Vayechi: Chapter 14

"Now the eyes of Israel were dim from age"

Synopsis

Rabbi Chizkiyah first explains that this language is from lower Israel, since it is not found in the Torah. Because the exiles did not follow the rules of the Torah, they became old and weak. Rabbi Chiya then says that when the exiles return to their land, God will invest them with His spirit. Rabbi Aba goes on to explain the meaning of "dim" as referring to the length of time during which the exiles lived without "light." Rabbi Aba then answers the question of why the Torah speaks in the language and names of men.

Relevance

Here we are connected to the divine language of the Torah, whose letters are the bridge between the Upper and Lower Worlds. The words of the Torah are like cables that carry spiritual current from the supernal realm into the material dimension. The energy that flows between these two worlds helps us expedite the end of both our personal exile and the global one. This Light illuminates for us the importance of spiritual transformation through the path of Torah and strengthens our commitment to it.

Destruction Exile Eyes Face Israel Shechinah Torah

100. "Now the eyes of Israel were dim from age" (Beresheet 48:19). Rabbi Chizkiyah taught that this is lower Israel, for such language is not found THROUGH THE WHOLE TORAH. For when YISRAEL will be in exile all the days of destruction, they will become old with age, and will not be able to behold the face of the Shechinah until another spirit will come upon them.

100. וְעֵינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּבְדוּ מִזֹּקֶן וְגו,' תָּאנֵי ר' חִזְקִיָּה, דָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא, וּבְגִין דָּא, לָא אַתְּ מַשְׁכַּח דְּכַוָּותֵיהּ, וְכַד יְהוֹן בְּגָלוּתָא כָּל זִמְנָא חֲרוּבָא הָדִין, סִיבוּ, לָא יָכְלִין לְמֶחֱזֵי אַפֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא, עַד דְּתֵיתֵי רוּחָא אָחֳרָא בְּהוֹן.

Exile Face Shechinah Torah

101. HE EXPLAINS FURTHER THAT they were defiled among the nations IN EXILE, and did not follow the laws of the Torah as they should have. They sat a long while among the gentiles, generation after generation, and learned their ways, AS IT IS WRITTEN "BUT WERE MINGLED AMONG THE NATIONS, AND LEARNED THEIR WORKS" (TEHILIM 106:35). When they will return to their land, they will not at first be able to behold the face of the Shechinah until the Holy One, blessed be He, will invest them with His spirit.

101. מִקַּדְּמַת דְּנָא אִסְתָּאִיבוּ בַּאֲרַע עַמְּמַיָא, וְלָא הֲווֹ בְּנִימוּסֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. כַּמָּה דִּיהוֹן כָּהֵיל לְמֵיהַךְ, וְתָבוּ עִדָּנָא סַגֵּי בֵּינֵי נֻכְרָאִין, דָּרָא בָּתַר דָּרָא, וְאוֹלִיפוּ מִן אָרְחֵיהוֹן, כַּד יְתוּבוּן אַפֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא לְאַרְעֲהוֹן, בְּקַדְמֵיתָא לָא יָכְלִין לְמֶחֱמֵי אַפִּי שְׁכִינְתָּא, עַד דְּיָהֵיב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רוּחָא דִילֵיהּ לְהוֹן.

Ezekiel Holiness (Kedushah) Judgment Kedushah (Holiness)

102. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying, "And I will put My spirit within you" (Yechezkel 36:27). Then it said, "And cause you to follow My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them" (Ibid.). For after I will put My spirit within you, and holiness, you shall follow My rules and go by them.

102. ר' חִיָּיא פְּתַח, וְאֶת רוּחִי אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם, לְבָתַר וְעָשִׂיתִי אֶת אֲשֶׁר בְּחוּקַּי תֵּלֵכוּ וּמִשְׁפָּטַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם, מִן בָּתַר דְּיָהַב רוּחִין בְּכוֹן וּקְדוּשָּׁה, בְּנִימוּסַי תֵּהֲכוּן וְתִתְהֲכוּן.

Chariot Cloud Ezekiel Face Light Rain Shechinah

103. "So that he could not see" (Beresheet 48:10): Rabbi Aba opened the discussion saying, "In the light of the King's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain" (Mishlei 16:15). For when they will welcome the Shechinah of the Holy One, blessed be He, and be occupied with the Chariots, where the living creatures in the world come from, NAMELY THE LIVING CREATURES WHICH CARRY THE CHARIOT (YECHEZKEL CHAPTER 1), THEN IT WILL BE SAID OF THEM "IN THE LIGHT OF THE KING'S COUNTENANCE IS LIFE..."

103. לֹא יוּכַל לִרְאוֹת, רִבִּי אַבָּא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, בְּאוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים וּרְצוֹנוֹ כְּעָב מַלְקוֹשׁ, כַּד יִסְּבְּרוּן אַפֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְיִתְעַסְּקוּן בְּאִינוּן רְתִיכִין דְּמִנְּהוֹן חֵיוָון דְּעָלְמָא.

Jacob Redemption and Salvation Torah Wisdom

104. Come and see, You shall find in the language of all the verses IN THE PORTION OF VAYECHI UP TO HERE only words which talk of men, but no verses which speak of the Holy One, blessed be He. TO WIT, THOUGH THEY SPEAK OF REDEMPTION, WHEN JACOB IS MENTIONED, IT REFERS TO SUPERNAL JACOB OR SUPERNAL ISRAEL, NAMELY THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. WHY DOES SCRIPTURE SPEAK IN THE LANGUAGE AND NAMES OF MEN? HE ANSWERS, For when they will return to their land, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will put upon them the spirit of Wisdom, they will always speak of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it says, "My tongue also shall tell of Your righteousness" (Tehilim 71:24). End of Sitrei Torah.

104. תָּא חֲזֵי, לָא תִשְׁכַּח בְּהַנֵּי קְרָאֵי כֻּלְּהוֹן לִישְׁנָא, אֶלָא לְאִינִישׁ, וְלָא אַתְּ מַשְׁכַּח בְּהַנֵּי קְרָאֵי בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּגִין כַּד יְתוּבוּן לְאַרְעֲהוֹן, וִיהַב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רוּחַ חָכְמְתָא בְּהוֹן, לִישְׁנָא דִּלְהוֹן תֶּהֶוְיָין תָּדִיר בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, גַּם לְשׁוֹנִי כָּל הַיּוֹם תֶּהֱגֶה צִדְקָתֶךָ. (עַד כָּאן סִתְרֵי תּוֹרָה)

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