The seven blessings of the bride
The young husband tells us here of the marriage canopy for the Bride, and the marriage canopy for the Other Bride, the Shechinah. He speaks about the Seven Blessings that elevate the bride of below and the Bride of Above. Ten kinds of joy are combined, joy, happiness, groom, bride, gladness, jubilation, cheer, love and delight, peace and friendship, so the Bride is the perfection of everything. The rabbis place the youth at their head, and with great happiness they tell Rabbi Shimon everything about him. Rabbi Shimon relates how he blessed the young man's father, Rabbi Safra, that he would have a son who would excel at Torah, but the father died before he could see it.
The union of soul mates, of male and female, of the upper and lower worlds, is the ultimate objective of our existence. Thus, if we are single (a half of one soul), the blessings arising from this text direct us to our true soul mate (the other half of our soul). If we are married, our relationship is divinely enriched, placing our marriage upon a foundation of spirituality. All of this Light, at last, causes the upper and lower worlds to join together in spiritual wedlock, their ultimate and eternal unification bringing joy, happiness, and jubilation to all mankind.
788. The YOUTH, MEANING THE HUSBAND, opened the discussion saying, "And you shall make boards for the Tabernacle of acacia wood standing up" (Shemot 26:15). It says here "standing up" and elsewhere "Seraphim stood above" (Yeshayah 6:2). Just as there are Seraphim there, so also THE BOARDS here ARE THE SECRET OF Seraphim. These SERAPHIM THAT ARE CALLED 'boards' stand as implements of the Bride, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, around the Chupah (Eng. 'marriage canopy'), WHICH IS THE COVER THAT IS ABOVE THE BOARDS, so that the Supernal Spirit shall dwell upon that canopy, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN. Ii is the same way with the bride below, as it is necessary to prepare a canopy as a cover in beautiful ornaments in honor of the other Bride, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH, that comes to dwell there in joy upon the lower bride.
788. פָּתַח אִיהוּ עַל פָּתוֹרָא וְאָמַר, וְעָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַקְּרָשִׁים לַמִּשְׁכָּן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים עוֹמְדִים. כְּתִיב הָכָא עוֹמְדִים. וּכְתִיב הָתָם שְׂרָפִים עוֹמְדִים. מַה לְּהַלָּן שְׂרָפִים, אוּף הָכָא נָמֵי שְׂרָפִים. אִלֵּין קְרָשִׁים קַיְימָן בְּתִקּוּנֵי דְּכַלָּה, וְסָחֲרָן סָחֲרָנָא דְּחוּפָּה, לְמִשְׁרֵי בְּהַהִיא חוּפָּה רוּחַ עִלָּאָה, כְּגַוְונָא דָּא כַּלָּה לְתַתָּא, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְתַקְּנָא חוּפָּה לְחוּפָאָה בְּתִקִינוֹ שָׁפִירוּ, לִיקָרָא דְּכַלָּה אַחֲרָא, דְּאַתְיָא לְמִשְׁרֵי תַּמָּן בְּחֶדְוָה, לְכַלָּה תַּתָּאָה.
789. In honor of the supernal Bride, we should to make a beautiful canopy with beautiful decorations to invite the supernal Bride, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, to this canopy. Just as in every Covenant of circumcision below, we should to decorate a beautiful second chair for he who is zealous for the sign of the Covenant who comes there, NAMELY ELIYAHU, similarly here, we should to have beautiful decorations to cover the canopy, in honor of a Bride, THAT IS THE SHECHINAH.
789. וּבְגִין יְקָרָא דְּהַהִיא כַּלָּה עִלָּאָה, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֶעְבַּד חוּפָּאָה דִּשְׁפִּירוּ, בְּכָל תִּקּוּנֵי דִּשְׁפִּירוּ, לְזִמְנָא לְכַלָּה עִלָּאָה, לְהַהִיא חֶדְוָה. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא בְּכָל גְּזִירוּ דִּבְרִית לְתַתָּא, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַתְקְנָא כִּסֵּא אַחֲרָא בִּשְׁפִירוּ, לְמָארֵי קִנְאָה דִּבְרִית קַיָּימָא דְּאָתֵי תַּמָּן. אוּף הָכָא בְּכָל חוּפָּה, אִצְטְרִיךְ תִּקּוּנֵי שְׁפִירוּ, לְחוּפָאָה לְחוּפָּה לִיקָרָא דְּכַלָּה סְתָם.
790. This one, THE BRIDE BELOW, is similar to that one, THE BRIDE ABOVE, and the one OF BELOW is elevated with Seven Blessings, while the other OF ABOVE is elevated with Seven Blessings. Therefore, it is prohibited to cohabit with her until she has been included with these Seven Blessings, as is with the one of above.
790. דְּהָא דָּא, כְּגַוְונָא דְּדָא קַיְּימָא. דָּא סַלְּקָא בְּשֶׁבַע בִּרְכָאן, וְדָא סַלְּקָא בְּשֶׁבַע בִּרְכָאן. וְכַד סַלְּקָא בְּשֶׁבַע בִּרְכָאן כְּדֵין אִקְרֵי כַּלָּה. וְעַל דָּא אָסִיר לְשַׁמְּשָׁא בָּהּ עַד דְּאִתְכְּלִילַת בְּאִינּוּן שֶׁבַע בִּרְכָאן, כְּגַוְונָא עִלָּאָה.
791. The Bride, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, inherits these Seven Blessings from the Supernal Spirit, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, the place from where all the blessings are drawn. HE QUESTIONS, There are six blessings, NAMELY CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, that the Bride is blessed with, yet you say there are seven. HE ANSWERS, The seventh one establishes them all, FOR THE SEVENTH BLESSING CORRESPONDS TO BINAH.
791. אִינּוּן שֶׁבַע בִּרְכָאן, יָרְתָא כַּלָּה, מֵרוּחָא עִלָּאָה, אֲתָר דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן נַגְדִּין מִתַּמָּן. שִׁית בִּרְכָאן אִינּוּן דְּכַלָּה אִתְבָּרְכָא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְאַתְּ אַמָרְתְּ דְּאִינּוּן שֶׁבַע. אֶלָּא שְׁבִיעָאָה אִיהוּ דְּקָא מְקַיֵּים כֹּלָּא.
792. HE QUESTIONS, Why are most blessings recited over wine? HE ANSWERS, WINE is the aspect that causes everyone to rejoice, the wine that is always kept in its grapes. Therefore, the first blessing of those seven BLESSINGS is the secret of wine, NAMELY 'WHO CREATES THE FRUIT OF THE VINE (HEB. BORE PRI HAGEFEN),' because wine produces fruits both above IN BINAH and below IN MALCHUT. The vine, WHICH IS MALCHUT, receives everything and brings forth fruits to the world, FOR AFTER RECEIVING THE ASPECT OF WINE, MALCHUT IS NAMED LOWER CHOCHMAH. AND BEFORE SHE RECEIVES CHOCHMAH, SHE IS NOT ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH. The arousing of joy, MEANING THE BEGINNING OF THE UNION OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, is the left, as it is written, "His left hand is under my head" (Shir Hashirim 2:6) and afterwards, "And His right hand embraces me" (Ibid.) That Tree of Life, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, produces fruits and plants with this arousal OF THE LEFT, BECAUSE BEFORE IT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH FROM THE LEFT OF BINAH, IT CANNOT BEGET. Therefore, it is the first blessing of them all.
