Zohar on the Torah

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Parshat Shelach- Zohar,"Raya MeHemna" Page 174b The Parsha of Shelach deals with the spying out of the land of Israel by the Princes of each of the 12 Tribes. The word to spy is "LaTour" in Hebrew and connected with the verse stating; "And you shall have tzitzit (fringes) that you may look upon it, and remember the all the commandments of the L-rd, and do them; and that you seek (tatouru) not after your own heart and your own eyes, which incline you to go astray. (Numbers 15:39)" Spying is also connected with looking and the false report with letting the eyes and heart be led astray. It is therefore appropriate that we have a discussion of the meaning of tzitzit in this week's Zohar reading. The mitzva of Tzitzit is in order to remember all of the commandments of the Torah, as it is written, "that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the L-rd and do them." (supra). The Tzitzit is therefore the sign that the L-rd has given Israel to "remember" and to "do" the mitzvot. It is written "And you shall make a plate (tzitz) of pure gold, and engrave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, "Holiness to the L-rd" (Exodus 28:36). We have learnt about this secret of the Tzitz already, that it was to adorn the High Priest. It was called Tzitz because the eyes of all would focus ("Tzitz") on it. It was a sign of the higher spiritual world that adorned the High Priest. This was the reason that looking upon it atoned for the sin of insolence (Talmud Zevachim 88b, Exodus 28,36, Talmud Zevachim 88b), for it was impossible to stand before the High Priest with other than an honest straight face - the true face of Jacob. The High Priest wore the Tzitz on his forehead "Metzach". In Hebrew the word "insolence" is "Azut Metzach". Thus gazing on the tzitz on the forehead of the High Priest atoned for the upward tilt of the forehead of the insolent. Tzitzit is a feminine noun in Hebrew and is the secret of the lower world of Malchut. Gazing in order to remember what is seen. Tzitz is a masculine noun applying to the High Priest, while tzitzit is a feminine noun applying to all men. We have learnt that it is forbidden to gaze upon the Shechina. Thus it was that the fringes had the sea blue color of techelet. This color reflected Malchut "Kingdom", and the Shechina was dressed by the throne of the Kingdom of David, the actions of which were a vehicle for the Divine Presence in this world thereby "dressing" the Shechina in a way that She could be gazed upon. This is what is meant by feeling awe before the L-rd. It is to be in awe of that source of power. Thus it is written "that you may look upon it "vereyitem" "to see" being related to the word "yira" "to feel awe". Through this awe generated by gazing at the blue in the tzitzit you will come to remember the commandments of the L-rd.

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