Kabbalah Library

143. “This” is Malchut, as it is written, “because she [in Hebrew: this] was taken out of Man,” and it is written, “She [in Hebrew: this] shall be called Woman.” “This” is included in the man, ZA, Hesed. “This” is Nukva, Hesed is male. For this reason, the male, who comes from the side of the white, Hesed, is called Hesed, and “this” is called “justice,” since she comes from the side of the red, which is left and judgment. This is why a woman is called a “flame of fire” and “judgment.”

It is written, “And His righteousness for children’s children,” and it is not written, “His Hesed is for children’s children.” “His righteousness” means His righteousness of Hesed, his mate, that they were perfumed in one another. Because His righteousness also includes the male, Hesed, it is written “and His righteousness.”

This is why a priest, who has no mate, is forbidden to work, as it is written, “and make atonement for himself and for his house.”

144. This is why the priest is forbidden to work when he has no woman, since the Shechina [Divinity] is not present in one who did not marry a wife. The priests must have the Shechina present in them more than the whole of the rest of the nation. And when the Shechina is in them, there is Hesed in them, and they are called Hassidim and must bless the people, as it is written, “And Your Hassidim shall bless You.” It is also written, “Your Tummim and Your Urim to the man who is Your Hassid.”

Because the priest is called Hassid, he must bless. This is why it is written, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying, ‘Thus shall you bless,’” since they are called Hassidim, and it is written, “And Your Hassidim shall bless You.”