792. רוּבָּא דְּבִרְכָּאָן עַל הַיַּיִן אֲמַאי. אֶלָּא דְּאִיהוּ סִטְרָא דְּחַדֵּי לְכֹלָּא, עַל הַהוּא יַיִן דְּאִתְנְטִיר בָּעֲנָבוֹי תָּדִיר. וּבְגִין כַּךְ בְּרָכָה קַדְמָאָה דְּאִינּוּן שֶׁבַע, אִיהוּ רָזָא יַיִן. עָבִיד פְּרִי בֵּין לְעֵילָּא בֵּין לְתַתָּא. גֶּפֶן נָטִיל כֹּלָּא, וְאַפִּיק אִיבָּא לְעָלְמָא, וְאַתְּעֲרוּ דְּחֶדְוָה שְׂמָאלָא אִיהוּ, דִּכְתִּיב שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי וּלְבָתַר וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי. וְהַהוּא אִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי עָבִיד פֵּירִין וְאֵיבִין בְּאִתְעָרוּתָא דָּא, וְדָא אִיהִי בְּרָכָה קַדְמָאָה דְּכֹלָּא.
793. The second blessing is, 'That He has created everything (all) for His honor.' This is the secret of the Holy Covenant, NAMELY YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED 'ALL.' This is the joy of the union that receives all the blessings from the secret of the right, THAT IS CHESED, to produce fruits by that vine, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'HIS HONOR.' That fruit first descends from above, FROM BINAH, through the limbs, WHICH ARE THE SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN, and is drawn to the Holy Covenant, WHICH IS YESOD, to be drawn to that vine, WHICH IS MALCHUT. This is from the right side, WHICH IS CHESED, because fruits are to be found only on the right. The left arouses THE BEARING OF THE FRUITS and the right produces THE FRUITS. FRUITS REFER TO THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
793. תִּנְיָינָא שֶׁהַכֹּל בָּרָא לִכְבוֹדוֹ, רָזָא דִּבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא, חֶדְוָה דְּחִבּוּרָא, דְּנָטִיל כָּל בִּרְכָאן מֵרָזָא דִּימִינָא, לְמֶעְבַּד אֵיבִין בְּהַהוּא גֶּפֶן, דְּהָא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא הַהוּא פְּרִי נָחִית מִלְּעֵילָּא, אֹרַח שַׁיְיפִין, וְנָגִיד לִבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא, לְנַגְדָּא לֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא גֶּפֶן, וְדָא מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, דְּהָא לֵית אִיבָּא מִשְׁתַּכְחָא אֶלָּא בִּימִינָא. שְׂמָאלָא אִתְעַר וִימִינָא עָבִיד.
794. Afterwards, the left is included in the right and the right in the left in order to become the secret of man, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN, TIFERET. Therefore, the third BLESSING is 'the Creator of Man.' Jacob, who is the Central pillar, was the image of Adam (man), FOR THE IMAGE OF ADAM POINTS TOWARD THE CENTRAL COLUMN, AS RIGHT AND LEFT ARE COMBINED IN HIM.
794. לְבָתַר כָּלִיל שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא, וִימִינָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, לְמֶהֱוֵי רָזָא דְּאָדָם. וּבְגִין כַּךְ תְּלִיתָאָה אִיהוּ יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם. וְע"ד יַעֲקֹב, דְּאִיהוּ עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא, דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּאָדָם הֲוָה.
795. The fourth BLESSING, NAMELY 'WHO CREATED,' is one pillar of the right thigh, NAMELY THE SFIRAH OF NETZACH. The fifth blessing is, 'May the barren one (Heb. akarah) rejoice,' NAMELY the mistress (Heb. akarah) of the house, MALCHUT, and be happy at the ingathering of her children from the four winds of the world. This is the secret of the other thigh, WHICH IS NETZACH, that joined in the left thigh, WHICH IS HOD, to go to all sides, gather the children and bring them between the knees, WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD.
