Vayechi: Chapter 19

Rabbi Yitzchak sat sadly

Synopsis

Rabbi Yitzchak asks Rabbi Yehuda for three things that were troubling him. Rabbi Yehuda then asks him why he thinks he is going to die. Rabbi Yitzchak explains that he no longer sees his shadow. They go to see Rabbi Shimon, who protects them from the Angel of Death. Rabbi Shimon asks Rabbi Yitzchak if he has seen his father today, for if so, that means he will die. Rabbi Shimon summons God to prepare to take Rabbi Yehuda away. Rabbi Yitzchak then sleeps and sees his father in his dream, who tells him that they are preparing his chamber in Heaven. Next, Rabbi Shimon asks God that Rabbi Yitzchak will not die, and the wish is granted. Not only that, Rabbi Yitzchak is given seventy places with doors to seventy worlds. Rabbi Yitzchak is then told that he will discover the secrets with Rabbi Shimon upon his death.

Relevance

The profound greatness of Rabbi Shimon is made evident here through his influence and connection to The Creator that allows him to turn aside the Angel of Death on behalf of a fellow rabbi, reversing a decree of death. Moreover, great spiritual worlds and treasures await the rabbi in the World to Come, by virtue of his association to Rabbi Shimon. In effect, this ancient passage is telling us that anyone who truthfully embraces the path of Rabbi Shimon and connects deeply to the Zohar and its wisdom, will have the power to stop the Angel of Death in its tracks and secure a place high in the heavens in the World to Come. The Light emitted here helps to facilitate our connection to the path of the Zohar and deepens our relationship with the giant of all Kabbalists, the master Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Door

144. Rabbi Yitzchak was sitting sadly one day by the door of Rabbi Yehuda, who came out and found him there. He asked him: What is the matter today?

144. ר' יִצְחָק, הֲוָה יָתֵיב יוֹמָא חַד, אֲפִתְחָא דְּר' יְהוּדָה, וַהֲוָה עָצֵיב, נָפֵיק ר' יְהוּדָה, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְתַרְעֵיהּ, דַּהֲוָה יָתֵיב וְעָצֵיב, א"ל מַאן יוֹמָא דֵין מִשְּׁאָר יוֹמִין.

Grave Joseph Prayer Seven Torah

145. He said to him: I come to you to ask you three things. The first is that when you say words of the Torah, and you shall say the things that I said, say them in my name so as to mention my name. Also, that you shall teach my son, Joseph, the Torah and that you shall go to my grave all the seven days OF MOURNING and pray for me.

145. א"ל, אָתֵינָא לְגַבָּךְ, לְמִבְעֵי מִינָךְ תְּלַת מִלִּין: חַד, דְּכַד תֵּימָא מִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְתַדְכַּר מֵאִינוּן מִלִּין דַּאֲנָא אֲמִינָא, דְּתֵימָא לוֹן מִשְּׁמִי, בְּגִין לְאַדְכָּרָא שְׁמִי. וְחַד דְּתִזְכֵּי לְיוֹסֵף בְּרִי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְחַד, דְּתֵיזֵיל לְקִבְרִי כָּל ז' יוֹמִין, וְתִבְעֵי בָּעוּתִיךְ עָלַי.

Dreams Prayer Shadow Soul, The Walls

146. He said to him: How do you know YOU ARE GOING TO DIE? Rabbi Yitzchak said to him: My soul departs from me every night, but it does not enlighten me with dreams as before. Moreover, when I pray and reach the part of 'who hears prayer,' I look at my shadow upon the wall but do not see it. I think I SHALL DIE since the shadow is gone from me and cannot be seen. For a herald comes forth and proclaims, as it is written, "Surely every man walks in a shadow" (Tehilim 39:7). As long as his shadow has not gone from him, "every man walks" and his spirit within him. Once a man's shadow is no longer seen, he passes away from this world.

