Vayechi: Chapter 25

The image

Synopsis

This section begins by examining what happens when a person dies, and describing the difference between the effects on the body of a man of Yisrael and on the body of an idolatrous heathen. Unlike Yisrael, a heathen's impurities cannot be defiled. Each Israelite contains two images (tzelamim,) the ordinary and the holy shadow. As he approaches death, both shadows depart, since they are joined together. He must write letters and put them in a bag, and then on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), he must repent. If he attains repentance, the letters are torn; if not, they are read in consideration for judgment. Then, there follows a description of the significance of various parts of a man's image, and what it means if one or many of them are missing. Everything in the Lower World has its root in higher worlds. When one stirs, so does the other.

Relevance

The Light to cleanse ourselves from sin and wrongdoing is bestowed upon readers of this passage. The importance of repentance is awakened within us and we remove judgments decreed against us in the Upper Worlds. Our image is the link between the body and soul, and when a person is about to leave this world, the image becomes dimmer. This section helps strengthen our shadow, removing the force of death from life.

Body Death Death and the Afterlife Idolatry

196. Come and see the difference between Yisrael and the idolatrous nations. When a man of Yisrael dies, he defiles the body and the house. But the body of a heathen man does not defile and his body is not defiled in his death. Why is it so?

196. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעַמִין עכו"ם, דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כַּד אִשְׁתַּכַּח ב"נ מִית הוּא מְסָאַב לְכָל גּוּפָא, וּבֵיתָא מְסָאֲבָא, וְגוּפָא דְעכו"ם, לָא מַסְאִיב לְאָחֳרָא, וְגוּפֵיהּ לָא מְסָאֲבָא כַּד אִיהוּ מִית, מ"ט.

Body Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Shadow

197. HE ANSWERS, When a man from Yisrael dies, all the holiness of his Master is removed from him, the holy image and the Holy Spirit is gone from him and leave his body defiled.

197. יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְאִיהוּ מִית כָּל קִדּוּשֵׁי דְּמָארֵיהּ מִתְעַבְרָן מִנֵּיהּ, אִתְעֲבַר מִנֵּיהּ הַאי צוּלְמָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאִתְעֲבַר מִנֵּיהּ הַאי רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא, אִשְׁתָּאַר גּוּפָא מְסָאֲבָא.

Body Idolatry Shadow

198. But this is not so for an idolatrous heathen. For during his lifetime he is impure on all sides, his image is impure and his spirit is impure. Since impurities lie within him, it is forbidden to come near him. Once he dies, all the impurities depart from him and the body is left without defiling impurity.

198. אֲבָל עכו"ם עוֹבֵד ע"ז, לֵית הָכֵי, דִּבְחַיֵּי מְסָאַב בְּכָל סִטְרִין, צוּלְמָא דִילֵיהּ מְסָאֲבָא, וְרוּחָא דִילֵיהּ מְסָאֲבָא, וּבְגִין דְּסוֹאֲבוּתֵי אִלֵּין שַׁרְיָין בְּגַוֵּיהּ, אָסִיר לְמִקְרַב לְגַבֵּיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּמִית, נָפְקֵי כָּל אִלֵּין מְסָאֲבוּתָא וְאִשְׁתָּאַר גּוּפָא בְּלָא מְסָאֲבוּתָא לְסוֹאֲבָא.

Body Death Death and the Afterlife Other Side Wells

199. Though their bodies are defiled both during their life and in their deaths, yet when they are alive all the impurities within them have the power to defile others. In their deaths, when impurities leave them, they cannot defile. A BODY OF a Yisrael AFTER DEATH can defile others, since all that is holy has left him and the Other Side dwells upon him.

199. וְאע"ג דְּגוּפָא דִּלְהוֹן מְסָאַב, בֵּין בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן וּבֵין בְּמִיתַתְהוֹן, אֲבָל בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן דְּכָל אִינוּן מְסָאֲבִין אִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, אִית לוֹן חֵילָא לְסוֹאֲבָא לְאַחֲרִינֵי, בְּמִיתַתְהוֹן דְּנָפְקֵי כָּל אִינוּן מְסָאֲבִין מִנַּיְיהוּ, לָא יָכְלִין לְסָאֲבָא. וּדְיִשְׂרָאֵל, יָכִיל לְסָאֲבָא לְאַחֲרִינֵי, בְּגִין דְּכָל קַדִּישִׁין נָפְקִין מִנֵּיהּ וְשָׁרָא עֲלֵיהּ סִטְרָא אָחֳרָא.

Body Face Shadow

200. Come and see this holy image. When a man grows and his shape is made AND COMPLETED by a face, another image is made and joins THE FIRST ONE, each embracing the other. When a man has two images, he is protected and his body lives with a spirit abiding within it.

200. תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי צֶלֶם קַדִּישָׁא, כַד אָזֵיל ב"נ וְאִתְרַבֵּי, וְאִתְעֲבֵיד מֵהַאי פַּרְצוּפָא דְּיוֹקְנָה דִילֵיהּ, אִתְעֲבֵיד צוּלְמָא אָחֳרָא, וּמִתְחַבְּרָן כַּחֲדָא, וְדָא נָטֵיל לְדָא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּאִשְׁתַּכְּחוּ תְּרֵין צוּלְמִין, נָטֵיר הוּא ב"נ, וְגוּפָא דִילֵיהּ בְּקִיּוּמָא, וְרוּחֵיהּ שַׁרְיָא בְּגַוֵּיהּ.

Shadow

201. When his time draws near for him to die, the images (Heb. tzelamim) depart from him, the one causes the other to depart SINCE THEY ARE JOINED TOGETHER. The man remains without protection, in accordance with the verse, "Before the day cools, and the images (Heb. tzelalim) flee away" (Shir Hashirim 2:17), NOT SAYING 'SHADOW' BUT 'SHADOWS,' NAMELY two - AS WE SAID.

201. בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּקָרִיבוּ יוֹמוֹי, מִתְעַבְרָן מִנֵּיהּ, וְדָא סָלֵיק לְדָא, וְאִשְׁתָּאַר בַּר נָשׁ בְּלָא נְטִירוּ, כְּדֵין עַד שֶׁיָּפוּחַ הַיּוֹם וְנָסוּ הַצְּלָלִים: תְּרֵי.

Hebrew Letters Judgment Repentance Rosh Hashanah Sin Throne Year

202. Come and see, When Judgment awakens in the world and the Holy One, blessed be He, sits on His throne of justice to sentence the world ON ROSH HASHANAH (THE NEW YEAR), a man should awaken to repent his sins. For on that day, letters are written and put in a bag all written down. If a man succeeded and returned IN REPENTANCE before his Master, the letters concerning him are torn.

202. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד אִתְעַר דִּינָא בְּעַלְמָא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָתֵיב עַל כָּרְסֵי דְּדִינָא לְמֵידַן עַלְמָא, בָּעֵי ב"נ לְאַתְעָרָא תְּשׁוּבָה, דְּיֵיתוּב מֵחִיּוּבָא, דְּהָא הַהוּא יוֹמָא, פִּתְקִין כְּתִיבוּ, וּמִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי כֻּלְּהוּ בְּאַחְמָתָא הָא כְתִיבִין, אִי זָכֵי ב"נ דְּיֵיתוּב קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, קָרְעִין פִּתְקִין דַּעֲלֵיהּ.

Hebrew Letters Repentance Seal Sin Yom Kippur

203. After that, the Holy One, blessed be He, prepared Yom Kippur for man. If he repents his sins, it is well. If not, the King commands to seal the letters. Woe to him, for repentance is about to depart from him.

203. לְבָתַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא זַמִּין קַמֵּיהּ דְב"נ, יוֹמָא דְכִפּוּרֵי יוֹמָא דִתְשׁוּבָה, אִי תָב מֵחֶטְאוֹי טַב. וְאִי לָא, פַּקֵּיד מַלְכָּא לְמִחְתַּם פִּתְקִין, וַוי דְּהָא תְּשׁוּבָה בַּעְיָא לְאִסְתַּלָּקָא מִנֵּיהּ.

Angels Booth Hebrew Letters Judgment Repentance Sukkot

204. If he attains repentance, yet it is not whole, the letter is withheld until the last day called Atzeret (Eng. 'gathering'), which is the eighth day of Sukkot (Holiday of the Booths). If he has wholly repented before his Master, the letters are torn; if he has not, the letters are sent from the King's house and given to the punishing angel for the judgment to be executed. After the letters are handed out, they return no more to the King's house, AND THE JUDGMENT WRITTEN IN THEM MUST BE EXECUTED.

204. אִי זָכֵי בִּתְשׁוּבָה, וְלָא שְׁלֵימָתָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, תַּלְיָין לֵיהּ עַד הַהוּא יוֹמָא בַּתְרָאָה דַּעֲצֶרֶת, דְּהוּא תְּמִינָאָה לֶחָג, וְאִי עֲבַד תְּשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵימָתָא לְקַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, אִתְקְרָעוּ. וְאִי לָא זָכֵי, אִינוּן פִּתְקִין נָפְקִין מִבֵּי מַלְכָּא, וְאִתְמַסְּרָן בִּידוֹי דְּסַנְטֵירָא, וְדִינָא מִתְעֲבֵיד, וּפִתְקִין לָא מְהַדְּרָן תוּ לְבֵי מַלְכָּא.

Cup Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Hebrew Letters Judgment Punishment Sukkot

205. Then, the images are gone and do not abide with him. Once they are gone from him, the King's punishment comes upon him, and he tastes the cup of death. On the night of the last festival, THE EIGHTH DAY OF SUKKOT, the executioners are ready and receive the letters. After they do, the images are gone and cannot be with them. If THE SHADOWS are with him, no judgment comes upon him, nor evil illnesses THAT COME when the shadows are flawed, as we already explained elsewhere.

205. כְּדֵין צוּלְמִין אִתְעֲבָרוּ מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין עִמֵּיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּמִתְעַבְרָן מִנֵּיהּ, הָא וַדַּאי טוּפְסְקָא דְמַלְכָּא יַעֲבֹר עֲלֵיהּ, וְיִטְעוֹם כַּסָּא דְמוֹתָא. וּבְהַהוּא לֵילְיָא דְּחַגָּא בַּתְרָאָה, סַנְטֵירִין זְמִינִין, וּפִתְקִין נָטְלִין, בָּתַר דְּנַטְלֵי לוֹן, צוּלְמִין מִתְעַבְרָן, וְלָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין בְּהוֹ יָדֵי, וְאִי מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין בְּהוֹ יָדֵי, דִּינָא גְרִיעָא, אוֹ יַעֲבֹר עֲלוֹי דִּינָא מַרְעִין בִּישִׁין, בִּגְרִיעוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא לְהָא.

Body Children Death Death and the Afterlife Head Illness Repentance Shadow

206. In ancient books, this is explained further, When the head of his shadow is missing but the body is not, it indicates that his child or wife will survive but he will pass away. This is true as long as he does not repent. If he does, he will only taste death and recover from his illness.

206. וּבְסִפְרֵי קַדְמָאֵי אַמְרֵי יַתִּיר, כַּד רֵישָׁא אִגְרַע, וְיִשְׁתַּכַּח גּוּפָא, בְּרֵיהּ, אוֹ אִנְתְתֵיהּ, יִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ, וְהוּא יִסְתַּלֵּק. וְה"מ, כַּד לָא אַהֲדַר כָּל הַהוּא זִמְנָא בִּתְיוּבְתָּא, אֲבָל אִי אַהֲדַר, טַעֲמָא דְמוֹתָא יִטְעַם, וְיִתְּסֵי.

