Parashat Shemot: Royally Satisfied

Our eyes only see 0.0035% of the electromagnetic spectrum (range of light wavelengths), and that small percentage still shows so much beauty. Hidden to us are different divine realms, finite or maybe even infinite sometimes. I like to also think of the ten sefirot in terms of these realms. We move between these realms all the time and can perceive which one we are in at a given moment when we are aware of our present dominant emotion. Perhaps ideally, we need to embody all of the sefirot without bouncing too much between different realms/emotions, but there is one sefirah that is unique, and in some ways the key to embodying them all.

The Zohar on Shemot talks at length about what is perhaps most people’s favorite realm/sefirah (even if they don’t realize it): Malkhut, literally in Hebrew: “Royalty.” But what is the dominant emotion in this realm? Of all the divine emanations (sefirot), it is the closest one to the physically tangible world because in some sense, it is the physical world. On Shabbat, we try to create an atmosphere to live in Malkhut; that is, with the divine aspect of the Shekhinah (Divine Presence), and along with other people. In Kabbalah, we often use Malkhut and Shekhinah interchangeably. This sefirah is most connected to the state of freedom, bountifulness, and royalty. 

It is also interesting how the Zohar on Shemot depicts Malkhut through people who you might not expect to be connected to that sefirah and its unique arrangement with the other sefirot. According to a well-known midrash, Moses’ parents got divorced and later remarried before he was born (Shemot Rabbah 1:13). According to the Zohar (II, 18b), during this second marriage, Moses’ parents embody this realm of Malkhut – deliverance for themselves and the Israelites, which, as we know, will be accomplished through Moses later on. Unfortunately, at the time of their second marriage, they do not maintain the state of Malkhut long enough to completely free the Israelites at that time. 

The Zohar (III, 39a) also discusses how many years later, when Aaron is grown, he and his wife Elishevah also create this type of union, where Aaron united with his wife is like the union of the Jewish people (represented by Aaron) with the Shekhinah (via Elishevah). The Zohar describes the perfection of their Malkhut-union, as their union is more than the sum of its parts. This union, from what would become two of the most prominent tribes, Levi and Judah, (religious and secular leadership) may have been what enabled Gd to start to hear the Jewish people’s cries for freedom at this time, the first step in their redemption.

The Zohar depicts these marriages of “deliverance” as the union of the Zeir Anpin (male) and the Nukvah (female). There is something about the two above couples that inspired the deliverance. What is the significance of Zeir Anpin and Nukvah? Let’s take a step back for a moment. The emotional emanations of Gd (or realms), have different genders and characteristics depending on the perspective by which we desire to see the sefirot. For example, we can see them as left and right-hand columns along with a center column representing sefirot of balance (as I discussed last week). Another way to organize the sefirot is such that the sefirah of Malkhut (which is the most present in our physical world) is the feminine (Nukvah) with a companion masculine form known as Zeir Anpin/Lower Face that ideally joins with it. This form is not one sefirah, but is made up of the six remaining “lower” sefirot: Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, and Yesod, with Netzach being the central part (and sometimes shorthand for the entire Zeir Anpin).

 In order to understand this metaphysical union, we need to understand that Malkhut is distinct from the other sefirot in that it is metaphorically like a moon and all the other sefirot, together are a sun shining on it. We see the moon thanks to the sun that shines on it. In the same way, Malkhut, (or Nukvah or Shekinah – all the same thing, depending on context), while unique, depends on the other sefirot. It is like a unity of the divine element of the lower, physical world receiving the blessings of the upper worlds. 

If you put yourself in the place of Malkhut, embodying your state of royalty and focusing on the supreme royalty of all, Gd (whatever that means to you), then, in a sense, the other sefirot that are providing light to it, are providing royalty with its needs. At the same time, however, royalty comes with responsibilities. You need to be aware that your actions influence other people, what you think about yourself and world, and need to make sure that influence is positive. Among the things the sefirah of Malkhut embodies are: service to yourself and so others of: effective communication, achieving learning , and demonstrating values.

According to the aforementioned midrash, Moses’ father Amram (literally, “high nation”), divorced his wife because Pharaoh would kill any male child from their union, and they did not want to risk bringing a child into the world who would be murdered. When Amram and his wife Yocheved did this, the other Israelites around them were inspired to divorce as well. Amram changed his mind, thanks to Miriam, who helped him come to his senses, and again, the people around him followed his example and also remarried. Through these three elements (being away from his wife, Miriam’s wisdom, and realizing he was a role model), he became increasingly aware that his union with Yocheved was perfectly divine. As the Zohar depicts, Amram perfectly embodied the Zeir Anpin and Yocheved was like the Nukvah to him (II, 18b). The Zohar also suggests that Moses was unique in embodying all 10 levels/sefirot. What is odd, is that it doesn’t seem to have much to say about Moses’ own wife Tziporah,. There are commentators who suggest that since the language used with regard to his marriage is different than for other marriages in the Torah, that perhaps there is something amiss there. Haamek Davar (Exodus 2:21) says that Tzipporah was not able to be Moses “helper” like a typical wife because of Moses’ elevated level. This seems strange to me, because later in the parasha, she saves Moses’ (or possibly their son’s) life by having the intuition on the road to perform the brit milah on their son. Is saving that life not helping? Maybe she was underestimated at the beginning, but Gd gave her the opportunity to rise to the occasion and demonstrate that she was a partner and helper like Amram/Yocheved and Aaron/Elisheva. As we see elsewhere in the Torah, even if Moses embodies all levels of the sefirot, he cannot perform his function as leader alone.

If we take Moses embodying all the sefirot, yet having a partner as well, as our ideal state of internal and external harmony through the balance of emotions, how do we get ourselves closer to that ideal? Our emotions stem from an inner desire to help what is outside of us. So when you feel comfortable with what you have given to the world, you are emotionally satisfied. On Shabbat, ideally, you have all that you need, from your preparation during the week and are enjoying the products of your work. But paradoxically, on Shabbat, there is also a state of expecting to receive from Zeir Anpin and so a need to create emptiness to be filled, and an awareness of receiving in the present. On Shabbat, we know that we receive blessings which are materialized in different stages on Shabbat or during the week. 

Living in the realm of both Zeir Anpin (emotionally neutral/balanced and satisfied) and Malkhut (openness to receive from Gd/the world/people) it is not just for Shabbat. It is a state in which one is comfortable to not be too focused on the self. One feels like one has done one’s best to live as one’s “royal” self and can now receive from above. A person who is royal inside is above the world and so can transcend it mentally and see beyond what the eyes can physically show.

You have to be in some ways like Zeir Anpin and in some ways like the Nukvah. Moses had all ten sefirot, the emotional and intellectual sefirot. But nevertheless he was open to receiving help from his wife, Gd, his siblings, Joshua and later on the elderly. 

May you see new levels of freedom and divine royalty from within and therefore in the people around you. 

If you desire colorful meditations, check out my book: Better Than You Wished For