Introduction to the Zohar based on The Zohar, translation and commentary by Daniel Matt

This may be compared to a man who dwelled among the cliffs and knew nothing of those dwelling in the town. He sowed wheat, and ate the kernels raw. One day he went into town and was offered good bread. The man asked: "What's this for?" They replied: "It's bread, to eat!" He asked," And what is this made of?" They replied, "wheat!" Afterwards they brought him cakes kneaded with oil. He tasted them and asked, "And what are these made of?" They replied, "wheat!". Later they brought him royal pastry kneaded with honey and oil. He asked, "And what are these made of?" They replied, "wheat!" He said, "Surely I am Lord of all these, since I eat the essence of all of these!" Because of that view, he knew nothing of the delights of the world, which were lost to him. So it is with one who grasps the principle but is unaware of all those delectable delights deriving and diverging from that principle. (Translation based on The Zohar, (Pritzker Edition) Daniel Matt, Vol. V, at 532 [2:176a-b])

This may be compared to a beloved maiden, concealed secretly in her palace. She has a single lover, unknown to anyone--except to her, concealedly. Out of the love he feels for her, this lover passes by her gate constantly, lifting his eyes to every side. Knowing that her lover is constantly circling her gate, what does she do? She opens a little window in that secret palace where she is, reveals her face to her lover, and quickly withdraws, concealing herself. None of those near the lover sees or notices, only the lover, and his inner being and heart and soul follow her. He knows that out of love for him She revealed herself for a moment to arouse him. So is a word of the Torah, she reveals herself only to her lover. Torah knows that one who is wise of heart circles her gate every day. What does she do? She reveals her face to him from the palace and beckons him with a hint, then swiftly withdraws to her place, hiding away. None of those there knows or notices--he alone does, and his inner being and heart and soul follow her. Thus, Torah reveals and conceals herself, approaching her lover lovingly to arouse love with him. (Translation The Zohar, (Pritzker Edition) Daniel Matt, Vol. V, at 34 [2:99a])

(1) At the first manifestation of the King's will, He engraved engravings in luster on high. A spark of impenetrable darkness flashed within the concealed of the concealed, from the head of Infinity, a form in formlessness, thrust in a ring, not white, not black, not red, not green, no color at all. As a spectrum of measure, it radiated colors. Deep within the spark gushed an emanation, spreading colors below, concealed within the concealed of the mystery of the Infinite. It split and did not split its aura, was not known at all, until under the impact of splitting, a single, concealed, supernal point shown. Beyond that point, nothing is known. so it is called Reshit, beginning, first command of all. (Translation The Zohar, (Pritzker Edition) Daniel Matt, Vol. I, at 107-09 [1:15a])

(4) In the beginning, Rabbi Elazar opened, “Lift your eyes on high and see: Who created these.” Raise your eyes. To what place? To the place where all eyes gaze. What is that? Opening of the Eyes. There you will discovered the concealed ancient one, aroused by questions, created these. Who is that? Mem-yud "Who." The one called the "end of heaven above" whose domain extends over everything. Since it is aroused by questions, yet remains concealed and quiescent, it is called "Mem-Yud" Who. Beyond, there is no question. The end of heaven is called "Mem-Yud" Who. (5) And there is another below, called Mem-Heh What. What distinguishes between this and that? The first one, called Who, is concealed but can be questioned. Once a human being asks, searches and looks, and beholds from level to level until the end of all the levels. Once one reaches there, What? What do you know? What have you learned? What have you seen? For what have you searched? Everything is concealed, just as it was before.

Lift your eyes on high and see: Who created these? Words extend until here; beyond one does not ask. For Wisdom was consumed by No-Thing-Ness and it does not respond to questioning, it is deeply concealed and none fathoms it. Once a deep river flows it becomes susceptible to question, though concealed from everything below, and in accord, questioning is called "Mem-Yud" Who. Who created these? This is the secret of which we have spoken: From the womb of (mem-yud) Who, emerged the ice (Job 38:29), from the womb of mem-yud (who) indeed! The one susceptible to question, although one does not ask: "What is above?" "What is below?"--seeking rather the site of their issuance, knowing yet not knowing it, for we cannot. Susceptible to questioning, yet not knowing.

(5) Rabbi Shimon said: “So the Heavens and their array were created by Mem-Heh-"Mah" ("What"), as it is written, ‘When I behold your Heavens, the works of Your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place....Mah, how majestic is Your name throughout the earth! Your splendor is spread across the heavens (Psalm 8:1-4) Across the heavens to attain the name. For it created a light for its light, one enclothed in the other, and it attained a high name. So, in the beginning, Eloheim created, Eloheim above. For Mem-Heh it was not so, it was not composed until these letters--Aleph, lamed, heh--Elleh, are drawn from above to below and Mother lends Daughter Her Garments though not adorning Her with Her adornments. When does she adorn Her fittingly? When all males appear before Her, as it is written "[Three times a year all your males shall] appear before the Sovereign, Adonai (Ex. 23:17)." "[T]he Ark of the Covenant, Sovereign of all the earth....(Joshua 3:11)." Then the letter ה (he) departs and י (yod) enters, and She adorns Herself in masculine clothing in the presence of every male in Israel.