Trumah: Chapter 40

"And, behold, it was very good"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yitzchak here explains why the Angel of Death is very good, because fear of the angel and the mystery of death causes people to repent. Then, he tells us, Rabbi Shimon taught him that the Angel of Death is more important than the Angel of Life. The Elohim, we learn, created Adam, who afterwards sinned and was banished from the Garden of Eden. "And the Creator, Elohim, planted a Garden eastward in Eden" similar to the supernal Garden of Eden above.

There follows a glorious description of the Garden of Eden, which is the abode of the holy spirits, both those who have already come to this world and those that have not yet come to this world. All these spirits, we are told, are clothed in garments and have bodies and faces similar to the ones we have in this world. When the time comes to leave this world the Angel of Death strips the spirit of these garments so that he can return to the Garden of Eden and rejoin his other body. There, he can rejoice and observe the secrets he was unable to see when he was in this body. The wicked of the world who do not repent, however, are not given this other body, but are judged in Gehenom of the Earth - hell. A few who contemplated repentance in their hearts but died before they could repent rise from that fire. We learn finally there is no good intention that is lost before God, but that those who did not think of repentance descend into Sheol, never to reappear.

Relevance

Fear of death is a potent thing that affects people deeply. The Angel of Death is portrayed in black with a sickle, and the sight of this dark entity can cause an awakening of our desire to correct our sins and pursue the path of spirituality. Here we achieve repentance through the purifying forces that light up this passage. This act of repentance is shared with all mankind, ending the reign of the Angel of Death and ensuring a sweet and merciful Final Redemption in our lifetime.

Angel of Death Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Fear Repentance Sin

432. And if you ask, Yet it is written, "And, behold, it was very good" (Beresheet 1:31), which is the Angel of Death, and here you say that it was not written because of him "that it was good" (Ibid. 4). HE ANSWERS, The secret of secrets is here. Certainly, the Angel of Death is very good. What is the reason? It is because all the people of the world know that they will die and return to dust. Therefore, there are many who repent to their Master because of this fear, and fear to sin before Him. Many are those who fear the King because the whips are hanging before them. How good is the whip for people, for it makes them good and true and improve their ways properly. Therefore, "And, behold, it was very good," very good indeed.

432. וְאִי תֵּימָא, וְהָא כְּתִיב וְהִנֵּה טוֹב מְאֹד דָּא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, וְהָכָא אַמָרְתְּ דְּלָא אִתְּמַר בְּגִינֵיהּ כִּי טוֹב. אֶלָּא רָזָא דְּרָזִין הָכָא, דְּהָא וַדַּאי מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִיהוּ טוֹב מְאֹד. מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּהָא כָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא יַדְעֵי דִּימוּתוּן וְיִתְהַדְרוּן לְעַפְרָא, וְסַגִּיאִין אִינּוּן דִּמְהַדְּרֵי בְּתִיּוּבְתָא לְמָארֵיהוֹן, בְּגִין דְּחִילוּ דָּא, וְדַחֲלֵי לְמֶחֱטֵי קַמֵּיהּ. סַגִּיאִין דַּחֲלֵי מִן מַלְכָּא, מִגּוֹ דְּתַלְיָא רְצוּעָה לְקָמַיְיהוּ. כַּמָה טָבָא הַהִיא רְצוּעָה לְגַבֵּי ב"נ, דְּעַבְדַּת לוֹן טָבִין וְקָשִׁיטִין, וּמְתַקְּנִין בְּאָרְחַיְיהוּ כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. וְע"ד וְהִנֵּה טוֹב מְאֹד. מְאֹד וַדַּאי.

Adam Angel of Death Angels Creation Death Death and the Afterlife Eden

433. The secret of secrets that I learned from the holy luminary, "And, behold, it was good" is the Angel of Life and "very" is the Angel of Death, who is more IMPORTANT. Why is the Angel of Death "very good?" HE ANSWERS, When the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, everything was prepared before Adam was created, who was the king of this world. After Adam was created, he prepared it according to the true way, as it is written, "That the Elohim has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Kohelet 7:29). He made him upright, and afterwards he sinned and was banished from the Garden of Eden.

433. רָזָא דְּרָזִין, דְּאוֹלִיפְנָא מִגּוֹ בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא וְהִנֵּה טוֹב, דָּא מַלְאָךְ חַיִּים. מְאֹד, דָּא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, דְּאִיהוּ יַתִּיר. אֲמַאי מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִיהוּ טוֹב מְאֹד. אֶלָּא כַּד בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלְמָא, כֹּלָּא הֲוָה מִתְתָּקַּן עַל לָא יֵיתֵי אָדָם, דְּאִיהוּ מַלְכָּא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, עֲבַד לֵיהּ מִתְתַּקָּן בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, הה"ד אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם יָשָׁר וְהֵמָה בִקְשׁוּ חִשְּׁבוֹנוֹת רַבִּים, עֲבַד לֵיהּ יָשָׁר, וּלְבָתַר סָרַח, וְאִטְרִיד מִגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן.

