Ha'azinu: Chapter 57

"As an eagle stirs up its nest"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yosi talks about the compassion that an eagle has for its children, and he derives part of the meaning from Jacob's role as representative of the Central Column. The eagle is merciful toward its own children yet harsh toward others; this is the way that God guides His own children.

Air Compassion Eagle Ezekiel Face Heaven Jacob Judgment Lion Nest Ox Zeir Anpin

238. "As an eagle stirs up her nest" (Devarim 32:11). Rabbi Yosi said, We have found no one that has compassion over his children like this eagle. Hence we learned the verse, "the face of a lion, on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side" (Yechezkel 1:10). Where is the place of the eagle? In the place where Jacob is situated, NAMELY IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN THAT INCLUDES RIGHT AND LEFT. This is the meaning of, "the way of the vultures in the air" (Mishlei 30:19), in that very place, NAMELY IN ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED HEAVEN, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN. The reason is that it is merciful towards its children, and harsh towards others. So does the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO INCLUDES RIGHT AND LEFT, WHICH IS CHESED AND JUDGMENT, guide His children like the eagle.

238. כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ. א"ר יוֹסֵי, לָא אַשְׁכַּחְנָא מַאן דְּחָיֵיס עַל בְּנוֹי, כְּהַאי נִשְׁרָא. וע"ד תָּנֵינָן, כְּתִיב, וּפְנֵי אַרְיֵה אֶל הַיָּמִין וּפְנֵי שׁוֹר מֵהַשְּׂמֺאל. נֶשֶׁר בְּאָן דּוּכְתֵּיהּ. בַּאֲתָר דְּיַעֲקֺב קָאֵים. הה"ד, דֶּרֶךְ הַנֶּשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם. בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר מַמָּשׁ. מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ רַחֲמֵי עַל בְּנוֹי, וְדִינָא לְגַבֵּי אַחֲרָנִין. כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דָּבַּר לִבְנוֹי כְּנֶשֶׁר דָּא.

Angels Moses

239. It is written, "So Hashem alone did lead him, and there was no strange El with Him" (Devarim 32:12), that is, none guides Yisrael, neither an angel nor another officer that are called a strange El. This is the meaning of Moses' words, "If Your presence go not with me carry us not up from here" (Shemot 33:15). This is the meaning of, "So Hashem alone did lead him," He alone, "and there was no strange El with him."

239. מַה כְּתִיב יְיָ' בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ וְאֵין עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר. הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דִּכְתִּיב וַיְיָ' הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם וְגוֹ.' וְאֵין עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר, דְּלָא דָּבַּר לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא מַלְאָכָא, וְלָא מְמָנָא אַחֲרָא, דְּאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן אֵל נֵכָר. וְדָא הוּא דְּאָמַר מֺשֶׁה, אִם אֵין פָּנֶיךָ הוֹלְכִים אַל תַּעֲלֵנוּ מִזֶּה. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, יְיָ' בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ. הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְאֵין עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר.

Jacob Samuel

240. Happy is the portion of Yisrael that the Holy One, blessed be He, guides them thus, that it is thus written of them: "For Hashem has chosen Jacob to Himself" (Tehilim 135:4), and, "For Hashem will not abandon His people," THAT IS, "for His great name's sake" (I Shmuel 12:22), since they are mutually attached, AS YISRAEL CLEAVED TO HIS GREAT NAME. Hence the Holy One, blessed be He, will not leave them, and wherever they dwell the Holy One, blessed be He, is with them, as we explained.

240. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דָּבַּר עִמְּהוֹן, הָכִי עָלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, כִּי יַעֲקֺב בָּחַר לוֹ יָהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִסְגוּלָתוֹ, וּכְתִיב, כִּי לֺֹא יִטּוֹשׁ יְיָ' אֶת עַמּוֹ וְגוֹ.' מ"ט לֺֹא יִטּוֹשׁ ה' אֶת עַמּוֹ. בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל, בְּגִין דְּהַאי בְּהַאי אִתְדְּבַק. וע"ד לָא יִשְׁבּוֹק לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּבְכָל אֲתָר דְּאִינּוּן שַׁרְיָין, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עִמְּהוֹן כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא.

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