Punishment in Gehenom
Rabbi Yehuda begins this discussion by saying that the fire of Gehenom was extinguished until the Evil Inclination appeared, that it burns only with the strength of the heat of the Evil Inclination of the wicked. The text then lists the seven types of wicked people, each of whom has a chamber in Gehenom. An angel rules over that place under the guidance of Dumah, and thousands of angels with him judge the wicked. On the Shabbat, those who observed Shabbat have rest from their punishments, but those who did not observe it continue to burn. Rabbi Yehuda next tells us that the body in the grave is judged until it is decomposed - and this is true for the righteous as well as well as the wicked. Only a very few people are worthy to raise their souls immediately, and these few may therefore be buried in a coffin. He adds that Moses, Aaron and Miriam did not die by the hand of the Destroying Angel, but rather by the hand of God. Those who die in the Holy Land do not die by the hand of the destroyer, but by the hand of the Angel of Mercy. Those who die outside of the Holy Land, we are told, are called 'carcasses', because the Other Side dwells upon them. The rabbi finally explains the four pairs of tenants in Chevron who are not dead, but just sleeping, and are thus hidden in the entrance to the Garden of Eden.
The fires of Hell, we are told, burn only with the strength of the heat of the Evil Inclination of the wicked. The wicked are thus complicit in their own punishment, creating, by their very sins, the fires in which they are burned. Our meditation cools down the hellish fires. And when we pour just a little love into this mixture, the Light of the Zohar extinguishes these fires eternally. The Evil Inclination that dwells in our hearts burns away, meriting us the complete assistance of the Angel of Mercy as we ascend from this world into the next. We ignite a global spiritual transformation, and both Angels, Death and Mercy, are now relieved of their obligations, for bliss becomes our new reality.
443. Rabbi Yehuda said, We have learned that the purpose of the punishments of Gehenom is to judge the wicked there. HE QUESTIONS, Why are they sentenced to the punishment of Gehenom? HE ANSWERS, Gehenom is fire that burns days and nights, just like the wicked who warm themselves with the fire of the Evil Inclination to transgress the words of Torah. For every warmth that they warm themselves with the Evil Inclination, so does the fire of Gehenom burn in them.
443. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, דִּינָא דְּעוֹנְשֵׁי דְּגֵיהִנָּם, הָא אוֹלִיפְנָא, דְּאִיהוּ לְמֵידָן תַּמָּן לְחַיָּיבַיָּא, עַל מָה אִתְדָּנוּ בְּנוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם. אֶלָּא גֵּיהִנָּם אִיהוּ נוּר דָּלִיק יְמָמֵי וְלֵילֵי, כְּגַוְונָא דְּחַיָּיבַיָּא מִתְחַמְמָן בְּנוּרָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, לְמֶעְבַּר עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. בְּכָל חִמוּמָא וְחִמוּמָא דְּאִינּוּן מִתְחַמְּמָן בְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, הָכִי אִתּוֹקַד נוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם.
444. At one time the Evil Inclination was not present in the world, because they put it into a ring of iron in the hole of the great deep. All that time, the fire of Gehenom was extinguished and did not burn at all. When the Evil Inclination returned to its place and the wicked of the world started to warm up by it, the fire of Gehenom also started to burn. The Gehenom burns only with the strength of the heat of the Evil Inclination of the wicked and, with that heat, the fire of Gehenom burns days and nights and is not quiet.
444. זִמְנָא חֲדָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח יֵצֶר הָרָע בְּעָלְמָא, דְּאֲעִילוּ לֵיהּ גּוֹ גּוּשְׁפַּנְקָא דְּפַרְזְלָא, בְּנוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא. וְכָל הַהוּא זִמְנָא, כָּבָה נוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם, וְלָא אִתּוֹקַד כְּלַל. אַהְדָּר יצה"ר לְאַתְרֵיהּ, שָׁארוּ חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא לְאִתְחַמְמָא בֵּיהּ, שָׁאֲרִי נוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם לְאִתּוֹקְדָא, דְּהָא גֵּיהִנָּם לָא אִתּוֹקַד אֶלָּא בְּחֲמִימוּ דְּתּוּקְפָּא דְּיצה"ר דְּחַיָּיבַיָּא. וּבְהַהוּא חֲמִימוּ, נוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם אִתּוֹקַד יְמָמֵי וְלֵילֵי, וְלָא שָׁכִיךְ.
445. There are seven entrances into Gehenom and there are seven chambers there. There are seven types of wicked people, evil, scoundrel, sinner, wicked, destroyer, buffoon, and arrogant. They all have corresponding chambers in Gehenom, each one as proper for him. They give him a chamber in Gehenom according to the level at which the wicked one sinned.
445. שִׁבְעָה פִּתְחִין אִינּוּן לַגֵּיהִנָּם, וְשִׁבְעָה מָדוֹרִין אִינּוּן תַּמָּן. שִׁבְעָה זִינֵי חַיָּיבִין אִינּוּן: רַע. בְּלִיַּעַל. חוֹטֵא. רָשָׁע. מַשְׁחִית. לֵץ. יָהִיר. וְכֻלְּהוּ לָקֳבְלַיְיהוּ אִית מָדוֹרִין לַגֵּיהִנָּם, כָּל חַד וְחַד כַּדְקָא חֲזִי לֵיהּ. וּכְפוּם הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא דְּחָטָא בֵּיהּ הַהוּא חַיָּיבָא, הָכִי יַהֲבִין לֵיהּ מָדוֹרָא בְּגֵיהִנָּם.
446. There is an angel appointed over that place under Dumah in every single chamber. Many thousands and tens of thousands OF ANGELS with him punish the wicked, each one according to what is proper for him in that chamber where he is.
446. וּבְכָל מָדוֹרָא וּמָדוֹרָא, אִית מַלְאָךְ מְמָנָא עַל הַהוּא אֲתָר, תְּחוֹת יְדָא דְּדוּמָה. וְכַמָּה אֲלַף וְרִבּוֹא עִמֵּיהּ, דְּדַיְינִין לוֹן לְחַיָּיבַיָּא, כָּל חַד וְחַד כְּמָה דְּאִתְחָזֵי לֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא מָדוֹרָא דְּאִיהוּ תַּמָּן.
447. The fire of lower Gehenom comes from the fire of upper Gehenom, NAMELY FROM NAHAR DINUR (ENG. 'RIVER OF FIRE'), and comes to the lower Gehenom to burn with the heat produced by the wicked who warm themselves with the Evil Inclination. And all these chambers are burning there.
447. אֶשָּׁא דְּגֵיהִנָּם לְתַתָּא, מָטֵי מִגּוֹ אֶשָּׁא דְּגֵיהִנָּם דִּלְעֵילָּא, וּמָטֵי לְהַאי גֵּיהִנָּם דִּלְתַתָּא, וְאִתּוֹקַד, בְּהַהוּא אִתְּעֲרוּ דְּחֲמִימוּ דְּחַיָּיבַיָּא, דְּקָא מְחַמְמֵי גַּרְמַיְיהוּ גּוֹ יֵצֶר הָרָע, וְכָל אִינּוּן מָדוֹרִין דְּלִיקִין תַּמָּן.
448. There is a place in Gehenom in which the levels are called 'boiling excrement.' There is the filth of those souls that have become soiled by all the filth of this world, and they become cleansed and rise and the filth remains there. These bad levels that are called 'boiling excrement' are appointed over that filth, and the fire of Gehenom dominates over the remaining filth.
