Vayechi
Beasts Caves Evil Lion Righteous

431. RABBI YEHUDA said TO RABBI CHIZKIYAH, If harm is probable, it is so AND WE SHOULD BE AFRAID, but it is not probable FOR WE SEE HERE NO BEASTS WHICH COULD HARM US. And after we enter the cave, WE ARE SAFE for no evil will follow to harm us. THEREFORE IT IS SAID, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION" (MISHLEI 28:1). They entered the cave. Rabbi Yehuda said, We shall divide the night into three watches. Each of us will stand guard at one watch of the night and we shall keep awake.

431. א"ל אִי נִזְקָא שְׁכִיחַ, הָכֵי הוּא, אֲבָל הָכָא לָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח נִזְקָא, וּלְבָתַר דַּאֲנַן נֵיעוֹל לִמְעַרְתָּא, לָא לֵיעוֹל נִזְקָא, לְצַעֲרָא לָן. עָאלוּ לִמְעַרְתָּא, א"ר יְהוּדָה, נִפְלוֹג לֵילְיָא לִתְלַת מִשְׁמָרוֹת דַּהֲוֵי לֵילְיָא, כָּל חַד וְחַד מִנָּן, לֵיקוּם עַל קִיּוּמֵיהּ, בְּהַנֵּי תְּלַת סִטְרֵי לֵילְיָא, וְלָא נִדְמוּךְ.

Abraham Eitan Patriarchs

432. Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion saying, "A Maskil of Eitan the Ezrachite" (Tehilim 89:1). This hymn was sung by the Patriarch Abraham when he strove to serve the Holy One, blessed be He, by doing kindness with the people of the world, in making them all acknowledge that the Holy One, blessed be He, reigns over the land. He is called Eitan (lit. 'strong') since he was strongly attached to the Holy One, blessed be He.

432. פְּתַח ר' יְהוּדָה וַאֲמַר, מַשְׂכִּיל לְאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי, הַאי תּוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אֲמָרָהּ בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְעָבֵיד חֶסֶד עִם בְּנֵי עַלְמָא, דְּיִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעוּן כֹּלָּא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שַׁלִּיט עַל אַרְעָא. וְאִקְרֵי אֵיתָן. בְּגִין, דְּאַתְקֵף בִּתְקִיפוּ בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Abraham Chassadim Chassidim Isaac Judgment Singing

433. "I will sing the mercies (Heb. chassadim) of Hashem forever" (Tehilim 89:2): HE ASKS, Why does singing come from the side of the pious (Heb. chassidim) WHO ARE OF THE RIGHT COLUMN, SEEING THAT SINGING COMES FROM THE LEFT COLUMN? HE ANSWERS, Here the left is included within the right. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, tried Abraham and tested him. We learned that Isaac was 37 at the time OF THE BINDING. Why does it say that He tried Abraham? It should have said that He tried Isaac. The reason it says that He tried Abraham is to make him be of Judgment, properly included in Judgment, SINCE HE WAS WHOLLY OF THE ATTRIBUTE OF CHESED. In this way will he be perfected. Therefore, "I will sing the Mercies of Hashem forever," SINCE HE WAS ALREADY INCLUDED OF THE LEFT COLUMN, WHENCE SINGING COMES FROM.

433. חַסְדֵּי ה' עוֹלָם אָשִׁירָה, וְכִי מִסִּטְרָא דַּחֲסִידִים אַתְיָין לְזַמְּרָא, אֶלָּא הָכָא אִתְכְּלֵיל סִטְרָא דִשְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא, וְע"ד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נַסֵּי לְאַבְרָהָם, וּבָחֵין לֵיהּ, וְהָא אִתְּמָר דְּיִצְחָק בַּר תְּלָתִין וּשְׁבַע שְׁנִין הֲוָה בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, מַאי נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם, נִסָּה אֶת יִצְחָק מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם, דְּיִשְׁתַּכַּח בְּדִינָא, וּלְאִתְכְּלָלָא בְּדִינָא, דְּיִשְׁתַּכַּח שְׁלִים כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, וְע"ד חַסְדֵּי ה' עוֹלָם אָשִׁירָה.

Abraham Faith

434. Another explanation for: "I will sing the Mercies of Hashem forever." These are the mercies that the Holy One, blessed be He, does by the world. "With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations" (Ibid.) refers to the kindness and truth He confers upon all. It is the faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, that Abraham spread in the world, and caused Him to be mentioned on the tongue of all creatures. Therefore "with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness."

434. ד"א חַסְדֵּי ה' עוֹלָם אָשִׁירָה, אִינוּן חֲסָדִים, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד עִם עַלְמָא. לְדוֹר וָדוֹר אוֹדִיעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ בְּפִי, טִיבוּ וּקְשׁוֹט, דְּעָבֵיד עִם כֹּלָּא. לְדוֹר וָדוֹר אוֹדִיעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ, דָּא מְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּאוֹדַע אַבְרָהָם בְּעַלְמָא, וְאַדְכַּר לֵיהּ בְּפוּמָא דְּכָל בִּרְיָין, וְעַל דָּא אוֹדִיעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ בְּפִי.

Abraham Creation Faith Hands Judgment Love Nukva Universe

435. The Holy One, blessed be He, revealed to Abraham the secret of faith, WHICH IS THE NUKVA. When he knew it, ABRAHAM knew that the world was created and existed for his sake, FOR HE IS THE SECRET OF CHESED. Hence, "For I have said, 'The world is built by love (lit. 'Chesed')'" (Tehilim 89:3). For when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the universe, THE NUKVA, He saw the world could not endure, so He extended His right hand, WHICH IS CHESED, and it endured. If He had not extended His right upon it, it would not have existed since this world, THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA, was created by Judgment AND THEREFORE CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT CHESED, as we have already explained.

435. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹדַע לֵיהּ לְאַבְרָהָם רָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְכַד יָדַע רָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא, יָדַע דְּאִיהוּ עִיקָרָא וְקִיוּמָא דְעַלְמָא, דִּבְגִינֵיהּ אִתְבְּרֵי עַלְמָא, וְאִתְקַיַּים, הה"ד כִּי אָמַרְתִּי עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה וגו.' דְכַד בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַלְמָא, חָמָא דְלָא יָכֵיל לְמֵיקַם, עַד דְּאוֹשִׁיט יְמִינָא עֲלֵיהּ וְאִתְקַיַּים, וְאִי לָאו דְּאוֹשִׁיט יְמִינָא עֲלֵיהּ, לָא אִתְקַיַּים, בְּגִין דְּעַלְמָא דָּא בְּדִינָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא.

Holy of Holies Nukva

436. We have learned that the secret of: "In the beginning" (Beresheet 1:1) is that there are two principals in one. Though we said that it is the beginning from below upward, WHICH IS MALCHUT, "the beginning" also MEANS BEGINNING from above downward, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH; MEANING, BINAH RETURNED TO BE CHOCHMAH. We have explained the word "In (the letter Bet) the beginning" as in the house (Heb. bet) of the Holy of Holies, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, THE HOUSE of the beginning, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. The word "IN THE BEGINNING" includes THE NUKVA AND CHOCHMAH as one.

436. וְאִתְּמָר בְּרֵאשִׁית, וְרָזָא כְּלָלָא חָדָא, תְּרֵין גְּוָונִין הָכָא, בְּרֵאשִׁית, אע"ג דַּאֲמָרָן שֵׁירוּתָא מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא, רֵאשִׁית הָכֵי נָמֵי מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, וְקָאַמְרִינָן ב' רֵאשִׁית, כִּדְקָאַמְרִינָן בֵּית קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים, דְּהַאי אִתְיְיהִיבַת לְהַהוּא רֵאשִׁית, וּמִלָּה כְּלִילָא אִיהִי כַּחֲדָא.

Abraham Chassadim Creation Heaven Heavens Hebrew Letters Light Nukva Zeir Anpin

437. By this house, the world, THE NUKVA, was created, MEANING, SHE IS BUILT AS A HOUSE FOR CHOCHMAH, BY RECEIVING FROM THE LEFT COLUMN AND THEREFORE LACKING IN CHASSADIM. Yet it exists only through the right, CHESED, FOR CHOCHMAH CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT CHESED. We have already explained that the word "Behibar'am (Eng. 'when they were created')" (Beresheet 2:4) has the same letters as 'BeAbraham' (Eng. 'in Abraham'), THE SECRET OF CHESED. Therefore it is written, "For I have said, 'The world is built by Chesed.'" The first building of the world, THE NUKVA, derived its existence from the light of the first day; NAMELY CHESED. Then on the second day, it was included within the left, WHICH IS GVURAH, and heaven, ZEIR ANPIN, was perfected by them, as it is written, "You do establish Your faithfulness in the heavens" (Tehilim 89:3). BY HEAVEN BEING ESTABLISHED BY THE TWO COLUMNS, CHESED AND GVURAH, FAITH, NAMELY THE NUKVA, IS MADE READY TO BE PERFECTED BY THE TWO COLUMNS, CHESED AND GVURAH.

437. וּבְהַאי בי"ת אִתְבְּרֵי עַלְמָא דָא, וְלָא אִתְקַיַּים אֶלָּא בִּימִינָא, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ בְּהִבָּרְאָם: בְּאַבְרָהָם כְּתִיב, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, אָמַרְתִּי עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה. וּבִנְיָנָא קַדְמָאָה דְעַלְמָא, הַהוּא נְהוֹרָא דְיוֹמָא קַדְמָאָה, הֲוָה בֵּיהּ לְקַיְימָא. וּלְבָתַר בְּיוֹמָא תִּנְיָינָא, בִּשְׂמָאלָא. וּבְהַנְהוּ אַתְקֵן שָׁמַיִם, וּכְתִיב שָׁמַיִם תָּכִין אֱמוּנָתְךָ בָּהֶם.

Chassadim Faith Heaven Heavens Nukva Zeir Anpin

438. Another explanation for: "You do establish Your faithfulness in the heavens" is that the heaven, ZEIR ANPIN, was established by Chassadim, and the secret of faith, THE NUKVA, was established by them, AS IT SAYS "THE WORLD IS BUILT BY CHESED." THUS, THE HEAVEN INSPIRED CHESED UPON THE NUKVA CALLED 'WORLD,' AND HENCE IT IS SAID, "YOU DO ESTABLISH YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN THE HEAVENS." For THE NUKVA cannot be established save by heaven, ZEIR ANPIN.

438. ד"א שָׁמַיִם תָּכִין אֱמוּנָתְךָ בָּהֶם, שָׁמַיִם בְּאִינוּן חֲסָדִים אִתַּקְנוּ, וְרָזָא דֶּאֱמוּנָה אַתְקָנַת בְּהוֹ, דְּלֵית תִּקּוּנָהָא אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ שָׁמַיִם.

Angels Blessing Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) David Faith Flow Living Creatures Righteous

439. "I have made a Covenant with My chosen" (Ibid. 4). THE COVENANT is the secret of faith CONFERRED UPON DAVID. Another explanation is that THE COVENANT is the Righteous, YESOD, from whom blessings flow upon the lower beings. The holy living creatures, WHICH ARE ANGELS, are all blessed by the abundance poured upon the lower beings. Therefore it is written, "I have made a Covenant with My chosen," FOR HE WILL BE WORTHY OF THE COVENANT.

439. כָּרַתִּי בְּרִית לִבְחִירִי, דָּא הוּא רָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא. ד"א, דָּא אִיהוּ צַדִּיק דְּמִינֵיהּ נָפְקִין בִּרְכָאן לְכֻלְּהוּ תַּתָּאֵי, וְכָל חֵיוָון קַדִּישָׁן, כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְבָּרְכָאן, מִן הַהוּא נְגִידוּ דְּנָגֵיד לְתַתָּאי, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, כָּרַתִּי בְּרִית לִבְחִירִי.

Blessing David Exile Faith Nukva Oath Righteous

440. "I have sworn to David, My servant" (Tehilim 89:3). This oath is the secret of faith, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, which is always supported by the Righteous, YESOD. This oath is forever, so they will never be separated, save at the time of exile WHEN THEY WILL BE SEPARATED, when the abundance of blessings is withheld, the secret of faith cannot be perfected and there is no joy. At night, also, no joys come before the King.

440. נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְדָוִד עַבְדִי, דָא רָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּאִיהוּ קָיְימָא תָּדִיר בְּצַדִּיק דָּא, קִיּוּמָא דְעַלְמָא, דְּלָא יִתְבַּדְּרוּן לְעָלְמִין, בַּר בְּזִמְנָא דְּגָלוּתָא, דִּנְגִידוּ דְּבִרְכָאן אִתְמְנָעוּ, וְרָזָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא לָא אִשְׁתַּלֵּים, וְכָל חֶדְוָון אִתְמְנָעוּ. וְכַד עָיֵיל לֵילְיָא, מֵהַהוּא זִמְנָא, חֶדְוָון לָא עָאלוּ קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא.