The braying of the donkey, who sang

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon says that the cows sang with their mooing, and they were not even accustomed to miracles; therefore Rabbi Pinchas' donkey was much more likely to be able to sing. We learn that God created a grade over the mouth of the she-mule, and at the correct time God opened the abyss in which that grade was kept, and the grade emerged to rule over the she-mule; thus the she-mule was able to talk. Similar things are said about the mouth of the earth and the mouth of the well, and we are told that all of them were created on the eve of Shabbat at twilight. When the Shabbat is sanctified, the mouth of Hashem ascends to dominate all the powers. Next we hear how Rabbi Pinchas sends away all the birds who are circling over the rabbis to provide shade; Rabbi Shimon tells the birds that he will call for them again on a hot day. The rabbis sit under three shady trees near a spring.

Angels Balaam Cows Donkeys Earth Face Miracle Singing Wicked Wickedness

304. If those cows which had not been accustomed to miracles were singing only then with their mooing, how much more likely it is that the donkey of the pious old man, RABBI PINCHAS BEN YAIR, who was accustomed to miracles, would sing. Friends, if you say that this is not a custom of a donkey, since it first appeared on the face of the earth, TO CHANT ANY SONG, go take a look at the she-mule of the wicked Bilaam that has defeated her master outright. The donkey of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair can most certainly sing. Furthermore, when the she-mule of Bilaam spoke, there was a supernal angel above her THAT SCARED HER; HOWEVER, NOBODY COULD SCARE THE DONKEY OF RABBI PINCHAS BEN YAIR.

304. דְּאִי אִינּוּן פָּרוֹת דְּלָא אִתְרְגִילוּ בְּנִסִּין, אֶלָּא הַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא בְּגוֹעָא דִּלְהוֹן אָמְרוּ שִׁירָתָא. דָּא נְהִיקוּ דַּחֲמָרָא דְּסָבָא חֲסִידָא דְּרָגִיל בְּנִסִּין, עאכ"ו דְּאָמַר שִׁירָה. חַבְרַיָּיא, אִי תֵּימְרוּן דַּחֲמָרָא לָא הֲוָה אָרְחֵיהּ בְּכַךְ מִיּוֹמָא דְּאִבְרֵי עָלְמָא, פּוּקוּ וְחָמוּ אָתוּן דְּבִלְעָם חַיָּיבָא, דְּנַצְחַת לְרִבּוֹנָהּ בְּכֹלָּא. חֲמָרֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר עאכ"ו. וְתוּ אָתוֹן דְּבִלְעָם כַּד מְלִּילַת, מַלְאָכָא עִלָּאָה הֲוָה עָלָהּ מִלְּעֵילָּא.

Abyss Angels Balaam Creation Female Grades Heart Shabbat

305. Now there is something that needs to be revealed, friends. Listen. The mouth of the she-mule that was created on the eve of Shabbat at twilight, could you ever think that it was open from that period on? Or rather, THE MEANING IS THAT the Holy One, blessed be He, made a condition from that time on? It is not so and there is a secret reason here that was passed on to the wise, who do not pay attention to the foolish at heart. The mouth of the she-mule is a level of asses, that higher POWER of the female aspect, the one that prevailed over that she-mule, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING BELOW THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ANGEL OVER IT THAT IS APPOINTED FROM ABOVE. He talked over her AND IS CONSIDERED THE MOUTH OF THAT SHE-MULE. When the Holy One, blessed be He, created that level that is called the mouth of the she-mule, He plugged it up in the hole of the great abyss and kept it covered until that time. When that time arrived, He opened that hole OF THE GREAT ABYSS. It emerged and prevailed over that she-mule, OF BILAAM, and it talked.

305. הַשְׁתָּא אִית לְגַלָּאָה, חַבְרַיָּיא שִׁמְעוּ. פִּי הָאָתוֹן דְּאִבְרֵי ע"ש בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, סַלְּקָא בְּדַעְתַּיְיכוּ דְּפוּמָא הֲוָה פְּתִיחָא מֵהַהוּא זִמְנָא. אוֹ תְּנַאי דְּאַתְנֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מֵהַהוּא זִמְנָא. לָאו הָכִי. וְרָזָא הָכָא דְּאִתְּמְסַר לְחַכִּימֵי, דְּלָא מַשְׁגְּחָן לְטִפְּשׁוּ דְּלִבָּא. פִּי הָאָתוֹן, דַּרְגָּא דְּאַתְנֵי, הַהוּא עִלָּאָה דִּסְטָר נוּקְבֵי. הַהוּא הֲוָה דְּשַׁרְיָא עַל הַהוּא אָתוֹן, וּמַלִּיל עָלָהּ. וְכַד בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְהַאי דַּרְגָּא, דְּאִקְרֵי פִּי הָאָתוֹן, סָתָם לֵיהּ בְּגוֹ נוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא, וְאַסְתִּים עָלֵיהּ עַד הַהוּא זִמְנָא. כַּד מָטָא הַהוּא זִמְנָא, פָּתַח הַהוּא נוּקְבָּא, וְנָפַק וְשָׁרָא עָלָהּ, וּמַלִילַת.