795. רְבִיעָאָה, אִיהוּ עַמּוּדָא חֲדָא, דְּיַרְכָּא יְמִינָא. חֲמִישָׁאָה, שׂוֹשׂ תָּשִׂישׂ וְתָגֵל עֲקָרָה דְּבֵיתָא, בְּחֶדְוָה בְּקִבּוּץ וּכְנִישׁוּ דִּבְנָהָא, מֵאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא, וְדָא רָזָא דְּיַרְכָּא אַחֲרָא, דְּאִתְחַבָּר בְּיַרְכָא שְׂמָאלָא, לְמֵיזָל וּלְמִיכְנַשׁ לְכָל סִטְרִין, וּכְנִישׁוּ דִּבְנִין, וּרְחִימוּ, לְמֵיעַל לוֹן בֵּין בִּרְכִּין.
796. And in these two, NETZACH AND HOD between whom the prophets dwell, AND RECEIVE THEIR PROPHECY FROM THEM, abides the joy of the Mistress of the House, WHICH IS MALCHUT. What is the reason? It is because two willow branches (Heb. aravot), WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD, do not produce verdure and fruits and the ingathering of the children to them is their fruits and verdure, WHICH THEY BRING TO THE MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE THAT IS MALCHUT. The ingathering of the children is aroused only by prophets, WHO ARE NETZACH AND HOD. THEREFORE, THIS BLESSING, 'MAY THE BARREN ONE REJOICE AND BE HAPPY AT THE INGATHERING OF HER CHILDREN,' IS IN HOD.
796. וּבְאִינּוּן תְּרֵין, דִּנְבִיאִים שַׁרְיָין בְּגַּוַּויְיהוּ, חֶדְוָה דְעִקָרָא דְּבֵיתָא. מ"ט. בְּגִין דְּהָא שְׁתֵּי עֲרָבוֹת, לָא עַבְדִּין אֵיבָא וּפֵירִין, וּכְנִישׁוּ דִּבְנִין לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, אִינּוּן פֵּירִין וְאֵיבִין דִּלְהוֹן, וְלָא אַתְּעֲרוּ כְּנִישׁוּ דִּבְנָהָא לְגַבָּהָא, בַּר בַּנְבִיאִים.
797. The sixth blessing is, 'Grant abundant joy to the loving friends.' It is the place where there are favor, joy, and delight, NAMELY the pillar of the entire world that is called 'Righteous,' WHICH IS YESOD. And righteous and righteousness, WHICH ARE YESOD AND MALCHUT, are friends and beloved, as they do not turn away one from the other. BECAUSE THIS BLESSING ALSO INCLUDES MALCHUT, IT SAYS 'LOVING FRIENDS.' Until here are the six blessings by which the bride is blessed.
797. שְׁתִּיתָאָה שָׂמֵחַ תְּשַׂמַּח רֵעִים הָאֲהוּבִים, אֲתָר דִּרְעוּתָא וְחֶדְוָה וְאַחְוָה אִשְׁתְּכַח, עַמּוּדָא דְּכָל עָלְמָא דְּאִקְרֵי צַדִּיק, וְצַדִּיק וְצֶדֶק רֵעִים וַאֲהוּבִים אִינּוּן, דְּלָא אִתְעֲדוּן דָּא מִן דָּא. עַד הָכָא שִׁית בִּרְכָאן, דְּכַלָּה אִתְבָּרְכַת מִנַּיְיהוּ.
798. The seventh BLESSING establishes them all, and all are blessed from that seventh one, WHICH IS BINAH, WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF ALL MOCHIN. Certainly it is the combination of the ten sayings, NAMELY THE TEN SFIROT, for it comprehends that which is above and below, NAMELY THE FIRST THREE SFIROT AND SEVEN LOWER ONES WHICH ARE THE TEN SFIROT. Therefore, ten kinds of joy are combined in it: 'joy; happiness; groom; bride; gladness; jubilation; cheer; love and delight; peace and friendship,' so that the Bride shall be perfected in everything.
