The tulip and the rose

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon begins the discussion by providing two explanations for this title verse. He reveals that the "tulip of Sharon" signifies both the Congregation of Yisrael and the Malchut. Rabbi Shimon continues by explaining that the Malchut is called "Sharon" and that it thirsts for the water of Binah. The tulip, we are told, is also called "the rose of the valley," since it changes hues when she unites with the King. This change, we learn, indicates an alignment with mercy or judgment. Rabbi Shimon next proceeds by providing a description of Adam's mortal sin, the crime by which he brought punishment upon all people. We are told that in fact it was Eve who led Adam to sin and thereby, brought death to all. As punishment for this sin, both Adam and Eve, as well as the rest of humanity, became subject to constant change and eventual death.

Relevance

The Light of Binah flows into our world as we peruse this passage with a pure heart. This Light brings mercy into our lives, softening judgments. This energy of purification also helps to correct the original sin of Adam, and assists in the removal of death from the landscape of human existence.

Congregation Lily Sharon Tulip

232. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion saying, "I am the tulip of the Sharon, the rose of the valleys" (Shir Hashirim 2:1). How fond is the Holy One, blessed be He, of the Congregation of Yisrael. He always praises it, and she always praises the Holy One, blessed be He, as said in Shir Hashirim. How many poets and singers it summons before the Holy One, blessed be He. Happy is the portion of Yisrael, who cleaves to the lot of the holy portion, as it says, "For Hashem's portion is His people..." (Devarim 32:9).

232. ר"ש פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, אֲנִי חֲבַצֶּלֶת הַשָּׁרוֹן שׁוֹשַׁנַּת הָעֲמָקִים, כַּמָּה חֲבִיבָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְשַׁבַּח לָהּ, וְהִיא מְשַׁבַּחַת לֵיהּ תָּדִיר, וְכַמָּה מְשַׁבְּחִין וּמְזַמְּרִין אַזְמֵינַת לֵיהּ תָּדִיר לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, זַכָּאָה חוּלְקֵהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דַּאֲחִידָן בֵּיהּ בְּעַדְבָא דְחוּלָקָא קַדִּישָׁא, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב כִּי חֵלֶק ה' עַמּוֹ וגו.'

Congregation Garden of Eden Nukva Sharon Tulip

Flow Ground Lily Nukva Rivers Sharon Tulip Valley Water Waters

234. Another explanation is that "I am the tulip of the Sharon" in need of watering from the deep river, the source of all springs, NAMELY BINAH, as it says, "And the parched ground (Heb. sharav) shall become a pool" (Yeshayah 35:7). HENCE THE NUKVA IS CALLED SHARON, DERIVED FROM SHARAV, FOR SHE IS THIRSTY FOR THE WATER OF BINAH. She is called "the rose of the valley (also: 'the deeps')" since she is to be found very deep. The deeps are those in the verse, "Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Hashem" (Tehilim 130:1). "The tulip of the Sharon" comes from the place where the waters of the springs come and never stop flowing. "The rose of the valley" is from the place called the depth of all, closed on all sides.

234. ד"א אֲנִי חֲבַצֶּלֶת הַשָּׁרוֹן, דְּבָעְיָא לְאַשְׁקָאָה מִשַּׁקְיוּ דְנַחֲלָא עֲמִיקָא, מַבּוּעָא דְּנַחֲלִין, כְּד"א וְהָיָה הַשָּׁרָב לְאַגַּם. שׁוֹשַׁנַּת הָעֲמָקִים: דְּקָיְימָא בַּעֲמִיקְתָא דְּכֹלָּא. מַאן אִינוּן עֲמָקִים. כְּד"א מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ ה.' חֲבַצֶּלֶת הַשָּׁרוֹן. חֲבַצֶּלֶת, מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר, דְּשַׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלִין נָפְקִין, וְלָא פָּסְקִין לְעָלְמִין. שׁוֹשַׁנַּת הָעֲמָקִים: שׁוֹשַׁנָּה מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי עֲמִיקָא דְכֹלָּא, סְתִים מִכָּל סִטְרִין.

