Vayechi: Chapter 20

When it is time for a man to depart from the world

Synopsis

This section starts by saying that when a man dies, Four Judgments arise from four winds of the world. The four elements in man - earth, air, fire, water - attach and fight with each other. They are then separated upon his death. The herald next explains that man is evil if he has no merit, and his soul will burn in the River of Fire (Nahar Dinur). At this time, he confesses his deeds. Rabbi Yehuda then explains to Rabbi Yosi the reason for "a black cock," black being the color of judgment. When judgment comes upon man, the black cock starts crowing, then a second Supernal Spirit is added to him, so that he may see what he never saw in his days. If he is righteous, he goes to heaven; if not, his spirit stays in this world, and eventually ends up in Gehenom. Rabbi Yehuda then explains the triple - colored pillar in the lower Garden of Eden, meaning the three colors of the rainbow. The soul ascends through the pillar into righteousness, and so on towards God, if he is worthy.

Relevance

The power to cleanse the evil from our nature and purify our souls from the iniquities we knowingly or unknowingly committed in life, is bestowed upon us, provided we connect to this passage with an atoning heart. This Light sweetens judgments and helps us recognize the foolishness and dangers of self - centered behavior. We are inspired to travel the path of righteousness.

Air Death Death and the Afterlife Earth Fire Judgment Water Wind

160. We have learned that on that hard and terrible day, when it is time for a man to depart from the world, the four winds of the world, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, sentence the world with severe Judgment. Four Judgments arise from the four winds of the world. The four ELEMENTS IN MAN, FIRE, AIR, WATER AND EARTH that are attached to each other, fight and quarrel between them and wish to depart each to its own side, THE ELEMENT OF FIRE WITHIN MAN TO THE GENERAL ELEMENT OF FIRE, THE ELEMENT OF WATER WITHIN MAN INTO THE ELEMENT OF WATER IN THE WORLD, AND SO ON. FOR THE ELEMENTS WITHIN MAN ARE SEPARATED IN HIS DEATH.

160. תָּנָא, בְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא תַּקִּיפָא וּדְחִילוּ דְבַר נָשׁ, כַּד מָטֵי זִמְנֵיהּ לְאִסְתַּלָּקָא מֵעַלְמָא, אַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעַלְמָא קָיְימִין בְּדִינָא תַּקִּיפָא, וּמִתְעָרִין דִּינִין מֵאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא. וְאַרְבַּע קִשּׁוּרִין נָצָאן, וּקְטָטוּתָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וּבָעְיָין לְאִתְפְּרָשָׁא כָּל חַד לְסִטְרוֹי.

Evil Merit Righteous

161. The herald, THE SECRET OF THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH FROM THE UNION ON THE LEFT, comes forth. He proclaims in the supernal world TEVUNAH and is heard in 270 worlds. If he is righteous, all the worlds welcome him with joy, FOR IF HE HAS MERIT, HE IS GOOD. But if he is not righteous, woe to this man and his portion, FOR IF HE HAS NO MERIT HE IS EVIL.

161. כָּרוֹזָא נָפֵיק וּמַכְרְזָא בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וְאִשְׁתְּמַע בְּמָאתָן וְשַׁבְעִין עָלְמִין, אִי זַכָּאָה הוּא, כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין חָדָאן לְקָדָמוּתֵיהּ, וְאִי לָאו וַוי לְהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, וּלְחוּלָקֵיהּ.

Daniel Directions Evil Flame Merit North River of Fire (Dinur) Rivers Soul, The Streams Wicked Wickedness

162. HE EXPLAINS WHY HE IS EVIL IF HE HAS NO MERIT. HE SAYS, We have learned that when the crier makes his proclamation, a flame comes out from the north side, and goes to be burned in the River of Fire (Nahar Dinur), MENTIONED AS "A FIERY STREAM ISSUED AND CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE HIM" (DANIEL 7:10). It expands to the four directions of the world and burns the souls of the wicked.

162. תָּנָא, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּכָרוֹזָא כָּרֵיז, כְּדֵין נָפַק חַד שַׁלְהוֹבָא מִסְּטַר צָפוֹן, וְאָזְלָא וְאִתּוֹקַד בִּנְהַר דִּינוּר, וּמִתְפָּרְשָׁא לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא, וְאוֹקֵיד נִשְׁמַתְהוֹן דְּחַיָּיבַיָא.

