Chayei Sarah: Chapter 1

"So they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea"

Synopsis

Here Rabbi Yosi explains the hidden meaning of the Biblical story of Jonah and the whale, and the nature of the symbols used in the story. We learn that the soul is judged each night while we sleep, and that this judgment is twofold. People are not judged according to the evil that they are destined to commit, but rather for the good that they have done and will go on to do. The question of whether The Creator takes pleasure in punishing the wicked is then raised. In answer, it is pointed out that all human beings have a predetermined amount of evil they are allowed to commit. Once this limit passed, there is pleasure at their demise.

Relevance

The universal law of cause and effect is deeply embedded into our reality. For every negative action there is an equal negative reaction. The concept of time, however, creates a separation between cause and effect in our physical world. When man commits a negative deed, time delays the inevitable consequences. Repercussions from wrongful actions appear at a later date, creating the illusion that these repercussions are random events. Our negative inclination then tempts us to point the finger of blame at God because the original cause - our negative action - is forgotten and hidden somewhere in the past. A reading of this section makes us more keenly aware of our actions and the judgments they invariably bring, arousing a stronger intention to ardently walk the path of righteousness.

Earth Hundred Jonah Nukva Seas Seven Shechinah Year

1. "And Sarah's life was a hundred year and twenty year and seven years" (Beresheet 23:1). Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the verse, "So they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging" (Yonah 1:15). We have to examine this text carefully. Why did the sea rage upon Jonah and not the earth, NAMELY THE NUKVA CALLED EARTH? He was leaving the land, so that the Shechinah would not hover above him. IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE LAND OF YISRAEL - FROM THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA. If so, why did the sea seize him when he went away, AND NOT THE LAND FROM WHICH HE RAN?

1. וַיִּהְיוּ חַיֵּי שָׂרָה מֵאָה שָׁנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת יוֹנָה וַיְטִלֻהוּ אֶל הַיָּם וַיַּעֲמֹד הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ. הָכָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָה, מ"ט, אַרְעִישַׁת יַמָּא, עֲלֵיהּ דְּיוֹנָה, וְלָא אַרְעִישַׁת עֲלֵיהּ אַרְעָא, כֵּיוָן דַּהֲוָה אָזֵיל, בְּגִין דְּלָא תִשְׁרֵי עֲלֵיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא, יַמָּא אַמַּאי אָחֵיד בֵּיהּ, כַּד הֲוָה אָזֵיל.

Firmaments Mochin Nukva Prophecy Seas Throne

2. RABBI YOSI ANSWERS THAT the verse was accurate, for the sea resembles the firmament, and the firmament resembles the Throne of Glory. For that reason, the sea grabbed him and received him in its midst. He was fleeing from the sea, NAMELY FROM THE PROPHECY THAT IS DRAWN FROM THE MOCHIN OF THE NUKVA, WHICH IS AN ASPECT OF THE SEA. THUS, THE SEA RAGED UPON HIM, NOT THE LAND. HE WAS CAST INTO THE SEA TO RETURN HIM TO THE PROPHECY FROM WHICH HE WAS FLEEING.

2. אֶלָא, וַדַּאי מִלָּה בְּאַתְרֵיהּ הֲוָה. יַם, תְּנַן, יַם דַּמְיָא לְרָקִיעַ, וְרָקִיעַ לְכִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, יַמָּא אָחִיד בֵּיהּ וּנְטַל לֵיהּ, מִקַּמֵּי יַמָא עָרַק.

Jonah Seas

3. "So they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea." We learned that when they cast him into the sea and immersed him to his knees, the sea calmed. When they lifted him, the sea raged. The deeper they immersed him, the calmer the sea became, until he said, "Take me up, and cast me into the sea" (Yonah 1:12). Immediately, "they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea."

3. וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת יוֹנָה וַיְטִלֻהוּ אֶל הַיָּם. אוֹלִיפְנָא, כַּד הֲוָה נָטְלֵי לֵיהּ וְטָבְעֵי יַרְכוֹי בְּיַמָּא, הֲוָה יַמָּא שָׁכֵיךְ, זָקְפִין לֵיהּ, אִתְרְעֵישׁ יַמָּא, כָּל מַה דְּטָבְעֵי לֵיהּ, הָכֵי אִשְׁתְּכֵיךְ יַמָּא, עַד דְּאִיהוּ אֲמַר, שָׂאוּנִי וַהֲטִילֻנִי אֶל הַיָּם, מִיָּד וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת יוֹנָה וַיְּטִלֻהוּ אֶל הַיָּם.

Fish Seas Soul, The Throne

4. When he was thrown into the sea, his soul soared and ascended to the King's throne to be judged. When his soul was returned to him, he entered the mouth of that fish, which died and later came back to life.

4. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְרַמֵּי בַּיָּם פָּרְחָה מִנֵּיהּ נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ וְסָלְקָא עַד כָּרְסְיָיא דְמַלְכָּא, וְאִתְדָּנַת קַמֵּיהּ, וְאַהֲדָרַת לֵיהּ נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ, וְעָאל בְּפוּמָא דְהַהוּא נוּנָא, וּמִית נוּנָא לְבָתַר אִתְקַיַּים הַהוּא נוּנָא, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ.

Court Soul, The

5. Come and behold, When a man goes to sleep each night, his soul leaves him to be judged before the King's court. If it merits life, his soul is returned to this world.

5. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ סָלֵיק בְּעַרְסֵיהּ, כָּל לֵילְיָא וְלֵילְיָא נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ נָפְקַת מִנֵּיהּ, וְאִתְדָּנַת קַמֵּי בֵּי דִינָא דְמַלְכָּא, אִי זַכָּאָה לְאִתְקָיְימָא, אִתְהַדָּרַת לְהַאי עַלְמָא.

Evil Judgment Voice Wicked Wickedness

6. The judgement is twofold, for man is not judged for the evil he is destined to commit. "For Elohim has heard the voice of the lad where he is" (Beresheet 21:17) is NOT written IN THE FUTURE TENSE. You should not say that man is judged only for the good he has already done, rather he is rewarded for his present good as was said above, and he is also judged for the good he will do in the future. He is saved for their sake, as they said, even though he is now wicked. The Holy One, blessed be He, does good with all people and does everything to benefit all, therefore He does not sentence man for the evil he is about to do. Hence, man is judged before the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO KNOWS THE FUTURE.

6. וְדִינָא הוּא בִּתְרֵין גְּוָונִין, דְּהָא לָא דָיְינִין לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, עַל בִּישִׁין דְּאִיהוּ עָתִיד וְזַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד, דִּכְתִיב כִּי שָׁמַע אֱלֹֹהִים וגו' בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם. וְלָא תֵימָא, דְּדָנִין לֵיהּ עַל טָבִין דְּעָבֵיד לְחוּד, אֶלָּא לְאוֹטָבָא לֵיהּ עַל אִינוּן טָבִין דְּהַשְׁתָּא, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר, וְדָנִין לֵיהּ עַל זָכְיָין דְּאִיהוּ זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד, וּבְגִינַיְיהוּ אִשְׁתְּזֵיב, אע"ג דְּאִיהוּ הַשְׁתָּא חַיָּיבָא. בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד טִיבוּ, עִם כָּל בִּרְיָין, וְכָל אָרְחוֹי דְאִיהוּ עָבֵיד, לְאוֹטָבָא לְכֹלָּא, וְלָא דָאִין לְב"נ, עַל בִּישִׁין דְּאִיהוּ זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִתְדָּן בַּר נָשׁ, קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Birth Court Jonah Judgment Nukva Pregnancy Seas Wicked Wickedness Women

7. Come and behold. Once they cast Jonah into the sea, it is written, "And the sea ceased (lit. 'stood') from its raging." THIS IS the supernal sea, THE NUKVA. It stood where it was, for when anger calms down, it stands. When judgement is passed upon the world, that court, NAMELY THE NUKVA, is like a pregnant woman experiencing severe labor pains. When she gives birth, the panic ceases. Similarly, when judgement is passed upon the world, it does not calm or rest until justice is administered to the wicked. Then it rests, wholly standing in its place and perfectly maintained. This is what the verse meant by the words, "But when the wicked perish, there is jubilation" (Mishlei 11:10). This has already been explained.

7. תָּא חֲזֵי, כֵּיוָן דְּאַטִּילוּ לֵיהּ לְיוֹנָה בְּיַמָּא, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיַּעֲמֹד הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ. הַיָּם עִלָּאָה, מַאי וַיַּעֲמֹד, דְּקָאֵים בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, בַּעֲמִידָה אִיהוּ, כַּד רוֹגְזָא שָׁכֵיךְ, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּדִינָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעַלְמָא, הַהוּא בֵּי דִינָא, אִיהוּ כְּאִתְּתָא דְּמִתְעַבְּרָא, וְקַשְׁיָא לְאוֹלָדָא, וְכַד אוֹלִידַת שְׁכֵיךְ רוּגְזָא. הָכֵי נָמֵי, כַּד דִּינָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעַלְמָא לָא שָׁכֵיךְ וְלָא נָח, עַד דְּאִתְעֲבֵיד דִּינָא בְּחַיָּיבַיָא, כְּדֵין הוּא נַיְיחָא דִילֵיהּ, לְמֵיקַם בְּדוּכְתָּא שְׁלִים, וּלְמֵיקַם בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ, הה"ד וּבַאֲבֹד רְשָׁעִים רִנָּה. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ.

Ezekiel Judgment Wicked Wickedness

8. HE THEN ASKS ABOUT THE VERSE, "But when the wicked perish, there is jubilation." Is it not written, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die" (Yechezkel 18:23)? This would mean that there is no pleasure for the Holy One, blessed be He, when judgement is administered to the wicked. HE ANSWERS, Before their measure was filled, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, DID NOT HAVE PLEASURE THAT THE WICKED SHOULD DIE. But now, after the measure is full, "WHEN THE WICKED PERISH, THERE IS JUBILATION."

8. בַּאֲבֹד רְשָׁעִים רִנָּה. וְהָכְתִיב הֶחָפֹץ אֶחְפֹּץ מוֹת הָרָשָׁע. וְהָא לֵית נַיְיחָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּד אִתְעֲבֵיד דִּינָא בְּרַשִּׁיעַיָּיא. אֶלָּא, כָּאן קוֹדֶם דְּאִשְׁתְּלֵים קִיסְטָא, כָּאן לְבָתַר דְּאִשְׁתְּלֵים קִיסְטָא.

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