260204.yitro v245

260204.yitro v245

Yitro: Verse 245

"And Moses went up to Elohim and Hashem called to him out of the mountain, saying" (Shemot 19:3). "And Moses went up to Elohim" MEANS THAT Moses went up to the place where the wings of the Shechinah are outspread, as it is written, "He bowed the heavens also and came down" (Tehilim 18:9).

Yitro: Verse 246

We have learned that Rabbi Yehuda said that as long as the legislations of the Supernal King adhere to their proper places, MEANING THAT THEY BALANCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT, all the worlds are with joy and all the works are maintained properly, as it is written, "The work of Hashem...that it is tremendous" (Shemot 34:10). What does "tremendous" mean? Rabbi Elazar said that it is the perfection of all, as it is written, "A great El, a mighty and a terrible" (Devarim 10:17). What does "terrible" mean? This is Jacob, THE CENTRAL COLUMN, for it is written, "And Jacob was a plain man" (Beresheet 25:27). "...Plain..." is translated as, 'a complete man,' perfect in all. Thus, all the deeds of the Holy One, blessed be He, are perfect in wholeness, and are perfectly maintained.

Yitro: Verse 247

As we learned, Rabbi Yosi explained that one day, while he was standing before Rabbi Yehuda Saba (the elder), he asked him about the meaning of the verse, "And he was afraid and said, 'How dreadful is this place'" (Beresheet 28:17). What did Jacob see that frightened him and made him call it "dreadful?" Rabbi Yehuda explained that he saw there the perfection of the holy Faith, WHICH IS MALCHUT, that was frequent in that place as it is above, and any place wherein His perfection is found is called "dreadful."

Yitro: Verse 248

I asked him, If that is so, why then is the word "dreadful" translated into Aramaic as 'fear' and not as 'perfection?' FOR IF "DREADFUL" MEANS 'PERFECTION,' HE SHOULD HAVE TRANSLATED IT AS "PERFECTION." He answered that there is no awe but in a place where perfection is found, and any place in which there is completeness is called "dreadful," as it is written, "O fear Hashem you saints of His, for those who fear Him there is no lack" (Tehilim 34:10). We can learn from this verse, "there is no lack," THAT AWE IS COMPLETENESS, for wherever there is no deficiency there is completeness.

Yitro: Verse 249

We studied, "Who has ascended up into heaven and come down" (Mishlei 30:4). Rabbi Yosi said that it is Moses, for it is written, "And Moses went up to Elohim" (Shemot 19:3). "Who has gathered the wind in His fists" (Mishlei 30:4)? It is Aaron, as it is written, "And his hands full of sweet incense beaten small" (Vayikra 16:12). "Who has bound the waters in a garment?" It is Elijah, as it is written, "There shall not be dew or rain these years but according to my word" (I Melachim 17:1). "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" It is Abraham, of whom it is written, "These are the generations of the heaven and of the earth when they were created (behibar'am)" (Beresheet 2:4). Do not pronounce it 'behibar'am,' but "beAbraham (lit. 'by Abraham')," (spelled with the same letters).

Yitro: Verse 250

He taught this, and said, "Who has ascended up into heaven?" The Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "Elohim is gone up with a shout" (Tehilim 47:6). "Who gathered the wind in His fists?" The Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "In whose hands is the soul of every living thing" (Iyov 12:9). "Who has bound the waters in a garment?" The Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "He binds up the waters in His thick clouds" (Iyov 26:8). "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" The Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "In the day that Hashem Elohim made the earth and the heavens" (Beresheet 2:4). RABBI YOSI continued further and said, "Who went up into heaven and came down?" Those are the four bonds of the world, fire, air, water and earth.