Faces of the Goddess 7: Shechina and the Eagle: Instability and Flux

Now, the aspect of the Divine we call Adonay is sometimes known through the term HOLY TEMPLE [or literally HALLOWED HOUSE] Beit HaMikdash בית המקדש, since it is the house within which the Unique Name יהו״ה dwells.

יהו״ה, blessed be, sanctified Mount Moriah and designated it as the portion of ADONAY and thus the HOLY TEMPLE was built upon it, as indicated by the verse, “The Sanctuary of ADONAY Mikdash Adonay Your hands established.” (Ex 15:17).

Thus, this Name would dwell within it, and all the forms of the HOLY TEMPLE and all its chambers, sanctuaries, treasuries, and halls, all corresponded to the forms of the mystery of the title ADONAY אדני, similar to what we stated before about the mystery of the form of the organs of man.

But when the Jewish people sinned, the SHECHINA was displaced, and the HALLOWED HOUSE was laid waste.

Sometimes, this Divine quality is called by the term, INDWELLING PRESENCE, SHECHINA שכינה, since she dwelt shochenet שוכנת perpetually with the people Israel, from the time of the making of the Tabernacle mishkan משכן, as stated, “And they shall make a Sanctuary for Me – and I will dwell v’shachanti ושכנתי within them.” (Ex 25:8)

You need to understand one major idea.

Know that at the beginning of the creation of the world, the essential root of the SHECHINA עיקר שכינה was in the lower worlds. For then the arrangement of all the creatures was established and in order – those that are upper corresponding to those that are upper, and those that are lower corresponding to those that are lower. Thus, the SHECHINA שכינה dwelt in the lower worlds.

Now, when the SHECHINA was down below, then were the heavens and earth unified, as indicated by the verse, “And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed vayechulu ויכלו” (Gen 2:1) - that is, they were“intermingled nishtachlelu-נשתכללו,” one with the other, and satiated and filled with one other; and all of the channels and sources acted in a manner of perfect completion, drawing down from above to below.

Then יהוה, blessed be, filled the worlds from above to below, as hinted in the verse, “Thus says יהוה: the heavens are My throne and the earth is My footrest.” (Is 66:1)

Which is to say that we find God יהוה, blessed be, dwelt equally distributed both in the upper and the lower worlds.

(7) "And they heard the sound of Hashem Elokim moving about mit'halech in the garden in the wind of the day." (Genesis 3:8)... Rabbi Abba Bar Kahana said: It doesn't use the word מהלך mehalech here, but rather מתהלך mit'halech, which implies jumping and rising. The Shechina was originally in the lower worlds, but when Adam sinned, the Shechina went [up] to the first heaven. When Cain sinned, it went to the second, in the generation of Enosh to the third, in the generation of the flood to the fourth, in the generation of the tower of Babel to the fifth, in the generation of Sedom to the 6th, in the generation of the Egyptians to the 7th.

Seven righteous humans arose corresponding to them: Avraham, Yitzchak, Ya'akov, Levi, Kehat, Amram and Moshe. Avraham brought her down to the 6th, Yiztchak brought her down from the 6th to the 5th, Ya'akov brought her down to the 5th to the 4th, Levi brought her down from the 4th to the 3rd, Kehat brought her down from the 3rd to the 2nd, Amram brought her down from the 2nd to the 1st, and Moshe brought her down from above to below.

Rabbi Yitzchak said: It is written "The righteous will inherit the land [and rest forever on it]." (Psalms, 37:29) Are the wicked floating in the air? Rather, [the intent of the verse is that] the wicked do not allow the Shechina to shechin (the Dweller to dwell) in the land.

Along came the Original Human and sinned, and the lines were ruined, the conduits were broken, the POOLS Breichot-בריכות were interrupted, the SHECHINA was displaced and the package unraveled.

Along came Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, peace be upon them, and they began a drawing down [of the SHECHINA] and established for themselves three seats [chessed, gevurah and tiferet]. They enacted a partial drawing down, making their own bodies the seat for the SHECHINA, but She was not drawn down to Earth into a stable dwelling place, only into an unstable, temporary dwelling, since She was dependent on resting upon them. [lit. upon their backs].

This is hinted at in such verses as "And God-Elohim אלהים ascended from upon Abraham,” (Gen 17:22) which is to say “from upon Abraham” in the most literal sense. Similarly, about Jacob the verse states, “Then God-Elohim-אלהים ascended from upon him.” (Gen 35:13)

About this, our sages, of blessed memory, stated, “Our forefathers were the Divine Chariot (Merkavah).” (Genesis Rabbah 47:6)

In their days, the SHECHINA שכינה hovered in the air and did not finding a resting place for the sole of Her foot on the earth, like at the beginning of creation.

The Gemara asks: And did the Divine Presence never descend below ten handbreadths? But isn’t it written: “And God descended onto Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20)?
The Gemara answers: Although God descended below, He always remained ten handbreadths above the ground. Since from ten handbreadths and above it is a separate domain, in fact, the Divine Presence never descended to the domain of this world.

Along came Moses our Rabbi, peace be upon him came, and all Israel with him. They made the Tabernacle MISHKAN משכן and its vessels, and repaired the damage of the conduits, and put the lines in their proper order, and fixed the POOLS Breichot בריכות and drew forth living waters from the place they are drawn from [beit ha'shoevah]. Thus they returned the SHECHINA to dwell in the lower worlds -- in the space of the Tent (Ohel), but not actually in the ground of the earth itself, as it was at the beginning of creation. This is the meaning of the verse, “And they shall make a Sanctuary for Me – and I will dwell within them.” (Ex 258*)

We thus find that the SHECHINA was like a traveler going from place to place. It is for this reason that the verse states, “and I will dwell within them בתוכם,” and not, “and I will dwell below למטה.” Rather, it specifies “within them בתוכם,” like a traveler who goes from place to place.

Which is as if to say, “Wherever the Jewish people go, I will go with them and dwell within them - but not in a fixed location." This is the meaning of the verse, “When the Ark would journey, Moshe would say, ‘Arise, HaShem-יהוה, and let your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from Your Presence.’” (Num 10:35)

David was anguished over this and desired to establish a permanent place for the SHECHINA below. And since David entreated to establish a dwelling place for the SHECHINA, and stated, “Arise, HaShem-יהוה to Your resting place, You and the Ark of Your might,” (Ps 132:8) his thoughts were deemed upright before the SHECHINA and HaShem-יהוה, blessed is He, responded by sending his prophet Nathan to say to him,

“Go and say to My servant, to David: ‘Thus כה koh says HaShem-יהוה: Is it you who will build Me a house for My dwelling? For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt to this day; I have moved about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I moved about amongst all the children of Israel, have I said one word to one of the leaders of Israel, whom I have appointed to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar etc.?’’” (II Samuel 7:4-7)

Elsewhere it is written, “Inasmuch as it has been in your heart to build a Temple for My Name לשמי, you have done well by having this in your heart. You, however, shall not build the Temple. Rather, your son, who will emerge from your loins – he will build the Temple for My Name לשמי.” (II Chronicles 6:9)

What then did King David do? He prepared “silver, gold, copper, and iron, wood and Shoham stones and stones for setting, emeralds, tapestries, and all kinds of precious stones and shoham stones – in abundance.” (I Chronicles 29:2)

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We thus clearly see that David, peace be upon him, arranged all the forms of the HOLY TEMPLE and the weight of each specific thing, according to the word of יהוה, blessed is He, and that it all corresponds to the likeness of the Supernal Chariot (Merkavah), the throne and dwelling of the SHECHINA, the Indwelling Presence of HaShem-יהוה.

After this, along came [David's son] Solomon and built the Holy Temple, establishing all its orders and forms as had been set forth for him by his father David, peace be upon him.

Then the SHECHINA, the Indwelling Presence of HaShem-יהוה, came down to the below and dwelt shachnah שכנה in its eternal home.

About this the verse states, “Then Solomon said, “HaShem-יהוה said that he would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built a house of habitation for You, the foundation for Your dwelling forever.” (I Kings 8:12-13).

Similarly, the verse states, “So now, HaShem-יהוה, God of Israel, cause Your word that You spoke unto Your servant David to come true. Would God truly dwell on earth with man? Behold, the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You; surely not this Temple that I have built.” (II Chronicles 6:17-18)
The verses then continue, “Now, arise HaShem-יהוה God, to Your resting place, You and the Ark of Your might! HaShem-יהו״ה God, do not turn back the request of Your anointed one; remember the righteousness of Your servant David!” (II Chronicles 6:41-42)

The verse then continues and relates,

“When Solomon finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and the feast-offerings, and the GLORY OF HASHEM - יהוה כבוד filled the Temple.” (II Chronicles 6:1)

So we find the SHECHINA returning to her rest upon the earth, in eternal dwelling; and thus all the conduits and drawings forth of influence returned to empty their blessing into the HOLY TEMPLE. This is as stated, “Like the dew of Hermon that descends upon the mountains of Zion, for it is there that יהוה has commanded the blessing BRACHA ברכה. May there be life forever!” (Ps 133:3) Similarly, the verse states, “Out of Zion, the consummate beauty, God appeared.” (Ps 50:2)

And from the HOLY TEMPLE all the channels and conduits are drawn to all the lands in their entirety, to all the seventy families of the earth, which correspond to the seventy heavenly ministers of the nations. And from Jerusalem they take their portions, as written, “All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” (Gen 12:3)

Now, because Solomon knew the ways by which the bestowal of beneficence is drawn from Jerusalem to all places, he therefore stated, “I made for myself gardens and orchards and planted every kind of fruit tree in them.” (Ecclesiastes 2:5)
Now, is it indeed possible that every kind of tree in the world grew in a single place? However, Solomon knew which vein was drawn to Cush and therefore planted peppers there, and the same is true of every direction and side. About this the verse states, “Out of Zion, the consummate beauty, God appeared.” (Ps 50:2) That is, ZION-ציון refers to the foundation of the world. We thus find that the SHECHINA, sends forth blessing BRACHA ברכה in whatever is the appropriate measure to each land, from the HOLY TEMPLE (Beit HaMikdash בית המקדש).

That is, it is as if the SHECHINA שכינה is the dwelling (Mishkan-משכן) and collateral (Mashkon-משכון) that the Holy One of Blessing has given into the hands of the Jewish people. When the Jewish people sinned before Him and the HOLY HABITATION was destroyed, this collateral (Mashkon-משכון) of His was then given as security (m’Mashkeno-ממשכנו) into the hands of the Jewish people and accompanies them in their exile. This is the meaning of the verse, “These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle, the HABITATION OF WITNESS (Mishkan Mishkon HaEidut-משכן העדות).” (Ex 38:1)

About this, our sages, of blessed memory, have stated, (in Midrash Bamidbar Rabba 7:10; Sifri Bamidbar 84; 161:5 and elsewhere): “The Jewish people are beloved to the Holy One, so that to whatever place they were exiled, the SHECHINA accompanied them. When they were exiled in Egypt, the SHECHINA שכינה was with them, as it states, ‘Did I not appear to the family of your ancestor when they were in Egypt, [enslaved] to the house of Pharaoh?’ (Samuel 2:27) Similarly, it is written, ‘I shall descend with You to Egypt.’ (Gen 46:4) When they were exiled to Babylon, the SHECHINA was with them. This is as stated, ‘Because of you I was sent to Babylon.’ (Is 43:14) When they were exiled to Elam, the SHECHINA, was with them. This is as stated, ‘I will place My throne in Elam.’ (Jer 49:38)

When they return, the SHECHINA will be with them, as it states, ‘Then HaShem-יהוה your God will return with your captivity and have mercy upon you, and He will gather you in from all the peoples to which HaShem-יהוה your God, has scattered you.’” (Deut 30:3)

As our sages of blessed memory point out (Talmud Bavli Megillah 29a):
“The verse does not state ‘He will bring back v’heishiv והשיב’ but rather, ‘He will return v’shav ושב.’

This teaches us that the Holy One will return with them from the exiles.” Similarly, the verse states, “From Lebanon, come with Me, My bride.” (Song of Songs 4:8)

Now, sometimes this Divine quality is called by the term EAGLE Nesher נשר. The reason being that at times she is wealthy, filled with all manner of goodness, when the Jewish people are righteous, drawing forth to her all kinds of shefa and excellence and blessed and lovingkindness and generous mercy from the levels and sefirot above.

However, when the Jewish people stray from the ways of HaShem-יהוה, blessed be, then this quality is lacking and poor and impoverished. She is “like an elm tree with wilted leaves, and like a garden with no water.” (Is 1:30)

She is then like a tree that has shed (Nosher-נושר) all its fruit, at which time the Jewish people are impoverished and lowly, despised and abandoned to disgrace and derision.

When this Divine aspect is not being nursed from above, she is in turn not able to nurse Israel, and is called “Nesher-נשר” using the languaging of “a tree that sheds-Masheer-משיר its fruit.” (Talmud Bavli Shabbat 67a)

I am going to further awaken you to the explanation of this mystery, as follows:

I have already informed you that the Essential Root of the SHECHINA, the Ikar Shechina, is in the earth. The verse by which to remember this is, “the earth is My footrest.” (Isaiah 66:1)

When the SHECHINA receives shefa from the blessings [or pools] on high, she is called THE GATHERING OF THE WATERS -Mikveh HaMayim -מקוה המים.

And when She does not receive blessings, She is called, DRY LAND -Yabashah-יבשה.

The verse by which to remember this is, “God called the DRY LAND -Yabashah-יבשה earth-ארץ and the GATHERING OF WATERS -Mikveh HaMayim-מקוה המים He called, Seas-ימים.’” (Gen 1:11)

Thus, when this quality is DRY Yeveishah-יבשה and lacking, the Jewish people are in a state of hunger and thirst, naked and lacking everything, and they are shed (Neshurim-נשורים) from Her. For, the Jewish people are like the leaves, whereas She is like the body of the tree.

This quality is sometimes prosperous and sometimes lacking, sometimes full and sometimes empty. This is the mystery of the verse, “He was like an EAGLE Nesher-נשר arousing its nest, hovering over its young.” (Deut 32:11)

When the Jewish people return to God in repentance, they renew this quality to be as an EAGLE -Nesher-נשר, just as She was in the beginning.

When they repair the conduits and bestow the shefa of blessings into her, filling her to the brim, then She is renewed and prosperous.

About this the verse states, “Bless HaShem-יהוה Who satisfies your mouth with goodness, so that your youth is renewed like the EAGLE Nesher-נשר.” (Ps 103:5)

Now, this Divine quality which is called EAGLE Nesher-נשר possesses several EAGLES Nesharim-נשרים, who have several wings, and they are called, “EAGLES OF THE CHARIOT -Nishrei HaMerkavah-נשרי המרכבה,” and all of them protect the Jewish people by spreading their wings over them, rescuing them from any number of troubles.

It is pointed out that the term “eagles-Nesharim” shares the same numerical value – 600 – as the names of the two angels “Metatron and Sandalfon-מטטרון וסנדלפון-600,” both of whom are called eagles-Nesher-נשר, in that they uplift the prayers and souls of the Jewish people.

It is this EAGLE Nesher-נשר and all of her various camps [divisions?] that are called “the EAGLES OF THE CHARIOT -Nishrei HaMerkavah-נשרי המרכבה,” and who protected the Jewish people in Egypt, taking them out of bondage. This is the mystery of the verse, “You have seen what I did to Egypt; that I have borne you on the wings of EAGLES Nesharim-נשרים and brought you to Me.” (Ex 19:4)

All these camps called “the EAGLES OF THE CHARIOT -Nishrei HaMerkavah-נשרי המרכבה,” become elevated and filled when the Jewish people ascend in the study of Torah and mitzvot, and are degraded and become lacking when the Israel distance themselves from the study of Torah and from the mitzvot.