לאה was the daughter of Lavan and the older sister of Rachel. She was the mother of six sons and Dinah. In Kabbalah, Leah and Rachel represent thought and speech, respectively. Leah is associated with the "concealed world" (עלמא דאתכסיא), while Rachel is associated with the "revealed world" (עלמא דאתגליא).
This entry is severely incomplete.
Leah is described as being "weary" (נלאה) of containing emotions, and her source is in Binah. Leah is associated with the intellect of Abba and Imma as it is within Zeir Anpin, which unites with the lower Leah, that is, with the letters of thought that receives from the aspect of Malchut of Tvunah, which is the source of thought. Leah represents the inner voice of Binah within Zeir Anpin, drawn from the brain to the heart. She is also associated with the six directions of the emotions of Zeir Anpin. Leah is considered a higher level than Rachel.
The unification of Yisroel and Leah refers to the intellect of Abba and Imma as it is within Zeir Anpin, which unites with the lower Leah, that is, with the letters of thought that receives from the aspect of Malchut of Tvunah, which is the source of thought. There is a unification of Yaakov and Leah, which is called "the fleeting thoughts of the heart" (Hirhurei Liba). This occurs when the externality of the emotions rise up as fleeting thoughts in the brain. Yaakov loved Rachel more than Leah because he wanted to reveal the light of the Infinite in the revealed world, which could be received by everyone, unlike the concealed world.
See Also
- Zohar III (Ra'aya Mehemna) 236b
- Pri Etz Chayim, Shaar HaTefillin, Shaar 4, Ch. 5
- Likkutei Torah of the Arizal to Shemos 33:23.
References