The sinew of the vein

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya opens a discussion on the significance of the sinew of Jacob's thigh, which we can now identify as the sciatic nerve. Had the sinew not failed Jacob on the night he struggled with Esau's minister, Jacob would have prevailed over Esau's power completely, both on high and here below. Rabbi Shimon then explains that because the energy of Jacob's thigh was broken; the strength of the upholders of the Torah was diminished. As a result, none of the prophets, except Moses, was able to retain his faculties unimpaired when receiving divine messages. Thus, it is incumbent on the children of Yisrael to preserve the sinew of the thigh vein. The dark side controls the sciatic nerve in all creatures, including cows, so that none may be defiled by eating or benefiting from it in other ways. In addition, we learn, the children of Yisrael are responsible for preserving the power of the Torah by supporting those who toil in it.

Relevance

The sciatic nerve affects the lower back and extends down through the thigh, which supports and upholds the body. The thigh corresponds to the students of a righteous sage who support their master, or to benefactors who financially assist those who engage in Torah study and the revelation of spiritual Light. When the dark side seeks to penetrate an individual, it will often attack supporting elements that are not as strong as the person himself. The Evil Inclination will strike first at our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. These verses fortify our defenses. In addition, we arouse great spiritual Light to strengthen those who support the righteous in their endeavor to reveal the Light of the Torah to all the world.

Dogs Evil Evil Inclination Jacob Sinew Thigh

99. עַל כֵּן לֹא יֹאכְלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה וגו,' כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה, דַּאֲפִילּוּ בַּהֲנָאָה אָסִיר, וַאֲפִילּוּ לְיַהֲבֵיהּ לְכַלְבָּא. וְאַמַּאי אִקְּרֵי גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה. כְּלוֹמַר, גִּיד דְּאִיהוּ מְנַשֶּׁה לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, מִפּוּלְחָנָא דְמָארֵיהוֹן, וְתַמָּן הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע רְבִיעַ.

Angels Body Evil Evil Inclination Jacob Sinew Thigh

100. When the angel wrestled with Jacob, he could not find a weak place in his body through which to overcome Jacob, because the parts of his body were all strong and without weakness - AND THE KLIPAH TAKES HOLD ONLY IN A PLACE OF WANT AND WEAKNESS. What did he do then? " ...He touched the hollow of his thigh," the sinew of the vein, his own kind, that is, the Evil Inclination which is his own kind. And there is the place OF THE EVIL INCLINATION, from where it comes to harm people.

100. וְכֵיוָן דְּאִתְדַּבַּק עִם יַעֲקֹב, לָא אַשְׁכַּח אֲתַר דְּיָכֵיל לְאִתְגַּבְּרָא עֲלֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, בְּגִין דְּכָל שַׁיְיפֵי גוּפָא סַיְיעֵי לְיַעֲקֹב, וְכֻלְּהוּ הֲווֹ תַּקִּיפִין, וְלָא הֲווֹ בְּהוֹן חוּלְשָׁא, מָה עֲבַד, וַיִּגַּע בְּכַף יְרֵכוֹ בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה, בְּזִינֵיהּ, בְּיֵצֶר הָרַע דְּאִיהוּ זִינֵיהּ וְאַתְרֵיהּ, וּמִתַּמָּן אָתֵי יֵצֶר הָרַע עַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא.

Angels Animals Body Evil Evil Inclination Heart Samael Sinew Torah

101. For that reason the Torah reads, "Therefore the children of Yisrael eat not of the sinew of the vein." The friends said that a man's body parts allude to higher places. IF THE MEMBER is good, IT DRAWS goodness; if it be evil, IT DRAWS evil. Thus, each ANIMAL member WE EAT strengthens the CORRESPONDING member OF THE MAN WHO EATS IT. Assuredly, the sinew of the vein strengthens the Evil Inclination, which is its own kind, and therefore the children of Yisrael do not eat it. But the heathen nations may eat it, as they are of the side and kind of their angel Samael, for it strengthens their hearts.

101. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אָמְרָה אוֹרַיְיתָא לֹא יֹאכְלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה. כְּמָה דַּאֲמָרוּ חַבְרַיָיא, בְּשַׁיְיפִין דְּבַר נָשׁ, דְּרָמִיז לְעֵילָא, אִי טַב טַב, וְאִי בִּישׁ בִּישׁ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כָּל שַׁיְיפָא מַתְקִיף שַׁיְיפָא, וַדַּאי גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה מַתְקִיף לְיֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּהוּא זִינֵיהּ, וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא יֹאכְלוּ לֵיהּ, דְּלָאו אִינוּן מִסִּטְרֵיהּ וּמִזִּינֵיהּ, אֲבָל עַמִּין עע"ז, יֹאכְלוּ לֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא וּמִזִּינָא דְּמַלְאָכָא דִלְהוֹן, דְּאִיהוּ סמא"ל, בְּגִין לְתָקְפָא לִבְּהוֹן.

Angels Body Shechinah Torah

Angels Av (Month) Ninth of Av (Month) Precepts Samael Sinew Ten Torah Year

103. There are 365 sinews, corresponding to 365 prohibitory precepts, AND THE SINEW OF THE VEIN IS ONE OF THEM. They correspond to the 365 days of the year, THAT IS, TOGETHER WITH THE TEN PENITENTIARY DAYS, the ninth of Av being one of them. It corresponds to THE ANGEL Samael, who is one of the 365 angels RULING OVER THE 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR. THE NINTH OF AV IS ONE OF THE DAYS OF THE YEAR, AND THE SINEW OF THE VEIN IS ONE OF THE 365 SINEWS. BOTH BELONG TO THE SAME CATEGORY. Thus, the Torah reads, "Therefore the children of Yisrael eat not of the sinew of the vein." The particle "Et" ('the') here includes the ninth of Av, when it is forbidden to eat and drink, BEING IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS THE SINEW OF THE VEIN.

103. וְאִית בְּבַר נָשׁ שׂ"ה גִידִין, וּלְקִבְלֵהוֹן שׂ"ה פִּקּוּדִין, דְּלָאו אִינוּן, אִתְיְהִיבוּ לְמֶעְבַּד, וְלָקֳבֵל שׂ"ה יוֹמֵי שַׁתָּא, וְהָא תִּשְׁעָה בְאָב חַד מִנְּהוֹן, דְּאִיהוּ לָקֳבֵל סמא"ל, דְּאִיהוּ חַד מֵאִינוּן שׂ"ה מַלְאָכִין, וּבג"כ אָמְרָה אוֹרַיְיתָא, לֹא יֹאכְלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה, א"ת לְאַסְגָּאָה תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב, דְּלָא אָכְלִין בֵּיהּ, וְלָא שָׁתִין.

Av (Month) Esau Jacob Ninth of Av (Month) Samael Sinew Strength Temple, The Thigh Year

104. The Holy One, blessed be He, saw it all, and there is a hint to Jacob IN THE VERSE, "And there wrestled a man with him," all the days of the year and with all of Jacob's members, but found NO PLACE TO HOLD ON TO but the sinew of the vein. Immediately, Jacob's strength diminished. Among the day of the year, he found the Ninth of Av, when SAMAEL was stronger, and we were sentenced, and the Temple destroyed. He who eats on the ninth of Av, eats as if of the sinew of the vein. Rabbi Chiya says, Had the strength of Jacob's THIGH not weakened, Jacob would have prevailed, and Esau's power would have been broken above and below.

104. וּבְגִין כָּךְ חָזָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כֹּלָּא, וְנִרְמַז בְּהוֹן רֶמֶז לְיַעֲקֹב, וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ, בְּכָל יוֹמֵי שַׁתָּא, וּבְכָל שַׁיְיפִין דְּיַעֲקֹב, וְלָא אַשְׁכַּח בַּר הַהוּא גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה, מִיָּד תָּשַׁשׁ חֵילֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, וּבְיוֹמֵי שַׁתָּא אַשְׁכַּח יוֹם תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב, דְּבֵיהּ אִתְתַּקַּף וְאִתְגְּזַר דִּינָא עֲלָנָא, וְאִתְחָרַב בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא, וְכָל מַאן דְּאָכֵיל בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב, כְּאִילּוּ אָכֵיל גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה. ר' חִיָּיא אֲמַר, אִלְּמָלֵא לָא אִתְחַלַּשׁ חֵילָא דָא דְּיַעֲקֹב, הֲוָה אִתְקַיַּים יַעֲקֹב לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְאִתְבַּר חֵילָא דְעֵשָׂו, לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא.

