Sukkot and the Ten Commandments

In our last post, we discussed how the seven days of Sukkot relate to the seven lowest sefirot, or attributes of God from a mystical perspective. We contemplated meditations on the particular sefirah that corresponds to that day of Sukkot and also on the seven sages that relate to each of the sefirah. Today, I'd like to go a step further and illustrate how each of the Ten Sefirot also correspond to each of the Ten Commandments. We'll focus on the seven lowest, or closest sefirot to humanity and the physical world in connection with each of the seven days of Sukkot. This should deepen our meditations and spiritual experiences of this holiday.

Kabbalah teaches us that the universe was created and is sustained through ten attributes of the Divine known as the Ten Sefirot. These sefirot correspond to the ten utterances of God in the first chapters of Genesis ("Let there be...). These ten sefirot are laid out graphically on what is known as the Tree of Life. This "Tree" is a ladder, or map of human consciousness as we grow spiritually closer to enlightenment and unity with God. As mentioned in our last post, the seven lowest of these sefirot correspond to each of the seven days of Sukkot. The Zohar prescribes a ritual for Sukkot of assigning a Biblical sage who represents the qualities of each sefirah to the day of the holiday the sefirah represents. We are told to contemplate and welcome that sage into our sukkah booth on their particular day.

But the Ten Sefirot also correspond to each of the Ten Commandments and can be used to deepen our meditations and understanding of God and our role in the universe. Here they are:

1) The highest sefirah of Atzilut, or unity with God corresponds to the first commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

2) The second sefirah of Hokmah, or wisdom, corresponds to the second commandment "Thou shalt make no graven image."

3) The third sefirah of Binah, or understanding, corresponds to the third commandment " Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain."

These three highest sefirot relate to our relationship with God. The seven lower sefirot relate to humanity's relations to each other and the world. It is these sefirot that correspond to each of the seven days of Sukkot and should be the focus of our holiday meditations.

4) The fourth sefirah of Chesed, or mercy, corresponds to the fourth commandment "Thou shalt sanctify the Sabbath and make it holy."

5) The fifth sefirah of Din, or judgment, corresponds to the fifth commandment "Honor your father and mother."

6) The sixth sefirah of Tiferet, or beauty/harmony, corresponds to the sixth commandment "Thou shalt not murder."

7) The seventh sefirah of Nezah, or eternity, corresponds to the seventh commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

8) The eighth sefirah of Hod, or seasons/cycles, corresponds to the eighth commandment " Thou shalt not steal."

9) The ninth sefirah of Yesod, or foundation/emotions, corresponds to the ninth commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness."

10) The tenth sefirah of Malkhut, or kingdom, corresponds to the tenth commandment "Thou shalt not covet."

As we reflect on the different sefirah/commandments on each of the days of Sukkot, we can see that they each work on a different level of consciousness and our soul. The tenth sefirah of Malkhut relating to the physical world makes sense as corresponding with the commandment to not covet. The sixth sefirah of Tiferet corresponds to the sixth commandment to not murder, as killing is unnatural and disrupts the harmony of the universe. The fourth sefirah of Chesed relating to mercy represents the first day of Sukkot and makes sense as the physical and spiritual rest of the Sabbath was a gift of mercy from the Divine.

As we contemplate our blessings and bounty during Sukkot, relating each of the days to their corresponding commandment will deepen our holiday experience and enhance our spiritual growth.

Until next time....

Shmuel