Daily Zohar # 5014 – Vayishlach – Israel’s prayers

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Vayishlach
Continued from previous DZ
#164
Come and see how beloved Israel is before the Holy One, blessed be He. There is no nation or tongue among all the idol-worshipping nations whose gods accept their prayer in the way that the Holy One, blessed be He, will accept the prayer and request of Israel at every hour when they need their prayer to be received, for they pray only for the sake of their own level, which is the Shekhinah. That is, whenever their prayer is for the rectification of the Shekhinah.
Notes:
This Zohar highlights Israel’s unique closeness to the Holy One. While idol-worshippers’ prayers are never truly accepted, Israel’s prayers are always heard because they are offered solely to rectify and elevate the Shekhinah (Malchut). This selfless prayer for Hashem’s presence in the world draws down mercy and blessing for the world as a whole.
#165
Come and see: Jacob, the Holy One, blessed be He, called him Israel, that is, the Shekhinah. As it is written: “לֹא יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עוֹד יַעֲקֹב כִּי אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל”, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel” (Genesis 32:29), and it is written: “וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל”, “And he called his name Israel” (Genesis 35:10). Upon whom is it written וַיִּקְרָא? This is the Shekhinah, as it is said: “וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה”, “And He called to Moses” (Leviticus 1:1), where וַיִּקְרָא is written with a small Alef, which is the Shekhinah.
And so at the beginning of the matter it is written: “וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים”, “And God said to him” (Genesis 35:10), which is the name of the Shekhinah.
Notes:
The renaming of Jacob to Israel is performed by the Shekhinah (Malchut), indicated by the verb וַיִּקְרָא (with small Alef) and the name אֱלֹהִים, both signs of the Shekhinah. Thus, Israel becomes the name that fully unites Jacob with the Shekhinah’s level.
#166
Above (in Toledot #167, 168, 169), we explained the name Israel: when he became complete in everything as is proper, he was then elevated in his level and perfected with this name. Therefore, it is written: “וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל”, “And he called his name Israel” (Genesis 35:10). And it has already been explained.
Notes:
This Zohar briefly recalls the earlier explanation (Toledot 167–169) that the name Israel signifies Jacob’s full completion and elevation. Once he reached perfection in all aspects, the Shekhinah renamed him Israel, uniting him forever with her level. This continues #165’s emphasis on the Shekhinah’s role in the renaming.

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