Vayikra: Chapter 2

"I came to my garden"

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Shimon discuss the title verse and give several explanations for it. Having chosen Yisrael for His own, God wished to separate them from others and to protect them. The very day that the tabernacle was erected on earth, another tabernacle was erected on high, but Moses could not enter the newly built tabernacle until sacrifices were offered. The title verse also refers to the Upper Garden of Eden, since all are sustained by the flow of the river that issues from there.

Bride Food Honey Milk Moses Myrrh Spices Tents Wine

26. "And Hashem called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the Tent of Meeting saying" (Vayikra 1:1). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse: "I came to my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk" (Shir Hashirim 5:1). The beginning of the verse disagrees with its ending and its ending with its beginning. It says, "I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk" and following this IT IS WRITTEN, "Eat, O dear ones" (Ibid.). One who invites others TO EAT does so when the food is set before him. However, once he has eaten, how can he invite another TO EAT WITH HIM? YET, IT IS WRITTEN, "I HAVE EATEN MY HONEYCOMB...I HAVE DRUNK MY MILK," INDICATING THAT HE HAS ALREADY EATEN.

26. וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לֵאמֹר. רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי וְגוֹ,' הַאי קְרָא לָאו רֵישֵׁיהּ סֵיפֵיהּ, וְלָאו סֵיפֵיהּ רֵישֵׁיהּ. כְּתִיב אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, לְבָתַר אִכְלוּ רֵעִים. מַאן דִּמְזַמֵּן לְאָחֳרָא, כַּד מְזוֹנָא מִתְתַּקָּן קָמֵיהּ. בָּתַר דְּאִיהוּ אָכַל הֵאַיךְ יַזְמִן לְאָחֳרָא.

Purification

27. HE ANSWERS, Yisrael were fortunate that the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to purify them and chose them from among all the nations. Having chosen them, He wanted to distance them from all persecutors in the world. Come and see, the very day that the tabernacle was erected below, another tabernacle on high was erected with it on the very same day, as is written, "the tabernacle was erected" (Shemot 40:17), not specifying further BECAUSE IT ALSO INCLUDES THE TABERNACLE ON HIGH, WHICH IS Malchut. That day was the time of rejoicing for the Holy One, blessed be He.

27. אֶלָּא זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעָא לְדַכְּאָה לְהוֹן, וְאִתְרְעֵי בְּהוֹן מִכָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין עע"ז, וּמִדְּאִתְרְעֵי בְּהוֹן בָּעָא לְסַלְּקָא לְהוֹן מִכָּל מְקַטְרְגֵי עָלְמָא. ת"ח, בְּיוֹמָא דְּאִתְּקַם מַשְׁכְּנָא לְתַתָּא, בְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא אִתְתְּקָם מַשְׁכְּנָא אָחֳרָא לְעֵילָּא עִמֵּיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן סְתָם, וְהַהוּא יוֹמָא חֶדְוָותָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה.

Bride Fire Moses Offering Sacrifice Tents

28. What is written once the tabernacle was erected? "And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting" (Shemot 40:35). When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw this, He said, 'THE TABERNACLE was erected by Moses, yet he remains out of it?' Immediately, "And Hashem called to Moses" (Vayikra 1:1). He said to him, 'Moses, what does a housewarming dedication (Heb. chanukat habayit) consist of? a feast!' "If any man of you bring an offering to Hashem" (Ibid. 2). HE THEREFORE BEGAN TO SPEAK OF SACRIFICES, WHICH ARE A FEAST FOR A SWEET SAVOR, AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE TO HASHEM. This is the meaning of: "I came to my garden, my sister, my bride" (Shir Hashirim 5:1). THIS VERSE IS INTERPRETED AS A REFERENCE TO THE SACRIFICES.

28. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְּקַם מַשְׁכְּנָא מַה כְּתִיב, וְלֹא יָכוֹל מֹשֶׁה לָבֹא אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. כַּד חָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כַּךְ אָמַר, וּמַה ע"י דְּמֹשֶׁה אִתְּקַם, וְאִיהוּ לְבַר, מִיַּד וַיִקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה. אָ"ל: מֹשֶׁה, חִנוּכָא דְּבֵיתָא בְּמַאי הֲוָה, בִּסְעוּדָתָא, אָדָם כִּי יַקְרִיב מִכֶּם קָרְבָּן לַיְיָ.' הה"ד בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה וְגוֹ.'

