The world is judged four times a year

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda discusses the four times of the year that the world is judged. During these four times of the year, Chesed, Gvurah, Tiferet and Malchut are present to judge the world. We learn of the significance of corn to the judgment on Pesach (Passover), the significance of the fruits of the tree to the judgment on Shavuot (the holiday of the Weeks), and the significance of water to the judgment on Sukkot. We are also told that Rosh Hashanah is the head of God's year, and it is the time when all the inhabitants of the world pass before God. Finally, Rabbi Yosi reminds us that man's deeds are recorded every day. Each morning his soul entreats him to repent and to follow the righteous path. Those who ignore this warning will have their deeds recorded. Only the righteous have nothing to fear in this world and in the World to Come.

Relevance

The awesome power of the major holidays and their particular rituals is released into our world, helping us atone for our sins, lessen judgments decreed against us, and transform our inner character. Relative to the degree of atonement in our heart, this passage helps us alter our destiny in positive ways by controlling the seed and "head of God's year." Awareness of the importance of penitence and spiritual growth is deepened in our consciousness, inspiring us to pursue self-transformation for the purpose of achieving closeness to the Light of the Creator.

353. We learned that Rabbi Yehuda said, We have explained in the Baraita that the world is judged four times a year: in Pesach (Passover) in respect to corn; in Shavuot (Holiday of the Weeks) in respect to the fruits of the tree; on Rosh Hashanah, when all the inhabitants of the world pass before Him like a flock of sheep; and on Sukkot when water is apportioned to them. We have explained the secret of the Baraita, that corn on Pesach, corresponded to the supernal Chariot, the secret of the patriarchs, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET, and King David, MALCHUT. TO WIT, THE FOUR TIMES BROUGHT UP IN THE BARAITA ARE THE SECRET OF THE FATHERS AND KING DAVID. HE EXPLAINS, judgment is pronounced on Pesach in respect to corn literally. And we have already explained, in relation to it why Matzah is connected to Pesach: because it is a law, and the law of the Kingdom is the prevailing law. THUS, THE MATZAH IS A LAW. This is the starting point for Yisrael to enter the holy portion of the Holy One, blessed be He, and remove the leavened bread, which is a strange deity appointed over the idolatrous nations called other Elohim, foreign Elohim, and also called leavened bread and the Evil Inclination. To enter the Matzah, MALCHUT, is to enter the holy portion of the Holy One, blessed be He. This is the reason judgment is pronounced on Pesach concerning corn, as we explained that the world is sentenced in respect to Hei, MALCHUT. TVUAH (ENG. 'CORN') IS COMPOSED OF THE SYLLABLES TAVO - HEI (LIT. 'HEI SHALL COME').

353. תָּאנָא, אֲמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, בְּמַתְנִיתָּא דִילָן אוֹקִימְנָא, הָא דְּתָנִינָן בְּאַרְבָּעָה פְּרָקִים בַּשָּׁנָה הָעוֹלָם נִדּוֹן, בַּפֶּסַח עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, בַּעֲצֶרֶת עַל פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם עוֹבְרִים לְפָנָיו כִּבְנֵי מְרוֹן, וּבַחַג נִדּוֹנִין עַל הַמַּיִם, הָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי, וְרָזָא דְמַתְנִיתָּא אוֹקִימְנָא, בְּפֶסַח עַל הַתְּבוּאָה וכו,' לָקֳבֵיל רְתִיכָא עִלָּאָה, רָזָא דַּאֲבָהָן, וְדָוִד מַלְכָּא. בְּפֶסַח עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, דְּהָכֵי הוּא מַמָּשׁ, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלָּה דָא, עַל מָה אַתְיָיא מַצָּה בְּפֶסַח, וְהָא דִינָא הוּא, דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא דִינָא, וְדָא שֵׁירוּתָא, דְּשָׁרִיאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמֵיעַל בְּחוּלָקָא קַדִּישָׁא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְבַעֲרָא מִנַּיְיהוּ חָמֵץ, דְּאִיהוּ טַעֲוָון אָחֳרָנִין, דִּי מְמַנָּן עַל עַמִּין עעכו"ם, דְּאִקְרוּן אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, אֱלֹהֵי נֵכָר, וְאִקְרוּן חָמֵץ, יֵצֶר הָרָע, וּלְמֵיעַל בְּמַצָּה, חוּלָקָא קַדִּישָׁא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בְּגִין כָּךְ, בְּפֶסַח נִדּוֹנִין עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, וְאוֹקִימְנָא דְּעַלְמָא אִתְדָּן עַל דִּינָא דְה"א.

Fruit Righteous Shavuot Soul, The Tree Zeir Anpin

354. בַּעֲצֶרֶת עַל פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן. פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן, פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָנוֹת מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאן פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן. אֶלָּא, דָּא הוּא אִילָנָא רַבְרְבָא וְתַקִּיף לְעֵילָא. פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב, אֲנִי כִּבְרוֹשׁ רַעֲנָן מִמֶּנִּי פֶּרְיְךָ נִמְצָא.

Hands Head Isaac Judgment Rosh Hashanah Sheep Tree Year Zeir Anpin

355. On Rosh Hashanah, they pass before Him like a flock of sheep. We learned that Rosh Hashanah (lit. 'head of the year') is the King's head of the year, which is Isaac called head, the head of the King, ZEIR ANPIN, THE HEAD HIS GVURAH. This place is called year, and therefore all the inhabitants of the world pass before Him like a flock of sheep. We therefore learned that on Rosh Hashanah, all the inhabitants of the world pass before Him like a flock of sheep, for then Isaac abides there, WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE LEFT WHERE JUDGMENTS DWELL. HENCE, IT IS SAID THAT ON ROSH HASHANAH "HIS LEFT HAND IS UNDER MY HEAD" (SHIR HASHIRIM 2:6).

355. בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה עוֹבְרִין לְפָנָיו כִּבְנֵי מָרוֹן, תָּנָא רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, דָּא הוּא רֵישָׁא דְשַׁתָּא דְמַלְכָּא, וּמַאן הוּא רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, דָּא יִצְחָק, דְּאִקְרֵי רֹאשׁ, דְּאִיהוּ חַד רֵישָׁא דְמַלְכָּא, אֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי שָׁנָה, בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם עוֹבְרִין לְפָנָיו כִּבְנֵי מָרוֹן, וְעַל דָּא תָּנִינָן, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, דְּהָא בְּרֵישָׁא דְשַׁתָּא שָׁארֵי יִצְחָק.

Chassadim Corn Hands Judgment Rosh Hashanah Shavuot Sukkot Tree Water

356. On Sukkot, Judgment is pronounced in respect to water. This is the beginning OF THE ILLUMINATION of the King's right side, WHICH IS CHASSADIM CALLED WATER. IT IS SAID OF SUKKOT "AND HIS RIGHT HAND EMBRACES ME" (IBID.). The rejoicing in water is everywhere when water is sprinkled or drawn, for water is known TO BE CHASSADIM. Therefore, everything exists in these four times, ON PESACH THE JUDGMENT IS IN THE SECRET OF MALCHUT CALLED CORN, ON SHAVUOT IT IS IN THE SECRET OF TIFERET CALLED TREE, ON ROSH HASHANAH IN THE SECRET OF GVURAH AND ON SUKKOT ON THE SECRET OF CHESED.

356. וּבַחַג נִדּוֹנִין עַל הַמַּיִם, דָּא הוּא שֵׁירוּתָא דִּימִינָא דְּמַלְכָּא, וְעַל דָּא חֶדְוָותָא דְמַיָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח בְּכֹלָּא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּנָסְכֵי מַיָא, וְשָׁאֲבֵי לוֹן, בְּגִין דְּמַיִם דָּא יְדִיעָא. וְעַל דָּא בְּאַרְבָּעָה פְּרָקִים אִלֵּין, כֹּלָּא מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין.

Abraham David Deeds Ears Isaac Jacob Testimony Torah

357. Rabbi Yosi said, When you examine this, there is everything in these four times, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET) and King David (MALCHUT, ACCORDING TO THE EXPLANATION OF THE LAST PARAGRAPH). The world is judged by CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, AND MALCHUT and people are judged on these four times, THE DAYS WHEN CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT ARE IN THE WORLD. Every day, the books are open and MEN'S deeds are recorded, yet no one heeds or lends an ear. The Torah gives testimony every day and says, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, for him that lacks understanding, she says to him" (Mishlei 9:4), but no one listens to its voice.

357. אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, כַּד יִסְתַּכְּלוּן מִלֵּי, כֹּלָּא אִשְׁתַּכַּח בְּהַנֵּי פִּרְקִין, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, דָּוִד מַלְכָּא, וּבְהַנֵּי עַלְמָא אִתְדָּן, וּבְאַרְבַּע פְּרָקִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אִתְדָּנוּ, בְּיוֹמִין דְּאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ בְּעַלְמָא, וּבְכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא, סִפְרִין פְּתִיחָן, וְעוֹבָדִין כְּתִיבִין, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַשְׁגַּח, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַרְכִין אוּדְנֵיהּ, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא אַסְהִידַת בֵּיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וְקָלָא קָרֵי בְחֵילָא, מִי פֶּתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה חֲסַר לֵב אָמְרָה לוֹ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיָצֵית לְקָלֵיהּ.

Deeds Earth Judgment Lion Morning Righteous Soul, The Witnesses World to Come, The

358. We learned that when a man wakes up in the morning, witnesses stand before him and adjure him, but he does not heed that the soul adjures him every hour. If he hears, well, but if he does not, the books are open and his deeds recorded. Rabbi Chiya said, Happy are the righteous, who are not afraid of judgment neither in this world nor in the World to Come. Hence it says, "But the righteous are secure as a young lion" (Mishlei 28:1) and "the righteous shall inherit the earth" (Tehilim 37:29).

358. תָּאנָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ קָאֵים בְּצַפְרָא, סָהֲדִין קָיְימִין לְקִבְלֵיהּ, וְסָהֲדִין בֵּיהּ, וְהוּא לָא אַשְׁגַּח. נִשְׁמָתָא אַסְהִידַת עֲלֵיהּ, בְּכָל עִדָּן, וּבְכָל שַׁעְתָּא, אִי אָצֵית יָאוֹת, וְאִי לָאו, הָא סִפְרִין פְּתִיחִין, וְעוֹבָדִין כְּתִיבִין. אֲמַר ר' חִיָּיא, זַכָּאִין אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָיא, דְּלָא מִסְתָּפוֹ מִן דִּינָא, לָא בְּעַלְמָא דֵין, וְלָא בְּעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, הה"ד וְצַדִּיקִים כִּכְפִיר יִבְטָח. וּכְתִיב צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ.