Bereshit B: Chapter 66

"It grieved Him to His heart"

Synopsis

Evil forces lull us into a blinding complacency as they strategically maneuver their way into our consciousness. The Zohar gives us the power to perceive these forces. By removing destructive influences, complacency is replaced by inspiration toward change and spiritual development.

Earth Sin

399. "And Hashem regretted that He made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart" (Beresheet 6:6). Rabbi Yosi said upon this verse, "Woe to them who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with cart rope" (Yeshayah 5:18). Those who draw iniquity are the men who sin every day before the Holy One, blessed be He, and they regard their sins as worthless cord because they think that the actions they engage in and their iniquities are of no consequence and that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not watch them. They thus transform all of their sins into one big, powerful sin - as the cart rope which is strong and thick and cannot be destroyed.

399. וַיִּנָחֶם ה' כִּי עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. ר' יוֹסֵי פָּתַח, הוֹי מוֹשְׁכֵי הֶעָוֹן בְּחַבְלֵי הַשָּׁוְא וְכַעֲבוֹת הָעֲגָלָה חַטָּאָה. הֲוֹי מוֹשְׁכֵי הֶעָוֹן: אִלֵּין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּחָטָאן קַמֵי מָארֵיהוֹן, בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וְאִתְדַּמָּן בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ אִינוּן חוֹבִין, דְּאִינוּן כְּחַבְלֵי הַשָׁוְא. וְחָשְׁבִין דְּהַהוּא עוֹבָדָא דְּעָבְדִין, וְהַהוּא חוֹבָא דְּעָבְדִין, דְּלָאו אִיהוּ כְלוּם, וְלָא אַשְׁגַּח בְּהוֹ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עַד דְּעָבְדִין לְהַהוּא חוֹבָא תַּקִּיף וְרָבֵי, כַּעֲבוֹת הָעֲגָלָה, דְּאִיהוּ תַּקִּיף, דְּלָא יָכִיל לְאִשְׁתֵּצָאָה.

Deeds Judgment Wicked Wickedness

400. Come and behold: when the Holy One, blessed be He, executes judgment upon the wicked of the world, even though they transgress before Him and anger Him all day, He still has no desire to destroy them. And when He reviews their deeds, he is consoled by the fact that they are His handiwork and He has patience with them in this world.

400. וְתָא חֲזֵי, כַּד עָבִיד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דִּינָא בְּחַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא, אַף עַל גָּב דְּאִינוּן חָטָאן קַמֵּי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאַרְגְּזִין לֵיהּ כָּל יוֹמָא, לָא בָּעֵי לְאוֹבָדָא לְהוֹ מֵעָלְמָא. וְכַד אַשְׁגַּח בְּעוֹבָדֵיהוֹן, אִתְנַחֵם עֲלַיְיהוּ, עַל דְּאִינוּן עוֹבְדֵי יְדוֹי, וְאוֹרִיךְ לוֹן בְּעָלְמָא.

Judgment Mercy Table

401. And because they are the work of His hands, He is consoled, gives them respite, and has mercy on them. And when He wants to execute judgment, He is saddened, as it were, because they are the work of His Hands and He is sad because of them, as it is written: "nor were entertainments brought before him" (Daniel 6:19).

401. וּבְגִין דְּאִינוּן עוֹבָדֵי יְדוֹי, נָטֵיל נְחָמָה, וְאִתְנַחֵם עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְחַיֵיס עֲלַיְיהוּ. וְכַד בָּעֵי לְמֶעְבַּד בְּהוֹ דִּינָא, כִּבְיָכוֹל עָצִיב. דְּכֵיוָן דְּעוֹבָדֵי יְדוֹי אִינוּן, עָצִיב עֲלַיְיהוּ. כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וְדַחֲוָון לָא הַנְעֵל קָדָמוֹהִי.

Evil Judgment Strength

402. It is written: "Honor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy in His place" (Tehilim 96:6). Rabbi Yosi said, come and behold: it is written: "And it grieved Him in his Heart," INDICATING THAT He was saddened in His heart, and not in another place. The words, "His heart" function here in the same manner as in the verse, "according to that which is in my heart and in my desire" (I Shmuel 2:35). Rabbi Yitzchak said that the words "Hashem regretted" are similar to "And Hashem relented of the evil He thought do to His people" (Shemot 32:14). THUS THE VERSE "AND HASHEM REGRETTED" HAVING MADE MAN TEACHES US THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO PUNISH THEM, AND WHEN THE TIME CAME TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT, HE WAS SADDENED IN HIS HEART.

402. כְּתִיב הוֹד וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו עוֹז וְחֶדְוָה בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. אֲמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ כְּתִיב. אֶל לִבּוֹ עָצִיב, וְלָא לַאֲתַר אָחֳרָא. לִבּוֹ: כד"א כַּאֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבִי וּבְנַפְשִׁי יַעֲשֶׂה. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אֲמַר, וַיִּנָּחֶם ה', כד"א וַיִנָּחֶם ה' עַל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַעֲשׂוֹת לְעַמּוֹ.

403. Rabbi Yesa said OF THE PASSAGE, "AND HASHEM REGRETTED..." THAT IT WAS SAID for good, but Rabbi Chizkiyah said that it was said for bad. Rabbi Yesa EXPLAINED FURTHER BY saying that it is for good because the Holy One, blessed be He, regretted because those were the work of His hands, and pitied them. THE WORDS "AND HASHEM REGRETTED" TEACH US THAT THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, HAD PITY ON MAN BECAUSE HE MADE HIM, AND HE IS HIS HANDIWORK. "And it grieved Him" means that it saddened Him that they had sinned before Him.

403. ר' יֵיסָא אֲמַר, לְטַב. רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אֲמַר, לְבִישׁ. ר' יֵיסָא אֲמַר לְטַב: כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר, דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָחֵים עַל דְּאִינוּן עוֹבָדֵי יְדוֹי, וְחַיֵיס עֲלַיְיהוּ. וַיִּתְעַצֵּב: בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן חָטָאן קַמֵּיהּ.

Judgment Merit Repentance Wicked Wickedness

404. Rabbi Chizkiyah said: It was all said for demerit, because when the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to destroy the wicked people of the world, He is consoled for their loss, like a person who resigns himself to the loss of something. And once He is comforted, judgment takes its course and repentance is of no avail.

404. וְרַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אֲמַר, לְבִישׁ: דְּכַד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְאוֹבָדָא לְחַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא, נְטֵיל נִחוּמִין עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְקַבֵּיל נִיחוּמִין כִּבְיָכוֹל, כְּמַאן דִּמְקַבֵּל נִיחוּמִין עַל מַה דַּאֲבֵיד. כֵּיוָן דְּקַבֵּל נִיחוּמִין, וַדַּאי דִּינָא אִתְעֲבַד, וְלָא תַלְיָא מִלְּתָא בִּתְשׁוּבָה.

Judgment Nukva Point Repentance Strength

405. So, when is repentance effective? Only up to the point when He is consoled. Once He is consoled, repentance is of no avail and judgment is carried out. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, adds judgment upon Judgment and He gives strength to the place of judgment, so it will carry out the verdict. THE NUKVA CARRIES OUT THE VERDICT, and the sinners are completely destroyed. All this WE SEE in the passages "Hashem regretted" and "He was grieved to His heart." He gave strength to the place of Judgment, so that it could carry out the verdict. THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA IS HIS HEART, WHICH IS THE PLACE OF JUDGMENT. BY "GRIEVED," IT IS MEANT THAT HE GAVE THE NUKVA EXTRA STRENGTH.

405. אֵימָתַי תַּלְיָא בִּתְשׁוּבָה, עַד לָא קַבֵּיל תַּנְחוּמִין עֲלַיְיהוּ, הָא קַבֵּיל תַּנְחוּמִין עֲלַיְיהוּ, לָא תַלְיָיא מִלְּתָא בִּתְשׁוּבָה כְּלַל. וְדִינָא אִתְעֲבֵיד. וּכְדֵין אוֹסִיף דִּינָא עַל דִּינָא, וְאַתְקֵיף לְהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּדִינָא, לְמֶעְבַּד דִּינָא, וְאוֹבִיד לוֹן לְחַיָּיבַיָא מִן עָלְמָא. וְכֹלָּא בַּקְּרָא, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּנָּחֶם ה', קִבֵּל תַּנְחוּמִין. וּלְבָתַר וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. יְהַב תּוּקְפָּא לְדִינָא, לְמֶעְבַּד דִּינָא.

Angels Creation Crowns Earth Heaven

406. Rabbi Chiya explained that the verse says, "And Hashem regretted (also: 'was consoled') that He had made man," because He received consolation and joy. When the Holy One, blessed be He, created man upon the earth, he was made in the supernal image. The angels of heaven praised the Holy One, blessed be He, and when they saw his supernal shape, they said: "You have made him slightly lower than Elohim and have crowned him with glory and honor" (Tehilim 8:6).

406. רַבִּי חִיָּיא אֲמַר, וַיִּנָּחֶם ה' כִּי עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ. נָטַל תַּנְחוּמִין וְחֶדְוָה, כַּד עֲבַד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָאָדָם בְּאַרְעָא, דְּאִיהוּ כְּגַוְונָא עִלָּאָה, וְכָל מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי, מְשַׁבְּחָן לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּד חָמֵי לֵיהּ, בִּדְיוֹקְנָא עִלָּאָה. וַאֲמָרוּ וַתְּחַסְּרֵהוּ מְעַט מֵאֱלֹקִים וְכָבוֹד וְהָדָר תְּעַטְּרֵהוּ.

Adam Angels Sin

407. Later, when Adam sinned, the Holy One, blessed be He, was saddened, because Adam had now justified what the ministering angels asked Him when He wanted to create man: "What is this man that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You visit him" (Ibid. 5)? HENCE, THE VERSE "AND HASHEM REGRETTED..." MEANS THAT HE REJOICED AND WAS COMFORTED BY THE ANGELS BEFORE THE SIN, AND "GRIEVED" AFTER THE SIN.

407. לְבָתַר, כַּד חָטָא אָדָם, אִתְעַצֵּב קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַל דְּחָטָא, דִּיהַב פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה, לְמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, דַּאֲמָרוּ קַמֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, כַּד בָּעָא לְמִבְרֵי לֵיהּ. מָה אֱנוֹשׁ כִּי תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ וּבֶן אָדָם כִּי תִפְקְדֶנּוּ.

Judgment Mercy Praise

408. Rabbi Yehuda said that "He was grieved to His heart" because He had to execute judgment upon them, as it is written: "As they went out before the army, and who should say, Give thanks to Hashem, for His steadfast love endures forever" (II Divrei Hayamim 20:21). Rabbi Yitzchak asks why it was not written, 'GIVE THANKS TO HASHEM for He is good'. HE ANSWERED: Because He was destroying the work of His hands for the sake of Yisrael.

408. אֲמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. בְּגִין דְּבָעֵי לְמֶעְבַּד בְּהוֹ דִּינָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּצֵאת לִפְנֵי הֶחָלוּץ וְאוֹמְרִים הוֹדוּ לַה' כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. וַאֲמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, אַמַּאי לָא כְתִיב הָכָא כִּי טוֹב, אֶלָּא, בְּגִין דְּאוֹבִיד עוֹבְדֵי יְדוֹי, קַמַּיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.

Angels Seas Singing Wicked Wickedness

409. Similarly, on the night when Yisrael crossed the sea, the supernal angels came along to sing before the Holy One, blessed be He. He said to them, "Behold, the work of My hands is drowning in the sea, and you are singing!" Thus, it is written: "One did not come near the other all night" (Shemot 14:20). The same applies here, for whenever the wicked are taken out of this world, He is greatly saddened.

409. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, כַּד הֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָבְרִין יַמָּא. אָתוּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי לְמֵימַר שִׁירָה קַמֵּיהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּהַהוּא לֵילְיָא. אָמָר לוֹ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּמַה עוֹבְדֵי יָדִי טָבְעִין בְּיַמָּא, וְאַתּוּן אָמְרִין שִׁירָה. כְּדֵין וְלֹא קָרַב זֶה אֶל זֶה כָּל הַלַּיְלָה. אוֹף הָכָא, בְּכָל זִמְנִין, דְּאִיבּוּד רַשִּׁיעַיָא אִיהוּ מֵעָלְמָא, כְּדֵין עֲצִיבוּ אִשְׁתְּכַח עֲלַיְיהוּ.

Adam Garden of Eden Light Nukva

410. Rabbi Aba said that The Holy One, blessed be He, was grieved when Adam sinned before Him and transgressed His commands. He said to him, "Adam, woe to you that you have weakened the heavenly power." At that moment one light OF THE NUKVA was extinguished, and forthwith He banished him from the Garden of Eden.

410. רַבִּי אַבָּא אֲמַר, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּחָב קַמֵּי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָדָם, וְעָבַר עַל פִּקּוּדוֹי, כְּדֵין אִשְׁתְּכַח עֲצִיבוּ קַמֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אָדָם, וַוי דְּחָלְשַׁת חֵילָא עִלָּאָה. בְּהַאי שַׁעֲתָא אִתְחַשְׁכַת נְהוֹרָא חַד. מִיָּד תָּרִיךְ לֵיהּ מִגִּנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן.

Altar Caves Death Death and the Afterlife Eden Garden of Eden Nukva Sacrifice Shechinah

411. He said to him, "I placed you in the Garden of Eden to offer sacrifices" - BY UNIFYING THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, AND HIS SHECHINAH - and you have impaired the altar, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, so much that offerings cannot be brought to it anymore. Henceforth, GO AWAY AND work the land. And He sentenced him to death. Taking pity on him, however, the Holy One, blessed be He, buried him, when he died, close to the garden, IN THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH, WHERE THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN IS LOCATED.

411. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, אֲנָא אַעֲלִית לָךְ לְגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן, לְקָרְבָא קָרְבָּנָא, וְאַתְּ פְּגִימַת מַדְבְּחָא, דְּלָא אִתְקְרַב קָרְבָּנָא. מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, לַעֲבוֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. וְגָזַר עֲלֵיהּ מִיתָה. וְחָס עֲלֵיהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְגָנִיז לֵיהּ בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְמִית סָמִיךְ לְגִנְתָּא.

Adam Caves Eden Garden of Eden Light

412. Adam made a cave, THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH, and both he and his wife hid in it. How did he know TO CHOOSE THIS PLACE? Because he saw a faint ray of light emanating from the Garden of Eden that reached to the cave. His desire was awakened to be buried there, close to the entrance to the Garden of Eden.

412. מַה עֲבַד אָדָם, עֲבַד מְעַרְתָּא חָדָא, וְאִתְטַמַּר בָּהּ, הוּא וְאִתְּתֵיהּ. מְנָא יָדַע. אֶלָּא, חָמָא חַד נְהוֹרָא דַּקִּיק, עָיֵיל בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר, דְּנָפֵיק מִגִּנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן, וְתָאַב תֵּיאוּבְתֵּיהּ לְקִבְרֵיהּ. וְתַמָּן הוּא אֲתַר, סָמוּךְ לִתְרַע דְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן.

Adam Death Death and the Afterlife Leaves Precepts Sin Soul, The Tree

413. Come and behold: No one leaves this world without seeing Adam. Adam asks him for what reason he left this world and how HIS SOUL departed. Each person replies, "Woe to you that because of you I had to die," BECAUSE IT WAS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE SIN OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT DEATH WAS DECREED UPON THE WORLD. ADAM then replies, "My son, I have transgressed one commandment, and have been punished because of it. Yet look at yourself. How many sins and how many transgressions on the precepts of your Master have you committed?"

413. תָּא חֲזֵי, לָא אִסְתַּלַּק בַּר נָשׁ מֵעָלְמָא, עַד דְּחָמֵי לֵיהּ לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. שָׁאִיל לֵיהּ, עַל מָה אָזֵיל מֵעָלְמָא, וְהֵיךְ נָפֵיק. הוּא אֲמַר לֵיהּ, וַוי, דִּבְגִינָךְ נְפַקְנָא מֵעָלְמָא. וְהוּא אָתֵיב לֵיהּ, בְּרִי, אֲנָא עֲבָרִית עַל פִּקּוּדָא חָדָא, וְאִתְעַנֵּשִׁית בְּגִינָהּ. חָמֵי אַתְּ, כַּמָּה חוֹבִין, וְכַמָּה פִּקּוּדִין דְּמָארָךְ עֲבַרְתְּ.

Adam Eden Face Garden of Eden Patriarchs Praise Righteous Shadow Sin

414. Rabbi Chiya said that until this very day, Adam continues to face the forefathers and confess his sins twice a day. He shows them the very location IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, where he resided in supernal glory BEFORE HE SINNED. He also goes and looks at all the pious and righteous people among his descendants, who have inherited the supernal glory HE HAD in the Garden of Eden BEFORE HE SINNED. The Patriarchs praise and say, "How precious is Your kindness, Hashem. The children of man (Heb. Adam) take refuge under the shadow of Your wings" (Tehilim 36:8).

414. אֲמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא, עַד כְּדוֹ יוֹמָא, קָאֵים אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן וְחָזֵי בַּאֲבָהָן, תְּרֵין זִמְנִין בְּיוֹמָא. וְאוֹדֵי עַל חוֹבוֹי, וְאַחְמֵי לוֹן הַהוּא אֲתַר דַּהֲוָה בֵּיהּ, בִּיקָרָא עִלָּאָה, וְאָזֵיל וְחָמֵי כָּל אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, וַחֲסִידֵי דְּנָפְקוּ מִנֵּיהּ. וְיָרְתוּ לְהַהוּא יְקָרָא עִלָּאָה דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן. וַאֲבָהָן כָּלְהוֹן, אוֹדָן וְאָמְרִין, מַה יָּקָר חַסְדְּךָ אֱלֹקִים וּבְנֵי אָדָם בְּצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ יֶחֱסָיוּן.

Adam Death Death and the Afterlife Sin

415. Rabbi Yesa said: THE REASON Adam appears to each person at the moment of their departure from this world is to testify that this person is dying on account of his own sins and not because of those of Adam. As we have learned, there is not death without sin.

415. רַבִּי יֵיסָא אֲמַר, כָּלְהוֹ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, חָמָאן לֵיהּ לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמִסְתַּלְּקֵי מִן עָלְמָא, לְאַחֲזָאָה סַהֲדוּתָא, דִּבְגִין חוֹבוֹי דְּבַר נָשׁ, אִיהוּ אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא, וְלָא בְגִינֵיהּ דְּאָדָם. כְּמָה דִּתְנִינָן אֵין מִיתָה בְּלֹא חֵטְא.

Amram Death and the Afterlife Eve Serpent Sin Tree Yishai

416. The only exceptions are the three who had to leave this world because of the prompting of the primal serpent, WHO CONVINCED EVE TO EAT OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE. THEY DID NOT DIE FOR OF THEIR OWN SINS. Those three are Amram, Levi, and Benjamin. Some friends also include Yishai among them. None of them ever sinned and no blemish could be found to explain their deaths except for the prompting of the serpent, as we have said.

416. בַּר אִינוּן תְּלָתָא, דְּאִסְתַּלָּקוּ בְּגִין הַהוּא עֵיטָא דְּנָחָשׁ הַקַּדְמוֹנִי. וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן: עַמְרָם, לֵוִי וּבִנְיָמִין. וְאִית דְּאָמְרֵי, אוֹף נָמֵי יִשַּׁי. דְּלָא חָבוּ, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח עֲלַיְיהוּ חוֹבָא דִּימוּתוּן בֵּיהּ, בַּר דְּאַדְכַּר עֲלַיְיהוּ הַהוּא עֵיטָא דְּנָחָשׁ. כִּדְאֲמָרָן.

Gates Noah Seas Sin

417. Come and behold: all the generations contemporary to Noah committed their sins openly, for all to see. Rabbi Shimon was strolling one day near the gates of Tiberias, where he saw some men drawing arrows tightly into their bows and shooting them at earthenware pots. THIS MEANS THAT THEY WERE WASTING THEIR SEED IN VAIN AND IN THE OPEN. He said, 'Why are they committing this sin openly, if not to provoke their Master's anger?' He stared at them and they were thrown into the sea and drowned.

417. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּלְהוֹן דָּרִין דַּהֲווֹ בְּיוֹמוֹי דְּנֹחַ, כָּלְהוֹ אַפְשִׁיטוּ חוֹבִין, עַל עָלְמָא בְּאִתְגַּלְיָא, לְעֵינֵיהוֹן דְּכֹלָּא. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הֲוָה אָזֵיל יוֹמָא חַד, בְּפִילֵי דִטְבֶרְיָה. חָמָא בְּנֵי נְשָׁא דַּהֲוֵי מְקַטְרֵי בְּקִיטְרָא דְקַשְׁתָּא בְּקוּלְפָא דְּקַנְסִיר. אֲמַר, וּמַה חוֹבָא דָא בְּאִתְגַּלְיָא, לְאַרְגָּזָא לְמָרֵיהוֹן. יָהִיב עֵינוֹי בְּהוֹ, וְאִתְרְמִיּוּ לְגוֹ יַמָּא, וּמִיתוּ.

Earth Flood Head Shechinah Silver Sin Throne Vessels Wicked Wickedness

418. Come and behold: any sin that is committed publicly repels the Shechinah from the earth and causes Her to remove Her residence from the world. Those IN THE GENERATION OF THE FLOOD walked defiantly with their heads high, WITHOUT SHAME. They sinned openly and repelled the Shechinah from the world until the Holy One, blessed be He, rejected them and removed them from HIS PRESENCE. As it is written: "Take away the impurity from the silver and there shall come forth a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked from the presence of the king and his throne shall be established in righteousness" (Mishlei 25:4-5).

418. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל חוֹבָא דְּאִתְעֲבֵיד בְּאִתְגַּלְיָא, דָּחֵי לָהּ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא מֵאַרְעָא, וּסְלֵיקַת דִּיּוּרָהּ מֵעָלְמָא. אִלֵּין הֲווֹ אָזְלִין בְּרֵישָׁא זָקֵיף, וְעַבְדֵי חוֹבַיְיהוּ בְּאִתְגַלְיָיא, וְדָחוּ לָהּ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא מֵעָלְמָא, עַד דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דָּחָא לוֹן, וְאַעֲבֵיר לוֹן מִנֵּיהּ. וְעַל דָּא כְתִיב הָגוֹ רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ וגו'. הָגוֹ סִגִּים מִכֶּסֶף וגו'.

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