Vayechi: Chapter 32

"And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon begins the discussion by explaining that the bed in the title verse signifies the foundation of the world, and the bed's head signifies the Shechinah. We learn that, by its action, Israel bowed to the Supernal Throne. Rabbi Yehuda then explains that, although Jacob's soul departed while he was still in Egypt, it was united with the Shechinah and his body was buried alongside the patriarchs, as he had wished.

The text then addresses the verse, "And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes." Rabbi Yesa reveals that this verse indicates both Jacob's importance and the fact that his son would be alive at the time of Jacob's death. Rabbi Chizkiyah then speaks about the custom of a man's son putting dust on his father's eyes as a sign of respect when he dies. This leads to a discourse on the symbolic significance of each color of the eye. After offering further explanations for the custom of closing a man's eyes after his death, the conversation turns to the subject of the Nefesh of the departed soul. Finally, the rabbis return to the spiritual significance of Jacob's actions described in the title verse.

Relevance

The Light of the Shechinah is summoned into our world, helping the reader climb out of darkness and negativity [Egypt], and thus merit closeness to the great patriarchs in the World to Come. These verses also help elevate the souls of our fathers if they have passed on.

Chariot Head Heaven Illness Israel Shechinah Solomon

333. "And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head" (Beresheet 47:31). HE ASKS, What is the bed's head? HE ANSWERS, It is the Shechinah, WHICH IS ALWAYS PRESENT AT THE HEAD OF A SICK MAN. Rabbi Shimon said, Heaven forbid THAT HE WAS BOWING DOWN BEFORE THE SHECHINAH, SINCE HE WAS A CHARIOT OF TIFERET, WHICH IS ABOVE THE SHECHINAH. He bowed to his own attribute, TIFERET. HE EXPLAINS HIS WORDS, Come and behold, the bed is the Shechinah, of which it says, "Behold it his litter, that of Solomon" (Shir Hashirim 3:7). The bed's head is the foundation (Yesod) of the world, the head of the sacred bed, THE SHECHINAH; the head refers to Israel, TIFERET, standing at the bed's head, WHICH IS YESOD, FOR TIFERET IS ABOVE YESOD, and therefore Israel bowed to himself, NAMELY TO TIFERET.

333. וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה, מַאן רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה. דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא. אר"ש, ח"ו. אֶלָּא לְדִידֵיהּ כָּרַע וְסָגֵיד. תָּא חֲזֵי, מִטָּה: דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא. דִּכְתִיב הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה. רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה מַאן הוּא. דָּא יְסוֹדָא דְעַלְמָא, דְּהוּא רֵישָׁא דְעַרְסָא קַדִּישָׁא. עַל רֹאשׁ: דָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּקָאֵים עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה, בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ, יִשְׂרָאֵל לְדִידֵיהּ קָא סָגֵיד.

Chariot Crowns Grades Head Illness Israel Joseph Mochin Shechinah Throne Tree

334. You might say THAT HE BOWED DOWN TO THE SHECHINAH, WHICH IS ABOVE THE HEAD OF A SICK MAN. At that time, he was not yet ill, only later. It is written, "And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, 'Behold, your father is sick'" (Beresheet 48:1). But when he bowed down, he was not sick. Of necessity, he bowed down because he knew that he then ascended to the holy supernal grade of the whole throne TIFERET. He therefore bowed down to that Chariot, the supernal throne. FOR CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET ARE THE SUPERNAL THRONE OF BINAH, AND TIFERET IS INCLUDED OF THEM ALL. It is the perfection of the great and strong tree which is named after him, NAMELY TIFERET CALLED ISRAEL AFTER HIS NAME. Therefore, "Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head," for surely he was elevated into his own grade and adorned with crowns, MOCHIN, of the Holy King TIFERET.

334. וְאִי תֵימָא, הָא בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, לָא הֲוָה מָרַע, דְּהָא לְבָתַר כְּתִיב, וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר לְיוֹסֵף הִנֵּה אָבִיךָ חוֹלֶה, וּבְשַׁעְתָּא דְּסָגֵיד, לָא הֲוָה חוֹלֶה, וְעַל דְּיָדַע, דְּהָא בְהַהוּא זִמְנָא, סָלֵיק בְּדַרְגָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא כָּרְסַיָיא שְׁלֵימָתָא, בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ סָגֵיד לְהַהוּא רְתִיכָא, כָּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה, שְׁלִימוּ דְאִילָנָא רַבְרְבָא וְתַקֵּיף, דְּאִקְרֵי עַל שְׁמֵיהּ. וְעַל דָּא, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה, עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה וַדַּאי, דְּהָא אִסְתַּלַּק לְאַתְרֵיהּ וְאִתְעַטַּר בְּעִטְרוֹי דְמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא.

Astrology Grades Head Israel Moon Nukva Solomon Torah Wisdom

335. "And he said, 'Swear to me.' And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head." Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying, "All this have I proved by Wisdom: I said, 'I will be wise;' but it was far from me" (Kohelet 7:23). We have learned that King Solomon inherited the moon, THE NUKVA, together with all her aspects. In his days the moon was in fullness, being blessed by all THE GRADES. When he wanted to understand the statutes of the Torah he told them, "I said, 'I will be wise;' but it was far from me."

335. וַיֹּאמֶר הִשָּׁבְעָה לִי וַיִּשָּׁבַע לוֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה, רִבִּי חִיָּיא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, כָּל זֹה נִסִּיתִי בַחָכְמָה אָמַרְתִּי אֶחְכָּמָה וְהִיא רְחוֹקָה מִמֶּנִּי. הָא תָּנִינָן, שְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא, יָרֵית סִיהֲרָא מִכָּל סִטְרוֹי, וּבְיוֹמוֹי קָיְימָא בִּשְׁלֵמוּתָא, הַהִיא סִיהֲרָא דְּאִתְבָּרְכָא מִכֹּלָּא, וְכַד בָּעָא לְמֵיקַם עַל נִימוּסֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, אֲמַר אָמַרְתִּי אֶחְכָּמָה וגו.'

Body Egypt Holy Land Jacob Jeremiah Prayer Soul, The

336. Rabbi Yehuda said, Jacob stated, "but I will lie with my fathers and you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their place of burial" (Beresheet 47:30). In connection with this, we learned that a man whose soul departed in another domain, NAMELY OUTSIDE THE LAND OF YISRAEL, and whose body was buried in the Holy Land, scripture says of him: "But when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination" (Yirmeyah 2:7). Yet Jacob said, "And bury me in their place of burial," though his soul departed in another domain, IN EGYPT.

336. אֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, יַעֲקֹב אֲמַר, וְשָׁכַבְתִּי עִם אֲבוֹתַי וּנְשָׂאתַנִי מִמִּצְרַיִם וּקְבַרְתַּנִי בִּקְבוּרָתָם, תַּמָּן תָּנִינָן, מַאן דְּנָפַק נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ, בִּרְשׁוּתָא אָחֳרָא, וְגוּפָא דִילֵיהּ אִתְקַבַּר בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, עֲלֵיהּ כְּתִיב וַתָּבֹאוּ וַתְּטַמְּאוּ אֶת אַרְצִי וְנַחֲלָתִי שַׂמְתֶּם לְתוֹעֵבָה, וְיַעֲקֹב אֲמַר וּקְבַרְתַּנִי בִּקְבוּרָתָם, וְנִשְׁמָתֵיהּ נָפְקָא בִּרְשׁוּתָא אָחֳרָא.

Body Egypt Exile Jacob Shechinah Soul, The

337. Rabbi Yehuda said, Jacob is different THAN OTHER MEN, since the Shechinah held him and cleaved to him. This is the meaning of the words, "I will go down with you into Egypt" (Beresheet 46:4) to dwell with you in exile "and I will also surely bring you up again" (Ibid.), for your soul shall be united with Me, and your body shall be buried in the graves of your fathers. This comes to teach us that his soul left in another domain, YET "I WILL ALSO SURELY BRING YOU UP AGAIN" TO BE BURIED IN THE GRAVES OF HIS FATHERS.

