Trumah: Chapter 48

"It is a time to act for Hashem"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya are traveling here on the road when Rabbi Chiya states, "It is a time to act for the Creator. They have made void Your Torah," means that as long as people are occupied with Torah then all is well in heaven and earth. If they neglect the Torah, however, His strength wanes, and all the righteous must work even harder to do good in order to re-empower God, along with His camps and legions. At this moment, a mule-driver joins the discussion, surprising the rabbis with his insight. He speaks of "a time to love, and a time to hate," and says that when the children of Yisrael are not occupied with Torah that time itself is imperfect, incomplete and void of Light. Then, "it is a time to act for the Creator." Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya then get off their own mules and walk with the mule-driver.

Relevance

The purpose here is to empower the righteous in their study of Torah, which exponentially multiplies the volume of Light in the world. Our efforts prevent the righteous from further suffering on our behalf as the infinite Light of the Zohar overwhelms the darkness and purifies mankind with untold leniency and loving kindness. Such is the loftiness of the soul of Rabbi Shimon. Moreover, we abolish the hatred (along with its roots) that festers in a man's heart.

Donkeys Torah

536. Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya were traveling on the road and a donkey-driver was driving his donkeys behind them. Rabbi Yosi said to Rabbi Chiya: We should be occupied and endeavoring with words of Torah, because the Holy One, blessed be He, is going before us. Therefore, it is time to adorn Him, so that he WILL be with us on this road.

536. ר' יוֹסִי וְר' חִיָּיא הֲוָה אַזְלֵי בְּאוֹרְחָא, וַהֲוָה חַד טַיְּיעָא טָעִין אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ, א"ר יוֹסִי לְרַ' חִיָּיא, אִית לָן לְאִתְעַסְּקָא וּלְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּמִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָזִיל לְקַמָּן, וְעַל דָּא עִידָּן הוּא, לְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ תִּקּוּנָא בַּהֲדָן בְּהַאי אָרְחָא.

Court Crowns Earth Hands Heaven Samuel Torah Void

537. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying, "It is a time to act for Hashem. They have made void Your Torah" (Tehilim 119:126). The friends have established this verse. "It is a time to act for Hashem" means that, as long as the Torah is existent in the world and people are occupied with it, the Holy One, blessed be He, so to speak rejoices with the works of His hands and rejoices with all the worlds. And heaven and earth remain intact. Moreover, the Holy One, blessed be He, gathers His entire court and says to them, 'See the holy nation that I have on earth, that the Torah is crowned for due to them. See the works of My hands, that you said about them, "What is man, that You are mindful of him?"' (Tehilim 8:5). When they see their Master's joy with His people, they immediately say, "And what one nation in the earth is like Your people, like Yisrael?" (II Shmuel 7:23).

537. פָּתַח רַבִּי חִיָּיא וְאָמַר עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ' הֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ, הַאי קְרָא אִתְּמַר, וְאוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא. אֲבָל עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ,' בְּכָל זִמְנָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא מִתְקַיְּימָא בְּעָלְמָא, וּבְנֵי נָשָׁא מִשְׁתַּדְלָן בָּהּ, כִּבְיָכוֹל, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חַדֵּי בְּעוֹבְדֵי יְדוֹי, וְחַדֵּי בְּעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ, וּשְׁמַיָא וְאַרְעָא קַיְימֵי בְּקִיוּמַיְיהוּ. וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כָּנִישׁ כָּל פָּמַלְיָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְאָמַר לוֹן, חָמוּ עַמָּא קַדִּישָׁא דְּאִית לִי בְּאַרְעָא, דְּאוֹרַיְיתִי מִתְעַטְּרָא בְּגִינֵיהוֹן. חָמוּ עוֹבְדֵי יְדַי, דְּאָתוּן אֲמַרְתּוּן מָה אֱנוֹשׁ כִּי תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ. וְאִינּוּן כַּד חֲמָאן חֶדְוָה דְּמָארֵיהוֹן בְּעַמֵיהּ, מִיָּד פַּתְחֵי וְאַמְרֵי, וּמִי כְעַמְּךָ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ.

Ahab Camp Heaven Righteous Rock Strength Torah Void

538. When the children of Yisrael are neglectful of the Torah, His strength wanes so to speak, as it is written, "Of the Rock that begot you, you are unmindful" (Devarim 32:18). Then it is written, "And all host of heaven standing" AS HE SAID TO THEM, "WHO WILL ENTICE ACHAV... " (II Divrei Hayamim 18:18-19). Therefore, "it is a time to act for Hashem," for these righteous who have remained should gird their loins and do good works, so that the Holy One, blessed be He, should be strengthened through them, by the righteous as well as His camps and legions. What is the reason? "They have made void Your Torah," and people in world are not properly occupied with it.

538. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְבַּטְלֵי מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא, כִּבְיָכוֹ"ל, תָּשַׁשׁ חֵילֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי. וּכְדֵין כְּתִיב, וְכָל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עוֹמְדִים עָלָיו וְעַל דָּא עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ,' אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּאִשְׁתָּאֲרָן, אִית לוֹן לְחַגְרָא חַרְצִין, וּלְמֶעְבַּד עוֹבָדִין דְּכַשְׁרָאן, בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִתְתָּקַף בְּהוּ, בְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, וּמַשְׁרְיָין וְאוֹכְלֹסִין דִּילֵיהּ. מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּהֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ, וְלָא מִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בָּהּ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת.

Donkeys Olive Shechinah Thought Tree

539. The donkey-driver who was driving the donkeys behind them said, I beg of you, I wish to know the answer to one question. Rabbi Yosi said, Surely the way is yet to be traveled before us; ask your question. He said, If this verse were written, 'We should act' or 'Let us act,' then I would recite it likewise; but what is the meaning of, "It is a time" and "to act for Hashem?" It should read, 'Before Hashem.' Rabbi Yosi said, The way is prepared for us in many manners. Once we were two and now we are three, for the Shechinah is included with us. Another is that I thought that you were simply like a dried-out tree, but you are really fresh like an olive tree. Another is that you asked well. Since you started the matter, speak up.

539. הַהוּא טַיְּיעָא דַּהֲוָה טָעִין אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ, אָמַר לוֹן בְּמָטוּ מִנַּיְיכוּ, שְׁאֶלְתָּא חֲדָא בָּעֵינָא לְמִנְדַּע. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסִי, וַדַּאי אָרְחָא מִתְתַּקְנָא קָמָּן, שָׁאִיל שְׁאֶלְתָּךְ. אָמַר, הַאי קְרָא, אִי כְּתִיב יֵשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת, אוֹ נַעֲשֶׂה, הֲוָה אֲמֵינָא הָכִי. מַאי עֵת. וְתוּ, לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ,' לִפְנֵי יְיָ' אִצְטְרִיךְ, מַאי לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ.' אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסִי, בְּכַמָּה גַּוְונִין אָרְחָא מִתְתַּקְנָא קָמָּן. חַד, דַּהֲוֵינָן תְּרֵין, וְהַשְּׁתָּא הָא אֲנָן תְּלָתָא, וּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִתְכְּלִילַת בַּהֲדָן. וְחַד דַּחֲשִׁיבְנָא דְּלָא הֲוֵית אֶלָּא כְּאִילָנָא יַבֶּשְׁתָּא, וְאַנְתְּ רַעֲנָנָא כְּזֵיתָא. וְחַד, דְּיֵאוֹת שָׁאַלְתָּ, וְהוֹאִיל וְשָׁרִית מִלָּה, אֵימָא.

Faith Hatred Love Torah Void

540. He opened the discussion saying, "It is a time to act for Hashem. They have made void your Torah." "A time to act for Hashem" MEANS that there is a time and there is a time, "A time to love, and a time to hate" (Kohelet 3:8). 'Time' refers to above, for time is the secret of Faith; NAMELY, MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'TIME.' It is called 'a time of goodwill,' which means that a person is obliged to love Hashem always, as it is written, "And you shall love Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 6:5). And therefore, "a time to love" is the time that the person is obliged to love.

540. פָּתַח וְאָמַר עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ' הֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ. עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ,' אִית עֵת. וְאִית עֵת. עֵת לֶאֱהֹב וְעֵת לִשְׂנֹא. עֵת אִיהוּ לְעֵילָּא. דְּהַהוּא עֵת, רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא אִיהוּ. וְדָא אִקְרֵי עֵת רָצוֹן, וְהַאי אִיהוּ דְּאִתְחַיָּיב בַּר נָשׁ לְמִרְחַם לַיְיָ' תָּדִיר, כד"א וְאָהַבְתָּ אֶת יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְע"ד, עֵת לֶאֱהֹב, דָּא אִיהוּ עֵת דְּאִתְחַיָּיב בַּר נָשׁ לֶאֱהֹב.

Aaron Hatred Heart

541. There is another time, which is the secret of other Elohim when the person is obliged to hate, and his heart should not be drawn after it. Therefore, there is "a time to hate" as it is written, "Speak to Aaron your brother, that he come not at all times (lit. 'time') into the Holy Place" (Vayikra 16:2).

541. וְאִית עֵת אָחֳרָא, דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דֶּאֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, וְאִתְחַיָיב בַּר נָשׁ לְמִשְׂנָא לֵיהּ, וְלָא יִתְמְשַׁךְ לִבֵּיהּ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, וְע"ד עֵת לִשְׂנֹא, וּבְגִין כַּךְ כְּתִיב דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ וְאַל יָבֹא בְכָל עֵת אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ.

Faith Light Torah

542. When the children of Yisrael are occupied with Torah and with the commandments of the Torah, that time, which is the secret of the holy Faith, NAMELY MALCHUT, is well established and is adorned to perfection as proper. But during the time the children of Yisrael are not occupied with Torah, so to speak, that time is not in its perfection, and is not complete and without light. Then "it is a time to act for Hashem."

542. בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּפִקוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, הַהוּא עֵת רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא, מִתַּתְקְנָא בְּתִקּוּנָהָא, וּמִתְקַשְּׁטָא בִּשְׁלֵימוּתָא, כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. וּבְזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְבַּטְלֵי מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא, כִּבְיָכוֹל הַהוּא עֵת, לָאו אִיהוּ בְּתִקּוּנָהָא, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּכַחַת בִּשְׁלִימוּ, וְלָא בִּנְהוֹרָא וּכְדֵין עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ.'

Creation Demons Torah Void

543. HE QUESTIONS, What is the meaning of "to act" IN "A TIME TO ACT FOR HASHEM?" HE ANSWERS, It is written, "Which Elohim created and performed (lit. 'to act')" (Beresheet 2:3). What is there to act? It means that there remained the bodies of the demons that were not made, because the day had become sanctified and they remained yet to be done, for they were spirits without bodies. Here also, "a time to act:" The time remained without perfection and without completion, for what reason? Because "they have made void Your Torah" and the children of Yisrael below neglected the words of Torah. That time is either elevated or it is lowered because of the children of Yisrael. IF THEY ARE OCCUPIED WITH TORAH IT IS ELEVATED, BUT IF THEY ARE IDLED FROM TORAH IT DESCENDS.

543. מַאי לַעֲשׂוֹת. כד"א אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת. מַאי לַעֲשׂוֹת. דְּאִשְׁתָּאָרוּ גּוּפֵי דְּשֵׁידֵי, דְּאִתְקַדָּשׁ יוֹמָא, וְלָא אִתְעָבֵידוּ, וְאִשְׁתָּאָרוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת, רוּחִין בְּלָא גּוּפֵי. אוּף הָכָא עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת, אִשְׁתְּאַר בְּלָא תִּקּוּנָא, וּבְלָא שְׁלִימוּ. מ"ט. מִשּׁוּם דְּהֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ, בְּגִין דְּאִתְבָּטְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא מִפִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא עֵת, הָכִי קַיְּימָא, אוֹ סַלְּקָא, אוֹ נַחְתָּא, בְּגִינֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.

Donkeys Head Mountains Wisdom

544. Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya came and kissed him on his head. Rabbi Yosi said, Certainly, it is not according to your honor to lead donkeys behind us. Blessed is this way, where we merited to hear this. Blessed is the generation in which Rabbi Shimon lives, for even among the mountains there is Wisdom. Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya alighted from their donkeys and the three walked on their way.

544. אָתוּ ר' יוֹסִי וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא וּנְשָׁקוּהוּ בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ. אָמַר ר' יוֹסִי, וַדַּאי לֵית אַנְתְּ כְּדַאי, לְטַיְיעָא אֲבַתְרָן. זַכָּאָה אָרְחָא דָּא, דְּזָכֵינָן לְמִשְׁמַע דָּא, זַכָּאָה דָּרָא דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן שָׁארִי בְּגַוֵּיהּ, דַּאֲפִילּוּ בֵּינֵי טוּרַיָא, חָכְמְתָא אִשְׁתְּכַחַת תַּמָּן. נָחְתוּ רַבִּי יוֹסִי וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא, וְאָזְלוּ תְּלָתְהוֹן בְּאָרְחָא.

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