Colors Lily Red Tulip White

Colors Judgment Kisses Lily Lips Mercy Tulip Valley

236. שֹׁשַׁנַּת: בְּקַדְמֵיתָא חֲבַצֶּלֶת, בְּעִדָּנָא דְּבָעְיָא לְאִזְדַּוָּוגָא בֵּיהּ בְּמַלְכָּא, אִקְרֵי חֲבַצֶּלֶת, בָּתַר דְּאִתְדַּבְּקַת בֵּיהּ בְּמַלְכָּא בְּאִינוּן נְשִׁיקִין, אִקְרֵי שׁשַׁנַּת, בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב שִׂפְתוֹתָיו שׁוֹשַׁנִּים. שֹׁשַׁנַּת הָעֲמָקִים דְּהִיא מְשַׁנְיָיא גְּוָונָהָא, זִמְנִין לְטַב, וְזִמְנִין לְבִישׁ, זִמְנִין לְרַחֲמֵי, זִמְנָא לְדִינָא.

Adam Creation Eyes Food Heart Mochin Tree Tree of Life Women Zeir Anpin

237. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes" (Beresheet 3:6). Come and see, Men do not behold, nor do they know or care, that when the Holy One, blessed be He, created Adam, He donned him with what is most dear, THE SUPERNAL MOCHIN, and asked Adam to cleave to Him, so he will be the only one, of one heart, to cling to the place of one never - changing clinging; NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, OF WHICH IT SAYS, "FOR I AM HASHEM, I DO NOT CHANGE" (MALACHI 3:6) -- which never alters, the knot to which the all embracing union is tied. This is the meaning of "The Tree of Life in the midst of the garden" (Beresheet 2:10), NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN.

237. וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב הָעֵץ לְמַאֲכָל וְכִי תַּאֲוָה הוּא לָעֵינַיִם. תָּא חֲזֵי ,דְּהָא בְּנֵי נָשָׁא לָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין, וְלָא יָדְעִין, וְלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דִּבְרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאָדָם, וְאוֹקִיר לֵיהּ בִּיקִירוּ עִלָּאָה, בָּעָא מִנֵּיהּ לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בֵּיהּ בְּגִין דְּיִשְׁתַּכַּח יְחִידָאי, וּבְלִבָּא יְחִידָאי, וּבַאֲתַר דִּדְבֵקוּתָא יְחִידָאי, דְּלָא אִשְׁתַּנֵּי, וְלָא מִתְהַפֵּךְ לְעָלְמִין, בְּהַהוּא קִשּׁוּרָא יְחִידָא, דְּכֹלָּא בֵּיהּ אִתְקַשַּׁר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְעֵץ הַחַיִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן.

Colors Evil Faith Nukva Tree Zeir Anpin

238. Later, they turned from the path of faith, and left the only supernal tree among the trees, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, and alighted upon the place which changes colors, and changes from good to evil and from evil to good, MEANING, THE NUKVA WHEN NOT WITH ZEIR ANPIN, BUT SUCKING FROM THE LEFT ALONE. They descended downward from above, and were greatly changed. They left the only tree, the highest among the trees, as it is written, "That the Elohim has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Kohelet 7:29).

238. לְבָתַר סָטוֹ מֵאָרְחָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְשָׁבְקוּ אִילָנָא יְחִידָאי, עִלָּאָה מִכָּל אִילָנִין, וְאָתוּ לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא, בַּאֲתַר דְּמִשְׁתַּנֵּי, וּמִתְהַפֵּךְ מִגּוֹוָנָא לְגוֹוָנָא וּמִטַּב לְבִישׁ וּמִבִּישׁ לְטַב, וְנַחֲתֵי מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, וְאִתְדַּבָּקוּ לְתַתָּא, בְּשִׁנּוּיִין סַגִּיאִין, וְשָׁבְקוּ אִילָנָא יְחִידָאָה, עִלָּאָה מִכָּל אִילָנִין, הה"ד אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹקִים אֶת הָאָדָם יָשָׁר וגו.'

Evil Heart Judgment Mercy

Adam Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Merit Nukva Tree Tree of Life Women Zeir Anpin

240. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: 'Adam, you have abandoned life and clung to death. Life is, as it is written, "The Tree of Life in the midst of the garden," NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN called life, for whoever cleaves to it shall never taste death. Yet you clung to another tree, THE NUKVA WHEN NOT UNITED WITH ZEIR ANPIN. Now surely death awaits you,' as it is written, "Her feet go down to death" (Mishlei 5:5), FOR WHOEVER HAS NO MERIT IS EVIL. It is also written, "And I find more bitter than death the woman" (Kohelet 7:26), THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA WHEN NOT UNITED WITH ZEIR ANPIN. Surely he clung to the place of death and abandoned the place of living and was therefore doomed to death together with the rest of the world.