Cherubim (Cherubs) Earth Eden Gold Lights Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

434. The Garden of Eden is planted on earth with those plants that the Holy One, blessed be He, planted, as it is written, "And Hashem Elohim planted a garden eastward in Eden" (Beresheet 2:8). He planted it using the complete name, THAT IS, YUD HEI VAV HEI ELOHIM similar to the supernal Garden OF EDEN above. All the supernal images are embroidered and formed in the Lower GARDEN of Eden, where the Cherubs are. They are not engraved with a human engraving of gold or other matter, but rather are all lights of above, engraved and formed in an embroidered image, the artwork of the Complete Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. They are all engraved there, and all the forms and images of this world, MEANING THE SPIRITS OF PEOPLE, are formed and carved and engraved there, all of them similar to THE WAY THEY WERE in this world.

434. גַּן עֵדֶן אִיהוּ בְּאַרְעָא, נָטִיעַ בְּאִינּוּן נְטִיעָן דְּנָטַע לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כד"א וַיִּטַּע יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים גַּן בְּעֵדֶן מִקֶּדֶם, אִיהוּ נָטַע לֵיהּ בִּשְׁמָא שְׁלִים, כְּגַוְונָא עִלָּאָה לְעֵילָּא. וְכָל דִּיוּקְנִין עִלָּאִין כֻּלְּהוּ, מְרֻקְּמָן וּמִתְצַיְירָן בְּהַאי גַּן עֵדֶן דִּלְתַתָּא, וְתַמָּן אִינּוּן כְּרוּבִים. לָאו אִינּוּן גְּלִיפִין בִּגְלִיפוֹי דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא מִדַּהֲבָא אוֹ מִמִּלָּה אַחֲרָא, אֶלָּא כֻּלְּהוּ נְהוֹרִין דִּלְעֵילָּא, גְּלִיפִין וּמִתְצַיְּירִין בְּצִיּוּרָא מְרֻקְּמָא, עוֹבָדֵי יְדֵי אוּמָנָא דִּשְׁמָא שְׁלִים דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ מְחֻקְּקָן תַּמָּן. וְכָל דִּיוּקְנִין וְצִיּוּרִין דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְצַיְּירָן תַּמָּן, וּגְּלִיפָן וּמִתְחַקְקָן תַּמָּן, כֻּלְּהוּ כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא.

Face Garments

435. This place is the abode of the holy spirits, both those who have already come to this world and those that have not yet come to this world, as well as those who are going to come to this world. They are all spirits that are clothed in garments and bodies and faces similar to this world, and they behold there the splendid glory of their Master until they come to this world.

435. וַאֲתָר דָּא אִיהוּ מָדוֹרָא לְרוּחִין קַדִּישִׁין, בֵּין אִינּוּן דְּאָתוּ לְהַאי עָלְמָא, בֵּין אִינּוּן דְּלָא אָתוּ לְהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאִינּוּן דִּזְמִינִין לְמֵיתֵי לְהַאי עָלְמָא. כֻּלְּהוּ רוּחִין מִתְלַבְּשָׁן בִּלְבוּשִׁין וְגּוּפִין וּפַרְצוּפִין כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּמִסְתַּכְּלָן תַּמָּן בְּזִיו יְקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, עַד דְּאַתְיָין לְהַאי עָלְמָא.

Body Dwellings Eden Garments

436. At the time that they go out from there to come to this world, the spirits separate from that body and the garment of the Garden of Eden, and attire themselves in a body and garment of this world. They make their dwelling place in this world, in this garment and body which is from a putrid drop.

436. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנַפְקֵי מִתַּמָּן, לְמֵיתֵי לְהַאי עָלְמָא, מִתְפַּשְּׂטִין אִינּוּן רוּחִין, מֵהַהוּא גּוּפָא וּלְבוּשָׁא דְּתַמָּן, וּמִתְלַבְּשִׁין בְּגוּפָא וּבִלְבוּשָׁא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְעַבְדִין דִּיּוּרֵיהוֹן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, בִּלְבוּשָׁא וְגוּפָא דָּא, דְּאִיהוּ מִטִּפָּה סְרוּחָה.

Angel of Death Angels Body Death Death and the Afterlife Eden Garments

437. When the time comes to go and leave this world, it does not go out until the Angel of Death strips the spirit of this garment. When the body has been stripped from the spirit by the Angel of Death, the spirit goes and becomes attired with the other body that is in the Garden of Eden, which was removed from it when it came into this world. The spirit has no joy except in that body that is there. It rejoices that it was stripped from the body of this world and was clothed in a different garment, which is complete FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN, WHICH IS SIMILAR to this world. It sits in it and observes in order to know the supernal secrets that IT WAS not able to know and view WHEN IT WAS in this world in this body.

437. וְכַד מָטֵי זִמְנֵיהּ לְמֵיהַךְ וּלְנָפְקָא מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, לָא נָפִיק עַד דְּהַאי מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אַפְשִׁיט לֵיהּ לְבוּשָׁא דְּגוּפָא דָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְפָּשַּׁט הַאי גּוּפָא מֵהַהוּא רוּחָא, ע"י דְּהַהוּא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, אַזְלָא וּמִתְלַּבְּשָׁא בְּהַהוּא גּוּפָא אַחֲרָא דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, דְּאִתְפְּשִׁיט כַּד אָתֵי לְהַאי עָלְמָא. וְלֵית חִדוּ לְרוּחָא, בַּר בְּהַהוּא גּוּפָא דְּתַמָּן, וְחַדֵּי עַל דְּאִתְפָּשַּׁט מֵהַאי גּוּפָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְאִתְלָבַּשׁ בִּלְבוּשָׁא אַחֲרָא שְׁלִים, כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּבֵיהּ יָתִיב וְאָזִיל וְאִסְתָּכַּל לְמִנְדַּע בְּרָזִין עִלָּאִין, מַה דְּלָא יָכִיל לְמִנְדַּע וּלְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא בְּגוּפָא דָּא.

Angel of Death Angels Body Death Death and the Afterlife Eden Garments Soul, The

438. When the soul becomes attired with the garment of that world, IT HAS there many delights and delicacies. Who caused the spirit to be attired with this body THAT IS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN? Some say it is the one who removed from it the garments of this world, FOR HE IS THE ANGEL OF DEATH. SO WE SEE THAT THE ANGEL OF DEATH IS VERY GOOD. The Holy One, blessed be He, does kindness by the creatures, for He does not remove from the person THE CLOTHES OF THIS WORLD before He prepares for him other garments more precious and better than these IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

438. וְכַד אִתְלַבְּשַׁת נִשְׁמְתָא בְּהַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא דְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, כַּמָה עִדוּנִין, כַּמָה כִּסוּפִין דִּילָהּ תַּמָּן. מַה גָּרִים לְגוּפָא דָּא, לְאִתְלַבְּשָׁא בֵּיהּ רוּחָא. הֲוֵי אֵימָא הַהוּא דְּאַפְשִׁיט לֵיהּ לְבוּשִׁין אִלֵּין. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד טִיבוּ עִם בִּרְיָין, דְּלָא אַפְשִׁיט לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְבוּשִׁין אִלֵּין, עַד דְּאַתְקִין לֵיהּ לְבוּשִׁין אַחֲרָנִין יַקִּירִין וְטָבִין מֵאִלֵּין.

Fire Gehenom (Hell) Heart Hell (Gehenom) Nakedness Repentance Soul, The Wicked Wickedness

439. Except for those wicked of the world who do not repent with complete repentance to their Master, for naked did they come into this world and naked do they return there. The soul goes in embarrassment of the other SOULS, because it has no clothes at all and it is punished in the terrestrial Gehenom with the fire from above. There are some among them who break through IN GEHENOM AND IMMEDIATELY rise. These are the wicked of the world who contemplated repentance in their hearts, but died before they could repent. These are judged there in Gehenom, and will afterwards break through and rise.

439. בַּר לְאִינּוּן חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא, דְּלָא אָהַדְרוּ בְּתִיּוּבְתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא לְמָארֵיהוֹן, דְּעַרְטִילָאִין אָתוּ לְהַאי עָלְמָא, וְעַרְטִילָאִין יְתוּבוּן תַּמָּן. וְנִשְׁמְתָא אַזְלָא בְּכִסּוּפָא לְגַבֵּי אַחֲרָנִין, דְּלֵית לָהּ לְבוּשִׁין כְּלַל, וְאִתְּדָנַת בְּהַהוּא גֵּיהִנָּם דִּבְאַרְעָא, מִגּוֹ הַהוּא אֶשָּׁא דִּלְעֵילָּא. וְאִית מִנְּהוֹן דִּמְצַפְצְפֵי וְסַלְקֵי, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא, דְחַשְׁבִי בְּלִבַּיְיהוּ תְּשׁוּבָה, וּמִיתוּ, וְלָא יָכִילוּ לְמֶעְבַּד לָהּ. אִלֵּין אִתְדָּנוּ תַּמָּן בְּגֵיהִנָּם, וּלְבָתַר מְצַפְצְפֵי וְסַלְּקִין.

Chambers Gates Gehenom (Hell) Heart Hell (Gehenom) Repentance Soul, The Wicked Wickedness

440. See how great is the mercy of the Holy One, blessed be He, with His creations, for even if one is exceedingly wicked and has contemplated repentance, but died before he could repent, he certainly receives punishment for leaving the world without repentance. But afterwards that desire that he placed in his heart to repent is not absent before the supernal King and the Holy One, blessed be He, prepares a place for that wicked one in the den of the Sheol, from which he breaks through in repentance, because that desire descends before the Holy One, blessed be He, and breaks all the powers of the guards of the gates of the chambers of Gehenom, and reaches that place where the wicked man is. It strikes him, and awakens in him that desire TO REPENT, as he had beforehand, DURING HIS LIFE; then that soul presses to ascend from the chamber of Gehenom.

440. חָמֵי כְּמָה רַחֲמָנוּתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עִם בִּרְיוֹהִי, דַּאֲפִילּוּ דְּאִיהוּ חַיָּיבָא יַתִּיר, וְהִרְהֵר תְּשׁוּבָה, וְלָא יָכִיל לְמֶעְבַּד תְּשׁוּבָה, וּמִית, הַאי בְּוַדַּאי, מְקַבֵּל עוֹנְשָׁא, עַד דְּאָזִיל בְּלָא תְּשׁוּבָה. לְבָתַר הַהוּא רְעוּתָא דְּשַׁוֵּי לְמֶעְבַּד תְּשׁוּבָה, לָא אַעְדִּיאַת מִקַּמֵּי מַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַתְקִין לְהַהוּא חַיָּיבָא דּוּכְתָּא, בְּמָדוֹרָא דִּשְׁאוֹל, וְתַמָּן מְצַפְצְפָא תְּשׁוּבָה. דְּהָא הַהוּא רְעוּתָא נָחִית מִקַּמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְתָבַר כָּל גְּזִּיזִין דְּתַרְעֵי מָדוֹרֵי גֵּיהִנָּם, וּמָטֵי לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּהַהוּא חַיָּיבָא תַּמָּן, וּבָטַשׁ בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְּעַר לֵיהּ הַהוּא רְעוּתָא כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין. וּכְדֵין מְצַפְצְפָא הַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא, לְסַלְּקָא מִגּוֹ מָדוֹרָא דִּשְׁאוֹל.

Evil Idolatry

441. There is no good intention that is lost before the Holy King. Therefore, blessed is he who thinks good thoughts to His Master. Even though he cannot do them, the Holy One, blessed be He, considers his desire as though he actually performed it. This is for good, but the desire for evil, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, DOES NOT CONSIDER AS ACTUALLY DONE, except for thoughts of idol worshipping. And the friends have already established this.

441. וְלֵית רְעוּתָא טָבָא דְּיִתְאֲבִיד מִקַּמֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ מַאן דִּמְהַרְהֵר הִרְהוּרִין טָבִין לְגַבֵּי מָארֵיהּ, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא יָכִיל לְמֶעְבַּד לוֹן, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא סָלִיק לֵיהּ רְעוּתֵיהּ כְּאִילּוּ עָבִיד. דָּא לְטָב. אֲבָל רְעוּתֵיהּ לְבִישׁ, לָא. בַּר הִרְהוּרָא דכו"ם, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא.

Cloud Job Repentance Samuel

442. Those that did not think of repentance descend into the Sheol and do not ascend from there for generations and generations. About them, it is written, "As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away; so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more" (Iyov 7:9). About the former, it is written, "Hashem kills and gives life, He brings down to Sheol and brings up" (I Shmuel 2:6).

442. אִינּוּן דְּלָא הִרְהָרוּ תְּשׁוּבָה, נַחְתֵּי לִשְׁאוֹל, וְלָא סַלְקֵי מִתַּמָּן לְדָרֵי דָּרִין. עָלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, כָּלָּה עָנָן וַיֵּלַךְ כֵּן יוֹרֵד שְׁאוֹל לֹא יַעֲלֶה. עַל קַדְמָאֵי כְּתִיב יְיָ' מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל.

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