Daily Zohar # 3483 – Vayera – The purification power of the Torah
Hebrew translation:
110. מִי שֶׁנֶּאֱחָז בַּקָּבָּ”ה, הָיָה הָאִילָן פּוֹרֵשׂ עֲנָפָיו וּמְכַסֶּה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְעוֹשֶׂה עָלָיו צֵל נָאֶה. וּמִי שֶׁנֶּאֱחָז בַּצֵּל שֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אוֹתוֹ הָאִילָן הָיָה מִתְעַלֶּה, וַעֲנָפָיו הָיוּ עוֹלִים לְמַעְלָה. אָז הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ אַבְרָהָם וּמַזְהִיר אוֹתוֹ, וְלֹא זָז מִשָּׁם עַד שֶׁנֶּאֱחַז בֶּאֱמוּנַת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
111. וְכָךְ מִי שֶׁהוּא טָהוֹר [ד”א כָּךְ] מְקַבֵּל אוֹתוֹ הָאִילָן, וּמִי שֶׁהוּא טָמֵא אֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל אוֹתוֹ. אָז יָדַע אַבְרָהָם וְהָיָה מְטַהֵר אוֹתָם בְּמַיִם.
112. וּמַעְיַן מַיִם הָיָה תַּחַת אוֹתוֹ אִילָן, וּמִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ טְבִילָה מִיָּד הַמַּיִם עוֹלִים אֵלָיו, וְעוֹלִים עַנְפֵי הָאִילָן, אָז יָדַע אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהוּא טָמֵא וְצָרִיךְ מִיָּד טְבִילָה. וְאִם לֹא, יָבְשׁוּ הַמַּיִם, וְאָז יָדַע שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהִטָּמֵא וּלְהִשָּׁמֵר שִׁבְעָה יָמִים.
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Zohar Vayera
#109
Abraham planted a tree wherever he lived. The trees were not growing well, except when he was in the land of Canaan. By the tree, he knew who is close to the Holy One Blessed be He and who is an idol worshipper.
#110
The branches of Abraham’s tree would spread above the head of a person that is connected to the Holy One Blessed be He. If a person was following idol worship the tree would fold its branches up to avoid the person. Abraham then would educate the person until he gets connected to the faith of the Holy One Blessed be He.
#111
Abraham followed the signs from the tree to identify those who are impure, and he purified them with water.
#112
Under the tree was a spring of water. When a person needed purification in water, the water rose and the branches of the tree folded up. Abraham knew that the person has a light impurity and in need of immediate immersion in water without waiting seven days for complete purity. If the water dried out, Abraham knew that the person has impurity that requires a seven day wait.
Lesson;
The Tree is the aspect of connection to the Tree of Life that spreads its ‘branches’ above our heads when we connect it with studies. When we follow ‘idols’ that are our selfish desires we disconnect from the tree and lose its protection.
The Talmud teaches us that water is nothing but Torah.
Source: https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.82a.5?lang=bi
שיהיו קוראין בשני ובחמישי עזרא תיקן והא מעיקרא הוה מיתקנא דתניא (שמות טו, כב) וילכו שלשת ימים במדבר ולא מצאו מים דורשי רשומות אמרו אין מים אלא תורה שנאמר (ישעיהו נה, א) הוי כל צמא לכו למים
The Gemara discusses the second of Ezra’s ordinances: And that they should read the Torah on every Monday and Thursday. The Gemara asks: Did Ezra institute this practice? But it was instituted from the beginning, i.e., long before his time. As it is taught in a baraita with regard to the verse: “And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water” (Exodus 15:22). Those who interpret verses metaphorically said that water here is referring to nothing other than Torah, as it is stated metaphorically, concerning those who desire wisdom: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come for water” (Isaiah 55:1).
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