musings & twisting paperclips

The glory of G-d is to conceal a thing. The glory of a king is to find it out,
The glory of a talmidah chachamah is a light.

Thoughts on: Chashmal, as encountered in [Ezekiel 1:27]

Chashmal
Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis
(It is) the mysterious substance or entity illuminating the heart of Ezekiel's chariot vision. The Talmud treats the word as a notaricon (a word that can be broken into multiple words), the division of which reveals two words, "words" and "quiet." Thus the heart of divinity is a matrix of silence and speech from which creation emanates (Chag. 14b).
According to Midrash Konen, chasmal is the fiery substance which makes up the pillars on which the world rests. Gematria yields several different equivalences: dimyon tzivonim, "image of colors," ki zohar aish "like a fiery splendor," neither of which are terribly edifying. But even these cryptic analyses can only approximate the truth. Those who truly comprehend the significance of chasmal place themselves in mortal danger (Chag. 13a). Midrash Konen attempts to resolves the confusion by designating chashmal another class of angelic being (2:25).
Article copyright 2004 Geoffrey Dennis.
There has been little commentary on this word/passage because of its great Spiritual depth and significance. It has entered the realm of Kabbalah and it was not even taught publicly but was only individually explained to the most highly qualified people. So if you do encounter a commentary, or explanation [“Trust me, I know…”], you should view it with considerable skepticism.
…ain’t Kilroy
What does ‘Amen’ mean? Some claim that it is made up (an acronym) of three Hebrew words El Melech Ne’eman, meaning: G_d is the Faithful King.
A Blessing upon seeing a friend after a lapse of 12 months (or more): “Blessed be G_d who revives the dead.”
HeShem’s Own Prayer (as conceived by Rabbi Zutra, in the name of Rav Yachanan): “May it be My will that My mercy overcome my anger, and My loving qualities override My strict traits; that I treat My children with the quality of mercy & that I always deal with them beyond the letter of the law.”
We know that it is a custom to recite the prayer known as Asher Yatzar after going to the bathroom – the idea is to remind us that even a routine like attending to the ‘call of nature’ is not only wondrous but should remindÁus that without being able to do so we would certainly die! Our body is, after all, only on loan to us (on loan to our soul, which is our ‘being’) and it really belongs to HaShem, as does our soul itself. This prayer also reminds me of the relationship to another prayer from our morning services: “Barukh atah HaShem Elokanu, Melekh HaOlmam she’asah le kol tzarkey.” – not to mention the passage from “Mighty Deeds”: “…Who provides the living with kindness, resurrects the dead with abundant mercy, supports those who fall and heals the sick… “. There is, indeed, a unity to our siddurim, and it is there to be found by those who seek it.

Torah Portion: Nasso Numbers 4:21 - 7:89

Full Kriyah
Triennial Year I
07 June 2008 Triennial Year II
06 June 2009 Triennial Year III
22 May 2010
1: 4:21-37 (17 p'sukim)
2: 4:38-49 (12 p'sukim)
3: 5:1-10 (10 p'sukim)
4: 5:11-6:27 (48 p'sukim)
5: 7:1-41 (41 p'sukim)
6: 7:42-71 (30 p'sukim)
7: 7:72-89 (18 p'sukim)
maf: 7:87-89 (3 p'sukim)
1: 4:21-24
2: 4:25-28
3: 4:29-33
4: 4:34-37
5: 4:38-49
6: 5:1-4
7: 5:5-10
maf: 5:8-10
1: 5:11-15
2: 5:16-26
3: 5:27-6:4
4: 6:5-8
5: 6:9-15
6: 6:16-21
7: 6:22-27
maf: 6:22-27
1: 7:1-11
2: 7:12-23
3: 7:24-35
4: 7:36-47
5: 7:48-59
6: 7:60-71
7: 7:72-89
maf: 7:87-89

Haftarah: Judges 13:2 - 13:25

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