Miketz: Chapter 1

"He puts an end to darkness"

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya introduces a discussion on the secret nature of good and evil. Rabbi Shimon then defines evil as "the end of the left;" that is, the lack of "remembrance" or connection between the Left and Right Columns. The friends relate this phenomenon to the dreams of Joseph and the Pharaoh. Joseph's dream of a river signifies the end of darkness and evil, and the beginning of peace and plenty.

Relevance

The energy arising from the mystical shapes of the Hebrew letters enlightens us to the severity of our negative actions and their consequences. Negative behavior rooted in the Left Column refers to selfish indulgence without regard or concern for others. Awareness and careful management of both Columns - of receiving and of sharing - bring lasting Light to our lives. Inattention to either Column creates imbalance. Sharing without receiving [Right Column without Left Column], for example, quickly depletes our resources. If we share water from a glass without replenishment, the glass will soon be empty. Receiving without sharing is like casting a dehydrated man into the middle of a raging sea. Though he is in desperate need of water, overabundance eventually drowns him. Reading this section has a stabilizing effect on our spirituality and on the decisions we make. Intuitively, we begin making that strike a delicate balance between knowing when to share and when to receive.

Angel of Death Angels Darkness Death Death and the Afterlife Deeds Job Satan, The Shadow Sin Soul, The Stone Year

1. "And it came to pass at the end of two years" (Beresheet 41:1). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, "He puts an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection, the stone of darkness and the shadow of death" (Iyov 28:3). "He puts an end to darkness" is the end of the left, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE RIGHT; IT IS THE SATAN, THE ANGEL OF DEATH. He hovers about the world AND INCITES PEOPLE TO SIN; he hovers above and stands before the Holy One, blessed be He, and blames and accuses the world. As it is written, he "searches out all perfection (Heb. tachlit)," for his deeds are not intended to achieve good, but rather to exterminate (Heb. lechalot) and bring extinction to the world, AS HE TAKES THE SOULS OF MEN AND KILLS THEM.

1. וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ, רִבִּי חִיָּיא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, קֵץ שָׂם לַחֹשֶׁךְ וּלְכָל תַּכְלִית הוּא חוֹקֵר אֶבֶן אֹפֶל וְצַלְמָוֶת, הַאי קְרָא אִתְּמָר, קֵץ שָׂם לַחֹשֶׁךְ, דָּא אִיהוּ קֵץ דִּשְׂמָאלָא, דְּאִיהוּ שָׁאט בְּעַלְמָא, וְשָׁאט לְעֵילָא, וְקָיְימָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאַסְטֵי, וְקַטְרֵיג עַל עַלְמָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר. וּלְכָל תַּכְלִית הוּא חוֹקֵר, דְּהָא כָּל עוֹבָדוֹי לָאו אִינוּן לְטַב, אֶלָּא לְשֵׁיצָאָה תָּדִיר, וּלְמֶעְבַּד כְּלָיָה בְּעָלְמָא.

Darkness Death Death and the Afterlife Gold Job Klipot (Shells – Negativity) Nukva Satan, The Shadow Shells (Klipot) Sin Stone Wicked Wickedness Zeir Anpin

2. " ... The stone of darkness and the shadow of death" refers to a stumbling block, NAMELY THE SATAN, WHO IS CALLED A STUMBLING BLOCK BECAUSE the wicked stumble on it and sin. It abides in that which is called "a land of gloom, as darkness itself" (Iyov 10:22). Come and behold, There is the land of the living above, which is the land of Yisrael, NAMELY, THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. And there is a land below called "darkness and the shadow of death," namely the darkness that is issued from the land of gloom, WHICH IS THE NUKVA OF THE KLIPAH. What are "the stone of darkness and the shadow of death?" They are the end, on the side of darkness. They are THE SATAN, the dross of gold, as we have already learned.

2. אֶבֶן אֹפֶל וְצַלְמָוֶת, דָּא אֶבֶן נֶגֶף, דְּבָהּ כָּשְׁלִין חַיָּיבִין, וְקָיְימָא בְּהַאי דְאִקְרֵי, אֶרֶץ עֵפָתָהּ כְּמוֹ אֹפֶל. תָּא חֲזֵי אִית אֶרֶץ חַיִּים לְעֵילָא, וְהַאי אִיהוּ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאִית אֶרֶץ לְתַתָּא וְנִקְרָא אֹפֶל וְצַלְמָוֶת, אֹפֶל דְּנַפְקָא מֵאֶרֶץ עֵפָתָה. מַאי אֶבֶן אֹפֶל וְצַלְמָוֶת, דָּא הוּא קֵץ, דְּאִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דְחֹשֶׁךְ, זוּהֲמָא דְּדַהֲבָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר.

Torah

3. Come and behold how much it behooves men to look into the worship of the Holy One, blessed be He, and strive to study the Torah day and night, so they will know and behold His worship. For the Torah proclaims every day before men, saying, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him" (Mishlei 9:4). We have already explained this matter.

3. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אִית לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, יְמָמָא וְלֵילֵי, בְּגִין דְּיִנְדְּעוּן וְיִסְתַּכְּלוּן בְּפוּלְחָנֵיהּ, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא אִיהִי מַכְרְזָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ וְאָמְרָה, מִי פֶּתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה חֲסַר לֵב וְאָמְרָה לוֹ, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי.

Death and the Afterlife Grades Soul, The Torah Tree Tree of Life World to Come, The Zeir Anpin

4. When a man studies the Torah and cleaves to it, he is strengthened in the Tree of Life, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, as it is written, "a Tree of Life..." (Mishlei 3:18). Come and behold, When a man is strengthened in the Tree of Life in this world, he is strengthened in it for the World to Come. And when the souls leave this world, grades are prepared for them in the World to Come.

4. וְכַד בַּר נָשׁ אִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בָּהּ, זָכֵי לְאִתְתַּקְפָא בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, דִּכְתִיב עֵץ חַיִּים וגו.' וְתָא חֲזֵי, כַּד בַּר נָשׁ אִתְתַּקַּף בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, אִתְתַּקַּף בֵּיהּ לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, דְּהָא כַּד נִשְׁמָתִין נָפְקִין מֵהַאי עַלְמָא, הָכֵי אִתְתַּקְּנָן לְהוֹ דַּרְגִּין לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Grades Torah Tree Tree of Life

5. Come and behold, The Tree of Life is divided into several grades, but they are all unified into one. For in the Tree of Life there are grades upon grades - branches, leaves, husks, the trunk, and the roots. All of them are the tree. In the same manner, whoever strives to study the Torah is strengthened and improved by the Tree of Life, NAMELY, IN THE TRUNK OF THE TREE.

5. תָּא חֲזֵי, אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, אִיהוּ בְּכַמָּה דַרְגִּין מִתְפָּרְשָׁן דָּא מִן דָּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ חַד. דְּהָא בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, אִית דַּרְגִּין אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין, עַנְפִין, וְעָלִין, קְלִיפִין, גּוּפָא דְאִילָנָא, שָׁרָשִׁין. וְכֹלָּא הוּא אִילָנָא. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, כָּל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִיהוּ אִתְתַּקַּן וְאִתְתַּקַּף בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי.

Faith Torah Tree Tree of Life

6. All those of the faith, Yisrael, are strengthened by the Tree of Life. They all hold onto the tree, but some of them hold onto the trunk, some to the branches, some to the leaves, and some to the roots. It seems, therefore, that they hold onto the Tree of Life. All of those who are occupied in the study of the Torah hold to the trunk of the tree, and for that reason, he who studies the Torah holds onto the whole tree, BECAUSE THE TREE TRUNK INCLUDES THE WHOLE. This has already been explained.

6. וְכָל בְּנֵי דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא יִשְׂרָאֵל, כֻּלְּהוֹן מִתְתַּקְּפִין בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, כֻּלְּהוּ אֲחִידִין בְּאִילָנָא מַמָּשׁ, מִנְּהוֹן בְּהַהוּא גוּפָא דְּבֵיהּ, מִנְּהוֹן אֲחִידָן בְּעַנְפִין, מִנְּהוֹן בְּעָלִין, מִנְּהוֹן בְּשָׁרָשִׁין, אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ דְּכֻלְּהוּ אֲחִידָן בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי. וְאִינוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלִין בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא כֻּלְּהוּ אֲחִידָן בְּגוּפָא דְאִילָנָא. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִיהוּ אָחִיד בְּכֹלָּא, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ וְאִתְּמָר.

Dreams Joseph Righteous

7. "And it came to pass at the end." HE ASKS, What is the meaning of "the end?" Rabbi Shimon replied that this is a place in which there is no remembrance - the end of the left. What does this mean? For it is written, "But think of me (lit. 'remember') when it shall be well with you" (Beresheet 40:14). HE ASKS, Is it proper for Joseph the righteous to say, "But remember me." AND HE ANSWERS, When Joseph looked at the dream, he said, 'This is assuredly a dream of remembrance' - but he was wrong, because it all came from the Holy One, blessed be He.

7. וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ, מַאי מִקֵּץ. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֲמַר, אֲתַר דְּלֵית בָּהּ זְכִירָה. וְדָא הוּא קֵץ דִּשְׂמָאלָא, מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב כִּי אִם זְכַרְתַּנִי אִתְּךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לָךְ. וְכִי הָכֵי אִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ לְיוֹסֵף צַדִּיקָא, דְּאִיהוּ אֲמַר כִּי אִם זְכַרְתַּנִי אִתְּךָ, אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתַּכַּל יוֹסֵף בְּחֶלְמֵיהּ, אֲמַר וַדַּא חֶלְמָא דִזְכִירָה אִיהוּ, וְאִיהוּ טָעָה בְּהַאי, דְּהָא בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הֲוֵי כֹלָּא.

Butler Darkness Grades Joseph Year

8. Therefore, the place of forgetfulness rose against him. It is written, "Nevertheless the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." HE ASKS, If it is said "the chief butler did not remember," why then add "but forgot him?" HE ANSWERS, "but forgot him" indicates the place in which there is forgetfulness, which is CALLED the end on the side of darkness. HE ASKS, What are the two years? AND HE ANSWERS, The grade of forgetfulness returned after that time to the grade in which there is remembrance.

8. וְע"ד אֲתַר דַּהֲוָה בֵיהּ נַשְׁיוּ קָם קַמֵּיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב וְלֹא זָכַר שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים אֶת יוֹסֵף וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵהוּ. כֵּיוָן דַּאֲמַר וְלֹא זָכַר שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים, מַהוּ וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵהוּ. אֶלָּא וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵהוּ אֲתַר דְּאִית בֵּיהּ שִׁכְחָה, וְדָא הוּא קֵץ דְּסִטְרָא דְּחֹשֶׁךְ. שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים, מַאי שְׁנָתַיִם. דְּתָב דַּרְגָּא, לְדַרְגָּא דְּאִית בֵּיהּ זְכִירָה.

Dreams Grades Joseph Peace Pharaoh, The Righteous Rivers Thought

9. "...that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river" concerns the dream of Joseph, NAMELY A DREAM OF REMEMBRANCE THAT REFERS TO JOSEPH, because every river is part of Joseph the Righteous. This is the hidden meaning of the thought that whoever sees a river in his dream sees peace, WHICH IS THE GRADE OF YESOD, THAT IS, JOSEPH, as it is written, "I will extend peace to her like a river" (Yeshayah 66:12), SO "RIVER" ALLUDES TO JOSEPH.

9. וּפַרְעֹה חוֹלֵם וְהִנֵּה עוֹמֵד עַל הַיְאֹר, דָּא חֶלְמָא דְיוֹסֵף הֲוָה, בְּגִין דְּכָל נָהָר דְּיוֹסֵף הַצַּדִּיק אִיהוּ, וְרָזָא דָּא הֲוֵי, הַאי מַאן דְּחָמֵי נָהָר בַּחֲלוֹם, חָמֵי שָׁלוֹם, דִּכְתִיב הִנְנִי נוֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר שָׁלוֹם.

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