Zohar Or Splendor Radiance

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The Zohar or “Splendor, radiance” is widely considered the most important work of the Kabbalah, which involves Jewish mysticism. These groups of books include scriptural interpretations as well as material on theology, and in them include the rituals performed by High Priest on the Day of Atonement. The Zohar connects the real world with the spiritual world on a mystical level through the hierarchy of the High Priest to illustrate a stronger bond with man and God, which is something that the Tractate Yoma and Leviticus 16 does not do. The upper world and lower world in the Zohar are relating to, and are established by, the same principal; the lower world is Israel, and the upper world is the angels. I will be explaining the mystical message …show more content…

The High Priest must make the bond with the holy name with his mouth. “Once the bond has been made and sanctified by his mouth [the Priest], the voice descends and touches him, and the word is illumined in the mouth of the priest and he says “you shall be cleansed’ (Zohar 6)” Both Leviticus 16 and the Yoma take this day to ask for cleansing as well, as citizens enter the Temple and pray to their God, but the Zohar puts much more emphasis on the High Priest and his spiritual connection to …show more content…

16 and the Tractate Yoma, as the High Priest must enter the heavens of angels. A gold cord is attached to the Priest’s foot as he is surrounded by three ranks, his brethren of other priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people. “He turns towards the place to which he is going. He takes three steps, and closes his eyes, and is bound to the realm above. He enters the place that he has to enter, and he hears the sound of wings of the cherubim, who sing and beat their wings that are stretched out toward the heavens. (Zohar 6)” This experience is completely different to Leviticus 16 and the Yoma, and this process determines whether or not this High Priest is welcomed by Him or not. If the Priest has been worthy and there is joy in the world above, then a ray of light will shine, with the smell of beautiful mountain balsam in the world above, and cherubim (angles) lift up their wings and sing. Then the priest knows he has been accepted, and it’s a moment of joy for everyone. The people then know that the Priests prayer has been accepted, and he then goes back to saying his prayer to finish his connection to God. This spiritual experience the High Priest undergoes is completely different compared to the Yoma and Lev. 16. The Zohar focuses much more on the Priests portion on the Day of Atonement, because through his actions on that day there then follows joy upon joy for everyone, both

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