Cloud Ezekiel Face Jacob Likenesses Mirror Moses Nukva Prophecy Prophets Rain Thigh Zeir Anpin

105. Rabbi Shimon openedopened the discussion with the verse, "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Hashem, And when I saw it, I fell upon my face" (Yechezkel 1:28). We have already studied this verse, yet come and behold, it is written, "And there arose not a prophet since in Yisrael like Moses" (Devarim 34:10). HE ASKS, What is the difference between Moses and the other prophets? HE ANSWERS, Moses looked into a clear mirror, ZEIR ANPIN; the other prophets beheld only a clouded mirror, THE NUKVA. Moses heard the prophecy standing, and his power was strengthened. He understood the matter thoroughly, as it is written, "manifestly, and not in dark speeches" (Bemidbar 12:8). The other prophets fell upon their faces AT THE TIME OF PROPHECY, and became weak because they could not understand it clearly. This was because "he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh," "and he limped upon his thigh."

105. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, כְּמַרְאֵה הַקֶּשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בֶּעָנָן בְּיוֹם הַגֶּשֶׁם כֵּן מַרְאֵה הַנֹּגַהּ סָבִיב הוּא מַרְאֵה דְּמוּת כְּבוֹד יי' וָאֶרְאֶה וָאֶפֹּל עַל פָּנַי וגו.' הַאי קְרָא אִתְּמָא. אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּהָא כְתִיב וְלֹא קָם נָבִיא עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמֹשֶׁה. מַה בֵּין מֹשֶׁה לִשְׁאָר נְבִיאֵי עָלְמָא. מֹשֶׁה אִסְתַּכַּל בְּאַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה דְנָהֲרָא, שְׁאָר נְבִיאֵי, לָא הֲווֹ מִסְתַּכְּלֵי, אֶלָּא בְּאַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה דְּלָא נָהֲרָא. משֶׁה הֲוָה שָׁמַע וְקָאֵים עַל רַגְלוֹי, וְחֵילֵיהּ אִתְתַּקַּף, וַהֲוָה יָדַע מִלָּה עַל בּוּרְיֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וּמַרְאֶה וְלֹא בְחִידוֹת. שְׁאָר נְבִיאֵי, הֲווֹ נָפְלֵי עַל אַנְפַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְחַלַּשׁ חֵילָא דִלְהוֹן, וְלָא הֲווֹ יָכְלֵי לְקָיְימָא עַל בּוּרְיֵיהּ דְּמִלָּה, מַאן גָּרַם לוֹן דָּא, בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב, כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ.

Esau Obadiah Prophets Strength

106. וְכָל אִינוּן נְבִיאִין, לָא יָכִילוּ לְקָיְימָא, עַל מַה דְּזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ לְעֵשָׂו, בַּר עוֹבַדְיָה נְבִיאָה, דַּהֲוָה גִיּוֹרָא, דְּאָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְעֵשָׂו, דָּא קָאֵים בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ עֲלֵיהּ דְּעֵשָׂו, וְלָא אִתְחַלַּשׁ חֵילֵיהּ.

Jacob Moses Prophecy Prophets Sinew Thigh

107. וְע"ד כָּל שְׁאָר נְבִיאֵי, אִתְחַלַּשׁ תּוֹקְפַיְיהוּ, וְלָא הֲווֹ יָכְלִין לְאִתְקָיְימָא, לְקַבְּלָא מִלָּה עַל בּוּרְיֵיהּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּגִין הַנָּשֶׁה, דְּנָסִּיב וְשָׁאִיב כָּל חֵילָא דְּיַרְכָא, וְעַל דָּא אִתְבַּר חֵילָא דְיַרְכָא, וְאִשְׁתָּאַר צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ, דְּהָא כָּל נְבִיאִין דְּעַלְמָא, לָא יָכִילוּ לְאִדַּבְּקָא וּלְקָיְימָא בֵּיהּ. תָּא חֲזֵי, נְבִיאִין כֻּלְּהוּ, בַּר מֹשֶׁה, לָא קָיְימוּ בְּתוֹקְפַיְיהוּ כִּדְקָא חָזֵי.

