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Orchard of Delights
Because the shepherds were able to conquer the parallel negative
energy in each of the sefirot their descendants were able to conquer
these nations. The three higher sefirot, though, await the Messianic
era when these three higher energies relating to the elevated levels of
intellect will be completely purified and rectified. Only then will the
last three nations be conquered as well. This is yet another promise
waiting to be fulfilled. When it is then truly God will be one and His
name will be one.
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Va’eira
universe is still expanding at an awesome rate. Therefore, how can
we understand the Sages’ statement?
First of all, the Sages may have meant that God decided that the
world, as large as it would be, would still be finite relative to the infinite
reality of God. Science now confirms that the universe consists of
tens of billions of galaxies, each one larger than the human mind can
really conceive. Nonetheless, in comparison to infinity, the universe
still has its limits, and so does the world in comparison with God.
Secondly, and more fundamentally, perhaps the Sages were alluding
to the force of gravity and its constrictive ability to hold the world
in place, even as the universe expands. Have you ever marveled that
while the earth is moving on its axis at approximately 1,000 miles
per hour, while the earth rotates at approximately 67,000 miles per
hour around the sun, while our solar system is speeding through the
Milky Way at approximately 500,000 miles per hour and our entire
galaxy is speeding at roughly 500,000 miles per hour through space,
we nevertheless seem to be stationary!?
The Sages’ description of the creation of light on the first day of
creation parallels modern science’s explanation of the creation of
electromagnetic energy after the Big Bang (see The Mystical Nature
of Light, pp. 9-10). So it makes sense to propose that the name
“Shaddai” (as explained by the Sages) alludes to the creation of
gravity, that constrictive force which balances the ever-expanding
universe. Thus the universe is in fact expanding and yet “held in
place” simultaneously.
This realization that the forces of expansion and contraction are
actually related helps us understand another anomaly in the first
verse of our portion where Elokim declares that “I am Hashem.”
Elokim can, indeed, be Hashem; for God revealed to Moses that the
name “Elokim,” which like the name “Shaddai” connotes constriction
and judgment, is at its source unified with the name Hashem, which
connotes expansion, mercy, and giving. At their root these two
seemingly contrary forces are one and the same. In the world and
the human psyche, these two energies maintain a very fine balance,
as represented by these two names of God.
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