Reading a Glossary can be a little like reading a dictionary and because this is a COMMENTARY on the Zohar and not an attempt to TEACH the Zohar, I debated whether or not to even comment on the Glossary. After all, it wasn’t terribly exciting for me and likely not terribly exciting for you. So, I’ll keep my comments brief today.
One thing that struck me as particularly interesting was how the Zohar defined the term “angel”. An “angel” is described as a “distinct energy component that is part of a vast communication network running through the upper worlds.”. Further it is said that “each unique angel is responsible for transmitting various forces of influence into our physical universe.”
So, while “angels” are given names such as Michael and Raphael as if they are unique entities with conscious thought and which are described as doing things much like humans, the description as “energy components” and “communication network” has me questioning this a little. Are “angels” in the Zohar’s understanding CONSCIOUS and distinct beings or merely “forces” or “components” of energy more like wires or cables that transmit information throughout a network? When we hear in the Bible for example about the angels of the four winds, are we to think of them as actual conscious entities literally holding back wind in their arms or rather as forces of nature that have no conscious thought? Or perhaps is it even a little of both? Perhaps there is an energy FORCE that has conscious thought and can make decisions but which is not really like a human or “angel” as we tend to visualize them today?
I think of other Hebrew concepts like this. “Wisdom” is a concept and yet personified in the Bible as a woman. The “Word” of God is also a concept and yet personified in the Bible as a human being (most believe Jesus). Are these merely concepts or are they also conscious beings? If they are living, conscious beings then one might tend to believe they can be killed. Can someone kill wisdom so that no more wisdom exists in the world if you merely kill the woman personifying wisdom? Did the “word” of God forever die because Jesus died? I believe the answer must be a resounding no. So even when concepts are personified as being “beings” it suggests to me that this being is not in itself the actual concept. It is merely a personification of the concept. The distinction, I believe, is important. The concept exists with or without the being personifying it.
Likwise the 10 “Sfirot” which make up the tree of life are sometimes depicted as unique beings and yet the Sfirot is described in the Zohar as being “curtains” that obscure the light of God. Each Sfirot is described as a curtain shielding and separating us from the light that is the place where God resides. If one describes a Sfirot as a being can that being be killed and thus the curtain is removed? I doubt it.