Tetzaveh: Chapter 9

The bread of the first fruits

Synopsis

We learn that two types of bread were eaten by Yisrael: when they left Egypt they ate matzah, the bread from Malchut; when they were in the wilderness they ate manna, the bread from heaven, Zeir Anpin. The question is asked why, now that Yisrael merited the higher bread, was leavened bread not abolished entirely? Why was the offering of the first fruits leavened bread? Rabbi Shimon explains that as soon as Yisrael had eaten matzah, leavened bread could no longer harm them. The chametz is burned on the altar and can have no power over Yisrael. When God gave the Torah to Yisrael He had them taste the supernal bread, manna, through which they knew and observed the teachings of the Torah. After these explanations Rabbi Shimon and his companions meet an old man holding a boy by the hand.

Bread Bread of Affliction Egypt Heaven Lambs Offering Rain Seven Torah Wisdom Zeir Anpin

72. Two types of bread were eaten by Yisrael: when they left Egypt, they ate matzah, the bread of affliction, WHICH IS BREAD FROM MALCHUT. And in the wilderness they ate bread from heaven, WHICH IS THE BREAD OF ZEIR ANPIN, THAT IS CALLED 'HEAVEN', as it is written: "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you" (Shemot 16:4). Therefore, the offering of this day OF THE FEAST OF WEEKS is bread, and all the other offerings were offered with the bread. The bread is the main part, as is written: "And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs..." (Vayikra 23:18), "You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves" (Ibid. 17). For this is the bread with which Yisrael became wise with the supernal Wisdom of the Torah, and entered its ways.

72. תְּרֵין נַהֲמֵי אָכְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, חַד, כַּד נָפְקוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, אָכְלוּ מַצָּה, לֶחֶם עוֹנִי. וְחַד בְּמַדְבְּרָא, לֶחֶם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. דִּכְתִּיב הִנְנִי מַמְטִיר לָכֶם לֶחֶם מִן הַשָּׁמָיִם וְעַל דָּא קָרְבָּנָא דְּיוֹמָא דָּא נָהֲמָא אִיהוּ. וְעַל נָהֲמָא, אִתְקְרִיבוּ כָּל שְׁאַר קָרְבָּנִין. דְּנָהֲמָא אִיהוּ עִקָר, דִּכְתִּיב וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם עַל הַלֶּחֶם שִׁבְעַת כְּבָשִׂים וְגוֹ', מִמּוֹשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם תָּבִיאוּ לֶחֶם תְּנוּפָה וְגוֹ', דְּדָא אִיהוּ נָהֲמָא דְּאֲחְכִּימוּ בֵּיהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, חָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְעָאלוּ בְּאָרְחָהָא.

Bread Evil Evil Inclination First Fruits Freedom Leaven Offering Torah Zeir Anpin

73. We should now observe that during Pesach, Yisrael came away from the bread that is called 'chametz', as it is written: "And there shall no leavened bread (Heb. chametz) be seen" (Shemot 13:7), and: "For whoever eats that which is leavened" (Shemot 12:19). What is the reason THAT THEY ABANDONED CHAMETZ? It is because of the honor of the bread that is called 'matzah'. HE ASKS: Now that Yisrael merited a higher bread, THE BREAD OF ZEIR ANPIN, would it not have been proper for the chametz to be abolished and not be seen at all? Why was the offering OF THE FIRST FRUITS BREAD chametz, as it is written: "they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven" (Vayikra 23:17). Also on this day, the Evil Inclination was negated, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF CHAMETZ, as the Torah, that is called 'freedom', was available. WHY THEN DID THEY BRING CHAMETZ?

73. הַשְׁתָּא אִית לָן לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, בַּפֶּסַח נָפְקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִנָּהֲמָא דְּאִתְקְרֵי חָמֵץ, כְּתִיב, וְלָא יֵרָאֶה לְךָ חָמֵץ, וּכְתִיב כִּי כָּל אוֹכֵל מַחְמֶצֶת מַאי טַעֲמָא. בְּגִין יְקָרָא דְּהַהוּא נַהֲמָא דְּאִתְקְרֵי מַצָּה. הַשְׁתָּא דְּזָכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְנַהֲמָא עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר לָא יֵאוֹת הֲוָה לְאִתְבַּטְּלָא חָמֵץ, וְלָא אִתְחַזְיָא כְּלַל. וַאֲמַאי קָרְבָּנָא דָּא, חָמֵץ הֲוָה, דִּכְתִּיב סֹלֶת תִּהְיֶינָה חָמֵץ תֵּאָפֶינָה. וְתוּ, דְּהַשְׁתָּא בְּיוֹמָא דָּא אִתְבָּטַּל יֵצֶר הָרָע, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא דְּאִתְקְרֵי חִירוּ אִשְׁתְּכַחַת.

Food House Illness Medicine

74. HE ANSWERS: THIS IS SIMILAR to a king who had an only son who became ill. One day he wished to eat. They said: Let the king's son take this medicine, but before he eats it, no food whatsoever should be in the house. They did so. After he had taken the medicine, they said: From now on he may eat whatever he desires and it will do him no harm.

74. אֶלָּא, לְמַלְכָּא דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ בַּר יְחִידָאי, וְחָלַשׁ. יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה תָּאִיב לְמֵיכַל, אָמְרוּ יֵיכוּל בְּרֵיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא אַסְוָותָא דָּא, וְעַד דְּיֵיכוּל לֵיהּ, לָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח מֵיכְלָא וּמְזוֹנָא אַחֲרָא בְּבֵיתָא. עָבְדוּ הָכִי. כֵּיוָן דְּאָכַל הַהוּא אַסְוָותָא, אָמַר מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה יֵיכוּל כָּל מָה דְּאִיהוּ תָּאִיב, וְלָא יָכִיל לְנַזְקָא לֵיהּ.

Bread Egypt Faith Food Medicine Shavuot Zeir Anpin

75. Similarly, when Yisrael left Egypt, they did not know the essence and secret of Faith. The Holy One, blessed be He, let Yisrael taste medicine, but while they take this medicine, no other food should be visible to them, NAMELY CHAMETZ. As soon as they had eaten matzah, which is a curative to aid in coming into and knowing the secret of Faith, WHICH IS MALCHUT, the Holy One, blessed be He, said: 'From now on, chametz is suitable for them and they may eat it, because it can no longer harm them'. And more so on the day of Shavuot, when the supernal bread OF ZEIR ANPIN is present, which is a complete cure!

75. כַּךְ כַּד נָפְקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, לָא הֲוֵי יַדְעֵי עִקָרָא וְרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, יִטְעֲמוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל אַסְוָותָא, וְעַד דְּיֵיכְלוּן אַסְוָותָא דָּא, לָא אִתְחָזֵי לְהוֹן מֵיכְלָא אַחֲרָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאָכְלוּ מַצָּה, דְּאִיהִי אַסְוָותָא לְמֵיעַל וּלְמִנְדַּע בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא. אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה אִתְחָזֵי לוֹן חָמֵץ, וְיֵיכְלוּן לֵיהּ, דְּהָא לָא יָכִיל לְנַזְקָא לוֹן. וְכ"ש דִּבְיוֹמָא דְּשָׁבוּעוֹת, אִזְדָּמַן נַהֲמָא עִלָּאָה, דְּאִיהוּ אַסְוָותָא בְּכֹלָּא.

Altar Bread Evil Evil Inclination Fire Punishment Torah Zeir Anpin

76. Therefore, we offer chametz, WHICH IS THE EVIL INCLINATION, to be burnt on the altar, MEANING THROUGH THE OFFERINGS THAT ARE OFFERED ON THE ALTAR. Two other loaves of bread are offered BY WAVING THEM together. 'OTHERS' MEANS IN ADDITION TO THE OFFERINGS. The chametz, WHICH IS THE EVIL INCLINATION, is burned in the fire on the altar, THROUGH THE OFFERINGS, and cannot have power over nor harm Yisrael. Therefore, Yisrael cleave to the Holy One, blessed be He, on this day through the remedy of Torah. If Yisrael observed those two types of bread, NAMELY MATZAH AND THE HOLY SUPERNAL BREAD OF ZEIR ANPIN, they would never be punished.

76. וְע"ד מְקָרְבִין חָמֵץ, לְאִתּוֹקְדָא עַל מַדְבְּחָא. וּמְקָרְבִין תְּרֵין נַהֲמִין אַחֲרָנִין כַּחֲדָא. וְחָמֵץ, אִתּוֹקְדָא בְּנוּרָא דְּמַדְבְּחָא וְלָא יָכִיל לְשַׁלְּטָאָה, וּלְנַזְקָּא לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ, יִשְׂרָאֵל קַדִּישִׁין אִתְדָּבָקוּ בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּאַסְוָותָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּיוֹמָא דָּא. וְאִלְמָלֵי הֲווֹ נַטְרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּרֵין סִטְרִין דְּנַהֲמֵי אִלֵּין, לָא הֲווֹ עַיְילִין בְּדִינָא לְעָלְמִין.

Food Judges Judgment Medicine Rosh Hashanah Torah Year

77. The day of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), which is the Day of Judgment, is only for those who did not take the medicine, WHICH IS MATZOT, and abandoned the remedy of Torah. FOR THROUGH THESE TWO REMEDIES the other food IS FIXED, which is chametz. On this day of Rosh Hashanah, that chametz ascends and accuses the person and slanders him, and is on this day an Accuser of the world. The Holy One, blessed be He, sits in Judgment over everything and judges the world.

77. בְּיוֹמָא דְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, דְּאִיהוּ יוֹמָא דְּדִינָא, דְּלָאו אִיהוּ, אֶלָּא לְאִינּוּן דְּלָא נַטְלוּ מֵיכְלָא דְּאַסְוָותָא, וְשָׁבְקוּ לְאַסְוָותָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, בְּגִין מֵיכְלָא אַחֲרָא דְּאִיהוּ חָמֵץ. דְּהָא בְּיוֹמָא דָּא דְּר"ה, הַהוּא חָמֵץ סַלְּקָא, וּמְקַטְרְגָא עָלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, וְאַלְשִׁין עָלֵיהּ, וְאִיהוּ קַיְּימָא בְּיוֹמָא דָּא מְקַטְרְגָא עַל עָלְמָא. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָתִיב בְּדִינָא עַל כֹּלָּא וְדָאִין עָלְמָא.

Bread Torah

78. Because of this, when the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Torah to Yisrael, He had them taste that supernal bread from that place, MALCHUT. Through that bread, they knew and observed the secrets of the Torah so as to walk the right way, and the friends have already explained these matters through these secrets, as we have said.

78. וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ כַּד יָהַב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲטְעִים לְהוּ מֵהַהוּא נַהֲמָא עִלָּאָה, דְּהַהוּא אֲתָר, וּמִגּוֹ הַהוּא נַהֲמָא, הֲווֹ יַדְעִין וּמִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּרָזֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לְמֵהַךְ בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ מִלָּה אִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא בְּרָזִין אִלֵּין כִּדְקָאמְרָן.

Eyes Hands

79. Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Elazar, his son, were traveling on the road accompanied by Rabbi Aba and Rabbi Yosi. While they were walking, they met an old man who was holding a young boy by the hand. Rabbi Shimon raised his eyes and saw him. He said to Rabbi Aba: assuredly this old man has new ideas for us.

79. ר' שִׁמְעוֹן וְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, הֲווֹ אַזְלֵי בְּאָרְחָא, וַהֲווֹ אַזְלִין עִמְּהוֹן, רִבִּי אַבָּא וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי אִעֲרָעוּ בְּחַד סָבָא, וַהֲוָה אָחִיד בִּידֵיהּ חַד יַנּוּקָא, זָקַף עֵינוֹי רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְחָמָא לֵיהּ, אָמַר לֵיהּ לְרִבִּי אַבָּא וַדַּאי מִלִּין חַדְתִּין אִית גַּבָּן בְּהַאי סָבָא.

Donkeys Shadow Torah

80. When they reached him, Rabbi Shimon said to him: Why do you come with a load tied to your back - MEANING, DO YOU NOT HAVE A DONKEY TO CARRY YOUR LOAD? Who are you? He said to him: I am a Jew. RABBI SHIMON said to him: You must definitely have certain new matters with you today. RABBI SHIMON said to him: Where is your country? He said to him: I used to live among those who retired to the wilderness, for I was endeavoring there in the Torah. Now, I have come to civilization to sit in the shadow of the Holy One, blessed be He, during the days of this seventh month.

80. כַּד מָטוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּמָטוּל דְּקּוּפְטְרָךְ בְּגַבָּךְ קָא אָתִית, מַאן אַנְתְּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ, יוּדָאי אֲנָא. אָמַר, מִלִּין חַדְתִּין וַדַּאי יוֹמָא דָּא לְגַבָּךְ, אָמַר לֵיהּ לְאָן הוּא אַרְעָךְ. אָמַר לֵיהּ, דִּיוּרִי הֲוָה בְּאִינּוּן פְּרִישֵׁי מַדְבְּרָא, דַּהֲוֵינָא, מִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְהַשְׁתָּא אֲתֵינָא לְיִשׁוּבָא, לְמֵיתַב בְּצִלָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּאִלֵּין יוֹמֵי דְּיַרְחָא שְׁבִיעָאָה דָּא.

Firmaments Wisdom

81. Rabbi Shimon rejoiced and said: Let us sit, because certainly the Holy One, blessed be He, has sent you to us. He said to him: upon your life, we shall hear a word from your mouth of those new yet old matters that you planted there, in the wilderness, concerning this seventh month. Why did you leave the wilderness to come to civilization? The old sage said to him: From this question I know that you possess wisdom and your words reach the firmament of Wisdom.

81. חַדֵּי ר' שִׁמְעוֹן, אָמַר, נָתִיב דְּוַדַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שַׁדְרָךְ לְגַבָּן. אָמַר לֵיהּ, חַיֶּיךָ דְּנִשְׁמַע מִלָּה מִפּוּמָךְ, מֵאִינּוּן מִלִּין חַדְתִּין עַתִּיקִין, דִּנְטַעְתּוּן תַּמָּן בְּמַדְבְּרָא, מֵהַאי יַרְחָא שְׁבִיעָאָה. וַאֲמַאי אִתְפְּרַשְׁתּוּן הַשְׁתָּא מִמַּדְבְּרָא, לְמֵיתֵי לְיִשׁוּבָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ הַהוּא סָבָא, בִּשְׁאֶלְתָּא דָּא, יְדַעְנָא דְּחָכְמְתָא גַּבָּךְ, וּמִילָּךְ מָטוּ לִרְקִיעֵי דְּחָכְמְתָא.

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