"Do not drink wine or strong drink"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda begins by saying that Nadab and Abihu were under the influence of wine when the priests were warned not to drink. Rabbi Chiya wonders why priests are forbidden wine when it creates such joy. Rabbi Shimon says that wine makes one joyful at first but sad afterwards, and the priest must always be glad. A discussion ensues of wine, oil and water, and we hear that oil is always noiseless and comes from the side of thought, that is always silent and unheard. The priest must do everything in silence. Rabbi Yitzchak mentions that whoever partakes of the wine of the Torah will come to life at the time of the resurrection of the dead. However, a young boy on a mule says that the chants of Torah are to be said in a raised voice and not in a whisper. The "best wine" is the wine that is preserved, the secret of the illumination of Chochmah in Binah, and by the joy of that wine the left is included within the right, so everyone is awakened with joy and blessings.

Abihu Heart Nadab Priests Wine

61. "Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you, nor your sons with you..." (Vayikra 10:8). Rabbi Yehuda said that from this chapter we learn that Nadab and Abihu were under the influence of wine from the fact that the priests were warned about it. Rabbi Chiya cites that verse: "And wine that makes glad the heart of man" (Tehilim 104:15). HE ASKS: If the priest is required to be glad and smiling more than any other man, why is he forbidden wine which creates joy and smiles?

61. יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ וְגוֹ.' אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, מִגּוֹ פַּרְשְׁתָּא דָּא שַׁמְעֵינָן, דְּנָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא רְוֵי חַמְרָא הֲווֹ, מִדְּאַזְהַר לְכַהֲנֵי בְּהָא. ר' חִיָּיא פָּתַח, וְיַיִן יְשַׂמַּח לְבַב אֱנוֹשׁ וְגוֹ,' אִי בָּעֵי כַּהֲנָא לְמֶחְדֵּי וּלְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בִּנְהִירוּ דְּאַנְפִּין יַתִּיר מִכֹּלָּא, אֲמַאי אָסִיר לֵיהּ חַמְרָא, דְּהָא חֵידוּ בֵּיהּ אִשְׁתְּכַח, נְהִירוּ דְּאַנְפִּין בֵּיהּ אִשְׁתְּכַח.

Levites Priests Torah Water Wine

62. אֶלָּא שֵׁירוּתָא דְּחַמְרָא חֶדְוָותָא. סוֹפֵיהּ עֲצִיבוּ. וְעוֹד דְּיַּיִן מִסִּטְרָא דְּלֵיוָאֵי אָתֵי, מֵאֲתַר דְּחַמְרָא שָׁרֵי, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא וְחַמְרָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, מִסִּטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה הוּא. וְסִטְרָא דְּכַהֲנָא מַיִין צְלִילִין נְהִירִין.

Judgment Water Wine

Aaron Beard Head Oil Priests Singing Water Wine

64. Rabbi Aba said that wine, oil and water issue from the same place. Water and oil, which are on the right, are taken by and are the lot of the priests. This is especially so with oil, NAMELY CHOCHMAH, which is joy first and last, UNLIKE THE WINE WHICH ENDS IN SADNESS, as it is written: "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, running down the beard, the beard of Aaron" (Tehilim 133:2). Wine, which is on the left, is inherited by the Levites, so that they may raise their voices in song and not be silent, for wine is never silent and oil is always noiseless.

64. ר' אַבָּא אָמַר, מֵאֲתַר חַד נָפְקוּ, יַיִן וְשֶׁמֶן וּמַיִם. מַיִם וְשֶׁמֶן לִימִינָא, נַטְלֵי כַּהֲנֵי וְיַרְתֵּי לוֹן, וְשֶׁמֶן יַתִּיר מִכֹּלָּא. דְּאִיהוּ חֶדְוָותָא שֵׁירוּתָא וְסִיּוּמָא, דִּכְתִּיב כַּשֶּׁמֶן הַטּוֹב עַל הָרֹאשׁ יוֹרֵד עַל הַזָּקָן זְקַן אַהֲרֹן. וְיַיִן לִשְׂמָאלָא, יַרְתֵּי לֵיוָאֵי, לְאַרְמָא קָלָא וּלְזַמְּרָא, וְלָא לִשְׁתּוּק, דְּהָא חַמְרָא לָא שָׁתִיק, לְעָלְמִין וְשֶׁמֶן בַּחֲשַׁאי הוּא תָּדִיר.

Aba and Ima Judgment Oil Priests Singing Thought Wine

65. HE ASKS: What is the difference between OIL AND WINE? HE ANSWERS that oil is always in secret and noiseless, and comes from the side of the thought, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH, which is always silent and unheard, AS THE THOUGHT IS UNREVEALED. Therefore, THE OIL comes from the right side. Wine is for raising the voice and is never silent, FOR THE ONE WHO IS DRUNK CANNOT BE SILENT. It comes from the side of Ima, NAMELY THE LEFT SIDE OF BINAH, and the Levites, WHO ARE on the left, receive IT for singing and raising their voices, and are in the aspect of Judgment. Therefore, it is written: "And by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried" (Devarim 21:5). AND ALTHOUGH IT IS STATED ABOUT THE PRIESTS, it is WRITTEN: "THE PRIESTS THE SONS OF LEVI," WHICH INDICATES THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM THE SIDE OF THE LEVITES, "BY THEIR WORD SHALL EVERY CONTROVERSY AND EVERY STROKE BE TRIED."

65. מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי. אֶלָּא, שֶׁמֶן דְּאִיהוּ בַּחֲשַׁאי בִּלְחִישׁוּ תָּדִיר, אָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּמַחֲשָׁבָה, דְּאִיהוּ בִּלְחִישׁוּ תָּדִיר וְלָא אִשְׁתְּמַע, וְהוּא בַּחֲשַׁאי, וְעַל דָּא הוּא מִימִינָא. וְיַיִן דְּאִיהוּ לְאַרְמָא קָלָא, וְלָא שָׁתִיק לְעָלְמִין, אָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּאִימָּא, וְיָרְתִין לֵיוָאֵי לִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וְקַיְימֵי לְזַמְּרָא לְאַרְמָא קָלָא, וְקַיְימֵי בְּדִינָא. ובג"כ כְּתִיב, וְעַל פִּיהֶם יִהְיֶה כָּל רִיב וְכָל נָגַע.

Blessing Nukva Priests Sanctuary Wine Zeir Anpin

66. Therefore, when a priest enters the Sanctuary to perform a divine service, he is not allowed to drink wine, for all his actions are performed in silence. He concentrates ON THE UNISONS in silence, joins whom he should join, NAMELY MALE AND FEMALE, and he obtains blessings for all the worlds. And everything is done in silence, for all his actions are done in secret. THEREFORE, HE IS FORBIDDEN TO DRINK wine because it reveals a secret, FOR "WHEN WINE COMES IN, A SECRET GOES OUT," and it encourages the raising of the voice.

66. בְּג"כ, כַּהֲנָא כַּד יִיעוּל לְמַקְדְּשָׁא לְמִפְלַח פּוּלְחָנָא, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְמִשְׁתֵּי חַמְרָא, דְּהָא עוֹבָדוֹי בַּחֲשַׁאי אִינּוּן, וּבַחַשַׁאי אָתָאן וְאִתְכְּוָּון, וְזִוֵּוג לְמַאן דְּזִוֵּוג, וְנָגִיד בִּרְכָאן לְעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ, וְכֹלָּא בַּחֲשַׁאי, וְעוֹבָדוֹי כֻּלְּהוּ בְּרָזָא. וְחַמְרָא מְגַלֶּה רָזִין הוּא, דְּהָא כָּל עוֹבָדוֹי לְאַרְמָא קָלָא קָאֵים.

Honey Torah Wine

Lips Other Side Resurrection Righteous Torah Wine World to Come, The

68. Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion, saying: "And the roof of your mouth like the best wine that goes down sweetly for my beloved" (Shir Hashirim 7:11). "And the roof of your mouth like the best wine," is the wine of the Torah, which is good, for the other wine - THAT OF THE OTHER SIDE - is not good. The wine of the Torah is good for all, good for this world and good for the World to Come, as it is the wine that pleases the Holy One, blessed be He, more than all. Due to this, he who imbibes of the wine of the Torah will come to life at the time of the resurrection OF THE DEAD, when the Holy One, blessed be He, shall raise the righteous. Rabbi Yehuda said: "Causing the sleepers' lips to murmur" (Ibid.), for even in that world, he will have earned the right to speak of the Torah. Therefore, it is written: "causing the sleepers' lips to murmur."

68. פָּתַח רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְאָמַר, וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב הוֹלֵךְ לְדוֹדִי לְמֵישָׁרִים וְגוֹ.' וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב, דָּא יֵינָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּאִיהוּ טָב. דְּהָא יֵינָא אָחֳרָא לָאו אִיהוּ טָב, וְיֵינָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, טָב לְכֹלָּא. טָב לְעָלְמָא דָּא, וְטָב לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. וְדָא הוּא יֵינָא דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יַתִּיר מִכֹּלָּא, וּבִזְכוּ דָּא, מַאן דִּמְרַוֵּי מִיֵינָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, יִתְּעַר לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, וְיִזְכֵּי לְאַחֲיָיא, כַּד יוֹקִים קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא. א"ר יְהוּדָה, דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים, הָא תָּנֵינָן דַּאֲפִילּוּ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, יִזְכֵּי לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, הה"ד דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים.

Torah Wine

Lips Torah Wine

70. He said: I have heard that he who studies the Torah and is attached to her, his remarks are said not in a whispering voice but with a raised voice, as they should be heard. For it is written: "She cries in the chief place of concourse" (Mishlei 1:21), meaning that the chants of Torah are to be said in a raised voice and not in a whisper. Then he is "like the best wine," NAMELY, as the best wine which is also not silent, and he causes the voice to be raised when he departs from the world. "That goes down sweetly for my beloved," namely, THEN he should not turn either to the right or to the left so that none will interfere with him. "Causing the sleepers' lips to murmur:" thus even in that world his lips mutter words of the Torah.

70. אָמַר, אֲנָא שְׁמַעְנָא, דְּמַאן דְּאִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְדָבִיק בָּה, וְהַהִיא מִלָּה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אִשְׁתְּמַע בְּפוּמֵיהּ, וְלָא לָחִישׁ לָהּ בִּלְחִישׁוּ, אֶלָּא אָרִים קָלֵיהּ בָּה. דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא הָכִי בַּעְיָא לְאַרְמָא קָלָא, דִּכְתִּיב בְּרֹאשׁ הוֹמִיּוֹת תִּקְרָא, לְאָרָמָא רִנָּה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא בִּלְחִישׁוּ. כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב, כַּחֲמַר טָב דְּלָא שָׁתִיק. וְהוּא עָתִיד לְאָרָמָא קָלָא, כַּד יִפּוּק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא. הוֹלֵךְ לְדוֹדִי לְמֵשָׁרִים, דְּלָא יִסְטֵי לִימִינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא, לָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח דְּיִמְחֵי בִּידוֹי. דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים, אֲפִילּוּ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא שִׁפְוָותֵיהּ מְרַחְשָׁן אוֹרַיְיתָא.

Congregation Praise Wine

Blessing Congregation Creation Isaac Wine Zeir Anpin

72. Assuredly, the Holy One, blessed be He, is the one who praises the Congregation of Yisrael as She praises Him, for it is written: "His mouth is most sweet" (Shir Hashirim 5:16). Thus, the Holy One, blessed be He, praises the Congregation of Yisrael, as is written: "And the roof of your mouth like the best wine." "The best wine" is the wine which is preserved, THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHOCHMAH IN BINAH, "that goes down sweetly for My beloved," which is Isaac, WHO IS THE LEFT COLUMN OF ZEIR ANPIN and has been called "beloved" since he was created. "That goes down sweetly (Heb. meisahrim)," is as it is written: "you have established equity (Heb. meisahrim)" (Tehilim 99:4), BEING CHESED AND GVURAH, to include the left, WHICH IS GVURAH, with the right, WHICH IS CHESED - and that is "equity." Hence, by the joy of that "best wine," the left is included within the right and all are awakened with joy and blessings. And all the worlds rejoice and arouse themselves to pour down blessings below.

72. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָא מְשַׁבַּח לָהּ לִכ"י, כְּמָה דְּהִיא קָא מְשָׁבַּחַת לֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב חִכּוֹ מַמְתַּקִּים, כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְשַׁבַּח לֵהּ לִכ"י. וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב, יֵין הַטּוֹב: דְּהוּא חַמְרָא דְּמִנְטְרָא. הוֹלֵךְ לְדוֹדִי: דָּא יִצְחָק, דְּאִקְרֵי יְדִיד מִבֶּטֶן. לְמֵישָׁרִים: כד"א, אַתָּה כּוֹנַנְתָּ מֵישָׁרִים, לְאִתְכַּלְּלָא שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא. וְדָא הוּא מֵישָׁרִים, דִּבְגִין חֶדְוָותָא דְּהַהוּא חֲמָר טַב, אִתְכְּלִיל שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא, וְחַדָּאן כֹּלָּא. דְּהָא כֹּלָּא מִתְעֲרֵי בְּחֶדְוָואן וּבִרְכָּאן, וְעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי בְּחֵדוּ, וּמִתְעָרֵי לְאַרְקָא בִּרְכָאן לְתַתָּא.

Head Torah Wisdom

73. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yitzchak approached the boy and joyfully kissed him on his head. They asked him: What is your name? He replied: Yesa. They said: You shall be AS GREAT A MAN AS Rabbi Yesa, and you will LIVE longer than our colleague, Rabbi Yesa, who has departed from us. They asked: Who is your father? He replied: He has passed away from the world. He used to teach me three passages of the Torah every day and three words of wisdom from the agadah at night. What I have just told, I have learned from my father. Now I live with a person who will not let me study the Torah, and every day I go to work and every day I repeat all that I have learned from my father.

73. אָתוּ ר' יְהוּדָה וְר' יִצְחָק וְנַשְּׁקוּ לֵיהּ רֵישֵׁיהּ, וְחַדּוּ עִמֵּיהּ, אָ"ל מַה שְׁמָךְ. אָ"ל יֵיסָא. אָמְרוּ רִבִּי יֵיסָא תְּהֵא. יַתִּיר תְּהֵא שְׁכִיחַ בְּעָלְמָא מֵרַבִּי יֵיסָא חַבְרָנָא, דְּאִסְתַּלָּק מִבֵּינָנָא. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ וּמַאן אָבוּךְ. אָ"ל, אַפְטַר מֵעָלְמָא, וַהֲוָה אוֹלִיף לִי כָּל יוֹמָא ג' מִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּבְלֵילְיָא ג' מִילִּין דְּחָכְמְתָא דְּאַגַּדְתָּא. וְהָנֵי מִילֵי אוֹלִיפְנָא מֵאַבָּא, וְהַשְׁתָּא דִּיוּרִי בְּחַד ב"נ, וְסָלִיק לִי מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא. וַאֲנָא אָזִיל כָּל יוֹמָא לַעֲבִידְתָּא, וּבְכָל יוֹמָא אַהֲדַרְנָא אִינּוּן מִלִּין דְּאוֹלִיפְנָא מֵאַבָּא.

Torah

74. They said to him: Does that man know anything of the Torah? He replied: No, he is an old man and does not know how to grace the Holy One, blessed be He, and he has sons whom he does not send to school. Rabbi Yehuda said: If that were not so, I would enter that village to talk TO THAT MAN WITH WHOM YOU LIVE and tell him GOOD THINGS about you, but AFTER WHAT YOU TELL US we should not look at him. Leave your mule and come with us. They then asked him: Who was your father? He replied: Rabbi Zeira of Ramin village.

74. אָ"ל הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ יָדַע בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. אָמַר לוֹן לָאו. סָבָא הוּא, וְלָא יָדַע לְבָרְכָא לֵיהּ לקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאִית לֵיהּ בְּנִין, וְלָא שַׁוֵּי לוֹן בְּבֵי רַב. אָמַר ר' יְהוּדָה אִי לָא הֲוָה הָכִי, הֲוָה אֲעִילְנָא לְגַבֵּי הַאי כְּפַר לְמַלְּלָא עֲלָךְ, הַשְׁתָּא אָסִיר לָן לְמֵחֱזֵי אַנְפּוֹי. שְׁדֵי חֲמָרָא מִנָךְ, וְאַתְּ זִיל לְגַבָּן. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ מַאן הוּא אָבוּךְ. אָמַר רִבִּי זְעֵירָא דִּכְפַר רָאמִין.

Creation Cup of Benediction Hands

75. שָׁמַע רִבִּי יְהוּדָה וּבָכָה, אָמַר אֲנָא הֲוֵינָא בְּבֵיתֵיהּ, וְאוֹלִיפְנָא מִנֵּיהּ ג' מִלִּין בְּכַסָּא דִּבְרָכָה, וְאוֹלִיפְנָא מִנֵּיהּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית תְּרֵי. אָמַר ר' יִצְחָק, וּמַה מֵהַאי רַבְיָא בְּרֵיהּ אוֹלִיפְנָא, מִנֵּיהּ לָא כ"ש. אַזְלוּ וְאָחִידוּ בִּידֵיהּ. חָמוּ חַד חֲקַל וְיָתְבוּ תַּמָּן. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ אֵימָא חַד מִלָּה, מֵאִינּוּן דְּאוֹלִיף לָךְ אָבוּךְ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית.