Vayetze: Chapter 33

"Blessings are upon the head of the righteous"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon explains the verse "Blessings are upon the head of the righteous." When blessings flow into this world, they emanate from those people who read Torah and keep God's commandments.

Relevance

The truly righteous souls in our world uphold and sustain its existence. Their souls are worth far more than the souls of millions of wicked human beings. The deeds of the few outweigh the abundance of negative deeds performed by the multitudes. From the Light in this section, we gain the power of the righteous to help to counter any negative deeds that we have committed.

Blessing Body Crowns Directions Flow Head Jacob Righteous

323. Rabbi Yesa Junior frequently visited Rabbi Shimon. He said to him, It is written, "Blessings are upon the head of the righteous" (Mishlei 10:6), when it should have been written, 'upon the righteous.' Why, then, is it written, "head of the righteous?" He replied, The "head of the Righteous" is the holy crown, THE CROWN OF YESOD. This has already been explained. Moreover, Jacob is the head of the righteous. He is TIFERET, AND THE BODY, AND IS CALLED THE "HEAD OF THE RIGHTEOUS" because he receives blessings and showers them on the Righteous, NAMELY, ON YESOD, CALLED 'RIGHTEOUS,' from where they flow in every direction, THAT IS, RIGHT AND LEFT OF MALCHUT. Thus, all the worlds are blessed.

323. רִבִּי יֵיסָא זוּטָא, הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ, הַאי דִכְתִיב בְּרָכוֹת לְרֹאשׁ צַדִּיק, לְצַדִּיק מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי לְרֹאשׁ צַדִּיק. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, רֹאשׁ צַדִּיק: דָּא הִיא עֲטָרָה קַדִּישָׁא, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ. תוּ, רֹאשׁ צַדִּיק, דָּא יַעֲקֹב, דְּאִיהוּ נְטֵיל בִּרְכָאן, וְנָגֵיד לוֹן לְצַדִּיק, וּמִתַּמָּן אִזְדְּרִיקוּ לְכָל עֵיבָר, וּמִתְבָּרְכָן כֻּלְּהוּ עַלְמִין.

Blessing Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Flow Head Nukva Righteous Rivers Wine

324. We also explained that the verse, "Blessings are upon the head of the righteous," refers to the place, which is the covenant, called 'righteous,' from which rivers flow. As the mouth of the pitcher, from which the wine is poured, is at the top, so is the head of the righteous. The place from which springs gush into the Nukva is called the 'head of the righteous.' The righteous is the head because all the blessings dwell therein AND FLOW FROM THERE.

324. אֲבָל הָא אוֹקִימְנָא, בְּרָכוֹת לְרֹאשׁ צַדִּיק, צַדִּיק אִקְרֵי, הַהוּא אֲתַר דִּבְרִית, דְּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקִין מַבּוּעִין לְבַר, נוּקְבָא דְּקִיסְטָא, דְּחַמְרָא נָפֵיק מִנֵּיהּ אִיהוּ רֵישָׁא, כָּךְ רֹאשׁ צַדִּיק, הַהוּא אֲתַר, כַּד זָרִיק מַבּוּעִין לְנוּקְבָא, אִקְרֵי רֹאשׁ צַדִּיק. צַדִּיק אִיהוּ רֹאשׁ בְּגִין דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן בֵּיהּ שָׁרְיָין.

Blessing Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Flow Head Precepts Righteous Torah

325. We should further explain that a man who succeeded in keeping the sign of the Covenant and observing the precepts of the Torah is called 'righteous,' and is considered righteous from head to foot. OF HIM THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "BLESSINGS ARE UPON THE HEAD OF THE RIGHTEOUS." For when blessings flow into the world, they dwell on his head, and it is because of him that blessings abide in the world - through the holy, righteous children that are his issue.

325. תוּ, הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דְּזָכֵי לְמִנְטַר אָת קַיָּימָא קַדִּישָׁא, וַעֲבֵיד פִּקּוּדֵי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, צַדִּיק אִקְרֵי, וּמֵרֵישֵׁיהּ וְעַד רַגְלוֹי הָכֵי אִקְרֵי. וְכַד בִּרְכָאן נָגְדִין לְעָלְמָא, שַׁרְיָין עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, וּמִנֵּיהּ קָיְימֵי בִּרְכָאן לְעַלְמָא, בִּבְנִין קַדִּישִׁין זַכָּאִין דְּאוֹקִים.

Wisdom

326. Rabbi Yesa further said, It is written, "I have been young, and now am old..." (Tehilim 37:24). This verse was said to have been uttered by the Minister of the World. He said it with greater wisdom than most people think. HE THEREFORE WISHED TO UNDERSTAND ITS MEANING. Rabbi Shimon said, My son, indeed THIS VERSE WAS WRITTEN WITH GREAT WISDOM, because the words, "I have been young, and now am old," refer to the holy union.

326. רִבִּי יֵיסָא תוּ שְׁאֵיל וַאֲמַר, כְּתִיב נַעַר הָיִיתִי גַּם זָקַנְתִּי וגו.' הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ דְּשָׂרוֹ דְעַלְמָא אֲמָרוֹ, אִיהוּ אֲמָרוֹ בְּחָכְמְתָא, יַתִּיר מִמַּה דְּחָשְׁבִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּרִי יָאוֹת הוּא, דְּהָא בְּיִחוּדָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְּמָר נַעַר הָיִיתִי גַּם זָקַנְתִּי.

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