Evil Kingdom Serpent Sin Strength Thigh Torah Zeir Anpin

108. There is no one to support the students of the Torah, to give them MONEY for their needs in their pockets and thereby strengthen them. The Torah is forgotten with every generation and its power is daily diminished because the students of the Torah have no support. THE SECRET OF, "HE LIMPED UPON HIS THIGH," IS THAT NO ONE GIVES SUPPORT AND STRENGTH FOR THE STUDENTS OF THE TORAH, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO STUDY IT. THEREFORE, the evil kingdom grows stronger every day. Behold what this sin causes when no one supports the Torah, ZEIR ANPIN, properly. The supports OF ZEIR ANPIN are weakened - THAT IS, NETZACH AND HOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, CALLED 'SUPPORTS' - and as a result, he who has no legs or thighs, on which to stand THE PRIMORDIAL SERPENT, is thereby strengthened.

108. וּמַאן דְּלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלֵית מַאן דְּסָמִיךְ לֵיהּ, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח מַאן דְּאַטֵּיל מְלַאי לְכִיסֵיהּ לְאִתְתַּקְפָא, עַל דָּא, אוֹרַיְיתָא קָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בְּכָל דָּרָא וְדָרָא, וְאִתְחַלַּשׁ תּוֹקְפָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא, בְּגִין דְּלֵית לוֹן לְאִינוּן דְּלָעָאן בָּהּ, עַל מַה דְּסָמְכִין, וּמַלְכוּ חַיָּיבָא אִתְתַּקַּף בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא. כַּמָּה גָּרִים חוֹבָא דָא, וּבְגִין דְּלֵית מַאן דְּאַסְמִיךְ לְאוֹרַיְיתָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, אִינוּן סָמְכִין חַלָּשִׁין, וְגָרְמִין לְאִתְתַּקְפָא, לְהַהוּא דְּלֵית לֵיהּ שׁוֹקִין וְרַגְלִין לְקָיְימָא עֲלַיְיהוּ.

Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Serpent Torah

109. He began the discussion with the verse, "And Hashem Elohim said to the serpent, because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle...upon your belly shall you go" (Beresheet 3:14). HE ASKS, What is the meaning of, "upon your belly shall you go?" HE ANSWERS, Its supports were broken. Its legs were cut off and it had nothing to stand on. Thus, when Yisrael do not support the Torah, THAT IS, PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE OCCUPIED IN ITS STUDY, they strengthen THE SERPENT by giving it legs on which to stand. FOR THE OTHER SIDE IS BUILT ON LACKING HOLINESS.

109. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, וַיֹּאמֶר יי' אֱלֹהִים אֶל הַנָּחָשׁ כִּי עָשִׂיתָ זֹאת אָרוּר אַתָּה מִכָּל הַבְּהֵמָה וגו,' עַל גְּחוֹנְךָ תֵּלֵךְ. מַאי עַל גְּחוֹנְךָ תֵּלֵךְ. דְּאִתָּבְרוּ סָמְכִין דִּילֵיהּ, וּקְצִיצוּ רַגְלוֹי, וְלֵית לֵיהּ עַל מַה דְּקָאֵים. כַּד יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא בָּעָאן לְסָמְכָא לֵיהּ לְאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִינוּן יָהֲבִין לֵיהּ, סָמְכִין וְשׁוֹקִין, לְקָיְימָא וּלְאִתְתַּקְּפָא בְּהוֹ.

Esau Hands Jacob Samael Serpent Torah Voice

110. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה עֲקִימוּ וְחַכִּימוּ, אִתְחַכַּם בְּהַהוּא לֵילְיְא, הַהוּא דְרָכֵיב נָחָשׁ, לְקִבְלֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא אִיהוּ הֲוָה יָדַע, דִּכְתִיב הַקּוֹל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו, וְאִי פָּסִיק קָלָא דְיַעֲקֹב, כְּדֵין וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו, בְּגִין כָּךְ, אִסְתַּכַּל לְכָל סִטְרִין, לְאַבְאָשָׁא לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, וּלְאַפְסָקָא קָלֵיהּ.

Abraham Body Esau Fear Hands Isaac Jacob Thigh Torah Voice

111. He found him strong IN EVERY RESPECT; HE SAW THAT his arms on this and that side (CHESED AND GVURAH CALLED 'ABRAHAM' AND 'ISAAC) are strong; HE SAW the body, THE SECRET OF JACOB, WHO CONNECTS THE TWO ARMS, strengthened between them. He saw the power of his Torah strong IN EVERY RESPECT and was afraid lest he would not prevail against him. What did he do? At once, "he touched the hollow of his thigh," THE SUPPORTS OF THE TORAH. He employed cunning against him, saying: Now that the supports of the Torah are broken, the Torah can no longer be strong, and their father's words shall be fulfilled, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau," and, "it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominance, that you shall break his yoke from off your neck" (Beresheet 27:40).

111. וְחָמָא לֵיהּ תַּקִּיף בְּכֹלָּא. דְּרוֹעִין מִסִּטְרָא דָא וּמִסִּטְרָא דָא, דְּאִינוּן תָּקְפִין. גּוּפָא, דְּאִתְתַּקַּף בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְחָמָא תּוּקְפָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאִתְתַּקַּף בְּכֹלָּא, כְּדֵי וַיַּרְא כִּי לֹא יָכוֹל לוֹ. מָה עֲבַד, מִיָּד וַיִּגַּע בְּכַף יְרֵכוֹ, דְּאִתְחַכַּם לְקִבְלֵיהּ, אֲמַר כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְּבָרוּ סָמְכִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, מִיָּד אוֹרַיְיתָא לָא אִתְתַּקַּף, וּכְדֵין יִתְקַיַּים מַה דַּאֲמַר אֲבוּהוֹן, הַקּוֹל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו. וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר תָּרִיד וּפָרַקְתָּ עֻלּוֹ מֵעַל צַוָּארֶךָ.

Esau Hands Jacob Torah Voice

112. וּבְדָא אִתְחַכַּם לְקִבְלֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא בְּגִין דְּיִתָּבַר חֵילָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, אָזֵיל וְאִתְתַּקַּף עֵשָׂו. וְכַד חָמָא דְלָא יָכֵיל לָהּ לְאוֹרַיְיתָא, כְּדֵין חָלִישׁ תּוּקְפָא, דְּאִינוּן דְּסָמְכִין לָהּ, וְכַד לָא יִשְׁתַּכַּח מַאן דְּסָמִיךְ לְאוֹרַיְיתָא כְּדֵין לָא יְהֵא קוֹל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב, וִיהוֹן יָדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו.

Blessing Israel Jacob

113. When Jacob saw this, he struck and overpowered him at dawn, until he blessed him and confirmed to him the blessings, saying: "Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Yisrael" (Beresheet 32:29). THIS MEANS, YOUR NAME IS NO LONGER Jacob, which indicates deceit - AS IT IS WRITTEN, "FOR HE HAS SUPPLANTED (HEB. YA'AKVENI) ME THESE TWO TIMES" (BERESHEET 27:36) - BUT YISRAEL, WHICH MEANS with pride and might, for no one can prevail against you. FOR THE NAME YISRAEL INDICATES PRIDE AND AUTHORITY, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "FOR YOU HAVE CONTENDED (HEB. SARITA) WITH ELOHIM AND WITH MEN, AND HAVE PREVAILED."

113. וְכַד חָמָא יַעֲקֹב הָכֵי, כַּד סָלֵיק צַפְרָא, אַתְקֵיף בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְגַּבַּר עֲלֵיהּ, עַד דְּאִיהוּ בְּרִיךְ לֵיהּ, וְאוֹדֵי לֵיהּ עַל אִינוּן בִּרְכָאן, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ, לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ כִּי אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, לָאו יַעֲקֹב בַּעֲקִימוּ, אֶלָּא בְּגַאֲוָתָא וְתוֹקְפָא, דְּלֵית מַאן דְּיָכֵיל לָךְ.

