The Essence

Rabbi Elazar opened his discourse with the words: “Who is this who arises from the wilderness..?”[1] These two words “Who”(Mi) and “this” (zot) represent two holy levels in two worlds. “Mi” represents Understanding (Binah) and “Zot” represents Kingdom (Malchut).

Both Malchut and Binah are called Holy. When these two levels are linked as one and communicate as one, then they truly “arise” – going higher in the spiritual realms to the consciousness of the Holy of Holies. Binah is composed of 50 grades of consciousness (hinted at in the gematria of the word Mi) and is known by the name Holy of Holies in itself. When this united level of consciousness suffuses Malchut then physical reality itself is perceived in its unity with the Holy of Holies. Now these two levels arise out of the “desert” which is itself the place where Israel received the Torah and Mitzvot and built the Mishkan.This inheritance received in the desert is what enables the unification of the worlds – the bride (Malchut) is able to enter under the chupah canopy (Binah).

The word “desert” (midbar) is also connected with the concept of talking (midaber) as in the verse: “Your mouth (midbarech) is beautiful.”[2] Those words whispered in prayer and Torah learning also cause the physical world to unite with higher consciousness.

We have also learned this from the words of the Philistines when they captured the Ark and became filled with fear saying: “Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods which struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness (bamidbar).” Where there plagues in the desert? Certainly not! They were in the settled areas of Egypt. The end of the verse should not be read “in the wilderness”, but “through their speaking” as it was the words of HaShem to Moses that caused the plagues. As it is said (above): “and your words are beautiful” and “Judgement doesn’t come from the mountains of the desert (midbar)”[3] - implying that judgement does come from the other type of midbar – midibur, from speech. Similarly our first quoted text: “who is it that arises from the wilderness”, should certainly be read “who is it that arises from speech.” Consciousness rises as a result of words spoken by the mouth. These words rise as on wings to Binah and afterwards, as a result of the words of prayer and learning of Israel, descend and dwell over the heads of the Holy people Israel, infusing them with all manner of blessing.

[1] Song of Songs 6,3

[2]Ibid 4,3

[3] Psalms 75,7