Tazria: Chapter 33

"Woe to him that builds his house by unrighteousness," part two

Synopsis

Rabbi Yitzchak follows a man with a load tied on his shoulders into a cave. Inside the cave he sees the man entering a hole in the ground and disappearing, so the Rabbi is afraid and leaves the cave. Rabbi Yehuda tells him that God has saved him from a cave of lepers and sorcerers that do witchcraft with black serpents. The rabbis encounter a man who is taking his son to the cave for healing; the son was harmed by a spirit in their house. We learn that the first to receive a house owns it forever, whether it be the spirit of holiness or the spirit of defilement. If the defiled house is destroyed it should be rebuilt slightly farther away with new materials, and it should be dedicated to the Holy Name. We now hear that the man who took his son to the cave for healing left his son for a moment, during which time the boy was hit on the head by a smoky column of fire and killed. Rabbi Elazar says that a man should speak the Holy Name over everything he does so that the Other Side will not dwell on it.

Caves Ground Smoke

169. Rabbi Yitzchak was going to his father's vineyard. He saw a man turning FROM THE ROAD with a load tied to his shoulder. He asked him, What is the purposes of the rope that adorns your shoulders, THAT IS, WHY DID YOU TIE THE LOAD TO YOUR SHOULDERS? He did not answer at all. He followed him and saw him entering a cave, so he entered after him. He saw a column of smoke rising from beneath the ground and the man entering a hole and disappearing from his sight. Rabbi Yitzchak was afraid and went out to the mouth of the cave.

169. רִבִּי יִצְחָק הֲוָה אָזִיל לְקַטְפוּרֵי דַּאֲבוֹי. חָמָא חַד ב"נ, דְּסַאטֵי בְּקוּטְרָא דְּמָטוּלָא אֲכַתְפוֹי. אָמַר לֵיהּ, שׁוּרְטָא דְּקִישְׁטָא בְּכַתְפָךְ אֲמַאי, לָא אָמַר לֵיהּ מִדִי. אָזַל אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, חָמָא דְּעַיֵּיל בִּמְעַרְתָּא חֲדָא, עָאל אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, חָמָא קְטוּרָא דִּתְנָנָא דַּהֲוָה סָלִיק מִתְּחוֹת אַרְעָא, וְעָאל הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ בְּנוּקְבָּא חַד, וְאִתְכַּסְיָא מִנֵּיהּ. דָּחִיל רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְנָפַק לְפוּם מְעַרְתָּא.

Caves Lepers Sorcery Ten Witchcraft Year

170. While he was sitting, Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Chizkiyah passed by. When he saw them he approached them and told them what happened. Rabbi Yehuda said, Blessed is the Merciful who saved you. This is a cave of lepers from the city of Srunya. All the inhabitants of that city are sorcerers that go to the desert to seek black serpents, which are at least ten years old, in order to do witchcraft. They did not take care of themselves so became lepers. The different kinds of witchcraft are done in that cave.

170. עַד דַּהֲוָה יָתִיב, אַעְבְּרוּ ר' יְהוּדָה וְרִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, חָמָא לוֹן, וְקָרִיב גַּבֵּיהוֹן, סַח לוֹן עוֹבָדָא. א"ר יְהוּדָה, בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּשֵׁזְבָךְ. הַאי מְעַרְתָּא דְּסָגִיר, דִּסְרוֹנְיָא הִיא, וְכָל יַתְבֵי הַהִיא קַרְתָּא, חַרְשִׁין אִינּוּן, וְאַתְיָין לְמַדְבְּרָא לְחִוְויָין אוּכָמִין, דְּאִינּוּן בְּנֵי עֲשַׂר שְׁנִין, אוֹ יַתִּיר, לְמֶעְבַּד חַרְשִׁין, וְלָא מְנַטְרָא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְעָבֵידוּ סְגִירִין וְכָל זַיְינֵי חַרְשִׁין דִּלְהוֹן בְּהַאי מְעַרְתָּא אִינּוּן.

Caves Children Donkeys Eyes Hands Lepers Rome Torah Year

171. They walked on. While they were walking they met a man coming with his sick child on a donkey. They asked him, Who are you? He said to them, I am a Jew, and this is my son bound upon the donkey. They asked him why he was bound, and he said to them, I dwell in a certain village that belongs to the citizens of Rome. This my son used to study Torah daily and return home to learn these matters. I dwelt in this house for three years and saw nothing. Now, one day my son went home to repeat the things HE LEARNED, when a spirit passed before him and harmed him. His mouth, eyes and hands became contorted and he cannot speak. Now I come to the lepers' cave of Srunya. They may teach me some healing.

171. אָזְלוּ, עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי, אִעְרָעְרוּ בְּחַד בַּר נָשׁ דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי, וּבְרֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה מְרַע, קָטִיר עַל חֲמָרָא. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ מַאן אַתְּ. אָמַר לְהוֹ יוּדָאי, וְדָא הוּא בְּרִי דְּאִיהוּ קָטִיר עַל חֲמָרָא. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ, אֲמַאי הוּא קָטִיר. אָמַר לוֹן דִּיוּרִי הוּא בְּחַד כְּפַר, דְּאִיהוּ מִבְּנֵי רוֹמָאֵי, וְהַאי בְּרִי הֲוָה אוֹלִיף אוֹרַיְיתָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וַהֲוָה אַהְדָּר לְבֵיתָא, וְלָעֵי לוֹן לְאִינּוּן מִלִּין. וְג' שְׁנִין הֲוָה דִּיוּרִי בְּהַהוּא בֵּיתָא, וְלָא חֲמֵינָא מִדִי. וְהַשְׁתָּא יוֹמָא חַד עָאל בְּרִי לְבֵיתָא לְאָהַדְּרָא מִלִּין, אַעְבָּר חַד רוּחָא קָמֵיהּ, וְנָזִיק לֵיהּ, אַעֲקָם פּוּמֵיהּ וְעֵינוֹי, וִידוֹי אִתְעַקָמוּ, וְלָא יָכִיל לְמַלְּלָא. וַאֲתֵינָא לְגַבֵּי מְעַרְתָּא דִּסְגִירוּ דִּסְרוֹנְיָא דִּלְמָא יִלְּפוּן לִי מִלָּה דְּאַסוּותָא.

172. Rabbi Yehuda said, Do you know of anyone else who came to harm in that house before? He said that he knew that some time ago another man came to harm. Some said it is a disease while others said the spirit in that house HURT HIM. Later a few people came into that house but were not hurt. RABBI YEHUDA AND RABBI CHIZKIYAH said, that is, the friends said THAT IN A HOUSE BUILT NOT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT THAT HARMS ITS DWELLERS RESTS. Woe to those who transgress their words.

172. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, וּבְהַהוּא בֵּיתָא יַדְעַת מִן קַדְמַת דְּנָא, דְּאִתְנְזַק בֵּיהּ ב"נ אָחֳרָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ יְדַעְנָא, דְּהָא מִכַּמָּה יוֹמִין אִתְנְזַק בֵּיהּ חַד ב"נ, וַהֲווֹ אַמְרֵי דְּמַרְעָא הֲוָה, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ אַמְרֵי דְּרוּחָא דְּבֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר עָאלוּ בֵּיהּ כַּמָה בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְלָא אִתְנְזִיקוּ. אָמְרוּ, הַיְינוּ דְּאַמְרֵי חַבְרַיָּיא, וַוי לְאִינוּן דְּעַבְרִין עַל מִלַּיְיהוּ.

Demons Holiness (Kedushah) Holy Name Jeremiah Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side

173. Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion with, "Woe to him that builds his house by unrighteousness" (Yirmeyah 22:13). Wherever there is righteousness, MALCHUT, all the spirits and demons in the world flee that place and do not stay before it. Nevertheless, whoever is the first to take that place, acquires it. IF MALCHUT OF HOLINESS IS THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THAT PLACE, HOLINESS SECURES IT, BUT IF THE OTHER SIDE IS THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THAT PLACE, IT SECURES IT. Rabbi Chizkiyah said to him, In that case the Holy Name is equal to the spirit of defilement, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORDS THAT WHOEVER IS THE FIRST SECURES IT.

173. פָּתַח ר' יְהוּדָה וְאָמַר, הוֹי בּוֹנֶה בֵיתוֹ בְּלֹא צֶדֶק, דְּהָא בְּכָל אֲתַר דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ צֶדֶק, כָּל רוּחִין וְכָל מַזִּיקֵי עָלְמָא עַרְקֵי מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי קַמֵּיהּ. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, מַאן דְּאַקְדִים וְנָטִיל אֲתַר, אָחִיד בֵּיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, אִי הָכִי שָׁקִיל שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא כְּרוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא.

Demons Holy Name

174. He said to him, It is not so, but the Holy Name, MALCHUT, does not dwell on a place of defilement, for the reason that if the Holy Name is the first to receive that place, none of the spirits and demons of the world can be seen there, not to mention approaching it. But if the spirit of defilement is the first, it takes that place, and the Holy Name does not dwell in it, since it is not its place.

174. אָמַר לֵיהּ, לָאו הָכִי, אֶלָּא שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא לָא שַׁרְיָא בַּאֲתַר מִסְאֲבָא, וּבְגִין כַּךְ, אִי שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא נָטִיל אֲתַר מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא, כָּל רוּחִין וְכָל מַזִּיקִין דְּעָלְמָא לָא יַכְלִין לְאִתְחֲזָאָה בֵּיהּ, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן לְקָרְבָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ. אִי רוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא קָדִים, נָטִיל אֲתַר. שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא לָא שַׁרְיָא בֵּיהּ, דְּהָא לָאו אַתְרֵיהּ.

Earth Holiness (Kedushah) Holy Name Kedushah (Holiness) Leprosy Plagues Purification Stones

175. When the plague of leprosy descended UPON THAT HOUSE, it would purify that place and bring out the spirit of defilement from its place. Later, that house was broken down together with its wood, stones and everything, and rebuilt through the Holy Side and in righteousness, by mentioning the Holy Name and causing holiness to rest on it. Nevertheless ONE SHOULD BUILD IT using a different earth and build it two hand-breadths away.

175. וְכַד הֲוָה נָחִית נֶגַע צָרַעַת, הֲוָה מַדְכֵּי אַתְרָא, וְאַפִּיק לְרוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא מֵאַתְרֵיהּ, וּלְבָתַר מְנַתְּצֵי בֵּיתָא, אֲבָנִין וְאָעִין וְכֺלָּא, וּבָנֵי לָהּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, בִּסְטָר קַדִּישָׁא בְּצֶדֶק, דְּדָכִיר לֵיהּ לִשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְלִשְׁרֵי עָלֵיהּ קְדוּשָּׁה, וְעִם כָּל דָּא בְּעַפְרָא אָחֳרָא, וְיַרְחִיק בֵּיתָא מֵאַתְרֵיהּ, מִיְּסוֹדָא קַדְמָאָה תְּרֵי טְפָחִים.

Holiness (Kedushah) Holy Name Kedushah (Holiness) Plagues Stones

176. Now that nothing appears or descends to fight the spirit of holiness to uproot it from its place, SINCE THERE ARE NO PLAGUES NOW, what is to be done IN A HOUSE WHERE THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT WAS THE FIRST TO DWELL? HE ANSWERS, If one can take it out ON HIS OWN from the house, it is well. Otherwise, he should rebuild it using different stones, wood, etc., and pull it away from its first location and dedicate its building to the Holy Name.

176. הַשְׁתָּא דְּלָא אִתְחֲזֵי, וְלָא נָחִית מַאן דִּמְקַטְרֵג בֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא רוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא, לְאַפָּקָא לֵיהּ מֵאַתְרֵיהּ, מַאי תָּקַנְתֵּיה. אִי יָכִיל לְנָפְקָא מֵהַאי בֵּיתָא שַׁפִּיר. וְאִי לָאו יִבְנֶה לֵיהּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, בַּאֲבָנִין אָחֳרָנִין, וְאָעִין וְכֺלָּא, וְיַפִּיק וְיַרְחִיק לֵיהּ מֵאֲתַר קַדְמָאָה, וְיִבְנֵי לֵיהּ עַל שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא.

Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Plagues Temple, The

177. With all that, the spirit of defilement does not leave its first place and holiness does not dwell on a defiled place. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Why should one bother to DEMOLISH THE HOUSE AND REBUILD IT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION, in these days WHEN THERE ARE NO PLAGUES? It is written, "That which is crooked cannot be made straight" (Kohelet 1:15), FOREVER since the Temple was destroyed, AND THERE ARE NO PLAGUES, there is no remedy. For that reason one should be careful to be guarded FROM THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT, SO THAT IT WILL NO LONGER DWELL IN THAT HOUSE.

177. ועכ"ד, לָא נָפִיק הַהוּא רוּחָא מִן אֲתַר קַדְמָאָה, בְּגִין דִּקְדוּשָּׁה לָא שַׁרְיָא עַל אֲתַר מִסְאֲבָא. א"ר יִצְחָק לָמָּה לֵיהּ לְאַטְרְחָא כּוּלֵי הַאי, בְּזִמְנָא דָּא כְּתִיב, מְעֻוָּות לֹא יוּכַל לִתְקוֹן וְגוֹ.' מִיּוֹמָא דְּאִתְחָרַב בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח אַסוּותָא בְּעָלְמָא, בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ בָּעֵי ב"נ לְאִזְדַּהֲרָא, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלִהֱוֵי נָטִיר.

Caves Daughter Elisha Fire Idolatry Lepers Torah

178. They said, Let us go with that man TO THE LEPERS' CAVE, and see. Rabbi Yitzchak said, We must not. Had he gone to receive remedy from a great sin-fearing man, like Na'aman, who went to Elisha, we would follow. But now that he goes to those who are distant from the world, THE LEPERS AND THE SORCERERS, distant from the Torah, abominable in every respect, we must not appear before them. Blessed is the Merciful who saved us from them, and a man is forbidden TO RECEIVE REMEDY FROM THEM. Rabbi Yehuda said, Yet we learned that everything is good for remedy excepting the woods of the Ashera. He said to him, This is idolatry AND SO IS FORBIDDEN. Moreover, it is written, "There must not be found among you anyone that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire" (Devarim 18:10). They went on their way.

178. אַמְרֵי נְזִיל בַּהֲדֵי הַאי ב"נ וְנֶחֱמֵי. א"ר יִצְחָק, אָסִיר לָן. אִי הֲוָה אָזִיל לְגַבֵּי גַּבְרָא רַבָּא דָּחִיל חַטָּאָה, כְּגוֹן נַעֲמָן לְגַבֵּי אֱלִישָׁע, נֵזִיל אֲבַתְרֵיהּ. הַשְׁתָּא דְּאִיהוּ אָזִיל לְגַבֵּי רְחִיקֵי עָלְמָא, רְחִיקֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, גַּעֲלֵי מִכֺּלָּא, אָסִיר לָן לְאִתְחֲזָאָה קָמַיְיהוּ. בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דִּי שֵׁזִיב לָן מִנַּיְיהוּ. וְהַאי ב"נ אָסִיר לֵיהּ. א"ר יְהוּדָה, וְהָא תָּנֵינָן בַּכֺּל מִתְרַפְּאִין, חוּץ מֵעֲצֵי אֲשֵׁרָה וְכוּ.' אָמַר לֵיהּ, וְדָא ע"ז אִיהוּ, וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּהָא כְּתִיב לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְךָ מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִּתוֹ בָּאֵשׁ וְגוֹ.' אַזְלוּ לְאָרְחַיְיהוּ.

Caves Deeds Donkeys Fire Head Righteous World to Come, The

179. That man went to that cave with his son, and left him in there. As his father went out to fasten his donkey, a smoky column of fire came out and struck HIS SON on his head, killing him. When his father entered, he found him dead. He took him and his donkey and went his way. Another day after that he found Rabbi Yitzchak, Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Chizkiyah walking. He wept before them and told them what happened. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Did I not tell you many times it is forbidden to go there? Blessed is the Merciful, all of whose deeds are true and whose ways are just. Happy are the righteous, who walk the path of truth in this world and in the World to Come. Of them it is written, "But the path of just men is like the gleam of sunlight..." (Mishlei 4:18).

179. אָזַל הַהוּא ב"נ לְהַהִיא מְעַרְתָּא, הוּא וּבְרֵיהּ, שָׁרֵי לֵיהּ בִּמְעַרְתָּא. עַד דְּנָפַק אֲבוֹי לְקַטְרָא לַחֲמָרֵיהּ, נָפַק קִיטוּרָא דְּאֶשָּׁא, וּמָחָא לֵיהּ בְּרֵישָׁא, וְקַטְלֵיהּ. אַדְּהָכִי עָאל אֲבוֹי, וְאַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ מִית. נָטַל לֵיהּ וְלַחֲמָרֵיהּ, וְאָזַל לֵיהּ. וְאַשְׁכַּח לְהוּ לְבָתַר יוֹמָא חַד, לְר' יִצְחָק, וּלְר' יְהוּדָה, וְרִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה, דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי. בָּכָה קָמַיְיהוּ, וְסָח לוֹן עוֹבָדָא. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְלָא זִמְנִין סַגִּיאִין אֲמֵינָא לָךְ, דְּאָסִיר לְמֵיהַךְ תַּמָּן. בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא, דִּי כָל מַעֲבָדוֹהִי קְשׁוֹט, וְאֺרְחָתֵיהּ דִּין. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּאַזְלִין בְּאֺרַח קְשׁוֹט, בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין, וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, וְעָלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, וְאֺרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֹר נֺגַהּ וְגוֹ.'

Deeds Evil Holy Name Other Side

180. Rabbi Elazar said, In whatever man does, everything needs to be dedicated to His Holy Name. What does this mean? IT MEANS he should utter with his mouth the Holy Name over anything he does, so that everything will be for His service and the Other Side will not dwell on it. For THE OTHER SIDE is always ready against men and might dwell on the deed one performs. For that reason, the warp and woof would be defiled and the spirit of defilement dwelt on it. And if this is so, THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT DWELLS much more when one commands his words to the Other Side BY SWEARING, ETC., for he must not DO SO. For that reason it is written, "then keep you from every evil thing" (Devarim 23:10).

180. א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, בְּכָל עוֹבָדוֹי דְּב"נ, לִבְעֵי לֵיהּ דְּלִהֱווֹן כֻּלְּהוּ לִשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. מַאי לִשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. לְאַדְכְּרָא בְּפוּמֵיהּ שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא עַל כָּל מַה דְּאִיהוּ עָבֵיד, דְּכֺלָּא הוּא לְפוּלְחָנֵיהּ, וְלָא יִשְׁרֵי עֲלוֹי סִטְרָא אָחֳרָא. בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ זַמִּין תְּדִירָא לְגַבֵּי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְיָכִיל לְאַשְׁרָאָה עַל הַהוּא עֲבִידְתָּא. וְעַל דָּא, הַשְּׁתִּי אוֹ הָעֵרֶב הֲוָה אִסְתְּאַב, וְשַׁרְיָא עָלֵיהּ רוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא. וּמַה בְּהַאי כַּךְ, מַאן דְּפָקִיד מִלּוֹי לְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, עאכ"ו. ובג"כ כְּתִיב וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכָּל דָּבָר רָע.

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