Daily Zohar # 1589 – Ekev – Appreciate your blessings
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Hebrew translation:
6. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהַבְּרָכָה הַזּוֹ עוֹלָה, כָּל הַדְּרָגוֹת שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מְזֻמָּנוֹת לְאוֹתוֹ הָאוֹר שֶׁלֹּא מֵאִיר כְּדֵי לְהָאִיר לָהּ. וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן אִם הִיא בְּרָכָה שֶׁרַבִּים מְבָרְכִים אוֹתָהּ וּמְעַטְּרִים אוֹתָהּ בַּעֲטָרוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת בְּסוֹד שֶׁל אָמֵן. אָמֵן הוּא סוֹד הַקְּשָׁרִים שֶׁל כָּל יִחוּד וּקְדֻשָּׁה בַּסּוֹד שֶׁל רִבּוֹנוֹ, וּמְעַטֵּר אוֹתָהּ הַבְּרָכָה בַּעֲטָרוֹת עֶלְיוֹנוֹת כָּרָאוּי.
7. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְרַצֶּה בָהֶם, בְּאוֹתָם שֶׁמְּבָרְכִים אוֹתוֹ, וּתְשׁוּקָתוֹ בַּבְּרָכָה שֶׁלְּמַטָּה, שֶׁאוֹתָהּ בְּרָכָה עוֹלָה, וּמֵאִיר הַמָּאוֹר שֶׁלֹּא מֵאִיר, וּמְחַזֵּק אוֹתָהּ בְּתֹקֶף חָזָק לַעֲלוֹת לְמַעְלָה. וְעַל הַסּוֹד הַזֶּה כָּתוּב, (שמואל-א כ) כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד – אֵלֶּה אוֹתָם שֶׁמְּבָרְכִים אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וּבֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ – אֵלֶּה אוֹתָם שֶׁלֹּא מְבָרְכִים אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּמוֹנְעִים בְּרָכָה מִפִּיהֶם.
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Zohar Ekev
The Zohar describes the spiritual process that happens when a blessing below ascends up the spiritual levels. The blessing is announced and considered as a gift to the King (YHVH). If the blessing is answered with ‘Amen’, then it receives a special crown. When many recite the blessing and answer ‘Amen’ then more holy crowns decorate the blessing on its way up.
The Holy One Bless Be He wants these blessings and desires the connection from below that brings an opportunity for unification of the upper light with the vessel in Malchut.
1 Samuel 2:30
“כִּי-מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ”
“…for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.”
The Zohar quotes this verse to teach us that we are the ones that control the Light we receive from the blessings we do. Those who don’t say blessings or answer ‘Amen’ prevent the light from being revealed in their lives.
When we participate in a service we should take the opportunity to expand our vessel and receive light. We should not miss any opportunity to recite a blessing or answer ‘Amen’. More people go to Shabbat Services and that’s the best weekly opportunity to get some light. Many enjoy the weekly gathering and catchup with some light and friendly social updates (aka gossip). When you’re inside the synagogue focus and encourage your friends to answer Amen for every blessing, especially Kadish and Torah blessings. Invite your friend to meet before or after the service for social time.
The desire of women for the Light is stronger that of men. They should get organized and show the men’s side in the synagogue how to answer Amen. The sages tell us that the third Amen of the Kadish (‘Amen Yehe Shemeh Rabah…’) should be said aloud and from deep inside. It can remove a lot of judgments from the person who puts his energy into it.
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