Vaetchanan
Adonai Evil Face Fear Hezekiah Torah Tree Tree of Life Walls

1. "And I besought Hashem at that time, saying, Adonai Elohim, You began to show Your servant" (Devarim 3:23-24). Rabbi Yosi opened with, "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to Hashem" (Yeshayah 38:2). Come and see how powerful is the force of the Torah and how superior it is to anything else. For whoever is occupied with the Torah does not fear the higher or lower beings, nor fear evil incidents in the work, because he is attached to the Tree of Life, WHICH IS THE TORAH, and eats from it daily.

1. וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל יְיָ' בָּעֵת הַהִיא לֵאמֺר. אֲדֺנָ"י יֱדֺוִ"ד אַתָּה הַחִלּוֹתָ לְהַרְאוֹת אֶת עַבְדְּךָ וְגוֹ.' ר' יוֹסֵי פָּתַח, וַיַּסֵּב חִזְקִיָּהוּ פָּנָיו אֶל הַקִּיר וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֶל יְיָ.' ת"ח, כַּמָּה הוּא חֵילָא תַּקִּיפָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכַמָּה הוּא עִלָּאָה עַל כֺּלָּא. דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא דָּחִיל מֵעִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי. וְלָא דָּחִיל מֵעִרְעוּרִין בִּישִׁין דְּעָלְמָא. בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אָחִיד בְּאִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי, וְאָכִיל מִנֵּיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא.

Death Death and the Afterlife Joshua Repentance Torah

2. For the Torah teaches man to walk the path of truth and gives him counsel how to repent before his Master. Even when he is sentenced to death, everything is repealed and gone from him, not to rest upon him. Therefore he should be occupied with the Torah day and night and not move from it. This is the meaning of, "but you shall meditate therein day and night" (Yehoshua 1:8). If he removed the Torah from himself or separates from it, it is as if he separated from life.

2. דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא אוֹלִיף לֵיהּ לְב"נ, לְמֵיהַךְ בְּאֺרַח קְשׁוֹט. אוֹלִיף לֵיהּ עֵיטָא הֵיךְ יְתוּב קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ. וַאֲפִילּוּ יִתְגְּזָר עָלֵיהּ מוֹתָא, כֺּלָּא יִתְבָּטַּל וְיִסְתְּלַּק מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא שַׁרְיָא עֲלוֹי. וְע"ד בָּעֵי לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יְמָמָא וְלֵילֵי, וְלָא יִתְעֲדֵי מִנַהּ, הה"ד וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה. וְאִי אַעְדֵי מִינֵּיהּ אוֹרַיְיתָא, אוֹ אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנַּהּ, כְּאִלּוּ אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִן חַיֵּי.

Death Death and the Afterlife Heaven Kingdom Nefesh (Soul) Soul (Nefesh) Tree

3. Come and see, there is advice for man. When he climbs into his bed at night, he should accept upon himself the yoke of the kingdom of heaven wholeheartedly and hasten to give Him the deposit of his Nefesh. It was explained that this is since every man tastes AT NIGHT the taste of death, because the tree of death rests upon the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And all the spirits of people come out, rise and hide in it, IN MALCHUT. Since they are GIVEN as a deposit, they all return LATER to their place.

3. ת"ח, עֵיטָא דְּב"נ כַּד אִיהוּ סָלִיק בְּלֵילְיָא עַל עַרְסֵיהּ, בָּעֵי לְקַבְּלָא עָלֵיהּ עוֹל מַלְכוּתָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, בְּלִבָּא שְׁלִים. וּלְאַקְדְמֵי לְמִימְסַר גַּבֵּיהּ פִּקְדּוֹנָא דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, בְּגִין דְּכָל עָלְמָא טַעֲמִין טַעֲמָא דְּמוֹתָא, דְּהָא אִילָנָא דְּמוֹתָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעָלְמָא, וְכָל רוּחֵי דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא נָפְקִין, וְסַלְּקִין וְאִתְטַמְּרָן גַּבֵּיהּ. וּבְגִין דְּאִינּוּן בְּפִקְדּוֹנָא, כֻּלְּהוּ תַּיְיבִין לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ.

Chambers Eden Garden of Eden Midnight North Praise Righteous Wind Zeir Anpin

4. Come and see, when the north wind awakens at midnight, the crier comes out and the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to the Garden of Eden to be delighted in the spirits of the righteous, and all the members of the Queen's household and all the members of the chamber are roused to praise the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. Then the deposits of the spirits handed to her, TO MALCHUT, are all returned to their owners. Most people awaken from their sleep at that time, and their deposits are returned to them all.

4. ת"ח, כַּד אִתְּעַר רוּחַ צָפוֹן בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא, וְכָרוֹזָא נָפִיק. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא בְּרוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, כְּדֵין מִתְעָרֵי כָּל בְּנֵי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, וְכָל בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא, לְשַׁבְּחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא. וּכְדֵין כָּל אִינּוּן פִּקְדּוֹנִין דְּרוּחִין דְּאִתְמַסְּרָן בִּידָהּ, כֻּלְּהוּ אָתִיב לְמָארֵיהוֹן. וְרוּבָּא דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא מִתְעָרִין בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, וְהָא פִּקְדוֹנֵיהּ דְּכֻלְּהוּ אָתִיב לְגַבַּיְיהוּ.

Chambers Congregation Morning Torah Zeir Anpin

5. The members of the highest chamber, WHO SERVE HASHEM, take resolve and awaken to be occupied with the praises of the Torah. They join the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, until daylight. When morning comes, he, together with all the members of the King's chamber, comes to the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN. They are called the children of the King and Queen. This was already explained.

5. אִינּוּן דִּבְנֵי הֵיכָלָא עִלָּאָה קַיְימֵי בְּקִיּוּמַיְיהוּ, מִתְעֲרֵי מִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּמִשְׁתַּתְּפֵי בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד דְּנָהִיר יְמָמָא. כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא, הִיא, וְכָל בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא דְמַלְכָּא כֻּלְּהוּ אַתְיָין לְגַבֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן בְּנִין דְּמַלְכָּא וּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ.

Body Morning Soul, The Tfilin Tzitzit Zeir Anpin

6. When morning comes, one should clean himself in every respect, THE CLEANLINESS OF BOTH BODY AND SOUL, put on his arms, NAMELY THE TZITZIT AND TEFILIN, and endeavor by the Holy King, ZEIR ANPIN, since at night he endeavored by the Queen. Now IN THE MORNING he comes with the Queen to join her to the King.

6. כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא, בָּעֵי לְנַקָּאָה גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּכֺלָּא, וּלְמֵיזַן זַיְינֵיהּ, לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא עִם מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּהָא בְּלֵילְיָא אִשְׁתְּדַּל בְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא. הַשְׁתָּא אַתְיָא עִם מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, לְזַוְּוגָא לָהּ עִם מַלְכָּא.

Angels Corners David Garments Head Praise Tfilin Tzitzit

7. He comes to the synagogue, cleanses himself by reciting the offerings, and sings the praises of King David. Fastened with Tefilin on his head and Tzitzit at the corners of his garment, he recites "A praise of David" (Tehilim 145). It was explained that he who prays before his Master should stand when praying like the supernal angels and join those who are called 'those who stand by,' as it is written, "I will give you access among these who stand by" (Zecharyah 3:7). IT BEHOOVES HIM to concentrate his will before his Master and submit his petition.

7. אָתֵי לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא, מַדְכֵּי גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּקָרְבְּנִין, מְשַׁבַּח בְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתַּיְיהוּ דְּדָוִד מַלְכָּא. אָחִיד תְּפִילִין בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ, וְצִיצִית בְּגַדְפֵיהּ, אוֹמֵר תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, צַלֵּי צְלוֹתָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, בִּצְלוֹתָא בָּעֵי לְמֵיקָם, כְּגַוְונָא דְּמַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי, לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, דְּאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן הָעוֹמְדִים, כד"א, וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים. וּלְכַוְּונָא רְעוּתֵיהּ קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, וְיִתְבַּע בָּעוּתֵיהּ.

House Midnight Morning Prayer Torah

8. Come and see, when man rises at midnight from his bed to be occupied with the Torah, a crier announces over him, saying, "Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem, who stand by night in the house of Hashem" (Tehilim 134:1). Now IN THE MORNING, when he stands in prayer before his Master, the crier proclaims about him saying, "I will give you access among these who stand by."

8. ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּב"נ קָאֵים בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא מֵעַרְסֵיהּ, לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כָּרוֹזָא קָארֵי עָלֵיהּ וְאָמַר, הִנֵּה בָּרֲכוּ אֶת יְיָ' כָּל עַבְדֵי יְיָ' הָעוֹמְדִים בְּבֵית יְיָ' בַּלֵּילוֹת. הַשְׁתָּא כַּד אִיהוּ קָאֵים בִּצְלוֹתָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, הַהוּא כָּרוֹזָא קָּארֵי עָלֵיהּ וְאָמַר, וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעוֹמְדִים הָאֵלֶּה.

Firmaments Head Heart Moses Prayer Soul, The

9. After finishing his prayer favorably before his Master, it was explained that it behooves him to deliver his soul with a willing heart to the required place, NAMELY MALCHUT. Man has many counsels about anything. When he is in prayer, all the words a man utters in his mouth in that prayer rise up and cleave airs and firmaments until they reach wherever they reach. They are adorned on the head of the King, who turns them into a diadem. The friends explained that when a man asks the Holy One, blessed be He in his prayer, he should meditate for it to be a prayer of supplication. Whence do we know that? From Moses, as it is written, "And I besought Hashem" (Devarim 3:23). Such is a goodly prayer.

9. בָּתַר דִּמְסַיֵּים צְלוֹתָא בִּרְעוּ קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּבָעֵי לְמִימְסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ בִּרְעוּתָא דְּלִבָּא, לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְכַמָּה עֵיטִין אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ בְּכֺלָּא. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא קַיְּימָא, כָּל אִינּוּן מִלִּין דְּאַפִּיק בַּר נָשׁ מִפּוּמֵיהּ בְּהַהִיא צְלוֹתָא, כֻּלְּהוּ סַלְּקִין לְעֵילָּא, וּבָקְעִין אֲוִירִין וּרְקִיעִין, עַד דְּמָטוּ לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּמָטוּ וּמִתְעַטְּרוּ בְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא, וְעָבֵיד מִנַּיְיהוּ עֲטָרָה. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, צְלוֹתָא דְּבָעֵי ב"נ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְכַוְּונָא דִּיהֵא צְלוֹתָא תַּחֲנוּנִים. מְנָלָן. מִמֺּשֶׁה, דִּכְתִּיב וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל יְיָ.' דָּא אִיהוּ צְלוֹתָא מֵעַלְיָא.

Angel of Death Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Eyes Ground Head Kisses Light Prayer Samuel Shechinah Soul, The Yisrael-Saba and Tevunah

10. Come and see, whoever stands in prayer should straighten his legs, which has already been explained. He should cover his head as one standing before the king and cover his eyes so as not to behold the Shechinah. In his book Rav Hamnuna Saba said, Whoever opens his eyes during prayer or does not lower his eyes to the ground, the Angel of Death comes to him earlier. When his soul goes out, WHEN HE DEPARTS FROM THE WORLD, he will not see the light of the Shechinah nor die by a kiss. Whoever treats the Shechinah lightly is treated lightly when he needs Her. This is the meaning of, "for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (I Shmuel 2:30).

10. ת"ח, מַאן דְּקָאֵים בִּצְלוֹתָא, בָּעֵי לְכַוְּונָא רַגְלוֹי, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ. וּבָעֵי לְחַפְּיָא רֵישֵׁיהּ, כְּמַאן דְּקָאֵים קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא. וּבָעֵי לְמִכְסְיָיה עֵינוֹי, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִסְתָּכַּל בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא. וּבְסִפְרָא דְּרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא אָמַר, מַאן דְּפָקַח עֵינוֹי בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא, אוֹ דְּלָא מָאִיךְ עֵינוֹי בְּאַרְעָא, אַקְדִּים עָלֵיהּ מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, וְכַד תִּיפּוּק נַפְשֵׁיהּ, לָא יִסְתָּכַּל בִּנְהִירוּ דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, וְלָא יָמוּת בִּנְשִׁיקָה. מַאן דִּמְזַלְזֵל בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא מִתְּזַלְזֵּל הוּא בְּהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ בֵּיהּ, הה"ד, כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבוֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ.