202. How beloved are Israel by the Creator, for in the beginning, He calls them a “holy nation,” as it is written, “for you are a holy nation.” Afterwards, He calls them “holy,” as it is written, “Israel are holy [devoted] to the Lord, the firstfruits of His harvest.” What is the connection between holy and holiness? Holy is the highest, Hochma, when all the holinesses are joined together. The three lines HGT are called “holy,” since then everyone rises and gathers to the high place called “holy,” the upper Hochma.
203. This is why it is written, “Holy, holy, holy,” which are HGT, Priests-Levites-Israel, the holiness of Israel is made from them. Because Israel are crowned by these three degrees, when they join together, they are called “Israel are holy to the Lord,” which is the beginning, for at that time they receive from upper Hochma called “first.”
It is written, “His harvest,” with an extra Hey, indicating Malchut, who is called “holy” when she receives from the upper Hochma. It is written, “All who eat it will be guilty,” and it is written, “And if one eats of a holy thing unintentionally,” and it is written, “No foreigner shall eat the holy thing,” and Israel are called “holy.” This is why “All who eat it will be guilty.”
204. The beginning, upper Hochma, and the end of all, Malchut, were incorporated in the holy. Upper Hochma is called “holy.” When upper Hochma shines, Solomon’s wisdom shines, as well, Malchut, as it is written, “And Solomon’s wisdom excelled,” meaning that the moon, Malchut, stood in its full. When Malchut is blessed by Yesod, it is called “holiness,” shining in its fullest. When Malchut does not shine and is not crowned to the fullest, it is called the “holy spirit.” But it is not called “holy,” as with the Hochma of above.
205. When Malchut is blessed by Yesod and nurses all those below, she is called “mother,” like the one of above, Bina. At that time, Malchut is called “Holies,” and then Yesod is called “Holy of Holies,” since the bride is in him, for Yesod is holy, and with the bride, Malchut, who is called “Holy,” he is “Holy of Holies,” as it is written, “with me from Lebanon, bride.”
Lebanon is Eden, upper Hochma. She is called Lebanon because she was made white on all sides, shining in Hesed, the color white, both on the right side and on the left side. She is upper AVI, who are always desiring mercy, as it is written, “for He desires mercy [Hesed],” but they impart Hochma to Malchut through the river that comes out of Eden, Bina.