Vayikra: Chapter 25

"Ten shekels apiece"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon speaks about the ten works of Creation and the ten sayings (or commandments) in the Torah. When Yisrael is occupied with the Torah, the world prevails. Rabbi Shimon places the ten statements of Creation in Beresheet side by side with the ten commandments and points out their correlation. He says that as in the title verse, these two tens were weighed in the same scales, and due to this the world endures.

Creation Earth Heaven Jeremiah Offering Peace Peace-offering Sacrifice Sanctuary Shekels Ten Torah

178. "And if his offering be a sacrifice of peace offering" (Vayikra 3:1). Rabbi Shimon said, it is written, "Weighing ten shekels apiece (Heb. kaf), after the shekel of the sanctuary" (Bemidbar 7:86). HE ASKS, Wherefore does it say literally "ten, ten" TWICE? HE ANSWERS, Ten are in the works of Creation and ten in the giving of the Torah, FOR THERE ARE ten sayings in the works of Creation; NAMELY, TEN TIMES "AND ELOHIM SAID." THE VERSE, "IN THE BEGINNING" IS ALSO CONSIDERED A SAYING and there are ten sayings, NAMELY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, in the giving of the Torah. HE ASKS, What does that teach us? HE ANSWERS, The world was created solely for the Torah and, as long as Yisrael are occupied with the Torah, the world prevails. When Yisrael are idle from the Torah, it is written, "If My convenant be not day and night, it were as if I had not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth" (Yirmeyah 33:25). THIS MEANS THAT IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE TORAH, ABOUT WHICH IT SAYS "BUT YOU SHOULD MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT" (YEHOSHUA 1:8), "IT WERE AS IF I HAD NOT APPOINTED THE ORDINANCES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH." THE LESSON IN THE VERSE IS THAT CAF (= 20) IS MALCHUT, WHICH COMPRISES TWICE TEN OF THE CREATION AND OF THE GIVING OF THE TORAH THAT ARE INTERDEPENDENT.

178. וְאִם זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים קָרְבָּנוֹ. ר"ש אוֹמֵר, כְּתִיב עֲשָׂרָה עֲשָׂרָה הַכַּף בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ. עֲשָׂרָה עֲשָׂרָה לְמַאי קָא אַתְיָא. אֶלָּא, עֲשָׂרָה לְמַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית. וַעֲשָׂרָה לְמַתַּן תּוֹרָה. עֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, וַעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת בְּמַתַּן תּוֹרָה. בְּמַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. בְּגִין דְּעָלְמָא לָא אִתְבְּרֵי אֶלָּא בְּגִין אוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכָל זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְעַסְקֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, עָלְמָא מִתְקַיְּימָא. וְכָל זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְבַּטְלֵי מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא, מַה כְּתִיב, אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי.

Creation Faith Fear Light Redemption and Salvation Ten Torah

179. Come and see, there are ten sayings in the works of Creation, as we learned that the world was created by ten sayings. The ten sayings of the giving of the Torah are the ten commandments. The FORMER CORRESPOND TO THE LATTER, SINCE WERE IT NOT FOR THE SAYINGS OF THE GIVING OF THE TORAH, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE WORKS OF CREATION WOULD NOT HAVE PREVAILED. It is written, "I am Hashem your Elohim" (Shemot 20:2) IN THE GIVING OF THE TORAH, and it is written in the works of Creation: "Let there be light: and there was light" (Beresheet 1:3). For the Faith of the Holy One, blessed be He, MALCHUT, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF "I AM" is called light, as written, "Hashem is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (Tehilim 27:1). THUS, THEY ARE ONE.

179. תָּא חֲזֵי, עֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת לְמַעֲשֶׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, כְּדִתְנָן בַּעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. עֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת לְמַתַּן תּוֹרָה, אֵלּוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת. כְּתִיב אָנֹכִי יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ. וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר. דָּא מְהֵימְנוּתָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹר אִקְרֵי, דִּכְתִּיב יְיָ' אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא וְגוֹ.'

