Sh'ma Yisrael

Synopsis

Here, Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi are again traveling on the road. Rabbi Yosi opens a discussion with the words of the reading of Sh'ma: "Hear O Yisrael, the Creator our Elohim, the Creator is One," and, "Hear O Yisrael; this day you are become the people," and, "Hear O Yisrael, you are to pass over the Jordan this day." He then asks why the word "Hear" is used so many times, and says the union of Shem (name) with Ayin (seventy) is necessary. He next speaks of the seventy Names in the secret of the supernal chariot, the 72 Names of the three verses, the seventy members of the Sanhedrin plus the two witnesses. Sh'ma Yisrael, we learn, alludes to Malchut (that is called Shem) when he unites with Zeir Anpin (which is called Yisrael). Next, Rabbi Yosi tells us that "this day you are become a people" means that you broke your heart in order to serve God. The "Hear O Yisrael" of the union is, we learn, the secret of above and below, the secret of people accepting upon themselves the yoke of the heavenly kingdom, Malchut. At this moment of acceptance the Shechinah comes and rests on the person's head and bears him witness before God. Because the person recites and unites the Name of the Holy One, the Shechinah blesses him with seven blessings, and calls to him, "You are my servant, Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified."

Relevance

Two great sages traveling upon a road indicates the journey of their souls through celestial corridors in the upper world, where they behold secrets of the universe. One secret collected on this excursion concerns the sh'ma, which essentially conjoins our world (and our souls) with the upper world. The purpose of this revelation is to unify the two worlds, and this effect is achieved now.

The sh'ma emits a Light of healing, a divine radiance that nourishes 248 parts of our spiritual and physical bodies. Thus, in the act of meditatively perusing this passage, we receive Light that heals all our physical ailments and the spiritual nutrients that forever strengthen our soul. The sages speak of the 72 Names of God so that we may draw upon their miraculous power to achieve our personal transformations. This miraculous change touches all mankind to facilitate the unification of the lower world with the upper. The Shechinah is spoken of so that we may permanently fortify our immune system and forever shield this world from the dark forces of the night.

Moses Sh'ma Yisrael Torah

623. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were traveling on the road. While they were still traveling, Rabbi Yosi said, Let us start with delicacies and let us say words of Torah. Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the words of the reading of Sh'ma and said, It is written, "Hear O Yisrael, Hashem our Elohim, Hashem is One" (Devarim 6:4), "hearken, O Yisrael; this day you are become the people" (Devarim 27:9), and "Hear O Yisrael, you are to pass over the Jordan this day" (Devarim 9:1). What is the need for all these 'Hear's' that Moses said. "Hear O Yisrael, Hashem our Elohim, Hashem is One" is meant for union and is good, but why the other ones?

623. רַבִּי חִיָּיא וְרַבִּי יוֹסִי הֲווֹ אַזְלֵי בְּאָרְחָא, עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי א"ר יוֹסִי, נִפְתַּח בְּעִידּוּנִין, וְנֵימָא מִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. פָּתַח ר' יוֹסִי בְּמִלֵּי דִּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וְאָמַר, כְּתִיב שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ' אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְיָ' אֶחָד. וּכְתִיב שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם. וּכְתִיב שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתָּה עוֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן. כָּל הָנֵי שְׁמַע שְׁמַע דְּקָאָמַר מֹשֶׁה אֲמַאי. דְּהָא שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיִחוּדָא יֵאוֹת. הָנֵי אַחֲרָנִין אֲמַאי.

Hebrew Letters Seventy Sh'ma Yisrael Unity Zeir Anpin

624. HE ANSWERS, They all should be interpreted. The "Hear (Heb. Sh'ma) O Yisrael" of the union should certainly be interpreted, for here it alludes to and reflects the union of the Supernal Chochmah. In Sh'ma (Shin-Mem-Ayin), the Ayin is of the large letters, for it refers to an inclusion that includes what is above and below in one unity. Because Sh'ma IS COMPOSED OF THE LETTERS OF shem (Eng. 'Name') and Ayin. For here this name, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'NAME,' is comprised in the seventy (=Ayin) supernal Names OF ZEIR ANPIN, in order to combine them. For the name, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is blessed by them and is become a part of them. They have to be combined as one, MEANING IN ONE WORD SH'MA, in one unity, and one has to pay attention in them.

624. אֶלָּא כֻּלְּהוּ לִדְּרָשָׁא קָאֲתוּ, שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיִחוּדָא וַדַּאי הַאי לִדְּרָשָׁא קָא אַתְיָא, וְהָכָא רָמִיז וְאִתְחַזֵּי יִחוּדָא דְּחָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה. שְׁמַע, ע' מֵאַתְוָון רַבְרְבָן אִיהִי, אֲמַאי. אֶלָּא רֶמֶז קָא רָמִיז בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא, לְאַכְלְלָא עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא כַּחֲדָא בְּיִחוּדָא חֲדָא, שְׁמַע: שֵׁם ע.' הָכָא אִתְכְּלִיל הַאי שֵׁם בְּאִינּוּן ע' שְׁמָהָן עִלָּאִין, לְאַכְלְלָא לוֹן, דְּהָא שֵׁם אִתְבָּרְכָא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְכְּלִיל בְּהוּ. וְאִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַכְלְלָא לוֹן כַּחֲדָא בְּיִחוּדָא חַד, וּלְשַׁוָּאָה רְעוּתֵיהּ בְּהוּ.

Aba and Ima Chariot Sanhedrin Seventy Seventy-Two Sh'ma Yisrael Unity Witnesses Women Yisrael Saba Zeir Anpin

625. Certainly the seventy Names are in the secret of the supernal Chariot, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN OF THE CHEST AND ABOVE, WHICH ARE A VEHICLE FOR BINAH, NAMELY 72 NAMES OF THE THREE VERSES, "AND... REMOVED... AND IT CAME... AND ... STRETCHED OUT" (SHEMOT 14:19-21). THIS IS THE SECRET OF SEVENTY (THE HEBREW LETTER AYIN) MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN PLUS THE TWO WITNESSES. And this Name is blessed by that supernal Chariot, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and becomes a part of them. Afterwards, AFTER THE WORD SH'MA, the word Yisrael without attributes is recited, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN. Yet we have learned it is Yisrael Saba, MEANING that Yisrael, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, should be in one unity with that place to which everyone is attached. ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS CALLED 'YISRAEL' IN GENERAL, SHOULD BE ATTACHED WITH YISRAEL SABA, MEANING THAT HE ASCENDS AND BECOMES A GARMENT TO IT. Hence "Sh'ma Yisrael," WHICH ALLUDES that now the wife cleaves with her husband; NAMELY, MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'SHEM' WITH ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED 'YISRAEL.' Everything is in one inclusion, and this is THE MEANING OF "Sh'ma Yisrael" of the union. Afterwards, the three sides unite, which are, "Hashem our Elohim, Hashem is One," WHICH ARE ABA AND IMA AND ZEIR ANPIN, so that all becomes one.

625. דְּהָא וַדַּאי ע' שְׁמָהָן אִינּוּן בְּרָזָא דִּרְתִּיכָא עִלָּאָה, וּמֵהַאי רְתִיכָא עִלָּאָה, אִתְבָּרְכָא הַאי שֵׁם, וְאִתְכְּלִיל בְּגַוַויְיהוּ, וּלְבָתַר יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְלָל. אֲבָל הָא תָּנֵינָן, דָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל סָבָא, לְמֶהֱוֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא, הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּבֵקוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא. וְעַל דָּא שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַשְׁתָּא אִתְדָּבָקַת אִתְּתָא בְּבַעְלָהּ, וַהֲוֵי כֹּלָּא בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא, וְדָא שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיִחוּדָא. לְבָתַר קָא מְיַחֵד תְּלַת סִטְרִין, יְיָ' אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְיָ' אֶחָד, לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָּא חַד.

Grades

626. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּכֻלְּהוּ שְׁאַר, לָאו אִינּוּן כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא, אֲבָל כֻּלְּהוּ אַחֲרָנִין לִדְּרָשָׁא קָאֲתוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ בְּאֲתָר אַחֲרָא אִתְדָּבָקוּ, שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתָּה עֹבֵר הַיּוֹם. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם. וְכֻלְּהוּ בְּדַרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה אִתְדָּבָקוּ.

Daniel David Heart

627. "Hearken, O Yisrael; this day you are become the people," HE QUESTIONS, "Hearken, O Yisrael" is well and good, but "this day have you are become the people," what is ITS MEANING? It should have said, 'You were,' so what is the meaning of "are become?" HE ANSWERS, Every place that 'people' is mentioned, it alludes to the fact that these hearts were broken to the service OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. THEREFORE, IT IS SAID, "YOU ARE BECOME (HEB. NIHYETAH)," as it is written, "I fainted (Heb. nihyeti) and was sick" (Daniel 8:27). This is the meaning of, "Hear me, My brethren, and My people" (I Divrei Hayamim 28:2). HE QUESTIONS, If it is "My brethren," why did it say "My people?" And if "My people," then why "My brethren?" HE ANSWERS, But David said, 'If you will do it willingely, you are My brethren,' but if not, then you are 'My people,' that must break your hearts in My service.' Thus, "this day have you become a people" (Devarim 27:9), MEANING that you broke your heart so as to serve the Holy One, blessed be He.

627. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם, שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵאוֹת. הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם מַהוּ. הָיִיתָ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי נִהְיֵיתָ. אֶלָּא בְּכָל אֲתָר עָם, כַּד אִתְבָּרוּ לִבַּיְיהוּ לְפֻלְחָנָא, כד"א נִהְיֵיתִי וְנֶחֱלֵתִי. וְדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, שְׁמָעוּנִי אַחַי וְעַמִּי. אִי אַחַי, לָמָּה עַמִּי, וְאִי עַמִּי, לָמָּה אַחַי. אֶלָּא אָמַר דָּוִד, אִי בִּרְעוּתָא אַתּוּן אַחַי, וְאִי לָאו אַתּוּן עַמִּי, לְתַּבְרָא לִבַּיְיכוּ לְפוּלְחָנִי. כַּךְ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָ לְעַם, תָּבַרְתְּ לִבְּךָ לְפֻלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Grades Unity Yisrael Saba Zeir Anpin

628. "Hear O Yisrael, you are to pass over the Jordan this day." It is all in the lower level, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And "Hear O Yisrael" of the union is the upper level, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS INCLUDED IN YISRAEL SABA, AS MENTIONED ABOVE. What is the difference between them? In "Hear O Yisrael" of the union, not all of them have it in this manner, because it is the secret of above, OF YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, and of below, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT. It is the secret of accepting upon themselves the yoke of the Heavenly Kingdom in anything. The person has to be ready at that time to declare the unity of the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, ZEIR ANPIN, and to accept upon himself the yoke of the Heavenly Kingdom, WHICH IS MALCHUT.

628. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתָּה עוֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן, כֹּלָּא בְּדַרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, אִיהוּ, וְשָׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיִחוּדָא הוּא דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה. מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי. אֶלָּא הַהוּא שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיִחוּדָא, לָא הֲוֵי בְּכֻלְּהוּ כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא, דְּהָא אִיהוּ הֲוֵי רָזָא דְּעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא. וְאִיהוּ רָזָא לְקַבְּלָא עָלַיְיהוּ עוֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, בְּכָל סִטְרָא, בְּגִין דְּיִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, לְמֶהֱוֵי זַמִּין בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, לְיַחֲדָא שְׁמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְקַבְּלָא עָלֵיהּ עוֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם.

Aba and Ima Echad (One) Head Hebrew Letters One (Echad) Shechinah Sh'ma Yisrael Unity Zeir Anpin

629. At the moment that the person comes to accept upon himself the yoke of the Heavenly Kingdom, then the Shechinah comes and rests on his head and stands over him as a witness. She bears witness before the Holy King that this one unites His name twice daily and His name is united above and below properly. Therefore, the Ayin of 'Sh'ma Yisrael' is of the large letters and the Dalet OF ECHAD (ENG. 'ONE'), is also of the large letters, WHICH ARE THE LETTERS AYIN-DALET (ED, ENG 'WITNESS'), MEANING to be a witness before the Holy King. We have already established that "Hashem our Elohim, Hashem" is the secret of the union on three sides, NAMELY, ABA, IMA, AND ZEIR ANPIN, and this is the secret of the unity in three sides, as the holy luminary has established and has asserted it in many places. We have no permission to assert it any more.

629. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְקַבְּלָא עָלֵיהּ עוֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, כְּדֵין שְׁכִינְתָּא אַתְיָא וְשַׁרְיָא עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, וְקָאֵים עָלֵיהּ כְּסָהִיד, לְסָהֲדָא סַהֲדוּתָא קָמֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּהַאי אִיהוּ דְּקָא מְיַחָד שְׁמֵיהּ תְּרֵי זִמְנֵי בְּיוֹמָא, וּשְׁמֵיהּ אִתְיָחָד עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. וְעַל דָּא ע' מִשְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַתְוָון רַבְרְבָן, וְד' נָמֵי מֵאַתְוָון רַבְרְבָן, לְמֶהֱוֵי עֵד קָמֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, יְדֹוָ"ד אֱלֹֹהֵינוּ יְדֹוָ"ד, וְדָא הוּא רָזָא דְּיִחוּדָא בִּתְלַת סִטְרִין, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִמֵיהּ בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאִתְּעַר בֵּיהּ בְּכַמָּה דּוּכְתֵּי, וְלֵית לָן רְשׁוּ לְאַתְעֲרָא בֵּיהּ יַתִּיר.

Blessing Head Seven Shechinah

630. וַדַּאי הַאי בַּר נָשׁ, דְּקָא מְיַחֵד שְׁמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת, שְׁכִינְתָּא אַתְיָא וְשַׁרְיָא עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, וּמְבָרֵךְ לֵיהּ בִּשְׁבַע בִּרְכָּאן, וְקָרֵי עָלֵיהּ, וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר.