"That He see no unclean thing in you"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon begins speaking about the Shechinah and how she protects Yisrael, especially when they are in exile, from the other nations. Only when they sin is her power to protect them weakened. We learn that the children of Yisrael are detained in exile for three reasons: because they treated the Shechinah with contempt, because they turned their faces away from her, and because they defiled themselves.

Camp Exile Shechinah Shield

339. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּתַח, כִּי יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֶךָ לְהַצִּילְךָ וְגוֹ.' כִּי יְיָ' אֱלֺֹהֶיךָ: דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחַת בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וכ"ש בְּגָלוּתָא, לְאַגָּנָא עָלַיְהוּ תְּדִירָא מִכָּל סִטְרִין, וּמִכָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין, דְּלָא יְשֵׁיצוּן לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.

Repentance Revenge Shechinah Strength

340. We have learned that the foes of Yisrael are not capable of harming them until Yisrael weaken the power of the Shechinah before the appointed ministers of other nations. Only then can the enemies of Yisrael overcome them, rule them and decree many harsh decrees regarding them. When Yisrael return towards Her WITH REPENTANCE, THE SHECHINAH smashes the power and strength of these appointed chiefs, breaks the power and strength of the enemies of Yisrael and takes revenge against them all.

340. דְּתַנְיָא, לָא יַכְלִין שַׁנְאֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְאַבְאָשָׁא לְהוּ, עַד דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מַחֲלִישִׁין חֵילָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא מִקַּמֵּי רַבְרְבֵי מְמָנָן דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין. כְּדֵין יַכְלִין לְהוֹן שַׁנְאֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְשַׁלְטִין עָלַיְיהוּ, וְגַזְרִין עָלַיְיהוּ כַּמָה גְּזֵירִין בִּישִׁין. וְכַד אִינּוּן תַּיְיבִין לָקֳבְלָה, הִיא מְתָבָּרַת חֵילָא וְתּוּקְפָּא דְּכָל אִינּוּן מְמָנָן רַבְרְבִין, וְתַבְרַת חֵילָא וְתּוּקְפָּא דְּשַׂנְאֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִתְפָּרְעָא לְהוּ מִכֺּלָּא.

Boaz Camp Nakedness Sin Torah

341. Therefore, "shall your camp be holy" (Ibid.). One must SEE that he does not become defiled through his sins and through transgressing the words of Torah. If he does so, they defile him, as it is written, "That you should be defiled (Heb. venitmetem) by them" (Vayikra 11:43). The word "Venitmetem" is written without Aleph, POINTING TO AN EXTRA MEASURE OF DEFILEMENT. We have learned that there are 248 limbs in the body and all become defiled when one becomes defiled, meaning as soon as he wants to become defiled, it IMMEDIATELY ACQUIRES DEFILEMENT. "Therefore shall your camp be holy." What is meant by "your camp?" This refers to the limbs of the body. "That He see no unclean (lit. 'nakedness of') thing in you" (Devarim 23:15). What is a "nakedness of thing?" This is an allusion THAT YOU MUST NOT BRING a strange nakedness to come to this thing, FOR IT IS STRANGE TO MALCHUT CALLED 'THING,' as we have established. If YOU DO so, He will surely "turn away from you" (Ibid.). Therefore "your father's wife shall you not uncover" (Vayikra 18:8). What is the reason? It is because it is written, "It is your father's nakedness" (Ibid.), as we have established.

341. וְעַל דָּא וְהָיָה מַחֲנֶיךָ קָדוֹשׁ, דְּבָעֵי ב"נ דְּלָא יִסְתְּאָב בְּחוֹבוֹי, וַיַּעֲבָר עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. דְּאִי עָבֵיד הָכֵי, מְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם, בְּלֹא א.' וְתָאנָא, מָאתָן וּתְמַנְיָא וְאַרְבְּעִין שַׁיְיפִין בְּגוּפָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִסְתַּאֲבָן, כַּד אִיהוּ אִסְתְּאַב. כְּלוֹמַר, כַּד בָּעֵי לְאִסְתַּאֲבָא. וְעַ"ד, וְהָיָה מַחֲנֶיךָ קָדוֹשׁ. מַאי מַחֲנֶיךָ, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן שַׁיְיפֵי גּוּפָא. וְלֹא יִרְאֶה בְךָ עֶרְוַת דָּבָר, מַאי עֶרְוַת דָּבָר. עֶרְיָיתָא נוּכְרָאָה לְהַאי דָּבָר רְמָז, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא. דְּאִי הָכִי, וְשָׁב מֵאַחֲרֶיךָ וַדַּאי. וְעַל דָּא עֶרְוַת אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ לֹא תְגַלֵּה. מ"ט. בְּגִין דִּכְתִּיב עֶרְוַת אָבִיךָ הוּא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא.

Exile Face Jeremiah Shechinah

342. תָּאנָא, עַל ג' מִלִּין מִתְעַכְּבִין יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגָלוּתָא. עַל דְּעַבְדִין קְלָנָא בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא בְּגָלוּתָא. וּמְהַדְּרֵי אַנְפַּיְיהוּ מִן שְׁכִינְתָּא, וְעַל דִּמְסָאֲבֵי גַּרְמַיְיהוּ קָמֵי שְׁכִינְתָּא. וְכֻלְּהוּ אוֹקִימְנָא בְּמַתְנִיתָא דִּילָן.