Vayetze: Chapter 38

The rods

Synopsis

Rabbi Elazar further speculates on the secret meaning of Jacob's rods. He reflects on the verse; "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; and if you scorn, you alone shall bear it." A man benefits from the wisdom of the Torah; if he fails to understand it, it is he who languishes in ignorance; the Torah itself is not diminished at all. Rabbi Aba adds that when Jacob in his wisdom separated his flocks from those of Laban, he created the singular nation of Israel, which was set off from the heathen peoples.

Relevance

The most critical part of spiritual work is learning how to identify and thus separate good from evil; to distinguish the whims of the ego from the longings of the soul. This passage raises our consciousness so that we can begin to differentiate darkness from Light when the temptations of the physical world and the seductive drives of our ego attempt to blur the lines.

Pearls Rods Torah Wicked Wickedness

341. "And he set the rods..." Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion with the verse, "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scorn, you alone shall bear it" (Mishlei 9:12). Come and behold, woe to the wicked of the world, who do not know or look at the words of the Torah. And if they do, since they have no intelligence, the words of the Torah seem empty and useless to them. This is because they themselves are empty of knowledge and intelligence. But all the words of the Torah are high and precious, each of its words is dearer than pearls, "and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it" (Mishlei 8:11).

341. וַיַּצֵּג אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל בָּרְהָטִים וגו.' פְּתַח ר' אֶלְעָזָר וַאֲמַר, אִם חָכַמְתָּ חָכַמְתָּ לָךְ וְלַצְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ תִשָׂא. אִם חָכַמְתָּ חָכַמְתָּ לָךְ, תָּא חֲזֵי, וַוי לְאִינוּן חַיָּיבֵי עַלְמָא, דְּלָא יָדְעִין, וְלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין, בְּמִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְכַד אִינוּן מַשְׁגִּיחִין בָּהּ, בְּגִין דְּלֵית לוֹן סֻכְלְתָנוּ, מִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא דַמְיָין בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ, כְּאִילּוּ כֻּלְּהוּ מָלֵי רֵיקַנְיָא, וְלֵית בְּהוֹ תּוֹעַלְתָּא, וְכֹלָּא בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן רֵקָנִין מִדַּעְתָּא וְסֻכְלְתָנוּ. דְּהָא כָּל מִילֵי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, כֻּלְּהוּ מִלִּין עִלָּאִין וְיַקִּירִין, וְכָל מִלָּה וּמִלָּה כְּתִיב בָּהּ יְקָרָה הִיא מִפְּנִינִים, וְכָל חֲפָצִים לֹא יִשְׁווּ בָהּ.

Punishment Torah

342. When all those stout-hearted fools see the words of the Torah, they fail to understand and say things of no value. Woe to them, at the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, will exact from them the shame of the Torah, and they will be punished for rebelling against their Master.

342. וְכָל אִינוּן טִפְּשִׁין, אֲטִימִין דְּלִבָּא, כַּד חָמָאן מִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא דַי לוֹן דְּלָא יָדְעֵי, אֶלָּא דְּאִינוּן אָמְרֵי, דְּאִינְהוּ מִלִּין פְּגִימִין, מִלֵּי דְּלֵית בְּהוֹ תּוֹעַלְתָּא. וַוי לוֹן, כַּד יִתְבַּע לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עֶלְבּוֹנָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְיִתְעַנְּשׁוּן עוֹנָשָׁא דְּמָרְדֵי בְּמָארֵיהוֹן.

Pearls Stones Torah

343. It is written in the Torah, "For it is not an empty thing for you" (Devarim 32:47), for the whole Torah is full of precious stones and pearls and all the goodness in the world. This is as it is written, "And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." How can they say the Torah is empty?

343. מַה כְּתִיב בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כִּי לֹא דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם, וְאִי אִיהוּ רֵק מִכֶּם אִיהוּ, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא כֹּלָּא, מַלְיָיא מִכָּל אֲבָנִין טָבִין, וּמַרְגְּלָאן יַקִּירִין, מִכָּל טָבִין דְּעַלְמָא, כד"א וְכָל חֲפָצִים לֹא יִשְׁווּ בָהּ, וְהֵיךְ יֵימְרוּן דְּאִיהִי רֵיקַנְיָא.

