Vayetze
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.