Shalom , how have you been?
For this e-mail I'd like to share with you a fascinating chidush (novellae) from the Ari HaKadosh on this week's Parsha. You may want to share it at your Shabbat table because it's really worth it.
As we know, Yaakov Avinu had 12 sons, 6 from Leah, 2 from Rachel, 2 from Bil'ha and 2 from Zilpah. Each of them had a unique mission in life and represented a unique aspect of the Shekhina above.
Later, when the Children of Israel were about to enter the Holy Land, the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe asked Moshe Rabbenu to reside outside. This made him very upset at first but later they clarified their request. They explained that they'd go to war to conquer the Land and only once it was apportioned among the tribes they'd go back to their homes outside, to their families.
They fulfilled their word and all this process took 7 long years!
Nevertheless this is seen by most commentators as a negative desire on their part. Part of the reason is because this was reminiscent of the Sin of the Spies. Not only that but why would anyone want to stay outside of the Land of Israel at that crucial time?
The holy Arizal gives the spiritual source for their rejection of staying in the Land.
When it was time for Yaakov to consummate his marriage, he didn't know it was actually Leah whom he had married, so there was a little blemish in his consciousness (Da'at) during the time of union. This happened in that episode when he was supposed to have married Rachel but she switched places with Leah. The result of this union was the birth of Reuven.
Seeing that she was barren, Rachel told Yaakov to marry Bil'ha, her handmaid. And this union, gave birth to Dan. However, when Leah saw she was not giving birth anymore, she just gave Zilpah, her handmaid, to Yaakov without telling him anything! And the result of this union was Gad.
The Arizal explains that, in both cases of Reuven and Gad, Yaakov didn't have a perfect union! This little lack of perception, which could be as thin as a hairsbreadth, made both these tribes to want to stay outside of the Land of Israel.
We see then how important it is for a person to sanctify himself in the time of union to bring holy souls and not to have external or improper thoughts. The effects can be enormous!
But what about half of the tribe of Menashe?
According to the Arizal, Menashe was the son of Yossef with Osnat, daughter of Dina (some Midrashim say it was actually the daughter of Potifar, his former Egyptian master). The Torah tells us that Dina was violated by Shechem and the product of that union was Osnat.
So Osnat had a parent that was from the side of holiness (Dina) and one that was from the Sitra Achra (Shechem). Nevertheless, Yossef married her and they had Ephraim and Menashe.
Ephraim took half of the holiness of Yossef and half of the holiness of Osnat, therefore all of his tribe wished to settle in Israel.
However, Menashe took half of the holiness of Yossef and half of the blemish of Osnat, which came from Shechem! And that's why they choose to stay outside.
Anyways I hope you have a wonderful Shabbat and feel free to enjoy our latest articles below:
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