Solomon Torah Wisdom World to Come, The

344. King Solomon said, "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself." When a man is wise in understanding the Torah, he benefits from that wisdom. HIS WISDOM DOES NOT BENEFIT THE TORAH, because he cannot add even one letter. It is further written, "and if you scorn, you alone shall bear it," because the value of the Torah shall not be diminished one wit, and his jesting is his alone. He dwells in it, and it causes him to perish from this world and the World to Come.

344. וּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא אֲמַר, אִם חָכַמְתָּ חָכַמְתָּ לָךְ, דְּכַד יִתְחַכַּם בַּר נָשׁ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, תּוֹעַלְתָּא דִּילֵיהּ אִיהוּ, דְּהָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לָא יָכֵיל לְאוֹסָפָא, אֲפִילּוּ אָת אַחַת. וְלַצְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ תִשָּׂא, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא יִגָּרַע מִשִּׁבְחָהָא כְּלוּם, וְלֵיצָנוּתָא, דִּילֵיהּ אִיהוּ, וְאִשְׁתָּאַר בֵּיהּ, לְאוֹבָדָא לֵיהּ מֵהַאי עַלְמָא וּמֵעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Grades Hebrew Letters Judgment Mercy Nukva Waters

345. Come and behold, when the supernal letters, THE GRADES OF BINAH, are attached to this grade, the ending of all the holy, supernal grades, THE NUKVA, it is filled from them and blessed by the supernal world, BINAH. This grade then waters all the flocks, each according to its worth. Each one of them is watered by Judgment and Mercy.

345. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד אַתְוָון עִלָּאִין, מִתְחַבְּרָן כֻּלְּהוּ, בְּהַאי דַרְגָא, סוֹפָא דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין קַדִּישִׁין עִלָּאִין, וְאִתְמַלְּיָא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְבָּרְכָא מֵעַלְמָא עִלָּאָה, כְּדֵין, הַאי דַרְגָּא קָיְימָא, לְאַשְׁקָאָה לְכֻלְּהוּ עֲדָרִין, כָּל חַד וְחַד כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ, וְכָל חַד וְחַד אִתְשָׁקֵי מִן דִּינָא וְרַחֲמֵי.

Astrology Jacob Judgment Moon Nukva Prayer Rods Water

346. Come and behold, it is written, "And he set the rods." Jacob wanted to compose the evening prayer (THE LEFT SIDE, THE NUKVA, WHICH IS DARK) and to shine on the moon(THE NUKVA OF THE NIGHT) to water her and bless her on all sides. As it is written, "And he set the rods," the judgments OF MALCHUT, and the Gvurot from the supernal Gvurah, THE LEFT COLUMN OF BINAH.

346. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיַּצֵּג אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר פִצֵּל בָּרְהָטִים וגו,' דְּיַעֲקֹב בָּעָא לְאַתְקָנָא תְּפִלָּה שֶׁל עַרְבִית, וּלְאַנְהָרָא לְסִיהֲרָא, וּלְאַשְׁקָאָה וּלְבָרְכָא לָהּ מִכָּל סִטְרִין, דִּכְתִיב וַיַּצֵּג אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת. אִלֵּין דִּינִין וּגְבוּרָן, דְּנָפְקֵי מִגְּבוּרָה דִּלְעֵילָא.

Angels Flow Grades Gutters Jacob Judgment Nukva Rivers Rods Soul, The Vessels Water Well White

347. When Jacob wanted to amend this grade, THE NUKVA, he removed all Judgments and Gvurot from the rods OF WHOSE JUDGMENTS IT IS SAID, "AND MADE THE WHITE APPEAR." He set THE RODS in the gutters, the four gutters WHICH ARE THE FOUR VESSELS OF CHOCHMAH, BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, abiding underneath, "the well that the princes dug out" (Bemidbar 21:18). THE NUKVA, CALLED 'WELL,' IS AMENDED BY CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET OF BINAH, CALLED 'PRINCES,' COMPRISING THE FOUR VESSELS OF CHOCHMAH, BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT CALLED 'GUTTERS.' When it is filled by the higher rivers and sources, THE SFIROT OF BINAH, the water flows from that holy well, and the four VESSELS take it all. They are therefore called 'gutters,' where THE ANGELS AND SOULS come to drink.

