Daily Zohar # 4581 – Naso – More than ten rulers of the city

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Naso
Continued from previous DZ
#175
When the priest spreads his hands, the Shechina rests upon those fingers, for the Holy One, Blessed be He, agrees with the priest in these blessings. Israel is blessed from two directions: from above, from the Shechina that rests upon the fingers, and from below, from the priest who blesses.

#176
Come and see, the actions performed below awaken corresponding actions above. Similarly, when the priest spreads his fingers below, the Shechina is awakened to come and rest upon them. Many actions in the world below awaken things above because an awakening below causes another force to be awakened above. We have already studied this in several places. This is the reason for taking the Lulav, and this is the reason for blowing the shofar. Just as with the ten fingers, so too is the Shechina awakened to rest upon them, and ten other levels above are awakened, which are the ten sefirot of Zeir Anpin, to illuminate, and all of this happens at the same time.

#177
Therefore, a person is forbidden to raise his fingers pointlessly, but only during prayer, blessings, and invoking the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He. We have already learned that raising the fingers is an awakening of the Holy Name and the secret of faith. The raising of the fingers appoints ten rulers because the fingers allude to the revelation of Chokmah, as it is written,
Ecclesiastes 7:19
“הַחָכְמָה תָּעֹז לֶחָכָם מֵעֲשָׂרָה שַׁלִּיטִים אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ בָּעִיר.”
“Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.”
As we have established, the priest must bless with a good eye and be in agreement with the Shechina, as we have learned.

Lesson;
This teaching emphasizes the principle of reciprocal spiritual actions between the lower and spiritual levels. Actions performed in the physical world, such as the priest spreading his fingers during the blessing, have the power to invoke the presence of the Shechina in the spiritual realms. This principle is further illustrated by the practices of taking the Lulav during Sukkot and blowing the shofar during Rosh Hashanah, which are seen as actions that trigger corresponding spiritual movements and awakenings above. The ten fingers of the priest correspond to the ten sefirot of Zeir Anpin, and their activation through the ritual actions brings about a simultaneous illumination and blessing from above, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual worlds.
This passage further emphasizes the sacredness and intentionality required when raising one’s fingers in religious contexts. The act of raising fingers is not a casual gesture but a profound spiritual practice that should be reserved for moments of prayer, blessings, and invoking Hashem’s name. The fingers symbolize the revelation of Chokmah and the appointment of spiritual rulers, reflecting the verse from Ecclesiastes about wisdom’s strength (level of Chokmah). The priest, when blessing, must do so with benevolence and in harmony with the presence of the Shechina, ensuring that the blessing is potent and aligned with the spiritual truths established in the Torah.

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