Evil Flame Gates Judgment Merit Rooster

163. The flame, THE JUDGMENT OF MALCHUT, WHICH IS REVEALED BY THE SECRET OF 'IF HE HAS NO MERIT, HE IS EVIL' ascends TO BINAH, and descends back into the world, BACK TO MALCHUT. The flame alights beneath the wings of a black cock, which flaps its wings and crows at the opening between the gates.

163. וְנָפַק הַהוּא שַׁלְהוֹבָא, וְסָלְקָא וְנָחֲתָא בְּעַלְמָא, וְהַהוּא שַׁלְהוֹבָא מָטָא בְּגַדְפוֹי דְתַרְנְגוֹלָא אוּכְמָא, וּבָטַשׁ בְּגַדְפוֹי, וְקָרֵי, בְּפִתְחָא בֵּין תַּרְעֵי.

Deeds Fear Furnace Jeremiah Mountains Rooster Soul, The Testimony Thought Wind Witnesses

164. At the first time, it crows, saying "For, behold, that day is coming, it burns like a furnace..." (Malachi 3:19). On the second time, it crows and says, "For, lo, He that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought" (Amos 4:13). At that time, man sits AND HEARS THE WITNESSES give testimony on his deeds before him, and he confesses them. On the third time, when they want to take his soul from him, the cock crows, saying, "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For to You it is fitting" (Yirmeyah 10:7).

164. זִמְנָא קַדְמָאָה קָרֵי וַאֲמַר, הִנֵּה יוֹם ה' בָּא בּוֹעֵר כַּתַּנּוּר וגו.' זִמְנָא תִּנְיָינָא קָרֵי וַאֲמַר, כִּי הִנֵּה יוֹצֵר הָרִים וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ וּמַגִּיד לְאָדָם מַה שֵּׂחוֹ. וְהַהִיא שַׁעתָּא, יָתֵיב בַּר נָשׁ בְּעוֹבָדוֹי, דְּסָהֲדִין קַמֵּיהּ, וְהוּא אוֹדֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ. זִמְנָא תְּלִיתָאָה, כַּד בָּעְיָין לַאֲפָקָא נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ מִנֵּיהּ, קָרֵי תַּרְנְגוֹלָא וַאֲמַר, מִי לֹא יִירָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם כִּי לְךָ יָאָתָה וגו.'

Creation Earth Rooster Wisdom

165. Rabbi Yosi said, Why a black cock? Rabbi Yehuda said to him: Everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, created upon earth alludes to Wisdom, only men do not know. This is the meaning of the words "O Hashem, how manifold are Your works!" In Wisdom have You made them all. The earth is full of Your creatures" (Tehilim 104:24), for they have been made in Wisdom and allude to Wisdom.

165. אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, תַּרְנְגוֹלָא אוּכְמָא לְמַאי נַפְקָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, כָּל מַה דַּעֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאַרְעָא, כֻּלְּהוּ רָמִיז בְּחָכְמָה, בַּר דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא לָא יָדְעֵי, הה"ד מָה רַבּוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ ה' כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִׂיתָ מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ קִנְיָנֶיךָ, וּמִשּׁוּם דְּאִתְעֲבִידוּ בְּחָכְמָה, כֻּלְּהוּ רְמִיזִין בְּחָכְמָה.

Colors Flame Judgment Midnight North Rooster Wind

166. We have learned IN THE MATTER of the black cock that Judgment abides only in a place of its own kind, and black pertains to the side of Judgment, SINCE THE BLACK COLOR ALLUDES TO MALCHUT, THE ATTRIBUTE OF JUDGMENT. Therefore at midnight exactly, when the north wind, THE LEFT COLUMN, stirs, a flame comes out and strikes under the wings of the cock, and it crows. The cock is black, BEING OF THE ATTRIBUTE OF JUDGMENT, and thus is more appropriate than A COCK OF a different COLOR.

166. וְתַרְנְגוֹלָא אוּכְמָא, תָּנִינָן, לֵית דִּינָא שַׁרְיָא, אֶלָּא בַּאֲתַר דְּהוּא זִינֵיהּ, וְאוּכְמָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קָאָתֵי, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא מַמָּשׁ, כַּד רוּחָא דְסִטְרָא דְּצָפוֹן אִתְעַר, חַד שַׁלְהוֹבָא נָפֵיק, וּבָטַשׁ תְּחוֹת גַּדְפוֹי דְתַרְנְגוֹלָא, וְקָרֵי. וְכ"ש בְּתַרְנְגוֹלָא אוּכְמָא, דְּאִתְכַּוֵּון יַתִּיר מֵאַחֲרָא.

Breath Dust Judgment Rooster

167. Here too, when Judgment is aroused upon man, THE BLACK COCK starts crowing. No one knows it save the man who is about to die. For we have learned that when a man is about to die, and Judgment hovers about him so he would depart from the world, another Supernal Spirit is added to him which he had not before during his lifetime. When it hovers about him and cleaves to him, he is able to see what he never saw in his life, due to the additional spirit in him. When the spirit is added to him, he sees and then departs from this world. This is the meaning of the verse, "You take away their breath (lit. 'you shall add their spirit'), they die, and return to their dust" (Tehilim 104:29). Then it is written, "For no man shall see Me, and live" (Shemot 33:20), WHICH MEANS THAT when they are alive they cannot see, but they do when they die.

167. אוֹף הָכָא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּדִינָא דְבַר נָשׁ יִתְעַר, שָׁארֵי וְקָרֵי לֵיהּ, וְלֵית דְּיָדַע לֵיהּ, בַּר הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ דְּשָׁכִיב, דְּתָנִינָן בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ שָׁכִיב, וְדִינָא שַׁרְיָא עֲלֵיהּ, לְנַפְקָא מֵהַאי עַלְמָא, אִתּוֹסַף רוּחָא עִלָּאָה בֵּיהּ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה בְּיוֹמוֹי, וְכֵיוָן דְּשַׁרְיָא עֲלוֹי וְאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ, חָמֵי מַה דְּלָא זָכָה בְּיוֹמוֹי, מִשּׁוּם דְּאִתּוֹסַף בֵּיהּ הַהוּא רוּחָא, וְכַד אִתּוֹסַף בֵּיהּ וְחָמָא, כְּדֵין נָפֵיק מֵהַאי עַלְמָא, הה"ד תּוֹסֶף רוּחָם יִגְוָעוּן וְאֶל עֲפָרָם יְשׁוּבוּן. כְּדֵין כְּתִיב, כִּי לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי, בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן לָא זָכָאן, בְּמִיתַתְהוֹן זָכָאן.

Righteous

168. We have learned that when a man dies, he is given permission to see, and he sees about him his relatives and friends from the world of Truth. They all have their forms engraved upon them like they were in this world. If the man is righteous, they are all happy to see him and greet him.

168. תָּאנָא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ מִית, אִתְיְהֵיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּתָא לְמֶחֱמֵי, וְחָמֵי גַבֵּיהּ, קְרִיבוֹי וְחַבְרוֹי מֵהַהוּא עָלְמָא, וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע לְהוֹ, וְכֻלְּהוּ גְּלִיפִין בִּדְיוֹקְנֵיהוֹן, כְּמָה דַּהֲווֹ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, אִי זַכָּאָה הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, כֻּלְּהוּ חָדָאן קַמֵּיהּ, וּמַקְדְּמֵי לֵיהּ שְׁלָם.

Eyes Fire Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Righteous Wicked Wickedness

169. If he is not righteous, they do not recognize him, and only recognize the wicked, who are smitten daily in Gehenom. They are all sad, they open their speech with 'woe' and end with 'woe.' The man lifts up his eyes and sees them as something burnt rising from the fire. He too opens AND SAYS OF THEM 'woe.'

169. וְאִי זַכָּאָה לָא הֲוֵי, לָא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן גַּבֵּיהּ, בַּר מֵאִינוּן חַיָּיבַיָא, דְּטָרְדִין לוֹן בְּכָל יוֹמָא בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם, וְכֻלְּהוּ עֲצִיבִין, וּפָתְחִין בְּוַוי, וּמְסַיְּימִין בְּוַוי, וְסָלֵיק עֵינוֹי, וְחָמָא לוֹן כְּטִיסָא דְּמִסְתַּלְּקָא מִן נוּרָא, אוֹף הָכֵי הוּא פָּתַח וַוי.

Body Dumah (Angel) Eden Gehenom (Hell) Ground Hell (Gehenom) Punishment Righteous Soul, The

170. We have learned that when a man's soul departs, all his relatives and friends in the world of Truth accompany his soul and show it the place of delight and place of punishment. If he is righteous, he sees his place, and goes up to sit and take delight in the lofty pleasure of that world. If he is not righteous, the soul remains in this world, until the body is buried in the ground. Once it is buried, numerous executioners grab it until it reaches Dumah, and is put in the stories of Gehenom.