347. וְיַעֲקֹב כַּד בָּעָא לְאַתְקָנָא לְהַאי דַרְגָּא, סָלֵיק לְכָל אִינוּן דִּינִין וּגְבוּרָן מִינָהּ, וְאוֹקֵים לוֹן בָּרְהָטִים, בְּאִינוּן רְהָטִים אַרְבַּע, דְּקָיְימֵי תְּחוֹת הַאי בְּאֵר חֲפָרוּהָ שָׂרִים, דְּאִתְמַלְיָא מֵאִינוּן נַחֲלִין וּמַבּוּעִין עִלָּאִין, בְּגִין דְּכַד נָפְקִין מַיִין, מֵהַאי בְּאֵר קַדִּישָׁא, אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע נָטְלֵי כֹּלָּא, וְעַל דָּא אִקְרוּן רְהָטִים, וּמִתַּמָּן אַתְיָין כֹּלָּא לְמִשְׁתֵּי.

Angels Chassadim Crowns Evil Grades Gutters Judgment Punishment Rods

348. These judgments and Gvurot, WHICH HE REMOVED FROM THE RODS, stand IN THE GUTTERS, so that each will receive its proper share. In the verse, "when the flocks came to drink...and the flocks conceived before the rods," THE TWO USES OF THE WORD 'FLOCK' correspond to one another - THE GRADES WORTHY OF RECEIVING CHASSADIM AND THE GRADES WORTHY OF RECEIVING JUDGMENTS AND GVUROT. He asks, What is the meaning of "heat" in the verse, "that they should conceive (lit. 'heat')?" HE ANSWERS, When THE ANGELS, THE FLOCKS, are crowned by CHASSADIM AND RECEIVE Judgment, they are heated by that Judgment, BECAUSE RECEIVING JUDGMENT IS CALLED 'HEATING.' They then roam the world inspecting the ways of men for either good or evil, IN ORDER TO REWARD OR PUNISH THEM, BECAUSE THEY INCLUDE CHASSADIM AND JUDGMENTS.

348. וְאִינוּן דִּינִין וּגְבוּרָן, כֻּלְּהוּ קָיְימֵי תַּמָּן, לְנַטְלָא לְכָל חַד וְחַד כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ. אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹאנָה הַצֹּאן לִשְׁתּוֹת לְנֹכַח הַצֹּאן, אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵיל אִלֵּין. וַיֵּחַמְנָה, מַאי וַיֵּחַמְנָה, דְּכַד מִתְעַטְּרָן בְּדִינָא, מִתְחַמְּמִין בְּהַהוּא דִינָא, וְאָזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין בְּעַלְמָא, וּמְעַיְינֵי בְּאָרְחֵיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, הֵן לְטַב הֵן לְבִישׁ.

Daniel Judgment Rods

349. Come and behold, it is next written, "And the flocks conceived before (lit. 'were heated against') the rods." This is because these rods, JUDGMENTS AND GVUROT, were heated, and they are now in charge of the Judgments in the world. People are judged by them, as it is written, "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones..." (Daniel 4:14).

349. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ, וַיֶּחֱמוּ הַצֹּאן אֶל הַמַּקְלוֹת, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן מַקְלוֹת הֲווֹ מִתְחַמְּמָן, וּמַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּדִינֵי עַלְמָא, וְאִתְפַּקְּדָן עֲלֵיהּ, וְאִתְדָּנוּ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא עֲלַיְיהוּ, כד"א בִּגְזֵרַת עִירִין פִּתְגָּמָא וּמֵאמַר קַדִּישִׁין שְׁאֵלְתָא וגו.'

David Hands Heart Soul, The

350. Rabbi Chiya began the discussion with the verse, "My soul clings to You, Your right hand upholds me" (Tehilim 63:9). We have to study this verse carefully. It reads, "My soul clings to You." David himself always cleaved to the Holy One, blessed be He. He cared not for other, WORLDLY matters, but cleaved to the Holy One, blessed be He, with his heart and soul. Because his only wish was to cleave to Him, the Holy One, blessed be He, supported him and never left him, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "YOUR RIGHT HAND UPHOLDS ME." From this we understand that when a man cleaves to the Holy One, blessed be He, He upholds him and never leaves him.

350. רִבִּי חִיָּיא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, דָּבְקָה נַפְשִׁי אַחֲרֶיךָ בִּי תָּמְכָה יְמִינֶךָ, הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בֵּיהּ, דָּבְקָה נַפְשִׁי אַחֲרֶיךָ, בְּגִין דְּדָוִד מַלְכָּא, הֲוָה מִתְדַּבֵּק נַפְשֵׁיהּ תָּדִיר, אֲבַתְרֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלָא חָיֵישׁ לְמִלִּין אָחֳרָנִין דְּעַלְמָא, אֶלָּא לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ בֵּיהּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּאִיהוּ הֲוָה מִתְדַּבֵּק בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הֲוָה תָּמִיךְ בֵּיהּ וְלָא שַׁבְקֵיהּ. מִכָּאן, לְבַר נָשׁ כַּד אָתָא לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָחִיד בֵּיהּ, וְלָא שָׁבִיק לֵיהּ.

Chassadim Crowns David Grades Hands Soul, The

351. Another explanation for, "My soul clings to You." This David does so that his grade may be crowned above. For when his grade is attached to the supernal grades and rises to them, the right, CHASSADIM, embraces him, raises him, and joins him WITH THE RIGHT into a worthy union. This is echoed in the verses, "and Your right hand shall hold me" (Tehilim 139:10), and, "His right hand embraces me" (Shir Hashirim 8:3). Therefore, the scripture reads, "Your right hand upholds me."

351. דָּבָר אֲחֵר דָּבְקָה נַפְשִׁי אַחֲרֶיךָ, לְאִתְעַטְּרָא דַּרְגֵּיהּ לְעֵילָא, דְּהָא כַּד אִתְדַּבַּק הַהוּא דַרְגָּא בְּדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין לְסַלְקָא בַּתְרַיְיהוּ, כְּדֵין יְמִינָא אָחִיד בֵּיהּ לְסַלְקָא לֵיהּ, וּלְחַבְּרָא לֵיהּ, בְּחִבּוּרָא חַד כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, כד"א וְתֹאחֲזֵנִי יְמִינֶךָ, וּכְתִיב וִימִינוֹ תְחַבְּקֵנִי, וְעַל דָּא בִּי תָּמְכָה יְמִינֶךָ.

Grades Hands Head

352. When he cleaves to the Holy One, blessed be He, it is written, "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me." This is his union with THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. When he joins HIM in a union, his grade is filled and blessed.

352. וְכַד אָחִיד בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כְּדֵין כְּתִיב שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי וִימִינוֹ תְחַבְּקֵנִי, וְאִיהוּ יִחוּדָא חַד, וְחִבּוּרָא חַד, וְכַד אִיהוּ חִבּוּרָא חַד, כְּדֵין אִתְמַלְּיָא הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא דִּילֵיהּ, וְאִתְבָּרְכָא.

Grades Gutters Jacob Laban Nukva Other Side Purification Water

353. When all the gutters are filled on all four sides of the world, all the flocks are given water, each according to its grade, FROM THE FOUR ASPECTS OF CHOCHMAH, BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT. When Jacob came to purify this grade, THE NUKVA, he chose the right side, which was worthy of him. The Other Side, which was not worthy, was separated from him, as it is written, "and he put his own flocks apart and put them not to Laban's cattle." He was "apart," on his own, and did not worship strange Elohim from the other sides. Happy is the portion of Yisrael, of whom it is written, "For you are a holy people to Hashem your Elohim, and Hashem has chosen you..." (Devarim 14:2).

353. וְכַד אִתְמַלְיָין כָּל אִינוּן רְהָטִין, אִתְמַלְיָין לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעַלְמָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ עֲדָרַיָיא אִשְׁתַּקְּיָין, כָּל חַד וְחַד לְסִטְרֵיהּ. וְכַד אֲתָא יַעֲקֹב, לְאַתְקָנָא הַאי דַרְגָּא, בָּרֵיר לֵיהּ סִטְרָא דִימִינָא, דְּאִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ, וְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא דְלָא אִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ אִתְפָּרְשַׁת מִינֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב, וַיָּשֶׁת לוֹ עֲדָרִים לְבַדּוֹ וְלֹא שָׁתָם עַל צֹאן לָבָן. לְבַדּוֹ: הֲוָה בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דְּלָא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּטַעֲוָון אָחֳרָנִין דִּבְסִטְרִין אָחֳרָנִין. זַכָּאָה חוּלַקְהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דַּעֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב כִּי עַם קָדוֹשׁ אַתָּה לַיי' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּבְךָ בָּחַר יי' וגו.'

Abraham Astrology Isaac Jacob Moon Nukva

354. Come and behold, Jacob, the chosen of the fathers, includes all of them, BECAUSE THE CENTRAL COLUMN, JACOB, INCLUDES THE RIGHT AND LEFT COLUMNS, ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. He includes them all and thus strives to shine upon the moon, THE NUKVA, since it is for Jacob to compose the evening service, THE NUKVA.

354. וְתָא חֲזֵי, יַעֲקֹב אִיהוּ תּוּשְׁבְּחָא דַּאֲבָהָן, וְאִיהוּ כְּלָלָא דְּכֻלְּהוּ, וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ כְּלָלָא דְּכֹלָּא, בְּגִין כָּך אִיהוּ קָאֵים לְאַנְהָרָא לְסִיהֲרָא, דְּיַעֲקֹב אִיהוּ קָאֵים לְאַתְקָנָא לִתְפִלַּת עַרְבִית.

Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness)

355. He made all the preparations correctly and installed all the holy aspects with his aspect OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN. He thus separated his share from that of the other nations OF THE LEFT. Those were the holy, supernal grades of high holiness; the others were the grades defiled with the fifth of impurity.

355. וְכָל הַהוּא תִּקּוּנָא, אִיהוּ כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ, כָּל אִינוּן סִטְרִין קַדִּישִׁין כֻּלְּהוּ בְּתִקּוּנָא אַתְקִין בְּסִטְרוֹי, וְאַפְרֵישׁ חוּלָקֵיהּ, מֵחוּלָקָא דִּשְׁאָר עַמִין. אִלֵּין סִטְרִין עִלָּאִין קַדִּישִׁין בִּקְדוּשָּׁה עִלָּאָה, וְאִלֵּין סִטְרִין מְסָאֲבִין, בִּמְסָאֲבָן דִּמְסָאֲבוּתָא.

Faith Laban Nukva

356. We have already explained that the verse, "and he put his own flocks apart," means that he established for the faith, THE NUKVA, alone, according to the verse, "For you are a holy people to the Hashem your Elohim and Hashem has chosen you" (Devarim 14:2). "...And put them not to Laban's cattle..." because he did not share his lot and portion with them.

356. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, דִּכְתִיב וַיָּשֶׁת לוֹ עֲדָרִים לְבַדּוֹ. וַיָּשֶׁת לוֹ: דְּאַתְקֵין תִּקּוּנִין לִמְהֵימְנוּתָא. לְבַדּוֹ: כד"א וּבְךָ בָחַר יי' לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם סְגֻלָּה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים. וְלֹא שָׁתָם עַל צֹאן לָבָן, דְּלָא שַׁוֵּי חוּלָקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ עִמְּהוֹן.

Faith Jacob

357. Therefore Jacob, the chosen among the fathers, established the mystery of faith and separated his lot and portion from that of other nations. Of this the scripture reads, "But you that did cleave to Hashem your Elohim are alive every one of you this day" (Devarim 4:4).

357. וְעַל דָּא יַעֲקֹב שְׁלִימוּ דַּאֲבָהָן, אַתְקֵין רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְאַפְרֵישׁ חוּלָקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ, מֵחוּלָקָא וְעַדְבָא דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין. וְעַל דָּא כְתִיב, וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיי' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם.

Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness)

358. Rabbi Aba said, Happy is the portion of Yisrael who are superior to the heathen nations, because their grade is high AND THEY RECEIVE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT FROM BELOW. The grades of the heathen nations are below, BECAUSE THEY DRAW THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT FROM ABOVE. The first, those of the right, are on the side of Holiness. The second, those on the left, on the side of Defilement.

358. רִבִּי אַבָּא אֲמַר, זַכָּאָה חוּלַקְהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינוּן עִלָּאִין עַל עַמִּין עַכו"ם, בְּגִין דְּדַרְגָא דִלְהוֹן לְעֵילָא, וְדַרְגִּין דְּעַמִּין עכו"ם לְתַתָּא, אִלֵּין בְּסִטְרָא דִקְדוּשָׁה, וְאִלֵּין בְּסִטְרָא דִמְסָאֲבָא, אִלֵּין לִימִינָא, וְאִלֵּין לִשְׂמָאלָא.

Death Death and the Afterlife Destruction Hands Temple, The

359. After the destruction of the Temple, it is written, "He has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy" (Eichah 2:3). It is also written, "save with Your right hand, and answer me" (Tehilim 60:7), because as the left becomes stronger, the impure are strengthened. This will continue until the Holy One, blessed be He, rebuilds the Temple and establishes and amends the world properly. Then everything shall be set aright again, and the side of Defilement will pass from the world. We have learned this from the verses, "and...I will cause the...unclean spirit to pass out of the land" (Zecharyah 13:2, and, "He will destroy death for ever" (Yeshayah 25:8).

359. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְחָרַב בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, מַה כְּתִיב, הֵשִׁיב אָחוֹר יְמִינוֹ מִפְּנֵי אוֹיֵב, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, הוֹשִׁיעָה יְמִינְךָ וַעֲנֵנִי. וּשְׂמָאלָא אִתְגַּבַּר וּמְסָאֲבָא אִתְתַּקַּף, עַד דְּיִבְנֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, וְיַתְקִין עַלְמָא עַל תִּקּוּנוֹי, וִיהַדְּרוּן מִלֵּיהּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת וְיִתְעֲבַר סִטְרָא מְסָאֲבָא מִן עָלְמָא. וְהָא אִתְּמָר, דִּכְתִיב וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר מִן הָאָרֶץ וגו,' וּכְתִיב בִּלַּע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח וגו.'

Earth Idolatry Jerusalem Zion

360. The Holy One, blessed be He, alone shall remain, as it is written, "And the idols shall utterly be abolished" (Yeshayah 2:18), and, "Hashem alone shall be exalted on that day" (Yeshayah 2:17), because "there was no strange El with him" (Devarim 32:12). For the force of defilement will be annihilated from the world, and there will be no one left above and below except the Holy One, blessed be He. And Yisrael, His Holy Nation which serves Him, shall be called 'holy,' as it is written, "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every one in Jerusalem that is written to life" (Yeshayah 4:3). Then there will be one King above and below, and one people to serve Him, as it is written, "And who is like Your people Yisrael, a singular nation on earth" (I Divrei Hayamim 17:21).

360. וְיִשְׁתָּאַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב, וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּלִיל יַחֲלֹף, וּכְתִיב וְנִשְׂגָּב יי' לְבַדּוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא. הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב, וְאֵין עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר, בְּגִין דְּיִשְׁתְּצֵי חֵילָא מְסָאֲבָא מֵעַלמָא, וְלָא יִשְׁתָּאַר לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא, אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְפוּלְחָנֵיהּ, עַם קַדִּישׁ, וְיִתְקְרֵי קַדִּישׁ, דִּכְתִיב, וְהָיָה הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ כָּל הַכָּתוּב לַחַיִּים בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם. וּכְדֵין יְהֵא מַלְכָּא יְחִידָאֵי, לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא, וְעַמָּא יְחִידָאָה לְפוּלְחָנֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וּמִי כְּעַמְךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ.

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