"In the day of prosperity be joyful"

Synopsis

Rabbi Elazar says that when a man is prosperous he should show himself in public and give kindness to everyone else; then kindness from above rests on him. But in times of adversity he should not show himself in case the Judgment that is looming everywhere should fall on him too. Many swords hang from the highest sword of judgment, and whoever meets them is harmed.

Midnight Torah

33. Rabbi Chizkiyah was studying with Rabbi Elazar. One night, they rose at midnight to study the Torah and Rabbi Elazar discoursed on the following verse: "In the day of prosperity be joyful...Elohim has made the one as well as the other..." (Kohelet 7:14). "In the day of prosperity be joyful," MEANS THAT when the Holy One, blessed be He, lavishes kindness on the world, a man should go to the marketplace and show himself before everyone. The Chesed of the Holy One, blessed be He, rests upon all, for He shows kindness to everybody and increases it in the world. Therefore, a man should show himself in public, and he should do kindness so that another Chesed FROM ABOVE will rest upon him, as it is written: "In the day of prosperity be joyful." He will indeed be joyful.

33. ר' חִזְקִיָּה הֲוָה יָתִיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּר' אֶלְעָזָר, לֵילְיָא חַד קָמוּ בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. פָּתַח רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְאָמַר, בְּיוֹם טוֹבָה הֱיֵה בְטוֹב וְגוֹ' גַּם אֶת זֶה לְעוּמַּת זֶה עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ.' בְּיוֹם טוֹבָה הֱיֵה בְטוֹב, בְּזִמְנָא דְּאַסְגֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חֶסֶד בְּעָלְמָא, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֵיהַךְ בְּשׁוּקֵי וּלְאִתְחֲזָאָה קָמֵי כֺּלָּא, דְּהָא כַּד שָׁארִי טִיבוּתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּעָלְמָא, בְּכֺלָּא שָׁארִי, וּבְכֺלָּא עָבֵיד טִיבוּ וְאַסְגֵּי לֵיהּ בְּעָלְמָא. ובג"כ, יִתְחֲזֵי ב"נ בְּאִתְגַּלְיָא בְּשׁוּקֵי, וְיַעְבִיד טִיבוּ דְּלִשְׁרֵי עָלֵיהּ טִיבוּ אָחֳרָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב בְּיוֹם טוֹבָה הֱיֵה בְטוֹב. הֱיֵה בְטוֹב וַדַּאי.

Angels Judgment Zeir Anpin

34. "But in the day of adversity consider" (Ibid.). It is not written: 'In the day of adversity be sad,' AS IT IS WRITTEN, "IN THE DAY OF PROSPERITY BE JOYFUL," but rather, "in the day of adversity consider," MEANING at the time that Judgment looms over the world, a man should not show himself in the marketplace and should not walk alone. When Judgment looms over the world, it looms over all, and whoever meets THE DESTRUCTIVE ANGEL is sentenced by that Judgment, as it is written: "Sometimes ruin comes for want of justice" (Mishlei 13:23). This is because justice, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, departs from righteousness, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and they do not dwell within one another, AND HAVE NO INFLUENCE on the world. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN, "consider," NAMELY consider and be vigilant and watchful on every side and know that Judgment abides everywhere. Do not show yourself abroad so that JUDGMENT shall not rest upon you. The reason is that, "Elohim has made the one as well as the other." Thus, at the time that kindness rests upon the world, it rests all over. Also, when Judgment looms over the world, it looms over all. He who chances upon it WILL BE caught.

34. וּבְיוֹם רָעָה רְאֵה. לָא כְּתִיב וּבְיּוֹם רָעָה הֱיֵה בְּרָע, אֶלָּא, בְּיוֹם רָעָה רְאֵה. דְּהָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּדִינָא תַּלְיָא בְּעָלְמָא, לָא לִבְעֵי לֵיהּ לֶאֱינִישׁ לְאִתְחֲזָאָה בְּשׁוּקָא וּלְמֵיהַךְ יְחִידָאָה בְּעָלְמָא. דְּהָא כַּד דִּינָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעָלְמָא, עַל כֺּלָּא שָׁארֵי. וּמַאן דְּפָגַע בֵּיהּ, וְאַעְרַע קַמֵּיהּ, יִתְדָּן בְּהַהוּא דִּינָא. וּכְדֵין כְּתִיב, וְיֵשׁ נִסְפֶּה בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט. דְּהָא מִשְׁפָּט אִסְתַּלָּק מִצֶדֶק, וְלָא שַׁרְיָין דָּא בְּדָא עַל עָלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא רְאֵה. רְאֵה וַהֲוֵי נָטִיר, אַשְׁגַּח וְעַיֵין לְכָל סְטָר. וַהֲוֵי יָדַע, דִּבְכֻלְּהוּ שַׁרְיָא דִּינָא, וְלָא תִּפּוּק לְבַר, וְלָא תִּתְחֲזֵי בְּשׁוּקָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁרֵי עֲלָךְ. מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּגַם אֶת זֶה לְעֻמַּת זֶה עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים. כַּמָה דְּכַד שָׁארִי טִיבוּ בְּעָלְמָא שָׁארֵי עַל כֺּלָּא, כַּךְ, כַּד שַׁרְיָא דִּינָא בְּעָלְמָא שָׁארֵי עַל כֺּלָּא, וּמַאן דְּאִעְרַע בֵּיהּ אִתְפַּס.

Hands Judgment Mercy Mountains Red Sword Thigh

35. Come and behold: at the time that Judgment looms over the world, many swords, NAMELY LITIGANTS, are suspended from that highest sword. They lift up their heads and see that the highest sword, NAMELY THE SIDE OF JUDGMENT OF MALCHUT, is red and bloody on all sides, THAT IS, WITH JUDGMENTS. Then they decree punishments and all SORTS OF swords are aroused, as it is written: "Every man has his sword upon his thigh" (Shir Hashirim 3:8), and, "With his sword drawn in his hands" (Yehoshua 5:13). All those swords are ready to punish, and whoever meets them is harmed. It is written: "Behold now Your servant has found favor in Your sight and You have magnified Your mercy which You have shown to me in saving my life; I CANNOT ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAIN" (Beresheet 19:19). The reason that HE (LOT) WAS AFRAID TO ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAIN was that Judgment looms over all, in towns, deserts and around the city.

35. ת"ח, כַּד דִּינָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעָלְמָא, כַּמָה סַיְיפִין תַּלְיָין, דְּנַפְקֵי מֵהַהוּא חֶרֶב עִלָּאָה, וְזַקְפִין רֵישָׁא וְחָמָן דְּהָא הַהוּא חֶרֶב עִלָּאָה סוּמָקָא, מַלְיָיא דָּמָא בְּכָל סִטְרִין, כְּדֵין גַּזְרִין נִימוּסִין. וְכַמָּה סַיְיפַיָּא אִתְּעֲרוּ, כד"א, אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ עַל יְרֵכוֹ. וּכְתִיב, וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ. וְכֻלְּהוּ מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי לְמֶעְבַּד דִּינָא. וּמַאן דְּיִעְרַע בְּהוּ אִתְּזָק. כְּתִיב, הִנֵה נָא מָצָא עַבְדְּךָ חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ וַתַּגְדֵּל חַסְדְּךָ וְגוֹ.' מ"ט, בְּגִין דִּבְכָל אֲתַר דְּדִינָא שַׁרְיָא בְּכֺלָּא שַׁרְיָא, בֵּין בְּמָתָא בֵּין בְּמַדְבְּרָא וּבְסָחֲרָנָא דְּמָתָא.