Body Children Head Shadow

207. If the body OF HIS SHADOW will not be seen, but only the head, HIS FAMILY WILL DIE and he will stay alive. This is true as long as he is responsible for his small child.

207. וְאִי גוּפָא לָא אִתְחֲזֵי, וְיִשְׁתַּכַּח רֵישָׁא, אִינוּן סָלְקִין, וְהוּא אִתְקַיֵּים. וְה"מ, כַּד בְּרֵיהּ זְעֵירָא בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ.

Astrology Hands Light Moon Morning Shadow

208. If the hands OF THE SHADOW are flawed, IT IS AN INDICATION THAT the works of his hands will deteriorate, and if his legs ARE FLAWED, IT IS AN INDICATION THAT illnesses pursue him. If the shadow flees and returns, then flees and returns again, it is said of him, "In the morning you shall say, 'Would it were evening'" (Devarim 28:67). This is true only when the moon shines and the night is diffused with her light, WHEN HE CHECKS HIS SHADOW.

208. וְאִי יְדוֹי פְּגִימוּ, עֲבִידְתָּא דִידוֹי פְּגִימִין. רַגְלוֹי, מַרְעִין רָדְפִין עֲלֵיהּ. עָרַק צוּלְמָא וְאַהֲדַר, עָרַק וְאַהֲדַר, עֲלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עֶרֶב, וְהַאי כַּד נָהֲרָא סִיהֲרָא, וְלֵילְיָא אִתְתַּקַּן בִּנְהוֹרָא.

Heart Repentance Righteous Shadow World to Come, The

209. But the righteous and the pious search in their hearts every day as if on this very day they are to pass away from the world, and they repent wholly before their Master. They have need of nothing else, NAMELY CHECKING THEIR SHADOW OR THE LIKE OF IT. Happy is their portion in this world and in the World to Come.

209. אֲבָל זַכָּאֵי חֲסִידֵי, בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא מִסְתַּכְּלֵי בְּלִבַּיְיהוּ, כְּאִלּוּ הַהוּא יוֹמָא מִסְתַּלְּקֵי מֵעַלְמָא, וְעָבְדִין תְּיוּבְתָּא שְׁלֵימָתָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהוֹן, וְלָא יִצְטָרְכוּן לְמִלָּה אָחֳרָא, זַכָּאָה חוּלְקֵהוֹן, בְּעַלְמָא דֵין, וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Hyssop Purification Torah Wood

210. Come and see "every one that is called by My name" (Yeshayah 43:7). How exalted are the worshipers of the Holy King, for their actions below connect them to the higher things above, MEANING, TO THEIR ROOTS. FOR EACH THING BELOW IN THE WORLD HAS A ROOT ABOVE IN HIGHER WORLDS. When they are taken down and act by them, the action above, THEIR ROOT IN HIGHER WORLDS, AWAKENS in accordance with it. This is like the hyssop and the cedar wood THE TORAH COMMANDS HIM WHO IS PURIFIED TO USE, as we already explained.

210. תָּא חֲזֵי כָּל הַנִּקְרָא בִּשְׁמִי, כַּמָּה עִלָּאִין עוֹבָדֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּהָא בְּאִינוּן עוֹבָדֵי דְאִיהוּ עָבֵיד לְתַתָּא, קָטֵיר לוֹן בְּמִלִּין עִלָּאִין דִּלְעֵילָא, וְכַד נָטְלִין לוֹן לְתַתָּא, וְעָבְדֵי בְּהוֹ עוֹבָדָא, אִתְעַר הַהוּא עוֹבָדָא דִלְעֵילָא דְּקָטֵיר בָּהּ, כְּגוֹן אֵזוֹבָא, עֵץ אֶרֶז, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי.

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