Colors Samael Serpent Sinew

114. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, מֵהַאי נָחָשׁ, כַּמָּה חֵילִין מִתְפָּרְשָׁן לְכָל סְטַר, וְאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ בְּעַלְמָא לְגַבֵּי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. וּבְעִינָן לְקָיְימָא לְהַהוּא גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה, דְּאַף עַל גָּב דְּקָרֵיב בֵּיהּ הַהוּא דְּרָכֵיב עַל חִוְיָא, קַיָּים אִיהוּ, וְאִתְקַיַּם בְּגַוָּון וְלָא אִתָּבַר.

Holiness (Kedushah) Jacob Kedushah (Holiness) Light Samael Sinew

115. It behooves us to increase the power OF HOLINESS in the world and to show that "you have contended with Elohim and with men, and have prevailed." When he sees that THE SINEW OF THE VEIN is intact, AS LIGHT IS DRAWN ON IT TO PRESERVE IT, and the place is not consumed, THAT IS, IF PEOPLE REFRAIN FROM EATING IT, then the power and vigor OF SAMAEL is broken, and he is unable to harm the children of Jacob. Thus, the inhabitants of the world cannot eat the sinew of the vein and enjoy it.

115. וְחֵילָא בְּעִינָן לְאִתְתַּקָּפָא בְּעַלְמָא, וּלְאַחֲזָאָה כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים וַתּוּכָל. וְכַד חָמֵי, דְּהָא לָא אִתָּבַר, וְלָא אִתְאֲכֵיל הַהוּא אֲתַר, כְּדֵין אִתְבַּר חֵילֵיהּ וְתוּקְפֵיהּ, וְלָא יָכֵיל לְאַבְאָשָׁא לִבְנוֹי דְיַעֲקֹב. וְעַל דָּא, לָא בְּעִינָן לְמֵיהַב דּוּכְתָּא לִבְרִיָּיתָא דְעַלְמָא, לְמֵיכַל לֵיהּ, וְלָא לְאִתְהֲנָאָה מִינֵיהּ כְּלָל.

Body Hands Jacob Merit Samael Sinew Thigh Torah World to Come, The

116. Rabbi Yesa Saba explained that the verse, "touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh," is similar to the verse, "Whoever touches the dead body of any man that has died" (Bemidbar 19:13). Both refer to impurity, because SAMAEL has defiled that place, THE SINEW OF THE VEIN, and no enjoyment may be derived from an unholy place, particularly if the Side of Defilement, SAMAEL, has touched the place. The Torah does not add more than, "for he touched," as in, "he touched the hollow of his thigh," which is similar to, "And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean" (Ibid. 22). HENCE, WE LEARN THAT SAMAEL DEFILED THIS PLACE BY TOUCHING IT. Blessed be the Merciful One who gave the Torah to Yisrael, to merit this world and the World to Come, as it is written, "Length of days in her right hand; and in her left hand are riches and honor" (Mishlei 3:16).

116. ר' יֵיסָא סָבָא דָּרַשׁ, כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב. כְּתִיב הָכָא כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף, וּכְתִיב הָתָם, כָּל הַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּמֵת בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם וגו.' מַה לְּהַלָּן מְסָאֳבָא, אוֹף הָכָא נָמֵי מְסָאָבָא, דְּסָאֵיב הַהוּא אֲתַר, וּמֵאֲתַר מְסָאֳבָא, לֵית לָן לְאִתְהֲנָאָה מִנֵּיהּ כְּלַל, כ"ש בַּאֲתַר דְּקָרֵיב הַהוּא סְטַר מְסָאֳבָא, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא לָא קָאֲמַר, אֶלָּא כִּי נָגַע, וּכְתִיב וַיִּגַּע בְּכַף יְרֵכוֹ, כד"א וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע בּוֹ הַטָּמֵא יִטְמָא, בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא, דְּיָהֵיב אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לְמִזְכֵּי בָהּ בְּעַלְמָא דֵין וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ עשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד.