Zohar on the Torah

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Parshat Netzavim - Zohar, Vayikra, Page 18a (The Ari HaKadosh chose this section of the Zohar as appropriate for the days we read parshat Netzavim, as appears in his compilation "Chok LeYisrael"). The day of Rosh Hashanah is the day that is the pinnacle of Yitzchak, the symbol of the sphira of Gevura - judgement, fear and awe. On that day he is elevated to become the head of the "forefathers"; the others being Abraham, who represents the sphira of Chesed/kindness and Yaakov, who represents Tifferet/beauty - the combination of strict judgement with kindness. Referring to that day and its connection to fear, it is written: "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the flatterers."[1] The day of Rosh Hashanah is the day that Yitzchak was elevated and bound on the altar to be offered as a sacrifice. (This is because it is the day of strict judgement, which is elevated to its highest level on that day when all pass before the King in judgement). On that day all the nations of the world are judged and Sarah (who represents the Shechina) howls in fear because of the harshness of the judgement and the blasts of the shofar which also arouse great fear. Happy is the lot of the person who understands how to steer through all this and is saved from the harshness of that day, realizing that the arousal of strict judgement is only in order that it be sweetened at its source. Rabbi Abba said the reason we read the portion from the Torah relating to the sacrifice of Yitzchak on that day, is because that is the day he was offered up as a sacrifice in this physical world and also bound over in the spiritual world. It wasn't until that day that Yitzchak became elevated to the sphira of Gevura (as a result of the fear generated by his being bound up on the altar to be sacrificed). When was Yitzchak bound on the altar? At the time when it was written: "Abraham built an altar there and set the wood properly, and bound Yitzchak his son, and laid him on the alter upon the wood."[2] Rabbi Elazar said that is the day that Yitzchak crowned Avraham as it is written: "Elokim raised up Avraham"[3]. The meaning of the words "raised up" can be derived from the verses: "I will lift up my hands to the nations, I will raise up my flag for the peoples to see"[4] also, Moses called an altar "the Lord is raised up as my standard".[5] From this we can learn that the sphira of Chesed was raised up and completed on that day because it was Abraham, representing Chesed, who had the power over Yitzchak and bound him to the altar. [1]Isaiah 33,14   [2]Genesis 22,9 [3] Genesis 22,1 [4] Isaiah 49 22 [5] Exodus 17,15

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