337. א"ר יְהוּדָה, שָׁאנֵי יַעֲקֹב, דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא הֲוַת אֲחִידַת בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְדַּבְּקַת בֵּיהּ, הה"ד אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ מִצְרַיְמָה, לְדָיְירָא עִמָּךְ בְּגָלוּתָא. וְאָנֹכִי אֲעַלְךָ גַּם עָלֹה, לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא בִּי נִשְׁמָתָךְ, וּלְאִתְקְבָרָא גּוּפָךְ בְּקִבְרֵי אֲבָהָתָךְ, מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי, אע"ג דְּקָא נָפְקַת נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ בִּרְשׁוּתָא אָחֳרָא.

Eyes Firstborn Hands Joseph Rachel Thought

338. "And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes" (Ibid.). Surely because he was the firstborn, AND IT IS FOR THE FIRSTBORN TO PUT HIS HAND ON HIS FATHER'S EYES. For according to thought, he was the firstborn of the first seed, as we learned. Since the Holy One, blessed be He, knew this secret THAT HE THOUGHT OF RACHEL, He let him know that it would be Joseph, WHO WILL PUT HIS HANDS ON HIS EYES, whom he greatly loved.

338. וְיוֹסֵף יָשִׁית יָדוֹ עַל עֵינֶיךָ, יוֹסֵף וַדַּאי, דְּהָא הוּא בּוּכְרָא דְהִרְהוּרָא דְלִבָּא, בּוּכְרָא דְּטִפָּה קַדְמָאָה הֲוַת, כִּדְאִתְּמָר. וּבְגִין דְּיָדַע קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא טְמִירָא דָא, אִתְבַּשַּׂר לֵיהּ בְּיוֹסֵף, דְּהָא כָּל רְחִימוּתָא בֵּיהּ תַּלְיָא.

Death Death and the Afterlife Eyes Fear Hands Jacob Joseph Wisdom

339. "Shall put his hand on your eyes ..." HE ASKS, What does this come to teach us? Rabbi Yisa said, This teaches us of Jacob's importance, THAT HIS SON, A KING, WILL PUT HIS HAND ON HIS EYES, and also informs him that Joseph is alive and will be present at his death. Rabbi Chizkiyah said, I have learned something, yet I fear of revealing it, since Wisdom abides with the common customs. Rabbi Aba tapped him and said, Speak up and pluck up your courage, for everything is disclosed in the days of Rabbi Shimon AND THERE IS NO NEED TO BE AFRAID.

339. יָשִׁית יָדוֹ עַל עֵינֶיךָ, מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. א"ר יֵיסָא, בְּגִין יְקָרָא דְיַעֲקֹב, וּלְאִתְבַּשְּׂרָא דְּהָא יוֹסֵף קַיָּים, וְיִשְׁתַּכַּח עֲלֵיהּ בְּמִיתָתֵיהּ. רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אֲמַר, מִלָּה אוֹלִיפְנָא, וְדָחֵילְנָא לְגַלָּאָה, וּבְעוֹבָדֵי עַלְמָא חָכְמְתָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח. אָתָא רִבִּי אַבָּא, בָּטַשׁ בֵּיהּ, אֲמַר אֵימָא מִילָךְ, וְזַיֵּין זַיְינָךְ, בְּיוֹמוֹי דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מִלִּין אִתְגַּלְּיָין.

Dust Eyes

340. RABBI CHIZKIYAH said, We learned from the book of Rabbi Yesa Saba (the elder), in the chapter about customs, that when a man merits a son in this world, THE SON should put dust on his eyes when his father is buried as a sign of respect, an indication that the world is now concealed from him, and that he, THE SON, inherits it in his stead.

340. אֲמַר, אוֹלִיפְנָא מִפִּרְקִין דְּרַב יֵיסָא סָבָא, בְּנִמּוּסֵי עַלְמָא, בַּר נָשׁ דְּזָכֵי לְבַר בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, לִיבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְנַגְדָּא עַפְרָא עַל עֵינוֹי כַּד אִתְקַבַּר, וְדָא הוּא יְקָרָא דִילֵיהּ, לְאַחֲזָאָה דְעַלְמָא אַסְתֵּים מִנֵּיהּ, וְהוּא יָרֵית לֵיהּ לְעַלְמָא תְּחוֹתוֹי.