240. א"ל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אָדָם, שְׁבַקְתְּ חַיֵּי וְאִתְדַּבַּקְתְּ בְּמוֹתָא. חַיֵּי: דִּכְתִיב וְעֵץ הַחַיִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן, דְּאִקְרֵי חַיִּים, דְּמַאן דְּאָחֵיד בֵּיהּ, לָא טָעֵים מוֹתָא לְעָלְמִין. אִתְדַּבַּקְתְּ בְּאִילָנָא אָחֳרָא, הָא וַדַּאי מוֹתָא הוּא לְקִבְלָךְ, הה"ד רַגְלֶיהָ יוֹרְדוֹת מָוֶת, וּכְתִיב וּמוֹצֵא אֲנִי מַר מִמָּוֶת אֶת הָאִשָּׁה, וַדַּאי בַּאֲתַר דְּמוֹתָא אִתְדַּבַּק, וּשְׁבַק אֲתַר דְּחַיֵּי, בְּגִין כָּךְ אִתְגְּזַר עֲלֵיהּ, וְעַל כָּל עַלְמָא, מוֹתָא.

Adam Creation Death Death and the Afterlife Fear Sin Tree

241. HE ASKS, If he sinned, what was the sin of the whole world, WHY WAS IT DECREED THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD DIE? Should you say, it is because the whole world ate of this tree, and therefore were all sentenced to death, this is not so. HE ANSWERS, When Adam WAS CREATED AND stood upon his feet, all the creatures saw and feared him, and followed him like servants after the King. But he said to them, "O come, let us worship and bow down" (Tehilim 95:6), you and I. When they saw Adam bowing before that place, THE LEFT SIDE, and cleaving to it, they all followed him. Thus, he brought death upon the whole world.

241. אִי הוּא חָטָא, כָּל עַלְמָא מַה חָטוּ. אִי תֵימָא, דְּכָל עַלְמָא אָכְלֵי מֵאִילָנָא דָא, וְאִתְרַמֵּי לְכֹלָּא. לָאו הָכֵי. אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְאָדָם קָאֵים עַל רַגְלוֹי, חָמֵי לֵיהּ בִּרְיָין כֻּלְּהוּ, וּדְחִילוּ מִקַּמֵּיהּ, וַהֲווֹ נָטְלִין אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, כְּעַבְדִין בָּתַר מַלְכָּא, וְהוּא אֲמַר לוֹן, אֲנָא וְאַתּוּן, בֹּאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנִכְרָעָה וגו.' וַאֲזָלוּ כֻּלְּהוּ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּחָזוּ דְּאָדָם סְגִיד לְהַאי אֲתַר, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ, כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְמַשְּׁכוּ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ וְגָרֵים מוֹתָא לְכָל עָלְמָא.

Adam Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Judgment Mercy Peace Sword Tree Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil War

242. וּכְדֵין אִשְׁתַּנֵּי אָדָם לְכַמָּה גְּוָונִין, זִמְנִין דִּינָא, זִמְנִין רַחֲמֵי זִמְנִין מוֹתָא, זִמְנִין חַיֵּי, וְלָא קָאֵים בְּקִיּוּמָא תָּדִיר בְּחַד מִנַּיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא אֲתַר גָּרֵים לֵיהּ. וְעַל דָּא אִקְרֵי, חֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת: הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת מִסִּטְרָא דָא, לְסִטְרָא דָא, מִטַּב לְבִישׁ, מֵרַחֲמֵי לְדִינָא, מִשְּׁלָם לְקָרָבָא, מִתְהַפֶּכֶת הִיא בְּכֹלָּא, טַב וְרַע דִּכְתִיב וְעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע.

Death Death and the Afterlife Garden of Eden Love Tree Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Women

243. וּמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה, לְרַחֲמָא עַל עוֹבָדוֹי, אוֹכַח לֵיהּ, וא"ל, וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ וגו,' וְהוּא לָא קַבֵּיל מִנֵּיהּ, וְאִתְמְשַׁךְ בָּתַר אִתְּתֵיהּ, וְאִתְתָּרַךְ לְעָלְמִין, דְּהָא אִתְּתָא לְאַתְרָא סַלְקָא וְלָא יַתִּיר, וְאִתְּתָא גָרֵים מוֹתָא לְכֹלָּא.

Death Death and the Afterlife Tree Tree of Life World to Come, The

244. תָּא חֲזֵי, לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי כְּתִיב, כִּי כִּימֵי הָעֵץ יְמֵי עַמִּי, כִּימֵי הָעֵץ, הַהוּא דְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדָעָא, בֵּיהּ זִמְנָא, כְּתִיב, בִּלַּע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח וּמָחָה ה' אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים וְחֶרְפַּת עַמּוֹ יָסִיר מֵעַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ וגו.'