"The Great Redemption" (9)

"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
_____________________________________________

9.

But I still haven’t explained to you just what the P’kidah stage was (like in the course of the Exodus, as well what it will be like when the final redemption comes about).

When the capacity that emanates from the perfect source reached Tzaddik (i.e. Yesod), who’s referred to in the Torah as “the redeeming angel” (Genesis 48:16), the (aforementioned) Luminary descended and appeared before the Shechina, its mate. It granted her a capacity she hadn’t been granted from the time the Jewish Nation was exiled to then. And the first coupling then came about, which was unlike any coupling before that.

Now let me now explain to you why it’s termed “P’kidah”.

Know that the P’kidah itself comes about through (the sephira of) Yesod, as I’d said, while the Z’chirah is revealed through Tipheret. It’s those two actions that will give Moshiach Ben Yoseph and Moshiach ben David the ability to accept the capacity to form an army for the redemption that’s to come.

And when the Tzaddik who will have coupled with the Shechina appears, what had been covered over as a consequence of the exile I’d mentioned will be uncovered, and the Countenance will no longer be concealed.

(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".