Rabbi
Yehuda and Rabbi Shimon discuss the words 'spoke' and 'said' in "Hashem spoke
to Moses" and "Hashem said to Moses" and we learn that they are from two
levels, judgment and mercy, but nevertheless are from the same source, that is
Zeir Anpin. Rabbi Yitzchak...
We
learn that Jacob redeemed Abraham just because God saw that Jacob would descend
from Abraham. Rabbi Chizkiyah questions why Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (who
threw themselves into a burning fire) are referred to as descendants of Jacob,
when in fact they were the...
Rabbi
Shimon says that in a way Nadab and Abihu died twice, once before God when
offering the sacrifice, and once because they left no children, as someone who
does not merit children is considered as though dead. We learn that Nadab and
Abihu died physically but did...
Rabbi
Shimon wonders how people can ignore the wishes of God for so long, and says
that no one lends his ear or wakens his heart. He says that in later
generations people will have forgotten the Torah entirely; there will never be
another generation like Rabbi Shimon...
We
learn that God told Moses that he should speak to his brother, Aaron, since
Aaron was given the blessings for above and below. There are times when one may
go before God and ask petitions, because it is a time of goodwill; there are
other times when harsh decrees...
Rabbi
Shimon tells how the fragrance of the incense rises and joins with the flow of
the holy ointment (the Sfirah of Zeir Anpin); they waken each other and are
then good for illumination. The oil is then poured down from level to level to
Malchut and thence to all...
Rabbi
Yehuda brings up various verses where a cloud or a storm of wind are mentioned.
Speaking about the cloud upon the ark cover, he says that this is the place
where the cherubs, Metatron and Sandalphon, rested, and that a miracle occurred
three times a day when...
Rabbi
Shimon says that when the priest heard the voices of the Cherubs he placed the
incense in the right place and had the correct intent, so that the blessings
should flow to all. The wings of the cherubs were moving up and down, singing
and covering the ark. We...
Rabbi
Shimon talks about "how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell
together in unity," explaining that it means male and female turned toward one
another. He says that righteousness and justice go together, otherwise things
are not well with the world....
We
learn from Rabbi Shimon that God wished only Aaron to deal with the sweet
incense, for Aaron increased peace in the world; when his sons offered the
incense during their father's lifetime, they made a great mistake.
