260831.Vayera v381
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim
Through the Zohar, various mysteries about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are revealed. The penetrating sound of the Shofar has the power to confuse the negative angel called Satan, who acts as prosecutor during these days of judgment and repentance. The ten days that fall between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are likened to a great gift. This period provides us with the chance to remove all the negativity and decrees of judgment that we have brought down upon ourselves through our wrongful actions over the prior year. The prerequisite for accomplishing this goal is accountability and genuine, permanent change in our character.
The act of repentance is a profound tool available to each of us anytime we truly choose to change our ways. The energy radiating from the verses revealing the hidden mysteries of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, allows us to continually draw upon the forces of purification throughout the entire year.
Vayera: Verse 381
Come and behold, the same applies for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim, when Judgment hovers over the world and the Satan is there to prosecute. The children of Yisrael should be aroused by the Shofar, to create a voice (also: 'sound') that is a combination of water, fire, and wind, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET, which become one in it, and sound that voice from within the Shofar.
Vayera: Verse 382
And this voice rises up to the Throne of Judgment, strikes it, and rises further. And after this voice has reached above, then the voice of Jacob is established on high and the Holy One, blessed be He, is aroused with Mercy. Just as Yisrael uses the Shofar to release a voice from below, which includes fire, water, and air, so a voice is released from on high from the supernal Shofar, WHICH IS BINAH. THE POWER TO BLOW THE SHOFAR IS FIRE, AND THE VOICE IS FORMED BY THE AIR. THE AIR IS MINGLED WITH SWEAT AND HOT BREATH, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF WATER, AND THESE AROUSE THE THREE UPPER COLUMNS OF BINAH, FROM WHERE THE MOCHIN ARE DRAWN DOWN TO ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. And this voice, which consists of fire, water, and air, AND HAS RISEN FROM BELOW; it is established and appears from below, and another appears from above. So the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is established and Mercy prevails.
Vayera: Verse 383
Now the prosecutor is confused, because he thought that by executing Judgment, he would punish the world. But when he realizes that Mercy was aroused, he is perplexed, his strength fails, and he is unable to do anything. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the world with Mercy. You may say that Judgment has been executed, but it is not so. Judgment and Mercy are joined, and the world is judged Mercifully.
Vayera: Verse 384
Come and behold. It is written, "Blow the Shofar at the new moon, at the time appointed (lit. 'when the moon is covered') on our solemn feast day" (Tehilim 81:4), when the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is covered, because at that time, AS A RESULT OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT, that evil Serpent prevails and may bring harm to the world. But when Mercy is aroused BY BLOWING THE SHOFAR, the moon rises and moves away FROM THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT. THUS, THE SATAN is confused and loses control. Then he is removed FROM THE MOON and never comes near again. This is why on Rosh Hashanah, THE SATAN IS dumbfounded, as is a person who has just been awakened and is still half asleep.
Vayera: Verse 385
On Yom Hakippurim, we should pacify and appease THE SATAN by offering him a scapegoat. BY SENDING IT TO THE DESERT, WHICH IS HIS PLACE, then he will become a defender for Yisrael. But on Rosh Hashanah, he is confused, and loses his abilities. He does not know, nor is he able to do anything, as he sees Mercy aroused from below and endowed from on high. And the moon, WHICH IS THE MALCHUT, rises in between them. This is when he is perplexed and no longer knows anything. Thus, he loses his power.