Angels Creation Dumah (Angel) Earth Grades Shabbat Well Yehadriel (Spirit)

306. Similar to this is the meaning of: "And the earth opened (et) her mouth" (Bemidbar 16:32). The particle "Et (lit. 'the')" is meant to include THE ANGEL Dumah, which is CONSIDERED the mouth of the earth. "(et) The mouth of the she-mule" comes to add THE ANGEL Kamriel, who is considered the mouth of the she-mule. Similarly is the mouth of the well. Who is the mouth of the well? It is that level that is appointed over it from below, which is underneath the mouth of Hashem. Who does this refer to? THAT IS THE ANGEL whose name is Yehadriel. These three mouths, THE MOUTH OF THE EARTH, THE MOUTH OF THE SHE-MULE, THE MOUTH OF THE WELL, were created on the eve of Shabbat at twilight. At the time that the day was sanctified, the mouth that is appointed over all the other mouths ascended. Who is that? That is the day that ascended and was sanctified in everything, the same that is called 'the mouth of Hashem,' WHICH IS MALCHUT. At twilight of Shabbat eve, the rest of the mouths were created, MEANING THE ANGELS THAT LEAD THEIR BRANCHES THAT ARE IN THIS WORLD, WHICH ARE THE WEEKDAY POWERS. When the day was sanctified, the mouth ascended that rules and dominates over all THE POWERS, which is the mouth of Hashem.

306. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת פִּיהָ. אֶת, לְאַסְגָּאָה דּוּמָ"ה דְּאִיהוּ פִּי הָאָרֶץ. אֶת פִּי הָאָתוֹן, לְאַסְגָּאָה קַמְרִיאֵ"ל, דְּאִקְרֵי פִּי הָאָתוֹן. פִּי הַבְּאֵר כְּגַוְונָא דָּא. מַאן פִּי הַבְּאֵר. הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא דַּהֲוָה מְמָנָא עָלֵיהּ לְתַתָּא, וְאִיהוּ תְּחוֹת פִּי יְיָ,' וּמַאן אִיהוּ. יָהדְרִיאֵ"ל שְׁמֵיהּ. תְּלַת פּוּמִין אִלֵּין, אִתְבְּרִיאוּ ע"ש בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקֹדֶשׁ יוֹמָא סַלְּקָא פֶּה דִּמְמָנָא עַל כָּל שְׁאַר פּוּמִין, וּמַאן אִיהוּ. הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּאִסְתַּלָּק וְאִתְקַדָּשׁ בְּכֹלָּא, הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי פִּי יְיָ.' ע"ש בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, אִבְרוּן שְׁאַר פּוּמִין. אִתְקַדָּשׁ יוֹמָא סָלִיק פּוּמָא דְּשַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא פִּי יְיָ.'

Birds Creation Head Shadow

307. In the meanwhile, they saw Rabbi Pinchas arriving. They went to him. Rabbi Pinchas approached and kissed Rabbi Shimon. He declared, I have kissed the mouth of Hashem and I was perfumed with the fragrances of His garden. They rejoiced together and sat down. As soon as they sat down, all those birds that created the shadow flew away and scattered. Rabbi Shimon turned back his head, raised his voice to them and said, birds of the sky, you are not careful about to the honor of your Master who stays here. The birds stopped in their flight and traveled no further from their location, but did not get closer to him. Rabbi Pinchas declared, Tell them that they may continue on their way, because they are not given permission to return.

307. אַדְּהָכִי, חָמוּ לְר' פִּנְחָס דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי, מָטוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, אָתָא ר' פִּנְחָס וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ לְר"ש. אָמַר, נְשַׁקְנָא פִּי יְיָ,' אִתְבָּסָּם בְּבוּסְמִין דְּגִּנְתָּא דִּילֵיהּ. חֲדוּ כַּחֲדָא, וְיָתְבוּ. כֵּיוָן דְּיָתְבוּ פַּרְחוּ כָּל אִינּוּן עוֹפִין דַּהֲווֹ עַבְדֵי טוּלָא, וְאִתְבָּדָּרוּ. אַהְדָּר רֵישֵׁיהּ ר"ש, וְרָמָא לוֹן קָלִין וְאָמַר, עוֹפֵי שְׁמַיָא לֵית אַתּוּן מַשְׁגִּיחִין בִּיקָרָא דְּמָרֵיכוֹן דְּקָאֵים הָכָא. קַיְימוּ, וְלָא נַטְלוּ מִדּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ, וְלָא קְרִיבוּ לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. א"ר פִּנְחָס אֵימָא לוֹן דְּיָהֲכוּן לְאָרְחַיְיהוּ, דְּהָא לָא יָהֲבִין לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְאָהַדְּרָא.

Birds Cloud Miracle Rock Sun

308. Rabbi Shimon said, I know that the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to do a miracle for us, TO GIVE US SHADE FROM ANOTHER PLACE. Birds' of firds, go on your way and say to the one who is appointed over you that at first you were under his authority, AND IT WAS UP TO HIM TO SEND YOU TO GIVE ME SHADE. You are no longer under his authority, BECAUSE RABBI PINCHAS BEN YAIR RULES NOW AND HE HAS NO DESIRE FOR YOU. However, I will bring you on the day that is as harsh as a rock when a cloud will rise between the mighty teeth OF THE HOT RAYS OF THE SUN and they won't BE ABLE TO join AND CREATE A SHADE. The birds dispersed and left.

308. אר"ש, יְדַעְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְמֶרְחָשׁ לָן נִיסָא. עוֹפִין עוֹפִין זִילוּ לְאָרְחַיְיכוּ, וְאָמְרוּ לְהַהוּא דִּמְמָנָא עָלַיְיכוּ, דְּהָא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא הֲוָה בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ, וְהַשְׁתָּא לָאו בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ קַיְּימָא. אֲבָל סְלִיקְנָא לֵיהּ לְיוֹמָא דְּטִנָרָא, כַּד סָלִיק עִיבָא בֵּין שְׁינֵי תַּקִּיפִין, וְלָא מִתְחַבְּרָאן. אִתְבָּדָּרוּ אִינּוּן עוֹפֵי וְאָזְלוּ.

Birds Directions Head Living Creatures Mercy Tree Water

309. Meanwhile, behold three trees spreading out their branches to the three directions over their head, WHICH COVERED THEM WITH SHADE. A spring of water flowed before them. All the friends rejoiced and Rabbi Pinchas and Rabbi Shimon were glad. Rabbi Pinchas said, Those birds before had to work hard TO CREATE A SHADE, and the toil of living animals I do not desire, because it says, "And His mercies are over all His works" (Tehilim 145:9). Rabbi Shimon replied, I have not bothered them. However, if the Holy One, blessed be He, had mercy on us AND DISPATCHED THESE BIRDS TO CREATE A SHADE OVER US, we have no right to refuse His gifts. They reposed underneath the shade of that tree, drank from the water and took pleasure there.

309. אַדְּהָכִי, הָא תְּלַת אִילָנִין, מִתְפַּשְּׁטָן בְּעַנְפִין לִתְלַת סִטְרִין עָלַיְיהוּ, וּמַעְיָינָא דְּמַיָּא נַבְעִין קַמַּיְיהוּ. חֲדוּ כֻּלְּהוּ חַבְרַיָּיא, וְחַדּוּ ר' פִּנְחָס וְר"ש. אָמַר ר' פִּנְחָס טוֹרַח סַגִּי הֲוָה לְאִינּוּן עוֹפֵי בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְטוֹרַח בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָא בָּעֵינָן. דְּהָא וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו כְּתִיב. אָמַר ר"ש, אֲנָא לָא אַטְרַחְנָא לוֹן. אֲבָל אִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חָס עֲלָן לֵית אֲנָן יַכְלִין לְדַחְיָיא מַתְּנָן דִּילֵיהּ. יָתְבוּ תְּחוֹת הַהוּא אִילָנָא, וְשָׁתוּ מִן מַיָּיא, וְאִתְהֲנוּ תַּמָּן.