170. תַּנְיָא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּנָפַק נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, אָזְלִין כֻּלְּהוּ קְרִיבוֹי וְחַבְרוֹי דְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא עִם נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ, וּמַחְזְיָין לֵיהּ אַתְרָא דְעִדּוּנָא, וְאַתְרָא דְּעוֹנָשָׁא, אִי זַכָּאָה הֲוֵי, חָמֵי דוּכְתֵּיהּ, וְסָלֵיק וְיָתֵיב, וְאִתְעֲדַן בְּעִדּוּנָא עִלָּאָה דְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא. וְאִי לָא הֲוֵי זַכָּאָה, אִשְׁתְּאָרַת הַהִיא נִשְׁמָתָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, עַד דְּאִטָמֵיר גּוּפָא בְּאַרְעָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִטָמַר, כַּמָּה גַרְדִּינִין דְּנִמּוּסִין אַחֲדָן בֵּיהּ, עַד דְּמָטָא לְדוּמָ"ה, וְעָאלִין לֵיהּ בְּמָדוֹרוֹי דְּגֵיהִנֹּם.

Body Flesh Grave Job Seven Soul, The Suffering

171. Rabbi Yehuda said, All the seven days OF MOURNING the soul goes from the house to the grave and from the grave BACK to the house and mourns for the body, as it is written, "His flesh shall suffer pain for him, and his soul shall mourn for it" (Iyov 14:22). It goes to sit in the house, and when it sees everybody sad, it mourns TOO.

171. אֲמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, כָּל ז' יוֹמִין, נִשְׁמָתָא אָזְלָא מִבֵּיתֵיהּ לְקִבְרֵיהּ, וּמִקִּבְרֵיהּ לְבֵיתֵיהּ, וְאִתְאַבָּלַת עֲלוֹי דְגוּפָא, דִּכְתִיב אַךְ בְּשָׂרוֹ עָלָיו יִכְאָב וְנַפְשׁוֹ עָלָיו תֶּאֱבָל. אָזְלָא וְיָתְבָא בְּבֵיתֵיהּ, חָמֵי לְכֻלְּהוּ עֲצִיבִין וּמִתְאַבְּלָא.

Body Caves Cherubim (Cherubs) Eden Garden of Eden Machpelah Seven Soul, The Sword

172. We have learned that after seven days the body becomes whatever it turns into, and the soul goes into its place. It enters the cave of the Machpelah. It sees whatever it sees, and enters wherever it enters until arriving at the Garden of Eden, it meets the Cherubs and the flash of the turning sword in the Garden of Eden. If it is worthy of entering, it enters.

172. תָּנָא, בָּתַר ז' יוֹמִין, גּוּפָא הֲוֵי כְּמָה דַּהֲוָה, וְנִשְׁמָתֵיהּ עָאלַת לְדוּכְתָּא, עָאלַת לִמְעַרְתָּא דְכָפֵלְתָּא, חָמַאת מַה דְּחָמַאת, וְעָאלַת לַאֲתַר דְּעָאלַת, עַד דְּמָטַת לְג"ע, וְעַרְעָת לִכְרוּבִים, וְשָׁנַן דְּחַרְבָּא, דִּי בְּג"ע דִּלְתַתָּא. אִי זַכָּאָה הוּא דְּתֵיעוֹל, עָאלַת.

Angels Form Garden of Eden Hands Pillar Soul, The

173. We have learned that four pillars, THE FOUR ANGELS COMING FROM THE FOUR SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, are appointed OVER THE SOUL. They have a bodily form in their hands, and it gleefully dons it, and sits in a story in the lower Garden of Eden for the period of time allotted for it TO SIT THERE.

173. תָּאנָא, אַרְבַּע סַמְכִין זְמִינִין, וְחַד דְּיוֹקְנָא דְגוּפָא בִּידַיְיהוּ, מִתְלַבְּשָׁא בֵּיהּ בְּחֶדְוָותָא וִיתֵיבַת בְּהַהוּא מָדוֹרָא דְּג"ע דִּלְתַתָּא, עַד זִמְנָא דְאִתְגְּזַר עֲלָהּ, לְבָתַר כְּרוֹזָא קָרֵי.

