Noach (GEN 6:9 - 11:32)  Part 2,  Torah Lesson Plan, or YHVH Homepage

We strive from Sunday to Friday, to earn our bread, so that we can enjoy our labors on the Shabbat. Such is the case within the greater scope of Creation as well. We work for six millenniums in the performance of mitzvot so that we may enjoy those labors during the seventh millennium. But what was our double portion to which the Zohar refers, what was the great flood of the sixth millennium that will prepare us for the seventh millennium and the coming of Moshiach.

To understand this, we must first understand that all which is below has its counterpart above, the only differences are it's garments. The higher the realm, the closer to it's source, therefore, the lesser the husks (garments) become. Hence, sustenance, in its spiritual form, is a great light of kindness. However, for us to benefit from it, it must take on physical garments, such as understanding, rain, money, food, etc. If we look back into history, at the years 1740 - 1840CE, we will see that it was a period when all worlds took immense benefit. The Secular world, as well as the world of Torah. Within the Torah world, our Chassidus Teacher, the Ba’al Shem Tov, revealed to us the inner dimension of Torah, the soul of Torah. As opposed to the simple understanding of obedience to the law. He gave to us the understandings of the Kabbalah, of the letters, mitzvot, and great love for Hashem and Torah, he revealed to us the mathematical understandings, the inner sciences, the workings of the universe, and all this during a time when such knowledge was only reserved for the elect few. The Ba’al Shem Tov opened up the Torah, so that even the most simple Jew could taste the sweetness within, and catch a glimpse of the true light. A new and greater understanding of Torah became revealed to the world.

How did our ancients already know about the solar system, the speed of light, the speed of sound, chemistry, biology, medicines, etc. all from Torah? The Ba’al Shem Tov revealed these teachings to us. At the same time, this great flood of wisdom, which came from the "windows of Heaven" was also absorbed by the secular world and "the fountains of the great deep burst forth." For each action from above has a similar action below, and vice versa. And miraculously, all ends of science benefited. Mathematics, physics, medicine, technology, social sciences, etc. There was a great movement within the world, dubbed "the industrial revolution." This is the great flood to which the Zohar refers, in preparation for the final days (as we know them). We can see Hashem in all of creation, we see him within nature, however, this takes concentration and focus. A rising and setting sun, and a tree or bird, are common daily events, and one tends to become accustomed to their existence. The sun was here yesterday, therefore, I can deduce that it will be here tomorrow. But in actuality, all that we see are nothing more than garments / vessels of a greater energy. This greater energy is only dressed within these lowly garments. Therefore, a tree, or the sun, as perceived by man, has it's higher status within each level of Creation, and we only see it's physical revelation, at its lowest level. The finished project, the projected manifestation of the spirit (life-force) within.

Hashem says, in various parts of the Torah; "I am…." And in actuality, this is a phrase which could only be said by Hashem. When one comes to understand the meaning of "I am" one may hesitate or even refrain from ever using this phrase again when referring to oneself. For "I am" alludes to the true essence. Since we are all nothing more than vessels of the Creative force, we could never truly be "I am," for only Hashem "is." Man can take an object or element, he can reshape it, give it texture and strength, but then, the object stands alone, separate from its artist. An iron worker, may take the ore and form it into a iron table, however, when his labor is complete, the table does not need the man's intervention in order to sustain itself within this world. The man did not create something from "nothing", but rather, he started with something which already existed. The ore. On the other hand, Hashem creates from "nothing," hence He cannot walk away from His creation, but rather must continually sustain it. He is His creations. If He wished (heaven forbid) to destroy the creation, He would not do so with earthquakes, and other natural acts, not even with war. He would simply not will the creation anymore, and it would return to it's original form, "nothing." Therefore, the sun could never say "I am" because the sun is nothing more than a vessel which holds the instructions of its creator. It gives us light, but it could never decide to withhold that light. The sun cannot say, "today I will give light here, but not there. A little here, and more there," etc. Therefore, it "is not." And it cannot say "I am," for those two words makes it infinite and self sufficient.

Nothing is self sufficient. All which is within the Creation is continually sustained by the Creative forces, and all creative forces have but one source… level by level they lower and divide into the many different vessels, but their source remains united to the true "I Am." In other words, if Hashem willed to raise the tides of the earth, His will, within it's essence, would be much to overwhelming for this vessel of Creation (our universe), hence, it would lower, lever by level, until it displays itself within the many vessels of the solar system (His tools), and the planets would take their proper course, the moon would do its job, and then the result of His will would be manifested within this Creation (our universe), and the tides would raise. Everything is connected to it’s source, like a dangling string, where only the end is visible. This is what the Kabbalah means by "the end is in the beginning," because the initial will of Hashem, is within the end result. Much like when an adult has a thought, and he wishes to share this thought with a small child. He must first apply strength, judgment, and constriction to his initial idea, otherwise, the concept would overwhelm the child. The child is a vessel which cannot sustain the adult’s vast knowledge. The Zohar relates to us on the word teva, "nature" in Hebrew, and it points out to us that it is related to the word "sunk" as in the verse of Exodus, "...were sunk in the Red Sea." One can understand that even though a rock may sink into the sea, and become covered by water from all sides, it remains to be a rock within the sea. Even though our eyes cannot perceive it. Such is the case with nature. Nature is nothing more than a garment, like the waters of the sea which do not allow us to clearly see the rock within. Nature does the same, we do not see the force within, the true "I am" which sustains it, but rather we see a sun, or a tree, etc. Nevertheless, beneath the depths of those many garments, there does exist the Creative forces, just as the rock does exist beneath the waters of the sea, and just as a body hides a soul, everything physical is only layer upon layer of garments, but the true essence remains deep within.

It is written in the Torah (tanach) that in the time of Moshiach, the knowledge of Hashem will fill the earth like the waters of the earth. The physical world, up to now, has been observed, on a secular view point, as being self evolving, an expressive force of it's own, rather than a direct revelation of the Creative forces united to, and being One. This perception will change within the times of Moshiach. All science will unquestionably recognize One essence, One Force. Chassidus already has prepared the understanding of those who toil within the Torah. However, for those who have toiled within the secular, and are removed from Torah, the abrupt revelation of Moshiach would be too blinding of a light, it would be much too overwhelming. Therefore, even the secular world must adjust, and prepare itself (it's vessel) in order to receive and sustain such goodness and comprehension In basic terms, the industrial revolution, and our present day computer revolution, will ultimately serve to prepare the coming of Moshiach and the recognition of Hashem as One. Only three hundred years ago, a teacher could reach those who where standing within the reach of his voice. Today,  by this media, we can reach millions. The sky and space are filled with the words of Torah, for the invisible waves of telecommunications are constantly traveling through us and above us, and with the help of satellites, and other grand scientific inventions, we have now traversed the entire globe, and into space. Modern day science is not the enemy of Torah, but rather it's counter part. It is the difference between the revealed and the concealed. We can now hold an event in Israel, and watch it simultaneously in a remote Island in the Pacific. This feat could not even be comprehended 300 years ago. It existed in potential. The garments which where accessible to man at that time did not allow for a revelation of such feats and possibilities. Those garments of history did not allow for the revelation of Internet, Television, space travel, fiber optics, etc. Just as the rock beneath the depths of the sea, they nevertheless existed… "There is nothing new under the sun (King Solomon)."

That which we are allowed to achieve now, also existed in earlier times, however, it had not yet been revealed due to the garments of that time. Maybe for this reason, in secular language we say, "discovered,' rather than "created." We are combining that which is already here, and has always been here, in order to reveal a new concept. Today, science is only a small step away from revealing that which Chassidus and Torah has already made clear to us, that Hashem is One and all is One. This can also be seen within the mitzvah of the reading of the Shema twice daily. The verse from Torah which reads; "Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokehnu, Hashem Echad." "Hear Israel, Hashem is our Lord, Hashem is One." The Divine Name, pronounced "Hashem," represents His mercy, that which resides above order, law, and judgment. It is His highest order within this creation. It stands above nature, and therefore, it is the side of God which can bend nature, or manipulate it, such as the splitting of the Red Sea, etc. This Name comes right after the splitting of His wisdom (His initial burst of wisdom [will], and His wisdom which began to lower into His world for the sake of Creation), as we see on the second day of creation, when Hashem separated between the upper waters and the lower waters. His Name Elokeem represents His Creative force of order, structure, law, judgments (as in nature - the laws of nature). It is by way of these two floods, from above and from below, "…all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. " (the lower wisdoms, and the higher wisdoms) that they will eventually unite in order to reveal to the world the ultimate Divine Revelation. The Oneness of Hashem… "Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokehnu, Hashem Echad." "Hear Israel, Hashem is Lord, Hashem is One." [Hear Israel, The Higher essence and the lower essence (nature) are One."] The prophecy will be fulfilled… "the knowledge of Hashem will fill the earth like the waters of the earth"

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