8. ALSO HERE, WHERE IT IS WRITTEN, "A song, a psalm," THIS SONG IS SUPERIOR TO OTHERS. It is a song describing the Holy One, blessed be He, which the sons of Korah were singing about those who were dwelling in the doorway of Gehenom. Who were THE SONS OF KORAH? They were the brothers of those residing at the gates of Gehenom, AS THE HOLY SAGES COMMENT ON THE VERSE, "THE SONS OF KORAH DID NOT DIE" (BEMIDBAR 26:11), BUT A PLACE WAS SET FOR THEM IN GEHENOM. As a result, this song was recited on Monday IN THE TEMPLE. I approached them and said to them: What are you doing in this place? They replied: We are merchants, but twice weekly we leave our community to study Torah here because IN THE SETTLEMENT, WE ARE DISTURBED EACH DAY by people and they do not allow us TO STUDY TORAH. I replied to them: How fortunate is your lot.
8. שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר, שִׁירָתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּקָא מְזַמְּרֵי בְּנֵי קֺרַח עַל אִינּוּן דְּיַתְבֵי, עַל פִּתְחָא דְּגֵיהִנָם. וּמַאן אִינּוּן, אֲחוּהוֹן דְּאִינּוּן דְּיַתְבֵי בְּתַרְעֵי דְּגֵיהִנָּם. וְעַ"ד, שִׁירָתָא דָּא בְּיוֹם שֵׁנִי אִתְּמַר. קָרִיבְנָא גַּבַּיְיהוּ, אֲמֵינָא לְהוּ, מַאי עֲסָקַיְיכוּ בַּאֲתַר דָּא. אָמְרוּ מְזַבְּנֵי אֲנָן, וּתְרֵי יוֹמֵי בְּשַׁבְּתָא, בָּדִילְנָא מִיִשׁוּבָא וְנַעֲסֵק בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. בְּגִין דְּלָא שַׁבְקִין לָן בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא. אֲמֵינָא זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיכוֹן.
51. "For I appear in the cloud upon the ark cover" (Vayikra 16:2). Rabbi Yehuda said: Fortunate are the righteous, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, delights to honor. We have learned about a king of flesh and blood, that if someone rides on his horse, he has committed a capital offense. However, the Holy One, blessed be He, placed Elijah on His own, as it is written, "And Elijah went up by a storm of wind into heaven" (II Melachim 2:11) AND IT IS WRITTEN, "HASHEM ANSWERED JOB OUT OF THE STORM" (IYOV 38:1). It is written: here "that he die not: for I appear in the cloud upon the ark cover." The Holy One, blessed be He, brought Moses into the cloud, as it says, "And Moses went into the midst of the cloud" (Shemot 24:18), meaning into the midst of the cloud, DENOTING MALCHUT. IT IS WITHIN THE SAME CLOUD, OF WHICH IT SAYS, "For I appear in the cloud upon the ark cover." This is the meaning of, "And Hashem will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon its assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day" (Yeshayah 4:5), "For the cloud of Hashem was upon the tabernacle by day" (Shemot 40:38). ALL THESE CLOUDS HINT AT MALCHUT.
51. כִּי בֶּעָנָן אֵרְאֶה עַל הַכַּפֺּרֶת. א"ר יְהוּדָה, זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי בִּיקָרֵיהוֹן. וְתָנֵינָא, מֶלֶךְ בָשָׂר וָדָם, אִי ב"נ רָכִיב עַל סוּסְיָא דִּילֵיהּ, בַּר קַטָלָא הוּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַרְכִּיב אֵלִיָּהוּ עַל דִּילֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב, וַיָּעַל אֵלִיָּהוּ בַּסֳּעָרָה הַשָׁמָיִם וְגוֹ.' הָכָא מָאי כְּתִיב, וְלֹא יָמוּת כִּי בֶּעָנָן אֵרְאֶה עַל הַכַּפֺּרֶת. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַיְילֵיהּ לְמֺשֶׁה בֵּיהּ, הה"ד, וַיָּבֺא מֺשֶׁה בְּתוֹךְ הֶעָנָן, בְּתוֹךְ הֶעָנָן מַמָּשׁ, כִּי בֶּעָנָן אֶרָאֶה עַל הַכַּפֺּרֶת. הה"ד, וּבָרָא יְיָ' עַל כָּל מְכוֹן הַר צִיּוֹן וְעַל מִקְרָאֶיהָ עָנָן יוֹמָם וְעָשָׁן. וּכְתִיב, כִּי עָנָן יְיָ' עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן יוֹמָם.