Cloud Colors Dwellings Garden of Eden Jerusalem Mount Zion Nukva Pillar Rainbow Smoke Soul, The Zeir Anpin Zion

174. A triple - colored pillar stands there IN THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN, THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW. This pillar is called the "dwelling place of Mount Zion" (Yeshayah 4:5), as it is written "And Hashem will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day..." THE SOUL ascends through that pillar into the opening of righteousness, where Zion and Jerusalem are, YESOD AND MALCHUT OF THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN CALLED RIGHTEOUSNESS.

174. וְעַמּוּדָא דִתְלַת גְּוָונֵי אִזְדַּמַּן, וְהַהוּא עַמּוּדָא אִתְקְרֵי, מְכוֹן הַר צִיּוֹן דִּכְתִיב וּבָרָא ה' עַל מְכוֹן הַר צִיּוֹן וְעַל מִקְרָאֶיהָ עָנָן יוֹמָם וְעָשָׁן וגו.' סָלְקָא בְּהַהוּא עַמּוּדָא, לְפִתְחָא דְצֶדֶק, דְּצִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלִַם בֵּיהּ.

Body Eden Grades Heaven Heavens Jerusalem Love Nukva Tetragrammaton Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH) Zeir Anpin Zion

175. If it is worthy of ascending further than that, happy is its lot and portion which cleaves to the body of the King; NAMELY TO ZEIR ANPIN, FOR IT ALREADY MERITED TO ASCEND TO ZION AND JERUSALEM, THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA. THE NEXT GRADE IS THE BODY OF THE KING, ZEIR ANPIN. If it is not worthy of going further up, it is written: "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remains in Jerusalem (THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA), shall be called holy" (Ibid. 3). But if he is worthy of going further up, happy is he to attain the glory of the King, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, and to be delighted in the supernal Eden above the place called heaven, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, as it is written, "Then shall you delight yourself in (lit. 'alone') Hashem" (Ibid. 58:14). "Above Hashem" is precise What? ZEIR ANPIN CALLED YUD HEI VAV HEI. Happy is the portion of him who is worthy of this Chesed, as it is written, "For Your steadfast love (Heb. chesed) is great above the heavens" (Tehilim 108:5).

175. אִי זָכֵי לְסַלְקָא יַתִּיר, טַב חוּלָקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ, לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּגוֹ גוּפָא דְמַלְכָּא, וְאִי לָא זָכֵי לְסַלְּקָא יַתִּיר, כְּתִיב וְהָיָה הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר בִּירוּשָׁלִַם קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ, וְאִי זָכֵי לְסַלְקָא יַתִּיר, זַכָּאָה הוּא, דְּזָכֵי לִיקָרָא דְמַלְכָּא, וּלְאִתְעַדְּנָא בְּעִדּוּנָא עִלָּאָה, דִּלְעֵילָא מֵאֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי שָׁמַיִם, דִּכְתִיב אָז תִּתְעַנֵּג עַל ה,' עַל ה' דַּיְיקָא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּמַאן דְּזָכֵי לְחֶסֶד דָּא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי גָדוֹל מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ.

Chassadim David Heaven Heavens Nukva Zeir Anpin

176. HE ASKS, Is Chesed above the heavens? It is written, "For Your Chesed is great unto the heavens" (Tehilim 57:11), WHICH MEANS THAT CHESED IS UNDER THE HEAVENS. HE ANSWERS, There is Chesed and Chesed, an upper Chesed and a lower. The upper Chesed, CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN ITSELF, is above the heavens, AS HEAVEN IS TIFERET AND CHESED PRECEDES TIFERET. THEREFORE, SCRIPTURE SAYS, "FOR YOUR CHESED IS GREAT ABOVE THE HEAVENS." The lower Chesed, CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN CLOTHED BY THE NUKVA THROUGH NETZACH HOD OF ZEIR ANPIN is like "the sure Chassadim of David" (Yeshayah 55:3), CALLED DAVID AFTER THE NUKVA, of which it says, "FOR YOUR CHESED is great unto the heavens" SINCE THEY ARE BELOW THE HEAVENS, TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN.

176. וְכִי עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם הוּא, וְהָא כְתִיב כִּי גָדוֹל עַד שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ. אֲמַר ר' יוֹסֵי, אִית חֶסֶד, וְאִית חֶסֶד, חֶסֶד עִלָּאָה, וְחֶסֶד תַּתָּאָה, חֶסֶד עִלָּאָה מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם הוּא. חֶסֶד תַּתָּאָה, הוּא דִכְתִיב, חַסְדֵּי דָוִד הַנֶּאֱמָנִים, וּבְהַנֵּי כְּתִיב עַד שָׁמַיִם.

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