The reckoning of the Messianic era

439. Rabbi Yehuda opened with the verse, "It is time to work for Hashem, for they have made void Your Torah" (Tehilim 119:126). AND HE ASKS, What is the meaning of "It is time to work for Hashem"? AND HE REPLIES, This has already been explained. Nevertheless, "time" alludes to the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY THE NUKVA, which is called "time." As it is written, "that he come not at all times into the holy place" (Vayikra 16:2). And what is MEANT BY "that he comes not at all times?" The meaning is similar to what is written, "That they may keep you from a strange woman" (Mishlei 7:5). And this also relates to the verse, "and offered strange fire before Hashem" (Vayikra 10:1). IN OTHER WORDS, THE NUKVA OF THE KLIPOT IS ALSO CALLED 'TIME,' WHICH IS A STRANGE WOMAN, A STRANGE FIRE. THIS IS WHY IT IS WRITTEN, "THAT HE COME NOT AT ALL TIMES INTO THE HOLY PLACE," BUT ONLY AT THE TIMES OF HOLINESS. AND HE ASKS, Why is THE NUKVA CALLED 'Time?' AND HE REPLIES, Because there is a time and a period for everything. THIS REFERS TO THE 28 PERIODS OF TIME THAT APPEAR IN THE BOOK OF KOHELET IN ORDER to come closer to shine from and cleave TO ZEIR ANPIN properly, as it is written, "But as for me, my prayer is to You, Hashem, in an acceptable time" (Tehilim 69:14).

440. "To work (or make) for Hashem" is similar to what is written, "and David made himself a name" (II Shmuel 8:13), WHICH MEANS THAT HE AMENDED THE NUKVA THAT IS CALLED "A NAME." AND IN THE SAME MANNER, whoever studies Torah, it is as though he "made" and prepared the "time," WHICH IS THE NUKVA, to attach Her to the Holy One, blessed be He. And why do all that? WHY SHOULD ANYONE HAVE TO WORK AND PREPARE THE NUKVA? Because "they have made void Your Torah." Had they not "made void Your Torah," then there would not have ever been a separation of the Holy One, blessed be He, from Yisrael, BECAUSE THE UNION OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, AND HIS SHECHINAH WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN INTERRUPTED.

441. Rabbi Yosi said that the same applies to the verse, "I Hashem will hasten it in its time" (Yeshayah 60:22). What does "in its time (Heb. itah)" mean? IT MEANS at the time (et) when Hei, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, shall rise up from Her dust - then I "will hasten it." IN OTHER WORDS, BY MY POWER, NOT BY HER OWN STRENGTH, SHE SHALL RISE FROM THE DUST OF EXILE. Rabbi Yosi said that in spite of all this, the Congregation of Yisrael lies only for one day in the dust OF EXILE, and no more. THIS REFERS TO THE ONE DAY OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WHICH LASTS A THOUSAND YEARS, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IN YOUR EYES ARE BUT AS YESTERDAY..." (TEHILIM 90:4) AND THIS ALLUDES TO THE FIFTH MILLENNIUM, AS IS FURTHER EXPLAINED, BECAUSE THE FOURTH MILLENNIUM WAS NOT FULL, AS IT LACKED 172 YEARS BECAUSE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE OCCURRED IN THE YEAR 3828.

442. Rabbi Yehuda then said, So it has been expressed;nevertheless, come and behold the secret that I learned. At the time when the Congregation of Yisrael was exiled from Her place, it was as if the letters of the Holy Name were separated from one another. Hei was separated from Vav IN THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI. As a result of this separation, it is written, "I was dumb with stillness" (Tehilim 39:3). Because the Vav departed from the Hei, the voice disappeared. As a result, Speech was silenced.

443. And because of this, She lies in the dust OF EXILE during all that day of the Hei. And when is this? It is during the fifth millennium, even though She was exiled before it began - BECAUSE THE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED DURING THE FOURTH MILLENNIUM, IT WAS NOT A FULL MILLENNIUM AND WE DO NOT COUNT IT.

444. And when the sixth millennium arrives, which is the secret of the Vav - NAMELY THE YESOD, SPELLED WITH THE VAV, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN - then the Vav shall elevate the Hei, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, at the time of "six multiplied by ten," as the Vav (= 6) rises up to the Yud (= 10) OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. THEN the Vav descends to the Hei, AND BRINGS TO IT ABUNDANCE.

445. And when the Vav, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN, reaches completion by reaching sixty (by multiplying six times ten), THE NUKVA is raised from the dust. So every sixty years during the sixth millennium, the Hei is strengthened and rises up through its own grades to become firm. And in the year 600 of the sixth millennium, the gates of Wisdom of above and the fountains of Wisdom below shall be opened. And the world shall be prepared to enter the seventh MILLENNIUM, as a person who prepares himself on the sixth day (Friday), as the sun sets, to enter the Shabbat. And as a mnemonic for this, we take the verse, "In the six hundredth year of Noach's life...all the fountains of the great deep were broken open" (Beresheet 7:11).

446. Rabbi Yosi said to him, This is more time than the friends have said - the exile of the Congregation of Yisrael is only for one day and no more, as it is written, "He has made me desolate and faint all the day" (Eichah 1:13). THIS IS THE SECRET OF "ONE DAY" OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WHICH IS 1000 YEARS, AS EXPLAINED ABOVE. He said to him, I have learned so from my father among the secrets of the letters of the holy name, YUD HEI VAV HEI, and in the years of the world, and the days of Creation, all is one secret.

447. And then the rainbow will be seen in the clouds in shining colors, as a woman who adorns herself for her husband - BECAUSE THE RAINBOW IS THE MYSTERY OF THE NUKVA. As it is written, "And I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant" (Beresheet 9:16). And this has already been carefully explained. HOWEVER, "and I will look upon it" MEANS in its shining colors, as should properly be.

448. And then IT SHALL BE SAID, "That I may remember the everlasting covenant." And what is the "everlasting covenant?" It is the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY THE NUKVA, WHICH IS THE COVENANT. And the Vav will join the Hei and raise it from the dust, as it is written, "And Elohim remembered his covenant" (Shemot 2:24). This is the Congregation of Yisrael, which is the covenant, as it is written, "And it shall be for a sign of a covenant" (Beresheet 9:13).

449. When the Vav, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, is aroused toward the Hei, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, then signs from above shall reach the world. The children of Reuben shall wage war throughout the world and the Holy One, blessed be He, shall remember the Congregation of Yisrael, and raise Her up and out from the dust of exile.

450. And the Holy One, blessed be He, shall be with Her in exile, DURING THE SIXTH MILLENNIUM, according to the count of Vav, Vav (= 6) times Yud (= 10) EQUALS SIXTY, and ten (Yud) times sixty EQUALS 600, NAMELY, THE YEAR 600 OF THE SIXTH MILLENNIUM. And then He shall rise and visit the world, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, to execute vengeance. And whoever is humble shall be elevated.

451. Rabbi Yosi said to him, You have spoken well, because YOU HAVE EXPLAINED the secret of the letters OF THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI. And we should not delve into the other calculations and 'end of times,' WHICH ARE NOT RELATED TO THE SECRET OF THESE LETTERS, for we have found AN ESSAY SIMILAR IN CONTENT TO this calculation OF YOURS in the book of Rav Yeba Saba (the elder). As it is written, "Then shall the land enjoy (or desire) HER SHABBATS" (Vayikra 26:34). And this is the secret of the Vav, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS DESIRE SHALL NOT BE REVEALED TO THE LAND, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, EXCEPT WHEN THE VAV HAS REACHED COMPLETION, AS RABBI YEHUDA HAS EXPLAINED. And it is written, "And I will remember My covenant with Jacob" (Vayikra 26:42). OBSERVE THAT JACOB IS SPELLED WITH A VAV. This is Vav, fully spelled as Vav-Vav, BECAUSE WHEN THE LETTER VAV IS PRONOUNCED, WE HEAR ANOTHER VAV. THE FIRST VAV ALLUDES TO JACOB, WHO IS TIFERET, AND THE SECOND VAV ALLUDES TO THE YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE VAV THAT APPEARS IN THE NAME JACOB. And all is one, WHICH MEANS THAT IN THE NAME JACOB SPELLED WITH VAV, TIFERET AND YESOD ARE UNITED AS ONE. And this is why the verse is written, "I will remember," and later, "I will remember the land" (Ibid.), which is the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY THE NUKVA. "Enjoy" (or 'be appeased') MEANS THAT the land shall be appeased by the Holy One, blessed be He, AS HE SHALL RAISE HER. ENJOY IS READ AS PASSIVE "BE APPEASED," FOR DESIRE DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE NUKVA HERSELF, BUT ON THE WILL OF ZEIR ANPIN.

452. As for that "one day," which our friends have mentioned IN RELATION TO THE TIME OF EXILE, it is certain that everything is hidden and concealed before the Holy One, blessed be He. And everything is revealed through the secret of the letters of the Holy Name. Thus the exile, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF CONCEALMENT, has been revealed to us by Rabbi Yesa through these letters. And now, through these letters, THE SECRET OF REDEMPTION is revealed to us, WHICH MEANS THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE VAV OF THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI ACHIEVING COMPLETION.

453. He said to him, Come and behold. Even when Sarah was visited, she was not visited by this grade OF VISITATION, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, THE LOWER HEI OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, but by the secret of the Vav, as written, "And Hashem visited Sarah..." - BECAUSE "AND HASHEM (VAV - YUD HEI VAV HEI)" REFERS TO HIM AND HIS COURT OF JUDGMENT. 'HIM' IS THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN, NAMELY THE VAV, WHILE HIS COURT OF JUDGMENT IS THE NUKVA. THEREFORE, EVEN THE VISITATION OF SARAH WAS BY THE LETTER VAV OF YUD HEI VAV HEI, because everything is according to the secret of the Vav and everything is included within it. THAT IS, EVERYTHING IS CONCEALED WITHIN THE LETTER VAV and everything is revealed there as well. IN OTHER WORDS, EVERYTHING BECOMES REVEALED BY THE COMPLETION OF THE LETTER VAV. For everything that is concealed may reveal all that is concealed, but nothing that is revealed may come and reveal what is concealed.

454. Rabbi Yosi said, How long do we have to endure the exile until we reach that time? And the Holy One, blessed be He, made REDEMPTION depend on whether they atone for their sins and repent. As it is written, "I Hashem will hasten it in its time" (Yeshayah 60:22). If they are worthy, THAT IS, IF THEY REPENT, "I...will hasten it," but if they are unworthy, THAT IS, THEY DO NOT REPENT, then, "in its time."

455. As they walked on, Rabbi Yosi said, I have just remembered that I once sat in this place with my father. He said to me, My son, when you are sixty years old, you will find in this place a treasure of sublime Wisdom. And I have just reached this age, yet I have still found nothing. And I do not know if these new explanations are the Wisdom that he told me I SHOULD FIND.

456. And he further said to me, When strikes of fire shall reach the palms of your hands, then the wisdom shall disappear from you. I said to him, My father, how do you know this? He replies, I know this by these two birds that have passed over your head.

457. In the meantime, Rabbi Yosi left RABBI YEHUDA and entered a cave where he found a hidden book in a cleft of a rock at the far end. HE TOOK IT AND left with it.

458. As he opened the book, he saw 72 forms of letters that were handed down to Adam. By these letters, Adam knew the entire Wisdom of the Holy Supernal Beings and all the Klipot that abide "behind the millstones," which revolve around behind the veil THAT COVERS the supernal Lights, together with all the things that are destined to come upon the world until the day when a cloud will rise from the west and the world will be darkened.

459. He called to Rabbi Yehuda and they both started to study the book. After examining only two or three pages, they were already contemplating the supernal Wisdom. As soon as they read further and spoke with each other, a flame and a strong wind struck their hands, and the book vanished. Rabbi Yosi wept and said, It could be that we have sinned, or we are not worthy of knowing this.

460. When they told Rabbi Shimon the story, he said, Maybe you delved into those letters that deal with the Days of Messiah? They answered, We do not know, because we have forgotten everything. Rabbi Shimon continued, The Holy One, blessed be He, does not wish that too much be revealed to the world. But when the Days of Messiah are near, even infants in the world will discover the secrets of Wisdom and, through them, know how to calculate THE TIME OF THE REDEMPTION and figure the End of Days. At that time, it will be revealed to everyone. Therefore, it is written, "For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language..." (Tzefanyah 3:9). What is meant by "then?" It means at the time when the Congregation of Yisrael shall rise from the dust, and the Holy One, blessed be He, shall raise Her up. Then, "I will turn to the peoples a pure language that they may all call upon Hashem and serve Him with one consent" (Ibid.).

461. Come and behold. Even though it is written of Abraham, "And he journeyed still toward the south" (Beresheet 12:9), and all his journeys were southward, WHICH IS THE RIGHT COLUMN, OR CHESED, to which he was attached, he did not rise to his proper place until Isaac was born. As soon as Isaac was born, he immediately rose to his place, THAT IS, TO THE NORTH, THE LEFT COLUMN. And Abraham joined him, and they became united. THROUGH THEIR JOINING AND INCLUSION IN EACH OTHER, THEY BOTH REACHED COMPLETION.

462. This is why ABRAHAM called him Isaac, and not any other NAME, so as to join fire with water, AS THE ATTRIBUTE OF ABRAHAM IS WATER AND THAT OF ISAAC IS FIRE, as it is written, "And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac" (Beresheet 21:3). AND HE ASKS, Why DOES THE VERSE EMPHASIZE "that was born to him?" AND HE REPLIES, Fire from water.