Pekudei: Chapter 60

The seventh chamber of the Other Side, the dregs of wine

Synopsis

We learn that the seventh chamber is the chamber of the dregs of wine, the dregs produced by the pressing of the bad grapes. Rabbi Shimon says that Eve gave Adam a drink of the dregs of wine and thus sent him to this seventh chamber. This is explained as meaning that she brought death to Adam and to all the generations after him. We are told of those who come to this chamber, defiled spirits, those who frequented prostitutes, and bastards. The seventh chamber corresponds to Gehenom, and in it there is a point from that all the other evil spirits come out and roam around the world. Rabbi Shimon also talks about the spirits ruled by 'Nesira' ('sowing') who weaken the unholy side and perform miracles for people who are not evil. From the seventh chamber the 'fire of a strong wind' emerges that judges the wicked of the world. We hear of the blazing spirit of fire and snow called 'Tzalmon' who also comes from here. Rabbi Shimon tells about four openings in the seventh chamber that face outside; in each opening the kings of other nations who did not oppress Yisrael are allowed to stand sometimes and see the light from the side of holiness. Rabbi Shimon concludes this description of the seven chambers by saying that we should remain on guard against the aspect of the serpent manifested by these seven chambers, and remember that even if we are saved from the head we are not necessarily saved from the tail. It is wise for men to avoid sinning so that the serpent will not bite and kill them.

Chambers Death Death and the Afterlife Earth Eve Other Side Wicked Wickedness Wine

925. The seventh chamber is the chamber of the dregs of wine, to drink one's fill, NAMELY, TO GET DRUNK BY, as it is written, "and he drank of the wine, and was drunk, and he was uncovered" (Beresheet 9:21). The pressing of the grapes, the bad grapes, is done here, and it becomes foaming wine, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "FOAMING WINE; IT IS FULL OF MIXTURE...BUT ITS DREGS, SHALL ALL THE WICKED OF THE EARTH...DRINK" (TEHILIM 75:9). FOAMING WINE MEANS the dregs of the wine. There is no one who drinks of them without bringing death to himself. Of this wine Eve gave her husband a drink, thus putting him in this chamber, as we learned that she pressed grapes and gave him to drink, thus bringing death to him, and to the whole world after him.

925. הֵיכָלָא שְׁבִיעָאָה. הֲדָא הוּא הֵיכָלָא דִּשְׁמָרֵי דְּחַמְרָא, לְאִתְרַוָּואָה בֵּיהּ. כד"א וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָר וַיִּתְגַּל. סְחִיטָא דְּכָל אִינּוּן עֲנָבִין, כֻּלְּהוּ עֲנָבִין בִּישִׁין, הָכָא אִיהוּ סְחִיטָא דִּלְהוֹן. וְדָא אִיהוּ יַיִן חַמָר. שְׁמָרִים דְּחָמָר דְּלֵית מַאן דְּשָׁתֵי מִנֵּיהּ, דְּלָא גָּרִים מוֹתָא לְגַרְמֵיהּ. מִיֵינָא דָּא, אַטְעִימַת חַוָּה לְבַעְלָהּ, וְעָאלַת לֵיהּ בְּהֵיכָלָא דָּא, דְּתָנֵינָן, סָחֲטָה עֲנָבִין, וְיָהִיבַת לֵיהּ, וְגָרִימַת מוֹתָא לֵיהּ, וּלְכָל עָלְמָא אֲבַתְרֵיהּ.

Chambers Children Evil Evil Inclination Soul, The

926. In this chamber are the unholy souls, who descend upon all those who cleave to this DEFILED side. The defiled spirit, who descends upon those of this side, comes from here. As for those who strayed from their way in the world and practiced prostitution where they should not have, and shunned the way of truth, when one cleaves to the side of the Evil Inclination by harlotry, a spirit of defilement comes out of this chamber to defile him and the child he begot BY PROSTITUTION.

926. בְּהֵיכָלָא דָּא, קַיְימִן כָּל אִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתִין מִסְאֲבִין, דְּנַחְתֵּי לְכָל אִינּוּן דִּי בְּסִטְרָא דָּא מִתְדַּבְּקֵי, וְהַהוּא רוּחָא דְּנַחְתָּא לְכָל אִינּוּן דִּי מִסִּטְרָהָא, מֵהָכָא נַפְקֵי. כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִינּוּן סָטוּ אָרְחַיְיהוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאִשְׁתְּדָּלוּ בִּזְנוּתָא, בַּאֲתָר דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, לְאִתְרַחֲקָא מֵאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט. כְּדֵין, כְּמָה דְּאִיהוּ אִתְדְּבָּק בְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע בִּזְנוּתָא, הָכִי נָמֵי נָפִיק מְהֵיכָלָא דָּא רוּחָא מִסְאֲבָא, לְסָאֲבָא לֵיהּ, וְלִבְרָא דְּנָפִיק מִתַּמָּן.

Children Deeds Evil Evil Inclination

927. That child is called 'a bastard', for he came from the side of a strange El. As a man is on the side of the Evil Inclination by that passion and harlotry, so he draws to that child another unholy spirit who defiles, and everyone testifies about him that he is a bastard, as happens to all his deeds and sides.

927. וְהַהוּא בְּרָא אִקְרֵי מַמְזֵר, דְּאָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּאֵל זָר. כְּמָה דְּאִיהוּ אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּהַהוּא תִּיאוּבְתָא, וּבְהַהוּא זְנוּתָא בְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, הָכִי נָמֵי מָשִׁיךְ לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּהַהוּא בְּרָא רוּחָא אַחֲרָא מִסְאֲבָא, דְּסָאִיב, וְכֹלָּא סָהֲדִין עָלֵיהּ דְּאִיהוּ מַמְזֵר, וְהָכִי כָּל עוֹבָדוֹי וְסִטְרוֹי בְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא מַמָּשׁ.

Chambers Earth Evil Evil Inclination Ezekiel Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Wind

928. From this chamber comes a spirit in charge of the spirits, called 'northern' (Heb. tzefoni), THE SEVENTH NAME OF THE EVIL INCLINATION. This is derived from the verse, "Whoever who hides her hides (Heb. tzafan) the wind (spirit)" (Mishlei 27:16). This spirit is in charge of THE NORTHERN. And the seventh chamber corresponds to the name OF GEHENOM, called "the nether parts of the earth" (Yechezkel 31:16). Of this, THE SAID NORTHERN, it is written, "and I will remove far off from you the northern one" (Yoel 2:20).

928. מְהֵיכָלָא דָּא נָפִיק חַד רוּחָא, דִּי מְמָנָא עַל אִינּוּן רוּחִין דְּאִקְרֵי צְפוֹנִי. וְסִמָנִיךְ, צֹפְנֶיהָ צָפַן רוּחַ. וְהַאי אִיהוּ מְמָנָא עַל דָּא. וְהַאי הֵיכָלָא שְׁבִיעָאָה, לָקֳבֵל הַהוּא שְׁמָא דְּאִקְרֵי אֶרֶץ תַּחְתִּית. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, וְאֶת הַצְּפוֹנִי אַרְחִיק מֵעֲלֵיכֶם.

Deeds Garments Judgment Point

929. Here there is a point standing in the innermost part. From here come out all the other spirits, who roam about the world, and rule over the world, by the things and deeds delivered on the left side. From here come out glitters and sparks, that are quenched immediately, burn and IMMEDIATELY are extinguished. From these are issued other spirits who hover about the world, and join THE SPIRITS that come from the great deep, as it is written, "Your Judgments are a great deep" (Tehilim 36:7). These are the spirits not destined to be clothed in this world, WITH THE GARMENT OF THE WORLD; they are seen and seen not, as we learned.

929. הָכָא אִיהוּ נְקוּדָה חֲדָא, דְּקַיְּימָא לְגוֹ בְּגוֹ, וּמֵהָכָא נַפְקֵי כָּל אִינּוּן רוּחִין אַחֲרָנִין דְּשָׁטָאן בְּעָלְמָא, וְשַׁלְטִין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, בְּכָל אִינּוּן מִלִּין וְעוֹבָדִין, דְּאִתְמְסָרוּ בְּסִטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא. וּמֵהָכָא נַפְקֵי כָּל אִינּוּן זִיקִין נְצִיצִין, דְּמִתְדַּעֲכֵי לְאַלְתָּר, לַהֲטֵי וּמִתְדַּעֲכֵי. וּמֵאִלֵּין נָפְקִין רוּחִין אַחֲרָנִין, דְּשַׁטְיָין בְּעָלְמָא, וּמִשְׁתַּתְּפֵי לְאִינּוּן דְּנַפְקוּ מִגּוֹ תְּהוֹמָא רַבָּא. וְאִיהוּ הַאי הֵיכָלָא, כד"א מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ תְּהוֹם רַבָּה. וְאִינּוּן רוּחִין דְּלָא אִתְמְסָרוּ לְמִגְלָם בְּעָלְמִין, וְאִתְחָזוּן וְלָא אִתְחָזוּן אִתְחָזוּן כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר.

Air Miracle Nesira (Spirit)

930. Also, THERE ARE spirits who roam about the world. They perform miracles to people who are not much steeped in the filth of defilement like others. There is a spirit appointed over them, called 'Nesira' (Eng. 'sowing'), because he is sowed AND SEPARATED from the most unholy sides, and they soar up in the air, and weaken their unholy side, so miracles may be performed to those of the holy side.

930. וּלְבָתַר אִינּוּן רוּחִין דְּשַׁטְיָין בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִלֵּין קַיְימֵי לְמֶרְחָשׁ נִסִּין לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא. בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין לָא קַיְימִין בְּטִנּוּפָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא כָּל כַּךְ כְּאַחֲרָנִין. וְחַד רוּחָא מְמָנָא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְאִקְרֵי נְסִירָ"א, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְנְסַר מֵאִינּוּן סִטְרִין דִּמְסָאֲבוּ יַתִיר, וְאִלֵּין פַּרְחֵי בַּאֲוֵירָא, וְאַבְאִישׁוּ לְסִטְרָא דִּלְהוֹן, בְּגִין לְמֶעְבַד נִסִּין לְאִינּוּן דִּי בְּסִטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה.

Nesira (Spirit)

931. From the spirit that was sowed AND SEPARATED FROM THE UNHOLY SIDE, called 'Nesira', come out some other sides divided to several kinds. All of them do errands in the world, each according to his worthiness. And so kings and ministers are appointed below. Yet, their existence is not continuous like that of the other ones above.

931. וּמֵרוּחָא דָּא דְּאִתְנְסַר, דְּאִקְרֵי נְסִירָ"א, מִנֵּיהּ נַפְקֵי כַּמָה סִטְרִין אַחֲרָנִין, מִתְפָרְשָׁן לְזִנַּיְיהוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ קַיְּימָאן שְׁלִיחָאן בְּעָלְמָא, כָּל חַד כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי לֵיהּ, עַד דְּאִתְמְנוּן לְתַתָא מַלְכִין וְסַרְכִין. וְלֵית לוֹן קִיּוּמָא תָּדִיר, כְּאִינּוּן אַחֲרָנִין דִּלְעֵילָּא.

Chambers Fire Tzalmon (Spirit) Unity Wicked Wickedness Wind

932. This chamber is the unity of the unholy side, and all unholy lusts, which defile the world. It is destined to put forth fire at any time, and no one will prevail against it. From here comes fire of a strong wind, with which to judge below the wicked of the world; from here comes out a blazing spirit, of fire and snow, called 'Tzalmon', as it is written, "snow falls in Tzalmon" (Tehilim 68:15).

932. בְּהֵיכָלָא דָּא אִתְדַבְקוּתָא דִּסְטָר מִסְאֲבָא, וְכָל תִּיאוּבְתִין מִסְאֲבִין, וּמְסָאֲבֵי לְעָלְמָא. הַאי אִיהוּ זַמִּין לְאַפָקָא בְּכָל רִגְעָא וְשַׁעֲתָא אֶשָּׁא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּקָאֵים קָמֵיהּ. מֵהָכָא נָפִיק אֶשָּׁא דְּרוּחָא תַּקִּיפָא לְתַתָּא, לְאִתְדְּנָא בְּיָהּ חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא. וּמֵהָכָא נָפְקָא רוּחָא מְלָהֲטָא, דְּאִיהוּ אֶשָּׁא וְתַלְגָּא, דְּאִקְרֵי צַלְמוֹן. כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר תַּשְׁלֵג בְּצַלְמוֹן.

Chambers Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Light Righteous

933. There are four openings in this chamber, divided into four sides facing outside. They are united and not united on the side of holiness. They are not REALLY united, but through these openings a light is seen, shining FROM THE SIDE OF HOLINESS. There is a place prepared in every opening to the righteous of the nations, who did not oppress the children of Yisrael, and strove to do them right. They stand in these openings and rest there.

933. בְּהֵיכָלָא דָּא, קַיְּימָאן אַרְבָּעָה פִּתְחִין, דְּמִתְפָּרְשָׁן לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין לְבַר. וְאִלֵּין אַחֲדִין וְלָא אַחֲדִין בְּסִטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה. לָא אִתְאֲחָד, אֶלָּא דְּאִתְחָזֵי בְּאִינּוּן פִּתְחִין נְהוֹרָא דְּנָהִיר, וְאִיהוּ אֲתָר דְּמִתְתְּקָן בְּכָל פִּתְחָא וּפִתְחָא, לְאִינּוּן חֲסִידֵי דִּשְׁאַר עַמִּין, אִינּוּן דְּלָא אַבְאִישׁוּ לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִשְׁתָּדָּלוּ עִמְּהוֹן בִּקְשׁוֹט. אִלֵּין קַיְימֵי בְּאִלֵּין פִּתְחִין, וְנַיְיחֵי תַּמָּן.

Chambers Darkness Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Light Windows

934. In the opening in the middle of the chamber, on the outer side, there are six openings connected with the chamber. They all hold on to it. Here there are windows open on the side of the holy light. These places are made for the kings of the other nations, who did not oppress the children of Yisrael and always protected them. They are honored because of Yisrael, and enjoy, in the darkness where they sit, the light shining from the side of holiness, as it is written, "All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory" (Yeshayah 14:18).

934. בְּפִתְחָא דְּהַאי הֵיכָלָא בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא, לְבַר, שִׁית פִּתְחִין דְּמִתְאַחֲדֵי בְּהַאי הֵיכָלָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אַחֲדִין בֵּיהּ. הָכָא אִית כַּוִּין פְּתִיחָן, לְסִטְרָא דִּנְהוֹרָא קַדִישָׁא, וְאִינּוּן דּוּכְתִין מִתְתָּקְנֵי לְמַלְכֵי שְׁאַר עַמִּין, אִינּוּן דְּלָא עָאקוּ לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאַגִינוּ עָלַיְיהוּ תָּדִיר. אִלֵּין אִית לוֹן יְקָר בְּגִינֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִתְהֲנוּ בְּהַהוּא אֲפֵלָה דְּאִינּוּן יַתְבִין, מִגּוֹ נְהוֹרָא דְּנָהִיר מִסִּטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה. כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, כָּל מַלְכֵי גוֹיִם כֻּלָּם שָׁכְבוּ בְכָבוֹד.

Faith Judgment Testimony Wicked Wickedness World to Come, The

935. If they did wicked things to the children of Yisrael or oppressed them, they are seized and sentenced below three times a day, by several different punishments for the oppressing kings. They are sentenced in that world to several punishments, and every day they have to give testimony about the children of Yisrael, and their Faith, then they descend to be judged below. Happy are the children of Yisrael in this world and in the World to Come.

935. וְאִי עָבְדוּ עָאקוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אוֹ דְּחִיקוּ לוֹן. כַּמָה אִינּוּן דְּאַחְדִּין בְּהוּ, וְדַיְינִין לְהוּ לְתַתָּא תְּלַת זִמְנִין בְּיוֹמָא, מִכַּמָּה דִּינִין מְשַׁנְיָין אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין, לְאִינּוּן מַלְכִין דְּעָאקוּ לְהוּ, דְּאִתְדָּנוּ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא בְּכַמָּה דִּינִין. וְכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא סָהֲדִין סַהֲדוּתָא עָלַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְעַל מְהֵימְנוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְנַחְתֵּי לְתַתָּא וְאִתְדָּנוּ תַּמָּן. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין, וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.

Chambers Head Serpent Seven

936. So far the seven chambers, the departments of the side of defilement of the aspect of the serpent WERE EXPOUNDED UPON. Happy is whoever is saved from it and its incantations THAT ARE GIVEN TO IT FROM ABOVE, so it would not bite him, nor inject poison in him until he is dead. We should be guarded from it on all sides, above and below. Whoever is saved from the head, is not saved from the tail, for when it bows his head, it lifts up its tail, strikes and kills.

936. עַד הָכָא שֶׁבַע הֵיכָלִין, מָדוֹרֵי דְּסִטְרָא מִסְאֲבָא, מִסִּטְרָא דְּנָחָשׁ. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּזִיב מִנֵּיהּ, וּמִלְּחִישׁוּתֵיהּ, דְּלָא יִתְנְשִׁיךְ מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא יָטִיל בֵּיהּ אַרְסָא, דְּיֵּמוּת בֵּיהּ. מִכָּל סִטְרִין אִית לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מִינֵּיהּ, מֵעֵילָּא וּמִתַּתָּא. מַאן דְּיִשְׁתְּזִיב מֵרֵישָׁא, לָא יִשְׁתְּזִיב מִזַּנְבָא. כַּד אָכִיף רֵישָׁא, זָקִיף זַנְבָא, מָחֵי וְקָטִיל.

Serpent Sin Soul, The

937. With all that, "if the serpent bites and cannot be charmed (also 'without a charm')" (Kohelet 10:11). We learned that it is given permission and takes away the soul. For that reason it behooves a man to beware of sinning before the Holy One, blessed be He, so that the serpent may not be charmed to bite and kill.

937. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, אִם יִשּׁוֹךְ הַנָּחָשׁ בְּלֹא לָחַשׁ. כְּמָה דְּתָנֵינָן, נָטִיל רְשׁוּ וְאַפִיק נִשְׁמְתָא. בג"כ אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לב"נ לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא, דְּלָא יְחוּב קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יַלְחִישׁוּ לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא חִוְיָא דְּיִנְשׁוֹךְ וְיִקְטֹל.

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