Chayei Sarah: Chapter 18

There are many places for the righteous

Synopsis

The relationship of a man's good deeds to the place allotted to him in the World to Come is expounded by the rabbis. We learn that there are ultimately as many different places in the upper world as there are varieties of good deeds in this one. Just as the wicked receive a judgment each night while they are asleep, so the righteous nightly receive a blessing, as their souls ascend to carve out their future path to the supernal realms. The righteous souls also enjoy a dialogue with the angels and saints, who in exchange for information from the lower world, confer gifts of wisdom. It was such wisdom, says Rabbi Chiya, that enabled Abraham to understand, locate, and avoid the sources from which unholy spirits bring defilement and negativity to the unwary and unrighteous in this world.

Relevance

In simplest terms, reality includes two basic realms - the upper world, and our existence in the physical dimension. The upper world is the source of our intuition and the force behind moments of mystical insight. When a dream comes true, for example, contact has been made with the upper worlds. When instinct impelled you to make an illogical decision that brought good fortune, this is another form of connection to the upper world. Unfortunately, these moments of acute insight and clarity are rare. We seem to have no control over how or when we make contact with the supernal realms. When we must make decisions and choices based on the evidence of our physical existence, the result is often turmoil and turbulence. The author of the Zohar understood this difficulty, and prescribed this portion as a remedy. A reading of this passage helps us utilize our sleep as a tool for spiritual enlightenment. The 'energy of Abraham' is summoned forth through these verses, strengthening our powers of judgment in matters that help or hinder the entrance of the Light into our world.

Grades Righteous

123. Come and behold, The Holy One, blessed be He, has several places in that world. In them all, there are apartments for the righteous, each according to his deserved grade.

123. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אַתְרִין מְתוּקָנִין לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וּבְכֻלְּהוּ בֵּי מוֹתָבֵי לוֹן לַצַּדִּיקִים. כָּל חַד וְחַד לְפוּם דַּרְגֵּיהּ כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ.

Grades Soul, The Temple, The

124. It is written, "Happy is the man whom You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts" (Tehilim 65:5). This verse refers to those whom the Holy One, blessed be He, causes to approach Him, as these are the souls that ascend to join the inheritance prepared for them. "That he may dwell in Your courts" alludes to the outer halls and the grades outside THE TEMPLE. To whom does it refer? The allusion here is as written, "Then I will give you free access among these who stand by..." (Zecharyah 3:7). This is a specific grade assigned among the celestial holy beings.

124. כְּתִיב אַשְׁרֵי תִּבְחַר וּתְקָרֵב יִשְׁכֹּן חֲצֵרֶיךָ, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָרֵיב לוֹן לְגַבֵּיהּ, דְּסָלְקִין אִינוּן נִשְׁמָתִין מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא, וּלְאִתְאַחֲדָא בְּאַחְסַנְתֵּיהוֹן, דְּאִתְתַּקְנָן לְהוֹ. יִשְׁכֹּן חֲצֵרֶיךָ, אִלֵּין אַתְרִין וְדַרְגִּין לְבַר, וּמַאן אִינוּן, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים הָאֵלֶּה. וְהַאי הוּא, דַּרְגָּא בֵּין קַדִּישִׁין עִלָּאִין.

Angels Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Merit Universe

125. All those who merit this grade are the messengers of the Master of the universe like the angels, FOR THOSE WHO STAND BY ARE MESSENGERS. They always do the errands according to their Master's wish, for they are forever in holiness and are never defiled.

125. וּמַאן דְּזַכָּאִין לְדַרְגָּא דָא, אִינוּן שְׁלִיחָן דְּמָארֵי עַלְמָא, כְּאִינוּן מַלְאָכִין, וְעָבְדִין שְׁלִיחוּתָא תָּדִיר בִּרְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין תָּדִיר בִּקְדוּשָּׁה וְלָא אִסְתָּאֲבוּ.

Dwellings Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Other Side Soul, The

126. Similarly, whoever is defiled in this world draws the spirit of unholiness to himself. When his soul leaves him, he is defiled BY THE OTHER SIDE, and his dwelling is with the unclean, with the fiends of the world. As a man draws upon himself in this world, his dwelling will likewise be determined IN THE ETERNAL WORLD. The defiled spirits corrupt him and bring him into Gehenom.

126. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, מַאן דְּאִסְתָּאַב בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, אִיהוּ מָשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאָב, וְכַד נָפַק נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ מִנֵּיהּ, מְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ, וּמְדוֹרֵיהּ בֵּין אִינוּן מְסָאֲבִין, וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן מַזִּיקִין דְּעַלְמָא. כְּמָה דְאִתְמְשַׁךְ בַּר נָשׁ גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, הָכֵי הוּא מְדוֹרֵיהּ, וְאִתְמְשַׁךְ בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וְאִינוּן רוּחֵי מְסָאֲבֵי מְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ, וְאָעֳלִין לֵיהּ לַגֵּיהִנֹּם.

Court Dwellings

127. Come and behold, Whoever sanctifies himself and is on guard against defilement in this world will find his dwelling in the next world among the celestial holy beings who eternally carry forth the missions OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. They stand by in the court, as it is written, "The court of the tabernacle" (Shemot 27:9), UPON WHICH THE SCRIPTURES FURTHER STATE, "HAPPY IS HE...THAT HE MAY DWELL IN YOUR COURTS."

127. תָּא חֲזֵי מַאן דְּאִתְקַדַּשׁ, וְנָטֵיר גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, דְּלָא אִסְתָּאַב, מְדוֹרֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, בֵּין אִינוּן קַדִּישִׁין עִלָּאִין, וְעָבְדִין שְׁלִיחוּתָא תָּדִיר, וְאִלֵּין קָיְימֵי בַּחָצֵר, כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר אֵת חֲצַר הַמִּשְׁכָּן.

Court David House Temple, The

128. Others are in a more inner place, not in the court but in the house, as it is written, "We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house" (Tehilim 65:5). David said, "We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house." HE ASKS, if he said "that he may dwell in Your courts," why is it written, "We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house?" Should it not have been written, 'He will be satisfied', as "he may dwell?" But we learned that sitting in the Temple court is solely for the kings of the house of David. THEREFORE HE SAID, AS SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF, "WE WILL BE SATISFIED WITH THE GOODNESS OF YOUR HOUSE" MEANING HIMSELF AND THE OTHER KINGS, WHO HAVE A PLACE IN THE TEMPLE COURT IN THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE, NAMELY THE TEMPLE.

128. וְאִית אָחֳרָנִין, דְּאִינוּן לְגוֹ יַתִּיר, דְּלָאו אִינוּן בַּחָצֵר, אֶלָּא בְּבֵיתָא, כד"א נִשְׂבְּעָה בְּטוּב בֵּיתֶךָ. אָמַר דָּוִד, נִשְׂבְּעָה בְּטוּב בֵּיתֶךָ, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר יִשְׁכֹּן חֲצֵרֶיךָ, אַמַּאי כְּתִיב נִשְׂבְּעָה בְּטוּב בֵּיתֶךָ, יִשְׂבַּע בְּטוּב בֵּיתֶךָ מִיבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב יִשְׁכֹּן. אֶלָּא הָא תָּנִינָן, לֵית יְשִׁיבָה בָּעֲזָרָה, אֶלָּא לְמַלְכֵי בֵּית דָּוִד בִּלְחוּדַיְיהוּ.

Aaron Deeds Dwellings East Light Lights Moses Temple, The Tents

129. There is a place for the most pious, who receive EVEN MORE inward, IN (?) THE ASPECT OF THE TEMPLE. Who are they? They are "those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the Tent of Meeting eastward, shall be Moses and Aaron and his sons..." (Bemidbar 3:38). OF THEM, IT IS WRITTEN, "YOUR HOLY TEMPLE" (TEHILIM 65:5). Compartments upon compartments, lights upon lights exist in that world, each different from the other, each feeling ashamed by its fellow's light. For as good deeds are different FROM EACH OTHER in this world, so the places FOR THE COMPARTMENTS and their lights are different in that world.

129. וְאִית אֲתַר לַחֲסִידֵי עֶלְיוֹנִין, דְּעַיְילֵי לְגוֹ, וּמַאי אִינוּן, כְּדִכְתִיב וְהַחוֹנִים לִפְנֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן קֵדְמָה לִפְנֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מִזְרָחָה משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וגו'. וְכַמָּה מָדוֹרִין עַל מָדוֹרִין, וּנְהוֹרִין עַל נְהוֹרִין, מִתְפָּרְשָׁן בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וְכָל חַד אִכְסִיף מִנְּהוֹרָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ, כְּמָה דְעוֹבָדִין אִתְפָּרְשָׁן בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, הָכֵי נָמֵי, דּוּכְתִּין וּנְהוֹרִין, מִתְפָּרְשָׁן בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא.

Ancient of Days (Atik Yomin) Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days) Body Deeds Face Soul, The

130. Come and behold, We have learned that even in this world when man is asleep in his bed and the soul comes out of his body to hover about the world, not every soul rises to see the glory of the face of Atik Yomin. His soul ascends as he generally draws upon himself, and according to his deeds.

130. וְתָא חֲזֵי, הָא אִתְּמָר, דַּאֲפִילּוּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, כַּד בַּר נָשׁ נָּאֵים עַל עַרְסֵיהּ, וְנִשְׁמָתִין אִצְטְרִיכוּ לְאִתְשׁוֹטְטָא בְּעַלְמָא, וּנְפָקוּ מִגּוֹ גּוּפָא, לָאו כָּל נִשְׁמָתָא וְנִשְׁמָתָא, סַלְקָא וְשַׁטְיָא, לְמֶחֱזֵי בִּיקָר סֵבֶר אַפֵּי דְּעַתִּיק יוֹמִין, אֶלָּא כְּמָא דְאִתְמְשֵׁיךְ תָּדִיר, וּכְפוּם עוֹבָדֵי, הָכֵי נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ סָלְקָא.

Curtain Grades Soul, The

131. When a defiled person sleeps, his soul leaves and the spirits of defilement seize it. It is attached to the lower grades that hover about the world and tell it things that will happen in the world in the future, THINGS THEY HEARD BEHIND THE CURTAIN. And sometimes they tell it false things and laugh at it, as has already been explained.

131. אִי אִסְתָּאַב, אִיהוּ נָאֵים וְנִשְׁמָתָא נָפְקָא, וְכָל אִינוּן רוּחִין מְסָאֲבִין נָקְטִין לָהּ, וְאִתְדַּבְּקַת בְּהוֹ בְּאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין דְּשָׁטְיָין בְּעַלְמָא, וְאִינוּן מוֹדִיעִין לָהּ מִלִּין דְּאִינוּן קְרֵיבִין לְמֵיתֵי בְּעַלְמָא, וּלְזִמְנִין דְּמוֹדְעִין לָהּ, מִלִּין כְּדִיבָן, וְחָיְיכָן בָּהּ, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ.

Merit Soul, The

132. If the man has merit, then his soul ascends when he sleeps. It goes around and paves a way among the spirits of defilement. All say, Make way, make way, this one is not of our side. And it ascends among the saints, who give it true knowledge.

132. וְאִי זָכֵי בַּר נָשׁ, כַּד אִיהוּ נָאִים וְנִשְׁמָתֵיהּ סָלְקָא, אָזְלָא וְשָׁטְיָא, וּבָקְעָא בֵּין אִלֵּין רוּחִין מְסָאֲבִין, וְכֻלְּהוּ מַכְרִיזִין וְאָמְרִין פַּנּוּן אֲתַר, פַּנּוּן, לָאו דָּא מִסִּטְרָנָא, וְאִיהִי סָלְקָא בֵּין אִינוּן קַדִּישִׁין, וּמוֹדָעֵי לָהּ מִלָּה חָדָא דִקְשׁוֹט.

Angels Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Soul, The

133. And when the soul descends again, the mixed legions OF ANGELS, IN WHOM HOLINESS IS MINGLED WITH DEFILEMENT, want to approach the soul in order to learn the information it received. In return, they tell it other things. But what it learned from holy beings compares to what it learned from THE MIXED LEGIONS, as grain compares with straw and chaff. This is the most meritorious reward while one is still among the living - that is, while the soul is still in this world.

133. וְכַד נָחֲתָא, כָּל אִינוּן חֲבִילִין טְרִיקִין, בָּעָאן לְאִתְקְרָבָא בַּהֲדָהּ, לְמִנְדַע הַהִיא מִלָּה, וְאִינוּן מוֹדָעִין לָהּ, מִלִּין אָחֳרָנִין, וְהַהִיא מִלָּה דְּנָטְלָא גּוֹ אִינוּן קַדִּישִׁין, בֵּין אִינוּן אָחֳרָנִין, אִיהוּ כְּעִבּוּרָא גּוֹ תִּיבְנָא. וְהַאי אִיהוּ דְּזָכֵי יַתִּיר, בְּעוֹד דְּאִיהוּ קָאֵים, וְנִשְׁמָתָא קָיְימָא, בְּהַאי עָלְמָא.

Dumah (Angel) Gates Gehenom (Hell) Hands Hell (Gehenom) Soul, The

134. Similarly, when souls in this world leave their bodies, NAMELY, AFTER THEY DIE, they wish to ascend by passing through gates at which one finds harmful hordes that seize the souls of their own side and deliver them into the hands of Dumah, so that he may take them to Gehenom.

134. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא כַּד נָפְקִין נִשְׁמָתִין מִגּוּפָא מֵהַאי עַלְמָא, בָּעָאן לְסַלְקָא, וְכַמָּה תַּרְעִין חֲבִילֵי טְהִירִין קָיְימֵי, אִי אִינוּן מִסִּטְרַיְיהוּ, כֻּלְּהוּ אָחֲדִין בְּהוֹ, בְּאִינוּן נַפְשָׁאן, וּמָסְרֵי לוֹן בִּידָא דְדוּמָה, לְאָעֳלָא לוֹן בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם.

Demons Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Precepts Soul, The Twelve

135. Later, as they ascend from Gehenom, the demons grab the souls and proclaim, These transgressed the precepts of their Master. Then, they travel throughout the world, bringing these souls back to Gehenom. THUS, THEY REPEATEDLY TAKE THE SOULS OUT OF GEHENOM, MAKE THEIR PROCLAMATIONS, AND AGAIN RETURN THEM TO GEHENOM for twelve months. After twelve months appeasement, they are quieted and rise to the place that they deserve. Meritorious souls ascend and receive their places, as has already been explained.

135. וּלְבָתַר סָלְקָן וְאָחֲדָן בְּהוֹ, וְאִינוּן נָטְלֵי לְהוֹן, וּמַכְרְזֵי בְּהוֹ, אִלֵּין אִינוּן דְּעָבְרוּ עַל פִּקּוּדֵי דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, וְכֵן שָׁטְיָין בְּכָל עָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר מְהַדְּרֵי לְהוֹ לַגֵּיהִנֹּם, וְכֵן עַד תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי. לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי, מִשְׁתַּכְּכֵי, בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִתְחֲזֵי לוֹן, אִינוּן נִשְׁמָתִין דְּזָכוּ, סָלְקֵי לְעֵילָא, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר, וְזָכָאן בְּדוּכְתַּיְיהוּ.

Eyes Righteous

136. Come and behold, Happy are the righteous, for much goodness is put aside for them in that world. The innermost place is reserved for the righteous, those who know the secret of their Master and cleave to Him every day. Of these, it is written, "Neither has the eye seen, that an Elohim, beside you, should do such a thing for him that waits for Him" (Yeshayah 64:3).

136. תָּא חֲזֵי, זַכָּאִין אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָא, דְּאִתְגְּנֵיז לְהוֹ, כַּמָּה טָבִין לְהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וְלֵית אֲתַר פְּנִימָאָה בְּכָל אִינוּן, כְּאִינוּן דְּיָדְעֵי רָזָא דְמָארֵיהוֹן, וְיָדְעֵי לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּהוֹ, בְּכָל יוֹמָא עַל אִלֵּין כְּתִיב עַיִן לֹא רָאָתָה אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶךָ יַעֲשֶׂה לִמְחַכֵּה לוֹ.

Gates Job Wisdom World to Come, The

137. HE ASKS, What is meant by, "For him that waits for Him?" He replies that it is similar to the verse, "waited to speak to Job" (Iyov 32:4). This refers to those who are anxious TO FULLY UNDERSTAND some words of wisdom, thereby better understanding their Master. In them, the Master takes pride daily. They enter the upper gates and come among the supernal saints without meeting any obstacles. Happy is their portion in this world and the World to Come.

137. מַאי לִמְחַכֵּה לוֹ, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר חִכָּה אֶת אִיּוֹב בִּדְבָרִים. וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן דְּדָחֲקִין לְמִלָּה דְחָכְמְתָא, וְדָיְיקִין לָהּ, וּמְחַכָּאן לָהּ, לְמִנְדַע בְּרִירָא דְמִלָּה, וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא לְמָארֵיהוֹן, אִלֵּין אִינוּן דְּמָארֵיהוֹן מִשְׁתַּבַּח בְּהוֹן בְּכָל יוֹמָא, אִלֵּין אִינוּן, דְּעָאלִין בֵּין עִלָּאִין קַדִּישִׁין, וְאִלֵּין עָאלִין כָּל תַּרְעֵי דִלְעֵילָא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִמְחֵי בִּידֵהוֹן, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן בְּעַלְמָא דֵין, וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Aba and Ima Abraham Deeds Dwellings Flow Merit Rivers Water

138. Come and behold, Abraham thus entered to properly know and cleave to his Master. First he performed good deeds to merit the supernal days, and was therefore blessed by the place from where all the blessings derive, as it is written, "And Hashem had blessed Abraham in all" (Beresheet 42:1). What is the meaning of "in all?" It means the dwelling place of the river, in which water never stops flowing, NAMELY YESOD OF THE SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, WHOSE UNION IS ETERNAL.

138. תָּא חֲזֵי, אַבְרָהָם עָאל לְמִנְדַע וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּמָארֵיהּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, לְבָתַר דְּאַקְדִּים עוֹבָדוֹי בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְזָכָה בְּאִינוּן יוֹמִין עִלָּאִין, וְאִתְבָּרַךְ מֵאֲתַר דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן נָפְקֵי מִתַּמָּן, דִּכְתִיב וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל. מַאי בַּכֹּל. אֲתַר דְּנַהֲרָא, דְּלָא פַּסְקֵי מֵימוֹי לְעָלְמִין.

Abraham Wisdom Women

139. Rabbi Chiya said, Come and behold that Abraham did not want to mix with the women of the world and cling to the heathen nations because the wives of the heathen nations defiled their husbands and those attached to them. Because Abraham had the knowledge of wisdom, he knew the essence and root of the place from which the unholy spirits come out to hover in the world. Therefore, he made his servant swear not to take a wife for his son from among the other nations.

139. אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּאַבְרָהָם לָא בָּעָא לְאִתְעָרְבָא בִּנְשֵׁי עַלְמָא, וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בִּשְׁאָר עַמִין עעכו"ם, בְּגִין דִּנְשַׁיָּיא דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין עכו"ם, אִינוּן סָאֲבִין, לְגוּבְרַיְיהוּ, וּלְאִינוּן דְּמִתְדַּבְּקִין בְּהוֹן, בְּגִין דְּכַד אַבְרָהָם יָדַע חָכְמְתָא, יָדַע עִקְרָא וְשָׁרְשָׁא, וּמֵאָן אֲתַר נָפְקֵי וְשַׁטְיָין רוּחֵי מְסָאֲבִין בְּעַלְמָא, וְעַל דָּא אוֹמֵי לְעַבְדֵּיהּ, דְּלָא יִסַּב אִתְּתָא לִבְרֵיהּ, מִשְּׁאָר עַמִּין.

<
>