193. The Yud is tied to the Hei ה, the Hei with the Vav and the Vav with the Hei. One is tied with the other, MEANING THAT THE VAV, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, IS CONNECTED WITH THE HEI, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Just as you say in the verse, "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made supple by the hands of the mighty One of Jacob" (Beresheet 49:24), IN WHICH "STRENGTH" IS YESOD AND "HIS BOW" IS MALCHUT. THUS YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN IS ATTACHED TO MALCHUT, and "Strong is your dwelling place, and you put your nest in a rock" (Bemidbar 24:21), WHEREBY "STRONG" REFERS TO YESOD AND "ROCK" IS MALCHUT. They are tied together, one with another, and the keys are aglow WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH. All faces are illuminated, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF SEVENTY FACES MENTIONED EARLIER. Then they all prostrate and tremble AS A RESULT OF THE JUDGMENTS REVEALED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH, and they say: 'Blessed is the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.'
193. אִתְקְשַּׁר י' בְּה,' ה' בְּו,' ו' בְּה.' דָּא אָחִיד בְּדָא, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ וַיָּפֺזּוּ זְרוֹעֵי יָדָיו מִידֵי אֲבִיר יַעֲקֺב. וּכְתִיב, אֵיתָן מוֹשָׁבֶךָ וְשִׂים בַּסֶּלַע קִנֶּךָ. כְּדֵין אִתְקְשַּׁר כֺּלָּא חַד בְּחַד, דָא בְּדָא, נַהֲרִין מַפְתְּחָן, וְנַהֲרִין אַנְפִּין כֻּלְּהוּ, כְּדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ נַפְלִין עַל אַנְפַּיְיהוּ, וּמִזְדַּעְזְעָן, וְאַמְרֵי בְּרִיךְ שְׁמָא יְקָרָא מַלְכוּתֵיהּ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמִין.
258. IN THE BOOK OF KING SOLOMON, it is written that the Holy One, blessed be He, made three dwellings for righteous people, FOR THEIR NEFESH, RUACH AND NESHAMAH AFTER THEIR DEMISE. One is for the Nefashot (Heb. plural) of the righteous that did not depart this world and are still in this world, AS THE NEFESH OF THE DECEASED DOES NOT DEPART THIS WORLD. When the world needs mercy and living PEOPLE are in distress, the Nefashot pray for them. They go and tell this to those who slumber in Hebron, MEANING THE PATRIARCHS, who awaken and go to the earthly Garden of Eden, where the Ruach of the righteous are clothed with crowns of light, take counsel with them and make a decree. And the Holy One, blessed be He, fulfills their wish and shows mercy to the world.
258. וְתַמָּן כְּתִיב, תְּלָת מָדוֹרִין עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא, חַד לְנַפְשָׁאן דְּאִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּלָא אִסְתְּלָקוּ מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, וּשְׁכִיחִין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וְכַד אִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא רַחֲמִין, וְאִינּוּן חַיִּין יַתְבִין בְּצַעֲרָא, אִינּוּן מְצָלוּ צְלוֹתָא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְאַזְלִין וּמוֹדְעִין מִלָּה לְאִינּוּן דְּמִיכִין דְּחֶבְרוֹן, וּמִתְעָרִין, וְעַאָלִין לג"ע דְּאַרְעָא, דְּתַמָּן רוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, מִתְלַבְּשָׁן בְּעִטְרִין דִּנְהוֹרָא, וְאִתְיַיעֲטוּ בְּהוּ, וְגַזְרִין גְּזֵרָה, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד רְעוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְחָס עַל עָלְמָא.
260. The second dwelling is the earthly Garden of Eden. In it, the Holy One, blessed be He, made upper precious dwellings that are similar to this world and similar to the supernal world, MEANING THEY ARE INCLUDED WITH ASPECTS OF MALCHUT AND ASPECTS OF BINAH. THE GARDEN IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT AND EDEN IS THE SECRET OF BINAH. The chambers are ALSO of two types LIKE THE DWELLING without number, and trees and grasses and fragrances rise daily. In that place rests that which is called Ruach of these righteous. This is the dwelling in which Ruach dwells. Each Ruach is clothed with precious garments of the likeness of this world and the supernal world.
260. וּמָדוֹרָא תִּנְיָינָא הוּא ג"ע דִּי בְּאַרְעָא. בֵּיהּ עָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָדוֹרִין עִלָּאִין יַקִּירִין, כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּכְגַוְונָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה. וְהֵיכָלִין בִּתְרֵין גַּוְונִין, דְּלֵית לְהוֹן חוּשְׁבָּנָא, וְאִילָנִין וַעֲשָׂבִין וְרֵיחִין דְּסַלְּקִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא. וּבְהַאי אֲתַר שָׁארִי הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי רוּחַ דְּאִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, וּמָדוֹרָא דְּהַהוּא רוּחָא בֵּיהּ שָׁארִי. וְכָל רוּחַ וְרוּחַ מִתְלַבְּשָׁא בִּלְבוּשׁ יַקִּירָא, כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּכְגַוְונָא דְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה.