146. א"ל מִנַּיִן לָךְ. א"ל, הָא נִשְׁמָתִי אִסְתַּלְּקַת מִינִי בְּכָל לֵילְיָא, וְלָא אַנְהֵיר לִי בְּחֶלְמָא, כְּמָה דַּהֲוָה בְקַדְמֵיתָא, וְעוֹד דְּכַד אֲנָא מַצְלֵינָא, וּמָטִינָא לְשׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה, אַשְׁגַּחְנָא בְּצוּלְמִי דִילִי בְּכוֹתְלָא, וְלָא חָמִינָא לֵיהּ, וַאֲמִינָא דְּהוֹאִיל וְצַלְמָא אִתְעֲבַר וְלָא אִתְחֲזֵי, דְּהָא כָּרוֹזָא נָפֵיק וְכָרֵיז, דִּכְתִיב אַךְ בְּצֶלֶם יִתְהַלֶּךְ אִישׁ, כָּל זִמְנָא דְּצוּלְמָא דְּבַר נָשׁ לָא יִתְעֲבַר מִנֵּיהּ, יִתְהַלֶּךְ אִישׁ, וְרוּחֵיהּ אִתְקַיְּימָא בְּגַוֵּיהּ, אִתְעֲבַר צוּלְמָא דְבַר נָשׁ וְלָא אִתְחֲזֵי, אִתְעֲבַר מֵהַאי עָלְמָא.

Earth Job Shadow

147. RABBI YEHUDA said to him: It is also derived from the verse, "Because our days upon earth are a shadow" (Iyov 8:9). RABBI YEHUDA said to him, I shall carry out your requests. But I also ask that you shall reserve a place for me by you in the other world, as I was by your side in this world. Rabbi Yitzchak wept and said, Please do not go away from me all these days.

147. א"ל וּמֵהָכָא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי צֵל יָמֵינוּ עֲלֵי אָרֶץ. א"ל, כָּל אִלֵּין מִלִּין דְּאַתְּ בָּעֵי עֲבִידְנָא, אֲבָל בָּעִינָא מִינָךְ דִּבְהַהוּא עַלְמָא, תְּבָרֵיר דּוּכְתָּאי גַּבָּךְ, כְּמָה דַהֲוֵינָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא. בָּכָה רִבִּי יִצְחָק וַאֲמַר, בְּמָטוּ מִינָךְ, דְּלָא תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ מִנָּאי כָּל אִלֵּין יוֹמִין.

Angel of Death Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Eyes Hands Torah

148. They went to Rabbi Shimon and found him occupied with the Torah. Rabbi Shimon lifted up his eyes and saw the Angel of Death running and dancing before Rabbi Yitzchak. Rabbi Shimon stood up, held Rabbi Yitzchak by the hand and said, I decree that whoever is wont to come to me shall enter, and he who is not wont shall not come. Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Yehuda came in. And he thus kept the Angel of Death remaining outside, UNABLE TO COME IN.

148. אֲזָלוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אַשְׁכְּחוּהוּ דַּהֲוָה לָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, זָקֵיף עֵינוֹי ר"ש, וְחָמָא לְרִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְחָמָא לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת דְּרָהֵיט קַמֵּיהּ, וְרָקֵיד קַמֵּיהּ. קָם רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אָחִיד בִּידֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי יִצְחָק, אֲמַר, גּוֹזַרְנָא, מַאן דְּרָגִיל לְמֵיעַל, יֵעוֹל. וּמַאן דְּלָא רָגִיל לְמֵיעָאל, לָא יֵיעוֹל. עָאלוּ רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה, קָטֵיר מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת לְבַר.

Door Torah

149. Rabbi Shimon looked and saw that his time had not yet come TO DIE, until the eighth hour of the day. Rabbi Shimon placed him before him and studied the Torah with him. Rabbi Shimon said to his son Rabbi Elazar, Sit at the door, and whoever you see do not speak with him; if he shall want to enter, swear he may not enter.

149. אַשְׁגַּח ר"ש, וְחָמָא, דְּעַד כְּעַן לָא מָטָא עִדָּנָא, דְּהָא עַד תְּמַנְיָא שַׁעְתֵּי דְיוֹמָא הֲוָה זִמְנָא, אוֹתְבֵיהּ קַמֵּי ר"ש, וַהֲוָה לָעֵי לֵיהּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. אר"ש לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, תִּיב אֲפִתְחָא וּמַה דְּתֶחֱמֵי, לָא תִשְׁתָּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וְאִי יִבְעֵי לְמֵיעָאל הָכָא, אוֹמֵי אוֹמָאָה דְּלָא לֵיעוֹל.

Dwellings Grades Soul, The

150. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Yitzchak, Have you seen your father's image today, or have you not? For we have learned that when a man departs from the world, his father and relatives are there with him, and he sees and recognizes them. And all those with whom he will dwell in the other world in the same grade, all gather to be with him, and accompany his soul to its dwelling place. RABBI YITZCHAK said, Until now I have not seen THE IMAGE OF MY FATHER.

150. אֲמַר ר"ש לְרִבִּי יִצְחָק, חָמֵית דְּיוֹקְנָא דַּאֲבוּךְ יוֹמָא דָא, אוֹ לָא. דְּהָא, תָּנִינָן, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְבַר נָשׁ אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעַלְמָא, אֲבוֹי וְקָרֵיבוֹי מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין תַּמָּן עִמֵּיהּ, וְחָמָא לוֹן וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע לוֹן, וְכָל אִינוּן דַּהֲוָה מְדוֹרֵיהּ גַּבַּיְיהוּ בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא בְּדַרְגָּא חַד, כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְכַּנְּשֵׁי וּמִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי עִמֵּיהּ, וְאָזְלִין עִם נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ, עַד אֲתַר דְּתִשְׁרֵי בְּאַתְרֵיהּ. אֲמַר, עַד כְּעָן לָא חָמֵינָא.

Eyes Nukva Seven Throne Universe

151. Rabbi Shimon stood up and said, Master of the Universe, we have a certain Rabbi Yitzchak with us, one of the seven eyes here; MEANING, ONE OF THE SEVEN STUDENTS WHO REMAINED ALIVE WHEN THEY WENT OUT OF THE HOLY ASSEMBLY. Behold, I hold him, give Him to me! A voice resounded saying, the throne of His Master, NAMELY THE NUKVA, has approached UNION through the wings of Rabbi Shimon. Behold, Rabbi Yitzchak is yours, and you shall come with him when you shall sit in your throne AT THE TIME RABBI SHIMON WILL PART FROM THE WORLD. Rabbi Shimon said, Certainly, I SHALL DO SO AND BRING HIM WITH ME WHEN I WILL DEPART FROM THE WORLD.

151. אַדְּהָכֵי קָם ר' שִׁמְעוֹן וַאֲמַר, מָארֵי דְעַלְמָא, אִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע רִבִּי יִצְחָק לְגַבָּן, וּמֵאִנּוּן שִׁבְעָה עַיְינִין דְּהָכָא הוּא, הָא אֲחִידְנָא בֵּיהּ, וְהַב לִי. נָפַק קָלָא וַאֲמַר, כּוּרְסְיָיא דְמָארֵיהּ קְרִיבָא בְּגַדְפוֹי דְּר' שִׁמְעוֹן, הָא דִידָךְ הוּא, וְעִמָּךְ תַּיְיתֵיהּ, בְּזִימְנָא דְתֵיעוֹל לְמִשְׁרֵי בְּכוּרְסְיָךְ. אֲמַר ר"ש וַדַּאי.

