The Secret of the Birds and the New Wisdom: How to Merit the Hidden Treasures

Lesson #5 | *Thursday and Friday, Parshat Emor, 4th and 5th of Iyar, 5755 (1995).

Every day, Hashem (the Creator) desires to reveal to man wisdoms and secrets that have never been known, but the gates for this are open only from Chatzos (midnight) until Netz HaChama (sunrise). This discourse explains the secret of the 'birds of the heavens' and the difference between natural intellect and the supreme Divine wisdom revealed to those who rise early.

In the secrets of Kabbalah, it is brought down that the Divine shefa (abundance) cascades and descends through the upper worlds—from Abba and Imma (the higher intellectual Sefiros), to Zeir Anpin (the emotive attributes), and from there to the Sefirah of Malchus (Kingship), which is our spiritual 'home.' The Zohar HaKadosh (the holy Zohar) describes this house and says:

"How many gates and chambers it has... and there the birds of heaven nest."

Those birds that begin to sing at the break of dawn are not merely winged creatures. They hint at supreme illuminations drawn from all the worlds—Atzilus (Emanation), Beriah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), and Assiyah (Action). Every chirp and every song of the birds in the morning stems from the spiritual power of those who rose at Chatzos (midnight), in the Ashmores (the third watch of the night), or at Alos HaShachar (dawn). The birds sit on the 'Tree' (Zeir Anpin) and nourish the Malchus, but for this process to occur, they need the light of those who rise early.

The Window of Opportunity: From Chatzos until Netz

This house, the Sefirah of Malchus, thirsts to receive the illumination of wisdom. Those who draw this wisdom down to the world are those unique individuals who rise at night. They are the ones who open the gates of wisdom.

One must know a powerful foundation: the opening of the mochin (intellectual faculties) occurs only from Chatzos (midnight) until Netz HaChama (sunrise). The most choice time is Chatzos, followed by the Ashmores (the later part of the night), and the final time is Alos HaShachar (dawn). However, after the Netz (sunrise), the gates of wisdom close. A person who wakes up late rises with a "blocked brain." There is no permission to open his mind to supreme spiritual attainments.

Every single day, Hashem Yitbarach (the Blessed Creator) wants to reveal to man new wisdoms, things that were never known before. A person can study the wisdom written in books, that which his human intellect is capable of grasping, but there is a much higher level. There are secrets that have never been revealed, in the aspect of "that which a veteran student is destined to innovate." To merit these wisdoms, a person cannot work with his natural intellect, with his innate talents and traits. He must reach the level of "Reisha D'lo Esyada" (the Unknowable Head)—to a place that is above human reason.

Breaking Free from the "Snake Brain"

Man is born by nature with a "brain of a snake." The Torah testifies: "And the snake was more cunning than all the beasts of the field." We are all born with natural intellect, sharpness, cleverness, and understanding, but this is the wisdom of the snake. We are clothed in the garments of the snake and think we are wise and discerning, but compared to the Divine truth, all our wisdom and understanding are vanity.

To receive the new wisdom, one needs a completely different intellect—an intellect of Emunah (faith), the intellect of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our Teacher). When the Jewish people stood before the Red Sea, human intellect collapsed. There were those who said "let us surrender," those who said "let us fight," and those who said "let us commit suicide." All these options were within the framework of earthly logic. But Moshe Rabbeinu brought a new wisdom, a wisdom that no one had thought of—to split the sea.

Those who rise at Chatzos (midnight) merit that supreme treasures are revealed to them, which only Moshe Rabbeinu knew. Springs of wisdom open for them that change their entire perspective on reality. Suddenly, they understand the Gemara (Talmud) differently, the Zohar, and life itself. All contradictions are settled, and a new path is revealed.

Rectification of the Wandering Souls

The Zohar HaKadosh reveals another secret related to the song of the birds. In the air of the world, many spirits wander, "Nishmos Artila'in" (naked souls) that have no body and no rest. They wander and roam, seeking a tikkun (rectification). Their rectification depends on those Tzaddikim (righteous ones) who rise at Chatzos.

When a person rises at night and draws new wisdom into the world, he creates a "garment" and a rectification for those souls. They merit to be 'impregnated' within the birds that chirp in the morning, and their song is actually the song of gratitude of the souls that merited their rectification. Myriads of souls receive their tikkun (rectification) in the merit of the new wisdom that was revealed that night.

The Flame that Pierces the Gates

At Chatzos (midnight), a supreme wonder occurs: a flame of fire goes out and strikes the wings of the rooster (which hints at the Angel Gabriel). This flame is a massive spiritual force that pierces through all screens and partitions.

Like a hammer that shatters rocks, this flame breaks the "doors of copper and bars of iron" that block our hearts and our minds. It opens the hidden gates where the wondrous wisdoms are stored. Then, one begins to hear supreme voices, and Hashem, as it were, begins to speak with the person. This is the time when the world is built anew, and whoever participates in this—builds new heavens and a new earth together with Hashem.

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