Colors Eyes Ground Seas Water White

341. This is because a man's eyes reflect the world and contain all the colors. The white color in them is like a great sea which surrounds the world on all sides. Another is like the ground dug out from the water. The ground stands in the midst of the water and so does the color in the midst of the water, NAMELY IN THE MIDST OF THE WHITE COLOR WHICH INDICATES THE WATER OF THE OCEAN.

341. בְּגִין דְּעֵינוֹי דְבַר נָשׁ, חֵיזוּ דְעַלְמָא בֵּיהּ אִתְחֲזֵי, וְכָל גְּוָונִין הָכֵי אִינוּן דְּאַסְחָרוֹ, חִוָּורָא דְבֵיהּ, הוּא יַמָּא רַבָּא אוֹקְיָנוֹס, דְּאַסְחַר כָּל עַלְמָא בְּכָל סִטְרֵי, גּוֹוָנָא אָחֳרָא הוּא יַבֶּשְׁתָּא, דַּאֲפִיקוּ מַיָא, וְיַבֶּשְׁתָּא קָאֵים בֵּין מַיָא, הָכֵי הוּא גּוֹוָנָא בֵּין מַיָא.

Apples Colors Eyes Face Jerusalem Point Shechinah Zion

342. The third color in the middle of the eye is Jerusalem, the center of the world. The fourth color in the eye is where the power of sight dwells; NAMELY THE BLACKNESS IN THE EYE. It is called "the apple of the eye" (Tehilim 17:8), where the face is seen and the most dear sight of all, Zion, the innermost point of all, where the whole world is seen, where the Shechinah dwells, which is the beauty and sight of all. The eye is the worldly inheritance, and therefore he WHO DIES leaves this and HIS SON takes it and inherits it.

342. גּוֹוָנָא אָחֳרָא תְּלִיתָאָה, הִיא בִּמְצִיעוּתָא דְבֵיהּ, דָּא יְרוּשָׁלִַם, דְּהִיא אֶמְצָעוּתָא דְעַלְמָא. גּוֹוָנָא רְבִיעָאָה, הִיא חֵיזוּ דְּכָל עֵינָא, וְאִקְרֵי בַּת עַיִן, דִּבְהַהוּא בַּת עַיִן, אִתְחֲזֵי פַּרְצוּפָא, וְחֵיזוּ יְקָרָא מִכֹּלָּא דָּא צִיּוֹן, דְּאִיהִי נְקוּדָה אֶמְצָעוּתָא מִכֹּלָּא, דְּחֵיזוּ דְּכָל עַלְמָא תַּמָּן אִתְחֲזֵי, וְתַמָּן שַׁרְיָא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּהִיא שַׁפִּירוּ דְּכֹלָּא, וְחֵיזוּ דְּכֹלָּא, וְעֵינָא דָא הוּא יְרוּתַת עַלְמָא. וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ, הַאי שָׁבֵיק לֵיהּ, וְהַאי נָטֵיל לֵיהּ, וְיָרֵית לֵיהּ.

Body Death Death and the Afterlife Eyes Nefesh (Soul) Soul (Nefesh)

343. He said to him: This was well said, but this matter has an even deeper meaning, though the children of the world do not know or look for it. For when a man departs from the world, his Nefesh is hidden with him, and before it leaves the body his eyes see certain things, as we have explained in relation to the verse, "For no man shall see Me, and live" (Shemot 33:20), that men do not see in their lives what they see in their death.

343. א"ל שַׁפִּיר קָאֲמַרְתְּ, אֲבָל מִלָּה סְתִימָא אִיהוּ יַתִּיר, וּבְנֵי עַלְמָא לָא יָדְעִין, וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלָן, דְּהָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ נָפֵיק מֵעַלְמָא. נַפְשָׁא דִילֵיהּ טְמִירָא עִמֵּיהּ, וְעַד לָא נָפְקַת, עֵינוֹי דְב"נ חָמוּ מַה דְּחָמוּ, כְּמָה דְאוֹקִימְנָא דִּכְתִיב כִּי לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי. בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן לָא חָמָאן, אֲבָל בְּמִיתַתְהוֹן חָמָאן.

Eyes Hands Joseph

344. His eyes are opened to the sight they have just seen, and those standing by should put a hand on his eyes and close them, because of what we learned about common customs. When the eyes remain open to the dear vision, if he has a son, the son should be the first to put his hand over his eyes and close them. It says, "And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes," for another unholy sight is come before him and the eye that beheld the supernal holy sight must not look at the other sight.

344. וְעֵינוֹי פְּקִיחָן מֵהַהוּא חֵיזוּ דְּחָמָא, וְאִינוּן דְּקָיְימִין עֲלֵיהּ, בָּעָא לְשַׁוְאָה יָדָא עַל עֵינוֹי, וּלְאַסְתָּמָא עֵינוֹי, בְּגִין הַהוּא דְּאוֹלִיפְנָא בְּרָזָא דְנִמּוּסֵי עַלְמָא, דִּבְשַׁעְתָּא דְאִשְׁתָּאֲרוּ עֵינוֹי פְּקִיחָן, מֵהַהוּא חֵיזוּ יַקִּירָא דְחָמָא, אִי זָכֵי לְבַר, בְּרָא קָדֵים לְשַׁוְאָה יָדֵיהּ עַל עֵינוֹי וּלְאַסְתָּמָא לוֹן, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וְיוֹסֵף יָשִׁית יָדוֹ עַל עֵינֶיךָ. בְּגִין, דְּהָא חֵיזוּ אָחֳרָא דְּלָא קַדִּישָׁא אִזְדַּמְּנַת לְקִבְלֵיהּ, וְעֵינָא דְחָמָא הַשְׁתָּא חֵיזוּ קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה, לָא יִסְתַּכַּל בְּחֵיזוּ אָחֳרָא.

Dust Eyes Grave Judgment Nefesh (Soul) Other Side Soul (Nefesh)

345. Another reason is that the Nefesh is close by in the house, and if the eye is open, and the other sight OF THE OTHER SIDE will be upon his eyes, whatever he beholds shall be cursed. AND SINCE HIS NEFESH IS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM, HE MIGHT LOOK AT IT AND IT WILL BE ACCURSED. This is not respectful to the eye, or to any of the dead man's relatives, especially to the dead man himself. It is degrading for him to behold what he should not BEHOLD, and lay his eyes on another thing; NAMELY THE OTHER SIDE. Therefore he is covered by dust. The friends have already spoken about the judgment which THE DEAD MAN undergoes in the grave, AND THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. It is a sign of respect that the eye be closed by the son that he left in the world.

345. וְעוֹד, דְּהַהוּא נֶפֶשׁ סְמִיכַת לְקִבְלֵיהּ בְּבֵיתָא, וְאִי אִשְׁתָּאַר עֵינָא פְּקִיחָא, וְהַהוּא חֵיזוּ אָחֳרָא יִשְׁרֵי עַל עֵינוֹי, בְּכָל מַה דְּאִסְתַּכַּל אִתְלַטְיָא, וְלָאו יְקָרָא דְעֵינָא הוּא, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן מִקְרִיבוֹי, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן מִן מִיתָא, דְּלָאו יְקָרָא דִילֵיהּ לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בַּמֶּה דְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, וּלְאַשְׁרַיָא עַל עֵינוֹי מִלָּה אָחֳרָא, לְבָתַר אִתְכַּסְיָא בְּעַפְרָא, וְהָא אִתְעָרוּ חַבְרַיָא עַל דִּינָא דְקִבְרָא מַהוּ. וִיקָרָא הוּא, דְּיַסְתֵּים עֵינָא מִן כֹּלָּא, עַל יְדָא דִבְרֵיהּ דְּשָׁבַק בְּעַלְמָא.

Body Grave Heart Nefesh (Soul) Seven Soul (Nefesh)

346. Come and see, for seven days AFTER THE DEMISE, the Nefesh goes from the grave to the house and back, and mourns him. Three times a day, the Nefesh and the body are judged together, though nobody in the world knows it, or observes it so as to awaken his heart.

346. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל שִׁבְעָה יוֹמִין, נַפְשָׁא אָזְלָא מִבֵּיתָא לְקִבְרָא, וּמִקִּבְרָא לְבֵיתָא, וְאִתְאַבָּלַת עֲלֵיהּ, וּתְלַת זִמְנִין בְּיוֹמָא, אִתְדָּנוּ כַּחֲדָא נַפְשָׁא וְגוּפָא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיָדַע בְּעַלְמָא, וְיַשְׁגַּח לְאַתְעָרָא לִבָּא.

Body Gehenom (Hell) Grave Hell (Gehenom) Nefesh (Soul) Soul (Nefesh)

347. Afterwards, the body is sealed IN THE GRAVE and the Nefesh goes to bathe in Gehenom, then goes out to roam about the world and visit THE BODY IN the grave, until it wears that which it wears.

347. לְבָתַר, גּוּפָא אִתְטְרֵיד, וְנַפְשָׁא אָזְלָא וְאִסְּתַחְיָא בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם, וְנָפְקָא וְשָׁטָא בְּעַלְמָא, וּמְבַקְרָא לְקִבְרֵיהּ, עַד דְּמִתְלַבְּשָׁא בַּמֶּה דְּאִתְלַבְּשָׁא.

Body Dust Garden of Eden Garments Nefesh (Soul) Neshamah (Soul) Nukva Ruach (Soul) Shabbat Soul (Nefesh) Soul (Neshamah) Soul (Ruach) Twelve

348. After twelve months every body rests. The body reposes in the dust and the Nefesh is bound and enlightened by the Ruach, which in its garment is satisfied in the Garden of Eden. The Neshamah ascends to the bundle of life, THE NUKVA, the greatest pleasure of all. All of them are attached to each other, THE NEFESH TO THE RUACH AND THE RUACH TO THE NESHAMAH, at certain times, ON SHABBAT, HOLIDAYS AND THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH.

348. לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי, נָיְיחִין כֹּלָּא, גּוּפָא שָׁבֵיק בְּעַפְרָא. נַפְשָׁא אִתְצְרֵיר וְאִתְנְהִיר בְּרוּחָא, בְּמָאנָא דְּאִתְלַבֵּשׁ. רוּחָא אִתְעַנַּג בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן. נִשְׁמָתָא סָלְקָא לִצְרוֹרָא דְעִנּוּגָא דְּכָל עִנּוּגִין. וְכֹלָּא אִתְקַשַּׂר דָּא בְּדָא לְזִמְנִין יְדִיעָן.

Eden Garden of Eden Garments Precepts Torah

349. Come and see, Woe to the people who do not regard, who do not know nor understand why they exist, and neglect to observe the precepts of the Torah. Some of the precepts of the Torah are made into a holy garment above IN THE UPPER GARDEN OF EDEN, and some are made into a holy garment below IN THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN. Some precepts are made into a holy garment in this world. Man needs them all. They are made of man's days as we explained.

349. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַוי לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, דְּלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין, וְלָא יָדְעִין, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן, עַל מַה קָיְימֵי, וְיִתְנְשֵׁי מִנַּיְיהוּ, לְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. דְּאִית פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּעָבְדֵי לְבוּשׁ יְקָר לְעֵילָא, וְאִית פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּעָבְדֵי לְבוּשׁ יְקָר לְתַתָּא, וְאִית פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּעָבְדֵי לְבוּשֵׁי יְקָר לְהַאי עַלְמָא, וְכֹלָּא אִצְטְרִיכָן לֵיהּ לְב"נ, וּמִן יוֹמוֹי מַמָּשׁ, כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְתַּקְנָן, כְּמָה דְאוֹקִימְנָא.

Directions Dreams Garments Light

350. Rabbi Yehuda Saba (the elder) was very anxious one day TO KNOW WHAT HE WOULD HAVE IN THE WORLD OF TRUTH. He was shown in a dream a certain image made of bright light which shines to the four directions. He asked what it was, and they said to him: This is your garment, which you shall wear here. From that day ONWARD, he was happy.

350. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבָא, אִתְרַגֵּישׁ בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ יוֹמָא חַד, וְאַחֲזוּ לֵיהּ בְּחֶלְמֵיהּ, חַד דְּיוֹקְנָא מִנְּהוֹרָא דִּילֵיהּ, תַּקִּיף, דְּאִזְדְּהַר לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין, א"ל מַאי הַאי. א"ל, לְבוּשָׁא דִילָךְ הוּא, לְדִיּוּרָא דְהָכָא, וּמֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא הֲוָה חָדֵי.

Chariot Congregation Garden of Eden Garments Head Israel Nukva Peace Praise Righteous Solomon

351. Rabbi Yehuda said, On each day the spirits of the righteous sit, clothed in their garments in rows in the Garden of Eden and praise the Holy One, blessed be He, with the highest glory, as it is written, "Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name, the upright shall dwell in Your presence" (Tehilim 140:14). Rabbi Aba said, It is first written, "And Israel bowed himself..." As we explained, the bed is the Congregation of Yisrael, THE NUKVA; the bed's head is the Righteous; "upon the bed's head" refers to the Holy King, that the peace is His, NAMELY TIFERET, as it is written, "Behold his litter, that of Solomon" (Shir Hashirim 3:7). For he bowed to himself, BEING THE CHARIOT OF TIFERET, to him who stands upon the bed's head whose name is Yisrael, AS TIFERET IS CALLED YISRAEL. Therefore, "And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head."

351. א"ר יְהוּדָה, כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא, רוּחִין דְּצַדִּיקַיָיא יָתְבִין בִּלְבוּשֵׁיהוֹן, שׁוּרִין שׁוּרִין בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן, וּמְשַׁבְּחָן לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בִּיקָרָא עִלָּאָה, הה"ד אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ יֵשְׁבוּ יְשָׁרִים אֶת פָּנֶיךָ. א"ר אַבָּא, בְּקַדְמֵיתָא מַה כְּתִיב וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו,' כְּמָה דְאוֹקִימְנָא, מַאן מִטָּה, דָּא כ"י. רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה: דָּא צַדִּיק. עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה: דָּא מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דִּשְׁלָמָא כֹּלָּה דִילֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה. דְּיַעֲקֹב לְדִידֵיהּ קָא סָגֵיד, לְהַהוּא דְקָאֵים עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה, יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמֵיהּ, בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה.

Grades Heart Jacob Patriarchs

352. Afterwards, when Jacob saw that he was perfected in the highest grade(TIFERET) together with the patriarchs, CHESED AND GVURAH, and that he alone was wholly mended, FOR TIFERET IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN WHICH INCLUDES CHESED AND GVURAH AND MEASURED AGAINST ALL CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET, his heart rejoiced and he was strengthened by the supernal will of the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO WAS PLEASED with him. Then it was said of him, "And Yisrael strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed," on the bed itself, THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, since he was perfected in a higher grade, MEANING, HE WAS MADE WHOLE BY THE ATTRIBUTE OF TIFERET WHICH IS ABOVE MALCHUT. Happy is his portion.

352. לְבָתַר, כֵּיוָן דְּיָדַע יַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה אִשְׁתְּלֵים, וְדַרְגָּא דִילֵיהּ הוּא לְעֵילָא עִם אֲבָהָתָא, וְהוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי תִּקּוּנָא שְׁלֵימָתָא, אַחְסֵין לִבֵּיהּ, וְחָדֵי וְאִתְתַּקַּף בִּרְעוּתָא עִלָּאָה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בֵּיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ וַיִּתְחַזֵּק יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל הַמִּטָּה, עַל הַמִּטָּה מַמָּשׁ, דְּהָא בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר אִשְׁתַּלֵּם, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ.

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