Chayei Sarah: Chapter 9

"To mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her"

Synopsis

Through the rabbis' Kabbalistic discussion of the relationship between soul and body, we explore the allegorical nature of the Torah's stories and characters. For example, Abraham represents the righteous soul after it has departed this world, while Sarah represents the physical body left behind. Next we are informed of what occurs immediately after death, the soul usually revisits and mourns its body for seven days before ascending to the higher world. In the case of a wicked person, however, the soul may find itself bound to the earth and the discarded body for up to a year. But at the death of spiritually advanced people, such as Abraham, the holiness of the body itself merits special protection until the time when all the dead shall rise from their dust. This phenomenon, we discover, explains several otherwise baffling passages of scripture.

Relevance

The Torah's message and the Zohar's mystical insights are intended for the here and now, so that our future may be peaceful and secure. By gathering the forces released through the name Abraham and these revered words of wisdom, we elevate our physical body to a higher level of spiritual purity.

Illness Jerusalem Love Merit Mirror Shadow Soul, The

45. Rav Yehuda stated that Rav asks, Why is it written, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick with love" (Shir Hashirim 5:8)? Rabbi Pinchas said that Rabbi (referred to as Rav before) Yehuda responded, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem" is what the soul says to the souls who are worthy of entering Jerusalem above. They are called daughters of Jerusalem for having the merit to enter. Therefore, the soul says to them, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved," which is a reference to the Holy One, blessed be He. Rav said that this is the splendor of the upper mirror. Tell him that I am sick with love" to rejoice in His splendor and to sit often in His shadow. Rav Huna said, "I am sick with love" because of the passion, the longing I feel for everything in the world, therefore I am sick.

45. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב, מַאי דִכְתִיב הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם אִם תִּמְצְאוּ אֶת דּוֹדִי מַה תַּגִּידוּ לוֹ שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם, הַנְּשָׁמָה אוֹמֶרֶת לְאוֹתָם הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, הַזּוֹכוֹת לִיכָּנֵס לִירוּשָׁלִַם שֶׁל מַעְלָה, וְהֵם הַנִּקְרָאוֹת בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם, עַל שֶׁזּוֹכוֹת לִיכָּנֵס שָׁם, וּלְפִיכָךְ הַנְּשָׁמָה אוֹמֶרֶת לָהֶם, הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם אִם תִּמְצְאוּ אֶת דּוֹדִי, דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. רַב אָמַר, זֶה זִיו אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה שֶׁל מַעְלָה. מַה תַּגִּידוּ לוֹ שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי, לֵיהָנוֹת מִזִּיו שֶׁלּוֹ, וּלְהִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּצִלּוֹ. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר, שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי, אוֹתָהּ הַתְּשׁוּקָה, וְהַכִּסּוּף שֶׁכָּסַפְתִּי בָּעוֹלָם עַל הַכֹּל, לְפִיכָךְ אֲנִי חוֹלָה.

Abraham Body Canaan Hebron Kiryat Arba Love Soul, The

46. Rabbi Yehuda said that this is the love the soul has for the body. When the body dies, as when "Sarah's life was..." it is written, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead" (Beresheet 23:3). Rav Yehuda said that according to the Rav, it is written in the previous verse, "And Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan" (Ibid. 2).

46. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר, זוֹ אַהֲבָה, שֶׁאוֹהֶבֶת הַנְּשָׁמָה לַגּוּף, דְּכֵיוָן שֶׁנִּשְׁלַם קִצּוֹ שֶׁל גּוּף, אוֹתָם הַיָּמִים שֶׁנִּגְזְרוּ עָלָיו, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וַיִּהְיוּ חַיֵּי שָׂרָה, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם מֵעַל פְּנֵי מֵתוֹ וגו'. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב, מַה כְּתִיב בַּפָּסוּק קוֹדֶם זֶה, דִּכְתִיב וַתָּמָת שָׂרָה בְּקִרְיַת אַרְבַּע הִיא חֶבְרוֹן בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן.

Adam Body Canaan Creation Hebron Kiryat Arba

47. Rabbi Yitzchak referred to Rabbi Yochanan as stating that the Holy One, blessed be He, created Adam and then inserted in him four things that are divided in the body. Rabbi Yehuda said, "That are connected to the body," while Rabbi Yitzchak said, "That are divided in the body. Each is separated to its element when man leaves this world." Rabbi Yehuda said, They are connected to the body during its life, namely as it is written, "And Sarah died," which refers to the body. "In Kiryat Arba (lit. 'city of the four')," these are the four elements. The words, "that is Hebron" mean that they were connected in the body during a person's lifetime (Hebron is derived from the word chibur, connected). "In the land of Canaan" means in this world, the world in which man dwells for a short period of time.

47. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָאָדָם, וְהִכְנִיס בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה דְבָרִים, הַנֶּחֱלָקִים בַּגּוּף. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, הַמְחוּבָּרִים בַּגּוּף. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר, הַנֶּחֱלָקִים בַּגּוּף, שֶׁהֵם חוֹלְקִים לְהִתְפָּרֵשׁ, כָּל אֶחָד לִיסוֹדוֹ, כְּשֶׁיּוֹצֵא הָאָדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר, הַמְחוּבָּרִים בַּגּוּף, בְּחַיָּיו, מַשְׁמַע מִקְרָא דִכְתִיב, וַתָּמָת שָׂרָה, זֶה הַגּוּף. בְּקִרְיַת אַרְבַּע, אֵלּוּ הָאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדוֹת. הִיא חֶבְרוֹן, שֶׁהָיוּ מְחוּבָּרִים בְּגוּפוֹ, בְּחַיָּיו. בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, הַבּוֹחֵר אָדָם בִּזְמַן מוּעָט.

Abraham Body Flesh Job Seven Soul, The

48. "And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her" (Beresheet 23:2.). We are taught that the soul of man visits the body for seven days and mourns for it. This is the meaning of, "Only when his flesh is upon him does he feel pain, and while his soul is within him does he mourn" (Iyov 14:22). Similarly, "Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her." "Abraham came" refers to the soul, while "to mourn for Sarah" refers to the body.

48. וַיָּבֹא אַבְרָהָם לִסְפֹּד לְשָׂרָה וְלִבְכֹּתָהּ. הַיְינוּ דִתְנַן, כָּל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים, נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, פּוֹקֶדֶת לְגוּפוֹ, וּמִתְאַבֶּלֶת עָלָיו, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, אַךְ בְּשָׂרוֹ עָלָיו יִכְאָב וְנַפְשׁוֹ עָלָיו תֶּאֱבָל. כְּהַאי גַוְונָא, וַיָּבֹא אַבְרָהָם לִסְפֹּד לְשָׂרָה וְלִבְכֹּתָהּ. וַיָּבֹא אַבְרָהָם, זוֹ הִיא הַנְּשָׁמָה. לִסְפֹּד לְשָׂרָה, זֶה הַגּוּף.

Body Eden Grave Merit Peace Punishment Soul, The

49. Rabbi Yitzchak said that the body rests in peace and lies in its grave when the soul has merit and rises to its high place. This is referred to in the verse, "He that walks in his uprightness shall enter in peace to them that rest in their graves" (Yeshayah 57:2). Who is it that "walks in his uprightness?" Rabbi Yitzchak says that it is the soul that goes upright to Eden that lies concealed in wait for it. What does this mean? Rabbi Yehuda says, This is why NECHOCHOH (his uprightness) is written with the letter Hei. If it has no merit and deserves punishment, it walks about desolately and visits the body and the grave daily.

49. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה זוֹכָה, וְעוֹלָה לִמְקוֹם מַעֲלָתָהּ, הַגּוּף שׁוֹכֵב בְּשָׁלוֹם, וְיָנוּחַ עַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, יָבֹא שָׁלוֹם יָנוּחוּ עַל מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם הֹלֵךְ נְכֹחֹה. מַאי הוֹלֵךְ נְכֹחֹה. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, הַנְּשָׁמָה הוֹלֵךְ נְכֹחֹה, לִמְקוֹם הָעֵדֶן, הַגָּנוּז לָהּ. מַאי מַשְׁמַע. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, מֵהַאי מַשְׁמַע, נְכֹחֹה כְּתִיב, בְּה"א. וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ זוֹכָה, וְהִיא רְאוּיָה לְקַבֵּל עוֹנְשָׁהּ, הוֹלֶכֶת מְשׁוֹמֶמֶת, וּמְבַקֶּרֶת בְּכָל יוֹם לַגּוּף, וְלַקֶּבֶר.

Bone Punishment Soul, The Twelve

50. Rabbi Yosi said that the hard bone, NAMELY THE FEMUR THAT WAS HIT AND DISLOCATED, moves here and there with its stench, coming and visiting its place for twelve months. So does the soul that is worthy of punishment. It goes out in the world, visiting its place in the world and the graveyard for twelve months.

50. אָמַר רָבִּי יוֹסֵי, הַאי קוּלִיתָא דְקַרְדִינוּתָא, כַּד אָזֵיל בִּסְרִיחוּתָא לְכָאן וּלְכָאן, אָזַל וּמְבַקֵּר לָהּ לְאַתְרָהּ, תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי. כָּךְ נִשְׁמָתָא, הַהִיא דְּאִתְחַזְּיָא לְקַבְּלָא עָנְשָׁא, אָזְלָה לְבַר בְּעַלְמָא, וּמַפְקֶדֶת לָה לְאַתְרָהּ, תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי, בְּבָתֵּי קִבְרֵי וּבְעַלְמָא.

Abraham Point Righteous Soul, The Throne

51. Rabbi Yehuda said, Come and behold the verse, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead." Rabbi Aba raised A DIFFICULT POINT. We learned that when the soul is in supernal complement, NAMELY IN BINAH, the letter Hei joins it, and it is called Abraham in supernal wholeness. Now you hint that he is not that righteous, as it is written, "And Abraham stood up." You cause the one who sits in the great throne to come down to sit in the small and lower THRONE.

51. אֲמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, תָּא חֲזֵי דִּכְתִיב וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם מֵעַל פְּנֵי מֵתוֹ וגו', אָמַר רָבִּי אַבָּא, וְהָא תְּנַן, דְּכַד נִשְׁמָתָא הִיא בְּתַשְׁלוּמָא עִלָּאָה, נִתּוֹסַף בָּהּ ה' וְנִקְרֵאת אַבְרָהָם, בְּתַשְׁלוּמָא עִלָּאָה. וְהָכָא אַתְּ אָמֵר, דְּכַד לֵיתָא זַכָּאָה כָּל כָּךְ, דִּכְתִיב וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם. עָבְדַת מַאן דְּיָתֵיב בְּכָרְסְיָיא, נָחֵית בְּגוֹ זוּטָר תַּתָּאָה.

Abraham Body Eden Soul, The

52. But I reach a decision WHEN I EXPLAIN THE VERSE, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead." Like Rabbi Bo, Rabbi Zrika said that the soul first protects the holy body from which it came when it is worthy of ascending to Eden. Then it ascends to its elevated place. This is the meaning of, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead," namely the body.

52. אֶלָּא הָכֵי גַּזַּרְנָא, וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם מֵעַל פְּנֵי מֵתוֹ, דְּאָמַר ר' בּוֹ אָמַר רַבִּי זְרִיקָא, כְּשֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה רְאוּיָה לַעֲלוֹת לִמְקוֹם עֲדֶנָּה, קוֹדֶם מְגִינָה עַל הַגּוּף הַקָּדוֹשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹצֵאת מִשָּׁם, וְאַחֲר כַּךְ עוֹלָה, לִמְקוֹם מַעֲלָתָהּ, הה"ד וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם מֵעַל פְּנֵי מֵתוֹ, זֶהוּ הַגּוּף.

Body Dust Fear Resurrection Righteous Soul, The

53. The phrase, "And spoke to the sons of Chet" (Yeshayah 57:2) refers to the rest of the bodies of the righteous, who are frightened and beaten in the world for the fear of their Possessor. They are afraid and in terror (Heb. chat) for being dwellers of the dust. HE ASKS, Why does THE SOUL need THE BODIES OF THE RIGHTEOUS? Rabbi Yehuda responded, Because they are all written down in the reckoning, THAT IS, THEY ARE PUT INTO THE ACCOUNTS AND ARE MADE TO COME OUT ACCORDING TO THE RECKONING AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. THUS, THE SOUL SPOKE WITH THEM so that the body would be numbered in their lists. THIS IS THE MEANING OF, "AND SPOKE TO THE SONS OF CHET."

53. וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי חֵת, אֵלּוּ שְׁאָר גּוּפוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁהֵם חַתַּחְתִּים וְנֶהֱלָמִים בָּעוֹלָם, לְמַעַן יִרְאַת קוֹנָם, חִתִּים עַל שֶׁהֵם שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר, וְאַמַּאי צְרִיכָה לְהוֹ, אֲמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, כֹּלָּא בְּמִנְיָינָא כְּתִיבִין, וְעַל דַּהֲוֵי גוּפָא בְּמִנְיָינָא עִמְּהוֹן.

Abraham Body Foreigner Soul, The

54. What did THE SOUL CALLED ABRAHAM say to them? It said in a conciliatory and respectful manner, "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you" (Beresheet 23:3), MEANING this body will be counted with you in one quorum by this union. Rabbi said, Look at what is written, "And the children of Chet answered Abraham..." (Yeshayah 57:4). They also answered him in a respectful and conciliatory manner. This is the meaning of, "Hear us, my Lord, you are a mighty prince among us."

54. וּמַה אָמַר לוֹ, בְּדֶרֶךְ פִּיּוּס וּבְדֶרֶךְ כָּבוֹד, גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב אָנֹכִי עִמָּכֶם וגו', דְּהַאי גּוּפָא, יֶהֱוֵי בְּמִנְיָינָא חַד עִמְּכוֹן בְּחִבּוּרָא דָא. אָמַר רַבִּי, רְאֵה מַה כְּתִיב וַיַּעֲנוּ בְּנֵי חֵת אֶת אַבְרָהָם וגו'. כְּמוֹ כֵן, בְּדֶרֶךְ כָּבוֹד, בְּדֶרֶךְ פִּיּוּס הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב שְׁמָעֵנוּ אֲדוֹנִי נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ.

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