Bereshit B: Chapter 39

"Let the water swarm abundantly"

Synopsis

The Swarms refer to the numerous angels that continually interact with humanity. The power to remove negative angels and their influences from our lives derives from the sacred letters. At the same time, we gain the power to connect ourselves to the positive influences of the good angels that populate the upper spiritual atmospheres.

Earth Living Creatures Water Waters

165. "Let the water swarm abundantly with moving creatures that have life" (Beresheet 1:20). Rabbi Elazar said: We have already explained that the LOWER waters teemed and gave birth like the upper WATERS, MEANING THAT THE LOWER WATERS GAVE BIRTH TO WHAT THEY RECEIVED FROM ABOVE. It is said, "birds to fly over the earth." Why, he then inquired, use the word yeofef (to fly), instead of the simple yauf? (meaning what?)

165. יְשְׁרְצוּ הָמָּיִם שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָה, אֲמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, דְּאִינוּן מַיִין רְחִישׁוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר. וְעוֹף יְעוֹפֵף עַל הָאָרֶץ, יָעוּף מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַהוּ יְעוֹפֵף.

Aba and Ima Angels Creation Earth Elijah Gabriel (Angel) Michael (Angel) Seraphim

166. Rabbi Shimon said: This is a secret, BECAUSE IT ALLUDES TO THE CREATION OF ANGELS. 'Bird' refers to Michael, of whom it is written: "And one of the Seraphim flew to me" (Yeshayah 6:6), "ONE OF THE SERAPHIM" REFERS TO MICHAEL. To fly (yeofef) is said about Gabriel, as it is written: "The man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the who is continuously upon the earth. beginning, approached close to me in swift flight" (Daniel 9:21). It is Elijah ELIJAH is not connected to the side of Aba and Ima because he FLIES with four wings as it is written: "And the spirit of Hashem shall carry you where I know not" (I Melachim 18:12). The "spirit of Hashem" indicates one wing, and "carry you" the second WING. "Where" the third, and "I know not" the fourth. THUS, HE FLIES WITH FOUR WINGS.

166. אָמַר רָבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן רָזָא הוּא, וְעוֹף דָּא מִיכָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב וַיָּעָף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׁרָפִים. יְעוֹפֵף דָּא גַּבְרִיאֵל, דִּכְתִיב וְהָאִישׁ גַּבְרִיאֵל אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי בֶחָזוֹן בַּתְּחִלָּה מֻעָף בִּיעָף. עַל הָאָרֶץ, דָּא אֵלִיָּהוּ, דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח תָּדִיר בְּאַרְעָא, וְלָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבָּא וְאִמָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח, דְּאִיהוּ בְּד' טָאסִין, דִּכְתִיב וְרוּחַ ה' יִשָּׂאֲךָ עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא אֵדָע, וְרוּחַ ה' חַד, יִשָּׂאֲךָ תְּרֵין, עַל אֲשֶׁר תְּלַת, לֹא אֵדָע אַרְבַּע.

Angel of Death Angels Chariot Creation Darkness Death Death and the Afterlife Earth Evil Evil Inclination Face Firmaments Heaven Refael (Angel) Satan, The Soul, The Uriel (Angel)

167. The words "upon the face" allude to THE CREATION OF the Angel of Death, because he darkens the face of the world. It is as written of him: "and darkness upon the face of the deep" (Beresheet 1:1). The words, "the open firmament of heaven," mean, as is written, that THE ANGEL OF DEATH goes up to heaven and accuses. HE IS THE SATAN, HE IS THE EVIL INCLINATION, HE IS THE ANGEL OF DEATH. HE IS CALLED THE ANGEL OF DEATH, BECAUSE AFTER HE ACCUSES, HE TAKES THE ACCUSED'S SOUL. IT IS THEREFORE WRITTEN OF HIM, "UPON THE FACE OF THE FIRMAMENT OF HEAVEN" (IBID. 20), BECAUSE IT IS HIS WAY TO ACCUSE IN THE FIRMAMENT OF HEAVEN. Rabbi Aba said: But the Angel of Death was created on the second day! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT "THE OPEN FIRMAMENT OF HEAVEN" IS CONNECTED TO HIS CREATION WHEN, AS WAS STATED, IT IS CONNECTED TO THE FIFTH DAY? But "above the earth" refers to the angel Raphael, who is in charge of healing the earth. Through Raphael, the earth is healed and becomes inhabitable for man. He is the healer to the powers OF THE EARTH. AND BECAUSE THE HEALING OF THE EARTH COMES FROM HIM, HIS CREATION IS INDICATED IN THE WORDS "ABOVE THE EARTH," WHILE the words "upon the face of the firmament of heaven" refer to THE CREATION OF THE ANGEL Uriel. And all THE FOUR ANGELS, THE CARRIERS OF THE CHARIOT, are ALLUDED TO in this verse.

167. עַל פְּנֵי, דָּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, דְּהוּא אַחְשִׁיךְ פְּנֵי עָלְמָא, וּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם, רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, כִּדְאֲמָרָן, עוֹלֶה וּמַסְטִין וכו'. אֲמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא, וְהָא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת בַּשֵּׁנִי אִתְבְּרֵי, אֶלָּא, עַל הָאָרֶץ, דָּא רְפָאֵל, דְּאִיהוּ מְמַנָּא לְאַסְוָותָא דְאַרְעָא, דִּבְגִינֵיהּ אִתְרַפִּיאַת אַרְעָא, וְקַיָּים בַּר נָשׁ עֲלָהּ, וְרָפֵי לְכָל חֵילֵיהּ, עַל פְּנֵי רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם דָּא אוֹרִיאֵל. וְכֹלָּא הוּא בַּקְּרָא.

Creation Earth Seas Seventy

168. The text proceeds, "And Elohim created the great crocodiles" (Beresheet 1:21). Rabbi Elazar said: Those are the seventy ministers OF THE UPPER WORLDS, in charge of the seventy nations, created for the purpose of controlling the earth. THUS THEY ARE CALLED "THE GREAT," INSTEAD OF "THAT MOVES," TO TEACH US THAT THEY WERE CREATED TO BE IN CHARGE.

168. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ, וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹקִים אֶת הַתַּנִּינִים הַגְּדוֹלִים, אֲמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אִלֵּין אִינוּן שַׁבְעִין מְמַנָּן רַבְרְבָן, עַל שַׁבְעִין עַמִּין, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִתְבְּרִיאוּ כָּלְהוֹ, לְמֶהֱוֵי שַׁלִּיטָאן עַל אַרְעָא.

Angels Atzilut Chayah Creation Earth Light Merit Nefesh (Soul) Nukva Righteous Soul (Nefesh) Torah Water Waters Zeir Anpin

169. The words: "And every living creature (Heb. Nefesh living chayah) that moves" (Beresheet 1:21) refer to THE CREATION OF THE NEFESH OF Yisrael, who are surely the Nefesh of Chayah, WHICH IS THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. THIS IS CERTAIN, BECAUSE THE ENTIRETY OF THE WORLD OF ATZILUT IS CONSIDERED THE LIGHT OF CHAYAH. They are therefore called "one nation on the earth" (II Shmuel 7:23). THE WORDS: "which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind" (Beresheet 1:21) REFER TO those who occupy themselves with Torah. 'WATER' ALWAYS ALLUDES TO TORAH, AND WHOEVER OCCUPIES HIMSELF WITH HER, MERITS THE NEFESH OF CHAYAH. AND HE WHO DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUPY HIMSELF WITH TORAH DOES NOT HAVE A HOLY NEFESH. THE WORDS "And every winged bird after its kind" (Beresheet 1:21) ALLUDE TO the righteous among them, AMONG THOSE WHO OCCUPY THEMSELVES WITH TORAH, and for this reason, FOR BEING RIGHTEOUS, they merit the Nefesh of Chayah. According to another interpretation, the words, "every winged bird," refer to the angels, worldly messengers, of whom we have already spoken.

169. וְאֵת כָּל נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה הָרוֹמֶשֶׂת, אִלֵּין אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינוּן נֶפֶשׁ וַדַּאי דְּהַהוּא חַיָּה, וְאִקְרוּן גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ. אֲשֶׁר שָׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם לְמִינֵיהֶם, דְּאִינוּן מִשְׁתַּדְּלִין בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְאֵת כָּל עוֹף כָּנָף לְמִינֵהוּ, אִלֵּין צַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּבְהוֹן, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִינוּן נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה. ד"א וְאֵת כָּל עוֹף כָּנָף כִּדְקָא אִתְּמָר, אִלֵּין אִינוּן שְׁלוּחֵי עָלְמָא.

Idolatry Living Creatures Soul, The

170. Rabbi Aba said that the words, "living Nefesh" refer to Yisrael, because they are children of the Holy One, blessed be He, from whom their holy souls originate. HE ASKS: From where do the souls of idolatrous nations originate? Rabbi Elazar said: Their souls come from the forces of the left, which defile them. Therefore, they are all impure and convey impurity to those who come close to them.

170. אֲמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא, נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן בְּנֵי דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְנִשְׁמַתְהוֹן קַדִּישִׁין מִנֵּיהּ אַתְיָין. נַפְשָׁאן דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין עעכו"ם מֵאָן אֲתַר הוּא, אֲמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, מֵאִינוּן סִטְרֵי שְׂמָאלָא, דִּמְסָאֲבֵי לוֹן, אִית לוֹן נִשְׁמָתִין, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כָּלְהוֹ מְסָאֲבִין, וּמְסָאֲבִין לְמָאן דְּקָרַב בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ.

Chayot Earth Living Creatures Soul, The

171. "And Elohim said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures...'" (Beresheet 1:24). These words refer to the rest of the Chayot, APART FROM YISRAEL, each and every one receives according to its kind. Rabbi Elazar added, This supports our statement that "living Nefesh" refers to Yisrael, who are holy supernal living souls. The words "Cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth" (Beresheet 1:24) refer to the idolatrous nations, which are not living souls. Rather, they are, as we have said, DRAWN FROM THE FORCES OF THE LEFT, WHICH DEFILE THEM.

171. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקִים תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה וגו', כָּלְהוֹן שְׁאָר חֵיוָון אָחֳרָנִין כָּל חַד וְחַד כְּפוּם זִינֵיהּ, וְאָמַר רָבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הַאי מְסַיֵּיעַ לְמַה דַּאֲמָרָן, נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינוּן נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה. בְּהֵמָה וָרֶמֶשׂ וְחַיְתוֹ אֶרֶץ, אִלֵּין שְׁאָר עַמִין עעכו"ם, דְּלָאו אִינוּן נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, אֶלָּא כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן.

<
>