The Zohar relates a cryptic and, at first glance, seemingly pedestrian incident. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yitzchak were walking on the road and saw a child. They asked him his father’s name and where his father lived. He answered, “My father’s name is Rabbi Zaira [‘Small’] and he lives in Kfar Ramayin, [‘Hightown.’]
Reb Levik, the Rebbe’s father, plumbs the depth of Divine Wisdom contained in this simple account and shares it with us.
He tells us that a person’s name and dwelling place indicate his level in divine service. The name Zaira [‘Small’] reflects the humility of one who feels low and insignificant, like our Forefather Yaakov, who was called the ‘small one.’
Besides defining his own level, Rabbi Small’s name and hometown symbolize a supernal level of G-dly emanation and how it relates and connects to created worlds.
On a supernal level, Zair hints to the “G-dly Man” on the throne seen in a vision of prophecy. That level represents the “end of the world” of the En Sof. Yet it also represents a powerful contraction of Hashem into “a human configuration” called the “small faces.” [Even though Hashem has no physical form, [when we indicate His right “arm” it symbolizes His attribute of kindness, etc.]
Together with his humility, Rabbi “Small” lived in “Hightown”. This is like Yaakov who served on high.
Furthermore, this Hightown was a village not a city, which symbolically tells us that the place of service of the “Small Face” was in a world lower than its own Supernal world of Atzilus. Its place of service—Hightown-- indicates the Holy of Holies of the world—Bria [a lower level which is nevertheless the highest level of the created worlds] which is called the “upper paradise.” In other words, the Holy of Holies in Bria is the spiritual level symbolized by Rabbi Small’s home “Hightown”.
Shechina of the “Small Face “aspect of the “Supernal Man” is manifest at midnight when the Shechina enters Gan Eden to have and share delight with the souls of the righteous.
