Idra Raba: Chapter 26

The three brains of Zeir Anpin

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon describes the three chambers of the skull of Zeir Anpin, and the 32 paths of wisdom and the fifty gates of Binah that emanate and open from it. The central chamber is that wherein Da'at resides, and thus knowledge fills the other chambers. The three chambers permeate the entire body.

Atik-Yomin Brain Eden Rivers Zeir Anpin

189. Three spaces exist in the inner space of the skull in which the brain resides, and a thin membrane covers them. It is not a heavy and thick membrane as by Atik Yomin. Therefore, this brain permeates and illuminates to 32 pathways OF CHOCHMAH, as it is written: "And a river went out of Eden" (Beresheet 2:10).

189. בַּחַלָּלֵיהּ דְּגוּלְגַּלְתָּא, ג' חַלָלִּין אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ, דְּשַׁרְיָיא מוֹחָא בְּהוּ, וּקְרוּמָא דָּקִיק חַפְיָּיא עָלַיְיהוּ. אֲבָל לָא קְרוּמָא קְשִׁישָׁא סְתִימָא כְּעַתִּיק יוֹמִין. וּבְגִין דָּא, הַאי מוֹחָא אִתְפְּשָׁט וְנָהִיר לִתְלָּתִין וּתְרֵין שְׁבִילִין. הה"ד וְנָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן.

Brain Directions Wisdom Zeir Anpin

190. We have further learned that in the three spaces of the skull resides the brain OF ZEIR ANPIN, and from a spatial cavern a spring gushes forth to four directions. From that particular brain that resides in this space, 32 pathways of the spirit of wisdom emanate.

190. וְתָאנָא, בִּתְלַת חַלָלִין דְּגוּלְגַּלְתָּא מוֹחָא שַׁרְיָיא. מֵחַלָלָא חַד מִתְבְּקַע וּמִתְפַּשֵׁט חַד מַבּוּעָא לְד' סִטְרִין, וְנָפִיק מֵהַהוּא מוֹחָא דְּשַׁרְיָיא בְּהַאי חַלָּלָא, תְּלָתִין וּתְרֵין שְׁבִילִין רוּחִין דְּחָכְמְתָא.

Fifty Gates Jubilee Omer Torah Year

191. From the second space, another spring bubbles up and spreads, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE LEFT COLUMN CALLED BINAH, and fifty gates open up. From these fifty gates are united the fifty days of the Torah, MEANING ON THE FIFTIETH DAY OF THE COUNT OF THE OMER IN WHICH THE TORAH WAS GIVEN, the fifty years of the Jubilee, 50,000 generations that the Holy One, blessed be He, will refresh his spirit in them and dwell in.

191. מֵחַלָלָא תִּנְיָינָא, מִתְבְּקַע וּמִתְפָּשַׁט חַד מַבּוּעָא אַחֲרָא. וּמִתְפַּתְחִין ן' תַּרְעִין. מֵאִלֵּין ן' תַּרְעִין, אִתְאַחֲדָן ן' יוֹמִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. ן' שְׁנִין דְּיוֹבְלָא. ן' אֲלַף דָּרִין, דְּזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאָתָבָא רוּחֵיהּ לֵיהּ, וּלְשַׁרְיָיא בֵּיהּ.

Body Chambers Directions

192. From the third space, thousand of thousand chambers and foyers emanate within which Da'at rests and resides. This space is situated between the other two spaces, MEANING IT IS THE CENTRAL SPACE BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT CAVERN SPACES. All these chambers are replenished from both directions, FROM RIGHT AND LEFT, as it is written: "And by knowledge (Heb. Da'at) are the chambers filled" (Mishlei 24:4). These three SPACES, WHICH ARE CHOCHMAH, BINAH AND DA'AT, permeate the whole body to this direction and that direction. The entire body is linked to them and the body is attached to them in all their aspects. And they permeate and exist throughout the entire body.

192. מֵחַלָלָא תְּלִיתָאָה, נָפְקִין אֲלַף אַלְפִין אִדָּרִין וְאַכְסַדְרָאִין, דְּדַעְתָּא שַׁרְיָיא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְדָרֵי בְּהוּ. וְהַאי חַלָּלָא שָׁרֵי מָדוֹרֵיהּ בֵּין הַאי חַלָּלָא וּבֵין הַאי חַלָּלָא, וְאִתְמַלְּיָין מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין. כָּל אִינּוּן אִדָּרִין. הה"ד וּבְדַעַת חֲדָרִים יִמָּלְאוּ. וְאִלֵּין ג' מִתְפַּשְּׁטִין בְּכָל גּוּפָא, לְהַאי סִטְרָא וּלְהַאי סִטְרָא. וּבְאִינּוּן אָחִיד כָּל גּוּפָא וְאָחִיד בְּהוּ גּוּפָא מִכָּל סִטְרוֹי. וּבְכָל גּוּפָא אִתְפַּשְּׁטָן וְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָן.

<
>