R' Ashlag Ch. 68 (Part 1)

Chapter Sixty-Eight:

Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag's "Introduction to the Zohar"

-- as translated and commented on by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

__________________________________________________

68.

1.

"It’s quite clear, then, that the Torah itself has interior and exterior (aspects) just like everything else in the universe. (It thus follows that) those who study Torah (also) fall into (one of) those two categories, ... "
-- That is, it follows that Torah scholars either express more of the interior or “Jewish” aspect of Torah, or more of the exterior or “non-Jewish” aspect of it.

"... and that the more one toils in the interior (aspect) of the Torah and its mysteries, the more able is he to elevate the interior (aspect) of the world, i.e., the (actual) Jewish Nation, higher and higher over its exterior (aspect), i.e., the Gentile nations; and (the more able is he) to have them recognize and acknowledge the preeminence of the Jewish Nation. And (when that happens,) then the words, 'The (Jewish) people will take them and bring them to their place; and the House of Israel will inherit them in G-d’s land' (Isaiah 14:2), and 'Thus says G-d the L-rd, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations and set up My standard to the peoples; and they will carry your sons in their arms, and carry your daughters on their shoulders' (Isaiah 49:22) will be realized."

*** I also expanded upon ch. 67 (near the end), by the way.

c) 2006 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 from here
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). His new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled
"Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal"