PARASHAT HASHAVOUA: P' Vayetsé (C'R' Elnatan Elchanan NAMAHDI)

Don’t read Torah literally. Lech Lecha and Vayetze are about soul ascent through the worlds. Avraham = Chesed from Chochmah, Yitzchak = Gevurah from Binah, Yaakov = Tiferet from Abba. A holy marriage must originate in Atzilut to bring down holy souls. We must take these lofty sod concepts and apply them to ma’aseh / daily life, or we become slaves to empty customs.References: 1. Bereishit / Genesis 28:10“Vayetze Yaakov miBe’er Sheva vayelech Charanah”“Yaakov went out from Beer Sheva and went toward Charan.” – Main pasuk studied.2. Bereishit / Genesis 12:1“Lech lecha me’artzecha u’mimoladetecha u’mibeit avicha”Avram was 70 when he left Charan – discussed by the Ari as referring to worlds, not physical land.3. Bereishit / Genesis 24Midrash Bereishit Rabba 57:1 – Rivka was 3 years old when she married Yitzchak. Used as example of non-literal Torah.4. Bereishit / Genesis 24:60Blessing to Rivka: “Achotenu at hayi le’alfei revava” – “Our sister, become thousands of myriads.”5. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 263:3Ner Shabbat takes precedence over kiddush wine if money is insufficient.Reason: Ner Shabbat is de’oraita / Torah-level, kiddush on wine is derabanan / Rabbinic. You can make kiddush on bread.6. Etz Chaim, Shaar 42Explanation of Lech Lecha:Me’artzecha = AtzilutU’mimoladetecha = YetzirahU’mibeit avicha = BriahAvram was told to ascend through the worlds.7. Ari HaKadosh – Shaar HaPesukim, VayetzeYaakov = Tiferet, rooted in Abba / Chochmah.Abba divides into Yisrael Saba and Abba Ila’ah.Avraham = Chesed below Chochmah. Yitzchak = Gevurah below Binah.8. Ben Ish Chai – Ben Yehoyada on VayetzeDiscussion of “vayelech Charanah” with Heh = he was going, not arrived. Connects to Yaakov’s mochin states.9. Mochin Gadlut vs Mochin KatnutSpiritual consciousness levels, not physical brain. Katnut = small/undeveloped state.