Vayikra: Chapter 55

The morning doe

Synopsis

Rabbi Yosi tells us that the morning doe is the Congregation of Yisrael, and Rabbi Shimon says that she comes from the morning, or Chesed. He tells us of the travels of the souls at night when people sleep, and reminds us why it is good to wake up at midnight and study the Torah at the time when God is delighting himself with the righteous in the Garden of Eden.

Congregation David Doe Hind Morning

367. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying, "To the chief Musician on the morning doe, A psalm of David" (Tehilim 22:1). Who is the morning doe? It is the Congregation of Yisrael called "a loving hind and a pleasant roe" (Mishlei 5:19). HE ASKS, Is MALCHUT a doe in the morning, not during the whole day? HE ANSWERS, The explanation is that the doe is from the place called a loving hind and a pleasant roe. She comes from the place called morning, as in the verse: "His going forth is sure as the morning" (Hoshea 6:3), FROM CHESED. King David said this of the Congregation of Yisrael, as understood from the words "on the morning doe," WHICH IS MALCHUT WHEN CLOTHED IN CHESED.

367. פָּתַח רִבִּי חִיָּיא וְאָמַר, לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד. מַאן אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר. דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּאִקְרֵי אַיֶּלֶת אֲהָבִים וְיַעֲלַת חֵן. וְכִי אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר, וְלָא כָּל יוֹמָא. אֶלָּא, אַיֶּלֶת: מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר, דְּאִקְרֵי אַיֶּלֶת אֲהָבִים וְיַעֲלַת חֵן. וְהִיא אַתְיָא מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי שַׁחַר, כד"א כַּשַׁחַר נָכוֹן מוֹצָאוֹ, וְדָוִד מַלְכָּא עַל כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל קָאָמַר דָּא, מַשְׁמַע דִּכְתִּיב עַל אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר.

Gates Holy Name Righteous Soul, The

368. Come and see: When night falls, the gates of the upper and lower beings are found closed, and all the far ones, NAMELY THE EXTERNAL FORCES, rise to walk and roam the world, to go about the bodies of men and around their homes and beds. They see the image of the Holy King THAT PROTECTS THEM, and they are afraid OF HARMING THEM, since PEOPLE strengthen themselves in their beds with the words of the Holy Name AND PROTECT THEMSELVES. People's souls ascend, each as it deserves, as has been already explained. Happy is the portion of the righteous whose souls ascend while they sleep and are not needlessly detained in an undesireable area.

368. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּרָמַשׁ לֵילְיָא, פִּתְחִין סְתִימִין דְּעִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי. וְכָל אִינּוּן רְחִיקִין, מִתְעָרִין וְאַזְלִין וְשָׁטָאן כָּל עָלְמָא, וּמְהַדְּרִין עַל גּוּפֵי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְסַחֲרֵי לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ וּלְעַרְסַיְיהוּ. וְחָמָאן דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וּמִסְתָּפֵי. דְּהָא אִתָּקָפוּ בְּעַרְסַיְיהוּ בְּמִלֵי דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. וּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, נִשְׁמָתְהוֹן סַלְּקִין כָּל חַד וְחַד כִּדְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּנִשְׁמָתְהוֹן סַלְּקִין לְעֵילָּא, וְלָא מִתְעַכְּבֵי בַּאֲתַר אָחֳרָא דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ.

David Garden of Eden Gates Midnight North Righteous Wind Zeir Anpin

369. At midnight, a herald sounds a proclamation and the gates are opened. A wind from the north side stirs, THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH OF THE LEFT COLUMN, strums on David's harp, MALCHUT, which plays by itself and praises the King, ZEIR ANPIN. The Holy One, blessed be He, delights Himself with the righteous in the Garden of Eden.

369. כַּד אִתְפְּלַג לֵילְיָא, כָּרוֹזָא קָאֵים וְכָרִיז, וּפִתְחִין פְּתִיחוּ. כְּדֵין רוּחָא חַד דִּסְטָר צָפוֹן אִתְּעַר, וְאָקִישׁ בְּכִנוֹר דְּדָוִד, וּמְנַגֵּן מֵאֵלָיו. וְשַׁבְּחַת לְמַלְכָּא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִשְׁתַּעֲשֵׁעַ בְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא בְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן.

Angels Congregation Hosts Torah

370. Happy is the portion of he who wakes up from sleep at that time and labors in the Torah. He is called the friend of the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Congregation of Yisrael. Moreover, they are called His brethren and companions, as written, "For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within you" (Tehilim 122:8). They are called companions to the supernal hosts and angels, as written, "The companions hearken for your voice" (Shir Hashirim 8:13).

370. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ מַאן דְּאִתְּעַר בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא וְאִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכָל מַאן דְּקָאֵים בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא וְאִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִקְרֵי חַבְרֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּאִלֵּין אִקְרוּן אַחִים וְרֵעִים לֵיהּ. דִּכְתִּיב לְמַעַן אַחַי וְרֵעָי אֲדַבְּרָה נָּא שָׁלוֹם בָּךְ. וְאִקְרוּן חֲבֵרִים בַּהֲדֵי מַלְאֲכִין עִלָּאִין, וּמַשִׁרְיָין עִלָּאִין, דִּכְתִּיב חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ.

Astrology Congregation Gates Mercy Praise South Stars Zeir Anpin

371. When day comes, a herald sounds a proclamation, the gates of the south side are opened and the stars and constellations awaken. The gates of mercy open and the King sits to receive the praises OF THE FRIENDS WHO ROSE AT NIGHT. The Congregation of Yisrael takes then the words OF PRAISE and rises TO THE KING, ZEIR ANPIN. All the friends WHO ROSE AT NIGHT cleave to the wings OF MALCHUT, and their words OF PRAISE come to rest in the lap of the King. The King then commands to record all these words.

371. כַּד אָתֵי יְמָמָא, כָּרוֹזָא קָאֵים וְכָרִיז, וּפַתְחִין דִּסְטָר דָּרוֹמָא אִתְפְּתָחוּ. וּמִתְעַרִין כֹּכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת, וּפִתְחִין דְּרַחֲמִין אִתְפְּתָחוּ. וּמַלְכָּא יְתִיב וְקַבִּיל תּוּשְׁבְּחָן. כְּדֵין כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל נַטְלָא לְאִינּוּן מִלִּין וְסַלְּקָא. וְכָל אִינּוּן חֲבֵרִים אֲחִידָן בְּגַדְפָּהָא, וּמִלַּיְיהוּ אַתְיָין וְשַׁרְיָין בְּחֵיקָא דְּמַלְכָּא. כְּדֵין פָּקִיד מַלְכָּא, לְמִכְתַּב כָּל אִינּוּן מִלִּין.

Crowns Fear Gates Midnight Prosecution Righteous Thread Torah

372. In the book are recorded all the members of His household WHO RISE AT NIGHT, and a thread of grace is drawn on them DURING THE DAY. By this thread of grace, man is crowned with the King's crown, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE FIRST THREE SFIROT, and is feared by the upper and lower beings. He passes through all the King's gates and none dares stop him. Even when the prosecutors judge the world, they do not sentence him, because he is marked with the King's imprint, and it is known that he is of the King's palace. He is therefore not judged. Happy is the portion of the righteous who study the Torah, especially when the Holy One, blessed be He, is desirous of words of the Torah, AT MIDNIGHT.

372. וּבְסִפְרָא כְּתִיבוּ כָּל אִינּוּן בְּנֵי הֵיכָלֵיהּ, וְחוֹטֵא דְּחֶסֶד אִתְמְשַׁךְ עָלַיְיהוּ, דְּמֵהַהוּא חוּטָא אִתְעֲטָּר ב"נ בְּעִטְרָא דְּמַלְכָּא, וּמִנֵּיהּ דַּחֲלִין עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין, הוּא עָאל בְּכָל תַּרְעֵי מַלְכָּא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִמְחֵי בִּידוֹי. וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּזִמְנָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן דְּדִינָא קַיְימִין לְמֵידָן עָלְמָא, לָא דַּיְינִין עָלֵיהּ דִּינָא. בְּגִין דְּהָא אִתְרְשִׁים בִּרְשִׁימוּ דְּמַלְכָּא, דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא דְּאִיהוּ מֵהֵיכָלָא דְּמַלְכָּא, וּבְגִין דָּא לָא דַּיְינִין עָלֵיהּ דִּינָא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּזִמְנָא דְּמַלְכָּא תָּאִיב עַל מִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.

Congregation Torah Zeir Anpin

373. Come and see: The secret meaning of this is that the Congregation of Yisrael does not stand before the King, ZEIR ANPIN, unless it is with the Torah. As long as all of Yisrael in the land of Yisrael are occupied with the Torah, the Congregation of Yisrael dwells among them. When they lie idle of the words of the Torah, the Congregation of Yisrael cannot be with them even for an instant. Hence, when the Congregation of Yisrael awakens towards the King with the Torah OF THE LOWER BEINGS, its (her) power strengthens, and the Holy King is happy to receive her.

373. ת"ח, רָזָא דְּמִלָּה, לָא קַיְּימָא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל קָמֵי מַלְכָּא אֶלָּא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְכָל זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַרְעָא אִשְׁתְּדָלוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרָאת עִמְּהוֹן. כַּד אִתְבְּטָלוּ מִמִּלֵּי אוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא יַכְלָא לְקַיְּימָא עִמְּהוֹן שַׁעֲתָא חֲדָא. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתְּעָרַת לְגַבֵּי מַלְכָּא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִתְתָּקִיף חֵילָהָא, וּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא חַדֵּי לְקַבְּלָא לָהּ.

Congregation Midnight Torah

374. When the Congregation of Yisrael comes before the King without the Torah, she grows weak. Woe to those who weaken the higher power. Therefore, happy are those who do study the Torah, especially when it behooves them to participate with the Congregation of Yisrael, NAMELY AT MIDNIGHT. The Holy One, blessed be He, then declares about them, "and said to me, You are My servant, Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified" (Yeshayah 49:3).

374. וְכָל זִמְנָא דִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אָתַת לְקָמֵי מַלְכָּא, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַחַת עִמָּהּ, כִּבְיָכוֹל תָּשַׁשׁ חֵילָהָא. וַוי לְאִינּוּן דִּמְחַלְּשִׁין חֵילָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ, זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וכ"ש בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִשְׁתַּתְּפָא בָּהּ בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. כְּדֵין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָארֵי עָלֵיהּ, וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר.

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