Omer Day 14, Malchut sheh b'Gevurah, the Shechinah [Malchut] manifesting with strength [Gevurah], and such was our powerful Shabbat here. When we both lived in Mt. Airy, Reb Zalman, z"l would often have the Zohar open on his lap during services and turn to whisper to me just enough of a tidbit from it for my level of development. My diary shows on a parallel Shabbat day decades ago he taught based on Zohar Vayikra 35B how:
"Reb Hiya offered the opinion that the Written Torah [yesod] and the Oral Torah [malchut] together establish [hu]manity." The Zohar continues that Torah says:] "Let us [plural] make the earthling [adam, from ahdamah] in our image, after our likeness."
Reb Zalman explained that the Written Torah is being analogized to "our image" and the aggadah--"oral Torah" (midrash, etc.) to "our likeness." Note: The Chiddush, new contribution here is changing "man" as is written in the Zohar to "humanity".
Reading of "image" and "likeness" brings to mind an email that came about another great teacher, she happens to spell her name Milgrom and mine is Milgram. Carol Rose advised me that Jo Milgom is seeking a permanent home for her handmade midrash exhibition Turn It Over, Over Turn It [3]. Her book Handmade Midrash [4] had a wondrous effect on my development way back when I was a novice Jewish educator. Do you remember it?
May we all be blessed to reflect well upon humanity as we implement through mitzvah-centered living our learning of both. Shavua Tov.