798. שְׁבִיעָאָה אִיהוּ מְקַיֵּים כֹּלָּא, וּמֵהַאי שְׁבִיעָאָה מִתְבָּרְכָאן כֹּלָּא וַדַּאי, כְּלָלָא דְּעֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן, בְּגִין דְּדָא, כָּלִיל עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא. וְע"ד כָּלִיל בְּהַאי, י' זִינֵי דְּחֶדְוָה, שָׂשׂוֹן, שִׂמְחָה, חָתָן, וְכַלָּה, גִּילָה, דִּיצָה, אַהֲבָה, וְאַחְוָה, שָׁלוֹם, וְרֵיעוּת, לְמֶהֱוֵי כַּלָּה שְׁלִימוּ דְּכֹלָּא.
799. Blessed are the children of Yisrael, for they merit below as above. About them, it is written, "And what one nation in the earth is like your people, like Yisrael" (II Shmuel 7:23). They all rejoiced that entire day with words of Torah, and all the inhabitants of that city placed him, THE YOUTH, as their head. On the next day, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya arose and blessed them and went on their way.
799. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינּוּן זָכוּ לְתַתָּא, כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא. עָלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, וּמִי כְעַמְּךָ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ. חֲדוּ כֻּלְּהוּ כָּל הַהוּא יוֹמָא בְּמִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכָל בְּנֵי מָתָא עַבְדוּ לֵיהּ רֵישָׁא עָלַיְיהוּ. לְיוֹמָא אַחֲרָא, קָמוּ רַבִּי יוֹסִי וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא וּבָרְכוּ לוֹן, וְאָזְלוּ לְאָרְחַיְיהוּ.
800. When they arrived before Rabbi Shimon, he raised his eyes and saw them. He said to them, I viewed you today and I saw that you were two days and one night in the Tabernacle of the youth Metatron, and that youth taught you supernal secrets with the joy of Torah. Blessed is your portion, my sons.
800. כַּד מָטוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּר"ש, זָקַף עֵינוֹי וְחָמָא לוֹן. אָמַר לוֹן מִסְתַּכֵּל הֲוֵינָא בְּכוּ יוֹמָא דָּא, וַחֲמֵינָא לְכוּ תְּרֵין יוֹמִין וְחַד לֵילְיָא, דַּהֲוֵיתוֹן לְגַבֵּי מַשְׁכְּנָא דְּהַהוּא נַעַר מְטַטְרוֹן, וְהַהוּא נַעַר הֲוָה אוֹלִיף לְכוּ רָזִין עִלָּאִין בְּחֶדְוָה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵכוֹן בָּנַי.
801. They related before him all the words and told him the whole story. He said to them, Blessed are you and blessed is my portion, for I remember that one day his father, Rabbi Safra, was traveling with me on the road. When he separated from me, I blessed him that he should have a son who will be a lion in Torah, but I did not bless him so that he should merit to see him thus. THEREFORE, HE DIED AND DID NOT KNOW HIM. Blessed is your portion, my sons. About you, it is written, "And all your children shall be taught of Hashem" (Yeshayah 54:13).
801. סִדְּרוּ מִלִּין כֻּלְּהוּ קָמֵיהּ, וְסָחוּ לֵיהּ עוֹבָדָא, אָמַר לוֹן זַכָּאִין אַתּוּן, וְזַכָּאָה חוּלָקִי, דְּהָא אַדְכַּרְנָא יוֹמָא חַד דַּהֲוָה אָזִיל עִמִּי בְּאָרְחָא רַב סַפְרָא אֲבוֹי, וּבָרִיכִית לֵיהּ כַּד אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנִּי, דִּיּהֵא לֵיהּ בַּר אַרְיָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא בָּרִיכִית לֵיהּ דְּאִיהוּ יִזְכֵּי בֵּיהּ. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵכוֹן בָּנַי, עָלַיְיכוּ כְּתִיב וְכָל בָּנַיִךְ לִמּוּדֵי יְיָ.'