Kabbalah Library

1. It is written, “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘No one shall make himself impure for the dead among his people.’’” It is also written, “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death.” Why is this verse next to the verse, “Speak to the priests”? It is because He warned Israel to sanctify themselves in everything; He also warned the priests to sanctify themselves, as well as the Levites, as it is written, “Speak to the Levites,” so that everyone will be holy and pure.

2. “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron.” Is it not known that they are the sons of Aaron? However, it is the sons of Aaron and not the sons of Levi, since Aaron is the beginning of all the priests in the world, since the Creator chose him from among everyone to make peace in the world, since the ways of Aaron elevated him to this. All his days, Aaron tried to increase peace in the world. Because these are his ways, the Creator elevated him to priesthood, to install peace in the household of above, since through his work, he causes the coupling of the Creator with His Shechina, and peace is made in all the worlds.

3. “How great is Your goodness, which You have concealed for those who fear You; You worked for those who take refuge in You.” “How great is Your greatness,” how sublime and reverent is the upper light, which is called “good.” It is written, “And God saw the light that it was good.” This is the concealed light with which the Creator does good in the world, and none prevents it each day, and in which the world exists, and on which it stands. The Creator made the upper light when He created the world, and concealed it for the righteous in the future, as it is written, “which You have concealed for those who fear You; You worked for those who take refuge in You.”

There are two lights: 1) The light that is concealed for the righteous in the future, and which does not shine in the world, 2) the light that is called “good,” which is extended from the concealed light. It shines in the world each day, and the world stands on it.

4. When the world was created, that light stood and shone from the top of the world to the end of the world. When the Creator looked at those wicked who are destined to stand in the world, He concealed that light, as it is written, “The wicked are denied their light.” The Creator is destined to shine it to the righteous in the next world. This is, “which You have concealed for those who fear You; You worked for those who take refuge in You.” “Worked” is the act of concealing. It is written, “For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”