Vayetze: Chapter 31

The rods

Synopsis

In this passage the rabbis discuss the allegorical meaning of the rods, or peeled branches of poplar, that Jacob used to separate his flocks from those of Laban at the drinking troughs. These rods represent the power of judgment, or the ability to make distinctions. Rabbi Elazar says, "All these verses instruct us wisely," even the most trivial.

Relevance

In our material existence, the differences between good and evil, and truth and falsehood, are often blurred. This makes our spiritual efforts very challenging, and thus also very rewarding. The power of discernment is instilled in our consciousness by these verses, so that our choices in life keep us secure in our spiritual path.

Blessing Fear Love Prayer Sh'ma Yisrael Tfilin Wisdom

302. Rabbi Elazar said, All these verses instruct us in wisdom. We have learned that in supernal matters, some depend on actions, SUCH AS TEFILIN AND THE TZIZIT (FRINGES;) some depend on speech, LIKE THE RECITAL OF THE SH'MA AND PRAYER; and some on devotion, SUCH AS LOVE AND FEAR. Whoever wishes to receive blessings should do so through prayer, speech, and devotion. Yet some are not DRAWN through prayer, but depend on actions.

302. אֲמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כָּל הַנֵּי קְרָאֵי, לְאַחֲזָאָה חָכְמָתָא קָא אַתְיָין, דְּתָנִינָן מִלִּין דִּלְעֵילָא, מִנְּהוֹן תַּלְיָין בְּעוֹבָדָא, וּמִנְהוֹן בְּמִלּוּלָא, וּמִנְּהוֹן בִּרְעוּתָא דְלִבָּא. וּמַאן דְּבָעֵי לְאַמְשָׁכָא בִּרְכָאן, בִּצְלוֹתָא, בְּמִלּוּלָא, וּרְעוּתָא. וּמִנְּהוֹן דְּלָא בִּצְלוֹתָא, אֶלָּא בְּעוֹבָדָא תַּלְיָין.

Blessing Grades Gutters Jacob Rods Wisdom

303. Come and behold, all that honest Jacob did was wise. It is written, "And he set the rods which he had peeled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs" (Beresheet 30:38). All this he did in wisdom, to draw blessings from the source of all to the supernal grades, which are his lot.

303. תָּא חֲזֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁלִים, כָּל מַה דַּעֲבַד, בְּחָכְמְתָא עָבֵיד, כְּתִיב וַיַּצֵּג אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל בָּרְהָטִים בְּשִׁקַּתוֹת הַמַּיִם, כֹּלָּא בְּחָכְמְתָא, לְאַמְשָׁכָא בִּרְכָאן, מִמַּבּוּעָא דְכֹלָּא, לְכֻלְּהוּ דַּרְגִּין עִלָּאִין, דְּאִינוּן חוּלָקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ.

Blessing Grades Gutters Judgment Rods

304. HE ASKS, What are "the rods?" AND HE ANSWERS, They are the grades of Judgment, "which he had peeled," NAMELY, from which he removed Judgment; "in the gutters" (Heb. rehatim) is similar to the verse, "a king is caught in its tresses (Heb. rehatim)" (Shir Hashirim 7:6), because from that king, THE SUPERNAL KING, blessings come to all the worlds.

304. אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת. מַאן מַקְלוֹת, אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין דְּאִינוּן בֵּי דִינָא. אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל, דְּאַעֲבַר מִנְּהוֹן דִּינָא. בָּרְהָטִים: הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב מֶלֶךְ אָסוּר בָּרְהָטִים, דְּהָא מֵהַהוּא מֶלֶךְ, אַתְיָין בִּרְכָאן לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין.

Asiyah Beasts Briyah Gutters Rivers Water Worlds Yetzirah

305. Another explanation for the verse, "a king is caught in its tresses," is that this King, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, is bound and tied to the supernal gutters through which everything is watered by the high King. "...In the watering troughs..." refers to the rivers that run until they come to the place where they gather. "...When the flocks came to drink..." is similar to the verse, "they give drink to every wild beast, the wild asses quench their thirst" (Tehilim 104:11), which refers to the place where the water gathers, THE NUKVA, and everyone, THE INHABITANTS OF BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH, comes to drink of it.

305. דָּבָר אֲחֵר מֶלֶךְ אָסוּר בָּרְהָטִים, מֶלֶךְ דָּא, אָסוּר וְקָשׁוּר בְּאִינוּן רְהָטִין עִלָּאִין, דְּמִנַּיְיהוּ אִשְׁתַּקְיָין כֹּלָּא, מִמֶּלֶךְ עִלָּאָה. בְּשִׁקֲּתוֹת הַמַּיִם: אִלֵּין אִינוּן, נַחֲלִין דְּנָפְקִין וְאַתְיָין, עַד דְּמָטוֹ לַאֲתַר דְּמִתְכַּנְשֵׁי תַּמָּן. אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹאנָה הַצֹּאן לִשְׁתּוֹת, כד"א יַשְׁקוּ כָּל חַיְתוֹ שָׂדָי יִשְׁבְּרוּ פְרָאִים צְמָאָם. וּבְהַהוּא אֲתַר, דְּמִתְכַּנְשֵׁי תַּמָּן מַיָא, כֻּלְּהוּ אַתְיָין לְאַשְׁקָאָה מִנֵּיהּ.

Asiyah Briyah Chassadim Flow North Nukva South Water Wind Worlds Yetzirah

306. And they were heated." HE ASKS, What is the meaning of this verse? HE ANSWERS, When the north wind blows UPON THE NUKVA, NAMELY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT, CHOCHMAH WITHOUT CHASSADIM, water, which is plenty, congeals and does not flow. When the south wind, THE ILLUMINATION OF THE RIGHT, CHASSADIM, RISES, the water is heated, the ice breaks, and it flows TO THE THREE WORLDS, BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH. Then everyone drinks, because the heat from the south breaks THE FROZEN WATER. Everyone is heated and drinks with joy, because the coldness of the north HAS PASSED. This is the meaning of the verse, "And they were heated." HE ASKS, Why is it written IN THE FEMININE, WHEN 'CATTLE' IS MASCULINE? HE ANSWERS, Because they are all females.

306. וַיֵּחַמְנָה, מַאי וַיֵּחַמְנָה. תָּא חֲזֵי בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְרוּחַ צָפוֹן נָשֵׁיב, מַיִין גְּלִידִין, וְלָא נָגְדִין לְבַר, וְלָא אִשְׁתַּקְיָין, בְּגִין דְּדִינָא תַּלְיָא, וּקְרִירוּ דְּצָפוֹן גְּלִיד מַיָא. וְכַד אִתְעַר רוּחַ דָּרוֹם, מִתְחַמְמֵי מַיָא, וְאִתְעֲבַר גְּלִידוּ דִּלְהוֹן, וְנָגְדִין, כְּדֵין אִתְשַׁקְיָין כֹּלָּא. בְּגִין דַּחֲמִימוּ דְּדָרוֹם, שָׁרָאן מַיָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ מִתְחַמְמֵי וְחָדָאן לְמִשְׁתֵּי מֵהַהוּא קְרִירוּ דְּצָפוֹן, דַּהֲוָה לוֹן בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, הה"ד וַיֵּחַמְנָה. וַיֵּחַמְנָה, וְלָא כְתִיב וַיֶּחֱמוּ. אֶלָּא דְּאִינוּן כֻּלְּהוּ נוּקְבֵי.

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