"Come with me from Lebanon, my bride"

Synopsis

In this section, Rabbi Yitzchak first explains that he who studies Torah and performs good deeds will inherit a complete world, while he whose good deeds are incomplete will inherit according to what he deserves. He who does not study Torah or acquire any good deeds will inherit neither this world nor the World to Come. Following this, a discussion of "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride" begins. Rabbi Yehuda explains that God addressed these words to the Shechinah in the upper Sanctuary and announced that the children of Israel would receive the Torah. This would be their shield in exile, to protect them from the idolatrous and oppressive heathen nations. Rabbi Aba adds that God was first in the company that included the Shechinah and 600,000 ministering angels that descended into Egypt with Him. Rabbi Yitzchak interprets the phrase, "look from the top of Amanah," as referring to the Sanctuary above and below, and "From the top of Senir and Chermon," as signifying Mount Sinai. Finally, Rabbi Yehuda offers a contrasting interpretation of, "from the lions' den," as a reference to the students of the Torah, who are lions and leopards in the Torah.

Relevance

Through the merit of Jacob and all the righteous souls spoken of in the Zohar, we merit a place in the World to Come. Moreover, our actions of reading these very verses become our "good deeds," earning us a portion of the immortal, infinite Light of Creation. And each new day that we embrace these verses and meditate to share its Light with our friends and foes, we add to our good deeds, thereby increasing our share of the World to Come.

The place called Lebanon is a code referring to the spiritual domain known as Binah. Binah's Light is super-luminous. Its ultra-radiant rays banish death and discontent. When Binah shines, it is known as the World to Come.

Binah shines now.

Bride Deeds Lebanon Mount Horeb Torah World to Come, The

60. Rabbi Aba commenced the discussion and said, "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon" (Shir Hashirim 4:8). Come and behold, Woe to those people who do not know and are not careful of the service to their Creator. For we learned that Rabbi Yitzchak said, Every day a divine voice emanates from Mount Horeb and says, 'Woe is to those WHO DISREGARD the service of their Creator, woe to those who denigrate the honor of the Torah.' For Rabbi Yehuda said, All who study Torah in this world and acquire good deeds will inherit a complete world. And all who do not study Torah in this world and do not do good deeds will not inherit this or that - MEANING NOT THIS WORLD AND NOT THE WORLD TO COME. YOU MAY WONDER WHY IT IS SAID EITHER HE INHERITS A COMPLETE WORLD OR HE LOSES TWO WORLDS, and yet we have learned there is one who inherits according to his station and what is deserving to him, MEANING THERE IS A MIDDLE WAY. Rabbi Yitzchak said, We did not learn THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE TWO WORLDS, except for one who has no good deed at all. BUT ONE WHO DOES HAVE GOOD DEEDS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE INCOMPLETE, INHERITS HIS WORLD ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DESERVES BOTH IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE WORLD TO COME.

60. ר' אַבָּא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן תָּבוֹאִי תָּא חֲזֵי וַוי לוֹן בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, דְּלָא יַדְעִין, וְלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, דְּתַנְיָא א"ר יִצְחָק, בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא בַּת קוֹל נַפְקַת מִטּוּרָא דְּחוֹרֵב, וְאָמַר, וַוי לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא מִפּוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, וַוי לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא מֵעֶלְבּוֹנָהּ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. דְּאָמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, כָּל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּמְסַגֵּל עוֹבָדִין טָבִין יָרִית עָלְמָא שְׁלֵימָא. וְכָל מַאן דְּלָא אִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְלָא עָבֵיד עוֹבָדִין טָבִין, לָא יָרִית לָא הַאי וְלָא הַאי. וְהָא תְּנַן, אִית מַאן דְּיָרִית עַלְמֵיהּ כְּפוּם אַתְרֵיהּ, וּכְפוּם מַה דְּחָזֵי לֵיהּ. א"ר יִצְחָק, לָא תְּנַן, אֶלָּא מַאן דְּלֵית לֵיהּ עוֹבָדִין טָבִין כְּלָל.

Angels Bride Eden Egypt (Holy) Temple Hosts Jacob Lebanon Love Moses Shechinah Universe

61. Rabbi Yehuda said, If people knew the love that the Holy One, blessed be He, has for Yisrael, they would roar like lions to pursue Him AND ADHERE TO HIM. At the time that Jacob descended into Egypt, the Holy One, blessed be He, summoned His company OF ANGELS and said to them, 'All of you descend into Egypt and I will descend with you.' The Shechinah said, 'Master of the Universe, are there hosts without a king?' FOR THE SHECHINAH IS CONSIDERED THE KING OF THE ANGELS BECAUSE THEY ALL FLOW FROM HER. He said to Her, "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride;" you will come with Me from Lebanon from the place of Eden, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH, that is refined in all its actions. "Bride" is the Shechinah, which is the bride under the canopy. It follows what we have learned, that Rabbi Yehuda said, What is the meaning of, "And it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished (Heb. kalot)..." (Bemidbar 7:1)? Kalot is spelled without a Vav, for this is the day that the kalah (lit. 'bride') enters the Chupah (wedding canopy), and the bride is the Shechinah, WHICH IS IN THE TEMPLE, THE BRIDE UNDER THE CHUPAH.

61. א"ר יְהוּדָה, אִלְמָלֵי הֲווֹ יַדְעִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, רְחִימוּתָא דְּרָחִים קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲווֹ שָׁאֲגִין כִּכְפִירַיָּא לְמִרְדַּף אֲבַתְרֵיהּ. דְּתַנְיָא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנָחַת יַעֲקֹב לְמִצְרַיִם, קָרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְפָּמַלְיָא דִּילֵיהּ אָמַר לְהוֹן, כֻּלְּכוֹן חוּתוּ לְמִצְרַיִם, וַאֲנָא אֵיחוּת עִמְּכוֹן. אָמְרָה שְׁכִינְתָּא רִבּוֹנָא דְּעָלְמָא, אִית צְבָאוֹת בְּלֹא מַלְכָּא, אָמַר לָהּ, אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה, מִלְּבָנוֹן: מֵאַתְרָא דְּעֵדֶן, דִּמְלוּבָּן בְּכָל עוֹבָדוֹי. כַּלָּה: דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּהִיא כַּלָּה בְּחוּפָּה. וְאַזְלָא הָא כְּהָא דְּתַנְיָא א"ר יְהוּדָה, מַאי דִּכְתִּיב, וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם כַּלֹֹּת מֹשֶׁה, כַּלַּת כְּתִיב, בְּיוֹמָא דְּעָאלָת כַּלָּה לַחוּפָּה, וּשְׁכִינְתָּא דָּא הִיא כַּלָּה.

Destruction Exile Faith Head (Holy) Temple Idolatry Jacob Lebanon Mount Sinai Torah

62. "...With me from Lebanon..." meaning from the place of the supernal Temple. "Look from the top of Amanah." HE ASKS, From the top of what? AND ANSWERS, From the head (top) of those who have Faith (Heb. emunah). And who are they? Jacob and his sons. "From the top of Senir and Chermon," for they are destined to receive My Torah from Mount Chermon - MEANING MOUNT SINAI, WHICH IS CALLED 'CHERMON' - to protect them in exile, WHICH IS CALLED 'CHERMON,' DERIVED FROM DESTRUCTION (HEB. CHEREM). "From the lions' dens," is in reference to the nations that serve idols, who are compared to lions and leopards that oppress YISRAEL with all types of hard labor.

62. אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן תָּבוֹאִי, מֵאֲתָר בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא דִּלְעֵילָּא. תָּשוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה, מֵרֵישָׁא דְּמַאן. מֵרָאשֵׁיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי מְהֵימָנוּתָא. וּמַאן נִינְהוּ. יַעֲקֹב וּבְנוֹי. מֵרֹאשׁ שְׂנִיר וְחֶרְמוֹן, דְּאִינּוּן עֲתִידִין לְקַבְּלָא אוֹרַיְיתָא דִּילִי, מִטּוּרָא דְּחֶרְמוֹן, וּלְאַגָּנָא עָלַיְיהוּ בְּגָלְוּתְהוֹן. מִמְּעוֹנוֹת אֲרָיוֹת: אִלֵּין אִינּוּן עַמִּין עעכו"ם, דְּדַמְיָין לְאַרְיָוָותָא וּנְמֵרִין, דִּמְעַנִּין לְהוֹן בְּכָל פּוּלְחָנָא דְּקַשְׁיוּ.

Angels Bride Egypt Head Hundred Lebanon Shechinah

63. Rabbi Aba said, "Come with Me from Lebanon, My bride." AND HE ASKS, Is she coming from Lebanon? Yet she is going up to Lebanon. AND SHE IS ASCENDING TO LEBANON TO RECEIVE CHOCHMAH! THUS, IT SHOULD HAVE SAID, 'ASCEND WITH ME TO LEBANON.' Therefore Rabbi Aba said, When the Shechinah descended into Egypt, six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with Her, and the Holy One, blessed be He, was first, as is written, "And their King passed before them and Hashem at their head" (Michah 2:13).

63. ר' אַבָּא אָמַר, אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה וְגוֹ.' וְכִי מִלְּבָנוֹן אָתַת, וַהֲלֹא לַלְּבָנוֹן עוֹלָה. אֶלָּא א"ר אַבָּא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנַחְתַת שְׁכִינְתָּא לְמִצְרַיִם, נַחְתּוּ בַּהֲדָהּ שִׁתִּין רִבּוֹא שֶׁל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁרֵת, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא הה"ד וַיַּעֲבוֹר מַלְכָּם לִפְנֵיהֶם וה' בְּרֹאשָׁם.

Bride (Holy) Temple Idolatry Lebanon Mount Sinai Shechinah Temple, The Torah Walls

64. Rabbi Yitzchak said, "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride," refers to the Shechinah. "...With me from Lebanon..." MEANS from the place of the supernal Temple, WHICH IS BINAH. "Look from the Top of Amanah," MEANS from the place of the Temple above and the Temple below. For Rabbi Yehuda said, The Shechinah has never moved from the western wall of the Temple, as is written, "Behold, he stands behind our wall" (Shir Hashirim 2:9). And He is the top of Amanah for the whole world. "From the top of Senir and Chermon," MEANS from the place whence the Torah went out to the world, MEANING MOUNT SINAI, WHICH IS CALLED 'CHERMON.' And why IS THIS? In order to protect Yisrael. "The lions' dens" (Shim Hashirim 4:8), are the nations who worship idols. Rabbi Yudan says, "The lions' dens," refers to scholars who study the Torah in the Torah academies and synagogues, who are lions and leopards in the Torah.

64. ר' יִצְחָק אָמַר, אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה, דָּא אִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא. אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן תָּבֹאִי, מֵאֲתָר בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא דִּלְעֵילָּא. תָּשוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה, מֵאֲתָר בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא דִּלְעֵילָּא, וּמֵאֲתָר בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא דִּלְתַתָּא דְּאָמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, מֵעוֹלָם לֹא זָזָה שְׁכִינְתָּא מִכּוֹתְלֵי דּמָעַרְבָא, דְּבֵי מַקְדְּשָׁא, דִּכְתִּיב, הִנֵּה זֶה עוֹמֵד אַחַר כָּתְלֵנוּ. וְהוּא רֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה לְכָל עָלְמָא. מֵרֹאשׁ שְׂנִיר וְחֶרְמוֹן מֵאַתְרָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא נַפְקַת לְעָלְמָא, וְלָמָּה. לְאַגָּנָא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִמְּעוֹנוֹת אֲרָיוֹת: אִלֵּין עַמִּין עעכו"ם. ר' יוּדָן אוֹמֵר, מִמְּעוֹנוֹת אֲרָיוֹת: אִלֵּין אִינּוּן ת"ח, דְּעַסְקֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בִּמְעוֹנוֹת הַמִּדְרָשׁוֹת, וּבְבָתֵּי כְּנֵסִיּוֹת, דְּאִינּוּן אַרְיָוָן וּנְמֵרִים בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.