Vayechi
Blessing Deeds Evil Hands Judgment Moses Shechinah Simeon

552. "Simeon and Levi are brothers" (Beresheet 49:5). Rabbi Yitzchak said, Here he attached them to the left side of the Shechinah, for he saw they have acted with strict judgment, which the world cannot endure. Rabbi Yosi asked, Where is their blessing? Rabbi Yitzchak said, Simeon was not worthy of it, for he saw in him many evil deeds. Levi came from the side of strict judgment, from which blessing does not stem. Even Moses did not attach his blessing to him, as said, "Bless, Hashem, his substance, and accept the work of his hands" (Devarim 33:11), so that his blessing came from the Holy One, blessed be He.

552. שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי אַחִים, אֲמַר ר' יִצְחָק, הָכָא אָחֵיד לוֹן, בְּסִטְרָא שְׂמָאלָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא. דְּחָמָא עוֹבָדִין דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, דְּלָא יָכֵיל עַלְמָא לְמִסְבַּל. אֲמַר ר' יוֹסֵי, בִּרְכְתָא דִּלְהוֹן אָן הִיא. אֲמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, שִׁמְעוֹן לָא אִתְחֲזֵי לְהַאי, דְּחָמָא לֵיהּ כַּמָּה עוֹבָדִין בִּישִׁין. וְלֵוִי דְּאָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וּבִרְכְתָא לָא תַלְיָא בֵּיהּ, וַאֲפִילּוּ כַּד אָתָא מֹשֶׁה, לָא תָּלֵי בִּרְכָתֵיהּ בֵּיהּ, דִּכְתִיב בָּרֵךְ ה' חֵילוֹ וּפוֹעַל יָדָיו תִּרְצֶה, בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא תַּלְיָיא.

Angels Beasts Benjamin Gad Hind Jacob Joseph Judah Lambs Lion Naftali North Seas Shechinah South Twelve Twelve Tribes of Israel Wolves

553. Come and see, it is written, "So is the great and wide sea, wherein are creeping things innumerable, both small and great beasts" (Tehilim 104:25). The great sea is the Shechinah, which stood over Jacob when he wished to depart from the world. It is wide, for all the world is filled and made whole, and contracted within THE SHECHINAH, SINCE SHE WAS FILLED AND MADE WHOLE BY THE SOUTH AND CONTRACTED BY THE NORTH. "Wherein are creeping things innumerable," since there are many supernal and holy angels there. The "small and great beasts" are the twelve tribes, Jacob's sons, who are found there in wholeness. There is a hind, NAFTALI; a wolf, BENJAMIN; a lion, JUDAH; and a lamb, JOSEPH, AS SAID "THAT LEADS JOSEPH LIKE A FLOCK" (TEHILIM 80:2). Rabbi Yitzchak said, A lion and a lamb, a wolf and a kid (Heb. gedi), NAMELY GAD, and so on, there are small beasts with great ones.

553. תָּא חֲזֵי כְּתִיב זֶה הַיָּם גָּדוֹל וּרְחַב יָדַיִם שָׁם רֶמֶשׂ וְאֵין מִסְפָּר חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלוֹת. זֶה הַיָּם גָּדוֹל, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּקָיְימָא עֲלֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, כַּד בָּעָא לְאִסְתַּלְּקָא מֵעַלְמָא. וּרְחַב יָדַיִם, דְּהָא כָּל עַלְמָא אִמְלֵי וְאִשְׁתְּלֵים וְאִתְצַמְצֵם תַּמָּן. שָׁם רֶמֶשׂ וְאֵין מִסְפָּר, דְּכַמָּה מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי וְקַדִּישָׁאֵי אִשְׁתַּכְּחוּ תַּמָּן. חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלוֹת, אִלֵּין אִינוּן י"ב שְׁבָטִין, בְּנוֹי דְּיַעֲקֹב, דְּאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ בְּהוֹן בִּשְׁלִימוּ, חַד אַיָּלָה, וְחַד זְאֵב, וְחַד אֲרִי, וְחַד טָלֶה. אֲמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, אַרְיֵה חַד, וְטָלֶה חַד, חַד זְאֵב, וְחַד גְּדִי, וְכֵן כֻּלְּהוּ, לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלוֹת.

Beasts Face Fear Judah Lion Ox Simeon Tribes

554. Rabbi Yehuda said, It was well said about all THE TRIBES, THAT THERE ARE GREAT AND SMALL BEASTS, but Judah is a lion and Simeon an ox, AS SIMEON IS OF GVURAH, WHICH IS THE FACE OF AN OX. The friends have explained that they were facing each other, JUDAH on the right and SIMEON on the left. THIS IS LIKE A MAN WHO HAD a vicious ox. He said, I shall paint the figure of a lion in his stall, and it will see it and fear it. Thus Simeon is an ox and Judah a lion, AS SIMEON THE OX, NAMELY GVURAH, IS SUBDUED THROUGH LOOKING AT JUDAH THE LION, WHICH IS CHESED.

554. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אֲמַר, כֻּלְּהוּ שַׁפִּיר, אֲבָל יְהוּדָה אַרְיֵה, שִׁמְעוֹן שׁוֹר, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָיא דַּהֲווֹ מַשְׁגִּיחִין דָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, דָּא מִימִינָא, וְדָא מִשְׂמָאלָא. לְתוֹרָא דְּעוֹבָדוֹי בִּישִׁין, אֲמָרוּ נְצַיֵּיר אִקּוּנִין דְּאַרְיֵה בְּקוֹפְטֵיהּ, וְיִסְתַּכֵּל בְּדָא וְיִדְחַל מִנֵּיהּ, כָּךְ שִׁמְעוֹן שׁוֹר, יְהוּדָה אַרְיֵה.

Blessing Hatred Jacob Judah Moses Simeon

555. Simeon did not receive any blessing FROM JACOB, but Moses attached him to Judah, as it is written, "Hear (Heb. Sh'ma), Hashem, the voice of Judah" (Devarim 33:7) and elsewhere "because Hashem has heard (Heb. shama) that I was hated" (Beresheet 29:33). THEREFORE, SHE NAMED HIM SIMEON. THERE IS AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THE VERSES. AS THERE IS HEARING IN THE NAME OF SIMEON, SO THE HEARING IN RELATION TO JUDAH INCLUDES SIMEON. Rabbi Yehuda said, Simeon and Levi WERE NOT BLESSED BY their father SINCE HE brought them to Moses TO BLESS THEM. Rabbi Yosi said to him: Wherefore DID their father NOT BLESS THEM BUT delivered them to Moses? Rabbi Yehuda said to him: We too shall bring THE QUESTION before the Holy Luminary, RABBI SHIMON.

555. שִׁמְעוֹן לָא זָכָה לְבִרְכָאן, אֶלָּא טָפַל לֵיהּ מֹשֶׁה בִּיהוּדָה, כְּתִיב הָכָא שְׁמַע ה' קוֹל יְהוּדָה, וּכְתִיב הָתָם כִּי שָׁמַע ה' כִּי שְׂנוּאָה אָנֹכִי. א"ר יְהוּדָה, שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי, אֲבוּהוֹן סָלֵיק לוֹן לְמֹשֶׁה. א"ל ר' יוֹסֵי, מ"ט אֲבוּהוֹן סָלֵיק לוֹן לְמֹשֶׁה. א"ל, אַף אֲנַן נַסְלֵיק לֵיהּ לְבוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה.

Death Death and the Afterlife Hands Key Moses

556. They came and asked Rabbi Shimon. He said, How sweet are the words. He clapped his hands and wept. He said, Who will uncover you, holy faithful, NAMELY MOSES. In your lifetime you were raised above men, and in your death you were elevated and your image covered. The keys of your Master were always delivered to your hands.

556. אָתוּ שָׁאֲלוּ לֵיהּ לר"ש, אֲמַר כַּמָּה חֲבִיבִין מִלִּין אַטְפַח בִּידוֹי וּבְכָה, אֲמַר מַאן יְגַלֵּי לָךְ מְהֵימְנָא קַדִּישָׁא, אִסְתַּלַּקְתְּ בְּחַיָּיךְ עַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, אִסְתַּלַּקְתְּ בְּמוֹתָךְ, וְאַסְתֵּים דְּיוֹקְנָךְ. מַפְּתְּחָן דְמָארֵךְ אִתְמַסְרוּ בִּידָךְ תָּדִיר.

Fear Jacob Judgment Matron Moses Shechinah Simeon Twelve Twelve Tribes of Israel

557. Come and see, Jacob had four wives. He begot children by them all, and was perfected through his wives. When Jacob wished to depart FROM THE WORLD, the Shechinah stood over him. He wanted to bless SIMEON AND LEVI but could not, since he feared the Shechinah. He said to himself, How can I do this, seeing that both of them come from the side of strict judgment, AND TO BLESS THEM WILL RENDER THE SHECHINAH DEFECTIVE. I cannot force the Shechinah, since I had four wives WHO WERE DRAWN FROM THE FOUR ASPECTS, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT OF THE SHECHINAH, AND I WAS PERFECTED THROUGH THEM, SINCE THEY BORE ME TWELVE TRIBES, THE SECRET OF ALL PERFECTION. SINCE I RECEIVED MY PERFECTION FROM THE SHECHINAH, HOW CAN I BLESS SIMEON AND LEVI AGAINST HER WISH? I shall deliver them to the landlord of the house, MOSES, THE HUSBAND OF THE MATRON, who is the owner, and he shall do as he pleases.

557. תָּא חֲזֵי, יַעֲקֹב הֲוָה לֵיהּ אַרְבַּע נָשִׁין, וְאוֹלִיד בְּנִין מִכֻּלְּהוּ, וְאִשְׁתְּלֵים בִּנְשׁוֹי. כַּד בָּעָא יַעֲקֹב לְאִסְתַּלָּקָא, שְׁכִינְתָּא קָיְימֵי עֲלוֹי, בָּעָא לִבְרוּכֵי לְאִלֵּין, וְלָא יָכֵיל, מִקַּמֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא דְּדָחֵיל, אֲמַר, הֵיךְ אַעֲבֵיד, דְּהָא תַּרְוַויְיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא קָא אַתְיָין, אִי אַתְקֵיף בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא לָא יָכֵילְנָא, דְּהָא אַרְבַּע נָשִׁין הֲווֹ לִי, וְאִשְׁתַּלֵּימְנָא בְּהוֹן, אֶלָּא אֲסַלֵּק לוֹן לְמָארֵי דְבֵיתָא, דְּהָא בֵּיתָא בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ קָיְימָא, וּמַה דְּבָעֵי יַעֲבֵיד.

Fear Jacob Matron Moses Shechinah

558. Jacob said, I have received my portion of wives and children in this world FROM THE SHECHINAH, and become perfected. How can I force the Matron, THE SHECHINAH? I shall deliver the matter to the master of the Matron, MOSES, who will do as he pleases without fear.

558. כָּךְ יַעֲקֹב אֲמַר, חוּלָקִין דִּנְשִׁין וּבְנִין הָא נָסְבִית בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְאִשְׁתַּלַּמְּנָא, הֵיךְ אַתְקֵיף בְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא יַתִּיר, אֶלָּא אֲסַלֵּק מִלִּין לְמָארֵי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, וְהוּא יַעֲבֵד מַה דְּבָעֵי, וְלָא יִדְחַל.

Blessing Bride Fear Jacob Judgment Matron Moses Shechinah Void

559. Come and see, it is written, "And this is the blessing, with which Moses the man of the Elohim blessed" (Devarim 33:1), which means master of the house, master of the Matron, SINCE MAN MEANS MASTER, as it is written, "Her husband (man) may let it stand, or her husband may make it void" (Bemidbar 30:14) and "Moses had finished (Heb. kalot)" (Bemidbar 7:1), FOR THE SHECHINAH IS CALLED 'MOSES' BRIDE (HEB. KALAT).' Therefore, Moses may bless whomever he pleases, without fear OF DAMAGING THE SHECHINAH, SINCE HE CAN FIX HER ACCORDING TO HIS WISHES, as has been explained. Therefore Jacob said, I see that these sons of mine are from the side of strict judgment, let the master of the house come and bless them.

559. תָּא חֲזֵי מַה כְּתִיב, וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַךְ מֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹקִים, מָארֵיהּ דְּבֵיתָא, מָארֵיהּ דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא. כְּמָה דִכְתִיב אִישָׁהּ יְקִימֶנּוּ וְאִישָׁהּ יְפֵרֶנּוּ. דְּהָא כַּלֹּת מֹשֶׁה כְּתִיב. וְעַל דָּא, מֹשֶׁה בָּרֵיךְ מַאן דְּבָעָא וְלָא דָחֵיל, כִּדְאוֹקִימְנָא. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אֲמַר יַעֲקֹב, הָא חָמֵינָן דְּבָנַי אִלֵּין בְּסִטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, יֵיתֵי מָארֵיהּ דְּבֵיתָא וִיבָרֵךְ לוֹן.

Chassadim Fear Jacob Klipot (Shells – Negativity) Mochin Moses Shechinah Shells (Klipot) Strength Tree Tree of Life Void Zeir Anpin

560. Assuredly Moses was a man of Elohim, and did as he pleased in his house, as it says, "Her husband may let it stand" BY GIVING HER MOCHIN OF CHOCHMAH CALLED RISING UP, in accordance with the verse, "Moses said, Rise up, Hashem, and let Your enemies be scattered" (Bemidbar 10:35). BECAUSE ON THE WAY, THERE IS FOOTHOLD TO THE KLIPOT AND THE MOCHIN OF CHOCHMAH SCATTER THE KLIPOT. "Or her husband may make it void," which agrees with the words "And when it rested, he said, 'Return, Hashem'" (Ibid. 35), FOR WHEN THE SHECHINAH IS AT REST, THE KLIPOT CANNOT HOLD HER AND THERE IS NO FEAR. THEREFORE, "HER HUSBAND MAY MAKE IT VOID." BY STRENGTH OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, HE MAKES VOID THE FIRST THREE SFIROT OF CHOCHMAH IN ORDER TO CLOTHE HER WITH CHASSADIM, THE SECRET OF THE VERSE "AND WHEN IT RESTED, HE SAID, 'RETURN, HASHEM.'" Assuredly the master of the house does as he pleases and no one may protest, as a man who has decided for his wife and she does his bidding. Therefore, Jacob, though he was attached to the Tree of Life, ZEIR ANPIN, was not the master of the house LIKE MOSES for he was attached below and Moses above. Jacob therefore delivered them to the landlord TO BE BLESSED BY HIM.

560. מֹשֶׁה וַדַּאי אִישׁ הָאֱלֹקִים הָיָה, וּרְעוּתֵיהּ עָבֵיד בְּבֵיתֵיהּ, כְּד"א אִישָׁהּ יְקִימֶנּוּ. הה"ד וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה קוּמָה ה.' וְאִישָׁהּ יְפֵרֶנּוּ, הה"ד וּבְנֻחֹה יֹאמַר שׁוּבָה ה.' וַדַּאי רְעוּתֵיהּ עָבַד מָארֵיהּ דְּבֵיתָא וְלֵית דְּיִמְחֵי בִידֵּיהּ. כְּבַר נָשׁ דְּגָזַר עַל אִנְתְּתֵיהּ, וְעָבְדָא רְעוּתֵיהּ. וְעַל דָּא יַעֲקֹב אע"ג דַּהֲוָה אָחֵיד בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, לָא הֲוָה מָארֵי דְבֵיתָא, אֶלָּא לְתַתָּא, מֹשֶׁה הוּא לְעֵילָא, בְּגִין כָּךְ סָלֵיק לוֹן לְמָארֵיהּ דְּבֵיתָא.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Fear Sin Soul, The Torah

561. "Let my soul not come into their council" (Beresheet 49:6). Rabbi Aba opened the discussion saying, "The counsel of Hashem is for them that fear Him" (Tehilim 25:14). It is the supernal mystery of the Torah that the Holy One, blessed be He, gives only to those who fear sin. Whoever fears sin, the supernal secret of the Torah is revealed to him, the sign of the Holy Covenant called the secret of Hashem.

561. בְּסוֹדָם אַל תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי וגו,' ר' אַבָּא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר סוֹד יי' לִירֵאָיו וגו.' סוֹד יי' לִירֵאָיו, רָזָא עִלָּאָה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא יָהֵיב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אֶלָּא לְאִינוּן דַּחֲלֲי חַטָּאָה. וּמַאן דְּאִינוּן דַּחֲלֵי חַטָּאָה אִתְגְּלֵי לוֹן רָזָא עִלָּאָה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּמַאן אִיהוּ, רָזָא עִלָּאָה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, הֱוֵי אִימָא, דָּא אָת קַיָּימָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִקְרֵי סוֹד ה' בְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ.