31. An announcement is called out about them daily and their soul testifies within them day and night. The Torah raises its voice in all directions and says, "How long, fools, will you love foolishness" (Mishlei 1:22.). "Whoever is a fool, let him turn in here: as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mixed" (Mishlei 9:4-5). No one lends his ear or wakens his heart.
31. וְכָרוֹזָא כָּל יוֹמָא קָארֵי עָלַיְיהוּ, וְנִשְׁמָתֵהוֹן, אַסְהִידַת בְּהוֹן בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְלֵילְיָא, אוֹרַיְיתָא רָאמַת קָלִין לְכָל עִבָר, מַכְרֶזֶת וְאוֹמֶרֶת, עַד מָתַי פְּתָאִים תְּאֶהֲבוּ פֶתִי מִי פֶתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה חֲסַר לֵב אָמְרָה לוֹ. לְכוּ לַחֲמוּ בְלַחְמִי וּשְׁתוּ בְּיַיִן מָסָכְתִּי. וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַרְכִּין אוּדְנֵיהּ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִתְּעַר לִבֵּיהּ.
94. Rabbi Chiya said, "That which is, already has been; and that which is to be has already been..." (Kohelet 3:15). "That which is, already has been." We have learned that before the Holy One, blessed be He, created this world, He created worlds and destroyed them - THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE BREAKING OF THE VESSELS - until it entered the will of the Holy One, blessed be He, to create this world. First, He took counsel with the Torah, THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, then He put on His adornments and was crowned with His crowns and created this world. All that is found in this world was there before Him, AT THE TIME OF CREATION, and was prepared before Him.
94. פָּתַח רִבִּי חִיָּיא וְאָמַר, מַה שֶׁהָיָה כְּבָר הוּא וַאֲשֶׁר לִהְיוֹת וְגוֹ.' מַה שֶׁהָיָה כְבָר, הַיְינוּ דְּתָנֵינָן, עַד לָא בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הַאי עָלְמָא, הֲוָה בָּארֵי עָלְמִין וְחָרִיב לוֹן, עַד דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא סָלִיק בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ, לְמִבְרֵי הַאי עָלְמָא, וְאַמְלִיךְ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. כְּדֵין אִתְתָּקַּן הוּא בְּתִקּוּנוֹי, וְאִתְעַטָּר בְּעִטְרוֹי, וּבָרָא הַאי עָלְמָא. וְכָל מַאי דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הָא הֲוָה קַמֵּיהּ, וְאִתְתָּקַּן קַמֵּיהּ.
95. We have learned that all leaders of every generation were present before the Holy One, blessed be He, in their forms before they came to the world. Furthermore, before they came into the world, all human souls were carved before Him in the heavens with the same forms literally as they are in this world. All that these souls learn in this world, they already knew before coming to this world. We have learned that all this holds true with the people of true piety.
95. וְתָאנָא, כָּל אִינּוּן דַּבָּרֵי עָלְמָא, דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּכָל דָּרָא וְדָרָא, עַד לָא יֵיתוּן לְעָלְמָא, הָא הֲווֹ קַיְימֵי קַמֵּיהּ בְּדִיּוּקְנֵיהוֹן. אֲפִילּוּ כָּל אִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתִין דִּבְנֵי נָשָׂא, עַד לָא יֶחֱתוּן לְעָלְמָא, כֻּלְּהוּ גְּלִיפִין קָמֵיהּ בִּרְקִיעָא, בְּהַהוּא דִּיּוּקְנָא מַמָּשׁ, דְּאִינּוּן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וְכָל מַה דְּאוֹלְפִין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, כֺּלָּא יָדְעוּ עַד לָא יֵיתוּן לְעָלְמָא. וְתָנֵינָא, הַאי בְּאִינּוּן זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט.
96. All of these that are not found to be just in this world, even there ABOVE BEFORE COMING TO THE WORLD, distance themselves from the presence of the Holy One, blessed be He. They enter the chasm of the great abyss and hurry to descend to this world. And we learned that their souls are stiff necked in this world, as they were before coming to this world. They throw away the saintly part that THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, gave to them FROM THE SIDE OF HOLINESS and go wander about and become impure in that chasm of the great abyss. They take their share there, precipitate the hour and descend to earth. If a man later gains merit and repents before his Master, he will receive back his own portion, NAMELY, THE HOLY PORTION THAT HE THREW UPWARD, AS MENTIONED. This is the meaning of the verse, "That which is, already has been; and that which is to be has already been..."
96. וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּלָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין זַכָּאִין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, אֲפִילּוּ תַּמָּן, מִתְרַחֲקִין מִקַּמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְעָאלִין בְּנוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא, וְדַחֲקִין שַׁעֲתָא, וְנַחְתִּין לְעָלְמָא. וְהַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא דִּלְהוֹן, הָא אוֹלִיפְנָא, כְּמָה דְּאִינּוּן קְשֵׁי קְדָל בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, כַּךְ הֲווֹ עַד לָא יֵיתוּן לְעָלְמָא. וְהַהוּא חוּלָקָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּיָהַב לוֹן רָמָאן לֵיהּ, וְאָזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין וְאַסְתַּאָבוּן, בְּהַהוּא נוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא, וְנַטְלֵי חוּלָקֵיהוֹן מִתַּמָּן, וְדַחֲקִין שַׁעֲתָא וְנַחְתֵּי לְעָלְמָא. אִי זָכֵי לְבָתַר, וְתָב בְּתִיּוּבְתָּא קָמֵי מָארֵיהּ, הוּא נָטִיל הַהוּא חוּלָקָא דִּילֵיהּ מַמָּשׁ, הה"ד, מַה שֶׁהָיָה כְּבָר הוּא וַאֲשֶׁר לִהְיוֹת וְגוֹ' כְּבָר הָיָה.
98. HE ANSWERS: We have learned from the holy luminary that the Holy One, blessed be He, concerned Himself with their honor, so inwardly their bodies were tinged with fire, but their soul was not lost, as we have already established. Come and see that even before the deaths of Aaron's sons, it is written, "And Elazar, Aaron's son took of the daughters of Putiel to wife; AND SHE BORE HIM PINCHAS" (Shemot 6:25). He was called Pinchas because he was destined to straighten that which is crooked, MEANING TO CORRECT THE DAMAGE OF NADAB AND ABIHU, AS EXPLAINED EARLIER, EVEN THOUGH NADAB AND ABIHU HAD NOT YET DIED. This is the essence of the verse, "And that which is to be has already been."
98. אֶלָּא הָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא מִבּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חָס עַל יְקָרָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְאִתּוֹקַד גַּרְמֵיהוֹן לְגוֹ, וְנִשְׁמָתֵהוֹן לָא אִתְאֲבִידוּ, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא. ות"ח עַד לָא מִיתוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֺן כְּתִיב, וְאֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַהֲרֺן לָקַח לוֹ וְגוֹ,' אִקְרֵי שְׁמֵיהּ פִּנְחָס, דַּהֲוָה זַמִּין לְאִתְתָּקְנָא עֲקִימָא, הה"ד וַאֲשֶׁר לִהְיוֹת כְּבָר הָיָה.
140. As they were going, they stayed in a field and prayed. A fiery cloud descended and surrounded them. Rabbi Shimon said: I believe that the wish of the Holy One, blessed be He, is here. Let us sit down. They sat and discussed words of Torah. He said, "As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Mishlei 25:25). I examined the words of King Solomon and found that they were said with wisdom.
140. עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי, יָתְבוּ בְּחַד חֲקַל, וְצַלּוּ. נָחַת חַד עֲנָנָא דְּאֶשָּׁא, וְאַסְחַר לוֹן. א"ר שִׁמְעוֹן, הָא חֲמֵינָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רְעוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ הָכָא. נֵיתִיב. יָתְבוּ וַהֲווֹ אַמְרֵי מִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. פָּתַח וְאָמַר, מַיִם קָרִים עַל נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק, הָא אִסְתַּכַּלְנָא בְּמִלּוֹי דִּשְׁלֹמֺה מַלְכָּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ בְּחָכְמָה אַמָרָן.
142. HE EXPLAINS HIS WORDS: In this verse, its beginning is not its end, nor does its end match up with its beginning, MEANING THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT IDEAS. But when I examine them closely, I see common characteristics included from one to the other, both for its beginning to its end or vice versa. IT IS WRITTEN, "good news from a far country" and "As cold water to a thirsty soul," IN WHICH "as cold water to a thirsty soul" IS ONE CONCEPT and "good news from a far country" IS A SEPARATE CONCEPT. YET THEY ARE RELATED ONE TO THE OTHER, as both speak of satisfaction; just as the one gives satisfaction, so does the other give satisfaction. THIS IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN INCLUDING BOTH CONCEPTS, AS WE SAID.
142. הַאי קְרָא לָאו רֵישֵׁיהּ סֵיפֵיהּ וְלָאו סֵיפֵיהּ רֵישֵׁיהּ. וְכַד אִסְתַּכַּלְנָא בֵּיהּ, כֺּלָּא כָּלִיל חַד בְּחַד, בֵּין מִסֵיפֵיהּ לְרֵישֵׁיהּ, בֵּין מֵרֵישֵׁיהּ לְסֵיפֵיהּ. שְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק מַיִם קָרִים עַל נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה. מַיִם קָרִים עַל נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק, וְדָא וְדָא נַיְיחָא דְּרוּחָא, כְּמָה דְּהַאי נַיְיחָא דְּרוּחָא, כַּךְ הַאי נַיְיחָא דְּרוּחָא.
143. As they were sitting, someone arrived and said that the wife of Rabbi Shimon was healed from her illness. The friends heard a proclamation that the Holy One, blessed be He, forgave the sins of the generation. Rabbi Shimon said: Now was fulfilled the verse, "good news from a far country" which gives satisfaction "as cold water to a thirsty soul." He said to them: Let us rise and go as the Holy One, blessed be He, is performing for us miracles.
143. עַד דַּהֲווֹ יַתְבֵי, אָתָא חַד בַּר נָשׁ, אָמַר, אִנְתּוּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אַתְּסִיאַת מִמַּרְעָהָא. וְחַבְרַיָּיא שָׁמְעוּ קָלָא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שָׁבַק לְאִינּוּן חוֹבֵי דְּדָרָא. א"ר שִׁמְעוֹן, הָא אִתְקַיָּים הָכָא קְרָא, וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק, הָכִי הוּא נַיְיחָא דְּרוּחָא, כְּמוֹ מַיִם קָרִים עַל נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה. אָמַר לְהוּ נְקוּם וְנֵזִיל דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַרְחִישׁ לָן בְּנִסִּין.
144. He opened the discussion saying, "Cold water to a thirsty soul" is referring to Torah. Of all those who merit to toil in Torah and satiate their souls from it, it is written, "good news from a far country." The Holy One, blessed be He, announces about many favors for him in this world and in the World to Come. This is the meaning of "good news." Whence do they come TO BE GOOD? "From a far country," MEANING from the place in which the Holy One, blessed be He, was far off from him at the beginning, MEANING where He was in enmity with him at first, as it is written, "And the earth shall rise up against him" (Iyov 20:27). From this place, they welcome him with peace. This is the meaning of, "A far country." It is also written, "Hashem appeared to me from afar, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore I have remained true to you" (Yirmeyah 31:2). THE END OF THE ARTICLE IS MISSING.
144. פָּתַח וְאָמַר, מַיִם קָרִים עַל נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה, דָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא. דְּכָל מַאן דְּזָכֵי לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּמְרַוֵי נַפְשָׁא מִנָּהּ, מַה כְּתִיב וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַכְרִיז עָלֵיהּ כַּמָה טָבָאן לְאוֹטָבָא לֵיהּ בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. הה"ד, וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה, מַאן אֲתַר מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק, מֵאֲתַר דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה רָחִיק מִנֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, מֵאֲתַר דַּהֲוָה ב"נ בִּדְבָבוּ עִמֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דִּכְתִּיב וְאֶרֶץ מִתְקוֹמָמָה לוֹ, מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר מַקְדִּימִין לֵיהּ שְׁלָם, הה"ד, מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק. וּכְתִיב מֵרָחוֹק יְיָ' נִרְאָה לִי וְאָהַבְתָּ עוֹלָם אַהֲבְתִּיךְ עַל כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד.
170. He said to him: Elazar, my son, be careful not to write the Holy Name improperly from now on. For of him who does not know to write the Holy Name properly and to tie the bond of Faith, the bond of one and one, OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, ACCORDING TO THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "HASHEM SHALL BE ONE, AND HIS NAME ONE" (ZECHARYAH 14:9), so as to unify the Holy Name, it is written, "Because he has despised the word of Hashem, and has broken His commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off" (Bemidbar 15:31). This is even if he causes a degradation of one level or one unity from just one letter among them.
170. א"ל, אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, אִזְדְּהַר דְּלָא לְמִכְתַּב שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, אֶלָּא כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. דְּכָל מַאן דְּלָא יָדַע לְמִכְתַּב שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת, וּלְקַשְּׁרָא קִשְׁרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא קִשְׁרָא דְּחַד בְּחַד, בְּגִין לְיַחֲדָא שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. עָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, כִּי דְּבַר יְיָ' בָּזָה וְאֶת מִצְוָתוֹ הֵפַר הַכָּרַת תִּכָּרֵת וְגוֹ.' אֲפִילּוּ דְּגָרַע חַד דַּרְגָּא, אוֹ חַד קִשְׁרָא, מֵאָת חַד מִנַּיְיהוּ.
202. "And this shall be a statute forever to you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls..." (Vayikra 16:29). Rabbi Chiya said, "With my soul have I desired You in the night; with my spirit within me I seek You..." (Yeshayah 26:9). HE QUESTIONS, "With my soul have I desired You in the night:" It should simply read: 'My soul at night.' What does it mean, "With my soul have I desired You in the night?" ALSO, "with my spirit within me I seek You" should have said: 'It seeks You.' HE ANSWERS: We have learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, is the spirit and soul of all, so Yisrael are saying, "You are my soul and spirit." For this reason, I have desired You, to cling to You. "I seek You" to find Your goodwill.
202. וְהָיְתָה לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם בַּחֺדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֺדֶשׁ תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם וְגוֹ.' רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַיְלָה אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ וְגוֹ.' נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה. נַפְשִׁי בַּלַּיְלָה מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ. אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ, יְשַׁחֲרֶךָ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא הָכִי תָּאנָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רוּחָא וְנַפְשָׁא דְּכֺלָּא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אַמְרֵי נַפְשִׁי וְרוּחִי אַנְּתְּ. בְּגִין כַּךְ אִוִּיתִיךָ לְאַדְבְּקָא בָּךְ, וַאֲשַׁחֲרֶךָ לְאַשְׁכְּחָא רְעוּתָךְ.
203. Rabbi Yosi said: At the time one sleeps in his bed, his soul departs, ascends and testifies about him concerning that person's activities of that entire day. THEREFORE, the body says to the soul, "My soul, have I desired you in the night," WHEN YOU GO OUT OF ME, "my spirit within me, I seek you."
203. ר' יוֹסֵי אָמַר, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּב"נ נָאִים בְּעַרְסֵיהּ. נָפְקָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ, סַלְקָא וְאַסְהִידַת בֵּיהּ בב"נ, עַל כָּל מַה דַּעֲבַד בְּכָל יוֹמָא. גּוּפָא אָמַר לְנַפְשָׁא, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה, אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ.
204. Another explanation for, "With my soul have I desired You in the night..." The Congregation of Yisrael said before the Holy One, blessed be He, "With my soul have I desired You in the night," MEANING so long as I find myself in exile among other nations and withhold my soul from all evil that is connected with the nations. "With my soul have I desired You" in order to return to my place. "With my spirit within me I seek You," meaning even though they subject my children to every kind of oppression, the Holy Spirit does not depart from them in order that they should seek You and perform Your commandments.
204. ד"א נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ, אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה, בְּעוֹד דַּאֲנָא בְּגָלוּתָא בֵּינֵי עֲמַמְיָא, וּמְנִיעָא נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל בִּישָׁתָא דְּקוּטְרָא בְּנֵי עֲמַמְיָא, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ, בְּגִין לְאָתָבָא לְאַתְרִי. אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ, כְּלוֹמַר, אע"ג דְּאִינּוּן מְשַׁעְבְּדִין לְבָנַי, בְּכָל שִׁעְבּוּדָא, רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא לָא אִתְעָדֵי מִנַּאי, בְּגִין לְמִשְׁחַר לָךְ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדֶיךָ.
205. Rabbi Yitzchak said: Yisrael said before the Holy One, blessed be He, so long as my soul is within me "have I desired You in the night." Wherefore "in the night?" It is because the Nefesh at that time needs to covet You. "With my spirit within me I seek You," MEANING when the Holy Spirit stirs within me, I seek You with excitement in order to do Your will. "For when Your sentences are on the earth," MEANS at the time when justice, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN, comes down to earth, MEANING to bring fragrance to the world, TO MALCHUT. Then "the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Ibid.), which means that they are capable of tolerating the Judgments of righteousness and mankind should not perish as a result of it. When will "the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness?" "When Your sentences are on the earth." Rabbi Chizkiyah said, "With my soul (Nefesh) have I desired You in the night" refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY MALCHUT, while "with my spirit (Ruach) within me I seek You" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He. MALCHUT IS THE SECRET OF NEFESH AND THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, IS THE SECRET OF RUACH.
205. ר' יִצְחָק אָמַר, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּעוֹד דְּנַפְשִׁי בִּי, אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה. מַאי טַעֲמָא בַּלַּיְלָה, אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּהַאי נֶפֶשׁ בְּהַאי שַׁעֲתָא, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְחַמְדָּא לָךְ. אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ, כַּד אִתְּעַר בִּי רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא, אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ בְּאִתְעָרוּתָא לְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתָךְ. כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לָאָרֶץ בְּזִמְנָא דְּמִשְׁפָּט נָחִית בְּאַרְעָא, לְבַסְמָא עָלְמָא, כְּדֵין צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יוֹשְבֵי תֵבֵל. כְּלוֹמַר יַכְלִין לְמִסְבַּל דִּינָא דְּצֶדֶק, וְלָא יִשְׁתְּצֵי עָלְמָא מִנֵּיהּ. אֵימָתַי צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יוֹשְבֵי תֵבֵל, כַּאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לָאָרֶץ רַבֵּי חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ, דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.
206. Rabbi Aba was staying with Rabbi Shimon. Rabbi Shimon rose at midnight to study Torah, and Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Aba rose with him. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion saying, "As the hart pants after the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, Elohim" (Tehilim 42:2). The friends have established this verse. Fortunate are Yisrael more than all nations that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave them the Holy Torah and bequeathed to them saintly souls from a holy source in order that they should observe His commandments and take pleasure with the Torah. All those who take pleasure in the Torah need not fear anything, as it is written, "Unless Your Torah had been my delights, I should have perished in my affliction" (Tehilim 119:92).
206. רִבִּי אַבָּא הֲוָה יָתִיב קָמֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, קָם ר' שִׁמְעוֹן בְּפַלְגּוּ לֵילְיָא, לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. קָמוּ ר' אֶלְעָזָר וְרִבִּי אַבָּא עִמֵּיהּ. פָּתַח ר' שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר, כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרוֹג עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם כֵּן נַפְשִׁי תַעֲרוֹג אֵלֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים. הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל עַמִּין, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהַב לוֹן אוֹרַיְיתָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאוֹרִית לוֹן נִשְׁמָתִין קַדִּישִׁין מֵאֲתַר קַדִּישָׁא, בְּגִין לְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדוֹי, וּלְאִשְׁתַּעֲשְׁעָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּעֲשָׁע בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא דָּחִיל מִכֺּלָּא. דִּכְתִּיב לוּלֵי תּוֹרָתְךָ שַׁעֲשׁוּעָי אָז אָבַדְתִּי בְעָנְיִי.
207. What are my delights? The Torah as the Torah is called delights, as it is written, "And I was daily His delight" (Mishlei 8:30). We have learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to delight Himself with the righteous in the Garden of Eden. What is meant by 'delight Himself?' IT MEANS to rejoice in them. As we learned, fortunate are the righteous about whom it is written, "Then you shall delight yourself in Hashem" (Yeshayah 58:14), so as to take pleasure from the drink of the stream, MEANING BINAH, as it is written, "And satisfy your soul in drought" (Ibid. 11). It is as if the Holy One, blessed be He, delights in them by means of that drink of the stream that the righteous take pleasure in, so He comes to have delight with the righteous. All those that toil in the Torah will merit to find delight in the righteous from that drink of the stream, MEANING BINAH.
207. מַאן אִינּוּן שַׁעֲשׁוּעָי. אוֹרַיְיתָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים אִקְרֵי, דִּכְתִּיב וָאֶהְיֶה שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים יוֹם יוֹם. וְדָא הוּא דְּתָנֵינָן, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָּיא בְּגִנְתָא דְּעֵדֶן. מַאי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא. בְּגִין לְמֶחְדֵּי בְּהוּ. דְּתָנֵינָן, זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּא, דִּכְתִיב בְּהוּ, אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יְיָ,' בְּגִין לְאִתְעַנְּגָא מֵהַהוּא שַׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלָא, כד"א וְהִשְׁבִּיעַ בְּצַחְצָחוֹת נַפְשֶׁךָ. כִּבְיָכוֹל, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִשְׁתַּעֲשָׁע בְּהוּ, מֵהַהוּא שַׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלָא דְּמִתְעַנְּגֵי, בְּהוּ צַדִּיקַיָּיא. וְעַל דָּא אָתֵי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָּיא. וְכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּדַל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, זָכֵי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָּיא, מֵהַהוּא שַׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלָא.
208. We have learned that "as the hart (Heb. ayal) pants after the water brooks" refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY MALCHUT, as the verse says, "O my strength (Heb. eyal), haste You to help me" (Tehilim 22:20). "MY STRENGTH" REFERS TO MALCHUT. "Pants after the water brooks," MEANING to be watered by the water of the spring, REFERRING TO BINAH, through the aid of the Righteous, NAMELY YESOD. "Pants (Heb. ta'arog)" as the verse says, "To the beds (Heb. arugot) of spices" (Shir Hashirim 6:2). "So my soul pants for You, Elohim," MEANING to be watered from You in this world and the World to Come.
208. תָּאנָא, כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרוֹג עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. כד"א, אֱיָלוּתִי לְעֶזְרָתִי חוּשָׁה. תַּעֲרוֹג עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם, וַדַאי לְאִשְׁתַּקְּיָא מִשַּׁקְיוּ דְּמַבּוּעֵי דְּנַחֲלָא, ע"י דְּצַדִיק. תַּעֲרוֹג: כד"א, לַעֲרוּגֺת הַבֺּושֶׂם, כֵּן נַפְשִׁי תַעֲרוֹג אֵלֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים. לְאִשְׁתַּקְּיָיא מִנָךְ, בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.
211. Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd). The Faithful Shepherd, NAMELY THE SOUL OF MOSES, said, at that time, BEFORE THE COMING OF MESSIAH, the Mishnah scholars, sages of supernal wisdom, scholars of Kabbalah, scholars of the secrets in the Torah, will have a time of hardship, AS THEY HAVE NOTHING TO SUPPORT THEM. This is the meaning of, "As the hart (Heb. ayal) pants after the water brooks" (Tehilim 42:2) as they, NAMELY THE SAGES MENTIONED EARLIER, are springs of water of Torah flowing to the Shechinah, AS TORAH IS REFERRED TO AS WATER. Torah is the central pillar, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. These springs of water, NAMELY THE SAGES MENTIONED EARLIER FROM WHICH COMES FORTH TORAH MEANING WATER, are in distress, in sadness and in poverty. These are the pains and distresses of the one who has given birth, namely the Shechinah, as it is written in regard to Her, "And let her who bore you rejoice" (Mishlei 23:25). She will be in those labor pains, MEANING with their distress OF THE SCHOLARS OF WISDOM AND TORAH, AS MENTIONED, AS THEIR AGONY IS CONSIDERED AS THE LABOR PAINS OF THE SHECHINAH.
211. (רעיא מהימנא) אָמַר רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, אִלֵּין מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין מָארֵי חָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה, מָארֵי קַבָּלָה, מָארֵי רָזֵי תּוֹרָה, שַׁעֲתָא דְּחִיקַת לוֹן. וְהַאי אִיהוּ דְּאָמַר כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרוֹג עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם, דְּאִינּוּן אֲפִיקֵי מַיִם דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לְגַבֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא. וְלֵית תּוֹרָה, אֶלָּא עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא. דִּיהוֹן אִלֵּין אֲפִיקֵי מַיִם, בְּצַעֲרָא בִּיגוֹנָא בְּעַנְיוּתָא, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן חֲבָלִים צִירִין דְּיוֹלֵדָה, דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ, וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ. וּבְאִינּוּן חֲבָלִים, תְּהֵא בְּצַעֲרָא דִּלְהוֹן.
215. Rabbi Aba said to him, "With my soul (Nefesh) have I desired You in the night; with my spirit (Ruach) within me I seek You..." (Yeshayah 26:9). HE QUESTIONS: It should simply state "my Nefesh in the night," MEANING IT SHOULD SAY, 'MY SOUL IN THE NIGHT; WITH MY SPIRIT WITHIN ME I SEEK YOU.' Why write also "I seek You," when it should say, 'it seeks You,' AS IT REFERS TO HIS SPIRIT. He answered: We have established? that it resembles "in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath (lit. 'Ruach') of all mankind" (Iyov 12:10), MEANING THAT MY NEFESH AND MY RUACH ARE NOT HIS OWN NAMES, BUT ARE TWO LIGHTS - RUACH AND NEFESH - CLAD IN A BODY, AS EXPLAINED FURTHER.
215. אָ"ל ר' אַבָּא, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ, נַפְשִׁי בַּלַּיְלָה מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ, יְשַׁחֲרֶךָ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אָ"ל הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, כד"א אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי וְרוּחַ כָּל בְּשַׂר אִישׁ.
216. Come and see that the Nefesh and Ruach always exist jointly in the world. We have learned the total service that man must serve the Holy One, blessed be He, is as we have learned, "And you shall love Hashem, your Elohim..." (Devarim 6:5). He needs to love the Holy One, blessed be He, with his very soul. This is referred to as an utter love, the love of his Nefesh and Ruach. Just as these NEFESH AND RUACH cling to the body and the body loves them, so must man love the Holy One, blessed be He, and cling to Him, as the love of the Nefesh and Ruach. This is in essence the verse, "With my soul have I desired You in the night," MEANING my very soul THAT IS CLAD IN MY BODY.[YB1]
216. ת"ח נַפְשָׁא וְרוּחָא אִשְׁתַּתְּפֵי כַּחֲדָא לְעָלְמִין. תָּנָא פּוּלְחָנָא שְׁלֵימָתָא דְּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמִפְלַח לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כְּמָה דְּתַנִּינָן וְאָהַבְתָּ אֶת יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְגוֹ.' דְּיַרְחִים לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רְחִימוּתָא דְּנֶפֶשׁ מַמָּשׁ, וְדָא הוּא רְחִימוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא, רְחִימוּתָא דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ וְרוּחֵיהּ. כְּמָה דְּאִתְדְּבָּקוּ אִלֵּין בְּגוּפָא, וְגוּפָא רָחִים לוֹן. כַּךְ יִתְדָּבָק ב"נ לְרַחֲמָא לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, רְחִימוּתָא דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ וְרוּחֵיהּ, לְאַדְבְּקָא בֵּיהּ. הה"ד נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה נַפְשִׁי מַמָּשׁ.
218. We have learned that the pious one, whose Ruach and Nefesh cling to the above, to the Holy King, with the proper love, will rule upon the earth below and what he decrees for the world will come to pass. How do we know this? From Elijah, as it is written, "As Hashem the Elohim of Yisrael lives, before whom I stood, there shall not be dew or rain these years, but acording to my word" (I Melachim 17:1).
218. תָּאנָא, הַהוּא זַכָּאָה דְּאִתְדַּבָק בְּרוּחֵיהּ וְנַפְשֵׁיהּ לְעֵילָּא, בְּמַלְכָּא קַדִישָׁא, בִּרְחִימוּתָא כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. שַׁלִּיט בְּאַרְעָא דִּלְתַתָּא, וְכָל מַה דְּגָזַר עַל עָלְמָא אִתְקַיָּים. מנ"ל, מֵאֵלִיָּהוּ. דִּכְתִּיב חַי יְיָ' אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו אִם יִהְיֶה הַשָּׁנִים הָאֵלֶּה טַל וּמָטָר כִּי אִם לְפִי דְּבָרִי.
219. Come and see: When the holy souls come from above downwards and the pious of the world draw them from the King and the Queen, NAMELY FROM THE UNION OF MALE AND FEMALE, there are few THAT MERIT it, that at the exact moment when they descend TO EARTH, they are standing AND SERVING before the King, who pleases to look at it. AFTERWARDS, IT DESCENDS INTO THE WORLD. When the Holy One, blessed be He, blew the breath INTO EVERY SINGLE SOUL AND into every angel in Heaven, all the hosts were created and stood complete, as we have established. This is what the verse says, "And all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth" (Tehilim 33:6). Among THE SOULS, there are those that remain STANDING BEFORE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, AS MENTIONED, until the Holy One, blessed be He, causes them to descend.
219. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאַתְיָין נִשְׁמָתִין קַדִישִׁין מֵעֵילָּא לְתַתָּא, וְאִינּוּן זַכָּאֵי עָלְמָא, מְשַׁלְּפֵי לְהוּ מִמַּלְכָּא וּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא, זְעִירִין אִינּוּן, דִּבְהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא דְּנָחִית, קַיְּימָא קָמֵי מַלְכָּא, וּרְעוּתָא דְּמַלְכָּא לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בָּהּ, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנָשַׁב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רוּחָא בְּכָל חֵילָא וְחֵילָא דִּשְׁמַיָּא, כֻּלְּהוּ חַיָּילִין אִתְעָבִידוּ, וְקַיְימֵי בְּקִיּוּמַיְיהוּ, הה"ד וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם. וּמִנַּיְיהוּ אִתְעַכְּבוּ עַד דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָחִית לְהוּ לְתַתָּא.
220. We have learned that from the day the world was created, THE SOULS OF THE GREAT PIOUS ONES have stood before the Holy One, blessed be He, held back IN HIS PRESENCE. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WATCHES THEM until the time arrives to send them below, MEANING TO BECOME CLOTHED WITH A BODY, and they rule above and below. Thus the verse, "As Hashem the Elohim of Yisrael lives, before whom I stood." It doesn't say, 'I stand,' but "I stood," MEANING BEFORE DESCENDING TO THIS WORLD. Afterwards, he returned to his place IN HEAVEN and entered his chamber. Other SOULS do not ASCEND TO THEIR PLACE until they die. This is because they never stood earlier BEFORE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, ON THAT LEVEL of the others, NAMELY ENOCH AND ELIJAH THAT MERITED TO ASCEND TO THEIR PLACE WHEN STILL ALIVE. For this reason, Elijah became a messenger and angel above, AND ENOCH TOO. And these were those that clung most to the King, MEANING MORE THAN AN ANGEL.
220. וְתָאנָא, מִיּוֹמָא דְּאִתְבְּרֵי עָלְמָא, קַיְימֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאִתְעַכָּבוּ עַד דְּמָטָא זִמְנָא לְאַחֲתָא לוֹן בְּאַרְעָא, וְאִלֵּין שְׁלִיטוּ לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, הה"ד חַי יְיָ' אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עוֹמֵד לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי. לְבָתַר אַהְדָר לְאַתְרֵיהּ, וְסָלִיק לְאִדָּרֵיהּ, וְאִינּוּן אָחֳרָנִין לָא סַלְּקִין עַד דִּימוּתוּן. בְּגִין דְּלָא קַיְימוּ קוֹדֶם לָכֵן כְּאִינּוּן אָחֳרָנִין. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אֵלִיָּהוּ אִתְעָבֵיד שְׁלִיחָא, מַלְאָכָא לְעֵילָּא, וְאִלֵּין דְּמִתְדַּבְּקָן יַתִיר לְמַלְכָּא.
221. I found in the book of Adam that all Holy Spirits above, MEANING ANGELS, do the mission OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, and all come from one place. The souls of the righteous COME from two levels joined into one. Therefore, they ascend higher THAN ANGELS and their levels are greater THAN ANGELS. This is so. All those that were hidden there went down and up during their lifetime, such as Enoch, who did not die. We have already established this matter regarding Enoch and Elijah.
221. אַשְׁכַּחְנָא בְּסִפְרָא דְּאָדָם קַדְמָאָה דְּכָל רוּחִין קַדִישִׁין דִּלְעֵילָּא, עָבְדִין שְׁלִיחוּתָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אַתְיָין מֵאֲתַר חַד. דְּנִשְׁמָתְהוֹן דְּצַדִיקַיָּיא מִתְּרֵי דַּרְגִּין דִּכְלִילָן בְּחַד, וּבְגִין כַּךְ סַלְּקִין יַתִיר, וְדַרְגֵּיהוֹן יַתִיר, וְהָכִי הוּא. וְכָל אִינּוּן דַּהֲווֹ טְמִירִין תַּמָּן, נַחְתּוּ וּסְלִיקוּ בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן, כְּגוֹן חֲנוֹךְ דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ מִיתָה. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלָּה דָּא, בַּחֲנוֹךְ וְאֵלִיָּהוּ.
222. We have learned that 125,000 levels of the pious souls arose in the desire OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, before the world was created. The Holy One, blessed be He, designated them for this world in every generation. They ascend, fly in the world, and join in the bundle of life, MEANING MALCHUT. In the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will renew the world with them. About them, it is written, "For as the new heavens and the new Earth..." (Yeshayah 66:22).
222. וְתָאנָא מְאָה וְעֶשְׂרִין וַחֲמֵשׁ אֲלַף דַּרְגִּין לְנִשְׁמָתְהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, סְלִיקוּ בִּרְעוּתָא, עַד לָא אִתְבְּרֵי עָלְמָא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְזַמְּנָא לְהוּ בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין, בְּכָל דָּרָא וְדָרָא, וְסַלְּקִין וְטָאסִין עָלְמָא, וּמִתְקַשְּׁרֵי בִּצְרוֹרָא דְּחַיֵּי, וְזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְחַדְּתָּא עָלְמָא בְּהוּ, עָלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר הַשָּׁמַיִם הַחֲדָשִׁים וְהָאָרֶץ הַחֲדָשָׁה וְגוֹ.'
223. "You shall afflict your souls..." (Vayikra 16:29). It says "your souls" in order that Yisrael be found meritorious before the Holy King, and meet with the goodwill of the Holy One, blessed be He. They must cling to Him in order that all their sins may be forgiven. Therefore, whoever eats and drinks on the ninth day and pleasures his soul with food and drink will find himself with the affliction on the tenth day doubled, and it will be considered as if he fasted on the ninth and tenth. "Your souls" includes all, body and soul, to surrender on this day in order to have atonement for sins.
223. תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם, נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם קָאָמַר, בְּגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִשְׁתַּכְחִין קָמֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִישָׁא זַכָּאִין, וִיהֵא רְעוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְאִתְדַּבְקָא בֵּיהּ, בְּגִין דְּיִתְכַּפֵּר לְהוּ חוֹבַיְיהוּ. וְעַל דָּא, מַאן דְּאָכַל וְשָׁתֵי בִּתְשִׁיעָאָה, וּמְעַנְּגָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ בְּמֵיכְלָא וּמִשְׁתְּיָיא, אִשְׁתְּכַח בַּעֲשִׂירָאָה עִנּוּיָא דְּנַפְשָׁא בִּתְרֵין חוּלָקִין, וְאִשְׁתְּכַח כְּאִלּוּ אִתְעַנֵּי תְּשִׁיעָאָה וַעֲשִׂירָאָה. אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם: לְאַכְלְלָא כֺּלָּא, גּוּפָא וְנַפְשָׁא, וּלְאִתְכַּנְּעָא בְּהַאי יוֹמָא, לְאִתְכַּפְּרָא עַל חוֹבֵיהוֹן.
225. Another explanation for, "You shall afflict your souls" (Vayikra 16:29): Rabbi Aba opened the discussion saying, "There was a little city, and few men within it" (Kohelet 9:14). "A little city" has been explained. Yet the little city is as in, "We have a strong city; He sets up salvation..." (Yeshayah 26:1) and, "And I will not come as an enemy (also: 'in a city')" (Hoshea 11:9), WHERE CITY REFERS TO MALCHUT. "A little city" is small, because it is the last of all SFIROT and the lowest of them all. Its walls are large, strong and holy, and it is called a holy city. "And few men within it:" Few are those who merit to enter within and dwell there, as the verse says, "Who shall ascend into the mountain of Hashem? or who shall stand in His holy place?..." (Tehilim 24:3). Therefore, "and few men within it."
225. ד"א תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם. ר' אַבָּא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, עִיר קְטַנָּה וַאֲנָשִׁים בָּהּ מְעָט וְגוֹ,' עִיר קְטַנָּה, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ. אֲבָל עִיר קְטַנָּה, כד"א, עִיר עָז לָנוּ יְשׁוּעָה יָשִׁית וְגוֹ.' וּכְתִּיב וְלֹא אָבֺא בְּעִיר. עִיר קְטַנָּה, זְעֵירָא הִיא, דְּהִיא בַּתְרָאָה מִכֺּלָּא, תַּתָּאָה מִכֺלָּא, שׁוּרוֹי רַבְרְבִין, תַּקִּיפִין, קַדִּישִׁין, עִיר הַקֺּדֶשׁ אִקְרֵי. וַאֲנָשִׁים בָּהּ מְעָט, זְעִירִין אִינּוּן דְּזַכָּאן לְסַלְּקָא לְגַוָּוהּ, וּלְמִשְׁרֵי בָּהּ, כד"א מִי יַעֲלֶה בְהַר יְיָ' וּמִי יָקוּם בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ וְגוֹ.' וְעַ"ד אֲנָשִׁים בָּהּ מְעָט.
236. "In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month" (Vayikra 16:29). Tenth is exact as we have learned THAT TENTH DENOTES MALCHUT. "You shall afflict your souls" (Ibid.): This is exact. We have learned "your souls (Nefashot)" indeed, as it all depends upon Nefesh, AS THE LIGHT OF MALCHUT IS CALLED NEFESH AND NEFESH ALWAYS DENOTES MALCHUT. For this reason, one should eat and drink from the ninth of the month, DENOTING YESOD, more than any other day. Even though we learned this in another manner, it is all very well. They amount to the same thing and each thing is in its own place. This is how it should be.
236. בַּחֺדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֺדֶשׁ. בֶּעָשׂוֹר דַּיְיקָא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא. תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם, וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא, וְהָא אִתְּמַר נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם וַדַּאי. דְּהָא בְּנַפְשָׁא תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא, וּבְגִין כַּךְ, אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה מִתְּשִׁיעָאָה, יַתִיר מִיּוֹמָא אָחֳרָא. ואע"ג דְּהַאי מִלָּה אִתְּמַר בְּגַוְונָא אָחֳרָא, וְכֺלָּא שַׁפִּיר, וְהַאי וְהַאי מִלָּה חֲדָא, וְכָל חַד בְּאַתְרֵיהּ, וְהָכִי הוּא.
237. We have learned that on that day, all joy and every light and every indulgence in the worlds, NAMELY FORGIVENESS OF SINS, all depend on supernal Ima. All springs are drawn and flow from it, MEANING BOTH THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH AND THE ILLUMINATION OF CHASSADIM. Then all these candles glow, BEING THE SECRET OF THE LIGHTS OF THE FIRE WITHIN MALCHUT, and they glow with light and joy until everything becomes fragrant. At that point, all Judgments are within the glow, AS THOSE JUDGMENTS DRAWN FROM THE FIVE AFFLICTIONS CAUSE CHOCHMAH TO SHINE FORTH. IF NOT FOR THEM, THE CHOCHMAH WOULD NOT BECOME REVEALED AS MENTIONED. The Judgment is not being carried out, BUT IS MERELY IMPENDING. This is the meaning of, "You shall afflict your souls," TO ENABLE THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH.
237. וְתָאנָא, בְּהַאי יוֹמָא, כָּל חֵידוּ, וְכָל נְהִירוּ, וְכָל וַתְּרָנוּתָא דְּעָלְמִין, כֻּלְּהוּ תַּלְיָין בְּאִימָּא עִלָּאָה, דְּכָל מַבּוּעִין נַגְדִּין וְנָפְקִין מִנָּהּ. וּכְדֵין נְהִירִין כָּל אִינּוּן בּוּצִינִין, וְנַהֲרִין בִנְהִירוּ בְּחֶדְוָותָא, עַד דְּמִתְבְּסַם כֺּלָּא. וּכְדֵין כָּל אִינּוּן דִּינִין אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בִּנְהִירוּ, וְדִינָא לָא אִתְעָבֵיד, וְעַל דָּא תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם.
239. We have learned that it is written, "Also (lit. 'but') on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement...and you shall afflict your souls" (Vayikra 23:27). It is also written, "And this shall be a statute forever to you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls" (Vayikra 16:29). IN THE LATTER IT DOES NOT SAY, "BUT ON THE TENTH." What is meant by "but ON THE TENTH" that is written in this verse? He replied to him: It comes to exclude, FOR WHEREVER THE WORD "BUT (HEB. ACH)" IS WRITTEN, ITS PURPOSE IS TO EXCLUDE. Since it is written, "And you shall afflict your souls: on the ninth day of the month" (Vayikra 23:32), so it says later "but on the tenth day." It should merely say, 'but tenth day,' ONLY IT TEACHES US that with the tenth rests the whole matter OF "YOU SHALL AFFLICT YOUR SOULS," YET NOT ON THE NINTH DAY OF THE MONTH.
239. תָּאנָא, כְּתִיב אַךְ בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֺדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַזֶּה יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הוּא וְגוֹ' וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם. וּכְתִיב וְהָיְתָה לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם בַּחֺדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְגוֹ.' אַךְ דִּכְתִּיב מַאי קָא בָּעֵי הָכָא. אָ"ל, לְמִעוּטָא קָא אַתְיָא. דְּכֵיוָן דְּאָמַר וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם בְּתִשְׁעָה לַחֺדֶשׁ, אָמַר לְבָתַר אַךְ בֶּעָשׂוֹר. אַךְ עָשׂוֹר מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, דְּבֶעָשׂוֹר תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא.
240. He said to him: If so, "but on the first day you shall have put away leaven out of your houses" (Shemot 12:15). We have learned "but" sets a dividing line, meaning for a half day the eating of leaven is prohibited and for a half day it is permitted. It is also written here, "But on the tenth day of the month," meaning a half time forbidden to eat and a half time permitted. So He said to him here also, "And you shall afflict your souls." There is a separation, in that affliction takes place from midday onward, MEANING AFTER THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EATING. Thus "but" divides. This applies to "and you shall afflict your souls" as well.
240. אָ"ל אִי הָכִי, אַךְ בַּיוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאוֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם, וְתָנֵינָן אַךְ חִלֵּק, חֶצְיוֹ אָסוּר בַּאֲכִילַת חָמֵץ, וְחֶצְיוֹ מוּתָּר. אוּף הָכָא אַךְ בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֺדֶשׁ, אֵימָא דְּחֶצְיוֹ אָסוּר בַּאֲכִילָה, וְחֶצְיוֹ מוּתָּר. אָ"ל אוּף הָכָא בִּוְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם תַּלְיָא, דְּהָא עִנּוּי לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח אֶלָּא מִפַּלְגּוּת יוֹמָא וּלְהָלְאָה, וְשַׁפִּיר הוּא אַךְ חִלֵּק בִּוְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם.
252. Rabbi Chiya said the last of these lower unholy Sfirot is that which is mentioned in the verse, "Or one who inquires of the dead" (Devarim 18:11). This is the tenth of all THE SFIROT, NAMELY MALCHUT OF OTHER SIDE. THERE ARE TEN TYPES OF SORCERY IN THE VERSE CORRESPONDING TO THE TEN SFIROT OF THE OTHER SIDE. According to what we have learned, Rabbi Yitzchak said: The souls of evildoers THAT DIED are the demons of the world, AND ABOUT THEM, THE VERSE DESCRIBES "WHO INQUIRES OF THE DEAD."
252. אָמַר ר' חִיָּיא, בַּתְרַיְיתָא דְּאִינּוּן כִּתְרִין תַּתָּאִין דְּלָא קַדִּישִׁין, הַאי הוּא הה"ד וְדוֹרֵשׁ אֶל הַמֵּתִים, וְדָּא הוּא עֲשִׁירָאָה דְּכֺלָּא. דְּתַנְיָא א"ר יִצְחָק אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, נַפְשָׁתָא דְּרַשִׁיעַיָּיא אִלֵּין אִינּוּן מַזִּיקִין דְּעָלְמָא.
253. Rabbi Yosi said: If so, it is pleasing to the wicked to become harming forces in the world. Where is the punishment of Gehenom and where is the bad that awaits them in that world? Rabbi Chiya replied: We have learned and established that many prosecutors are ready to receive the souls of the wicked at the time they depart the world and deliver them to Gehenom. They receive three punishments daily in Gehenom. Later, DEMONS join them and the souls go, hover over the world and mislead the wicked people against whom repentance has been closed. Then they are returned to Gehenom to be punished there - and this continues daily.
253. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, אִי הָכִי טַב לְהוּ לְחַיָּיבַיָּא דְּאִתְעַבְּדִין מַזִּיקִין בְּעָלְמָא, אָן הוּא עוֹנְשָׁא דְּגֵיהִנָּם. אָן הוּא בִּישָׁא דִּזְמִינָא לְהוֹן בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא. אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, הָכִי תָּנֵינָן, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי, נַפְשָׁתָא דְּרַשִׁיעַיָּיא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנָפְקִין מֵעָלְמָא, כַּמָה גַּרְדִּינֵי נִמוּסִין מִזְדַּמְּנֵי לְקַבְּלָא לְהוּ, וּלְאַעְלָאָה לְהוּ לְגֵּיהִנָם, וְעַאָלִין לְהוּ בִּתְלַת דִּינִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא, בַּגֵיהִנָּם. לְבָתַר מִזְדַּוְּוגֵי בְּהוּ, וְאַזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין בְּעָלְמָא, וּמַטְעָן לְהוּ לְרַשִׁיעַיָּיא, לְאִינּוּן דְּקָא אַסְתִּים תְּשׁוּבָה מִקַּמַּיְיהוּ. לְבָתַר תַּיְיבִין לְהוּ לְגֵּיהִנָם, וְאִתְדְּנוּן תַּמָּן, וְכַךְ בְּכָל יוֹמָא.
254. After THE DEMONS go with them through the world, they return them to their graves and they see body worms picking at THEIR flesh. THE SOULS mourn for them, FOR THE BODIES. These sorcerers go to the cemeteries and perform their sorcery, make an image of a human form and slaughter before it a goat. Later, they bring that goat to that grave and that image they shatter to four directions and raise it to the four corners of the grave. Then they perform their sorcery. All these groups assemble with evil kinds and bring this soul, which enters the grave, and speaks with them.
254. לְבָתַר דְּאַזְלִין בְּהוּ, וְשָׁאטִין בְּהוּ בְּעָלְמָא, מְהַדְּרִין לְקִבְרַיְיהוּ, וְחַמָּן תּוֹלַעְתָּא דְּגוּפָא מְנַקְּרֵי בִּשְׂרָא וּמִתְאַבְּלָן עָלַיְיהוּ, וְאִינּוּן חַרְשִׁין הֲווֹ אַזְלֵי לְבֵי קִבְרֵי, וְחַרְשֵׁי בְּחַרְשַׁיְיהוּ, וְעַבְדִין חַד צַלְמָא דְּבַר נָשׁ, וְדַבְחִין קַמֵּיהּ חַד צְפִירָא. לְבָתַר עָאלִין לְהַהוּא צְפִירָא, בְּהַהוּא קִבְרָא, וְהַהוּא צַלְמָא מֲתַּבְּרִין לֵיהּ לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין, וּמַעֲלִין לֵיהּ לְאַרְבַּע זִיוְויָין דְּקִבְרָא. כְּדֵין מְחָרְשֵׁי בְּחַרְשַׁיְיהוּ, וּמִתְכַּנְּפֵי אִינּוּן כִּנּוּפֵי, וְאִינּוּן זִינִין בִּישִׁין, וּמַיְיתִין הַהִיא נַפְשָׁתָא, וְעָאל בְּקִבְרָא וּמִשְׁתָּעֵי בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ.
255. Rabbi Yitzchak said: How fortunate are the pious in this world and the World to Come, as they are all holy. Their bodies are holy and their Nefesh is holy. Their Ruach is holy and their Neshamah is the Holy of Holies. There are three levels - NEFESH, RUACH AND NESHAMAH - just like above, reflecting MALCHUT, TIFERET AND BINAH OF ABOVE. As Rabbi Yehuda has taught, it is written, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures (Heb. 'nefesh')" (Beresheet 1:24), which refers to the soul of Adam. Come and see: These three levels - Nefesh, Ruach and Neshamah - join together, and the superior one is Neshamah.
255. א"ר יִצְחָק, זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין, וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, דְּהָא כֻּלְּהוּ קַדִּישִׁין. גּוּפָא דִּלְהוֹן קַדִּישָׁא. נַפְשָׁא דִּלְהוֹן קַדִּישָׁא. רוּחָא דִּלְהוֹן קַדִּישָׁא. נִשְׁמְתָא דִּלְהוֹן קֺדֶשׁ קֳדָשִׁים. תְּלַת דַּרְגִּין אִינּוּן, כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא. דְּתַנְיָא א"ר יְהוּדָה, כְּתִיב תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, דָּא הִיא נִשְׁמְתָא דְּאָדָם קַדְמָאָה. תָּא חֲזֵי, תְּלַת דַּרְגִּין אִינּוּן, וְאִתְדְּבָקוּ כְּחַד, נֶפֶשׁ, רוּחַ, נְשָׁמָה. וְעִלָּאָה מִנַּיְיהוּ, נְשָׁמָה.
256. As Rabbi Yosi said, every person has a Nefesh, an ANIMALISTIC NEFESH and he has a supernal Nefesh, DENOTING a SPIRITUAL Nefesh. If man merits that soul, he is given a crown called Ruach, as the verse says, "Until a spirit be poured upon us from on high" (Yeshayah 32:15). Then there awakens in man a different supernal awakening to search the ways of the Holy King. When man merits the Ruach, he is crowned with a heavenly, holy, all - inclusive Sfirah called Neshamah, called the Neshamah of Eloha.
256. דא"ר יוֹסֵי, בְּכֻלְּהוּ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אִית נֶפֶשׁ, וְאִית נֶפֶשׁ עִלָּאָה מִנֶּפֶשׁ. זָכָה ב"נ בְּהַאי נֶפֶשׁ, מְרִיקִין עָלֵיהּ עִטְרָא חַד, דְּאִקְרֵי רוּחַ. הה"ד, עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֹם. כְּדֵין אִתְּעַר ב"נ בְּאִתְעָרוּתָא אָחֳרָא עִלָּאָה, לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּנִמוּסֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא. זָכָה בַּר נָשׁ בֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא רוּחָא, מְעַטְּרִין לֵיהּ בְּכִתְרָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה, דְּכָלִיל כֺּלָּא, דְּאִקְרֵי נְשָׁמָה. דְּאִתְקְרֵי נִשְׁמַת אֱלוֹהַּ.
265. Rabbi Chiya said: I wonder if anyone knows how to notify the deceased besides us. Rabbi Aba replied: The pain THAT PEOPLE SUFFER, informs them. The Torah informs them. At the time when no one has knowledge, NAMELY HOW TO ALERT THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS MEN, they bring out a scroll of Torah near the graves and the souls are awakened wondering as to what reason the Torah appears exiled at this place. Then THE ANGEL Dumah informs them.
265. אָמַר ר' חִיָּיא, תַּוַּוהְנָא אִי אִית מַאן דְּיָדַע לְאוֹדָעָא לְהוּ לְמֵתַיָּיא, בַּר אֲנָן. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, צַעֲרָא מוֹדְעָא לְהוּ. אוֹרַיְיתָא מוֹדְעָא לְהוּ. דְּהָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּלֵית מַאן דְּיָדַע בְּהַאי, אַפְקֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא סָמוּךְ לְקִבְרִי, וְאִינּוּן מִתְעָרֵי, עַל אוֹרַיְיתָא עַל מַה אִתְגַּלְיָיא לְהַהוּא אֲתַר, כְּדֵין דּוּמָה אוֹדַע לְהוֹן.
272. Furthermore, when other nations come before their deceased, they come with sorcery to awaken kinds of evil beings. When Yisrael come to their deceased, they come in great repentance before the Holy One, blessed be He, with a broken heart and fasting. All this is done so that the holy souls will ask for mercy for their sake before the Holy One, blessed be He. And the Holy One, blessed be He, shows mercy to the world on their behalf.
272. וְעוֹד, דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין כַּד אָתָאן לִמְתֵיהוֹן, אַתְיָין בְּחַרְשִׁין, לְאִתְּעָרָא עָלַיְיהוּ זִינִין בִּישִׁין. וְכַד יִשְׂרָאֵל אָתָאן לִמְתֵיהוֹן, אַתְיָין בְּכַמָּה תְּשׁוּבָה לְקַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בִּתְבִירוּ דְּלִבָּא, בְּתַעֲנִיתָא לָקֳבְלֵיהּ, וְכֺלָּא בְּגִין דְּנִשְׁמָתִין קַדִּישִׁין יִבְעוּן רַחֲמֵי לְקַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חָיֵיס עַל עָלְמָא בְּגִינֵיהוֹן.
274. We have learned that it is written, "Yet the soul (Nefesh) of my master shall be bound in the bond of life" (I Samuel 25:29). HE QUESTIONS: It says "the Nefesh of my Master," but it should read 'the Neshamah of my master,' BECAUSE NEFESH REMAINS IN THIS WORLD AND ONLY NESHAMAH RISES TO THE BUNDLE OF LIFE. HE ANSWERS: As we said, fortunate is the share of the righteous men that everything is tied one to another - Nefesh with Ruach, Ruach with Neshamah and Neshamah with the Holy One, blessed be He. The result is that Nefesh is tied to the bond of life, AS IT IS CONNECTED TO NESHAMAH, WHICH IS THE BUNDLE OF LIFE.
274. תָּאנָא, כְּתִיב וְהָיְתָה נֶפֶשׁ אֲדוֹנִי צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים, וְהָיְתָה נֶפֶשׁ אֲדוֹנִי, נִשְׁמַת אֲדוֹנִי מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְּאַמָרָן, דְּזַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּכֺלָּא אִתְקְשַׁר דָּא בְּדָא, נֶפֶשׁ בְּרוּחַ וְרוּחַ בִּנְּשָׁמָה, וּנְשָׁמָה בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אִשְׁתְּכַח דְּנֶפֶשׁ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים.
292. About all those who did not merit during their lifetime TO BE IN THE HOLY LAND and are brought there later to be buried, it is written, "And made My heritage an abomination" (Ibid.). His spirit expired under another, strange dominion and his body came under the dominion of the Holy Land, so he made, so to speak, the sacred profane and the profane sacred. Those who deserve that their souls expire in the Holy Land will have their sins forgiven and will merit to be bound under the wings of the Shechinah, as it is written, "And will forgive His land" (Devarim 32:43). Moreover, if he merits during his lifetime TO BE IN THE HOLY LAND, he will merit to have drawn upon him consistently the Holy Spirit. Those who dwell under another dominion, MEANING OUTSIDE THE HOLY LAND, will have drawn upon them a foreign spirit.
292. וְכָל מַאן דְּלָא זָכֵי בְּחַיּיוֹי, וּמַיְיתִין לֵיהּ לְאִתְקַבְּרָא תַּמָּן, עָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, וְנַחֲלָתִי שַׂמְתֶּם לְתוֹעֵבָה. רוּחֵיהּ נָפִיק בִּרְשׁוּתָא נוּכְרָאָה אָחֳרָא, וְגוּפֵיהּ אָתֵי תְּחוֹת רְשׁוּתָא דְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא כִּבְיָכוֹל, עָבֵיד קֺדֶשׁ חוֹל, וְחוֹל קֺדֶשׁ. וְכָל מַאן דְּזָכֵי לְמֵיפַּק נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, אִתְכְּפָּרוּ חוֹבוֹי, וְזָכֵי לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא תְּחוֹת גַּדְפּוֹי דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, דִּכְתִּיב וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא אִי זָכֵי בְּחַיּיוֹי, זָכֵי לְאִתְמַשְּׁכָא עָלֵיהּ רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא תָּדִיר, וְכָל מַאן דְּיָתִיב בִּרְשׁוּתָא אָחֳרָא, אִתְמְשַׁךְ עָלֵיהּ רוּחָא אָחֳרָא נוּכְרָאָה.
293. We have learned that when Rav Hamnuna Saba (the elder) ascended there, THE HOLY LAND, he had with him twelve members of his Yeshiva students. He said to them: If I go this way, it is not for my own sake that I do so but to return the pledge to its owner. We have learned that all those who did not merit this, TO LIVE IN THE HOLY LAND, during their lifetime must return the Master's pledge to another, NAMELY THE SOUL THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM, TO THE OTHER SIDE.
293. תָּאנָא, כַּד סָלִיק רַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא לְהָתָם, הֲווֹ עִמֵּיהּ תְּרֵיסָר בְּנֵי מְתִיבְתָּא דִּילֵיהּ, אָמַר לוֹן, אִי אֲנָא אָזִיל לְאָרְחָא דָּא, לָאו עַל דִּידִי קָא עֲבִידְנָא, אֶלָּא לְאָתָבָא פִּקְדוֹנָא לְמָארֵיהּ. תָּנֵינָן כָּל אִינּוּן דְּלָא זָכוּ לְהַאִי בְּחַיּיוֹי, אָתִיבִין פִּקְדוֹנָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן לְאָחֳרָא.
294. Rabbi Yitzchak said: Because of this, whoever brings into the land any of the evil beings or other domains defiles the land. Woe is to him, woe to his soul, as the Holy Land will not receive him after that. Of him, it is written, "The sinners will be consumed out of the earth" (Tehilim 104:35) in this world and the World to Come. Then, "the wicked will be no more" (Ibid.) during the resurrection of the dead. Then "Bless you Hashem, my soul, Haleluyah" (Ibid.).
294. א"ר יִצְחָק, בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ, כָּל מַאן דְּאַעְבָּר מֵאִינּוּן זִינִין בִּישִׁין, אוֹ רְשׁוּתָא אָחֳרָא בְּאַרְעָא, אַרְעָא אִסְתְּאָבַת, וַוי לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גְּבַר, וַוי לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ, דְּהָא אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא לָא מְקַבְּלָא לֵיהּ לְבָתַר. עָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים מִן הָאָרֶץ, בעה"ז, ובעה"ב, וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם, בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, כְּדֵין בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְיָ' הַלְלוּיָהּ.
316. At that time, the sound that is emitted from those girded with swords, NAMELY THE SIXTY WARRIORS, breaks eighteen large mountains. No one lends his ear, everyone is blind and has a closed heart. There is no one to see that this construction is about to shatter. When unseemly deeds are done and people turn away from the correct way, the right is removed, DENOTING THE ILLUMINATION OF CHASSADIM, and the left rules WITHOUT THE RIGHT. Then there is nakedness. Woe to the wicked who bring it upon the world, as there is no blessing above before these EVILDOERS are vanquished here below. This is what the verse says, "And the wicked will be no more. Bless You Hashem, O my soul, Haleluyah" (Tehilim 104:35).
316. בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, קָלָא דְּנָפִיק מֵאִינּוּן דַּחֲגִירֵי חַרְבָּא, מְבָקַע תִּמְנֵיסָר טוּרִין רַבְרְבִין, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַרְכִּין אוּדְנֵיהּ. כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמָא סְתִימִין עַיְינִין, אֲטִימִין לִבָּא, לֵית מַאן דְּיַשְׁגַּח דְּהָא בִּנְיָינָא לִסְתּוֹר כַּד עַבְדִּין עוֹבָדָן דְּלָא מִתְכַּשְּׁרָן, סָאטִין מֵאָרְחָא דְּתַקְּנָא, יְמִינָא אַעְדֵּי, וּשְׂמָאלָא שַׁלְטָא, כְּדֵין עֶרְיָין אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ. וַוי לְחַיָּיבַיָּא דְּגַרְמִין דָּא בְּעָלְמָא, דְּהָא לָא מִתְבָּרְכִין לְעֵילָּא, עַד דְּיִשְׁתְּצוּן אִינּוּן לְתַתָּא. הה"ד וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְיָ' הַלְלוּיָהּ. (ע"כ..
351. We have learned that the righteous who toils in Torah day and night, the Holy One, blessed be He, draws upon him a thread of grace, which is marked on his face. From that mark, both those on high and those below have fear. Likewise, whoever violates the words of Torah, a spirit of defilement is drawn upon him, which is marked on his face and causes those high and low to flee from before him. They all proclaim: Leave the vicinity of he, who violated the Torah and the commandments of his Master. Woe to him and to his soul, and this person draws the spirit of defilement that is with him and transmits it to his son. In such a man the Holy One, blessed be He has no part, and He spares him in order to destroy him in the World to Come.
351. תָּנֵינָן, הַאי צַדִּיקָא זַכָּאָה דְּאִשְׁתְּדַל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יְמָמָא וְלֵילְיָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָשִׁיךְ עָלֵיהּ חַד חוּטָא דְּחֶסֶד. וְאִתְרְשִׁים לֵיהּ בְּאַנְפּוֹי, וּמֵהַהוּא רְשִׁימָא דַּחֲלֵי עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי. הָכִי נָמֵי מַאן דְּעָבַר עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, מַשְׁכָאן עָלֵיהּ רוּחָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא, וְאִתְרְשִׁים לֵיהּ בְּאַנְפּוֹי, וּמִנֵּיהּ עַרְקִין עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי. וְכֺלָּא מַכְרְזֵי עָלֵיהּ, אִסְתְּלָקוּ מִסָּחֲרָנֵיהּ דִּפְלַנְיָא, דְּעָבַר עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, וְעַל פִּקּוּדֵי דְּמָארֵיהּ, וַוי לֵיהּ, וַוי לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ. הַאי אַשְׁלִיף רוּחָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא, דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח עִמֵּיהּ, וְאוֹרִית לֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ, וְהַאי הוּא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לֵית לֵיהּ בֵּיהּ חוּלָקָא, וְשָׁבִיק לֵיהּ, לְשֵׁיצָאָה לֵיהּ לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.
386. HE SAYS: Vav consists of six letters, MEANING IT IS MADE UP OF SIX LETTERS FROM ALEPH TO VAV THAT PRECEDE IT. The Yud includes them all, AS THE YUD CONTAINS ALL NINE LETTERS THAT PRECEDE IT, AMONG WHICH IS THE VAV AND THE SIX LETTERS INCLUDED THEREIN. THIS IS THE YUD THAT IS ABOVE THE VAV, AS MENTIONED. This Yud is engraved with marks, MEANING WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE NINE LETTERS THAT PRECEDE IT, and ascends TO THE YUD OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, THAT INCLUDES ALL 22 LETTERS to be crowned with the twelve other letters FROM YUD TO TAV. THEN IT IS ALSO PART OF THE 22 LETTERS LIKE THE YUD OF YUD HEI VAV HEI. THEN ten engraved sayings, MEANING TEN SFIROT, come out of it, and all of the paths of the supernal most precious way. Then the other Hei OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, MALCHUT, contains them all, MEANING, IT RECEIVES FROM ALL LIGHTS AS MENTIONED, carved from the part of the concealed peg, YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, to give birth below, MEANING TO BE WORTHY TO BEAR SOULS.
386. ו' כָּלִיל שִׁית אַתְוָון, וְכֻלְּהוּ כָּלִיל יוֹ"ד. יוֹ"ד אִתְגְּלִיף בְּגִלוּפוֹי, וְסָלִיק לְאִתְעַטְּרָא בִּתְרֵיסַר אַתְוָון אָחֳרָנִין, מִנֵּיהּ נַפְקוּ עֲשַׂר אֲמִירָן בְּגִלוּפוֹי, וְכֻלְּהוּ שְׁבִילִין דְּאוֹרְחָא עִלָּאָה, יַקִּירָא דְּכֺלָּא. כְּדֵין הֵ"א אָחֳרָא אִתְכְּלִילַת מִן כֻּלְּהוּ, גְּלִיפָא מִסִּטְרָא מְתִיחָא טְמִירָא, לְאוֹלָדָא לְתַתָּא.
393. "You shall not uncover the nakedness of mother and daughter" (Vayikra 18:17). We have learned that these kinds of incest are among the laws of the Queen, even though they are both revealed and hidden. There are listed "her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter" (Ibid.), for the world needs them to populate the world, as we have learned. One who reveals one nakedness of these, woe to him and woe to his soul, as because of this he will uncover other nakednesses.
393. עֶרְוַת אִשָּׁה, וּבִתָּהּ לֹא תְגַלֵּה. תָּאנָא, בְּתִקּוּנֵי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא אוֹקִימְנָא אִלֵּין עֶרְיָין, אע"ג דְּאִינּוּן בְּאִתְגַּלְיָיא וּבִסְתִּימָא, וְתַמָּן בַּת בְּנָהּ וּבַת בִּתָּהּ. דְּהָא עָלְמָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לוֹן, וְאִינּוּן יִשּׁוּבָא דְּעָלְמָא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא. וּמַאן דְּגַלֵּי חַד עֶרְיָיתָא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וַוי לֵיהּ, וַוי לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ, דְּהָא גַּלֵּי בְּגִין דָּא עֶרְיָין אָחֳרָנִין.
408. Rabbi Shimon said: It is written, "And it shall come to pass, that every new moon, and every Shabbat..." (Yeshayah 66:23). HE QUESTIONS: Why are they compared, MEANING WHY ARE BOTH CONSIDERED TOGETHER IN THE VERSE? HE ANSWERS: All pertain to one level and the one is united with the other. SHABBAT, BEING ZEIR ANPIN, IS UNITED WITH THE NEW MOON, DENOTING MALCHUT. There is no joy of one in the other, WHEN THEY ARE NOT UNITED. Only when Atika Kadisha, KETER, is revealed TO THEM, is there universal joy. We have learned that it is written, "A psalm, a poem for the Shabbat day" (Tehilim 92:1). It is expressly for the Shabbat day, ZEIR ANPIN, THE SECRET OF THE SHABBAT DAY, denoting the praise which the Holy One, blessed be He, recites. Then is found joy and an additional soul, due to the fact that Atika was revealed and the union OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT is occurring.
408. אָמַר ר' שִׁמְעוֹן, כְּתִיב וְהָיָה מִדֵּי חֺדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ וּמִדֵּי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבַּתוֹ, אֲמַאי שָׁקִיל דָּא בְּדָא. אֶלָּא כֺּלָּא בְּחַד דַּרְגָּא סְלִיקוּ, דָּא אִזְדְּוַּוג בְּדָא. וְחֶדְוָותָא דְּדָא בְּדָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח, אֶלָּא כַּד אִתְגְּלֵי עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, וּכְדֵין חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֺלָּא. וְתָנֵינָן, כְּתִיב מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לְיוֹם הַשַׁבָּת מַמָּשׁ. שְׁבָחָא דְּקָא מְשַׁבָּח קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. כְּדֵין חֶדָוָותָא אִשְׁתְּכַח, וְנִשְׁמְתָא אִתּוֹסֶפֶת. דְּהָא עַתִּיקָא אִתְגְּלֵי וְזִוּוּגָא יִזְדָּמַן.