Angel of Death Angels Torah

152. While he was speaking, Rabbi Elazar saw the Angel of Death departing. He said, No sentence stands at the place of Rabbi Shimon. Rabbi Shimon said to his son Rabbi Elazar, Come here and hold Rabbi Yitzchak, for I see he is afraid. Rabbi Elazar entered and held him, and Rabbi Shimon turned to study the Torah.

152. אַדְּהָכֵי, חָמָא רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, דַּהֲוָה אִסְתַּלֵּיק מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, וַאֲמַר, לֵית קוֹפְטְרָא דְּטִיפְסָא, בַּאֲתַר דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי שְׁכִיחַ. אֲמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, עוּל הָכָא, וְאָחֵיד בֵּיהּ בְּרִבִּי יִצְחָק, דְּהָא חָמֵינָא בֵּיהּ דְּמִסְתָּפֵי, עָאל רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וְאָחֵיד בֵּיהּ. וְרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אַהֲדַר אַנְפֵּיהּ וְלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.

Garden of Eden Tree Tree of Life World to Come, The

153. Rabbi Yitzchak slept and saw his father. HIS FATHER said to him: Son, happy is your portion in this world and in the World to Come, for you sit among the leaves of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. A great and strong tree in both worlds is Rabbi Shimon, who holds you in his boughs. Happy is your portion, my son.

153. נַיְים רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְחָמָא לַאֲבוֹי, א"ל בְּרִי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ, בְּעַלְמָא דֵין, וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, דְּהָא בֵּין טַרְפֵּי אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי דְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן, אִתְיְהֵיב אִילָנָא רַבָּא וְתַקִּיף בִּתְרֵין עָלְמִין, ר"ש בֶּן יוֹחָאי הוּא, דְּהָא הוּא אָחִיד לָךְ בְּעַנְפוֹי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ בְּרִי.

Chambers Directions Torah Windows

154. He said to him: Father, what am I there, IN THE WORLD OF TRUTH? He said to him: For three days they have been hastily preparing your chamber with open windows to shine upon you from the four directions of the world. I have seen your place, rejoiced and said, Happy is your portion, son. Only your son has not yet studied the Torah AND I WAS SORRY FOR THIS.

154. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּא, וּמָה אֲנָא הָתָם, אֲמַר לֵיהּ תְּלַת יוֹמִין הֲווֹ דְּחָפוֹ אִדְרָא דְּמִשְׁכָּבָךְ, וְתַקִּינוּ לָךְ כֵּיוַן פְּתִיחָן, לְאַנְהָרָא לָךְ מֵאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעַלְמָא, וַאֲנָא חָמֵינָא דּוּכְתֵּיךְ וְחָדֵינָא, דַּאֲמֵינָא זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ בְּרִי. בַּר דְּעַד כְּעָן, בְּרָךְ לָא זָכֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.

Righteous Twelve

155. Even now, twelve righteous men from among the friends were preparing to come to you. As they were going, a sound went forth in all the worlds, Friends who stand here, bedeck yourself for Rabbi Shimon who has asked a request OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, THAT RABBI YITZCHAK SHALL NOT DIE, and it was granted him.

155. וְהָא הַשְׁתָּא הֲוֵי זְמִינִין לְמֵיתֵי גַּבָּךְ, תְּרֵיסַר צַדִּיקַיָא דְחַבְרַיָיא, וְעַד דַּהֲוֵינָא נָפְקֵי, אִתְעַר קָלָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ עַלְמִין, מַאן חַבְרִין דְּקָיְימִין הָכָא, אִתְעֲטָרוּ, בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, שְׁאֶלְתָּא שָׁאֵיל, וְאִתְיְיהֵיב לֵיהּ.

Atika Kadisha Crowns Door Seventy Temple, The

156. Not only this, but seventy places are adorned for him here. Each place has doors opening to seventy worlds, each world opening to seventy channels, each opened for seventy supernal crowns, where there are ways leading to Atika, the most concealed of all, to see the highest pleasantness which delights and shines upon all, as it says "to behold the pleasantness of Hashem, and to inquire in His temple" (Tehilim 27:4). "To inquire in His temple" as it is written, "For he is the trusted one in all My house" (Bemidbar 12:7).

156. וְלָא דָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דְּהָא שַׁבְעִין דּוּכְתֵּי מִתְעַטְּרָן הָכָא דִילֵיהּ. וְכָל דּוּכְתָּא וְדוּכְתָּא, פָּתְחִין פְּתִיחָן לְשַׁבְעִין עָלְמִין, וְכָל עַלְמָא וְעַלְמָא, אִתְפַּתַּח לְע' רְהִיטִין, וְכָל רְהִיטָא וּרְהִיטָא, אִתְפַּתַּח לְשַׁבְעִין כִּתְרִין עִלָּאִין, וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְפַּתָּחוּ אָרְחִין לְעַתִּיקָא, סְתִימָאָה דְּכֹלָּא, לְמֶחֱמֵי בְּהַהוּא נְעִימוּתָא עִלָּאָה דְּנָהֲרָא, וּמְהַנְיָא לְכֹלָּא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, לַחֲזוֹת בְּנוֹעַם ה' וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ, מַהוּ וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ, הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב בְּכָל בֵּיתִי נֶאֱמָן הוּא.

Crowns Heart Marriage Solomon Table Zion

157. He said to him: Father, how long am I given to live in this world? He said to him: I was not given permission to tell you this, and man is not made to know. But at the feast for Rabbi Shimon, NAMELY ON HIS DAY OF DEPARTURE, WHEN THERE WILL BE GREAT JOY IN ALL THE WORLDS FOR ALL THE SECRETS HE REVEALED, AS MENTIONED IN THE SMALL ASSEMBLY, you shall be there to set his table TO REVEAL MYSTERIES WITH HIM. As it says, "Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the gladness of his heart" (Shir Hashirim 3:11).

157. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּא, כַּמָּה זִמְנָא יְהִיבוּ לִי בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, א"ל לֵית לִי רְשׁוּתָא, וְלָא מוֹדָעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, אֲבָל בְּהִלּוּלָא רַבָּא דְּר' שִׁמְעוֹן, תְּהֵא מְתַקֵּן פָּתוֹרֵיהּ, כְּד"א צְאֶינָה וּרְאֶינָה בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹֹמֹה בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמוֹ בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ.

Dreams Face Ground

158. Rabbi Yitzchak then awoke and laughed and his face shone. Rabbi Shimon looked at his face and said to him: You have heard something new. RABBI YITZCHAK said to him: Surely I HAVE HEARD; He told him WHAT HE SAW IN HIS DREAM. RABBI YITZCHAK prostrated himself ON THE GROUND before Rabbi Shimon.

158. אַדְּהָכֵי אִתְעַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וַהֲוָה חָיֵיךְ, וְאַנְפּוֹי נְהִירִין, חָמָא רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְאִסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַנְפּוֹי, א"ל מִלָּה חַדְתָּא שְׁמַעְתָּא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ וַדַּאי, סָח לֵיהּ, אִשְׁתַּטַּח קַמֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן.

Hands Torah

159. We have learned from that day onward that Rabbi Yitzchak would hold his son in his hand. He studied the Torah with him, and never left him. When he came before Rabbi Shimon, he made his son sit outside. He used to come in and sit before Rabbi Shimon and call before him, "O Hashem, I am oppressed, be You my security" (Yeshayah 38:14).

159. תָּאנָא, מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא, הֲוָה רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָחֵיד לִבְרֵיהּ בִּידֵיהּ, וְלָעֵי לֵיהּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא הֲוָה שַׁבְקֵיהּ. כַּד הֲוָה עָאל קַמֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אוֹתְבֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ לְבַר, וְיָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וַהֲוָה קָרֵי קַמֵּיהּ ה' עָשְׁקָה לִי עָרְבֵנִי.

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