Midot Hayom 5770 Day 21: Malchut in Tiferet

Isaac said “the voice is Jacob’s voice” (Genesis 27:22) uttering words of the Unification of the Name and the study of torah. Moreover, when they announced in heaven, “the voice is Jacob’s voice,” the heavens quaked. Isaac gave Jacob ten blessings [one for each of the ten statements

with which the world was created] (Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer, end of 32).

Jacob went out from before his father Isaac adorned like a groom and like a bride in her attire. The dew of resurrection fell upon him from heaven, [making] his bones vigorous, and he became a mighty man of valor [having received both a blessing in spiritual as well as physical matters] (ibid.).

Isaac said, “ I partook of all . . . and have blessed him (Genesis 27:33) – of all that was created in the six days of creation, of all the good that has been prepared for times to come.” Esau asked Isaac, “The main thing is, what did he give you to eat?” Isaac replied, “I do not know. I tasted the flavor of bread, meat, fish – all the delicacies in the world.” When Isaac mentioned meat, Esau immediately wept, saying, “He [Jacob] gave me one plate of lentils and took my birthright. How much more [did he succeed in receiving your blessing], for he gave you meat!” (Bereishit Rabbah 67:2).

The Ten Statements, the Six Days of Creation, and the dew of Resurrection, all indicate that Jacob achieved something all encompassing; Malchut. Something was the final trigger that led to Isaac uttering the Unification; the perfect connection between heaven and earth, or, Tiferet.

The final trigger was when Isaac declared, “the voice is Jacob’s voice,’ and expressed his awareness that this was not Esau alone, but Esau and Jacob, united and balanced. There was no longer a disconnect between the two parts of Jacob, as we saw in Yesod in Tiferet, and now there was no longer a disconnect between Jacob and Isaac.

Even after we have worked on and achieved Yesod in Tiferet, there is still another stage in our development, which is allowing people to see the parts of me that I am now willing to accept and direct.

There is another important step in our Avodah after we have worked on incorporating and balancing the parts of us that we have avoided or denied, just as there is whenever we change. We must avoid the trap of falling into old modes of behavior when relating to others who are accustomed to interacting with us as we were. We have to pay special attention to incorporating these “new” characteristics into our interactions with others.

Most of us are familiar with this challenge after a growth spurt in maturity or after doing Teshuva. People relate to us as they know us from the past and it takes attention and effort to avoid old behaviors and relate as who we have become.

Tools:

Reflect on changes you have made over the past year. Consider how those changes affected the people with whom you regularly interact. Have you fallen into old patterns of behavior? Have you succeeded in being consistent and allowing people to see you as you currently are?

Have your changes disturbed the balance of your relationships? If yes, consider how to present the changes in a healthier way.