Bemidbar: Chapter 1

The counting and the reckoning

Synopsis

Rabbi Aba speaks about the creation of man, saying that God made him in the image of the higher and the lower ones as the combination of them all. Man was composed of both male and female, and the female side was composed of both Chesed and Judgment. After they sinned they became concerned with only worldly matters and they no longer knew wisdom. Neither of Adam's sons, Abel, from the upper aspects, nor Cain, from the lower aspects, inherited the earth because neither of them left any offspring. The world was founded from Seth, but it was not complete until Abraham came; once Isaac and Jacob came everything was included in the Central Column and the world stood firm. Even with this it still required the twelve tribes and seventy persons that came from Jacob, and it required Israel to receive the Torah and erect the Tabernacle. Then God wished to count all his legions of people, the children of Yisrael, in order to link them to their roots above.

After Yisrael left the land of Egypt they achieved both the Torah and the Tabernacle, and then they were perfectly complete. Rabbi Yitzchak says that when one speaks of his own blessings he must also bless God and acknowledge those blessings. He says that blessings from above do not rest on anything that has been counted, but the counting of the children of Yisrael was an exception. We hear that God will bless the women, who were not counted among the census, the priests and the Levites, and the children under the age of twenty. Rabbi Shimon explains to Rabbi Yehuda what the source of the blessings is, and says that, when God's illumination is awakened, everything is in love, in perfection, and in peace.

Creation Fear Light Moses Sinai Tents

1. "And Hashem spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting..." (Bemidbar 1:1). Rabbi Aba opened the discussion with, "So Elohim created man in His own image..." (Beresheet 1:27). We have learned this verse. Come and behold: at the time the Holy One, blessed be He, created the man, He made him in the image of the upper beings and lower beings, and he was the combination of all. His light illuminated from one end of the world to the other end of the world, and everyone feared him.

1. וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֶל מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְגוֹ,' ר' אַבָּא פָּתַח, וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ וְגוֹ,' הַאי קְרָא אִתְּמַר. ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבָרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאָדָם עָבֵד לֵיהּ בְּדִיּוּקְנָא דְּעִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי, וַהֲוָה כָּלִיל מִכֹּלָּא, וַהֲוָה נְהוֹרֵיהּ נָהִיר, מִסַּיְיפֵי עָלְמָא עַד סַיְיפֵי עָלְמָא. וַהֲווֹ דַּחֲלִין קַמֵּיהּ כֹּלָּא.

Creation Female Grades Male

2. And though it was settled, we must look into this verse: "So Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim He created him." Since it already said, "His image," why REPEAT AGAIN, "in the image of Elohim He created him?" HE ANSWERS: There were two levels IN MAN, SINCE he was composed of male and female. THEREFORE, there is one for the male, THAT IS, "SO ELOHIM CREATED..." and one for the female, THAT IS, "IN THE IMAGE..."

2. ואע"ג דְּהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ בְּהַאי קְרָא, וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹֹהִים בָּרָא אוֹתוֹ, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר בְּצַלְמוֹ, מַאי בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹֹהִים בָּרָא אוֹתוֹ. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין דִּכְלִילָן דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָּא, חַד לִדְכַר, וְחַד לְנוּקְבָּא.

Creation Face Female Judgment Male

3. And as a result of this, there were assuredly two faces, MALE AND FEMALE, and the end of the verse proves it, since it is written, "male and female He created them" (Ibid.). And he was composed of both aspects. Although the female was attached to his side, she ON HER OWN was also composed of two sides, WHICH ARE CHESED AND JUDGMENT, to be complete in all.

3. וּבְגִין כַּךְ דּוּ פַּרְצוּפִין הֲווֹ וַדַּאי, וְסֵיפָא דִּקְרָא אוֹכַח, דִּכְתִּיב זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אוֹתָם. וְכָלִיל הֲוָה מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין ואע"ג דְּנוּקְבָּא אֲחִידַת בְּסִטְרוֹי. הָא הִיא נָמֵי כְּלִילָא מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין, לְמֶהֱוֵי שְׁלִים בְּכֹלָּא.

Abel Cain Earth Seth Wisdom

4. And he used to observe with wisdom up and down. Because he sinned, these faces diminished, the wisdom disappeared from him, and he was only concerned with his own bodily matters. And afterwards he begot sons from above and below - THAT IS, ABEL WAS FROM THE UPPER ASPECTS AND CAIN FROM THE LOWER - and neither of them inhabited the earth, SINCE NONE OF THEM LEFT ANY DESCENDANTS IN THE WORLD. Then he fathered a son, NAMELY SETH, and from him the world was planted. This has been explained.

4. וַהֲוָה מִסְתָּכַּל בְּחָכְמְתָא, לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּסָּרַח, אִתְמַעֲטוּ פַּרְצוּפִין, וְחָכְמְּתָא אִסְתָּלָקַת מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא הֲוָה מִסְתָּכַל אֶלָּא בְּמִלֵי דְּגוּפֵיהּ. לְבָתַר אוֹלִיד בְּנִין מֵעִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי, וְלָא אִתְיָשָׁבוּ דָּא וְדָא בְּעָלְמָא, עַד דְּאוֹלִיד בַּר, וּמִנֵּיהּ אַשְׁתִּיל עָלְמָא, דְּאִקְרֵי שֵׁת, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ.

Abraham Body Hands Isaac Jacob

5. In spite of all this, the world below was not finished and complete and was not sustained on its own until Abraham came along. The world was sustained but not completed until Abraham was present in the world and held onto THE WORLD with his right hand, THAT IS CHESED, as one who holds and assists the right hand of someone who fell. Isaac came along and held the world's hand with the left hand, THAT IS GVURAH, and THE WORLD was sustained even more. When Jacob came along, he held on to the center, with the body, THAT IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN, and became included in both sides, THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT. And the world stood firm and did not collapse.

5. ועכ"ד, עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה לָא אִשְׁתְּלִים, וְלָא הֲוָה שְׁלִים, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ, עַד דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם, וְאִתְקַיָּים עָלְמָא. אֲבָל לָא אִשְׁתְּלִים, עַד דְּאַבְרָהָם אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ בְּעָלְמָא וְאָחִיד בֵּיהּ בִּימִינָא, כְּמַאן דְּאָחִיד בִּימִינֵיהּ, לְמַאן דְּנָפִיל. אָתָא יִצְחָק, וְאָחִיד בִּידֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְאִתְקָיָּים יַתִּיר. כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא יַעֲקֹב, אָחִיד בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא בְּגוּפָא, וְאִתְכְּלִיל בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין, אִתְקַיָּים עָלְמָא וְלָא הֲוָה מִתְמוֹטֵט.

Grades Israel Jacob Seventy Tabernacle Torah Twelve Twelve Tribes of Israel

6. And with all this, THE WORLD was not properly planted with its roots until JACOB begot twelve tribes and seventy persons, and the world was planted. Even so, it was not completed until the time Yisrael received the Torah and the Tabernacle was erected. At that time, the worlds could exist and were completed, and the higher and lower beings were scented.

6. וְעִם כָּל דָּא לָא אַשְׁתִּיל בְּשָׁרְשׁוֹי, עַד דְּאוֹלִיד תְּרֵיסָר שְׁבָטִין, וְשַׁבְעִין נַפְשָׁאן, וְאַשְׁתִּיל עָלְמָא. ועכ"ד לָא אִשְׁתְּלִים, עַד דְּקַבִּילוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹרַיְיתָא בְּטוּרָא דְּסִינַי, וְאִתְּקַם מַשְׁכְּנָא. כְּדֵין אִתְקָיָּימוּ עָלְמִין וְאִשְׁתְּלִימוּ, וְאִתְבְּסָמוּ עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין.

Hosts Israel Likenesses Tabernacle Torah Zeir Anpin

7. Since the Torah and the Tabernacle were erected, NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to count the troops of the Torah. How many legions are there in the Torah, IN ZEIR ANPIN? How many hosts are in the Tabernacle, WHICH IS MALCHUT? (THIS MEANS THAT HE WANTED TO COUNT YISRAEL, WHO ARE THE LEGIONS OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT.) Come and behold: every item that needs to be settled in its place, THAT IS, TO LINK PROPERLY THE BRANCH BELOW TO ITS ROOT ON TOP, does not settle until it is uttered by mouth and is counted. Here, also, the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to count the soldiers of the Torah and the soldiers of the Tabernacle, IN ORDER TO TIE YISRAEL TO THEIR ROOTS ABOVE, WHICH ARE ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, CALLED 'TORAH' AND 'TABERNACLE.' And they are all united and are inseparable from each other. Everything is in a likeness of above, since THEIR ROOTS, the Torah and Tabernacle, are JOINED AND inseparable from each other, and are in unison.

