Beha'alot'cha: Chapter 17

"And on the day that the Tabernacle was erected"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon tells Rabbi Chiya that anyone who gives freely to the poor becomes worthy to be blessed; he increases in both wealth and life. He elaborates by saying that his charity causes him an increase in life above so that it increases his life below. We hear that in this way the Tree of Life is awakened to add life to the Tree of Death. Through a person's charity he causes Zeir Anpin and Malchut to join together and blessings to pour above and below. He is saved in this world and he shall have life in the World to Come.

Tabernacle

95. "And on the day that the Tabernacle was erected..." (Bemidbar 9:15). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor" (Tehilim 112:9). "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor." HE INQUIRES: What is the meaning of, "distributed freely?" HE RESPONDS: It is as you say, "there is one who gives freely, and yet increases" (Mishlei 11:24). We can also say that it is true for everyone who distributed freely. Therefore, he lets us know and hear, "he has distributed freely, he has given to the poor." As soon as he gives freely to the poor, he becomes worthy TO BE BLESSED. What is the meaning of: "and yet increases?" It means in everything. He increases in wealth and increases in life.

95. וּבְיוֹם הָקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. ר' חִיָּיא פָּתַח, פִּזַּר נָתַן לָאֶבְיוֹנִים צִדְקָתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד קַרְנוֹ תָּרוּם בְכָבוֹד. פִּזַּר לָאֶבְיוֹנִים, מַאי פִּזַּר. כד"א יֵשׁ מְפַזֵּר וְנוֹסָף עוֹד. יָכוֹל פִּזּוּר בְּעָלְמָא, קמ"ל פִּזַּר נָתַן לָאֶבְיוֹנִים, כֵּיוָן דְּיָהִיב לְמִסְכְּנֵי, הַאי פִּזּוּרָא יָאוּת. מַאי וְנוֹסָף עוֹד. בְּכֹלָּא. וְנוֹסָף עוֹד בְּעוּתְרָא. וְנוֹסָף עוֹד בְּחַיֵּי.

Death Death and the Afterlife Shields Tree Tree of Life Zeir Anpin

96. HE INQUIRES: This verse should have been read this way, 'There is one who gives freely, and yet it will increase.' What is meant by "increases?" HE RESPONDS: It is this place where death resides, MEANING MALCHUT. It causes it an increase in life above AND DRAWS FROM THERE, and increases its LIFE. Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rabbi Chiya: The verse gives evidence that for whoever gives CHARITY to the paupers, the Tree of Life is awakened, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, to add life to the Tree of Death, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Then there is life and happiness above, IN MALCHUT, and that Tree of Life stands over the person who caused this, BY HIS GIVING OF CHARITY, in a time of need. That Tree of Death shields him and, therefore, it is proper to say, "Yet increases."

96. הַאי קְרָא הָכִי מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, יֵשׁ מְפַזֵּר וְיוֹסֵף עוֹד, מַאי וְנוֹסַף. אֶלָּא הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּשָׁרֵי בֵּיהּ מִיתָה, הוּא גָּרִים לֵיהּ דְּיִתוֹסַף מֵחַיִים דִּלְעֵילָּא לְאוֹסְפָא לֵיהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, קְרָא אַסְהִיד, דְּכָל מַאן דְּיָהִיב לְמִסְכְּנֵי, אִתְעַר אִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי, לְאוֹסְפָא לְהַהִיא אִילָנָא דְּמוֹתָא, וּכְדֵין אִשְׁתְּכַח חַיִּים וְחֵדוּ לְעֵילָּא. וּבַר נָשׁ דְּגָרִים דָּא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ, הַהוּא אִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי קָאֵים עָלֵיהּ, וְהַהוּא אִילָנָא דְּמוֹתָא אַגִּין עֲלוֹי. וּבְגִין כַּךְ וְנוֹסַף עוֹד.

Zeir Anpin

97. HE ASKS: What is the meaning of, "his righteousness (also 'charity') endures forever?" HE RESPONDS: CHARITY stands for a person to give him his existence and life, in the same manner that this person gives subsistence TO THE POOR. And the SUPERNAL life awakens toward him, NAMELY BECAUSE OF HIM, AS MENTIONED BEFORE. It gives him life. These two trees, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, stand by him to save him and increase his life.

97. צִדְקָתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד. מַאי עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד. עוֹמֶדֶת עָלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, לְזַמְּנָא לֵיהּ קִיוּמָא וְחַיִּים, כְּמָה דְּאִיהוּ יָהִיב לֵיהּ חַיִּים, וְאַתְעַר לְגַבֵּי חַיִּין, ה"נ יַהֲבִין לֵיהּ. וְאִינּוּן תְּרֵי אִילָנִין קַיְימִין עָלֵיהּ לְשֵׁיזָבָא לֵיהּ, וּלְאוֹסְפָא לֵיהּ חַיִּין.

Blessing Zeir Anpin

98. "His horn shall be exalted with honor." Come and behold: observe the world we talked about, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN. IT SAID TO HIM that the horn, WHICH IS MALCHUT, will be exalted. And how? With the honor of above, WHICH IS BINAH, SINCE MALCHUT IS EXALTED THROUGH THE ILLUMINATION OF BINAH. That person, THROUGH THE CHARITY THAT HE GAVE, caused them to join together, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, and blessings to pour above and below.

98. קַרְנוֹ תָּרוּם בְכָבוֹד, ת"ח עָלְמָא דְּאַמָרָן, הַהוּא קֶרֶן תָּרוּם. וּבְמָה. בְכָבוֹד דִּלְעֵילָּא, דְּהַאי ב"נ גָּרִים לְחַבְּרָא לוֹן כַּחֲדָא, וּלְאַרְקָא בִּרְכָאן לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָא.

Anointment Candles Death Death and the Afterlife Light Oil Tabernacle World to Come, The Zeir Anpin

99. Rabbi Aba said: During the whole time that the Tabernacle was erected, MEANING WHEN MALCHUT UNITES WITH ZEIR ANPIN, through the activities of people, then that was a time of rejoicing for everyone. Holy anointing oil is poured into these candles, THE SFIROT OF MALCHUT, which all give off light. Whoever brings this about, brings himself to be saved in this world, and he shall have life in the World to Come. This is what is written: "but righteousness delivers from death" (Mishlei 11:4), and, "but the path of just men is like the gleam of sunlight, that shines ever more brightly until the height of noonday" (Mishlei 4:18).

99. רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר, בְּכָל זִמְנָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא אִתְּקַם בְּעוֹבָדֵיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, כְּדֵין הַהוּא יוֹמָא, יוֹמָא דְּחֶדְוָוה דְּכֹלָּא, וּמָשַׁח רְבוּת קַדִישָׁא אִתְרַק בְּהַנְהוּ בּוֹצִינִין, וְנַהֲרִין כֻּלְּהוּ. מַאן דְּגָרִים דָּא, גָּרִים לֵיהּ דְּיִשְׁתְּזִיב בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וִיהֵא לֵיהּ חַיִּים בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, הה"ד וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת, וּכְתִיב וְאֹרַח צַדִיקִים כְּאוֹר נֹגַהּ הוֹלֵךְ וָאוֹר עַד נְכוֹן הַיּוֹם.

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