Tazria: Chapter 13

"Let me go, for the day breaks"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon explains to Rabbi Aba that the angel prevailed over Jacob at night because he was from the side of judgment and night, but when daylight came his power was lessened and Jacob was able to overpower him. Jacob worried lest the angel should hold his usurpation of Esau's blessings against him, but the angel acknowledged that he had acquired the blessings rightfully, and he renamed Jacob Israel. Rabbi Shimon says that if the desire of Malchut is aroused first, drawing God to her with love and desire, she is filled from the right side, that is considered male, and she bears a boy child. God therefore decrees whether a boy or a girl shall be conceived. Desire should be prevalent first in the world, since in every sense people should desire God.

Hands Righteous Thigh

51. Rabbi Aba opened with, "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks" (Beresheet 32:27). HE ASKS, "And he said, Let me go." Was he a prisoner in Jacob's hands?! AND HE ANSWERS, Happy are the righteous, that the Holy One, blessed be He, respects their honor and never leaves them. This is the meaning of, "He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Tehilim 55:23). HE ASKS, Yet it is written, "and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint" (Beresheet 32:26)?

51. רִבִּי אַבָּא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, וַיֺּאמֶר שַׁלְּחֵנִי כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׁחַר וְגוֹ.' וַיֺּאמֶר שַׁלְּחֵנִי, וְכִי עָקוּד הֲוָה בִּידֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֺב. אֶלָּא זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא ב"ה חָס עַל יְקָרָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְלָא שָׁבִיק לוֹן לְעָלְמִין. הה"ד, לֹא יִתֵּן לְעוֹלָם מוֹט לַצַּדִיק. וְהָא כְּתִיב, וַתֵּקַע כַּף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֺב.

Angels Camp

52. HE ANSWERS, The angel took from his own. We learned the words, "and he himself lodged that night in the camp" (Ibid. 22), and, "he took them, and sent them over the wadi" (Ibid. 24). HE ASKS, What did Jacob have in mind to send them across the wadi at night, AND ANSWERS, He saw the persecutor walking among his camps. Jacob said to himself, I shall send them across the wadi. Perhaps confusion shall be avoided.

52. אֶלָּא לְדִידֵיהּ גָּבָה. וְהָא אִתְּמַר, כְּתִיב וְהוּא לָן בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא בַּמַּחֲנֶה. וּכְתִיב וַיִּקָּחֵם וַיַּעֲבִירֵם אֶת הַנָּחַל מַאי הֲוָה דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּיַעֲקֺב, לְמַעֲבְּרָא לְהוֹן בְּנַחֲלָא בְּלֵילְיָא. אֶלָּא חָמָא מְקַטְרְגָא אָזִיל בֵּין מַשִּׁרְיָיא דִּילֵיהּ, אָמַר יַעֲקֺב אַעְבָּר לְגִיסָא אָחֳרָא דְּנַהֲרָא, דִּלְמָא לָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח עִרְבּוּבְיָא.

Camp Demons Fire Flame Rivers Thigh

53. HE ASKS, What did he see? AND ANSWERS, He saw a flame of bright fire flying and sauntering among his camps. Jacob said to himself, it is better to take them from here ACROSS THE WADI, so the river may divide between them and thus there shall be no confusion, SINCE DEMONS CANNOT CROSS RIVERS. Immediately "he took them, and sent them over the wadi... And Jacob was left alone." SINCE JACOB PREVENTED HIM FROM HARMING THE CAMPS, "HE TOUCHED THE HOLLOW OF HIS THIGH; AND THE HOLLOW OF JACOB'S THIGH WAS PUT OUT OF JOINT." FOR HE TOOK FROM HIM WHAT WAS HIS OWN. From this we deduce about he who is at home alone at night or during the day in a certain house or more so at night IN A CERTAIN HOUSE. What is a certain house? IT IS unique and separate from other houses. Also whoever walks alone at night might come to harm.

53. מַאי קָא חָמָא. חָמָא שַׁלְהוֹבָא דְּאֶשָּׁא מְלָהֲטָא, אַזְלָא וְטָאס בֵּין מַשִׁרְיָיתֵיהּ אָמַר יַעֲקֺב מוּטָב לְנַטְלָא מֵהָכָא, וְנַהֲרָא פָּסִיק בְּגַוָון, וְלָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח עִרְבּוּבְיָא. מִיַּד וַיִּקָּחֵם וַיַּעֲבִירֵם אֶת הַנָּחַל. וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֺב לְבַדּוֹ, מִכָּאן אוֹלִיפְנָא מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח בִּלְחוֹדוֹי בְּבֵיתָא בְּלֵילְיָא, אוֹ בִּימָמָא בְּבַיִת מְיַחֲדָא, כ"ש בְּלֵילְיָא, מַאי מְיַחֲדָא. מְיַחֲדָא מִשְּׁאָר בֵּיתִין. אוֹ מַאן דְּאָזִיל בִּלְחוֹדוֹי בְּלֵילְיָא יָכִיל לְאִתְזְקָא.

Angels Darkness Exile Judgment Light

54. Come and see, "And Jacob was left alone," and then, "there wrestled a man with him..." (Ibid. 25). We learned that THE ANGEL came from the aspect of Judgment and his dominion was at the side of night. What is the side of night? IT MEANS HE IS APPOINTED to bring YISRAEL into exile, WHICH IS CONSIDERED NIGHT AND DARKNESS. Once light rose, his power diminished and Jacob overpowered him, because he came from the aspect of night. THEREFORE as long as it was night Jacob could not prevail against him, but once light rose Jacob's power grew, and he grabbed him and overpowered him. THEN Jacob knew he was an angel.

54. תָּא חֲזֵי וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֺב לְבַדּוֹ, כְּדֵין וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ וְגוֹ.' תָּנֵינָן מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קָא אָתֵי, וְשׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ בִּסְטָר לֵילְיָא. מַאי בִּסְטָר לֵילְיָא. לְאַעֲלָא בְּגָלוּתָא כֵּיוָן דְּסָלִיק נְהוֹרָא, תָּשַׁשׁ חֵילֵיהּ, וְאִתְגַּבָּר עָלֵיהּ חֵילֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֺב. דְּהָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּלֵילְיָא קָא אָתֵי, וּבִזְמְנָא דַּהֲוָה לֵילְיָא לָא הֲוָה יָכִיל בֵּיהּ יַעֲקֺב. כַּד סָלִיק נְהוֹרָא אִתְתְּקַף חֵילָא דְּיַעֲקֺב, וְאָחִיד בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְגַּבָּר עָלֵיהּ. חָמָא לֵיהּ יַעֲקֺב דְּהָא שְׁלִיחָא הוּא.

Angels Job Judgment Light Morning

55. THE ANGEL said to him, Release me, since I cannot prevail against you. Why could not he prevail against him? Because light rose and his power was broken, as it is written, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy" (Iyov 38:7). What is "shouted?" IT MEANS all those of the aspect of Judgment were shattered, SINCE 'YARI'U (ENG. 'SHOUTED')' IS DERIVED FROM 'SHATTERED.' THE SONS OF ELOHIM ARE ALL THOSE COMING FROM THE ASPECT OF JUDGMENT CALLED ELOHIM. Jacob then grew strong and seized him.

55. אָ"ל שְׁבוֹק לִי דְּלָא יָכִילְנָא לָךְ. מ"ט לָא יָכִיל לֵיהּ. בְּגִין דַּהֲוָה סָלִיק נְהוֹרָא, וְאִתְּבַּר חֵילָא דִּידֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב בְּרָן יַחַד כֺּכְבֵי בֺקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים. מַאי וַיָּרִיעוּ. דְּאִתְּבָּרוּ כָּל אִינּוּן דְּאַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא. כְּדֵין אִתְתָּקַּף יַעֲקֺב וְאָחִיד בֵּיהּ.

Blessing Esau Fear Praise

56. He said to him, "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks," NAMELY, the time has come to gather and sing the praise of the Holy One, blessed be He. "And he said to him, I will not let you go, unless you bless (lit. 'blessed') me" (Beresheet 32:27). HE ASKS, It should have said, 'unless you shall bless me.' Why is it written, "unless you blessed me" IN THE PAST TENSE? AND HE ANSWERS, Jacob said to him, my father gave me the blessings he wished to confer upon Esau, and I fear you, whether you shall acknowledge these blessings or not, for you might denounce me because of them.

56. אָמַר לֵיהּ שַׁלְּחֵנִי כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׁחַר, מָטָא זִמְנָא לְשַׁבְּחָא שְׁבָחָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְאִתְכַּנְּשָׁא. וַיֺּאמֶר לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ כִּי אִם בֵּרַכְתָּנִי, אִם תְּבָרְכֵנִי מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי אִם בֵּרַכְתָּנִי. אֶלָּא אָמַר לֵיהּ יַעֲקֺב, וַדַּאי אַבָּא בְּרִיךְ לִי אִינּוּן בִּרְכָאן דְּבָעָא לְבָרְכָא לְעֵשָׂו, וּמִסְתָּפֵינָא מִנָךְ, עַל אִינּוּן בִּרְכָאן, אִי אוֹדִית עָלַיְיהוּ, אִי לָאו, אוֹ תִּשְׁתְּכַח עָלַי מְקַטְרְגָא בְּגִינֵיהוֹן.

Angels Blessing Esau Zeir Anpin

57. Forthwith he told him, "And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob" (Ibid. 29). HE ASKS, What did he tell him? AND HE ANSWERS, He said, you have acquired these blessings neither by means of deceit nor by supplanting. HENCE "Your name shall be called no more Jacob," AS ESAU SAID, "IS NOT HE RIGHTLY NAMED JACOB? FOR HE HAS SUPPLANTED ME THESE TWO TIMES" (BERESHEET 27:36), for it did not occur through supplanting. "but Israel" (Beresheet 32:29): Israel, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, from whom blessings come out, surely acknowledges you THAT THE BLESSINGS ARE YOURS, because you are attached to Him. Hence, I and the rest of the legions of angels acknowledge them that the blessings are yours.

57. מִיַּד אָמַר לֵיהּ, וַיֺּאמֶר לֹא יַעֲקֺב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ. מַאי קָאָמַר לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא הָכִי קָאָמַר לֵיהּ, לָאו בְּחַכִּימוּ, וְלָאו בְּעוּקְבָא, רַוְוחַת לְאִינּוּן בִּרְכָאן, לָא יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ יַעֲקֺב, דְּהָא לָאו בְּעוּקְבָא הֲוָה, כִּי אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִשְׂרָאֵל וַדַּאי אוֹדֵי עֲלָךְ, וּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקוּ בִּרְכָאן, בְּגִין דְּאַנְתְּ אָחִיד בֵּיהּ, וְעַל דָּא, אֲנָא וְכָל שְׁאָר אוּכְלוּסִין, אוֹדֵינָא עָלַיְיהוּ.

Blessing Camp Esau Judgment

58. "For you have contended with Elohim and with men, and have prevailed" (Ibid.). "With Elohim," namely, with all those coming from the aspect of harsh Judgment, "and with men" refers to Esau and his camps; "and have prevailed" means you prevailed against them but not they against you. Jacob did not release him until he acknowledged these blessings. This is the meaning of, "And he blessed him there" (Ibid. 30).

58. כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים וַתּוּכָל, עִם אֱלֹהִים כָּל אִינּוּן דְּאַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא. וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים, דָּא עֵשָׂו וְאוּכְלוּסִין דִּילֵיהּ. וַתּוּכָל, יָכִילַת לְהוֹן, וְאִינּוּן לָא יַכְלִין לָךְ. וְלָא שָׁבִיק לֵיהּ יַעֲקֺב, עַד דְּאוֹדֵי לֵיהּ עַל אִינּוּן בִּרְכָאן, הה"ד וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתוֹ שָׁם.

Congregation Light Thread

59. Come and see, when the light OF BINAH rises, all the litigants are subdued and are not to be found, and the Congregation of Yisrael is talking with the Holy One, blessed be He. That hour is a time of universal goodwill, and the King holds out to her, TO MALCHUT, and to all those that are with her, a scepter of the thread of Chesed, so as to be completely with the Holy King. We already learned this.

59. ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּסָלִיק נְהוֹרָא, אִתְכַּפְיָין כָּל אִינּוּן מָארֵי דְּדִינִין, וְלָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי, וכ"י מִשְׁתָּעֵי בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא עִידָּן דְּרַעֲוָא הוּא לְכֺלָּא, וְאוֹשִׁיט לָהּ מַלְכָּא וּלְכָל אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי עִמָּהּ, שַׁרְבִיטָא דְּחוּטָא דְּחֶסֶד, לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בִּשְׁלִימוּ בְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְהָא אִתְּמַר.

Angels Chassadim Children Congregation Female Likenesses Love Male Women

60. Come and see, when the Holy One, blessed be He, is TOGETHER with the Congregation of Yisrael, MALCHUT, whenever He is with her and she rouses first a desire towards Him and draws Him to her with great love and longing, MALCHUT is filled from the right side, WHICH IS CHASSADIM THAT ARE CONSIDERED MALE. And many legions of angels abide in the right side throughout the worlds. And when the Holy One, blessed be He, is the first to rouse love and desire and MALCHUT is roused after, but not when the Holy One, blessed be He, does, everything is considered female, WHICH IS MALCHUT. The left is awakened and many legions are awakened on the left side throughout the worlds. In the same manner it is written, "If a woman has conceived seed, and gave birth to a male child" (Vayikra 12:2). THIS MEANS THAT IF THE WOMAN HAS AN ORGASM FIRST SHE GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY. The reason, we learned, IS BECAUSE the lower world is in the likeness of the Upper World and the one resembles the other. JUST AS ABOVE, IF MALCHUT AWAKENS DESIRE FIRST, SHE IS FILLED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED MALE, SO IT IS BELOW.

60. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתְּכַח בָּהּ בכ"י, בְּאִינּוּן זִמְנִין דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח עִמָּהּ, וְהִיא מַתְעָרַת רְעוּתָא לְגַבֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּמַשְׁכַאת לֵיהּ לְגַבָּהּ, בִּסְגִיאוּת חִבָּתָא וְתִיאוּבְתָּא, כְּדֵין אִתְמַלְּיָא מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, וְכַמָּה אוּכְלוּסִין מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי בְּסִטְרָא דִּימִינָא, בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין. וְכַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְּעַר חֲבִיבוּתָא וּרְעוּתָא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְהִיא אִתְּעָרַת לְבָתַר, וְלָאו בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִיהוּ אִתְּעַר, כְּדֵין כֺּלָּא בְּסִטְרָא דְּנוּקְבָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח, וּשְׂמָאלָא אִתְּעַר, וְכַמָּה אוּכְלוּסִין קַיְימֵי וּמִתְעָרֵי בְּסִטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין. כה"ג כְּתִיב, אִשָּׁה כִּי תַזְרִיעַ וְיָלְדָה זָכָר וְגוֹ.' מ"ט. תָּנֵינָן, עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה כְּגַוְונָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה אִשְׁתְּכַח, וְדָא כְּדוּגְמָא דְּדָא.

Male Righteous Women

61. The Holy One, blessed be He, therefore decrees whether it would be a boy or a girl, so that desire shall be prevalent FIRST in the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT. THEN THE WOMAN BELOW IS AWAKENED TO REACH AN ORGASM FIRST AND GIVES BIRTH TO A MALE BOY, FOR EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WHAT IS ABOVE RATHER THAN BELOW. In every sense, man should have his desire cleave above to the Holy One, blessed be He, so desire shall be prevalent FIRST in the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT. THEN HIS WIFE SHALL BE THE FIRST TO REACH AN ORGASM AND GIVE BIRTH TO A MALE BOY. Happy is the lot of the righteous who know how to devote their desire to the Holy King. Of them it is written, "But you that did cleave to Hashem your Elohim are alive every one of you this day" (Devarim 4:4).

61. וְעַל דָּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא גָּזַר דְּכַר אוֹ נוּקְבָּא, לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא רְעוּתָא בְּעָלְמָא. וּבְכֺלָּא בָּעֵי ב"נ לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא רְעוּתָא לְעֵילָּא לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא רַעֲוָון בְּעָלְמָא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּאִינּוּן יַדְעִין לְאַדְבְּקָא רְעוּתְהוֹן לְגַבֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, עָלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם.

<
>