"The Great Redemption" (61)

"The Great Redemption" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption

Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
_____________________________________________

61.

I’ll now explain an important principle, and thanks to it you’ll understand the rectification that the world will experience.

Tipheret and Malchut always control the lower realm, and the more powerful they become, the more complete their control. In fact, it’s said of Malchut that “she gives food to her household and a portion to her maidens” (Proverbs 31:15). Thus, it’s through (the dictates of) her mouth that they encamp, and through (the dictates of) her mouth they travel (see Numbers 9:18). When her light grows greater they grow greater and when she gets weaker they get weaker.

We know that Malchut will enjoy a great rectification in the future, that it’s light will be great then, and it will be more powerful than it had ever been. The Jewish Nation will be on a very high level then, about which it’s said, “the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun” (Isaiah 30:26). Because Malchut will no longer be smaller than Tipheret but rather equal to it; as such, “two kings will share the same crown” (Zohar 2, 172b).

Now, understand the following point well. It’s written “The mountain of G-d’s House will be established at the head of the mountains” (Isaiah 2:2). That refers to Chochma, which stands “at the head of the mountains” that Malchut will ascend to then, and where Binah will hover over her children “like an eagle awakening its nest” (Deuteronomy 32:11). It will crown her head there and both will be as brothers.

As it’s known, the male (element) will be more concealed and internal than the female (element then), since even though the order of things won’t have changed, nonetheless both will be in their perfected state as they should be, and neither one will be lower than the other. It’s said of this, “they’ll become one in your hand” (Ezekiel 37:17). It will (commence) up above and descend downward (i.e., come to fruition) through the two Moshichim.

But understand (the) mystery (involved) here. (The Hebrew term echad, which reads,) “one” (in the expression “they’ll become one in your hand”) is (worth) thirteen (according to the reckoning of Hebrew letters). So when both are rectified as they should be there’ll come to be thirteen Luminaries that will be (as) one, with ten corresponding to the mystery of the ten sephirot up to Chochma, and three corresponding to Keter and the two shadows that stand above them, as is known. As such, both will be a part of the mystery of “one”, which is itself the mystery of “on that day G-d will be one and His name one” (Zecharia 14:9). (The verse,) “They’ll become one in your hand” (Ezekiel 37:17) refers to their joining together.

The holy name Y-H-V-H, which is twice “one” in value, will then be perfected through them.

(c) 2006 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

********************************
AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman's translation of "The Gates of Repentance" has been reissued at *at a discount*!
You can order it right now from here
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). His new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled
"Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal"