Toldot: Chapter 11

"And there was a famine in the land..."

Synopsis

The Rabbis discuss the Creator's testing of the righteous, and His treatment of the wicked. There is a delay in executing judgment against the wicked in order to give them time to repent. the Creatorthe Creator, we're told, tests the righteous in order to help them lift up their heads. The discussion shows how this applies to Adam, Abraham, Noah, and Isaac; then Rabbi Shimon expounds on the need for an understanding of the relationship between soul, body, and the Shechinah. We learn that it is only when the soul is reunited with the Shechinah that is truly worthy.

Relevance

A child learns to walk by falling down and standing up again. Measured against a lifetime of walking, this period of continual stumbling is relatively short. Similarly, the hardships and afflictions in our lives are learning opportunities. They are sent to us to help us learn to walk in the ways of the Creator. When we understand our afflictions in this way, their duration is brief compared to a lifetime of spiritual fulfillment. Conversely, when life appears strangely calm and placid, the Creator may be delaying judgments against us for self-centered behavior. We should be wary of our connection to the Light during these moments and begin to reflect with humility and repentance.

Deeds Famine Righteous Rock Soul, The Wicked Wickedness

83. "And there was a famine in the land..." (Beresheet 26:1). Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion with the verse, "Hashem tries the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence His soul hates" (Tehilim 11:5). How orderly and right are the deeds of the Holy One, blessed be He, and all He does is according to justice and truth, as it is written, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect..." (Devarim 32:4).

83. וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן וגו'. ר' יְהוּדָה פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, יי' צַדִּיק יִבְחָן וְרָשָׁע וְאוֹהֵב חָמָס שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ. כַּמָּה עוֹבָדוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִתְתַּקְנָן, וְכָל מַה דְּאִיהוּ עָבֵיד, כֹּלָּא עַל דִּינָא וּקְשׁוֹט, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ כִּי כָל דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא.

Adam Heart Precepts Tree

84. Come and behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, did not judge Adam before He commanded him for his own good not to let his heart and will stray in another direction - THAT IS, NOT TO EAT FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE - so that he would not be defiled. But he was not careful, and transgressed the precepts of his Master BY EATING FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, judged him.

84. תָּא חֲזֵי, לָא דָן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאָדָם קַדְמָאָה, עַד דְּפַקֵּיד לֵיה לְתוֹעַלְתֵּיהּ, דְּלָא יִסְטֵי לִבֵּיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ לְאָרַח אָחֳרָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִסְתָּאַב, וְאִיהוּ לָא אִסְתַּמַּר, וַעֲבַר עַל פִּקּוּדֵי דְמָארֵיהּ, וּלְבָתַר כֵּן דָּן לֵיהּ דִּינָא.

David Seventy Year

85. Even then, the Holy One, blessed be He, did not judge him as harshly as he deserved, THAT IS, ACCORDING TO THE VERSE, "FOR ON THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE" (BERESHEET 2:17). He refrained from wrath and let him be among the living for one day, THAT IS, THE DAY OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, which is one thousand years, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IN YOUR SIGHT ARE BUT LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN IT IS PAST" (TEHILIM 90:4), minus the seventy years that he gave to king David, who had no life of his own. THEREFORE HE LIVED 930 YEARS, NAMELY, ONE THOUSAND YEARS MINUS SEVENTY.

85. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, לָא דָן לֵיהּ, כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ, וְאוֹרִיךְ עִמֵּיהּ רוּגְזֵיהּ, וְאִתְקַיַּים יוֹמָא חַד, דְּאִיהוּ אֶלֶף שְׁנִין, בַּר אִינוּן שִׁבְעִים שָׁנִים, דִּמְסַר לֵיהּ לְדָוִד מַלְכָּא, דְּלאָ הֲוָה לֵיהּ מִגַּרְמֵיהּ כְּלוּם.

Abraham Adonai Death Death and the Afterlife Deeds Evil Ezekiel Repentance Righteous Terah, Abraham's Father Wicked Wickedness World to Come, The

86. Similarly, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, does not judge man according to his evil deeds, which he continually does, for if He did so, the world would not have survived. But the Holy One, blessed be He, refrains from wrath with the Righteous and the wicked. With the wicked, HE IS EVEN more FORBEARING than with the righteous, so that they may repent completely and exist in this world and in the World to Come. As it is written, "'As I live,' says Adonai Elohim. 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live'" (Yechezkel 33:11), WHICH MEANS to live in this world and in the World to Come. For that reason, He is always forbearing. Another reason is that good stock may issue from them, as Abraham was begotten of Terah, who issued good stock and good origin and portion in the world.

86. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, לָא דָן לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, כְּעוֹבָדוֹי בִּישִׁין דְּאִיהוּ עָבֵיד תָּדִיר, דְּאִי הָכֵי, לָא יָכֵיל עַלְמָא לְאִתְקַיְימָא, אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אָרִיךְ רוּגְזֵיהּ עִם צַדִּיקַיָא, וְעִם רַשִּׁיעַיָא, יַתִּיר מִצַּדִּיקַיָא, עִם רַשִּׁיעַיָא, בְּגִין דִּיתוּבוּן בִּתְיוּבְתָּא שְׁלֵימָתָא, דְּיִתְקַיְימוּן בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב חַי אָנִי נְאֻם יי' וגו' אִם אֶחְפֹּץ וגו' כִּי אִם בְּשׁוּב רָשָׁע מִדַּרְכּוֹ וְחָיָה. וְחָיָה בְּעַלְמָא דֵין, וְחָיָה בְּעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, וְעַל דָּא אוֹרִיךְ רוּגְזֵיהּ לוֹן תָּדִיר. אוֹ בְּגִין דְּיִפּוֹק מִנְּהוֹן גִּזְעָא טָבָא בְּעַלְמָא, כְּמָה דְאַפֵּיק אַבְרָהָם מִתֶּרַח, דְּאִיהוּ גִּזְעָא טָבָא, וְשָׁרָשָׁא וְחוּלָקָא טָבָא לְעַלְמָא.

Deeds Faith Head Righteous

87. But the Holy One, blessed be He, is always strict with the Righteous in every deed they do. Because He knows they will not turn away, neither to the right nor the left, He constantly tests them. Not for His own sake DOES THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, TEST THEM, as He knows their desire and the firmness of their faith and has no need of trying them. He tries them only to lift up their heads, to give them confidence as they earn their merits through these EXPERIENCES.

87. אֲבָל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְדַקְדֵּק עִם צַדִּיקַיָא תָּדִיר, בְּכָל עוֹבָדִין דְּאִינוּן עָבְדִין בְּגִין דְּיָדַע דְּלָא יִסְטוּן לְיָמִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא, וּבְגִין כָּך אַבְחִין לוֹן, לָאו בְּגִינֵיהּ, דְּהָא אִיהוּ יָדַע יִצְרָא וְתוֹקְפָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא דִלְהוֹן, אֶלָּא בְּגִין לַאֲרָמָא רֵישֵׁיהוֹן בְּגִינַיְיהוּ.

Abraham Banners Eyes Head Jeremiah Righteous Sacrifice

88. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, behaved similarly toward Abraham, as it is written, "that the Elohim did test Abraham" (Beresheet 22:1). What is meant by "test (Heb. nisah)?" It means the raising of the banner (Heb. nes), as it is written, "lift up a standard" (Yeshayah 62:10), and "set up the standard" (Yirmeyah 4:6). He raised his standard over the whole world. And for this, FOR THE TEST AT THE SACRIFICE, the Holy One, blessed be He, raised the banner of Abraham before everybody's eyes, as it is written, "Did test Abraham." Thus the Holy One, blessed be He, in order to lift the standard of the righteous, tries them, so they will lift up their heads throughout the world.

88. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, עֲבַד לֵיהּ לְאַבְרָהָם, דִּכְתִיב וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם, מַאי נִסָּה, הֲרָמַת נֵס, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר הָרִימוּ נֵס, שְׂאוּ נֵס, אָרֵים דִּגְלָא דִּילֵיהּ בְּכָל עַלְמָא, וְאַף עַל גָּב דְּהָא אִתְּמָר, בְּגִין דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָרֵים דִּגְלָא דְאַבְרָהָם, בְּעֵינֵיהוֹן דְּכֹלָּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם, אוֹף הָכֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּגִין לַאֲרָמָא דִגְלָא דְצַדִּיקַיָא, אִיהוּ בָּחִין לוֹן, לַאֲרָמָא רֵישַׁיְיהוּ בְּכָל עַלְמָא.

Body Righteous Shechinah Soul, The

89. "...Tries the Righteous..." (Tehilim 11:5): What is the reason thereof? According to Rabbi Shimon, it is because the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes for the Righteous. As it is written, "But it pleased Hashem to crush him by disease" (Yeshayah 53:10). This has already been explained. The Holy One, blessed be He, wishes for the soul and not the body, because the soul resembles the supernal soul, NAMELY, THE SHECHINAH, and the body is not worthy of being united WITH THE SHECHINAH above. Thus, although the shape of the body is in the image of the supernal secret, THAT IS, ALTHOUGH THE BODY IS DRAWN FROM THE SHECHINAH, NAMELY MALCHUT, NEVERTHELESS IT IS NOT WORTHY OF BEING UNITED WITH HER.

89. צַדִּיק יִבְחָן, מַאי טַעְמָא, אֲמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּד אִתְרְעֵי בְּהוֹ בְּצַדִּיקַיָא, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיי' חָפֵץ דַּכְּאוֹ הֶחֱלִי. וְאוֹקְמוּהָ. אֲבָל בְּגִין דִּרְעוּתָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לָא אִתְרְעֵי, אֶלָּא בְּנִשְׁמָתָא, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָא לָא, דְּהָא נִשְׁמָתָא, אִיהִי דַמְיָא לְנִשְׁמָתָא דִלְעֵילָא, וְגוּפָא לָאו אִיהוּ חָזֵי לְאִתְאַחֲדָא לְעֵילָא, וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּדְיוֹקְנָא דְגוּפָא בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה אִיהוּ.

Body Righteous Soul, The Stone

90. Come and behold, when the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to illuminate the soul of a man, He crushes the body so that the soul will govern. As long as the soul is with the body, THEY ARE EQUAL, AND the soul cannot rule. After the body is crushed, the soul becomes powerful. What is the meaning of the verse, "...tries the righteous..." (Tehilim 11:5)? It is as is written, "...a tried stone..." (Yeshayah 28:16); in the same way He "tries the righteous," which means that He strengthens him by this "tried stone," which is a precious cornerstone. So does He try the righteous!

90. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, בְּזִמְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרְעֵי בְּנִשְׁמָתֵיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ, לְאִתְנְהָרָא בָהּ, מָחֵי לְגוּפָא, בְּגִין דְּתִשְׁלוֹט נִשְׁמָתָא, דְּהָא בְּעוֹד דְּנִשְׁמָתָא עִם גּוּפָא, נִשְׁמָתָא לָא יָכְלָא לְשַׁלְטָאָה, דְּכַד אִתְרַע גּוּפָא, נִשְׁמָתָא שָׁלְטָא. צַדִּיק יִבְחָן, מַאי צַדִּיק יִבְחָן, כְּדָּבָר אֲחֵר אֶבֶן בֹּחַן, הָכֵי נָמֵי צַדִּיק יִבְחָן, אַתְקֵיף לֵיהּ, כְּהַאי אֶבֶן בֹּחַן, דְּהִיא פִּנַּת יִקְרַת, הָכֵי נָמֵי צַדִּיק יִבְחָן.

Adonai Grades Nefesh (Soul) Righteous Soul (Nefesh) Soul, The Wicked Wickedness World to Come, The

91. "But the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates" (Tehilim 11:5). What is the meaning of "his soul (lit. Nefesh) hates?" COULD IT POSSIBLY ALLUDE TO THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WHOSE NEFESH HATES THE WICKED? FOR THE WORD NEFESH IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. The explanation is that the very level upon which all souls depend, MALCHUT, hates the Nefesh of that wicked man. For it does not want it [this soul] TO CLEAVE TO IT in this world or in the World to Come. For that reason, it is written, "but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates." Another explanation of, "His soul hates," is as it is written, "Adonai Elohim has sworn by His Nefesh" (Amos 6:8), WHICH MEANS THAT THE WORD NEFESH IS USED IN RELATION TO HASHEM. IF SO, THEN THE EXPLANATION IS SIMPLY THAT THE SOUL OF HASHEM HATES THE WICKED AND HIM WHO LOVES VIOLENCE. For that reason He "tries the righteous," for He loves him.

91. וְרָשָׁע וְאוֹהֵב חָמָס שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ, מַאי שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ, ס"ד דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוֵי דְּנַפְשׁוֹ שָׂנְאָה לְהַהוּא רָשָׁע. אֶלָּא, הַהוּא דַרְגָא דְּכָל נִשְׁמָתִין תַּלְיָין בֵּיהּ, שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ דְּהַהוּא רָשָׁע, דְּלָא בָּעְיָא לָהּ כְּלַל, לָא בָּעְיָא לָהּ לָא בְּעַלְמָא דֵין וְלָא בְּעָלְמָא דְאָתֵי, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, וְרָשָׁע וְאוֹהֵב חָמָס שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ, וַדַּאי. דָּבָר אֲחֵר שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ, כְּדָּבָר אֲחֵר נִשְׁבַּע אֲדֹנָי יֱהוֹהִ בְּנַפְשׁוֹ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ צַדִּיק יִבְחָן.

Adam Creation Evil Evil Inclination Grades Tree Wisdom

92. Come and behold, when the Holy One, blessed be He, created Adam, He commanded him NOT TO EAT OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, in order to benefit him. He gave him wisdom, so he would ascend through the grades TO THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. When he descended, he saw the desires of the Evil Inclination and clung to it, thereby forgetting all that he beheld of the Supernal Glory of his Master.

92. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאָדָם, פַּקֵּיד לֵיהּ, לְאוֹטָבָא לֵיהּ, יְהַב לֵיהּ חָכְמְתָא אִסְתַּלַּק בְּדַרְגּוֹי לְעֵילָא, כַּד נָחַת לְתַתָּא, חָמָא תֵּיאוּבְתָּא דְיֵצֶר הָרָע, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ, וְאִנְשֵׁי כָּל מַה דְּאִסְתַּלַּק, בִּיקָרָא עִלָּאָה דְמָרֵיהּ.

Noah Tents Wine

93. Of Noah, it is first written, "Noah was a just man and perfect" (Beresheet 6:9). Then he descended and saw strong wine that was one day old and not clear, AS IT WAS FULL OF DREGS. He drank from it, became drunk, and was uncovered, as it is written, "And he drank of the wine, and was drunk; and he was uncovered within his tent" (Beresheet 9:21).

93. אֲתָא נֹחַ, בְּקַדְמֵיתָא כְּתִיב נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה, וּלְבָתַר נָחַת לְתַתָּא, וְחָמָא חַמְרָא תַּקִּיף, דְּלָא צָלֵיל, מֵחַד יוֹמָא, וְאִשְׁתֵּי מִנֵּיהּ, וְאִשְׁתַּכַּר וְאִתְגְּלֵי, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב, וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגָּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלֹה.

Abraham Abram Egypt Famine Grades Peace Wisdom

94. Then Abraham was elevated with wisdom and beheld the glory of his Master. Subsequently, it is written, "And there was famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt" (Beresheet 12:10), and "And Abram went up out of Egypt..." (Beresheet 13:1) and was elevated to the grade he had at the beginning. He came in peace and went in peace.

94. אֲתָא אַבְרָהָם, אִסְתַּלַּק בְּחָכְמְתָא, וְאִסְתַּכַּל בִּיקָרָא דְמָארֵיהּ, לְבָתַר וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְרָיְמָה לָגוּר שָׁם כִּי כָבֵד הָרָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וגו', לְבָתַר מַה כְּתִיב, וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם מִמִצְרַיִם הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְכָל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וְלוֹט עִמּוֹ הַנֶּגְבָּה, וְאִסְתַּלַּק לְדַרְגֵּיהּ קַדְמָאָה, דַּהֲוָה בֵיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְעָאל בִּשְׁלָם, וּנְפַק בִּשְׁלָם.

Famine Head Isaac Righteous World to Come, The

95. And then Isaac, of whom it is written, "And there was a famine in the land..." (Beresheet 26:1). And Isaac went TO GERAR. From there, he later ascended peacefully. And so all the Righteous are tested by the Holy One, blessed be He, to raise their heads in this world and in the World to Come.

95. אֲתָא יִצְחָק, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ, מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן וגו'. וַאֲזַל יִצְחָק וְאִסְתַּלַּק מִתַּמָּן לְבָתַר בִּשְׁלָם, וְכֻלְּהוּ צַדִּיקַיָיא, כֻּלְּהוּ בָּחִין לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּגִין לַאֲרָמָא רֵישַׁיְיהוּ, בְּעַלְמָא דֵין וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

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