A Rare and Lengthy Visit.

A rare and unusually long visit recently took place in the home of the Belzer Rebbe, when the Rebbe of Ashlag — author of the Bnei Heichala commentary — came personally to present the soon-to-be-released volume. The sefer has already sparked tremendous excitement among lomdei haZohar across the globe. 

Bnei Heichala presents a new clarity in learning the Zohar HaKadosh, rooted in the derech of the Baal HaSulam. It includes insights from Chassidus and deep mekoros from the Zohar, and is written in a way that opens up the text both to seasoned talmidei chachamim and to those learning Zohar for the first time. 

Also present was Rav Eliyahu Yisrael Ashlag, rov of the Ashlag kehillah and chairman of Malchus HaZohar Bnei Heichala. From the start of the conversation, the Belzer Rebbe was very into the new work and the way sifrei Chassidus are integrated into the new peirush. 

The Rebbe of Ashlag shared that when he began writing the sefer eight years ago, he had received a brachah from the Belzer Rebbe, and he is currently in the middle of Sefer Shemos. The full work is projected to include 33 volumes, in addition to 74 seforim of the Baal HaSulam, some of which remain unpublished manuscripts. 

On the Source of Raya Mehemna 

The Belzer Rebbe asked about the origins of the section called Raya Mehemna, and whether it’s considered part of the Zohar. The Rebbe of Ashlag explained that the Taryag Eitin are the secrets of the mitzvos’ reasons, revealed by Moshe Rabbeinu — referred to as Raya Mehemna — to Rashbi, and they were woven into the Zohar HaKadosh in the parshiyos dealing with each mitzvah. 

“For example,” he said, “when the Zohar discusses Pesach, it includes parts of Raya Mehemna in Parshas Bo. When it discusses the Beis HaMikdash, it inserts related passages there. The Baal HaSulam was extremely medakdek to note which mitzvah each section relates to — and he didn’t change the original lashon at all.” 

Future Plans and the Name “HaSulam” 

The Belzer Rebbe also asked about the seforim that have already been published and about future plans. He inquired why the Baal HaSulam chose the name “HaSulam” for his peirush on the Zohar. 

The Rebbe of Ashlag replied that his grandfather wanted the peirush to serve as a heichi timtza  to help people ascend in their understanding of the Zohar HaKadosh. 

Once again, the Belzer Rebbe expressed his appreciation for the impact that Zohar Bnei Heichala is set to make — helping Klal Yisroel engage in learning the Zohar with clarity, and spreading the light of Rashbi zya”a to the entire world.