Metzora
Demons Fear Job Judgment Lepers Moses Sword Torah

1. "And Hashem spoke to Moses, saying: 'This shall be the Torah of the leper in the day of his cleansing'" (Vayikra 14:1-2). Rabbi Aba opened the discussion with the verse: "Be afraid of the sword: for wrath brings the punishments of the sword that you may know that there is judgment (Heb. shadun)" (Iyov 19:29). It is PRONOUNCED, "shadun," but spelled shedin (lit. 'demons'). Observe in how many ways people should guard their way, fear the Holy One, blessed be He, and not depart from the right way, and people should neither transgress the laws of the Torah nor ever leave her.

1. וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֶל מֺשֶׁה לֵאמֺר. זֺאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְּצוֹרָע בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ וְגוֹ.' ר' אַבָּא פָּתַח, גּוּרוּ לָכֶם מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב כִּי חֵמָה עֲוֹנוֹת חָרֶב לְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּן שַׁדּוּן. שַׁדּוּן, שַׁדִּין כְּתִיב. כַּמָה אִית לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא אָרְחַיְיהוּ וּלְדַחֲלָא מִקַּמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּלָא יִסְטֵי מֵאָרְחָא דְּכַשְׁרָא, וְלָא יַעֲבוֹר עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא יִתְנְשֵׁי מִנָּהּ.

Angels Shechinah Torah

2. He who does not learn the Torah and does not strive by her is scorned by the Holy One, blessed be He. The Shechinah does not rest upon him and the guardian ANGELS who accompany him TO PROTECT HIM depart from him. Moreover they stand before him proclaiming: 'Withdraw from this man, for he does not honor his Master.' Woe to him, for he is abandoned by the upper and lower beings and has no part in the way of the living.

2. דְּכָל מַאן דְּלָא לָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא יִשְׁתְּדַל בָּה, נְזִיפָא הוּא מְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, רְחִיקָא הוּא מִנֵּיהּ, לָא שַׁרְיָא שְׁכִינְתָּא עִמֵּיהּ. וְאִינּוּן נְטוּרִין, דְּאַזְלִין עַמֵּיהּ, אִסְתְּלָקוּ מִנֵּיהּ, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא דְּמַכְרְזֵי קָמֵיהּ וְאַמְרֵי, אִסְתְּלָקוּ סוֹחֲרָנֵיהּ דִּפְלַנְיָא, דְּלָא חָשׁ עַל יְקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהּ. וַוי לֵיהּ, דְּהָא שַׁבְקוּהוּ עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין. לֵית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא בְּאָרְחָא דְּחַיֵּי.

Shechinah Torah World to Come, The

3. When man makes an effort in serving his Master and learns the Torah, many guards are there to protect him. The Shechinah also rests upon him and everyone proclaims: 'Honor the image of the King! Honor the son of the King! He is protected in this world and the World to Come! Blessed be he!'

3. וְכַד אִיהוּ אִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, וְלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כַּמָה נְטוּרִין זְמִינִין לָקֳבְלֵיהּ לְנַטְרָא לֵיהּ, וּשְׁכִינְתָּא שַׁרְיָא עָלֵיהּ, וְכֺלָּא מַכְרְזֵי קַמֵּיהּ וְאַמְרֵי, הָבוּ יְקָרָא לְדִיּוּקְנָא דְּמַלְכָּא, הָבוּ יְקָרָא לִבְרֵיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא, אִתְנְטִיר הוּא בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ.

Blood Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Flesh Judges Judgment Lepers Plagues Serpent Sword Torah Wicked Wickedness Women

4. Come and behold: the evil tongue of the Serpent, with which he spoke to the woman, brought death upon the man, the woman, and the whole world. Thus, it is written: "And their tongue a sharp sword" (Tehilim 57:5), referring to the evil tongue. Therefore, "be afraid of the sword," NAMELY the evil tongue. What does the following verse mean? "For wrath brings the punishments of the sword." This is "the sword of Hashem," for as we learned, the Holy One, blessed be He, has a sword with which He punishes the wicked, as it is written: "the sword of Hashem is filled with blood" (Yeshayah 34:6). It is also written: "My sword shall devour flesh," (Devarim 32:42) FOR THIS IS THE ASPECT OF JUDGMENT WITHIN MALCHUT. Therefore, "be afraid of the sword for wrath brings the punishments of the sword that you may know that there is judgment," WHICH MEANS that you know it has been so decreed, and THAT ANYONE who has a sword in his tongue - NAMELY, HE WHO SPEAKS WITH THE EVIL TONGUE - is punished with the sword that destroys all, FOR THIS IS MALCHUT FROM THE SIDE OF JUDGMENT. This is the meaning of: "This shall be the Torah of the leper;" THAT IS, MALCHUT FROM THE ASPECT OF JUDGMENT, WHICH IS CALLED 'THIS,' JUDGES THE LEPER FOR HIS EVIL TONGUE, BECAUSE PLAGUES COME FROM THE EVIL TONGUE.

4. ת"ח, בְּלִישָׁנָא בִּישָׁא דְּאָמַר נָחָשׁ לְאִתְּתָא, גָּרִים לְאִתְּתָא, וּלְאָדָם, לְמִגְזַר עָלַיְיהוּ מִיתָה, וְעַל כָּל עָלְמָא בְּלִישָׁנָא בִּישָׁא כְּתִיב, וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה. בְּג"כ, גּוּרוּ לָכֶם מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב, מִפְּנֵי לִישָׁנָא בִּישָׁא. כִּי חֵמָה עֲוֹנוֹת חָרֶב. מַאי כִּי חֵמָה עֲוֹנוֹת חָרֶב. דָּא חֶרֶב לַיְיָ,' דִּתְנָן, חֶרֶב אִית לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּבֵיהּ דָּאִין לְחַיָּיבַיָּא. הה"ד חֶרֶב לַיְיָ' מָלְאָה דָם. וְחַרְבִּי תֺּאכַל בָּשָׂר. ובג"כ גּוּרוּ לָכֶם מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב כִּי חֵמָה עֲוֹנוֹת חָרֶב לְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּן שַׁדּוּן, שַׁדִּין כְּתִיב. בְּגִין דְּתֵדְעוּן דְּהָכִי אִתְּדָּן, מַאן דְּאִית לֵיהּ חֶרֶב בְּלִישָׁנֵיהּ, אִזְדְּמַן לֵיהּ חֶרֶב דְּשָׁצֵי כֺּלָּא, הה"ד זֺאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְּצוֹרָע.

Birds Evil

5. Rabbi Elazar cited the verse: "Like the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time" (Kohelet 9:12). Although we have already learned this verse, come and behold: people are not aware of their Master's desire and do not listen to it, nor do they look to it. The supernal announcer goes before them every day to awaken them, but no one is there to listen to him and no one awakens his spirit to worship his Master.

5. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח, וְכַצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחוּזּוֹת בַּפָּח כָּהֵם יוּקָשִׁים בְּנֵי הָאָדָם. הַאי קְרָא הָא אִתְּמַר. אֲבָל ת"ח, בְּנֵי נָשָׁא לָא יַדְעִין, וְלָא שַׁמְעִין, וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלֵי בִּרְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, וְכָרוֹזָא כָּל יוֹמָא קָארֵי קָמַיְיהוּ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּצָיִית לֵיהּ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִתְּעַר רוּחֵיהּ לְפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהּ.

Abyss Demons Dreams Gates Righteous

6. When the night falls and the gates are closed, a chasm in the great abyss is opened and many battalions of demons present in the world. Then, the Holy One, blessed be He, casts sleep upon all human beings in the world AND CASTS SLEEP even upon those who are awake, NAMELY THE RIGHTEOUS. AND THE SPIRITS go around the world and inform people of different matters IN THEIR DREAMS, part of which is false and part of which is truth. People are thus linked with them in their sleep.

6. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּרָמַשׁ לֵילְיָא, וְתַרְעִין סְתִימִין, אִתְּעַר נוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא, וְכַמָּה חֲבִילֵי טְרִיקִין מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי בְּעָלְמָא. כְּדֵין אָפִּיל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שֵׁינָתָא עַל כָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, וַאֲפִילּוּ עַל כָּל דִּי בְּהוֹן אִתְּעָרוּתָא דְּחַיֵּי, וְאִינּוּן שָׁאטָן בְּעָלְמָא, וּמוֹדְעִין לְהוּ לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, מִלִּין, מִנְּהוֹן כְּדִיבָן, וּמִנְּהוֹן קְשׁוֹט, וּבְנֵי נָשָׁא אִתְקְטָרוּ בְּשֵׁינָתָא.

Flame Garden of Eden Morning North Praise Righteous Rooster Torah Wind

7. When the north wind is awakened at midnight, a flame comes out and slaps the rooster's wings and it cries. Then, the Holy One, blessed be He, comes into the Garden of Eden to delight Himself with the righteous. An announcer comes out and proclaims, and all people awaken in their beds. Those who are awake stand by their beds to worship their Master. They learn Torah and praise the Holy One, blessed be He, until the morning comes.

7. כַּד אִתְּעַר רוּחָא דְּצָפוֹן, וְאִתְפְּלִיג לֵילְיָא, שַׁלְהוֹבָא נָפְקָא וּבָטַשׁ תְּחוֹת גַּדְפּוֹי דְּתַרְנְגוֹלָא, וְקָרֵי, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָאל בְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָּא. וּכְדֵין כָּרוֹזָא נָפִיק וְקָרֵי, וְכָל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא מִתְעָרֵי בְּעַרְסַיְיהוּ, אִינּוּן דִּי בְּהוֹן אִתְּעָרוּתָא דְּחַיֵּי, קַיְימִין לְפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, וְעַסְקֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּבִשְׁבָחָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַד דְּאָתֵי צַפְרָא.

Abraham Angels Astrology Chassadim Congregation Gates Job Morning Praise Stars Tree

8. When the morning comes, all the battalions of angels above praise the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written: "When the morning stars sang together" (Iyov 38:7). Many gates are then opened on all sides and the gate of Abraham, THE SECRET OF CHESED, is opened to the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and invites all the people of the world TO ENJOY THE CHASSADIM, as it is written: "And Abraham planted a tamarisk in Beer-Sheva" (Beresheet 21:33). MALCHUT IS CALLED 'BEER-SHEVA,' AND ABRAHAM PLANTED A TREE OF CHESED THERE.

8. כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא, כָּל חַיָּילִין וּמַשִׁרְיָין דִּלְעֵילָּא מְשַׁבְּחָן לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא ב"ה. הה"ד בְּרָן יַחַד כֺּכְבֵי בֺקֶר וְגוֹ.' כְּדֵין כַּמָה תַּרְעִין אִתְפְּתָחוּ לְכָל סִטְרִין. וְתַרְעָא דְּאַבְרָהָם, אִתְפְּתַח בָּהּ בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְזַמְּנָא לְכָל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, וַיִּטַּע אֵשֶׁל בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע.

Birds Body Evil Judgment Merit Soul, The

9. How will a man who does not wake up to worship his Master come before the King when Judgment is brought against him? He will be fettered in chains, MEANING THAT HE WILL BE IMPRISONED AND BROUGHT TO TRIAL, and no merit will be there to save him. Then he will be "like the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time" (Kohelet 9:12). Thus, before man departs from this world, both the body and the soul suffer many chastisements before they are separated from each other, and no one is there to care ABOUT IT.

9. וּמַאן דְּלָא יִתְּעַר רוּחֵיהּ בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָרֵיהּ, בְּהֵיךְ אַנְפִּין יְקוּם קָמֵי מַלְכָּא, כַּד יִתְּעֲרוּן עָלֵיהּ בְּדִינָא, וְיִתְפְּשׂוּן לֵיהּ בְּקוֹלָרָא, וְלָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח עָלֵיהּ זְכוּתָא לְאִשְׁתְּזָבָא, כְּדֵין כְּתִיב, וְכַצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחֻזוֹת בַּפָּח כָּהֵם יוּקָשִׁים בְּנֵי אָדָם. וְעַד לָא יִנְפּוֹק ב"נ מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, בְּכַמָּה דִּינִין אִתְּדָּן נַפְשָׁא עִם גּוּפָא, עַד לָא יִתְפָּרְשׁוּן דָּא מִן דָּא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִשְׁגַּח.

Body Fire Love Righteous Shechinah Soul, The

10. When that time comes, WHEN THE SOUL must depart FROM THE BODY, the soul does not leave the body until the Shechinah shows Herself to it. Then it goes out from the body in joy and love of the Shechinah to meet Her. If a man is righteous, he cleaves and bonds himself to Her. If not, the Shechinah departs FROM HIM and his soul is left behind, mourning over its separation from the body. It is similar to what is said about the cat which will not be driven away from the fire: 'Sharpen Your knife and it shall follow you,' FOR IT WILL THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CUT MEAT, AND SO IT WILL BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE FIRE. THUS, THE SOUL DOES NOT WANT TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY BUT WHEN THE SHECHINAH SHOWS HERSELF TO IT, IT LEAVES THE BODY.

10. בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּמָטָא שַׁעֲתָא לְאִתְפָּרְשָׁא, לָא נָפְקָא נַפְשָׁא מִן גּוּפָא, עַד דְּאִתְגְּלֵי עָלֵיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא, וְנַפְשָׁא, מִגּוֹ חֶדְוָתָא וַחֲבִיבוּתָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, נָפְקָא מִגּוּפָא לְקָבְלָהָא. אִי זַכָּאָה הוּא, מִתְקְשַׁר בָּהּ וְאִתְדַּבָּק בָּהּ. וְאִי לָאו, שְׁכִינְתָּא אַזְלָא, וְהִיא אִשְׁתְּאָרַת, וְאַזְלַת וּמִתְאַבְּלָא עַל פְּרִישׁוּתָא דְּגוּפָא. מַתְלָא אַמְרֵי. שׁוּנְרָא מֵאֶשָּׁא לָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁא, חַדְדֵי לְסַכִּינָא, אַזְלָא אֲבַתְרֵיהּ.