DRAWING NEAR AND ASCENDING
He called to Moses.
YHVH spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying:
"Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them:
When any of you brings qorban to YHVH ..."(Leviticus 1:1-2)
Rabbi Hizkiyah was in the presence of Rabbi Shim'on.
He said to him
"That which is called qorban—
it should be called qeiruv, drawing near,
or qereivut, nearness.
Why qorban?"
Rabbi Shim'on replied
"This is well-known to the Comrades!
Qorban, their drawing near,
the drawing near of those holy crowns,
drawing near to one another, connecting with each other,
until all turn into one, complete oneness,
to perfect the Holy Name,
as it is written: 'qorban to YHVH.'
The drawing near of those holy crowns is to YHVH
so that the Holy Name be perfected and united,
so that compassion fill all the worlds
and the Holy Name be crowned with its crowns
and everything be sweetened.
All this is intended to arouse Compassion,
not to arouse Judgment.
Therefore 'to YHVH,'
not 'to Elohim.'
'To YHVH'
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