85. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Chizkiyah were sitting underneath the trees in the field of Ono. Rabbi Chiya dozed and saw Elijah. RABBI CHIYA said TO ELIJAH: Because of my master showing the way, the field, THE NUKVA, is shining. ELIJAH said, I have come to announce that Jerusalem, together with the cities where the sages dwell, is about to be destroyed. For Jerusalem, THE NUKVA, is judgment and is established upon it, and judgment now calls for its destruction. And Samael has already been given power over it and over the powerful men of the world. I have come to let the wise men know so they can try to extend Jerusalem's years SO IT SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED; for as long as the Torah, which is the Tree of Life on which everything is maintained, dwells in it, it remains standing. Thus, as long as the Torah is awakened from below, AND MEN ARE OCCUPIED IN ITS STUDY, the Tree of Life, ZEIR ANPIN, does not leave the celestial JERUSALEM. When the Torah is no longer studied below, WHEN MEN ARE NOT OCCUPIED IN ITS STUDY, the Tree of Life, ZEIR ANPIN, is gone from the world (THE NUKVA, CALLED 'WORLD) AND ALSO JERUSALEM. THIS DOES NOT REFER TO TERRESTRIAL JERUSALEM SINCE THESE SAGES LIVED LONG AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.
86. Therefore, as long as sages are happy in their study of the Torah, Samael cannot prevail against them, as it is written, "the voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau" (Beresheet 27:22). This is the supernal Torah, ZEIR ANPIN, called 'Jacob's Voice.' As long as the voice does not stop, speech rules and reigns, and study of the Torah can continue. Rabbi Chiya awoke. They went and related to the sages WHAT THEY HAD HEARD FROM ELIJAH.
87. Rabbi Yesa stated that everybody knew WHAT ELIJAH SAID. IT WAS REVEALED TO THE SAGES THAT WHOEVER TURNS TOWARD THE LEFT DESTROYS THE NUKVA. This is so, as it is written, "Unless Hashem keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain" (Tehilim 127:1). The Holy City, THE NUKVA, is maintained by those who study the Torah, WHO CLEAVE TO THE CENTRAL COLUMN CALLED 'TORAH.' THEN, YUD HEI VAV HEI, THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, PRESERVES THE CITY, and not by men who are strong in this world, THAT IS, WHO CLEAVE TO THE LEFT. As it is written, "Unless Hashem (THE CENTRAL COLUMN) keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain," FOR IT IS DESTINED TO BE DESTROYED, AS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED.