Chayei Sarah: Chapter 17

"And Abraham was old, advanced in age"

Synopsis

Using Abraham and David as examples, Rabbi Yehuda explains the difference between the righteousness and contrition. While the soul of a contrite person immediately enters the supernal realm, where it cleaves to the Holy One, merely righteous souls may take many years to acquire such a blessing. Even Abraham and David were unable to enter the world where the truly contrite are made welcome. Rabbi Yosi further adds that a contrite soul is closer to the Creator than all others, drawing down more Light from above, in proportion to its yearning and penitence.

Relevance

The Zohar values a spiritual state of mind far above a religious, dogmatic one. Some people observe the Law, but at the expense of hurting those around them. Righteousness turns to self-righteousness and negative action, all in the name of God. Uninterrupted humbleness and repentance for our misdeeds protects us from this fate. This passage helps us raise our consciousness so we can differentiate our desire for righteousness from our need for penitence. Concentrating on penitence hastens us into the Light, rather than merely flattering our egotistical pride.

Abraham

118. "And Abraham was old, advanced in age (lit. 'coming with the days'), and Hashem blessed Abraham in all things" (Beresheet 24:1). Rabbi Yehuda opened with the verse, "Happy is the man You choose, and cause to approach to You, that he may dwell in Your courts" (Tehilim 65:5). This verse has already been explained. Nevertheless, happy is the man whose ways are acceptable to the Holy One, blessed be He, who wants to bring himself nearer to Him.

118. וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה פְּתַח, אַשְׁרֵי תִּבְחַר וּתְקָרֵב יִשְׁכֹּן חֲצֵרֶיךָ, הַאי קְרָא אִתְּמָר, אֲבָל זַכָּאָה הוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דְּאוֹרְחוֹי אִתְכַּשְׁרָן קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְאִיהוּ אִתְרְעֵי בֵּיהּ, לְקָרָבָא לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ.

Abraham Deeds Grades

119. Come and behold, Abraham came closer to THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. All his days, his desire was TO COME CLOSER TO HIM. Abraham did not come closer through one day or at one time, but his GOOD deeds brought him closer every day as he moved from one grade to another, until his grade was elevated.

119. תָּא חֲזֵי, אַבְרָהָם אִתְקְרֵיב לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְתֵיאוּבְתֵּיהּ דִּילֵיהּ הֲוָה כָּל יוֹמוֹי בְּהַאי, וְלָא אִתְקְרֵיב אַבְרָהָם בְּיוֹמָא חָדָא, אוֹ בְּזִמְנָא חָדָא, אֶלָּא עוֹבָדוֹי קְרִיבוּ לֵיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמוֹי, מִדַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא, עַד דְּאִסְתַּלַק בְּדַרְגּוֹי.

Aba and Ima Abraham Faith Flow Grades

120. When he was old, he entered the supernal grades as he deserved, as it is written, "And Abraham was old" and then "coming with the days." This refers to the supernal days, the days known by the secret of the faith. "And Hashem blessed Abraham in all," NAMELY BY YESOD OF THE SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA CALLED ALL, where blessings and every goodness come from, AS ITS PLENTY NEVER STOPS FLOWING.

120. כַּד הֲוָה סִיב, וְעָאל בְּדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין כִּדְקָא חָזֵי, דִּכְתִיב וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן, וּכְדֵין בָּא בַּיָּמִים, בְּאִינוּן יוֹמִין עִלָּאִין, בְּאִינוּן יוֹמִין יְדִיעָאן בְּרָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא. וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל, דְּמִתַּמָּן נָפְקִין כָּל בִּרְכָאן, וְכָל טִיבוּ.

Abraham David Righteous Year

121. Happy are the penitent, who in one hour, one day, one moment, get as close to the Holy One, blessed be He, as most righteous come to the Holy One, blessed be He, over several years. Abraham did not come into the supernal days until he was old, as has been explained. Neither did David, as it is written, "Now King David was old, advanced in years (lit. 'coming with the days')" (I Melachim 1:1). But a penitent comes right in and cleaves to the Holy One, blessed be He.

121. זַכָּאִין אִינוּן מָארֵיהוֹן דִּתְשׁוּבָה, דְּהָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא חָדָא, בְּיוֹמָא חָדָא, בְּרִגְעָא חָדָא, קְרֵיבִין לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה הָכֵי אֲפִילּוּ לְצַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים, דְּאִתְקְרִיבוּ גַּבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכַמָּה שְׁנִין. אַבְרָהָם לָא עָאל בְּאִינוּן יוֹמִין עִלָּאִין, עַד דַּהֲוָה סִיב, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר. וְכֵן דָּוִד, דִּכְתִיב וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים. אֲבָל מָארֵיהּ דִּתְשׁוּבָה, מִיָּד עָאל, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Heart Righteous

122. Rabbi Yosi said, We learned that the wholly righteous have no permission to be in that place where the contrite stand. They are closer to the King than everyone else and draw plenty from above with a more intent heart and greater force in order to come closer to the King.

122. ר' יוֹסֵי אֲמַר, תָּנִינָן, אֲתַר דְּמָארֵיהוֹן דִּתְשׁוּבָה קָיְימֵי בֵּיהּ, בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים לֵית לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְקָיְימָא בֵּיהּ, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן קְרֵיבִין לְמַלְכָּא יַתִּיר מִכֻּלְּהוּ, וְאִינוּן מָשְׁכֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ בִּרְעוּתָא דְלִבָּא יַתִּיר, וּבְחֵילָא סַגְיָא לְאִתְקְרָבָא לְמַלְכָּא.

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