261. The third dwelling is the holy dwelling on high called the bundle of Life, MEANING THE GARDEN OF EDEN ON HIGH. There, the highest, holy level called Neshamah has pleasure. It clings to find pleasure in the most high Eden and it is written, "Then you shall delight yourself in Hashem; and I will cause you to ride..." (Yeshayah 58:14). THE GARDEN OF EDEN ON HIGH IS CALLED THE HIGH PLACES OF THE EARTH.
261. מָדוֹרָא תְּלִיתָאָה, הַהוּא מָדוֹרָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִיתְקְרֵי צְרוֹרָא דְּחַיֵּי. דְּתַמָּן מִתְעַדְּנָא הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִקְרֵי נְשָׁמָה. וְהַאי אִתְדְּבַק לְאִתְעַנְּגָא בְּעִדּוּנָא עִלָּאָה. עָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יְיָ' וְהִרְכַּבְתִּיךָ וְגוֹ.'
291. Rabbi Shimon was cleansing the marketplaces of Tiberias. He dug out all the dead that were there, and cleansed the land. We have learned that it is written, "But when you entered, you defiled My land" (Yirmeyah 2:7). Rabbi Yehuda said: Fortunate is the portion of he who deserves during his lifetime to make his dwelling in the Holy Land. All who merit it will cause the dew of the heaven above to continue to descend upon the earth, so all who deserve the Holy Land in this lifetime will later deserve the higher Holy Land, MALCHUT.
291. ר' שִׁמְעוֹן הֲוָה מַדְכֵּי שׁוּקֵי דִּטְבֶרְיָא, וְכָל דַּהֲוָה תַּמָּן מִית, הֲוָה סָלִיק לֵיהּ, וּמְדַכֵּי אַרְעָא. תָּאנָא, כְּתִיב וַתָּבֺאוּ וַתְּטַמְּאוּ אֶת אַרְצִי וְגוֹ,' אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ מַאן דְּזָכֵי בְּחַיּיוֹי לְמִשְׁרֵי מָדוֹרָא בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא. דְּכָל מַאן דְּזָכֵי לָהּ, זָכֵי לְאַנְגְּדָא מִטַּלָּא דִּשְׁמַיָּא דִּלְעֵילָּא, דְּנָחִית עַל אַרְעָא. וְכָל מַאן דְּזָכֵי לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא בְּחַיּיוֹי בְּהַאי אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, זָכֵי לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא לְבָתַר בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה.
358. Two female spirits used to come and couple with him and they gave birth. They gave birth to demons called the plagues of mankind. They would fly to people and rest at their doors, wells and restrooms. Therefore all DEMONS flee and distance themselves from people who have on their door posts the holy name Shadai of the supernal Sfirot. This is the essence of the verse, "Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling" (Tehilim 91:10). What is meant by "nor shall any plague come near?" It is the MENTIONED plagues of people.
358. וּתְרֵין רוּחִין נוּקְבִין, הֲווֹ אַתְיָין וְאִזְדַּוְּוגָן עִמֵּיהּ, וְאוֹלִידוּ. וְאִינּוּן דְּאוֹלִידוּ הֲווֹ מַזִּיקִין דְּעָלְמָא, וְאִקְרוּן נִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם. וְאִלֵּין סָאטָן לִבְנֵי אָדָם, וְשַׁרְיָין בְּפִתְחָא דְּבֵיתָא, וּבְבִירָאֵי, וּבְבָתֵּי כִּסְאֵי. וְעַ"ד ב"נ, דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח בְּפִתְחָא דְּבֵיתֵיהּ שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא שַׁדַּי בְּכִתְרִין עִלָּאִין, כֻּלְּהוּ עַרְקָאן וְאִתְרַחֲקָן מִנֵּיהּ, הה"ד וְנֶגַע לָא יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ. מַאי וְנֶגַע לָא יִקְרַב. אִלֵּין נִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם.
361. This Tuval Cain introduced weaponry to the world, AS HE SHARPENED ALL EARTHENWARE, COPPER AND IRON. While attached to her aspect, this Na'amah used to be in a state of great commotion. She still lives, dwelling among the roars of the great sea. She comes out, sports with people, warms herself by them in a man's dream by his lust, and attaches herself to him. She takes FROM HIM that passion, but not more. From that lust, she becomes pregnant and produces many species OF DEMON in the world.
361. וְדָא תּוּבַל קַיִן, אַפִּיק זַיְינֵי קִטּוּלָא לְעָלְמָא. וְדָא נַעֲמָה אִתְרְגִישַׁת בְּרִיגְשָהָא, וְאִתְדַּבְּקַת בְּסִטְרָהָא. וְעַד כְּעַן הִיא קַיְּימָא, וּמָדוֹרָהָא בֵּין רִיגְשֵׁי יַמָּא רַבָּא, וְנַפְקַת וְחַיְּיכַת בִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וְאִתְחַמְּמַת מִנַּיְיהוּ בְּחֶלְמָא, בְּהַהוּא תִּיאוּבְתָּא דְּב"נ, וְאִתְדַּבְּקַת בֵּיהּ. תִּיאוּבְתָּא נַטְלַת וְלָא יַתִּיר. וּמֵהַהוּא תִּיאוּבְתָּא אִתְעַבְּרַת, וְאַפִּיקַת זַיְנִין אָחֳרָנִין לְעָלְמָא.
363. For this reason, the Torah warns people, "You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy" (Vayikra 11:44). Surely, if a man is holy, he need not fear LILIT. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, designates these three holy angels which we spoke about, and they guard that child, so she cannot harm him. This is the meaning of the verse, "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any come near your dwelling" (Tehilim 91:10). For what reason is it that "no evil shall befall you?" "For He shall give His angels charge over you" (Ibid. 11) and, "Because he has set his delight upon Me, therefore will I deliver him" (Ibid. 14).
363. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ אוֹרַיְיתָא אַזְהֲרַת לְהוּ לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדוֹשִׁים וַדַּאי. אִי אִשְׁתְּכַח ב"נ קַדִּישָׁא, לָא מִסְתָּפֵי מִינָּהּ, דִּכְדֵין זַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאִלֵּין ג' מַלְאֲכִין קַדִּישִׁין דְּאַמָרָן, וְנַטְרִין לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא רַבְיָיא, וְהִיא לָא יַכְלָא לְאַבְאָשָׁא לֵיהּ, הה"ד לֹא תְאוּנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה וְנֶגַע לֹא יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ. מַאי טַעֲמָא לֹא תְאוּנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה. בְּגִין כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָּךְ, וּכְתִיב כִּי בִי חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ.
397. We have learned it is written, "Also you shall not approach to a woman in the impurity of her menstrual flow, to uncover her nakedness" (Vayikra 18:19). Rabbi Yehuda taught, the generation in which Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai dwells are all meritorious, all pious, all sin fearing, the Shechinah dwelling in their midst. Not so in other generations. For this reason, these things are expounded and not concealed, IN HIS GENERATION. In other generations it is not so, and supernal secrets cannot be revealed. And those who do know them are afraid TO REVEAL. When Rabbi Shimon would relate the secret of this verse among all the friends, their eyes would flow with tears. All the words he said were being revealed before their very eyes, as the verse says, "With him I speak mouth to mouth, manifestly, and not in dark speeches" (Bemidbar 12:8).
397. תָּאנָא כְּתִיב וְאֶל אִשָּׁה בְּנִדַּת טוּמְאָתָהּ לֹא תִקְרַב לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָתָהּ, תָּנֵי רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, דָּרָא דרשב"י שָׁארִי בְּגַוֵּיהּ, כֻּלְּהוּ זַכָּאִין, חֲסִידִין, כֻּלְּהוּ דַּחֲלֵי חַטָּאָה נִינְהוּ. שְׁכִינְתָּא שַׁרְיָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, מַה דְּלֵית כֵּן בְּדָרִין אָחֳרָנִין. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ מִילִּין אִינּוּן מִתְפָּרְשָׁן, וְלָא אִתְטַמְּרָן בְּדָרִין אָחֳרָנִין לָאו הָכִי, וּמִלִּין דְּרָזֵי עִלָּאָה לָא יַכְלִין לְגַלָּאָה, וְאִינּוּן דְּיַדְעֵי מִסְתָּפוּ. דר"ש כַּד הֲוָה אָמַר רָזָא דְּהַאי קְרָא, חַבְרַיָּיא כֻּלְּהוּ עֵינֵיהוֹן נַבְעִין דִּמְעִין, וְכֻלהוּ מִילִין דְּאָמַר הֲווֹ בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ גַּלְיָין, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב פֶּה אֶל פֶּה אֲדַבֵּר בּוֹ וּמַרְאֶה וְלֹא בְחִידוֹת.