"The Great Redemption" (5)

"The Great Redemption" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption

Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
_____________________________________________

5.

The third imperfection (brought on) was dreadful and frightening, for the Shechina was cast into exile (as a result, and had to dwell) among the ministering angels of impurity!

(In fact,) many powerful and mighty Luminaries accompanied Her there and were delivered into the hands of the husks (as a result)! It’s said about this mystery, “There are times when one man rules over another to his own disadvantage” (Ecclesiastes 8:9).

The second imperfection I’d cited (in Ch. 2) plays a role in this one, too. For when the husks took control of those Luminaries they drew emanation and might from them and grew very strong, as I explained. And that’s why they (i.e., the husks) enjoy “arrogance and an abundance of bread” (Ezekiel 16:49); why they say, “Our hands are raised high!”; and it’s why slaves lead their masters, in keeping with the verse that reads, “I have seen servants (riding) upon horses and princes going about like servants (walking behind them) upon the ground” (Ecclesiastes 10:7).

(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

********************************
AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman's translation of "The Gates of Repentance" has been reissued at *at a discount*! You can order it right now by logging onto www.tinyurl.com/49s8t (or by going to www.rowman.com and searching for it). Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has translated and commented upon "The Gates of Repentance", "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). And his new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available from Judaica Press.
His works are available in bookstores and in various locations on the Web.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled "Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal".