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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 ..
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
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.. ua-cam.com/video/Y7JG63IuaWs/v-deo.html. (The lyrics are in the comment section and are important.) Enjoy.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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.
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 😘
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.
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
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?
"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!
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.
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.
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.
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.. !!
@@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!
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.
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 Subscribe to more quality Kabbalah and Mysticism content, for free: ua-cam.com/users/seekersofunity facebook: facebook.com/seekersofunity instagram: instagram.com/seekersofunity podcast: anchor.fm/seekersofunity website: www.seekersofunity.com
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.
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
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!
Which translation of the Zohar is recommended? I'm not Jewish, and I am only fluent in English. I'm a Latter-Day Saint, but I felt impressed with Rabbi Rashbi's story about meeting with Elijah. I saw parallels in the few short things I heard Elijah told Rashbi that are also within the Book of Enoch. I want to explore more of the sacred texts, and learn more about our God. (Yes, I believe I serve the same God as the Jews.)
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
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!
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.
42:35 From what I've gathered in cosmology, if spacetime and all particle patterning quantum fields collapsed back to the hot, dense pre-expansion state it would be a quark-gluon plasma (quagma) of undifferentiated charge trillions of times denser and hotter (energy density) than protons and neutrons. There's an interesting story about Krishna's childhood and how his mother saw the entire universe in his mouth. In consideration of an infinite unified God state before creation and the contraction that made voided spacetime (universe) by it's word (self expression "I am" via accoustic/vibrational cavitation). Then it would be simple to mythologize the process as the opening of God's mouth (spacetime, a universe). The Word would be the form shaping nature of the fundamtal vibrating quantum fields that pattern all the particles that everything is composed of. Many lead quantum and theoretical physicists say these fields are the primary objects in the universe. Imho they would be the "letters" of the Word. "They do not cease moving day or night..." The Word tends toward fulfillment =)
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
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🙏🏼:)
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
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.
The opinion that Moshe de Leon wrote The Zohar is not only an academic position. There are jewish authorities that hold this position as well. Among them being, Yakov Emden, (Ya'avetz), Yechezkel Landau who states In his sefer Derushei HaTzlach, he argues that the Zohar is to be considered unreliable as it came into our hands many hundreds of years after Rashbi's death and it lacks an unbroken mesorah as to its authenticity, among other reasons. There are others who state that it is permissible to believe that The Zohar was not written by The Rashbi. Among them are, Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, and Rabbi Gedaliah Nadel.
My Great (X5) Grandfather Rabbi Shalom Ben Moses Buzaglo was one of the men that translated the zohar to hebrew. He was tortured by the sultan in Morocco and fled to England.
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
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.
so glad this is available to watch and listen to..what drives me to be jewish is simple, my mom and dad were jewish and that's the end of the story. so happy i am and will remain jewish.,
Sounds like Judaism, with the help of the Zohar, has moved beyond the constraints of chapter-and-verse living, if I've understood you correctly. In my experience, folks who live by chapter and verse have very little room, if any, for playfulness. Thanks for this upload.
Love that. We are part of the divine. As Yeshua stated, we are all the Christ. The inner man. The Spirit. The only fault or “sin” I Have ever seen is us thinking we are separate individuals and also separated from God. The only place this can even take place is within the mind of the human. It is the mind (thoughts) that needed to be brought to the truth that the body is the vehicle of the divine yet having through the biological “evolution” animalistic patterns that most allow to control them. The only enemy I personally have ever had is my own though patterns.
Honorable Rabbi, I have a question. Do Jewish believe Ezra is the son of God just like Christians believe Jesus is the son of God? Please answer me 🙏 I want to know the truth.
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.
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.
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.
Blessings, thanks God, ... I look at discovering your teachings of the Zohar TODAY, in the "descendent of the Holy spirit dat, as a Little wonder. .. Q You have spanish classes?
from an ecumenical perspective, words being more than noises and shapes is fairly global. from odin to the zohar, no less. I think words are the nature of sorcery, and that the use of words to consolidate power is the fundamental dark-magic of our species.
Words are information. God used Words creating. Intentional magic is man trying to manipulate reality from your own point of few in order to get what you need. Mans fallen nature is in the root of witchcraft. > control and manipulation for people to do what you want. You should be under God and do only what He wants as He is created us and knows what we want. Everything you do trusting your own mind and reasoning, you doubt God and rebel against Him. rebellion is at the root of witchcraft. Using faith to gain wealth, health, fame. even if you are believer, its evil and magic. your own will power your own faith and not really submitting under the Hand of God.
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.
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!
Does the Zohar reveal the maschiach? what does the Zohar do for a person. .? Does one evolve become like a god.? is it about reaching nirvana? Btw I viewed a teaching, the word bresheet, in beginning. According to the paleo Hebrew pictograms the word Bresheet means , the son of Aluiem is destroyed by his own hand on the tav the cross. A nd the name Yeshua means he will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid. Yaam harim veyokhiakh Shedvaro vetorato omdim
The importance of facts and how we pass them on: the Italian Renaissance begins in the 13 hundreds (trecento), see Giotto. By the 15th century, we are way in the middle of the Italian Renaissance.
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.
Just before one has too much fun with rabbinic Judaism and it's perversions of the Bible. Jesus is the only way, just so you know. We know what Jesus thought about the rabbis
I think the learned Rebbes agree with the Buddha, ‘wake before the mind of Gd’, but of course this is not possible? But every day when you rise you will try to do so.
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!
@@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!
I am a Jew with the last name of Castile, I know you're doing your best to describe God and it's coming off as a little bit handicapped since this is a difficult subject to touch on, but I think this needs to be simplified so that it's not so complicated, meaning that the topic of God should be simplified even if it's infinite
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!!!
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.
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.
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
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.
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 ..
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..
ua-cam.com/video/Y7JG63IuaWs/v-deo.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
But the Zorah teachings/Kabbalah is not the Judaism from which Christianity/Islam comes from
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.
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
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.
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
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?
"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!
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.
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.
Dr. Sledge recommended your channel and I DID catch your live zohar at esoterica. Marvelous. Thank you.
You’re most welcome 🙏🏼
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.
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.. !!
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.
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 🙏🏼
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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We Out Here
Where can I watch more about the Zohar from this same UA-camr?
ua-cam.com/users/liveqTkkHMuMbw0?si=QOCSGOKG8b3x4VCy 🙏🏼
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.
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
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.
That was such a BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION 👏 👏👏
Thank you🙏
Which translation of the Zohar is recommended? I'm not Jewish, and I am only fluent in English. I'm a Latter-Day Saint, but I felt impressed with Rabbi Rashbi's story about meeting with Elijah. I saw parallels in the few short things I heard Elijah told Rashbi that are also within the Book of Enoch. I want to explore more of the sacred texts, and learn more about our God. (Yes, I believe I serve the same God as the Jews.)
Welcome Kaitlyn. I recommend the Pritzker edition by Daniel Matt.
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 🙏🏼
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!
I'm not Jewish and I just order the complete Zohar collection. Interesting material
This is really inspiring. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
Shabbat as a Bride is amazing.
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.
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.
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: ua-cam.com/play/PL_7jcKJs6iwXMZBTUvza15Fh2C1Re16eZ.html
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.
can anyone tell me what copy to buy
I recommend the Pritzker Edition, translated by Daniel Matt.
42:35 From what I've gathered in cosmology, if spacetime and all particle patterning quantum fields collapsed back to the hot, dense pre-expansion state it would be a quark-gluon plasma (quagma) of undifferentiated charge trillions of times denser and hotter (energy density) than protons and neutrons.
There's an interesting story about Krishna's childhood and how his mother saw the entire universe in his mouth. In consideration of an infinite unified God state before creation and the contraction that made voided spacetime (universe) by it's word (self expression "I am" via accoustic/vibrational cavitation). Then it would be simple to mythologize the process as the opening of God's mouth (spacetime, a universe). The Word would be the form shaping nature of the fundamtal vibrating quantum fields that pattern all the particles that everything is composed of.
Many lead quantum and theoretical physicists say these fields are the primary objects in the universe. Imho they would be the "letters" of the Word. "They do not cease moving day or night..."
The Word tends toward fulfillment =)
Fascinating comparison. Thank you.
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
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 :)
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!
Your work is a treasure, Thank you!!
Thank you
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.
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.
I’m reading it now and must say, so far it is beautiful. I wish I could read and understand faster.
So brilliant! This has inspired me beyond my best wishes! Thank you! 🙏🏼
The opinion that Moshe de Leon wrote The Zohar is not only an academic position. There are jewish authorities that hold this position as well. Among them being, Yakov Emden, (Ya'avetz), Yechezkel Landau who states In his sefer Derushei HaTzlach, he argues that the Zohar is to be considered unreliable as it came into our hands many hundreds of years after Rashbi's death and it lacks an unbroken mesorah as to its authenticity, among other reasons. There are others who state that it is permissible to believe that The Zohar was not written by The Rashbi. Among them are, Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, and Rabbi Gedaliah Nadel.
Yes, that is correct. Thank you for pointing that out.
My Great (X5) Grandfather Rabbi Shalom Ben Moses Buzaglo was one of the men that translated the zohar to hebrew. He was tortured by the sultan in Morocco and fled to England.
Wow that is wild. What an honor to have you joining us here. May his memory shine as a blessing to all of us.
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
you are brilliant.
All the ZOHAR I. S. a radiant brilliant Thought
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.
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?
Thank you kavod harav .
You’re most welcome Sylvia.
I'm definitely going to read the Zohar 🙏🏽
so glad this is available to watch and listen to..what drives me to be jewish is simple, my mom and dad were jewish and that's the end of the story. so happy i am and will remain jewish.,
Sounds like Judaism, with the help of the Zohar, has moved beyond the constraints of chapter-and-verse living, if I've understood you correctly. In my experience, folks who live by chapter and verse have very little room, if any, for playfulness. Thanks for this upload.
Love that. We are part of the divine. As Yeshua stated, we are all the Christ. The inner man. The Spirit. The only fault or “sin” I Have ever seen is us thinking we are separate individuals and also separated from God. The only place this can even take place is within the mind of the human. It is the mind (thoughts) that needed to be brought to the truth that the body is the vehicle of the divine yet having through the biological “evolution” animalistic patterns that most allow to control them. The only enemy I personally have ever had is my own though patterns.
Honorable Rabbi, I have a question. Do Jewish believe Ezra is the son of God just like Christians believe Jesus is the son of God? Please answer me 🙏 I want to know the truth.
Hi friend. No, they don’t.
Please just call me Zevi 🙏🏼
Is it like Bhakti?
Yes they need Yoga!
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.
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!
🙏🏼
The part about the breathing reminded me of Brahma
Blessings, thanks God, ... I look at discovering your teachings of the Zohar TODAY, in the "descendent of the Holy spirit dat, as a Little wonder. ..
Q You have spanish classes?
Bless you dear. We don’t have any Spanish classes unfortunately.
Question: How do we understand the sod level?
Congrats! That was a great lesson in many different ways, and I was inspired. Thanks!
You’re most welcome. Thank you Yariel 🙏🏼
What is a good English translation of the Zohar?
The Pritzker Edition by Daniel Matt.
from an ecumenical perspective, words being more than noises and shapes is fairly global. from odin to the zohar, no less. I think words are the nature of sorcery, and that the use of words to consolidate power is the fundamental dark-magic of our species.
Words are information. God used Words creating.
Intentional magic is man trying to manipulate reality from your own point of few in order to get what you need.
Mans fallen nature is in the root of witchcraft. > control and manipulation for people to do what you want.
You should be under God and do only what He wants as He is created us and knows what we want. Everything you do trusting your own mind and reasoning, you doubt God and rebel against Him. rebellion is at the root of witchcraft.
Using faith to gain wealth, health, fame. even if you are believer, its evil and magic. your own will power your own faith and not really submitting under the Hand of God.
audio is so quiet
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.
will have to come back here when i can follow what you are saying....
how is Hashem an idea and how are we a reflection of Him if He created us
Good questions Chana.
No one created us….you do not have to believe in creation to believe in God…gd is not a belief…if gd is a belief we are doomed!
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!
🙏🏼☺️
Bytheway any email adress to share deeper and more celestial matters?
Seekersofu@gmail.com
@@SeekersofUnity sent email to seekersofunity@gmail.com 😎
Toda Zevi 🙏
🙏🏼
Gog and Magog simplified pls, and whats going to happen after that, describe the world to come pl. Tnx
If we leave the duality doesn’t this mean that we will stop existing? It seems kind of annihilation…
Does the Zohar reveal the maschiach? what does the Zohar do for a person. .? Does one evolve become like a god.? is it about reaching nirvana? Btw I viewed a teaching, the word bresheet, in beginning. According to the paleo Hebrew pictograms the word Bresheet means , the son of Aluiem is destroyed by his own hand on the tav the cross. A nd the name Yeshua means he will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid. Yaam harim veyokhiakh Shedvaro vetorato omdim
Yes there's a massiah in every generation x
Bill Maher and Roseanne Barr brought me here
you are a Great Teacher, very engaging!!!
Thank you friend. You’re very welcome.
The importance of facts and how we pass them on: the Italian Renaissance begins in the 13 hundreds (trecento), see Giotto. By the 15th century, we are way in the middle of the Italian Renaissance.
I am reading the Zohar , thanks for the information.
You’re most welcome Ricardo.
Well said btw, is this what you do for a "living"? If not, what do you do?
Thank you. I’m working on this project, Seekers of Unity, full time at the moment.
I was also a barista until covid hit.
@@SeekersofUnity Do you have an email where I may ask a personal question?
Seekersofu@gmail.com
What do you think of the Paleo Hebrew? And how does it play into the text?
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.
Who knew religion was fun. Somebody should have told me ages ago instead of demanding that I accept Jesus 😂
Just before one has too much fun with rabbinic Judaism and it's perversions of the Bible. Jesus is the only way, just so you know. We know what Jesus thought about the rabbis
Jesus is also fun as fuck. But religion had made it boring and annoying. Read the Gospels of Matthew and John. Watch The Chosen.
Powerful video❤🎉
I think the learned Rebbes agree with the Buddha, ‘wake before the mind of Gd’, but of course this is not possible? But every day when you rise you will try to do so.
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!
zohar is gold for our life and brain.
I am a Jew with the last name of Castile, I know you're doing your best to describe God and it's coming off as a little bit handicapped since this is a difficult subject to touch on, but I think this needs to be simplified so that it's not so complicated, meaning that the topic of God should be simplified even if it's infinite