בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
And They Shall Be Fruitful in the Land
This parsha is full of blessings that Yakov blessed his children and grandchildren. One of these blessings
is “vayidgu larov bekerev ha’aretz” – you shall multiply and be fruitful like the fish within the Land. In
this painting we see a central theme of blessing, as the title verse from Tehilim expresses the blessing of
Hashem from Zion, and also fish, apparently two for masculine and feminine to convey fruitfulness, take
a central role in this painting as well. Although the blessing here is unto Hashem and the verse talking
about multiplying like fish is upon Israel, we may say that “measure for measure” when Israel blesses
Hashem so too blessing is also brought upon them.
We see seven lights hinting to the Menora in the Temple which was a sign that the Holy Presence rests
within Israel. This idea is also compounded with the words of the verse “shochen Yerushalayim” hinting
to the Shecina – the Holy Presence- in Yerushalayim – City of the Temple.
We see seven dancing hasidim upon the word “halleyuah” which means you shall praise God, indicating
that this dancing expresses the joy involved with praising God. We see an eighth hasid above as if floating
in the heavens. This seems to reflect the idea that seven represent the sanctity upon natural earth while
eight represents the supernatural/heavenly aspect. Of the seven “earthly” hasidim we see one with a
trumpet, an instrument that operates through “heavenly” human air, as the verse says that God “blew air”
into the human spirit/breathing. This refers to the sefira of hesed considered the most “heavenly” of the
seven sefirot apparently indicated by these seven hasidim. [By the way we also see seven trees, three to
the right and four to the left, a matter that also has Kabbalistic significance]. The second hasid from right
to left is holding a timbrel, a non-air-based musical instrument, hinting to the Levites who played music,
and the Levites are associated to the sefira of gevura-might. After this hasid comes a hasid carrying
objects in both his right and left hands hinting to the sefira of tiferet, the “central path” which includes
both right and left aspects. After him come two hasidim dancing together, alluding to netzach and hod,
two sefirot which are considered to be joined Kabbalistically. On the earth/grass are another two hasidim
apparently hinting to yesod and malchut, considered more “earthly” sefirot. The eighth
heavenly/”supernatural” hasid is carrying a timbrel, indicative of the Levites, associated with the “left
side”/gevura as we mentioned, which is sourced in the sefira of Bina, considered a supernatural aspect.
The color red and pomegranate are also associated with the “left side”, and the “crown” of the
pomegranate hints to the “crown/keter sefira also associated with the supernatural.
All these ideas come together when we understand that true blessing comes from resting of the Holy
Presence among Israel, and the conduit of this blessing is through the joyous righteous, hinted by the
dancing hasidim we mentioned, and this blessing is revealed in Zion and Jerusalem mentioned in the title
verse and also illustrated in by the land and houses in the background. The Arizal actually links the
concept of Zion to Hebron and Jerusalem to Jerusalem itself. Thus, through the spiritual connection
between these two cities Divine blessing is manifest and the Holy Presence rests among Israel through the
guidance and joy of the righteous.