The Book of Zohar in the work of Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel. The Influence of Human Sexuality on the Development of the Sefirotic Tree
Abstract
The paper deals with writings and ideas of rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel (commonly known by his acronym MaHaRaL). The core of this paper is in demonstrating the relationship of Maharal's thought to the ideas presented in the book of Zohar.
The fashion, function and further development of Maharal's universe are affected by human deeds. Man possesses the ability to approach the divine sphere or to retreat to the sphere of matter in every aspect of human life.
In his Path of Restraint, Maharal describes this power in the light of human sexual behaviour and focuses on man's autoeroticism. Maharal uses a passage from the Sefer Zohar, namely I:18a, and repeats it three times in his work - in the Path of Restraint, in Hiddushei Aggadot and in Be'er ha-Golah.
The text describes emanation of the divine creative potency through sefiroth. Later on, Maharal interprets this emanation as a flow of the sperm from the brain to the genitals.
Man's autoeroticism is then presented as a violation of this direct flow, which may (in the context of the Zohar) lead to strengthening of the "Sitra achra" - the "Other side". Masturbation is subsequently presented as a succumbing to the demonic powers.
Another asset of this paper is that it portrays Maharal from a more realistic point of view - not as a humanist of early modern Prague, but rather as a traditional rabbi professing traditional values, who adheres to a rather rigid viewpoint on human existence in the world.