7. כֵּיוָן דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּמַשְׁכְּנָא אִתּוֹקָמוּ, בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמִפְקַד חֵילוֹי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כַּמָה חַיָּילִין אִינּוּן דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כַּמָה חַיָּילִין אִינּוּן דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא. ת"ח, כָּל מִלָּה דְּבָעֵי לְאִתְיַישְּׁבָא בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ, לָא מִתְיַישְּׁבָא עַד דְּאִדְכַּר בְּפוּמָא, וְאִתְמְנֵי עָלָהּ. אוֹף הָכָא, בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמִפְקַד חַיָּילִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְחַיָּילִין דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ הֲווֹ כְּחַד וְלָא מִתְפָּרְשֵׁי דָּא מִן דָּא, כֹּלָּא כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא וּמַשְׁכְּנָא לָא מִתְפָּרְשֵׁי דָּא מִן דָּא, וְאָזְלִין כַּחֲדָא.

Israel Moses Sinai Tabernacle Tents Torah Women Year Zeir Anpin

8. Therefore, YISRAEL, WHO ARE the legions OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, are counted so that they are known, in addition to the others who have no number, NAMELY THE WOMEN AND THOSE YOUNGER THAN TWENTY YEARS. Therefore, it is written: "And Hashem spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting." If it is in the Tent of Meeting why IS IT REQUIRED TO MENTION that it was in the wilderness of Sinai, SINCE IT IS KNOWN THAT THE TENT OF MEETING WAS IN NO OTHER PLACE EXCEPT IN THE WILDERNESS OF SINAI? HE REPLIES: Once is for the Torah, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, and once is for the Tabernacle, THAT IS, MALCHUT.

8. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, חַיָּילֵיהוֹן עָאלִין בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא לְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא גַּבַּיְיהוּ, בַּר אִינּוּן אַחֲרָנִין דְּלֵית לוֹן חוּשְׁבָּנָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ כְּתִיב, וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֶל מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. אִי בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, אֲמַאי בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי. אֶלָּא חַד לְאוֹרַיְיתָא וְחַד לְמַשְׁכְּנָא.

Astrology Egypt Moon Tabernacle Torah Year

9. And both TORAH AND TABERNACLE were, "on the first day of the second month, in the second year" (Ibid.). THAT IS THE SECRET OF GVURAH AND THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH OF THE LEFT, SINCE THE MONTH OF NISSAN IS THE RIGHT COLUMN AND CHESED AND IYAR IS THE LEFT COLUMN AND GVURAH. And all is one - THAT IS, THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT WERE JOINED IN HARMONY AS ONE. This month is also called "the month Ziv (lit. 'brightness')" (I Melachim 6:1), alluding to the month and year that is luminous to the moon, THAT IS, MALCHUT, SINCE THE MAIN PERFECTION OF MALCHUT IS FROM THE LEFT COLUMN - THE SECRET OF THE SECOND MONTH AND SECOND YEAR. At that time, all the worlds are whole, LIKE MALCHUT THAT IS THEIR ROOT. "...After they were come out of the land of Egypt..." (Ibid.). THE SCRIPTURE informs us here that when Yisrael left Egypt, it was the first month, THAT IS TO SAY, THEY WENT OUT FROM THE ASPECT OF THE FIRST MONTH, WHICH IS CHESED AND THE RIGHT COLUMN. AND THEN THEY WERE PERFECTED ALSO FROM THE ASPECT OF THE SECOND MONTH, WHICH IS GVURAH AND THE LEFT COLUMN.

9. וְהַאי וְהַאי, בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית, וְכֹלָּא חַד, וְהַאי אִקְרֵי חֹדֶשׁ זִיו רֶמֶז לְהַהוּא יַרְחָא וְשַׁתָּא דְּנָהִיר לְסִיהֲרָא, דְּהָא כְּדֵין עָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בִּשְׁלִימוּ. לְצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, לְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא דְּהָא כַּד נַפְקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן הֲוָה.

10. Rabbi Yitzchak began the discussion with: "Hashem has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house..." (Tehilim 115:12). "Hashem has been mindful of us; He will bless us," refers to the men who were included in the count of the desert, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, blesses and to whom He adds more each time.

10. רִבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח, יְיָ' זְכָרָנוּ יְבָרֵךְ יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית וְגוֹ.' יְיָ' זְכָרָנוּ יְבָרֵךְ, אִלֵּין גּוּבְרִין. דַּהֲווֹ עָאלִין בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא בְּמַדְבְּרָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְבָרֵךְ לוֹן, וְאוֹסִיף עָלַיְיהוּ בְּכָל זִמְנָא.

Astrology Blessing Heaven Moses Praise Stars

11. Come and behold: he who speaks in praise of his friend, of his children, or of his money or wealth, must also bless Him and acknowledge those blessings. From where do we learn this? From Moses, since it is written, "behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven for multitude." And afterwards, what does he say? "Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, makes you a thousand times many more than you are..." (Devarim 1:10-11). There are two blessings here. One is the "Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers..." That is one, and the one following that is, "and bless you, as He has promised you;" (Ibid.). He promised to acknowledge them and add blessings, benedictions upon those benedictions!

11. ת"ח, הַאי מַאן דְּאָמַר שְׁבָחָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ, דִּבְנוֹי, אוֹ דְּמָמוֹנֵיהּ, בָּעֵי לְבָרְכָא לֵיהּ, וּלְאוֹדָאָה עָלֵיהּ בִּרְכָאן. מְנָלָן. מִמֹּשֶׁה. דִּכְתִּיב וְהִנְּכֶם הַיּוֹם כְּכֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לָרוֹב, לְבָתַר מַה כְּתִיב, יְיָ' אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם יוֹסֵף עֲלֵיכֶם כָּכֶם אֶלֶף פְּעָמִים וְגוֹ.' תְּרֵין בִּרְכָאן הֲווֹ, חַד יְיָ' אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם וְגוֹ.' הָא חַד. לְבָתַר וִיבָרֵךְ אֶתְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָכֶם. לְאוֹדָאָה עָלַיְיהוּ, בִּרְכָאן עַל בִּרְכָאן.

Blessing Evil Eyes Heart Love

12. And if he counts the praises of his friend but does not acknowledge these benedictions, he will be punished because of this, first from above, THAT IS, HE WILL BE HARMED BECAUSE OF IT. And if he blesses him, he will be blessed HIMSELF from above. And he should bless him with a good eye and not with an evil eye. And in all things, the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to have the blessings given with a good heart WHEN HE BLESSES. And since when one blesses his friend, the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes one to bless with a good eye and a good heart, when one gives grace to the Holy One, blessed be He, most certainly it must be in good eye, and with a good and loving heart. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN: "And you shall love Hashem your Elohim with all your heart" (Devarim 6:5).

12. וְאִי אִיהוּ מָנֵי שְׁבָחָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ, וְלָא אוֹדֵי עָלֵיהּ בִּרְכָאן. הוּא נִתְפַּס בְּקַדְמֵיתָא מִלְּעֵילָּא. וְאִי אִיהוּ מְבָרֵךְ לֵיהּ, הוּא מִתְבָּרֵךְ מִלְּעֵילָּא. וּבִרְכְתָא בָּעֵי לְבָרְכָא לָהּ בְּעֵינָא טָבָא, וְלָא בְּעֵינָא בִּישָׁא. וּבְכֹלָּא בָּעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רְחִימוּתָא דְּלִבָּא. וּמַה מַאן דִּמְבָרֵךְ לְחַבְרֵיהּ, בָּעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דִּיְּבָרֵךְ לֵיהּ בְּעֵינָא טָבָא, בְּלִבָּא טָבָא. מַאן דִּמְבָרֵךְ לקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עאכ"ו, דְּבָעֵי עֵינָא טָבָא, וְלִבָּא טָבָא, וּרְחִימוּתָא דְּלִבָּא. בג"כ וְאָהַבְתָּ אֶת יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וְגוֹ.'

Blessing Death Death and the Afterlife Israel

13. Come and behold: it has been established that the blessing of above does not rest on something that has been counted. You may question: how could they have counted Yisrael? It is because they took ransom from them and it was settled, and the count did not take place until all the ransom was gathered and counted. At first they would bless Yisrael and then they would count the ransom, and they would repeat and bless Yisrael again. So the result is that we find that Yisrael were blessed in the beginning and at the end, and there was no death amongst them.

13. ת"ח, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ לֵית בִּרְכָתָא דִּלְעֵילָּא שַׁרְיָא, עַל מִלָּה דְּאִתְמְנֵי. וְאִי תֵּימָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵיךְ אִתְמְנוּן. אֶלָּא כּוּפְרָא נַטְלֵי מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, וְחוּשְׁבָּנָא לָא הֲוֵי עַד דְּיִתְכְּנִישׁ כָּל הַהוּא כּוּפְרָא, וְסָלִיק לְחוּשְׁבְּנָא, וּבְקַדְמֵיתָא מְבָרְכָן לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וּלְבָתַר מְנָאָן הַהוּא כּוּפְרָא, וּלְבָתַר מְהַדְּרִין וּמְבָרְכִין לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְבָּרְכִין בְּקַדְמֵיתָא וּבְסוֹפָא, וְלָא סָלִיק בְּהוּ מוֹתָנָא.

Blessing Death Death and the Afterlife Other Side

14. HE ASKS: Why does death result from counting? AND HE ANSWERS: It is because the blessing does not dwell when you count, and when the blessing departs, the Other Side rests upon it and one could be damaged. Therefore, they used to substitute a monetary ransom for the count, and thereby remove the threat OF DEATH.

14. מוֹתָנָא אֲמַאי סָלִיק בְּמִנְיָינָא. אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּבִרְכְתָא לָא שַׁרְיָא בְּמִנְיָינָא, כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתָּלַק בִּרְכָתָא, סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא שָׁארִי עֲלוֹי, וְיָכִיל לְאַתְזְקָא. בְּגִין דָּא בְּמִנְיָינָא נַטְלִין כּוּפְרָא וּפִדְיוֹנָא, לְסַלְּקָא עָלֵיהּ מִנַּיְיהוּ.

Aaron Blessing Eyes Heart Israel Love Priests Women

15. "He will bless the house of Yisrael..." (Tehilim 115:12). These are the women, WHO ARE CALLED 'HOUSE,' which were not included in the count, BECAUSE WOMEN WERE NOT COUNTED IN THE DESERT. "He will bless the house of Aaron" (Ibid.), because they ARE THE PRIESTS AND THEY bless the people with a benevolent eye, a good heart, and heartfelt love. "...The house of Aaron..." WHY DOES IT MENTION THE HOUSE? IT ALLUDES also to the women who are blessed by the blessing OF AARON.

15. יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, אִלֵּין נָשִׁין, דְּלָא סַלְּקִין בְּמִנְיָינָא. יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית אַהֲרֹן, דְּאִינּוּן מְבָרְכִין לְעַמָּא, בְּעֵינָא טָבָא וּבְלִבָּא טָבָא, וּבִרְחִימוּתָא דְּלִבָּא. אֶת בֵּית אַהֲרֹן, הָכִי נָמֵי נָשִׁין, דְּאִתְבָּרְכָן בְּבִרְכָתָא.

Fear Levites Year

16. "He will bless those who fear Hashem" (Ibid. 13). These are the Levites, all of whom are blessed because they fear Hashem. It is written, "both small and great" (Ibid.), because although THE YOUNG were not included in the count, SINCE THEY WERE COUNTING THE POPULATION ONLY FROM TWENTY YEARS AND OLDER, STILL THEY SHOULD BE BLESSED TOGETHER WITH THE OLDER ONES.

16. יְבָרֵךְ יִרְאֵי יְיָ' אִלֵּין אִינּוּן לֵיוָאֵי, וְכֻלְּהוּ מִתְבָּרְכִין, בְּגִין דְּדַחֲלִין לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. הַקְּטַנִים עִם הַגְּדוֹלִים, אע"ג דְּלָא עָאלִין בְּמִנְיָינָא.

Blessing Chassadim Israel Light Lights Wisdom Zion

17. Come and behold: we do not find another counting among Yisrael by which they received blessings from it as in this count, IN WHICH THEY USED THE HALF-SHEKEL FOR THE COUNTING, because this counting was purposely meant for a blessing, and it was meant to perfect the completeness of the worlds. At the place whence blessings emanate, they were counted, as it is written, "on the first day of the second month" (Bemidbar 1:1), that is Ziv, of the world's blessings, out of which emanates and radiates brightness (Heb. ziv) to the world. Hence this SECOND month, WHICH IS THE LEFT COLUMN, is called BY THE NAME OF 'Ziv' because the brightness of everything radiates from it. And therefore it is written, "May Hashem...bless you out of Zion" (Tehilim 134:3), THAT IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT. And it all pertains to the same thing, BECAUSE MALCHUT WAS BUILT FROM THE SECOND MONTH, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE LEFT COLUMN. It is also written, "for there Hashem has commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" (Tehilim 133:3).

17. ת"ח לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח מִנְיָינָא בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִתְבָּרְכָן בֵּיהּ, כְּהַאי מִנְיָינָא. דְּהַאי מִנְיָינָא לְאִתְבָּרְכָא הֲוָה, וּלְאַשְׁלְמָא שְׁלֵימוּתָא דְּעָלְמִין הֲוָה, וּבַאֲתָר דְּבִרְכָּאן נָפְקִין אִתְמְנוּן, דִּכְתִּיב בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי, דְּאִיהוּ זִיוָא דְּבִרְכָּאָן דְּעָלְמָא, דְּמִנֵּיהּ נָפִיק זִיוָא לְעָלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא אִקְרֵי חֹדֶשׁ זִי"ו, דְּזִיוָא דְּכֹלָּא נָפִיק מִנֵּיהּ, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ' מִצִּיּוֹן, וְכֹלָּא חַד מִלָּה וּכְתִיב כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְיָ' אֶת הַבְּרָכָה וְגוֹ.'

Blessing Israel Mochin Tree Zeir Anpin

18. Rabbi Yehuda was present before Rabbi Shimon. He said to him: From where do Yisrael draw their blessings? He answered him: Woe to the world that does not pay attention, and to men who do not observe the glory of the highest King. Come and behold: at a time when Yisrael are worthy before the Holy One, blessed be He, the worlds were in one uppermost and holy tree, THAT IS, ZEIR ANPIN, where all the sustenance is. And it received blessings from the place where all the blessings were gathered, THAT IS BINAH, where, it was planted and rooted. SINCE MOCHIN OF ZEIR ANPIN WERE PLANTED IN BINAH IN THE SECRET OF THE 'THREE THAT EMANATE FROM ONE, ONE EXISTS IN THREE.'

18. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קַמֵּיהּ דר"ש, א"ל יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאָן אֲתָר אִתְבָּרְכָן. א"ל, וַוי לְעָלְמָא, דְּלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, בִּיקָרָא דְּמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל זַכָּאִין קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וַהֲווֹ עָלְמִין שְׁכִיחִין בְּחַד אִילָנָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, דִּמְזוֹנָא דְּכֹלָּא בֵּיהּ, הֲוָה מִתְבָּרֵךְ מֵאֲתָר דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן כְּנִישִׁין בֵּיהּ. וּבֵיהּ אִתְנְטַע וְאַשְׁתִּילוּ שָׁרְשׁוֹי.

Blessing Dew Israel Light Lights Mountains Universe Zion

19. And Yisrael below were blessed from the place out of which all blessings emanate and are not prevented from leaving, THAT IS MALCHUT, as it is written, "may Hashem...bless you out of Zion," and, "like the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion" (Tehilim 133:3); THAT IS, MALCHUT. AND IT IS FURTHER WRITTEN: "because it is there that Hashem commanded the blessing, life forever" (Ibid.). And that is the light of the universe. It is written: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, Elohim has shone forth" (Ibid. 50:2); "has shone forth" MEANS illuminates, as in, "He shone forth from Mount Paran" (Devarim 33:2). And when He lights up, He illuminates all the worlds.

19. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא, הֲווֹ מִתְבָּרְכָן מֵאֲתָר דְּכָל אִינּוּן בִּרְכָאן נָפְקִין בֵּיהּ, וְלָא מִתְעַכְּבֵי לְמֵיפַּק, הה"ד יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ' מִצִּיּוֹן, וּכְתִיב כְּטַל חֶרְמוֹן שֶׁיּוֹרֵד עַל הַרְרֵי צִיּוֹן כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְיָ' אֶת הַבְּרָכָה חַיִּים עַד הָעוֹלָם. וְדָא אִיהוּ נְהִירוּ דְּעָלְמָא. דִּכְתִּיב מִצִּיּוֹן מִכְּלָל יוֹפִי אֱלֹהִים הוֹפִיעַ. הוֹפִיעַ: נָהִיר. כד"א הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן. וְכַד יְנָהֵר, יְנָהֵר לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין.

Blessing Light Love Peace Walls

20. And when this light, MEANING THE BLESSING AND LIFE MENTIONED ABOVE, awakens, all is joined, THAT IS, IN THE SECRET OF UNION. Everything is with love, all is with perfection, and then it is all peaceful - peace above and peace below. That is the meaning of, "Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces" (Tehilim 122:7).

20. וְכַד הַאי נְהִירוּ אִתְּעַר, כֹּלָּא הוּא בְּחַבְרוּתָא, כֹּלָּא הוּא בִּרְחִימוּתָא, כֹּלָּא הוּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ, כְּדֵין הוּא שְׁלָמָא דְּכֹלָּא, שְׁלָמָא דְּעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, הה"ד יְהִי שָׁלוֹם בְּחֵילֵךְ שַׁלְוָה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָיִךְ.

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