448. אֲתָר אִית בְּגֵיהִנָּם, וְדַרְגִּין תַּמָּן דְּאִקְרוּן צוֹאָה רוֹתַחַת, וְתַמָּן אִיהוּ זוּהֲמָא דְּנִשְׁמָתִין, אִינּוּן דְּמִתְלַכְלְכָן מִכָּל זוּהֲמָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וּמִתְלַּבְּנָן וְסַלְּקִין, וְאִשְׁתְּאָרַת הַהוּא זוּהֲמָא תַּמָּן, וְאִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין בִּישִׁין דְּאִתְקְרוּן צוֹאָה רוֹתַחַת, אִתְמָנָן עַל הַהוּא זוּהֲמָא. וְנוֹרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם שַׁלְטָא, בְּהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא דְּאִשְׁתְּאָרַת.
449. There are wicked ones who soil themselves by their sins constantly and are not cleansed of them, who died without repenting and sinned and caused others to sin, were always stiff-necked, and were not broken before their Master in this world. They are judged there with that filth and with that boiling excrement and they remain there forever. All these who destroyed their way on earth and do not care about the honor of the Master in this world are judged there for generations and generations and do not leave from there.
449. וְאִית חַיָּיבִין, אִינּוּן דְּמִתְלַכְלְכָן בְּחוֹבַיְיהוּ תָּדִיר, וְלָא אִתְלַבְּנָן מִנַּיְיהוּ, וּמִיתוּ בְּלֹא תְּשׁוּבָה, וְחָטוּ וְהֶחֱטִיאוּ אַחֲרָנִין, וַהֲווֹ קְשֵׁי קְדַל תָּדִיר, וְלָא אִתְבָּרוּ קָמֵי מָארֵיהוֹן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. אִלֵּין אִתְדָּנוּ תַּמָּן בְּהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא, וּבְהַהִיא צוֹאָה רוֹתַחַת, דְּלָא נָפְקִין מִתַּמָּן לְעָלְמִין. אִינּוּן דִּמְחַבְּלִין אָרְחַיְיהוּ עַל אַרְעָא, וְלָא חַשְׁשׁוּ לִיקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, כָּל אִינּוּן אִתְדָּנוּ תַּמָּן לְדָרֵי דָּרִין, וְלָא נַפְקֵי מִתַּמָּן.
450. On Shabbat, the first day of the month, festivals and holy days, the fire in that place abates and they are not punished. But they do not go out from there like the other wicked ones who have rest. All those who desecrate Shabbat and Festivals and do not care about the honor of their Master at all, to observe them, but rather desecrate them publicly, OPENLY, just as they do not keep Shabbat and Festivals in this world, so they are not kept in that world and have no rest.
450. בְּשַׁבָּתֵי וּבְיַרְחֵי וּבִזְמַנֵּי וּבְחַגֵּי, בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר נוּרָא אִשְׁתְּכַךְ, וְלָא אִתְדָּנוּ, אֲבָל לָא נַפְקֵי מִתַּמָּן, כִּשְׁאַר חַיָּיבִין דְּאִית לְהוּ נַיְיחָא. כָּל אִינּוּן דִּמְחַלְּלֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת וּזְמָנֵי, וְלָא חַיְישֵׁי לִיקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן כְּלַל, בְּגִין לְמֵטָר לוֹן, אֶלָּא מְחַלְּלֵי בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא, כְּמָה דְּאִינּוּן לָא נַטְרֵי שַׁבָּתֵי וּזְמָנֵי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הָכִי נָמֵי לָא נַטְרִין לֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, וְלֵית לוֹן נַיְיחָא.
451. Rabbi Yosi said, Do not speak so. They do observe Shabbat and Festivals there in Gehenom by force, AGAINST THEIR WILL. Rabbi Yehuda said, That refers to idol worshippers, who were not commanded and do not observe Shabbat in this world, but do observe it there by force. BUT WICKED ONES WHO DESECRATE SHABBAT DO NOT HAVE REST THERE.
451. אָמַר ר' יוֹסִי, לָא תֵּימָא הָכִי, אֶלָּא נַטְרֵי שַׁבָּתֵי וּזְמָנֵי תַּמָּן בְּגֵיהִנָּם בְּעַל כָּרְחַיְיהוּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן עכו"ם, דְּלָא אִתְפְּקָדוּ, דְּלָא נַטְרֵי שַׁבָּת בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, נַטְרֵי לֵיהּ תַּמָּן בַּעַל כָּרְחַיְיהוּ.
452. At every commencement of Shabbat when the day is sanctified, announcements are made in all these chambers of Gehenom, Remove the punishments of the wicked, because the Holy King has come and the day is sanctified and He protects everyone. Immediately, the punishments depart and the wicked have rest, but the fire of Gehenom does not depart from those who never keep the Shabbat. All the wicked ones in Gehenom ask about them, Why are these different from all the wicked ones that are here, for they have no rest? The administrators of Judgment answer, They are the wicked ones who denied the Holy One, blessed be He, and they transgressed the whole Torah, because they did not observe the Shabbat IN THIS WORLD. AND ONE WHO DOES NOT OBSERVE THE SHABBAT IS AS THOUGH HE TRANSGRESSES OVER THE WHOLE TORAH; therefore, they never have rest.
452. בְּכָל מַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא כַּד יוֹמָא אִתְקַדָּשׁ, כָרוֹזִין אָזְלִין בְּכָל אִינּוּן מָדוֹרִין דְּגֵיהִנָּם: סְלִיקוּ דִּינָא דְּחַיָּיבַיָּא, דְּהָא מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא אַתְיָא, וְיוֹמָא אִתְקַדָּשׁ, וְאִיהוּ אַגִּין עַל כֹּלָּא. וּמִיַּד דִּינִין אִסְתָּלָקוּ, וְחַיָּיבַיָּא אִית לוֹן נַיְיחָא. אֲבָל נוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם לָא אִשְׁתְּכַּךְ, מֵעָלַיְיהוּ דְּלָא נַטְרֵי שַׁבָּת לְעָלְמִין. וְכָל חַיָּיבֵי גֵּיהִנָּם שָׁאֲלֵי עָלַיְיהוּ, מַאי שְׁנָא אִלֵּין דְּלֵית לוֹן נַיְיחָא, מִכָּל חַיָּיבִין דְּהָכָא. אִינּוּן מָארֵיהוֹן דְּדִינָא תַּיְיבִין לוֹן, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן חַיָּיבִין דְּכָּפְרוּ בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְעָבְרוּ עַל אוֹרַיְיתָא כֻּלָּא, בְּגִין דְּלָא נַטְרוּ שַׁבָּת תַּמָּן, בְּגִין כַּךְ לֵית לְהוּ נַיְיחִין לְעָלְמִין.
453. These wicked ones all go out of their place, and they are given permission to go and see them. One angel, whose name is Santriel, goes and brings out their body, and carries it to Gehenom before the eyes of the wicked ones. They see that it is all wormy and that THEIR soul has no rest in the fire of Gehenom.
453. וְאִינּוּן חַיָּיבִין כֻּלְּהוֹן, נָפְקִין מִדּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְיְיהִיב לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְמֵיהַךְ לְמֵחֱמֵי בְּהוּ. וּמַלְאַךְ חַד דִּי שְׁמֵיהּ סַנְטִרִי"אֵל, אָזִיל וְאַפִּיק לְהַהוּא גּוּפָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְעָיֵיל לֵיהּ לַגֵּיהִנָּם, לְעֵינֵיהוֹן דְּחַיָּיבַיָּא, וְחַמָּן לֵיהּ דְּסַלְּקָא תּוֹלָעִין, וְנִשְׁמְתָא לֵית לָהּ נַיְיחָא בְּנוּרָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם.
454. All these wicked ones who are there surround that body and proclaim about it: This is a certain sinner who did not care about the honor of his Master. He denied the Holy One, blessed be He, and denied the whole Torah. Woe is unto him, better had he not been created. Then, he would not come to this punishment and this shame. This is what is written, "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have rebelled against Me, for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh" (Yeshayah 66:24), for "their worm shall not die," MEANING from the body and "neither shall their fire be quenched," MEANING of the soul. "And they shall be an abhorrence (Heb. deraon)," meaning they shall be Dai Raon, WHICH MEANS that all the wicked ones in Gehenom who are there will say, Enough of this sight (Heb. day reiyah), BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.
