Re:

the sefirah netsach, gershom scholem, and the mormons
by netsach


> recently i had access to a paper mentioning gershom scholem's translation of netsach in the
> phrase "lasting endurance."

This is the main definition with 'Victory' being a metaphor.


> being a core kabbalistic symbol, i would agree with the author of the paper that (as he seems to be pointing out) such a translation of the idea (the sefirah itself) is limited at best. on the other hand, this concept seems to have deeply ingrained itself into mormon doctrine, and i would see it as at least a better translation than it appears to be.

The mormon concept of "eternal marriage" and other types of eternity may stem partially from the kabbalistic idea of Gilgalim, "rolling lives" that Joseph Smith was familiar with. The kabbalistic idea of Netzah on the other hand is the idea of victory through endurance and perserverence and lasting.


> somewhere around the core of netsach is the concept of values, but to the mormons, there is a concept that if you never shirk your "personal" (which sadly means those that the church chooses on behalf of everyone else, via the organization's president) values, but carry them on and "endure to the end," that you will be rewarded with heaven. this concept would not seem the least bit unique to me except for the actual words used and the echo i notice in them. (the phrase extends into even lines of jewelry featuring the acronym "E.T.T.E." reminiscient now that i think about it, of solomon's "kabbalistic" shield featuring the tetragrammaton.) i can't let this similarity go without thinking that one of the ideas lends support to the other (although that is not to say that i am quite charmed by the mormon doctrine as a whole.)

> in most churches and faiths, of course, an excessive concentration on "values" seems to lead most often to fundamentalism, one of my least favorite things- but i also think it paints the translation as a good one, even if it proved to be coincidental, and even if the translation itself is most incomplete.

> i would be happy to hear about any other parallels noticed between the mormon faith and kabbalah. (tonight i started reading an article where the author compares the spirituality of the mormon church's founder, joseph smith, with kabbalistic doctrines. so far i have not read anything in it about this sefirah per se.)

ok

> as for netsach, i do not think i've seen enough attention or due paid to the female counterparts of the right pillar in the meditations on the sefirot. yes, they are the strength of creation and while in everyday modern life, there do indeed seem to be too many examples of unfettered judgement, unbalanced thrusts towards limited, superficial pleasures, and too much knowledge applied without necessary wisdom- i also see that there are many who overcompensate for the pleasures that the world has to offer with a sense of values that is divorced from any real fulfilment- the marriage of, the most natural pairing of netsach with hod does suggest to me that if your values do not ultimately lead to a fulfilment that is not merely for its own sake, not merely superficial, but fulfilment that permeates the mind and soul, something is deeply wrong. true netsach should not merely seed and balance hod, but should lead to it- not just for the individual, but for all mankind. nothing LESS than a connection to the rest of the tree of life, with a fulfilment that is divine, is the fruit of the temple entrance's loins. this is not for a world to come, but should permeate both worlds, the upper and the lower- even if both will suffer to an extent for any imbalance in the sides.

If you live in Salt Lake City, maybe we could meet or talk some more.

regards,
Jeff Spiegel