Now, returning to the verses we have been discussing from the first reading of Va’eira, since they contain altogether 7 verbs or “idioms” of redemption, we can say that there are 7 stages to the redemption (not just 4 or 5, as normally enumerated). When only 4 or 5 stages are identified, they are corresponded to the letters of Havayah from below to above.
But now if we consider 7 stages of redemption, we should correspond them to the emotive powers, from above to below:
- loving-kindness-chessed חֶ סֶ ד “I will free” (יֵצֵא)
- might-gevurah גְּבוּרָה “I will save” (יִצִּיל)
- beauty-tiferet תִּפְאֶרֶת “I will redeem” (יִגְאַל)
- victory-netzach נֶצַח “I will take” (יִקַּח)
- acknowledgment-hod הוֹד “I will be” (אֶהְיֶה)
- foundation-yesod יְסוֹד “You will know” (וִידַעְתֶּם)
- Kingdom-malchut מַלְכוּת “I will bring” (אָבִיא)
Let us spend a few moments explaining this model. “I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians” is the essence of the Exodus and demonstrates God’s loving-kindness towards us. God says “I will save you”—“with an outstretched arm and with great chastisements” clearly demonstrate a rectified power of might. Next, “I will redeem you,” which corresponds to the sefirah of beauty (tiferet) exemplifies the principle that the mother principle, i.e., the sefirah of understanding associated with redemption, extends (through its foundation) down to beauty and is there revealed.
The next two idioms both describe the relationship that will form between the Almighty and the people and thus correspond nicely to victory and acknowledgement which are considered two sides of one body. “I will take you” is the active verb, thus corresponding to victory (netzach) and “I will be you God,” which is passive, corresponds to acknowledgment (hod).
The idiom, “You shall know that I am Havayah your God” corresponds to the sefirah of foundation. Foundation is known as the “general principle” (לֹכּ). This beautifully corresponds with the Zohar’s explanation that these words refer to the general principle of faith in God. Finally, the correspondence between “I will bring you to the land [of Israel]” and kingdom is very clear since the land is always associated with the sefirah of kingdom.
(from a class given on the 22nd of Tevet 5772)
