline of history and
names by Professor G. L. Esterson of Ra'anana, Israel
Maqom’s excellent
Torah learning site with guided meditations too. Recommended
Rav Kook on the Weekly Parasha Rabbi Abraham
Isaac Kook, 1st Chief Rabbi of Israel, ‘According to Kook's
philosophy of repentance, man's separation from God is not an objective fact but
a consequence of human "forgetfulness" of a higher existence. Thus repentance,
achieved through Torah learning, can restore man's unity with the divine. A
mystic by nature, Kook viewed Jewish national revival as part of the divine plan
for strengthening faith against the rising tide of heresy. He expounded this
philosophy in several cryptic essays, many of which were published posthumously
under the title Orot ha-qodesh, 3 vol. (1963-64; "Lights of
Holiness").’[23]
- Idra Rabba Qadusha
- Sifra Detzniyutha
- Idra Zuta Qadusha
- Ma'aseh Merkabah Literature
- Books of Enoch
- Sh'ir Qoma (Shiur Komah)
- Etz HaChayyim
· JPS Tanach
· Talmud including the Sayings of our
Fathers
· Legends of the Jews by Louis
Ginsburg
· The Kabbalah Unveiled by S.L MacGregor Mathers,
basically the esoteric Zohar
· Sefer Yetzirah
· Chabad Haggadah
· Maimonides 13 principles
- Kabbalah time line
- Saadia commentary
- Sefer Yetzirah
- Bahir
- Zohar
Seforim
Online contains PDF Hebrew/English source text files
including Reshis Hochmah and the Guide to the perplexed.
Yedid Nefesh contains a
translation of Luzatto’s “Kalach Pitchei
Chochmah”
(The
background colors when
available[24]
correspond to Tiferet from the teachings of Joseph
Tzayach
Z”l.[25])The
way one looks at the world is the kind of world one shall
have.[26]
[2] Jeremiah sitcom series,
“The Bag”
[3] Psalm 107:33 whose verse
starts with a Yod and ends with a Nun is the
סוד of the author
Yosef Nata
n ben Avraham Tzvi –
יוסף
נתן בן אברהם
צבי. See
Meditation
14-5: Eloah God as Creator p. 442 for an explanation of the Name
אל*וה.
[4] See Section
15.2,
Finding ones Soul Mate, page
461
[5] The four names of this book
parallel the four worlds: ‘Glory’ in Atzulut
,
‘Sabbath Holiness Israel’ in Beriyah, ‘Dancing with
Angels’ in Yetzirah, ‘Jewish Kabbalah Meditation from Torah to
Self-improvement to Prophecy’ in Asiyah. In the
4
th
world we are reminded to T’skelet Mitzvot – to look at (keep) the
commandments. Btzelal Roth haCohen taught we attend synagogue in the morning to
remind us each day to keep commandments – Rosh Hodesh Elul
5766.
[6] Jacob is the visitor at
ones table on the 3
rd night of Sukkot.
[7] Tiferet is center of the Tree
of Life is the place of Torah academies in heaven the place of Truth balanced
between mercy and judgment.
[8]
“Shabbas Kodesh, Shabbas
Kodesh, Shabbas Kodesh l’Yisrael” – Holy Sabbath, Holy
Sabbath, Holy Sabbath to Israel. A Hassidic rabbi
from Israel brought his wife to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto with an incurable
disease. Each Shabbas he said these words over and over while he walked on his
way. Even after his wife died he would not let his joy for the Shabbas
diminish. He would also recite what seemed to be the entire book of psalms each
Shabbas. He did everything to try to save her, even beyond his means, how he
loved her. In the same way, the King of kings whose throne is in the World of
Creation loves us.[9]
Crucial Conversations, Patterson, Grenny, McMillan & Switzler,
2002
[10] Psalm 29 representing
Kavod amongst the Psalms of David. Translation from Siddur Tehillat Hashem,
Nusach Ha-Ari Zal according to the Text of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi by Rabbi
Nissen Mangel, p.131.
[11] The
Bahir
describes the seven voices and their relation to the
seven sefirot: Kaplan Bahir #45,#49 pp. 17-18; pp.
117-119.
[12] Hadar is ornament,
splendor, honor, or glory. Tiferet alludes to beauty and adornment with
ornaments. Honor which is Kavod is found in
Tiferet.
[13] Zohar 3:31b,
Soncino 4:386
[14] Ibid. through
Zohar 3:32a
[15]
Bahir
, Kaplan trans. #45, pp. 15-16, 117
[16] Pesachim 56a, Midrash
Deuteronomy Rabbah
2:31,35,36
[17] Immortality is
not a time that we should wait for to arrive, but a place that we are destined
to see.
[18] See
Text 1-1: Psalm 29.
[19] Zohar 3:30a, Soncino
4:382
[20] Zohar 3:35a, Soncino
4:392
[21] Zohar
3:35a
[22] Alluding to the
kabbalah and Psalm 25:14, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear
Him” Amos 3:7 “He hath revealed his secret to his servants the
prophets.”
[23]
Encyclopedia Britannica 1998.
[24] The yellow and violet
background that is sometimes behind the website is called “Spinning
Stars” and is based on a wallpaper from the
People’s Commisar
of
alt.magick.
[25] The
Onyx Stone (Evven HasShoham), The Binding of Life (Tzeror HaChaim), Remnant of
Joseph (Sheirut Yosef) discussed in Meditation and Kabbalah, Aryeh Kaplan trans.
p.158.
[26] Rav Avigdor
Miller