Introduction to the Zohar, the Book that Changed Judaism... Forever
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- Enter the Cosmic Drama of a World of Words, a Mystical Journey, the third holiest textual corpus of Judaism. The undullable Masterpiece, the Magnum Opus of Kabbalah. A Renaissance of Human Spirit, wound to Birth forth again, to have us Reborn, rediscovering our Why.
The Zohar is no book, it’s a World, an intricate, subtle and complex one, it’s the mythological Soul of the Soul of Judaism. Wrestle with its Historical context, controversial Authorship, its internal quixotic Structure, and the daringly provocative Ideas it brought to Life. A Paradigm Shift of Epic Proportions, radically and fundamentally reconceptualizing God, Man, Torah (the Bible) and the World.
Settlers of the frontiers of Consciousness, Perspicacious Pioneers of the undulating precipitous pyrenees of perspecation, Sages, nay Saints, nay sacred Sorcerers, God’s of Men, embarked to Unite the Transcendence and Immanence in the Infinite Divine Romance and bring final messianic closure to the millennia-long arc of the meta-story of the inner life of God. Answering for millions the realest existentially infernal questions, why do we suffer? why are we in a state of internal alienation and external estrangement?
More that the Zohar appeared in our universe at some God given moment, more so do we inhabit the world painstakingly conconted, constructed and conjured by the punctuation, paragraphs and pages, sapphires, spheres and sefirot, sefer, sofer and sipur of this holy text. Augmenting our perception of Being and awareness of the Divine, the unity of our lives, reaching that tipping-point of illumination, the immediacy of the ever-present messianic moment becoming a manifested reality, a tree of Life to all who grasp it, Here and Now.
With this Book we will go out of Exile. - Zohar, 124b, Ra'aya Meheimna
Check out our Kabbalah playlist: • Kabbalah & Jewish Myst...
00:00 Zohar, the Masterpiece
06:15 What we’re going to cover
06:59 Historical Context
08:51 Who wrote the Zohar?
13:00 Literary Structure of the Zohar
14:30 Core Ideas of the Zohar:
15:02 God: En Sof, Sefirot and a Divine Romance
26:50 The Human, the Fulcrum of the Cosmos
33:31 Torah, a Secret Code
41:12 The World, Illusions of Duality
43:50 The Meta-Story, From Exile to Redemption
48:58 Post Class Conversation, Knowing thru Love, Writing our own Zohar
“This comes about as close as anybody ever came to actually pushing the entire contents of the universe down into about fourteen cubic inches.” - Terence Mckenna
Introduction to Kabbalah Part 1:
Ezekiel's Vision, Merkaba, Hekhalot, Four Entered the Orchard: • Introduction to Kabbal...
Introduction to Kabbalah Part 2:
Midrash, Neoplatonism, 12th-13th Century: • The Mysterious Origins...
Abraham Abulafia, the Man, the Myth, the Mystic:
• Abraham Abulafia | The...
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“This is a very Talmudic idea, that somehow a book is the primary reality. The idea in some schools of Hasidism is that all of the future is already contained in the Torah. Then when you ask them, ‘Well, if it’s contained there, then isn’t it predestined’ the answer is no, because the letters are scrambled and only the movement of the present moment through the text correctly unscrambles and arranges the letters.” - Terence McKenna
tags:
introduction to Kabbalah
intro to Kabbalah
History of Kabbalah
Holy Zohar
Moshe de Leon
Sefirot
Primary texts of Kabbalah
#Zohar
#Kabbalah
#ProjectUnity
A big compliment for the teacher: I'm not Jewish, nor do I have a Jewish heritage, without context I'd be lost in this conversation, so I appreciate that you explain everything in such a way that even a gentile like myself can follow along.
There's nothing worse than when an instruction manual says "rotate the bolt nine radians semiclockwise, applying no more than three watts per newton of force" and having no idea what a bolt is.
You’re most welcome my friend. I’m glad it was accessible. Welcome back 🙏🏼
@@SeekersofUnity You just let me know when my commentary starts getting annoying, I'm always bad about that. 😅
Never 😘
Stop learning zohar
@@wallerasWhy explain plz
I read the Zohar is a great text concerning the Alchemical Marriage - The union of Divine Feminine (subconscious, intuition, right hemisphere) and Divine Masculine (conscious, the will, left hemisphere). Until each individual learns to 'knows thyself', bondage and misery will reign at the collective level.
The Zohar is the worst thing to ever happen to Judaism. Yahweh is very displeased; the Judgement is near!
Womp womp.
@@SeekersofUnity Zohar is Hebrew Gnosticism. The Freemasons would be proud. Those who deny Yahweh will reap the wrath of God when He returns!
The vehicle, symbol, and representation of the Zohar model seems to be latently installed in Jesus and the New Testament.
Good knowing!!!
A really moving and awe-inspiring distillation of a breathtaking glimpse into the Zohar, Zevi!! We are so lucky to be in this moment of discovering. Edifying and so thought-provoking! It's more than I can even try to encapsulate in a comment. It's all encompassing filled with compassion and a spiritual paradigm shifting! Your delivery is just the right tone, and tempo! A moving epic arc!
You’re so very welcome. Thank you for joining us to learn and for your delightful comment.
Blessings on your videos, I grew up with books such as Torah, Bible, Quran, Gita and Sacred Buddhist texts, this is what it’s meant by the idea of chosen people, it’s not by ethnicity it’s by actions and you are chosen to spread the light. You will revive the essence of Judaism. Ty 🌟
I’m a Buddhist these days and pretty deep into the dharma. It if I was properly introduced to the Kabbalah when I practiced Orthodox Judaism I’d prolly still be into Judaism. Crazy how things play out. Loved the talk!
Thanks Brandon. Welcome to the channel 🙏🏼
The funny thing is I am Jew who used to be a Christian. If I had been properly introduced to liberal Jewish mysticism I might still be a Christian. But I think Hashem calls some of us to leave our home, the way he called Abraham. So that we can travel to a new land and bring new ideas, to help spread His Truth, which can be found in all of the most holy faiths, founded by true righteous teachers.
They're all talking about the same thing though. At its core all "religion" is there out of the desire to understand truth
Most of the popular Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's Kabbalah writings were made for just your situation, he saw this unfortunate hole in modern day Judaism, he spoke about it specifically and tried to counter it. I am thankful for coming across a small book called The Thirteen Petalled Rose when I was a teenager that describes the nature of reality from a Jewish mystical perspective that forever ensured that I would remain on the Jewish path, but regardless, blessing to you on your path wherever it leads you :)
Curiously, @brandon637, I've studied several of the Nikayas and practice meditation from the Theravada school. I'm currently reading Daniel Matt's translation of The Zohar, and I'm seeing many parallels between Buddha's writings/descriptions on/of deep meditation/mystical experience & the mystical imagery/ descriptions in The Zohar. I'm also noticing correlations in some of their reflections on the psyche.
This is the most fascinating video on the Kabbalah I have seen yet. The Zohar truly opens you up to an entirely new perception of the Jewish tradition. Your efforts are appreciated and hope to see more on the Zohar in the future. Usually, I would say this was too long but this was too damn short! Amazing work, thank you.
You’re most welcome friend. Thank you for being here with us on the journey. It’s an honor to be able to share with you that which was shared with me.
Our Freemason's Lodge has monthly reflections on the Talmud and the Zohar. Further Light! Thank you.
Through 2015, no one was able to confirm on line if the Zohar was a "book" or several books. I am glad that it has become more transparent since then ..
Thank you for this. You have such enthusiasm and love for the Zohar and you imparted it beautifully throughout that lecture!
For people who want to learn Zohar for the first time: What's the best way to do it in order to attain this love and enthusiasm for the Zohar?
Is a literal understanding the best way or should we be looking for a more complex understanding like Rav Ashlag. You suggested the Pritsker edition Zohar. Should we just start from the beginning and read through?
When you learn Zohar what translations and commentaries do you use and what do you have in mind when reading?
Is there any tips to use when learning Zohar, that you could give us to make learning Zohar meaningful and understandable for us seekers?
Thank you so much Daniel. i'm glad the love came through.
The only way to fall in love with the ocean is by diving straight into the water, so long as you don't drown.
Nothing will ever replace the original words. If you can read Hebrew/Aramaic i'd recommend just starting to read, even with little comprehension at first. The words have a rhythm, poetry and song of their own which will never be translated, which will pull you in.
The next step would be to ask simply what the text is trying to say, the Zohar is built with strata upon strata of meaning. Just start from top and only excavate once you feel you have somewhat of a grasp of that level.
The Pritzker Edition is a great way to go about it, both because of the superb artistry of the translation, Matt really makes an attempt to capture something of the original that cannot be captured, and secondly because of his notations that make the text all that more understandable. He really did a superb job.
There are some classic commentaries on the Zohar which make from a great learning companion alongside the text, unfortunately most are only available in Hebrew, there's Ohr Yakar from the Ramak, Ateres Tzvi from the Zhidichoer, and of course the Sulam from the Baal HaSulam, which may even be available in English, and for something a little more aimed at comprehension try the Matov Midvash and Nitzutzei Orot from Rav Kook.
i don't think my practice is anything worth emulating unfortunately so i might skip that question lol, but a great thought to keep in mind while learning is "v'taher libenu l'ovdecha b'emes" - to purify our hearts to serve You with truth, You and You and You and You. All You.
And yes, lastly and probably most importantly, the Zohar was written by a holy chabura (group (of friends)) about a holy chabura and i believe was intended to read by a holy chubara/chaburot. So find a group of holy friends, brothers and sisters and embark on the holy journey together, even assign roles and have each holy person read that part. It will be a magical experience when done right, infinity better than when done alone.
Best of luck on your journey, be safe, and keep seeking
Much love,
Zevi
p.s i'd love to know how it goes and if you have luck putting together a chabura, i'd love love love to hear about it. chag sameach 😘
@@SeekersofUnity Maybe you would lead those of us here who are interested, in a group learning of the Zohar over zoom?
It's an interesting idea, but i have serious doubts about it working
I was born in the Soviet Union where religion, esp ✡ was pretty much "illegal" and as a child I was horrified by the images and practices...no context, no kindness, anxiety etc. on top of that, my Jewish identity came from the surrounding antisemitism ( i.e. getting my nose broken in 1st grade for being something I never understood to begin with).
Long story short (no pun intended) I've been struggling with G-dfaith and Judaism my entire life. My 3 religious trips to Israel further cemented my cynicism. I never stopped believing but never stopped challenging those beliefs either.
Last week..I start exploring THIS and it's music to my ears.. I can't get enough. Thank you so much and G-d bless.
P.S. years ago I purchased a book on the Zohar and found the language to be beautiful but before I got a chance to really dive in, my Rabbi borrowed it and never returned it. It wasn't long until I stopped caring, although I never forgot how fascinating thus book was to me. (My appreciation for Alex Grey's art and the music of Tool kept me intrigued with Kaballah ...little did I know that there is so much more that meets the (3rd) eye.)
Thank you Xander for sharing your story. It’s sad to hear all that you’ve gone through, glad though that you’ve found this work here to resonate with you. Feel free to check out the rest of channel and welcome to Seekers. With love, Zevi
@@SeekersofUnity many thanks and blessings Zevi. I'm already hooked. Keep doing what you do. Good Shabbos brother.
By the way, what's your opinion on the art of Alex Grey and (some) of the music of Tool? Specifically the song Lateralus which is beyond lyirics..
th-cam.com/video/Y7JG63IuaWs/w-d-xo.html. (The lyrics are in the comment section and are important.) Enjoy.
I think Alex’s art is really epic. I don’t know Tool’s music but I’ll check it out. Thanks for sharing it.
I am beyond grateful for your willingness to teach anyone who is willing to learn.
Since two major religions, Islam and Christianity, base their core beliefs on Judaism’s unique historical relationship to God. It’s fundamentally important to know what Judaism has to say about God.
Thank you!
Amen.
I feel so blessed to have received this beautiful introduction. I pray this is only the beginning of my journey into the teaching of Kabbalah.
Please receive my most sincere compliments for having explained in a concrete, yet profound way, such a monumental and complex work as the Zohar. I am member of a Conservative community in Mexico. It makes me sad that a good number of members of my community mock about the Zohar in particular, and about Kabalah in general. It's a real shame. It would be great if within your videos you could recommend bibliography for those of us interested in learning more about the subject discussed. Warm regards.
You’re so very welcome Daniel. Thank you for your kind compliments and suggestions. Yours, Zevi
Upon Dr. Sledge's suggestion that we view Speakers of Unity, I started with your conversation with Israel Knohl (which was quite interesting and informative and moving a-although I had a few questions) and then this moving introduction to the Zohar. Thank you so much. It was a generous, coherent, organized and passionate evocation of the Book and this fantastic, systematic and creative cosmology.. Thank you for alluding at the conclusion to a possibility (actually, it seemed to be your deep conviction) that the Zohar's immense wisdom and power may have effect even for those of us outside Judaism. I look forward to viewing the other lectures of SOU.
Thank you friend. Welcome to the channel.
Interesting, the only way i first found out about the Zohar was due to an amazing game called Xenosaga. It touches on a lot of Jewish/ Christian religion and the Zohar is a major importance in the series. Much appreciated for the information!
You’re most welcome 🙏🏼
I just ordered a Zohar. I am going to try to tackle this book. I have a complex relationship with God, and its time I do something. I am not Jewish, but I know that their is amazing wisdom within Judaism and their unique relationship with God that might help me with my troubles. Whom better to learn from, than the amazing people that brought the understanding and love of God to a messed up world those thousands of years ago. I think this is going to be difficult for me, but its time. Thanks!!!
Glad to be of service Tim. Best of luck on your journey. I hope we can helps shed some light.
Yours,
Zevi
Same people who crucified the Logos. Your relationship with God won't get any better if you study the Zohar.
Only that which dies can be reborn.
@@Owdaks I am fully Christian and I know god made a covenant with Abraham which is eternal. I also know Christ came to fulfill the law not destroy it. I know the Jews have a special relationship with God, and Christians have a special relationship with god too. Why would I not want to learn from our Jewish brothers. God works through them differently than he works through us, Christians. The Jews are my 100% equal in everything, including faith. I will always understand that a blessing to Israel will result in a blessing to us. So, I will always learn from the children of God.
@@Alltrippy I think Jesus Christ warned us enough about it. Stop praising jewish mysticism, do you realize how evil kabbalah is ?
Rev 2:9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Who do you think he meant by synagogue of Satan ? And you need a refresher into God's words if you think all faith are 100% equal. Unifaith, chrislam, whatever you want to call it is a heresy.
Lev 19:31 “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.
Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Mat 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
I like the way you synthesize and translate huge concepts into a comprehensible language, your eyes light up when you teach! Yashar Koach!
Thank you friend. That's a beautiful thing to say. Thank you dearly.
Question: How many books make up the Zohar? I've seen various collections with 23, 24 etc. volumes. * You answered my question in video. Thank you.
42:25 Here’s a modern analogy. The drama playing out on the TV screen is continuously sustained by the signal coming from the source and disappears the moment it is switched off.
Thank you, that's a wonderful metaphor.
Amazzzing.. Just amazing. Looking at "it" from an eclectic Christian Buberite kinda Taoist perspective, you're telling me that the Zohar is a detailed technical love 💘 making manual that tells ways of participating with the Imminent Presence of G_D's incarnating Messianic Love... Wowza. Gotta get a copy of that preferred translation you spoke about.. !!
Does anyone know if Advaita Vedanta was popular after Zohar's popularity? or anything about the timeline of the two? Shalom.
The knowledge through love thing, in particular, is similar.
Water for my soul to hear about the outer and the inner; the above and below; the masculine and feminine; the inner mystery of the Torah, cloaked in It’s garment! Thank you!
You’re most welcome Michael. Thank you for joining us for this great work.
You are a excellent speaker and good at holding my interest through out the whole video.
Thank you so much, that's really sweet of you to say.
Thanks for this! So which of the English books/translations on the Zohar would you recommend?
You’re welcome. The Pritzker Edition by Daniel Matt.
When the Baal HaSulam was asked about the author of the Zohar, he said that if wasn’t Shimon Bar Yochai, he was a person on the same caliber as the Rashbi.
Which editions of the Zohar were you “brandishing” at the beginning of the the video? Could I get the bibliographical details for them both, please?
Hey I was wondering. What if Sirius has gone supernova and is diminished. What is the use of the hole in the temple pointing at that spot?
Same counts for any monument or esoteric texts with old star alignments.
I mean why would you believe in forgotten stars.
"I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your love"
"I will bow down towards Your holy temple"
"in the fear of You"
-Zohar
Admitted neophyte, here.
Thank you for sharing.
Seeking knowledge, understanding and getting closer to God's love, perfection...one best be careful witch teacher they hear or read, these days(Garbage in/Garbage out). Blessed to have found your video and even got a new tattoo idea!
Blessings, in return to you, sir!
That was such a BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION 👏 👏👏
Thank you🙏
Can you please drop the links to part 2 and 3 of this series? I cannot find them. Thank you
Here's our Kabbalah playlist, enjoy: th-cam.com/play/PL_7jcKJs6iwXMZBTUvza15Fh2C1Re16eZ.html
I have never read the Zohar but it speaks to me of my experience and of what we all believe. We all are created in a place of extremes. Humanity is the feminine energy that has free choice. We are free to love God. Who is God? He is the masculine and He only loves. Humanity becomes the man when she chooses to love humanity unconditionally. Our image is in a reflection. First we love God and then we become His image. Then we love the other. Who is the other? Well, the other is the image. I am a Gentile who has always loved the perfect Jew. Who is the perfect Jew. Well, He is in the other. I see my love in my opposite so I see Him in you. I am in love with the Jew! We all are. We are here to experience being in love. When we become love our Son will be born 🙏💫🌟👌That means we all just know!! Messiah is here!
I'm very glad I found your channel via TruthSeekah.
I had no idea Daniel Matt edited the Zohar.
I went to Amazon but did not see sample pages. Does Matt's Zohar contain the Aramaic and English? Or just the English?
Thank you much!
Glad you found us. I think the Pritzker Edition, translated by Daniel Matt, just has the English.
Sorry I did´nt get how Reshit and Chokhmah are related. Is it just two words for the same, Wisdom? And where is Keter in this system?
Hi Henrik. Reshit means "first", Chochma is called Reshit because it is the first of the knowable, consciousness sefirot. Keter in the Zohar is seen as beyond understanding and counting, the "hidden of all hidden ones" in the language of the Zohar. The connection between Chochma and Reshit is also seen by the Kabbalists in the biblical verse "*reshit chochma* yirat Hashem" - fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 111:10
Is there an particular starting point for a weirdo Christian like myself to engage this material? Any recommended primer texts (or videos, i suppose)? Or is just jumping into the Zohar the move? Been loving this series Zevi. Bless you and everyone involved.
Question: How do we understand the sod level?
I read the Zohar years ago and deeply enjoyed it. Recently when researching part of my family tree that I didn't know much about, I discovered that I'm descended from Moshe Ben Shem Tov, the main writer of the Zohar.
I feel the truth in your expounding of the pictorial interpretation of YHVH. I try to interpret spiritual teachings as understanding my true self rather than something separate and above myself.
Dr. Sledge recommended your channel and I DID catch your live zohar at esoterica. Marvelous. Thank you.
You’re most welcome 🙏🏼
This was a great perspective on the Zohar! Thank your for opening your heart and time, and may blessings and wellsprings of Love-Light flow thru you. 🙏 ❤️💛💚 Peace be with you, and the power of the Spirit to bring forth Justice and Freedom Omnipresent & Unlimited❣️ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ
You’re most welcome. Thank you friend 🙏🏼
Thank you. As someone who had no prior knowledge of the Zohar, I found this deeply moving and very helpful.
Thank you Anya, I’m glad it was helpful and moving. With love, Zevi
@@SeekersofUnity Does the Zohar tell an actual story? If so would you know where I could find it?
Check out The Art of Mystical Narrative: A Poetics of the Zohar by Eitan Fishbane.
@@SeekersofUnity I haven't found anything on that book that interprets a story. Why is it so hard to find an actual story attached to the zohar? Just what is the world trying to hide? I've found bits and pieces on Raziel giving the book of Metatron to Aadam and Eve on separate websites through out the last decade but I can't find a single cover to cover story on the zohar. I appreciate the suggestion but is there something a bit more specific to the start to finish story aspect? Even the author Etian didn't seem to elaborate any form of a start to finish story.
43:50 The Meta-Story, From Exile to Redemption
Gog and Magog simplified pls, and whats going to happen after that, describe the world to come pl. Tnx
What is a good English translation of the Zohar?
The Pritzker Edition by Daniel Matt.
can anyone tell me what copy to buy
I recommend the Pritzker Edition, translated by Daniel Matt.
WOW!! You have united Heaven and Earth with this brilliantly beautiful explanation!!
What a marvelous work of Art you have shared with us!! Thank you!! 🙏💖
It’s for wannabe wizards got it. If you ever say nothing for so long again I’m turning you in to the great khan, and you can answer for your nonsense directly to the authority of heaven.
Thank you so much for your teaching! It's really an honor to learn about such a beautiful tradition and you're a great presenter. I found your channel via Dr Sledge's Esoterica and I just love you both ☺️
You’re most welcome. Thank you for joining us 🙏🏼
IMHO. I believe, the masculine and feminine reunion is about combining the two aspects of each human back into one again. When we are born, we are one. We are blissful. We don't judge.
As we grow in our various environments, we become separate selves. One part says to love all, be peace, help others, be kind.
The other part becomes our other half and we may live with conflicting idea's such as, he's fat, she's stupid, those are brainless people, I hate them for.... or etc. We are no longer one. We have become two.
We need to combine ourselves. Our Adam and Eve. Our male and female. (Sorry for the reference here, it's where I came from) Jesus says to "Enter the Kingdom of Heaven within, be like a small child". He's saying the same thing, simply nesting it in different cultural hues.
Hearing you talk about this gives me goosebumps.
Higher, lower? Physical, spiritual? Conscious, sub-conscious? Is this reference to any or all of the following? In the cosmos? In the world? In the human? Are they regional variations of, "as below, so above?" These are such fun verbal puzzles.
If you receive the world, the Tao will never leave you and you will be like a little child. Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching. There are many more similar references across the ages and from different cultures.
I found all contents very interesting. In particular, the concept of exile and the concept of co-creation, if I may use this word, are what most attracted my attention. All the contents are, anyway, very interesting.
Hi Gianluigi,
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for joining us for this class and for your sweet feedback.
Love,
Zevi
Amazing video:) Could you recommend a good english translation and version of the book? I am confused now because I find very different books and don't know which one to start with.
Thanks🙏🏼:)
Thanks friend. I’d go with Daniel Matt’s translation, the Pritzker edition, if you can afford it.
@@SeekersofUnity Thanks, so much! Yeah I guess, one book at a time :)
Thank you for the lecture . What the version of zohar you recommend to read( in english)? And can i order it online ?
Thank you
You’re most welcome. I recommend the Pritzker Edition, translated by Daniel Matt. It can be ordered online.
Shalom, could you help me understand the history of canonizing the mishnah and zohar? How can they be on the same level of reverence as the Torah, considering Deuteronomy/Devarim 4:2? And that they are written so long after the Nevuah?
Thank you Sean for the question. The Zohar does not come to add any new mitzvot, and the Mishna is only there to elucidate the mitzvot already given in the Torah. Also, to say they’re on the same level of reverence would be inaccurate. I hope I didn’t misrepresent their relationship in my class.
@@SeekersofUnity forgive me if I misunderstood when you said the Zohar is “parallel” to the Talmud and Torah, and the way it has been stored in some Shul’s, alongside/similarly to Torah. From what I understand, the first writings emerged around 12th century(?); I’d like to understand how one can infer that it is consistent more ancient teachings/understanding..
The test of its consistency is in what it inspires. It in inspires a love for G-d and one’s fellow, it is consistent. “It’s ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths lead to peace.”
@@SeekersofUnity that’s wonderful. But from what I understand, it also teaches concepts like gilgul, which I struggle to see evidence of in the Tanakh (maybe with the exception of Eliyahu’s “return” prophesied in Malachi). For example, when the spirit of Samuel is stirred up in 1 Samuel 28..
Believing or disbelief in the concept of Gilgul are both fine positions within Judaism. The question is how one behaves towards G-d and their fellow human as a result.
Amazing stuff so much research and detail. Where did you learn all this from? You sound like an aincent professor.
Minor detail, the Shabbot queen is mentioned in the Talmud. So it is Not a Zoher First.
I listened till the end.
But I had to give up in the middle of the 10 Safirot, was a bit too much for me.
Chazak Vamatz, may you go from strength to strength.
Hello, I appreciate your videos. What should I read or understand before reading the Zohar (Daniel C. Matt edition)? Can someone go straight to that book?
Thank you Álen. I’d recommend reading some introductory material, just to familiarize yourself with the context, imagery and mythological imagination you’ll encounter. But going straight to the text is okay, particularly with Matt’s helpful running notes and commentary.
@@SeekersofUnity What is the best introductory material to start out with, Zevi?
I don’t know what the best is but Arthur Green has written some very good introductory work to the Zohar which beautifully balances academic rigor and sympathetic appreciation toward the text.
@@SeekersofUnity Thanks! I will dive into this after finishing my books on Adriaan Koerbagh (one of Spinoza's dearest friends, and a more radical spinozist than Spinoza himself).
Keep up the good work, Zevi!
🙏🏼☺️
Great lesson. Thanks for being so clear, balanced and passionate about it. Chag Sameach! Joyful Simcha Torah!
You’re most welcome Caterina. Thank you.
How fascinating that I come to this learning at a time of immense pain, both for Jews and from Jews, and can so clearly see that it is only from ignorant interpretations of religion, and not a fuller focus on it, leads us to these horrible conflicts in the world.
Thank you.
So I'm watching this right after watching one of the videos on the zohar on esoterica. The material here compliments everything I just learned in the other video in such a beautiful way.
Honored that you're spending time with us here after hanging out with my friend :)
My pleasure. 🫶
The best video in YT about the Zohar, detailed and explained with care!
Thank you Sergio 🙏🏼
This is really inspiring. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
Shabbat as a Bride is amazing.
I’m learning about Jewish mysticism and I have been enjoying your perspectives.
I hope you don’t mind that I ask questions in your comments section-what are the colors of the 10 sefirah?
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. With pleasure. Here’s from my colleagues at chabad.org: Rabbi Moshe Kordovero in his book Pardes Rimonin (Gate of Colors Chapter 2) lists the connection between the sefirot and their colors:
1. Crown / Keter - either a blinding invisible light, or the whitest white.
2. Wisdom / Chokhmah - Some say it includes all colors (white), others say blue.
3. Understanding / Binah - Yellow and Green (either green itself, or the color that creates green when mixed with blue.
4. Lovingkindness / Hesed - White or light blue.
5. Strength/Judgement/Restraint / Gevurah - Red and Gold.
6. Beauty/Mercy / Tiferes - Yellow and Violet.
7. Eternity/Victory / Netzakh - Light Pink.
8. Splendor/Humility / Hod - Dark Pink.
9. Foundation/Connection / Yesod - Orange or brown/black.
10. Sovereignty / Malkhus - Blue or mixture of all colors or navy, depending on which level of malchus we are referring to.
Hey, what were the words in Hebrew that describe male & female aspects of God, you did not caption them. Your Hebrew accent is hard to catch sometimes (but I still love you). The female is Shchina? As in neighbour?
Haha my bad. So there are couple of different terms employed. The most common is this context is Kudsha Brich Hu (Aramaic) (or Hakadosh Baruch Hu (Hebrew)) for the masculine and Shechina (or Nukva) for the feminine. And yes, Shechina shares the same root as Shachen/Sh'chena which means neighbour, the root meaning "to dwell", because it is the feminine aspect of divinity, Shechina, that dwells in the world according to Kabbalah, while the masculine is depicted as related to the divine trancedence.
Much love.
@@SeekersofUnity why is the active portrayed as feminine though? While the passive, inactive, as masculine here? Love to hear your response! Thx.
Hey dearest. I’m not sure if you mean ‘here’ an in the comment or in the video. If you mean the comment: Shechina is the divine indwelling which is depicted as feminine and Kudsha Brich Hu is divine transcendence, depicted as masculine. I don’t know if it would be right to refer to them as passive and active, the Hebrew words used to depict this relationship are Mashpia (giver, influencer, provider, teacher etc.) and Mekabel (receiver, incubator, student etc. I hope that helps.
@@SeekersofUnity I see, very enlightning!
🙏🏼
Thank you for the in-depth introduction ❤️
You’re most welcome Zohar 😉
So much research and clear explanations, combined with enthusiasm. Thanks !! Who is the voice behind the curtain (the gentleman who moderated the questions following your talk)?
You're most welcome. Thank you for the kind feedback :) That's my dear friend Rabbi Osher Feldman of the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, Garden's Shul.
929th to like! Thanks for the amazing lecture! It brought joy, much joy. I was reminded of two teachings. I was taught how dancing doesn't heal us, the dancing is the healing: connection to the world, our ancestors and our selves. And I was taught that since the messiah is absent in body that by doing for our neighbour what we would do for ourselves we become the hands and feet of the messiah-- without mercy, all is lost. Now i have been taught that knowing by love is dancing for the messiah. Much love!
I didn't know about this teaching on dance - where is it from? I do Israeli dancing - I always feel the presence of G-d when I dance. I feel in touch with the Divine energy. There's nothing like it.
@@dianastevenson131 Thanks for the question! First I hope to acknowledge the earth beneath my feet. I live on Mi'kma'ki land. Kjipuktuk is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq Nation. I was taught about how dancing is the healing from my Anishinaabe teacher. With dancing we ask permission to channel the blessings of the four directions, earth and sky, fire and water, before and after. The parallels with the Sefer Yetzirah are striking, eh?
Where can I buy a FULL and UNABRIGDED aramaic original edition of the Zohar, containing all text that holy martyr Rabbi Hillel Zeitlin kept one volume in his hands? I find a lot of strange editions online, mostly from the "Kabbalah centre" of "Rav" Berg. But I wish to own an edition fully kosher, complete, including every volume that holy martyr Rav Hillel Zeitlin held to be authoritative. I live in Germany, but I would like to order this edition either from Israel or the US or from whatever place possible. Thank you very much and G'd bless!
MAGNIFICENT!
Thank you
The ferrar Fenton edition is the only translation that I've found that translates brasheet as "with headship" be- rashit... changes the ENTIRE story
You're most welcome. Thank you.
Ah, yes, what one word can do.
@@SeekersofUnity
Thank you soooooo much, I will be following your work very closely!
Love that. When I learned that the Aramaic word for “word”, Miltha, was not words on a page but so much more, pretty much almost impossible to define, it was amazing. I came from westernized Christianity after having a divine encounter and it was beautifully horrible haha.
When you used the term "theoeroticism" which makes a lot of sense, it makes me want to discuss this with a close friend who is deep into studying the Torah for the last few years.
The thing is, he's recovering from an addiction to porn and I was wondering how to bring this up without triggering him..or if I should bring it up at all..
That’s a thought question. I wonder how familiar he is with Kabbalistic of Chasidic thought. If he is this concept/theme is kinda hard to escape and he should probably be aware of it already.
So brilliant! This has inspired me beyond my best wishes! Thank you! 🙏🏼
Fascinating, really. I am going to hear it again and again. The contents are very complex. I already attended some lessons on Zohar, but they did not transmit at all this richness of contents.
Hey Gianluigi,
You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for joining us. Feel free to listen as many times as your heart desires.
Love,
Zevi
Excellent. Thank you for sharing your learning with us.
You’re more welcome. Thank you Simone for coming to learn with us.
Wow, found you randomly on youtube and this is so fascinating. In a lot of ways, the Zohar sounds like the Tao Te Ching.
Thanks, glad you found it. Interesring, how're they similar?
@@SeekersofUnity Just to start, your talk on how God is infinite and beyond words, and the God mentioned in the Bible is part of creation and cannot describe the true Creator - the first words in the Tao Te Ching are: The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth, the named is the mother of the ten thousand things. The idea of Tao being infinite but also manifest is present all over the Tao Te Ching, as is the idea of the masculine/feminine aspects of the Tao. A lot of it was quite similar!
That's really really cool. Thank you. Time for a comparison video ;)
Yes the same
@@SeekersofUnity is the god mentioned in the bible actually the DEMIURGE of Gnosticism sir? Sure seems like his creation is f'd up.
The notion of the true Torah (supernatural) being imperceivable to man (natural) and therefore needing some sort of translation into a natural state is really interesting to me. (33:00) It's reminiscent of the idea of bringing a four dimensional object into three dimensional space: Pure mathematics can do it, but I can't conceptualize it on my own, because I have no experiential relationship with any sort of fourth dimension. (Can a three dimensional brain think four dimensional thoughts?) But more to the point, even if I looked at a four dimensional object, and could interact with it, I'm not sure I could understand it, and I doubt that I could understand more than three dimensions of it.
Humans see a small sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum, if you want to write a book, it doesn't make much sense to write it in infrared, even if that would be the best color for the project.
Okay, on to the Spinoza video.
Your work is a treasure, Thank you!!
Thank you
What is the best version of the Zohar to study? I know Hebrew and have significant knowledge of Aramaic so I can use the original.
Also what are the best Zohar commentaries?
If you can read Aramaic then you should read it in the original of course. If you’d like some English the Pritzker Edition is best. For commentaries you have the Ramak’s Or Yakar, Rav Ashlag’s Sulam and Rav Frish’s Matok M’dvash among others. Enjoy.
The perfect spirit split in two. Man Woman. Kind of like lighting two rockets at the same time taking off from one spot and never ending its flame and after creating an infinity of sparks they eventually come back together as one infinite devine entity
Love being trans and jewish and about theurgy this is all super empowering
thank you for blowing my mind, another wonderful lesson! one again thank you and please share more of your wisdom with us :) have a blessed day!
Thank you so much Miron 😊 You too my friend.
Bytheway any email adress to share deeper and more celestial matters?
Seekersofu@gmail.com
@@SeekersofUnity sent email to seekersofunity@gmail.com 😎
Very interesting video for someone with no prior knowledge on Jewish Mysticism. I'm going to check out many more of your videos and will follow your channel closely!
Thanks for coming, i hope you find it educational, inspirational and hopefully transformational.
My brother you did an outstanding job explaining such a complicated subject as the Zohar and Jewish mysticism..thx and shalom
Thank you Marc. You’re most welcome. Glad you liked it.
We Learned deeply first time from you today 'The Zohar '
What a blessing :) Thank you
I'm not Jewish and I just order the complete Zohar collection. Interesting material
The Levels of Understanding you lay out here are EXACTLY the same as the levels of understanding articulated in the original source Canonical Text of Chinese Medicine - the Nei Jing Su Wen - Yellow Emperor's Classic . . . I will try to find the quote for you.
What do you think of the Paleo Hebrew? And how does it play into the text?
Thank you so much for the playful elucidation. Agrees with my yogic understanding perfectly. Rest. Breathe! Peace out y'all
You’re so welcome. Thank you :) 🙏🏼
Thank you! I'm completely new to this and you helped me understand it - I really like this whole idea!
Hey, so glad i was able to help. Thank you for the sweet feedback.
I really can't wait to read the Zohar. These ideas sound a lot like the stuff I've been thinking about God my whole life.
Is it possible to find an English translation of the "Holy Zohar" as you put it?
Yes. There are a handful of translations available. The latest and most recommended is the Pritzker Edition Zohar.
@@SeekersofUnity thank you!
You’re most welcome.
Super interesting! Definitely a wild introduction into the Zohar, feeling wildly out of my depth. Especially whenever Hebrew happens and you are talking a bit too fast for me to process that as I don't speak it.
Might have to watch it a few times, would appreciate if it were a little slower and more enunciated so I can drop it in google. :P
But thanks for this video!
You’re most welcome my friend. Sorry if it was a little quick. I get excited.
@@SeekersofUnity And your enthusiasm is infectious! It's okay I understand, I often have to remind myself to slow down and lower my voice as well. Explaining things so they are clear, easy to digest and nice to listen to is not an easy task!
From my expirience ,best fuel to learn kabala without burning your to the ground ,is to be agoist to the core ,the more you advance the more you will attract opposite forces to drag you down .At some point I just was not ready
The Hermetica also is saying a similar thing about God, that the concept is beyond our understanding. I'm planning to get into reading The Zohar. I'm not Jewish but I am a spiritual person.
Where is the rabbi at the end from? He sounds south african
Capetown.
Beautiful beginning & touching ending ,,,I was wondering how you were going to put this book into just 1 part upload, sometimes miracles happen.
Thank you friend. Glad you enjoyed it. Welcome to the channel.
there are so many parallels with platonism that i dont doubt it goes back to the 2nd century. also though predating him by centuries, it also reminds me of derrida, in re-examining texts, though he was primarily focused on the political. i'm personally much more interested mystical/spiritual reinterpretations than political.
This is a fabulous video. I bought a book on Lilith due to my astrology and shadow work ... the book refers to the Zohar on the first few pages I read so I found your video in search and really enjoyed the content. Do you have any others on the Zohar?
Thank you Penelope. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Here’s some more: th-cam.com/users/liveqTkkHMuMbw0?si=QOCSGOKG8b3x4VCy
It's truly astounding just how far later Jewish texts take Jewish theology away from what is contained in the Tanakh. The Tetragrammaton going from the name of God, He who causes to become, to a figure of a human being, is a quite extraordinary change in interpretation.
There is a very clear Gnostic influence in this Zorah text, with God, He whose name is the Tetragrammaton, being put in the place of the Gnostic Demiurge.
I’m reading it now and must say, so far it is beautiful. I wish I could read and understand faster.
Where can I watch more about the Zohar from this same TH-camr?
th-cam.com/users/liveqTkkHMuMbw0?si=QOCSGOKG8b3x4VCy 🙏🏼
I'm definitely going to read the Zohar 🙏🏽
Impressive as always🙌🏻
Thank you A E 😊
Interesting that this theme of a union or rather re-union is pronounced in Hermeticism and Freemasonry showing up at about the same time, post Crusades. And of course we see lots of love stories in Sufism as well. Wondering if you have a thought about why this comes up so strong at this time? There had been some precedent but not too this level. In India and Tibet at the same time this comes up heavy in Tantra, "union" Buddhist practice which I practice. There are many meditations where you sit in divine union, either as a female form/dakini your self embracing the Guru, or your self embracing the dakini. Bliss being prominent with this practice as well as light and sound in the inner eye much like Ezekiel.
There's been a lot of theorizing as to why this analogous thinking and literature arises at that moment in history. I haven't come across anything too persuasive or conclusive. I guess the question remains open.
Thank you for your "two Zohars" comment. You're so right that it is beside the point to discuss authorship. I have often found myself scoffing at the certainty with which scholars state that Moshe de Leon is "undoubtedly" the author of the Zohar.
It seems like a very colonial (and to me limiting) notion of authorship, that of whoever put pen to paper first shall have their name in there. When that sort of colonial notion of authorship meets oral tradition, it becomes confused, does not know where to put its hands or how to approach something created outside of that colonial consciousness. I fully agree that all that energy would be better spent in reading and understanding the teachings of the Zohar itself.
The Zohar is a jewel distilling a very long and profound oral tradition, and that to me is why its radiance so transcendentally surpasses any other commentaries. It comes in the form of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's wisdom, regardless of who first put pen to paper. And yet the Zohar transcends its own "bookness", and so it follows that it transcends authorship as well. It is the hidden light of the Torah, revealed. And anyone not humbled by that can say whatever they want. :)
Wow, i couldn’t agree more Mariana. So well said. And thank you so much for joining in supporting this project by the way. I didn’t get a chance to thank you personally yet, but it means so much to us. Thank you.
@@SeekersofUnity Thank you for showing up and doing the work. I have found you precisely at the time when I am stepping up in my own journey to find out what it means to do the work not as a master but as a student and lover of Mystery who just wants to create more room for these conversations to be had. Please receive my gratitude and two handfuls of glittery confetti all the way from Southern Brasil. As I once heard Kevin Costner say, "If you build it, they will come!" (:
You’ve filled my heart with glittering confetti. We will continue to build it together. “The morning cometh,” for we have striven to create it. - Isaiah 21:11
@@SeekersofUnity That's the quote I wish I'd gone for! LOL
06:15 What we’re going to cover
06:59 Historical Context
08:51 Who wrote the Zohar?
13:00 Literary Structure of the Zohar
14:30 Core Ideas of the Zohar:
15:02 God: En Sof, Sefirot and a Divine Romance
26:50 The Human, the Fulcrum of the Cosmos
33:31 Torah, a Secret Code
41:12 The World, Illusions of Duality
43:50 The Meta-Story, From Exile to Redemption
48:58 Post Class Conversation, Knowing thru Love, Writing our own Zohar
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