RESURFACING THE SPIRIT OF MOSHIACH
Bereishis
At the beginning of Creation, when the world was empty and void, the Torah describes how the spirit of Hashem רוח אלקים was hovering over the waters מרחפת על פני המים.
The Midrash teaches that this spirit of Hashem refers to the spirit of Moshiach, concerning whom the Novi Yishayahu says “and a spirit of Hashem will rest upon him”.
The Baal Haturim points out that the words ורוח אלקים מרחפת has the same Gematria as זו רוחו של מלך המשיח - this is the spirit of King Moshiach.
The spirit of Moshiach precedes Creation because the entire purpose of Creation is to reach the era of Moshiach, when G-dliness will be openly revealed and manifest within Creation.
Before the world was Created, the spirit of Hashem - representing open revelation of G-dliness, was revealed; hovering above the waters.
Through the act of Creation, this light and spirit became hidden, submerged and hidden under the waters which represent the physicality of the world.
Our Avodah in this world is to reveal the G-dly nature of Creation and transform physicality into a vessel that does not conceal Hashem’s presence, but reveals it.
Kabbalah and Chassidus place great emphasis on the Avodah of Birrurim, refining sparks of G-dliness through our engagements in the world in the service of Hashem and fulfillment of Torah and Mitzvos.
These sparks originated in a former spiritual world known as Tohu. Tohu was a world or great and intense G-dly light. Due to the power of this light and the lack of “vessels” sufficient to contain it, the world of Tohu went through a spiritual collapse, known as “the shattering of the vessels.”
The sparks from this collapsed world order ‘fell’ into our world where they lie trapped within the physical objects in our world.
This shattering of the vessels is alluded to in our verse. The Kabbalists write that there are 288 sparks. The word מרחפת (hovering) is made up of the words רפ“ח מת - literally “288 died”. This alludes to the falling of these lights, as one who falls in their level is called dead.
When we utilise physicality in the service of Hashem, whether it be the observance of a Mitzvah or engaging in mundane physical activities for the sake of Heaven, we extract these sparks and reconnect them with their lofty G-dly source. In doing so, we elevate the physicality of the world to become a vessel for this great G-dly light.
This is the Avodah of Dirah Betachtonim, which will be realised in the times of Moshiach.
In the Messianic age, the waters of materialism will no longer cover over the G-dly nature of the world. Instead, as the Novi describes, “the world will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem, like the waters cover the sea.”
Even though Tohu was a loftier spiritual world, it could not contain this light because it was transposed top-down from Above without any preparation to generate or receive it. With our actions, we transform the world into a strong and fitting vessel to contain and reveal the great G-dly lights of Tohu and even higher.
As we begin the Torah once more, with the description of Creation and the hint to the spirit of Moshiach, we reconnect to the purpose of Creation and recommit ourselves to our mission
The Midrash teaches that this spirit of Hashem refers to the spirit of Moshiach, concerning whom the Novi Yishayahu says “and a spirit of Hashem will rest upon him”.
The Baal Haturim points out that the words ורוח אלקים מרחפת has the same Gematria as זו רוחו של מלך המשיח - this is the spirit of King Moshiach.
The spirit of Moshiach precedes Creation because the entire purpose of Creation is to reach the era of Moshiach, when G-dliness will be openly revealed and manifest within Creation.
Before the world was Created, the spirit of Hashem - representing open revelation of G-dliness, was revealed; hovering above the waters.
Through the act of Creation, this light and spirit became hidden, submerged and hidden under the waters which represent the physicality of the world.
Our Avodah in this world is to reveal the G-dly nature of Creation and transform physicality into a vessel that does not conceal Hashem’s presence, but reveals it.
Kabbalah and Chassidus place great emphasis on the Avodah of Birrurim, refining sparks of G-dliness through our engagements in the world in the service of Hashem and fulfillment of Torah and Mitzvos.
These sparks originated in a former spiritual world known as Tohu. Tohu was a world or great and intense G-dly light. Due to the power of this light and the lack of “vessels” sufficient to contain it, the world of Tohu went through a spiritual collapse, known as “the shattering of the vessels.”
The sparks from this collapsed world order ‘fell’ into our world where they lie trapped within the physical objects in our world.
This shattering of the vessels is alluded to in our verse. The Kabbalists write that there are 288 sparks. The word מרחפת (hovering) is made up of the words רפ“ח מת - literally “288 died”. This alludes to the falling of these lights, as one who falls in their level is called dead.
When we utilise physicality in the service of Hashem, whether it be the observance of a Mitzvah or engaging in mundane physical activities for the sake of Heaven, we extract these sparks and reconnect them with their lofty G-dly source. In doing so, we elevate the physicality of the world to become a vessel for this great G-dly light.
This is the Avodah of Dirah Betachtonim, which will be realised in the times of Moshiach.
In the Messianic age, the waters of materialism will no longer cover over the G-dly nature of the world. Instead, as the Novi describes, “the world will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem, like the waters cover the sea.”
Even though Tohu was a loftier spiritual world, it could not contain this light because it was transposed top-down from Above without any preparation to generate or receive it. With our actions, we transform the world into a strong and fitting vessel to contain and reveal the great G-dly lights of Tohu and even higher.
As we begin the Torah once more, with the description of Creation and the hint to the spirit of Moshiach, we reconnect to the purpose of Creation and recommit ourselves to our mission