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Orchard of Delights Miketz
similarly spelled words to convey this short story: Jacob crossed over Soon science will probably come to understand “soul” as a dimension
the Yabbok and wrestled with a “man,” who struck him, when he as well. (See the portion of Ki Tavo in Deuteronomy for a lengthier
realized that he could not overcome him. elucidation of this idea).
As discussed in the previous section, Jacob’s wrestling match that Time functions as an intermediary between the space and soul
night took place on many different levels simultaneously, including dimensions because of the insurmountable “distance” – and we are
internally. In order to defeat Esau the next day he knew he had to not referring to the physical one – between God’s infinite light and
come to terms once and for all with his own sense of identity, his the finite spiritual and physical worlds; for Divine light by its very
insecurity surrounding the birthright and the blessing he took from nature cannot shine directly into the physical worlds. Should this
Esau, and ultimately his purpose and destiny. occur one of two things would happen: either the physical world
Jacob’s lone crossing of the Yabbok symbolized his need to delve would be totally nullified by the tremendous influx of Divine light
deep within himself to conjure up the inner strength necessary to face and cease to exist, or, to prevent this, the light would have to become
Esau once more. He had to overcome his insecurities and increase his so diffused and subservient to the lower worlds that creation would
inner strength. The Hebrew letters in the word “Yabbok” are almost lose its Divine purpose for existing. Therefore, God’s light constantly
the same as those in the name “Jacob.” The two would have the assumes a pulsating rhythm of “run and return.” By doing so, the light
exact same letters if the letter ayin was not missing from the word can enliven all the worlds, but not overwhelm them – dynamically
“Yabbok.” This lack symbolizes Jacob’s need to fill an internal void running in and instantaneously retreating out. This dynamic,
to complete himself as an individual. rhythmic current, according to Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, creates
time, as every pulsation is a “segment” of time. In this way, time –
In discussing the portion Lech Lecha (“Abraham the Hebrew”), the pulsation of Divine light – becomes the bridge connecting the
we analyzed the Hebrew word “ivri” derived from the verb “to dimensions of soul or consciousness to the dimensions of space.
cross over” (la’avor) and discussed Abraham’s ability to overcome
obstacles. In our portion, this very same root is used twice: once This mystical notion fits in with the scientific apprehension of
to describe Jacob crossing the Yabbok (vaya’avor) and once in the light being composed of a stream of tiny packets or particles of light
phrase “Yabbok stream” (ma’avar Yabbok). Thus, there seems to be called photons. These tiny packets are called quanta, from which
a deep connection between Abraham’s ability to overcome obstacles the familiar term “quantum physics” is derived. One of science’s
and Jacob preparing to confront Esau. greatest paradoxes is that light acts as both a particle and a wave.
This mystery of light is intrinsically connected to the mystery of
This connection is revealed in a statement in the Zohar commenting time, for the Kabbalistic tradition teaches us that both light and
on the following verse: “On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes time, which appear to act like waves of a constantly flowing stream,
and he saw the place from afar” (Genesis 22:4). This verse describes are fundamentally Divine pulsating energy.
Abraham sighting the place where he is to offer up Isaac. The
Zohar states that the “third day” refers to Jacob, the third of the Joseph was able to recognize the inner essence of time enlivening
patriarchs, and “from afar” alludes to a state of prophecy. Although the symbols in the dreams and interpret them accordingly. When
Abraham was commanded to take Isaac and sacrifice him, Abraham interpreting the dreams of the butler and the baker he interpreted
prophetically foresaw Isaac’s unborn son, Jacob, continuing the the number three, which appeared in both their dreams, as days,
tradition. Of course ultimately God tells Abraham not to sacrifice while in Pharaoh’s dreams, he interpreted the number seven as
Isaac and his vision of Jacob is realized. Thus, we can conjecture that years. This interpretive leap also demanded that Joseph possess a
Jacob’s ability to cross over the Yabbok and, ultimately, go beyond deep understanding of numerical symbolism.
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