Bride Congregation Eden Flow Garden of Eden Honey Milk Myrrh Rivers Spices Wine Zeir Anpin

29. Another explanation: "I came to my garden" refers to the upper Garden of Eden. "My sister, my bride" refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY MALCHUT. On the day IN WHICH THE TABERNACLE WAS ERECTED, pairs were coupled in all SIX EXTREMES OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH ARE ALLUDED TO IN THE VERSE: "I CAME TO MY GARDEN." Pairs were also coupled in that UPPER Garden of Eden OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, for all of them were blessed from the flow of the river, WHICH IS BINAH, and each bonded with its fellow. Thus, it is written, "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk" (Ibid.), for they were all irrigated and saturated from the fountain spring of the river, WHICH IS YESOD OF BINAH.

29. ד"א בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי, דָּא גַּן עֵדֶן דִּלְעֵילָּא. אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּבְהַהוּא יוֹמָא אִזְדַּוְּוגוּ זִוּוּגִין בְּכֹלָּא, אִזְדַּוְּוגוּ זִוּוּגִין בְּהַהוּא גַּן עֵדֶן, בְּגִין דְּאִתְבָּרְכוּ כֻּלְּהוּ מִשַּׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלָא, וְאִתְקַשָּׁרוּ כָּל חַד בְּחַבְרֵיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי כֻּלְּהוֹן אִתְשַׁקְיָין וְאִתְרַוּוּ מִמַּבּוּעָא דְּנַחֲלָא.

Grades Sacrifice Zeir Anpin

30. "Eat, O dear ones, and drink; drink deep, O loving companions" (Ibid.). THIS REFERS TO all those lower LEVELS IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH and all the branches, which are all blessed and sustained when these ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, WHICH ARE ALLUDED TO IN THE VERSE "I CAME," are blessed on high. Through what are they blessed and sated? Entirely through the aroma of the sacrifices.

30. אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים, כָּל אִינּוּן דִּלְתַתָּא. וְכֻלְּהוּ עַנְפִין כֻּלְּהוּ, אִתְבְּרָכוּ וְאִתְּזָנוּ, כַּד אִלֵּין אִתְבְּרָכוּ לְעֵילָּא. וּבְמָּה מִתְבָּרְכָאן וּמִתְבַּסְּמָאן, כֻּלְּהוּ בְּרֵיחָא דְּקָרְבְּנָא.

Blessing Bride Congregation Earth Flow Rivers Zeir Anpin

31. Come and see: When the Congregation of Yisrael, MALCHUT, descended to rest on earth IN THE TABERNACLE, the Holy One, blessed be He, addressed MALCHUT with this verse: "I CAME..." for blessings and joy were present throughout the worlds. She, MALCHUT, was sweetened so that blessings may go forth from her to all. For when the six EXTREMES OF ZEIR ANPIN are blessed, WHICH ARE ALLUDED TO IN THE VERSE "I CAME," then all the worlds are blessed together below and on high, and Yisrael are blessed from all of them. Another explanation of: "I came to my garden, my sister, my bride." Rabbi Yitzchak said, The Holy One, blessed be He, unites with the Congregation of Yisrael, MALCHUT, only when these six EXTREMES OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH ARE ALLUDED TO IN THE VERSE: "I CAME," are saturated from the flow of the river which does not stop, BINAH.

31. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנַחְתַּת כ"י לְאַשְׁרָהָא דִּיּוּרָהָא בְּאַרְעָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָמַר לֵיהּ, לְהַאי קְרָא, בְּגִין דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בִּרְכָאן וְחֶדְוָה בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין, וְאִתְבַּסְּמַת הִיא, לְנָפְקָא מִנָּהּ בִּרְכָאן לְכֹלָּא. דְּכַד אִלֵּין שִׁית אִתְבָּרְכָאן, כְּדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין אִתְבָּרְכָאן כַּחֲדָא לְתַתָּא, וּמִתְבָּרְכָאן לְעֵילָּא. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִתְבְּרָכוּ מְכֻּלְּהוּ. ד"א בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה. ר' יִצְחָק אָמַר, לָא אִזְדַּוְוגָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בכ"י, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִלֵּין שִׁית אַתְרְוָון, מִשַּׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלָא דְּלָא פָּסַק.

Aaron Abraham Adonai Amidah (Standing Prayer) Blessing Bride Grades Mount Moriah Myrrh Prayer Spices Standing Prayer (Amidah)

32. Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd). He opened the discussion with the verse: "I came to my garden, my sister, my bride." This is Malchut, WHICH IS CALLED Adonai. "I have gathered my myrrh" refers to Chesed, which is the level of Abraham regarding whom it states: "I will get me to the mount of myrrh" (Shir Hashirim 4:6), MEANING THE MOUNTAIN OF MORIAH. "With my balm" refers to Netzach, which is the level of Aaron regarding whom it states: "Take you also to you the best spices" (Shemot 30:23). They are THE UNION OF the right arm, WHICH IS CHESED, with the right leg, WHICH IS NETZACH. This is alluded to in the verse: "at Your right hand are pleasures for evermore (Heb. netzach)" (Tehilim 16:11). The two corresponding blessings IN THE AMIDAH PRAYER are, 'Magen Abraham (lit. 'Shield of Abraham'),' WHICH IS CHESED, and the other is 'Retze (lit. 'be favorable')' WHICH IS NETZACH.

32. (רעיא מהימנא) פָּתַח וְאָמַר בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה, אִיהִי מַלְכוּת, אֲדֹנָ"י. אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי, דָּא חֶסֶד, דַּרְגָּא דְּאַבְרָהָם, דְּאִתְּמַר עֲלֵיהּ אֵלֵךְ לִי אֶל הַר הַמּוֹר. עִם בְּשָׂמִי, דָּא נֶצַח, דַּרְגָּא דְּאַהֲרֹן, דִּכְתִּיב בֵּיהּ וְאַתָּה קַח לְךָ בְּשָׂמִים רֹאשׁ. וְאִינּוּן דְּרוֹעָא יְמִינָא, בְּיַרְכָא יְמִינָא. וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה, נְעִימוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח. וְאִינּוּן תְּרֵין בִּרְכָּן לָקֳבְלֵיהּ, חַד מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם, וְתִנְיָינָא עֲבוֹדָה, דְּהוּא רְצֵה.

Amidah (Standing Prayer) Blessing Bride Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) David Fear Grades Honey Isaac Jacob Milk Prayer Solomon Standing Prayer (Amidah) Twelve Twelve Tribes of Israel Wine

33. "I have eaten my honeycomb" (Shir Hashirim 5:1): This is Gvurah, WHICH IS CALLED 'The fear of Isaac.' "With my honey" (Ibid.): This is Hod, the level of David, and this is THE UNION OF the left arm, WHICH IS GVURAH, with the left leg, WHICH IS HOD. "I have drunk my wine with my milk:" This is the torso, WHICH IS TIFERET, and the member of the Covenant, WHICH IS YESOD, that is, Jacob, WHO IS TIFERET, with Solomon, WHO IS YESOD. Then come: "Eat, O dear ones, and drink; drink deep, O loving companions," who are the Twelve Tribes and the twelve blessings OF THE AMIDAH PRAYER and the additional blessing regarding heretics, THAT IS 'VELAMALSHINIM (LIT. 'AND FOR SLANDERERS').' Who eats it? The one regarding whom it states: "I came to my garden, my sister, my bride."

33. אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי, דָּא גְּבוּרָה פַּחַד יִצְחָק. עִם דִּבְשִׁי הוֹד, דַּרְגָּא דְּדָוִד, וְהַיְינוּ דְּרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא, עִם יַרְכָא שְׂמָאלָא. שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, גּוּף וּבְרִית, יַעֲקֹב עִם שְׁלֹמֹה. לְבָתַר אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים, י"ב שְׁבָטִים, בי"ב בִּרְכָאן. תּוֹסֶפֶת בִּרְכַּת הַמִּינִין, מַאן אָכִיל לָהּ, הַהוּא דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָה.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Honey Milk Myrrh Wine Zeir Anpin

34. Some divide THE SIX EXTREMES OF ZEIR ANPIN according to a different hidden meaning. "I have gathered my myrrh with my balm" refers to the torso and the member of the Covenant, TIFERET AND YESOD. "I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey:" These are the right leg and the left leg, WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD. "I have drunk my wine with my milk" is the left arm with the right, WHICH ARE CHESED AND GVURAH, for wine refers to Gvurah and milk to Chesed. End of Ra'aya Meheimna.

34. וְאִית דְּפָלִיג לוֹן בְּרָזָא אָחֳרָא, אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי, גּוּף וּבְרִית, יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, שׁוֹקָא יְמִינָא עִם שְׂמָאלָא. יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, דְּרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא, דְּאִינּוּן יֵינִי גְּבוּרָה, חֲלָבִי חֶסֶד. (ע"כ רעיא מהימנא)

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