Daily Zohar # 4800 – Vayakhel – The flame of Shabbat

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Vayakhel
Continued from previous DZ
#172
Come and see: On the sixth day, which corresponds to Yessod. When the time of evening arrives, meaning its completion, that source of fire, which is the stormy wind, representing harsh judgment, leaps inward and ascends above to enter within the colors (emanations of light). At that time, Israel prepares below, arranging their Shabbat meals,
Each person sets his table, preparing for the holy day. Then, a single flame emerges, which comes from the side of the judgments of Malchut, sweetened in Binah, and this flame strikes the fire, meaning that it connects with it. Once the flame has struck it and they have joined together, they roll together, both the flame and the source of fire, and they descend into the great abyss, where they become hidden and remain there.
Explanation (Hasulam): After the flame from the side of Malchut (now sweetened by Binah) has struck and merged with the source of fire, which represents the stormy wind from the Masach (screen) of Malchut of harsh judgment, then the blazing fire receives the sweetened judgments from Binah through the flame, and its own harsh judgments are nullified. Thus, both the flame and the fire roll into the great abyss, for that is the place of Binah’s judgments. Because the place of Malchut’s judgments is called the small abyss (תהומא זוטא), and once the harsh judgments of the source of fire have been nullified, then the lights of Shabbat can be revealed.

Notes:
The transition from Friday into Shabbat is a cosmic shift where harsh judgments (Dinim) are nullified. The “blazing fire” represents the harsh judgments of Malchut, while the “flame” represents a sweetened form of judgment influenced by Binah. When these two forces merge, the harsher judgments are softened and absorbed into the “great abyss”, where they lose their destructive power until Shabbat is over. This purification process allows the spiritual lights of Shabbat to be revealed. The preparations made by Israel below (Shabbat meals, setting the table) mirror and activate this transformation in the upper worlds.
This passage teaches that Shabbat is not just a time of physical rest, but a divine event in which cosmic order is restored. The forces of judgment that operate throughout the week are neutralized, making way for a higher level of illumination from Binah.
#173
And that flame is from the right side, which is the secret of point of Cholam, in which Malchut ascended to Binah and was sweetened, and because this flame is from the right side, it removed the judgments of that source of fire, and brought it into the great abyss. This occurs because the Kelipah always seeks to attach itself to a higher place. Therefore, once the source of fire Klipa was allowed to attach itself to Binah through its connection with the flame, it immediately abandoned its own judgments from Malchut and instead clung to the judgments of the flame, Which are rooted in Binah and became connected with it. Thus, it remains in the great abyss until Shabbat ends. When Shabbat ends, the Jewish people must recite the blessing over fire (Havdalah). And through the blessing recited in the lower level, the flame emerges and ascends, And once again rules over the source of fire for the entire night of Motza’ei Shabbat. And that blazing fire is subdued, Meaning, its power is concealed and withdrawn.

Notes:
Shabbat neutralizes harsh judgment by elevating it into a higher, refined system (Binah). Motza’ei Shabbat (Saturday night) reintroduces judgment, but it must be controlled. The blessing over fire in Havdalah restores divine balance, ensuring that the judgments do not return in an uncontrolled way. The flame represents holy judgment, while the blazing fire represents unrefined, destructive judgment.

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