Firmaments Heaven Waters Zeir Anpin

180. It is written, "You shall have no other Elohim beside Me" (Shemot 20:3), WHICH RESEMBLES the words: "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters" (Beresheet 1:6). "Let there be a firmament" MEANS let Yisrael, who are the portion of the Holy One, blessed be He, be gathered to the place called heaven, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. This is the meaning of what Rabbi Yesa Saba once asked of Rabbi Ilai: The Holy One, blessed be He, placed all the other nations under the charge of appointed ministers, but where did He put the children of Yisrael? He sent him this: "And Elohim set them in the firmament of heaven" (Ibid. 17). A goodly answer did he send to him, THAT YISRAEL ARE UNITED IN HEAVEN, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN.

180. כְּתִיב לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל פָּנָי. וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם וְגוֹ.' יְהִי רָקִיעַ, אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינּוּן חוּלָקָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּאַחְדִּין בְּהַהוּא אַתְרָא דְּאִקְרֵי שָׁמַיִם. וְהַיְינוּ רָזָא, דְּזִמְנָא חֲדָא שָׁאַל רִבִּי יֵיסָא סָבָא לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָאי, אָמַר, הָא שְׁאָר עַמִּין יָהַב לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְרַבְרְבִין מְמָנָן שַׁלִּיטִין, יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאָן אֲתַר יָהַב לוֹן. שָׁלַח לֵיהּ, וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, וְשַׁפִּיר שָׁלַח לֵיהּ.

Idolatry Jeremiah Torah Water Waters Well

181. "In the midst of the waters" (Beresheet 1:6), NAMELY in the midst of the words of the Torah, FOR THE TORAH IS CALLED WATER. "And let it divide water from water" (Ibid). NAMELY, the Holy One, blessed be He, who is called a well of living water, from idolatry, which is called "broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Yirmeyah 2:13). This is bitter water, muddy water, gathered water foul and filthy. Holy Yisrael therefore divide water from water, the HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, FROM IDOLATRY. THUS, THIS VERSE RESEMBLES THE WORDS "YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER ELOHIM BESIDE ME."

181. בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם, בֵּין מִלּוּלֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. וִיהִי מַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לָמָּיִם, בֵּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּאִקְרֵי בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים. וּבֵין עֲ"ז, דְּאִקְרֵי בוֹרוֹת נִשְׁבָרִים וְגוֹ' דְּאִינוּן מַיִם הַמָּרִים, מַיִם עֲכוּרִין, מְכוּנָסִים, סְרוּחִים וּמְטוּנָפִים. וְעַ"ד יִשְׂרָאֵל קַדִּישִׁין מַבְדִילִין בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם.

Creation Flow Grades Heaven Holy Name Other Side Water Waters

182. It is written, "You shall not take the name of Hashem your Elohim in vain" (Shemot 20:7) and it is written in the works of Creation: "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place" (Beresheet 1:9). Come and see: Whoever swears falsely by the Holy Name, it is as if he separates Ima, MALCHUT, from her place above. Thus, the holy Sfirot do not settle in their place as it says, "And a complainer separates close friends (also: 'chief')" (Mishlei 16:28). The chief is none other than the Holy One, blessed be He. It is written, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place" (Beresheet 1:9), WHICH MEANS not to cause separation BETWEEN THE GRADES CALLED WATER by swearing falsely, but "to one place" as worthy of the place of truth. They must not EXPAND AND flow to another place, which is false. What is a lie? It is when the water flows to another place, THE OTHER SIDE, which is not His, (NOT OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE). THE VERSES THEREFORE RESEMBLE EACH OTHER.

182. כְּתִיב לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַשָּׁוְא, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל מַאן דְּאוֹמֵי בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא לְשַׁקֵרָא, כְּאִילּוּ פָּרִישׁ אִימָּא מֵאַתְרָה לְעֵילָּא. וְכִתְרִין קַדִּישִׁין לָא מִתְיַישְׁבֵי בְּדוּכְתַּיְיהוּ, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, וְנִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף. וְאֵין אַלּוּף אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וּכְתִיב יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, לָא תְּשַׁוֵי פֵּרוּדָא, בְּגִין אוֹמָאָה דְּשִׁקְרָא. אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד, כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי בַּאֲתַר דִּקְשׁוֹט, וְלָא בַּאֲתַר אָחֳרָא לְשַׁקְרָא. וּמַאי שִׁקְרָא. הוּא דְּאַזְלִין מַיָּא לַאֲתַר אָחֳרָא, דְּלָאו אִיהוּ דִּילֵיהּ.

Blessing Bride Creation Crowns Earth Shabbat Zeir Anpin

183. It is written, "Remember the Shabbat day, to keep it holy" (Shemot 20:8) and in the works of Creation: "Let the earth bring forth grass, herb yielding seed" (Beresheet 1:11). When was the holy earth, MALCHUT, glorified and adorned with its crowns? From this you may infer it is on Shabbat, for then the Bride, MALCHUT, was joined with the King, ZEIR ANPIN, in producing herbs and blessings to the world. THE VERSES THEREFORE RESEMBLE EACH OTHER.

183. כְּתִיב זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, תַּדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב. אֵימָתַי אִתְרְבִיאַת אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא וְאִתְעַטְּרָת בְּעִטְרָהָא, הֲוֵי אוֹמֵר בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, דְּהָא כְּדֵין אִתְחַבְּרַת כַּלָּה בְּמַלְכָּא, לְאַפָּקָא דְּשָׁאִין וּבִרְכָּאן לְעָלְמָא.

Astrology Congregation Creation Firmaments Heaven Lights Moon Shield Sun Zeir Anpin

184. It is written, "Honor your father and your mother" (Shemot 20:12) and in the works of Creation: "Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven" (Beresheet 1:14). What does this teach us? That the lights are your father and mother; your father is the sun, ZEIR ANPIN, and your mother is the moon, MALCHUT. The sun is none other than the Holy One, blessed be He, as written, "For Hashem Elohim is a sun and shield" (Tehilim 84:12) and the moon is none other than the Congregation of Yisrael, MALCHUT, as written, "Nor shall your moon withdraw itself" (Yeshayah 60:20). Therefore, THE TWO VERSES are one.

184. כְּתִיב כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ וְאֶת אִמֶּךָ. וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם. מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. אֶלָּא אִלֵּין מְאוֹרוֹת, דָּא הוּא אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ. אָבִיךָ, דָּא שִׁמְשָׁא. אִמֶּךָ, דָּא סִיהֲרָא. וְאֵין שִׁמְשָׁא אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִּיב כִּי שֶׁמֶשׁ וּמָגֵן יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים. וְלֵית סִיהֲרָא אֶלָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִּיב וִירֵחֵךְ לֹא יֵאָסֵף, וְעַל דָּא כֹּלָּא חַד.

Creation Living Creatures Nefesh (Soul) Soul (Nefesh) Soul, The Waters

185. It is written, "You shall not murder" (Shemot 20:13) and it is written in the works of Creation: "Let the waters swarm abundantly with living creatures (lit. 'a living Nefesh')" (Beresheet 1:20). THIS TEACHES US THAT you must not murder man that is called A LIVING SOUL, for it is written, "And the man became a living soul" (Beresheet 2:7). You shall not be like the fishes, of which the bigger swallow the smaller. THE VERSES THEREFORE RESEMBLE EACH OTHER.

185. כְּתִיב לֹא תִּרְצַח, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, וְאַנְתְּ לָא תִּקְטוֹל בַּר נָשׁ, דְּאִקְרֵי הָכֵי, דִּכְתִּיב וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה. וְלָא תֶּהֱווֹ כַּדָּגִים הַלָּלוּ, דְּרַבְרְבֵי בַּלְעֵי לְזוּטְרֵי.

Creation Earth Living Creatures Women

186. It is written, "You shall not commit adultery" (Shemot 20:13) and written in the works of Creation: "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind" (Beresheet 1:24). From this, we learned that a man should not be false by being with another woman who is not his spouse. It is therefore written, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind." A woman should bear children only to her own kind. What is her own kind? Her husband.

186. כְּתִיב לֹא תִּנְאָף, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה לְמִינָהּ. מִכָּאן אוֹלִיפְנָא, דְּלָא יְשַׁקֵּר בַּר נָשׁ בְּאִנְתּוּ אָחֳרָא דְּלָאו אִיהִי בַּת זוּגֵיהּ. וְעַ"ד כְּתִיב, תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה לְמִינָהּ, דְּלָא תּוֹלִיד אִתְּתָא אֶלָּא מִמִּינָהּ, וּמַאן אִיהוּ מִינָּהּ, דָּא בֶּן זוּגָהּ.

Creation

187. It is written, "You shall not steal" (Shemot 20:13) and written in the works of Creation: "And Elohim said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seeds" (Beresheet 1:29). NAMELY, whatever I have given you and entrusted to you shall be yours, and you shall not steal anything from another.

187. כְּתִיב לֹא תִגְנוֹב, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, וַיֹאמֶר אֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לָכֶם אֶת כָּל עֵשֶׂב זוֹרֵעַ זֶרַע, מַאי דְּיָהֲבִית לְכוּ וְאַפְקִידָת לְכוּ יְהֵא לְכוּ, וְלָא תִּגְנוֹבוּ מַה דְּהוּא מֵאָחֳרָא.

Creation

188. It is written, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Shemot 20:13) and in the works of Creation: "And Elohim said, Let Us make man in Our image" (Beresheet 1:26), WHICH MEANS THAT you shall not bear false witness against whoever is in the King's image. Whoever bears false witness against his neighbor, it is as if he bore false witness against that which is high.

188. כְּתִיב לֹא תַעֲנֶה בְרֵעֲךָ עַד שָׁקֶר, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, וַיֹּאמַר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ. מַאן דְּהוּא בְּדִיּוּקְנָא דְּמַלְכָּא, לָא תַּסְהִיד בֵּיהּ שֶׁקֶר. וּמַאן דְּאַסְהִיד שֶׁקֶר בְּחַבְרֵיהּ, כְּאִילּוּ אַסְהִיד לְעֵילָּא.

Creation Eve

189. It is written, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (Shemot 20:14) and written in the works of Creation: "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Beresheet 2:18). Here is a spouse before you, FOR EVE, HIS WIFE WAS GIVEN HIM. Therefore, "you shall not covet your neighbor's wife."

189. כְּתִיב לֹא תַחְמוֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ, וּכְתִיב בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, לֹא טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ וְגוֹ.' הָא בַּת זוּגָךְ לָקֳבְלָךְ, וְעַ"ד לֹא תַחְמוֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ.

Atonement Creation Offering Peace Peace-offering Precepts Sacrifice Sanctuary Shekels Ten Torah

190. This is WHAT WE SAID ABOUT the ten sayings of the works of Creation and the ten sayings of the giving of the Torah. Hence, it says, "Wweighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary" (Bemidbar 7:86) AS THESE TWO TENS were weighed together in the same scales (Heb. mishkal). Due to this the world endures and peace abides in it. Therefore, "And if his offering be a sacrifice of peace offering" (Vayikra 3:1) is meant to preserve the world in peace. Furthermore, it atones for positive precepts and negative precepts in order to bring peace to all.

190. וְהַיְינוּ עֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת לְמַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, וַעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת לְמַתַּן תּוֹרָה. וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב, עֲשָׂרָה עֲשָׂרָה הַכַּף בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ. אִתְּקָלוּ כַּחֲדָא בְּשִׁקּוּלָא חֲדָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ קָאֵים עָלְמָא, וְאִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ שְׁלָמָא. וְעַל דָּא, וְאִם זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים קָרְבָּנוֹ, לְקַיְּימָא עָלְמָא בִּשְׁלָמָא. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דִּמְכַפֵּר עַל מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה, וְעַל מִצְוֹת ל"ת, בְּגִין לְאַטְלָא שָׁלוֹם עַל כֹּלָּא.

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