Nesting Time

Succot - Tikunei Zohar P.23a

The following Zohar begins with an analysis of the verse: "If a bird's nest chances to be before you in any tree or on the ground as you travel, whether there are chicks or eggs, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall let the mother go and take the chicks, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days."(Deut. 22:6)

Those neshamot which emanate from the aspect of the higher Shechina are called chicks. Those whose nefesh emanates from the lower Shechina are called eggs. This is the secret of the verse [we read on Friday night as we are about to receive the extra neshama] "Who spreads his tabernacle/Sukkat of peace over us." This is the Higher Mother [Imma Ilaah, related to bina, which is associated with the Shechina], which is the sukka of peace that is a protective covering above us. Peace is with her as is written, "I hereby give him my covenant of peace". (Num. 25:12)

Peace (shalom) is another name for the sefira of yesod, which represents the covenant/brit and the male reproductive organ; yesod is associated with Zeir Anpin, which corresponds to the vav of the name Havayah. Sukka, which in its highest form represents the source of all souls, represents the sefira of malchut, associated with the final hei of the name Havayah. The sukka of peace thus represents the union of Zeir Anpin and Malchut in the higher spiritual realms.

There is a lower Sukka that is made up of the letters kaf vav and hei samech. This is the union of the name Havayah and Adnut.

The gematria (numerical value) of the letters kaf vav is 20 plus 6 = 26, which is the same value as the holy name of Hashem: yud and hey and vav and hei, 10 + 5 + 6 + 5. The gematria of hei and samech is 5 plus 60 = 65, which is the same as the holy name Adonai spelled aleph dalet nun yud or 1 + 4 + 50 + 10 = 65. The significance of this is that the very word sukka can represent the union of Havayah (associated with Zeir Anpin) and Adonai (associated with Malchut). This powerful union signifies peace and protection. It is also reflected in the very spelling of the word sukka, which is 26/Hashem/vav kaf  couched in the midst of 65/Adonai represented by the first letter samech and the last letter hei.

The tabernacle/sukkat [spelled samech, vav, kav, and tav] of peace can be understood [when its letters are rearranged] as a kos [spelled kav, vav, and samech, meaning "cup"] of the letter tav, which represents [the sefira of] tiferet.

In the same way that the sukka of peace unites the name Havayah (corresponding to the letter vav) and Adonai (corresponding to the final hei of the Name), so too does it unify the sefirot of tiferet (associated with the letter vav) and that of malchut (associated with the final hei). Malchut "below" becomes a cup which contains, so to speaks, the divine flow from "above", as represented by the sefira of tiferet.

It is also possible to interpret the verse "If a bird's nest chances to be before you" as referring to the Sukka which is Imma Ilaah [this is the surrounding light represented by the branches on the roof of the sukka].  "In any tree" [relates to the 4 species] as is written in Lev.23:40 "And you shall take on the first day, the fruit of a citrus tree, branches of palm trees etc."

"Chicks" are the seven days of the festival of Sukkot [each day of the festival representing a different sefira].

"…or eggs" these represent the seven times the bima is surrounded, [once each day when the "Hoshanot" are recited].