Shemot: Chapter 31

Twelve mountains of balsam trees

Synopsis

This section begins with reference to Rabbi Yehuda's comment that, although God delights in the prayers of the Righteous, He does not always grant their requests. There follows an account illustrating this idea. Once, during a drought, Rabbi Eliezer prayed and decreed forty fasts to no avail, yet after Rabbi Akiva prayed, the wind and rain came immediately. Seeing Rabbi Eliezer's chagrin, Rabbi Akiva stood before the congregation and told them a parable. In it, he compared Rabbi Eliezer to a friend of a king who loved him so dearly that he delayed granting his friend's request in order to prolong his visit. In contrast, the king instantly granted the requests of his servant in order to dispense with him quickly. Rabbi Eliezer then tells Rabbi Akiva his dream, in which he saw the verse, "Therefore pray you not for this people..." and reveals that he was crestfallen because although he knew another could pray for them, the congregation thought he was of a lower degree than Rabbi Akiva.

Rabbi Eliezer then describes the dream in which he saw twelve mountains of balsam trees; the "one who wears a breastplate and Efod" entered and prayed to God to have mercy on the world. He explains that there are eighteen mountains of balsam. The righteous souls enter there, and from there 49 aromas ascend daily to Eden. These correspond to the 49 pure aspects and the 49 impure aspects of the Torah, the 49 letters of the names of the twelve Tribes, and the 49-day interval between the exodus and the handing of the Torah to Yisrael. The "one who wears the breastplate" sits on a holy throne supported by the four pillars, the Patriarchs, who receive from the twelve stones that illuminate in the breastplate. They raise their eyes and see the sparks that glitter on 620 sides of the Crown, on which the Holy Name is engraved. Then the pillars tremble, "And the heavens become revealed like a book" (Yeshayah 34:4).

Relevance

Here we are connected to the Light of the Creator in a warm and loving embrace. This connection is of a permanent nature, so that we are constantly in the presence of the Creator. This ensures absolute fulfillment of our prayers. Moreover, humility, which is the key that unlocks the gates of heaven, is aroused within us. This ensures the answering of our prayers and the arrival of lasting peace and countless blessings.

Though our generation may not really merit a merciful Redemption, we can achieve it upon the merit of Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Elizar, Rabbi Akiva, and the worldwide presence of this sacred Book of Splendor. Our collective meditation upon these verses unites our world to the fiftieth Gate - Binah, a realm of boundless bliss! All 49 spiritual levels leading up to Binah are now perfected by the words that speak of the "49 fragrances," the "illuminating stones," and the "engravings of the breastplate."

The story of humanity now arrives at a glorious conclusion after so many chapters of persecution and pain. "Happily Ever After" is our new reality.

Balsam Balsam Tree Mountains Prayer Righteous Tree

253. We learned that Rabbi Yehuda said, There is nothing that is so cherished by the Holy One, blessed be He, as the prayers of the righteous. Even though it pleases Him, sometimes He grants their request and sometimes He does not.

253. תְּנָן, אָמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, אֵין לָךְ דָּבָר בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כְּמוֹ תְּפִלָּתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ, זִמְנִין דְּעָבֵיד בָּעוּתְהוֹן, זִמְנִין דְּלָא עָבֵיד.

Eliezer Face Fasting Rabbi Akiva Rain Wind

254. The sages have taught that once, when the world needed rain, Rabbi Eliezer came and decreed forty fasts, but rain did not come. He prayed, but rain still did not come. Rabbi Akiva came, stood and prayed. He said, "He makes the wind to blow," and the wind blew strong and powerful. He said, "And He makes the rain fall" and rain came. Rabbi Elazar was crestfallen. Rabbi Akiva looked into his face AND SENSED HE WAS DISCOURAGED.

254. ת"ר, זִמְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה עָלְמָא צְרִיכָא לְמִטְרָא, אָתָא רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, וְגָזַר אַרְבְּעִין תַּעֲנִיתָא, וְלָא אָתָא מִטְרָא, צַלֵּי צְלוֹתָא, וְלָא אָתָא מִטְרָא. אָתָא רִבִּי עֲקִיבָא, וְקָם וְצַלֵּי, אָמַר מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ, וְנָשַׁב זִיקָא, אָמַר וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם, וְאָתָא מִטְרָא. חָלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, אִסְתָּכָּל רִבִּי עֲקִיבָא בְּאַנְפּוֹי.

Eliezer Gates Rabbi Akiva

255. Rabbi Akiva stood up before the people and said, I will give an example similar to the situation. Rabbi Eliezer is compared to the friend of the king, who is cherished exceedingly. And when he appears before the king, he is very pleasantly accepted, and the king does not want to grant him his wish quickly so that he will not leave him, because it is so pleasant to speak with him. But I am likened to the servant of the king who makes a request of him, and the king does not want him to enter the gates of the palace, and naturally does not want to speak to him. The king says, Grant his request immediately and do not let him enter here. Similarly, Rabbi Eliezer is the friend of the King and I am a servant. The King desires to speak with him constantly and not to be away from him. But as for me, the King does not want me to enter the gates of the palace, THEREFORE HE GRANTS MY WISH IMMEDIATELY. Rabbi Eliezer regained his composure.

255. קָם רִבִּי עֲקִיבָא קָמֵי עַמָּא וְאָמַר, אֶמְשׁוֹל לָכֶם מָשָׁל, לְמַה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה, רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר דָּמֵי לִרְחִימָא דְּמַלְכָּא, דְּרָחִים לֵיהּ יַתִּיר, וְכַד עָאל קָמֵי מַלְכָּא, נִיחָא לֵיהּ, וְלָא בָּעֵי לְמַיתָן לֵיהּ בָּעוּתֵיהּ בִּבְהִילוּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִיתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ, דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ דְּלִישְׁתְּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ. וַאֲנָא דָּמֵי לְעַבְדָּא דְּמַלְכָּא, דְּבָעָא בָּעוּתֵיהּ קָמֵיהּ, וְלָא בָּעֵי מַלְכָּא דְּלֵיעוּל לְתַרְעֵי פַּלְטֵרִין, וכ"ש דְּלִישְׁתְּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ, אָמַר מַלְכָּא, הָבוּ לֵיהּ בָּעוּתֵיהּ בִּבְהִילוּ, וְלָא לֵיעוּל הָכָא. כַּךְ רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אִיהוּ רְחִימָא דְּמַלְכָּא, וַאֲנָא עַבְדָּא, וּבָעֵי מַלְכָּא לְאִשְׁתְּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ כָּל יוֹמָא, וְלָא יִתְפְּרִישׁ מִנֵּיהּ. וַאֲנָא, לָא בָּעֵי מַלְכָּא דְּאִיעוּל תַּרְעֵי דְּפַלְטֵרִין. נָח דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר.

Balsam Balsam Tree Dreams Eliezer Jeremiah Mercy Mountains Prayer Rabbi Akiva Righteous Sin Thought Tree Twelve Waters

256. RABBI ELIEZER said to him, Akiva, come and I will tell you something. In a dream, there appeared to me the passage, "Therefore pray you not for this people; lift up neither cry nor pray for them, nor make intercession to Me" (Yirmeyah 7:16). Behold, DUE TO THE SINS OF THE GENERATION, THE PRAYER ON THEIR BEHALF IS NOT ACCEPTED, AND STILL IT SAYS, "THEREFORE PRAY YOU NOT FOR THIS PEOPLE." THIS IMPLIES THAT OTHERS MAY PRAY ON THEIR BEHALF. THEREFORE I WAS NOT ANSWERED, BUT YOU WERE ANSWERED. AND MORE THAN THIS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS ON WHOSE BEHALF NO RIGHTEOUS MAN IN THE WORLD CAN PRAY. Come and behold, twelve mountains of balsam trees. THE ONE WHO RAISES FEMALE WATERS, the one who wears the breastplate and Efod, enters and prays to the Holy One, blessed be He, BY RAISING FEMALE WATERS TO BINAH, to have mercy on the world. Until now, his prayer is still suspended. (THAT IS, IT HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED; FOR THESE ARE THINGS FOR WHICH PRAYERS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.) AND HE ASKS, If so, why was Rabbi Eliezer crestfallen, SINCE HE SAW IN HIS DREAM, "THEREFORE PRAY YOU NOT..." FROM WHICH IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT ANOTHER MAY PRAY. AND HE ANSWERS, It was because of the people who did not know this. THEY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS ON A LOWER LEVEL THAN RABBI AKIVA.

256. א"ל, עֲקִיבָא, תָּא וְאֵימָא לָךְ מִלְּתָא, דְּאִתְחַזְיָא לִי בְּחֶלְמָא הַאי פְּסוּקָא, דִּכְתִּיב, וְאַתָּה אַל תִּתְפַּלֵּל בְּעַד הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאַל תִשָּׂא בַעֲדָם רִנָּה וּתְפִלָּה וְאַל תִּפְגַּע בִּי. תָּא חֲזֵי, תְּרֵיסַר טוּרֵי אֲפַרְסְמוֹנָא, עָאל. הַהוּא דְּלָבִישׁ חוֹשְׁנָא וֶאֱפוֹדָא, וּבָעָא מִן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְמֵיחָס עַל עָלְמָא וְעַד הָאִידָנָא תָּלֵי אִיהוּ. אִי הָכִי אֲמַאי חָלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר. מִשּׁוּם בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, דְּלָא יַדְעִין בְּהַאי.

Balsam Balsam Tree Eden Eliezer Gates Hebrew Letters Mountains Omer Righteous Soul, The Stones Torah Tree Tribes Waters

257. Rabbi Eliezer said, There are eighteen mountains of supernal balsam trees. The souls of the righteous enter BY RAISING FEMALE WATERS. And 49 fragrances, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE FIFTY GATES OF BINAH LESS ONE, ascend daily FROM BINAH to that place called 'Eden,' WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. Corresponding to this, the Torah was given in 49 impure aspects and in 49 pure aspects. (BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF THE FIFTIETH GATE, THERE EVOLVED 49 IMPURE ASPECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "THE ELOHIM HAS MADE THE ONE AS WELL AS THE OTHER" (KOHELET 7:14).) In order to receive the Torah, The 49 letters in the names of the tribes (AND LIKEWISE the 49 days OF THE SFIRAH OF THE OMER, , FOR THEY CONTAIN 49 supernal days OF THE MALE AND FEMALE) are going to receive permission -- MEANING TO BECOME PERFECTED -- daily from THESE 49 DAYS, the illuminating stones THAT ARE FILLED in the engraving of that breastplate.

257. אָמַר רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר תַּמְנֵי סָרֵי טוּרֵי אֲפַרְסְמוֹנָא עִלָּאִין, עָאלִין נִשְׁמָתֵהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא, וְאַרְבְּעִין וְתִשְׁעָה רֵיחִין, סַלְּקִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא, עַד הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִתְקְרֵי עֵדֶן, דִּי לְקָבֵל דָּא, אִתְיְהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא, בְּמ"ט פָּנִים טָמֵא, וּבְמ"ט פָּנִים טָהוֹר. מ"ט אַתְוָון בִּשְׁמָהֹן דִּשְׁבָטִי. מ"ט יוֹמִין לְקַבְּלָא אוֹרַיְיתָא. מ"ט יוֹמִין קַדִּישִׁין עִלָּאִין קַיְימִין, לְמִיטַל רְשׁוּתָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא מֵאֲבָנִין זְהִירִין, דִּגְלֵיפָאן בְּהַהוּא חוֹשְׁנָא.

Eyes Forehead Gabriel (Angel) Heaven Heavens Keter Michael (Angel) Mochin Pillar Refael (Angel) Stones Throne Uriel (Angel) Zeir Anpin

258. And he who wears the breastplate, BEING ZEIR ANPIN IN THE MOCHIN OF GREATNESS, sits on the precious holy throne, MEANING THAT HE ILLUMINATES WITHIN MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'THRONE.' The four pillars OF THIS THRONE, WHO ARE MICHAEL, GABRIEL, URIEL AND RAPHAEL, stand and observe the breastplate - MEANING THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE TWELVE STONES THAT ARE ILLUMINATING IN IT. By the word OF THE WEARER OF THE BREASTPLATE do they come, and according to his word do they leave. They raise their eyes and look up, and see the sparks that glitter in 620 sides, WHICH ALLUDES TO KETER, WHOSE NUMERICAL VALUE IS 620, BECAUSE IT IS BOUND UPON THE FOREHEAD AND SKULL, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF KETER. And the Holy Name is engraved on it. And THE AFOREMENTIONED PILLARS tremble and shake, bound on the right side, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, while the left, WHICH IS MALCHUT, takes into its hands the pillars of heaven - WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLUMNS IN ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CALLED 'HEAVEN.' It clears them and reveals them. This is what is written, "And the heavens become revealed like a book" (Yeshayah 34:4).

258. וְהַהוּא דְּלָבִישׁ חוֹשְׁנָא, יָתִיב בְּכֻרְסְיָיא קַדִּישָׁא יַקִּירָא, דְּאַרְבַּע סַמְכִין קַיְימִין מִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּחוֹשְׁנָא, עַל מֵימְרֵיהּ עָאלִין, וְעַל מֵימְרֵיהּ נָפְקִין, זַקְפָן עַיְנִין וּמִסְתַּכְּלִין לְעֵילָּא, חָמָאן צִיצָא, דְּלָהִיט בְּשִׁית מְאָה וְעֶשְׂרִין עִיבָר, וּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה, גָּלִיף עֲלוֹי, מִזְדַּעְזְעָן וּמִתְחַלְחְלָן. קְטִירֵי בְּסִטְרוֹי דִּימִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, דִּשְׂמָאלָא נָטִיל בִּידוֹי סַמְכֵי שְׁמַיָּא, עָלִיל לוֹן, וְגַלֵּי לוֹן. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, וְנָגוֹלּוּ כַסֵּפֶר הַשָּׁמָיִם.

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