454. וְכָל אִינּוּן חַיָּיבַיָּא דְּתַּמָּן, סָחֲרִין לְהַהוּא גּוּפָא, וּמַכְרִיזֵי עָלֵיהּ, דָּא אִיהוּ פְּלַנְיָא חַיָּיבָא, דְּלָא חָיִישׁ לִיקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, כָּפַר בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְכָפַר בְּכָל אוֹרַיְיתָא כֻּלָּא, וַוי לֵיהּ טָב דְּלָא יִתְבְּרֵי, וְלָא יֵיתֵי לְדִינָא דָּא, וּלְכִּסּוּפָא דָּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, וְיָּצְאוּ וְרָאוּ בְּפִגְרֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הַפֹּשְׁעִים בִּי כִּי תוֹלַעְתָּם לֹא תָמוּת וְאִשָּׁם לֹא תִכְבֶּה וְהָיוּ דֵרָאוֹן לְכָל בָּשָׂר. כִּי תוֹלַעְתָּם לֹא תָמוּת, מִן גּוּפָא. וְאִשָּׁם לֹא תִכְבֶּה, מִן נִשְׁמְתָא. וְהָיוּ דֵרָאוֹן לְכָל בָּשָׂר, וְהָיוּ דַּי רָאוֹן, עַד דְּכָל חַיָיבִין דְּגֵיהִנָּם דְּתַּמָּן, יֵימְרוּן, דַּי רְאִיָה דָּא.
455. Rabbi Yosi said, Certainly it is so, for Shabbat is equal to the whole Torah and the Torah is fire. They transgressed the fire of Torah, so the fire of Gehenom burns them and never abates from them.
455. ר' יוֹסִי אָמַר, וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא, בְּגִין דְּשַׁבָּת אִיהוּ לָקֳבֵל אוֹרַיְיתָא כֻּלָּא, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא אִיהִי אֵשׁ, בְּגִין דְּעָבְרוּ עַל אֵשׁ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, הָא אֵשׁ דְּגֵיהִנָּם דָּלִיק, דְּלָא שָׁכִיךְ מֵעָלַיְיהוּ לְעָלְמִין.
456. Rabbi Yehuda said, When the Shabbat departs, that angel, SANTRIEL, comes and returns that body to its grave and they are both punished, this one in his aspect and that one in its aspect. This occurs as long as the body is intact, because once the body is rotten, these punishments no longer apply to it. And of the Holy One, blessed be He, it is written, "Not stirring up all His wrath" (Tehilim 78:38).
456. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, לְבָתַר כַּד נָפִיק שַׁבְּתָא, אָתֵי הַהוּא מַלְאָךְ, וּמְהַדֵר הַהוּא גּוּפָא לְקִבְרֵיהּ, וְאִתְּדָנוּ תַּרְוַויְיהוּ, דָּא לְסִטְרֵיהּ וְדָא לְסִטְרֵיהּ. וְכָל דָּא, בְּעוֹד דְּגוּפָא קַיָּימָא עַל בּוּרְיֵיהּ, דְּהָא כֵּיוָן דְּגוּפָא אִתְאַכָּל, לֵית לֵיהּ לְגוּפָא כָּל אִלֵּין דִּינִין, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לֹא יָעִיר כָּל חֲמָתוֹ כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ.
457. For all the wicked of the world, as long as the body is whole with all of its limbs in the grave, the body and spirit are each punished with the punishment that is proper for it. When the body is decomposed, the Judgment of the spirit is ended and whoever has to leave GEHENOM leaves. Whoever needs rest, has rest, and whoever has to be fire and dust under the feet of the righteous, BECOMES SO. Each and every one receives his due proper for him, AFTER HE IS RELEASED FROM HIS PUNISHMENT IN GEHENOM.
457. כָּל חַיָּיבִין דְּעָלְמָא, בְּעוֹד דְּגוּפָא שְׁלִים בְּכָל שַׁיְיפוֹי גּוֹ קִבְרָא, אִתְדָּנוּ גּוּפָא וְרוּחָא, כָּל חַד דִּינָא כַּדְקָא חֲזִי לֵיהּ. כֵּיוָן דְּגוּפָא אִתְעַכָּל, דִּינָא דְּרוּחָא אִשְׁתְּכַךְ. מַאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְנָפְקָא, נָפִיק. וּמַאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֶהֱוֵי עָלַיְיהוּ נַיְיחָא, אִית לוֹן נַיְיחָא. וּמַאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֶהֱוֵי קִטְמָא וְעַפְרָא תְּחוֹת רַגְלֵי דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא. כָּל חַד וְחַד, כַּדְקָא חֲזִי לֵיהּ, אִתְעָבֵיד לֵיהּ.
458. Therefore, how good it is for both the righteous and wicked that their bodies should cling to earth in order for it to decompose in the dust in a short time, so as not to remain intact a long time, that the body, Nefesh and Ruach may not be punished continuously FOR A LONG TIME. There is no righteous person in the world who does not undergo the punishment of the grave, BECAUSE that angel who is appointed over the graves stands over the body and punishes it every single day. If the righteous have it so, then it is most certainly so for the wicked.
458. וְעַל דָּא, כַּמָה טָב לוֹן, בֵּין לְצַּדִיקֵי, בֵּין לְחַיָּיבֵי, לְמֶהֱוֵי גּוּפָא דִּלְהוֹן דָּבִיק בְּאַרְעָא, וּלְאִתְעַכְּלָא גּוֹ עַפְרָא לִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְלָא לְמֶהֱוֵי בְּקִיּוּמָא כָּל הַהוּא זִמְנָא סַגִּי, בְּגִין לְאִתְדְּנָא גּוּפָא וְנַפְשָׁא וְרוּחָא תָּדִיר. דְּהָא לֵית לָךְ כָּל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק בְּעָלְמָא, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ דִּינָא דְּקִבְרָא. בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא מַלְאָךְ דִּמְמָנָא עַל קִבְרֵי, קָאֵים עַל גּוּפָא, וְדָן לֵיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא. אִם לַצַדִּיקִים כַּךְ, לְחַיָיבִים עאכ"ו.
459. When the body is consumed and decomposes in the dust, the Judgment abates from them all, MEANING FROM BOTH RUACH AND NEFESH, except for those pious pillars of the world WHO DO NOT HAVE THE PUNISHMENT OF THE GRAVE. THEY MAY BE BURIED IN A COFFIN, for they are worthy to raise their souls IMMEDIATELY to the highest place that is proper for them, but they are very few in the world.
459. וּבְזִמְנָא דְּגוּפָא אִתְעַכָּל וְאִתְבְּלֵי בְּעַפְרָא, הָא דִּינָא אִשְׁתְּכַךְ מִכֹּלָּא, בַּר מֵאִינּוּן חֲסִידֵי קַיָימִין דְּעָלְמָא, דְּאִינּוּן אִתְחָזוּן לְסַלְּקָא נִשְׁמָתְהוֹן לְהַהוּא אֲתָר עִלָּאָה דְּאִתְחָזֵי לוֹן, וּזְעִירִין אִינּוּן בְּעָלְמָא.
460. All the deceased in the world die by the hand of the Destroying Angel, except for those who die in the Holy Land. They do not die by his hand, but rather by the hand of the Angel of Mercy who dominates the land.
460. כָּל אִינּוּן מֵתִין דְּעָלְמָא, כֻּלְּהוּ מֵתִין ע"י דְּמַלְאָכָא מְחַבְּלָא, בַּר אִינּוּן דְּמֵתִין בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, לָא מֵתִין עַל יְדוֹי, אֶלָּא ע"י דְּמַלְאָכָא דְּרַחֲמֵי דְּשַׁלִּיט בְּאַרְעָא.
461. Rabbi Yitzchak said, If so, why is it praiseworthy in Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, that is written by them THAT THEY DIED, "By the command (lit. 'mouth') of Hashem" (Bemidbar 33:38; Devarim 34:5)?THIS TEACHES that these do not die by the hand of this Angel Destroyer, yet you say that all those who die in the Land of Yisrael do not die by the hand of this one.
461. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, אִי הָכִי, מַאי שְׁבָחָא אִיהוּ לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, דִּכְתִּיב בְּהוּ ע"פ יְיָ,' דְּאִלֵּין לָא מִיתוּ ע"י דְּהַהוּא מַלְאָךְ מְחַבְּלָא, וְאַת אַמָרְתְּ, דְּכוּלֵי עָלְמָא אִינּוּן דְּמִיתוּ בְּאַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, לָא מֵתִין עַל יְדוֹי דְּדָא.
462. He said to him, Certainly it is so, that the praise of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam was greater than all the people of the world. For they all died outside of the Holy Land and they all died by the hand of that destroyer, except for Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, who died by the hand of the Holy One, blessed be He. Those who die in the Holy Land do not die by the hand of that destroyer, because the Holy Land is not in the domain of any other, but rather in the domain of the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself.
462. אָמַר לֵיהּ, הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי, וּשְׁבָחָא דְּמֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, הֲוָה יַתִּיר מִכָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, דְּאִינּוּן מִיתוּ לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּמֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא מִיתוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ מִיתוּ ע"י דְּהַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא, בַּר אִינּוּן מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, דְּלָא מִיתוּ אֶלָּא ע"י דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אֲבָל אִינּוּן דְּמֵתִין בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, לָא מֵתִין ע"י דְּהַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא, דְּהָא אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא לָא קַיְּימָא בִּרְשׁוּ אַחֲרָא, אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי.
463. Therefore, it is written, "The dead men of Your people shall live, my dead body shall arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust... " (Yeshayah 26:19). "The dead men of Your people shall live" are those who die in the Holy Land who are His dead, OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, and do not die by another, for the Other Side does not dominate there at all. Therefore, it is written, "The dead men of Your people," WHICH MEANS OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. "My dead body (Heb. nevelah) shall arise" is those who died in another foreign land, by the hand of that destroyer.
463. וְע"ד כְּתִיב, יִחְיוּ מֵתֶיךָ נְבֵלָתִי יְקוּמוּן הָקִיצוּ וְרַנְּנוּ שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר וְגוֹ.' יִחְיוּ מֵתֶיךָ, אִלֵּין דְּמֵתִין בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִינּוּן מֵתִין דִּילֵיהּ, וְלָא מֵאַחֲרָא, דְּלָא שַׁלְטָא תַּמָּן סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא כְּלַל, וְע"ד כְּתִיב מֵתֶיךָ. נְבֵלָתִי יְקוּמוּן, אִינּוּן דְּמִיתוּ בְּאַרְעָא נוּכְרָאָה אַחֲרָא, ע"י דְּהַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא.
464. Therefore, they are called 'a carcass (Heb. nevelah),' FOR IT IS SAID ABOUT THEM "MY DEAD BODY SHALL ARISE." As a carcass brings impurity upon its carriers, these that die outside of the Holy Land also bring impurity upon their carriers; therefore, they are carcasses. Any animal improperly slaughtered is called 'a carcass,' because this slaughtering is from the Other Side, since immediately upon disqualification the Other Side dwells upon it, and because it is his own, it is called 'a carcass.' This is what is written, "Naval is his name, and folly (Heb. nevalah) is with him" (I Shmuel 25:25), MEANING THAT A CORPSE IS WITH HIM AND MEANING THAT THE OTHER SIDE DWELLS UPON HIM.
464. וְע"ד אִקְרוּן נְבֵלָה, מַה נְבֵלָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׁא, אוּף אִינּוּן דְּמֵתִין לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, מְטַמְאִין בְּמַשָּׂא. וְע"ד אִינּוּן נְבֵלָה. כָּל שְׁחִיטָה דְּאִיפְסִיל, אִקְרֵי נְבֵילָה, בְּגִין שְׁחִיטָה הָא אִיהִי מִסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא, וּמִיַּד דְּאִיפְסִיל שַׁרְיָא עָלָהּ סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא. וּבְגִין דְּאִיהִי דִּילֵיהּ, וְשַׁרְיָא עָלָהּ אִקְרֵי נְבֵלָה. וְרָזָא דָּא נָבָל הוּא, וְנָבָל שְׁמוֹ וּנְבָלָה עִמּוֹ.
465. Therefore, wherever THE OTHER SIDE dwells, that place is called 'nevelah,' because this Menuval (Eng. 'despicable') dwells only upon a flawed place. Therefore, a slaughtering that has been disqualified is his and is named after him. Therefore, the dead who are outside of the Holy Land under a different domination and upon whom the Other Side dwells are called 'nevelah.'
465. וְע"ד בְּכָל אֲתָר דְּאִיהוּ שַׁרְיָא, אִקְרֵי נְבֵלָה. מְנוּוָל דָּא לָא שַׁרְיָא, אֶלָּא בְּאֲתָר פְּסִילוּ, וְע"ד שְׁחִיטָה דְּאַפְסִיל, הָא דִּילֵיהּ הוּא, וְאִקְרֵי עַל שְׁמֵיהּ. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, מֵתִין דְּאִינּוּן לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, תְּחוֹת רְשׁוּ אַחֲרָא, וְשַׁרְיָא עָלַיְיהוּ סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא, אִקְרוּן נְבֵלָה.
466. "Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust." "You that dwell" MEANS tenants that are sleeping, but not dead, and who are they? They are those who are sleeping in Hebron who are not dead, but just sleeping. Therefore, they are described by 'expiration,' like one who expired but has the strength to awaken. Here also, the four pairs of Hebron are asleep and are not dead, and they all are preserved in their bodies and know hidden concealments more than other people. Their bodies are hidden in the entrance to the Garden of Eden, BECAUSE THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN IS IN THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH. These are those "that dwell in dust." Hence, those whose souls departed in the Holy Land do not depart by the hand of that destroyer, for he does not dominate there, but rather by the hand of an angel of Mercy, as the Holy Land is located in His portion.
466. הָקִיצוּ וְרַנְּנוּ שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר, שׁוֹכְנֵי, דַּיְירִין דְּמִיכִין, וְלָא מֵתִין. וּמַאן אִינּוּן. דְּמִיכִין דְּחֶבְרוֹן, דְּאִינּוּן לָא מֵתִין, אֶלָּא דְּמִיכִין. וְע"ד כְּתִיב בְּהוּ גְּוִיעָה, כְּמַאן דְּגָוַוע, וְאִית בֵּיהּ קִיוּמָא לְאַנְעֲרָא. אוּף הָכִי אִינּוּן ד' זוּגֵי דְּחֶבְרוֹן, דְּמִיכִין אִינּוּן וְלָא מֵתִין, וְכֻלְּהוּ קַיְימוּ בְּקִיוּמַיְיהוּ בְּאִינּוּן גּוּפִין דִּלְהוֹן, וְיַדְעֵי סִתְרִין גְּנִיזִין, יַתִּיר מִשְּׁאָר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. גְּנִיזִין הֲווֹ תַּמָּן גּוֹ פִּתְחָא דְּג"ע אִינּוּן גּוּפִין דִּלְהוֹן, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר. וְע"ד כָּל אִינּוּן דְּנַפְקוּ נִשְׁמָתַיְיהוּ בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, לָא נָפִיק עַל יְדֵי דְּהַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא, וְלָא שַׁלְטָא תַּמָּן, אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי דְּמַלְאָכָא דְּרַחֲמֵי, דְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא קַיְּימָא בְּעַדְבֵיהּ.