Vayikra
Brit (Covenant) Cloud Covenant (Brit) Noah Prayer Rainbow Righteous Waters Zot (This, Fem.)

238. We learned they are called "the waters of Noah," because it was after him that they were so named; NAMELY, BECAUSE HE DID NOT PRAY FOR THEM. BUT what is the meaning of "For (Heb. zot) this is...to Me?" (Yeshayah 54:9). HE ANSWERS, The Holy One, blessed be He, said, The waters of Noah brought it on Me, that Zot appeared in the world, WHICH IS MALCHUT CALLED ZOT THAT APPEARED IN THE SECRET OF THE RAINBOW TO PROTECT THE WORLD, as written, "As for Me, this is My covenant with them" (Yeshayah 59:21) and "This (Heb. zot) is the token of the covenant...I have set My bow in the cloud" (Beresheet 9:12-13) SO AS TO PROTECT THE WORLD. Namely, THE RAINBOW IS AN INDICATION THAT no one cares FOR THE WORLD TO PRAY FOR IT but I, WHO DOES IT for the glory of My name that is alluded to in zot. Who caused this? The waters of Noah, WHO DID NOT PRAY, NOR PROTECTED THE WORLD.

238. תָּאנָא מֵי נֹחַ אִקְרוּן, דְּהוּא גָּרִים דְּאִקְרוּן עַל שְׁמֵיהּ. א"ר יוֹסֵי, זֹאת לִי מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. אֶלָּא אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מֵי נֹחַ גָּרְמוּ לִי, דְּאַגְּלֵי זֹאת בְּעָלְמָא. דִּכְתִּיב וַאֲנִי זֹאת בְּרִיתִי אוֹתָם. זֹאת אוֹת הַבְּרִית וְגוֹ.' אֶת קַשְׁתִּי נָתַתִּי בֶּעָנָן. כְּלוֹמַר לֵית מַאן דְּאַשְׁגַּח אֶלָּא לִיקָרָא דִּשְׁמִי דִּרְמִיזָא בְּזֹאת. וּמַאן גָּרִים לֵיהּ, מֵי נֹחַ.

Mercy Prayer Rainbow Righteous

239. This is a sign for a pious and righteous man, that the rainbow never appears in his days and that during his life the world is not in need of this sign, AS HE PROTECTS THE WORLD WITH HIS PRAYER. Who is such a man that could ask for mercy on the world, and is worthy of protecting it? A man like Rabbi Shimon, in whose days the world was not in need of this sign, as this sign is a token in the world THAT THERE IS NO ONE TO GIVE PROTECTION, SAVE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, AS EXPLAINED.

239. מִכָּאן סִימָנָא לַחֲסִידָא זַכָּאָה, דְּלָא אִתְגַּלְיָיא הַאי קֶשֶׁת בְּיוֹמוֹי, וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא בְּיוֹמוֹי לְהַאי אוֹת. וּמַאן אִיהוּ. הַהוּא דְּבָעֵי רַחֲמֵי עַל עָלְמָא, וְאִתְחַזֵּי לְאַגָּנָא עֲלוֹי. כְּגוֹן רשב"י, דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא בְּיוֹמוֹי לְהַאי אוֹת, דְּהָא הוּא אוֹת סִימָנָא בְּעָלְמָא הֲוָה.

Fear Righteous Rock

240. There was not a decree that was pronounced above over the world that RABBI SHIMON did not nullify. This is the meaning of: "He that rules over men" (II Shmuel 23:3); NAMELY, THE VERSE: "THE ROCK OF YISRAEL SPOKE TO ME, HE THAT RULES OVER MEN MUST BE JUST, RULING IN THE FEAR OF ELOHIM." The Holy One, blessed be He, rules over men. Who, as it were, rules over the Holy One, blessed be He? The righteous man RULES, for the Holy One, blessed be He, decrees and he nullifies.

240. דְּלָא הֲוָה גְּזֵרָה דְּאִתְגְּזַר עַל עָלְמָא לְעֵילָּא, דְּלָא מְבַטֵּל לָהּ. וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב, מוֹשֵׁל בָּאָדָם, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מוֹשֵׁל בָּאָדָם. וּמִי מוֹשֵׁל בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כִּבְיָכוֹל. צַדִּיק. דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא גָּזִיר, וְאִיהוּ מְבַטֵּל.

Eyes Gates Light Prophets Righteous Sun

241. Rabbi Shimon, the son of Yochai, sat one day by the gate of Lod. He lifted up his eyes and saw the sun shining and concealing its light three times. While it happened, the light darkened and black and green appeared on the sun. He said to Rabbi Elazar his son: Follow me, son, and let us inquire, for assuredly a decree has been pronounced above, and the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to inform me. Indeed, the decree impends above thirty days and the Holy One, blessed be He, does not act before informing the righteous. Hence, it says, "Surely Hashem Elohim will do nothing, without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

241. כְּגוֹן ר"ש בֶּן יוֹחָאי, דְּיוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה יָתִיב אַבָּבָא דְּתַרְעָא דְלוּד, זָקַף עֵינוֹי, חָזָא שִׁמְשָׁא דְּנָהִיר, וְאַסְתִּים נְהוֹרָא ג' זִמְנִין, אַדְּהָכִי אִתְחֲשָׁךְ נְהוֹרָא, וְאִתְחַזֵּי בֵּיהּ בְּשִׁמְשָׁא אוּכָמָא וִירוֹקָא. אָ"ל לְר' אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, תָּא אֲבַתְרָאי בְּרִי, וְנֶחֱמֵי דְּהָא וַדַּאי גְּזֵרָה אִתְגְּזַר לְעֵילָּא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְאוֹדָעָא לִי, דְּוַדַּאי תְּלָתִין יוֹמִין תַּלְיָא הַהוּא מִלְּתָא דְּאִתְגְּזַר לְעֵילָּא. וְלָא עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עַד דְּאוֹדְעֵיהּ לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא, הה"ד כִּי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים דָּבָר כִּי אִם גָּלָה סוֹדוֹ אֶל עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים.

Abyss Ground Head Serpent Vineyard

242. While they were walking in the vineyard, they saw a snake coming with its mouth open, glowing on the ground in the dust. Rabbi Shimon was distressed and his hands struck the snake's head. The snake stopped and closed its mouth. RABBI SHIMON saw its tongue hissing and said to it: O snake, go and tell the supernal serpent, THE PERSECUTOR AND DENOUNCER, that Rabbi Shimon is in the world. THE SNAKE put its head inside a hole in the ground. RABBI SHIMON said, I decree that as this low snake returned to a hole in the ground, so will the supernal serpent return to the hole in the great abyss.

242. עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי עָאלוּ בְּהַהוּא כֶּרֶם. חָמוּ חַד חִוְיָא דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי, וּפוּמֵיהּ פְּתִיחָא, וּמְלַהֲטָא בְּאַרְעָא בְּעַפְרָא. אִשְׁתְּנִיק ר"ש, וְקַטְפָר יְדוֹי בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ דְּחִוְיָא, שָׁכִיךְ חִוְיָא, מָאִיךְ פּוּמֵיהּ. וְחָמָא לִישָׁנֵיהּ מַרְחִישׁ. אָ"ל חִוְיָא חִוְיָא, זִיל וְאֵימָא לְהַהוּא חִוְיָא עִלָּאָה, דְּהָא ר"ש בֶּן יוֹחָאי בְּעָלְמָא שְׁכִיחַ. עַיְילֵיהּ לְרֵישֵׁיהּ לְחַד נוּקְבָּא דְּעַפְרָא. אָמַר גּוֹזֵר אֲנָא, כְּשֵׁם דְּתַתָּאָה אִתְחֲזָר לְנוּקְבָּא דְּעַפְרָא, כֵּן עִלָּאָה יִתְחַזֵר לְנוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא.

Demons Moses Plagues Prayer

243. Rabbi Shimon whispered a prayer. While they were praying, they heard a voice SAYING, the decrees were stopped, go back to where you were. The plagues of the demons are no longer in the world, because Rabbi Shimon, son of Yochai, nullified them. Happy are you, Rabbi Shimon, whose Master is desirous of your honor more than that of all the inhabitants of the world. Of Moses, it is written, "And Moses implored (also: 'trembled')" (Shemot 32:11). It also implies that he was struck with an illness, but you, Rabbi Shimon, decree and the Holy One, blessed be He, establishes it; and He decrees and you nullify it.

243. רָחִישׁ ר"ש בִּצְלוֹתָא, עַד דַּהֲווֹ מְצַלֵּי שָׁמְעוּ חַד קָלָא, פּוּטְקְרָא דְּקִיטְפָא עוּלוּ לְאַתְרַיְיכוּ, קַטְפִירָא דְּבוּרְיָינֵי לָא שָׁרָאן בְּעָלְמָא, דְּהָא, ר"ש בֶּן יוֹחָאי בָּטִיל לוֹן. זַכָּאָה אַנְתְּ ר"ש, דְּמָארָךְ בָּעֵי בִּיקָרָךְ עַל כָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא. בְּמֹשֶׁה כְּתִיב וַיְחַל מֹשֶׁה וְגוֹ,' דְּמַשְׁמַע דְּאָחִיד לֵיהּ פַּרְגּוֹדָא, וְאַנְתְּ ר"ש גּוֹזֵר, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְקַיֵּים. הוּא גּוֹזֵר, וְאַנְתְּ מְבַטֵּל.

Face Mercy Righteous Sun

244. In the meantime, he saw the sun shining and the blackness gone. Rabbi Shimon said, Surely this is because the world was scented. He came home and discussed the verse: "For Hashem is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright shall behold His face" (Tehilim 11:7). What is "His face" and wherefore "Hashem is righteous, He loves righteousness?" Because "the upright shall behold His face," namely the upper face of the inhabitants of the world, for they have to beg the Holy One, blessed be He, for mercy in all their needs.

244. אַדְהָכִי חָמָא דְּנָהִיר שִׁמְשָׁא, וְאִתְעֲבָר הַהוּא אוּכָמָא, אר"ש, וַדַּאי הָא עָלְמָא אִתְבְּסָּם, עָאל לְבֵיתֵיהּ וְדָרַשׁ, כִּי צַדִּיק יְיָ' צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב יָשָׁר יֶחֱזוּ פָנֵימוֹ. מ"ט כִּי צַדִּיק יְיָ' צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב, מִשּׁוּם דְּיָשָׁר יֶחֱזוּ פָנֵימוֹ. מַאי פָנֵימוֹ. פָּנִים עִלָּאִין דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא, בָּעוּן לְמִבָּעֵי רַחֲמֵי מִנֵּיהּ, עַל כָּל מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיכָן.

Atika Kadisha Face Keter Zeir Anpin

245. Rabbi Elazar, his son, said to him: In that case, it should have said "an upright shall behold" in the singular or in the plural. Why DOES IT SAY "the upright (singular) shall behold (plural)?" He said to him: It is a supernal mystery. The olden days, NAMELY THE SFIROT of the most hidden Atika Kadisha, KETER, and the days of the world, THE SFIROT of Zeir Anpin called "His face," look AT EACH OTHER directly to see what needs seeing. NAMELY, THE FACE OF ZEIR ANPIN SEES THE FACE OF ATIKA AND THE FACE OF ATIKA SEES THE FACE OF ZEIR ANPIN DIRECTLY, WITHOUT TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VERSE: "THE UPRIGHT SHALL BEHOLD HIS FACE."

245. אָ"ל רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, אִי הָכִי יָשָׁר יֶחֱזֶה פָנֵימוֹ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, אוֹ יְשָׁרִים יֶחֱזוּ, מַאי יָשָׁר יֶחֱזוּ. אָ"ל רָזָא עִלָּאָה, דְּאִינּוּן יְמֵי קֳדָם דְעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין. וִימֵי עוֹלָם, דִּזְעֵיר אַנְפִּין, דְּאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן פָנֵימוֹ, חָמָאן בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֵחֱמֵי.

Atika Kadisha Blessing Deeds Face Flow Keter Rivers Zeir Anpin

246. We learned that when the Holy One, blessed be He, heeds the world and sees that the deeds of men are proper, Atika Kadisha is revealed, WHICH IS KETER, in Zeir Anpin, TIFERET. All these faces OF ZEIR ANPIN look at the concealed face OF ATIKA and everyone is being blessed. Wherefore are they blessed? Because they look at each other in a direct way, NAMELY, BY WAY OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, which turns not right nor left. Hence, "the upright shall behold His face," FOR THE FACE OF ATIKA AND ZEIR ANPIN LOOK AT EACH OTHER IN A DIRECT MANNER; NAMELY, IN THE ASPECT OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Then everyone is blessed as though rivers of blessings flow from one to another, until all the worlds are blessed and all the worlds are as one. Then it is considered that "Hashem shall be one, and His name One" (Zecharyah 14:9).

246. דְּתָאנָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַשְׁגַּח בְּעָלְמָא, וְחָמָא דְּמִתְכַּשְׁרָן עוֹבָדֵיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא לְתַתָּא, אִתְגַּלְּיָיא עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא בִּזְעֵיר אַנְפִּין, וּמִסְתַּכְּלָן כָּל אִינּוּן אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין סְתִימִין, וּמִתְבָּרְכָן כֻּלְּהוּ. מ"ט מִתְבָּרְכָן. מִשּׁוּם דְּמִסְתַּכְּלִין אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר, דְּלָא סָטוּ לִימִינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא, הה"ד יָשָׁר יֶחֱזוּ פָנֵימוֹ. וּמִתְבָּרְכָן כֻּלְּהוּ, וּמְשַׁקְיָין דָּא לְדָא, עַד דְּאִתְבָּרְכָן כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמַיָּא. וּמִשְׁתַּכְחֵי כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין כְּחַד, וּכְדֵין אִתְקְרֵי יְיָ' אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד.

Atika Kadisha Crowns Judgment Keter Mercy Patriarchs Water Wicked Wickedness Zeir Anpin

247. When transgressions increase in the world, Atika Kadisha is closed and they do not look at each other face-to-face. Then Judgments stir in the world, thrones are placed and the Ancient One (Atik Yomin), KETER, is closed and not revealed. This is the meaning of: "As I looked, thrones were placed, and an ancient of days did sit" (Daniel 7:9). "Thrones are placed" REFERS TO the supernal crowns that water all others to sustain them. Who are they? The Patriarchs, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN. "And an ancient of days did sit:" He is not revealed AND, THEREFORE, HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE SITTING, FOR HE WHO SITS DIMINISHES HIS STATURE. Then, the wicked in the world turn Mercy into Judgment.

247. וְכַד חוֹבֵי עָלְמָא סְגִיאוּ, אַסְתִּים עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְלָא מַשְׁגִּחִין אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין, וּכְדֵין דִּינִין מִתְעָרֵי בְּעָלְמָא, וְכוֹרְסָוָון רְמִיוּ, וְעַתִּיק יוֹמִין אַסְתִּים, וְלָא אִתְגַּלְּיָיא. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב חָזֵה הֲוֵית עַד דִּי כוֹרְסָוָון רְמִיוּ וְעַתִּיק יוֹמִין יְתִיב. עַד דִּי כוֹרְסָוָון רְמִיוּ, דְּאִינּוּן כִּתְרִין עִלָּאִין, דִּמְשַׁקְיָין לְכֻלְּהוּ אָחֳרָנִין, לְאוּקוּמֵי בְּקִיּוּמַיְיהוּ. וּמַאן אִינּוּן. אֲבָהָן. וְעַתִּיק יוֹמִין יְתִיב, וְלָא אִתְגַּלְּיָיא. וּכְדֵין מְהַפְּכִין חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא רַחֲמֵי לְדִינָא.