Please Learn in the Merit of:

Please learn for the merit of a complete recovery for the following individuals:

Ya'akov Don ben Esther Ahuvah Sharona
Avraham Yishayahu ben Aviva
Perel Leah bas Sima

Please learn in the merit/memory of Eyal ben Uriel, Gil-Ad Michael ben Ophir, Ya'akov Naftali ben Avraham, and Alter Aryeh Leib Reuven ben Sima

Monday, June 02, 2008

Shmiras HaLashon י ניסן - Nissan 10 - One-Hundred-and-Eighty-Eighth Day

© 2008 by Robert Lepor. All rights reserved.

In contrast [to the reward that the person receives for strengthening The Torah], the magnitude of the punishment for one who does not strengthen The Torah, is explained in The Holy “Zohar” [on] parshasVayishlach” (volume 1; 171a), [as follows][1]: “[Concerning] one who toils in Torah [study, for whom] there is no one to support him, and he does not find anyone to take [of their] profits to put into his wallet [in order] to strengthen him [and support his study of The Torah], as a consequence of this, The Torah is forgotten in every single generation, and the power of The Torah weakens every single day, for there is nothing upon which those [people] who toil in Torah [study] rely [on for support]. [As a consequence of the lack of support of those who study Torah], the governments of the idolaters[2] becomes stronger every single day. Come and take note of the extent [of damage that] is caused by this sin [of not supporting Torah study], for since there is no one who supports Torah [study] as is fitting, these supports are weakened (explanation: In the supernal holy worlds, there are worlds that are referred to as “supports of Torah”, and this is [what The “Zohar” means] when it says, “these supports”, in other words, these worlds weaken, [that being that] their power weakens, so to speak), and they cause (meaning: those who do not strengthen the hands of those who study The Torah, cause) the one who does not have legs and thighs to be strengthened to stand up. (Meaning: For Sama’el (i.e. the Satan) and the original snake, they being the worlds of the k’lipos (i.e. spiritual “husks” or barriers)). [Rabbi Shimon] began [his teaching] and said [as follows]: ““And HaShem G-d, said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this [sin], you are more cursed than all of the domesticated animals… you shall walk on your belly…’”[3] (B’reishis: 3; 14) What is the meaning of “You shall walk on your belly”? [“You shall walk on your belly” means that the Satan’s] supports have been broken and his legs have been cut, and he [consequently] has nothing upon which to stand, [this being as a consequence of the support that The B’nei Yisrael offers for Torah study. However], when [The B’nei] Yisrael do not wish to support [the study of] The Torah, they provide [the snake] supports and thighs to stand up [upon] and to [use] to impede [others][4].”

[1] This teaching from Rabbi Shimon, discusses how supporting Torah study, to ensure that it doesn’t diminish, allows The B’nei Yisrael to thereby ensure that the power of the Satan remains significantly diminished. However, when Torah is not supported sufficiently, and all the more-so if not supported at all, the power of the may increase, chas v’shalom.

[2] In the Romm Vilna printing (printed in the Jewish year 5,684 or approx. 1925) of the “Zohar”, instead of “ומלכות עובדי כוכבים ומזלות” “governments of idolaters”, the text “ומלכו חייבא” – “the wicked governments”, is written.

[3] The pasuk from parshasB’reishis”, states as follows:

“And HaShem G-d said to the snake, ‘Since you have done this, you are more cursed than all of the domesticated animals, and than all of the animals of the field, you shall walk on your belly, and you shall eat dust all of the days of your life’.” (B’reishis: 3; 14)

The “Or HaChaim” explains that the snake caused three negative things to occur as a consequence of his having spoken to Chavah to entice her to eat from the fruit of the Eitz HaDa’as (Tree of Knowledge of good and evil), they being that: 1) The light of HaShem had been removed from Adam and Chavah, they having had originally been created by HaShem to be of light – “אור”, and now, as a result of their sin, became flesh “עור”. 2) Adam and Chavah were no longer able to live forever. 3) Adam and Chavah were expelled from Gan Eiden, no longer taking pleasure in the joys of Gan Eiden.

The snake will not be healed, for it related Lashon HaRa directed against HaShem, to Chavah, thus leading to the mortality of man and Adam and Chavah’s banishment from Gan Eiden, among other things. The snake told Chavah that HaShem did not want people eating from the eitz ha’da’as (tree of knowledge of good and evil), “For G-d knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you shall be like G-d, knowing good and evil.” (B
reishis: 3; 5) According to Breishis Rabbah (19; 4), Rabbi Yehoshua of Sichnin quoted Rabbi Levi as teaching that the snake spoke slander against HaShem, by claiming that HaShem does not want people eating from the eitz ha’da’as, as they will be able to create worlds, as can G-d.

[4] The Hebrew translation to The “Zohar”, provided in seferShmiras HaLashon”, translates the Aramaic word “ולאתעכבא” – “and to impede”, as “ולהתקים בהם” – “and to live with them”.

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