סימן רנ"ו

Siman Two Hundred and Fifty-Sixסימן רנו There — in the discourse: "you are propitious for the sea [atah mesugal al hayam]." And so on.

At the time Rabbainu traveled to Eretz Yisrael — at the very beginning of his journey from home — he lodged in the community of Sakileh [now called Voznisenshk].

And see Zohar portion Noach, p. 69b: "it is written: 'Atah moshel b'ge'us hayam [You rule over the pride of the sea] — b'shu'a galav atah teshabcheim [when its waves rise — You calm them].' At the time when the sea leaps with its waves — and the depths rise and fall — the Holy One sends one thread and pulls its waves and calms its rage. And no one knows of this." And so on. "For the Holy One rules over that pride of the sea — and that pride of the sea is one thread of the left — that raised the sea above — on the waves' rise — atah teshabcheim [You calm them]." And so on. "You shall break them to return to their place." And see there in Mekdash Melech. And in my humble opinion: the holy Zohar alludes to the two above aspects of Atah. For "atah moshel b'ge'us hayam" is the aspect of Atah Gibbor — which is the aspect of the one thread of the left — that raised the sea above — "b'shu'a galav atah teshabcheim" — this is the aspect of the above Name Atah of five times v'rav chesed. Which is the aspect of: the Holy One sent one thread — [namely: the aspect of the above thread of kindness] — and pulled its waves and calmed its rage. And so on — as above. And I was afraid to expand the speech somewhat further on this matter. And if I erred — He who is compassionate will forgive. And there is a complete account about this among the members of our community. How Rabbainu — of blessed memory — saw then with his holy spirit that this place would become a great settlement after some time. [And so it came to pass in our own days — many years after his passing.] And there he saw the holy famous Tzaddik — Mohar"r Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk — after his holy passing — who had passed away in Eretz Yisrael. And there he revealed to him: "you are propitious for the sea" — and so on — as elaborated in the discourse. And I heard from the members of our community who heard from Rabbi Shimon — of blessed memory — that the interpretation of Atah is as follows: for Atah is the acrostic [roshei teivos] of Alef-Tav-Heh. Therefore one must write five letters [kvitlech]. And on each letter write v'rav chesed — the numerical value of which is 280. And five times 280 equals Alef-Tav [= 1000 + 400 = 1400. 5 × 280 = 1400]. And the five kvitlech themselves — they are the Heh. And this is the Name Atah — propitious for the sea — Alef-Tav-Heh. And at the time of a storm wind at sea — G-d spare us — one should cast five letters into the sea — on each of which is written v'rav chesed [as above]. And this will certainly help to calm the sea from its rage — G-d spare us. And Rabbi Shimon above said: that he himself made use of this when at sea — and it helped very greatly — with Hashem's help. And see in Pri Etz Chaim — in Sha'ar HaSlichos — where it is written: "behold we said in the intentions of Atah Gibbor — that there are Alef-Tav-Heh [1000 + 400 + 5] mighty ones [gevuros]." And so on.

Siman Two Hundred and Sixty-Twoסימן רסב [And see there in the intentions of Atah Gibbor — where it is written: that the five mighty ones [gevuros] of Mantzpach are the root of all the mighty ones — and so on. It follows that the five mighty ones of Mantzpach = the numerical value of Alef-Tav-Heh. And this is: Atah Gibbor.] And I heard from my teacher — of blessed memory — that there is also Alef-Tav-Heh of kindnesses [chasadim]. And all of them are in the root of one kindness — which is v'rav chesed. And so on. And behold: v'rav chesed = numerical value 280. And they are the secret of the Heh kindnesses. And each kindness is composed of all five. Therefore: five times 280 = Alef-Tav. And together with the Heh kindnesses which are the root: this is Alef-Tav-Heh. And see Zohar portion Noach, p. 69b: "it is written: [Psalms 89] 'Atah moshel b'ge'us hayam [You rule over the pride of the sea] — b'shu'a galav atah teshabcheim [when its waves rise — You calm them].' At the time when the sea leaps with its waves — and the depths rise and fall — the Holy One sends one thread and pulls its waves and calms its rage. And no one knows of this." And so on. "For the Holy One rules over that pride of the sea — and that pride of the sea is one thread of the left — that raised the sea above — on the waves' rise — atah teshabcheim [You calm them]." And so on. "You shall break them to return to their place." And see there in Mekdash Melech. And in my humble opinion: the holy Zohar alludes to the two above aspects of Atah. For "atah moshel b'ge'us hayam" is the aspect of Atah Gibbor — which is the aspect of the one thread of the left — that raised the sea above — "b'shu'a galav atah teshabcheim" — this is the aspect of the above Name Atah of five times v'rav chesed. Which is the aspect of: the Holy One sent one thread — [namely: the aspect of the above thread of kindness] — and pulled its waves and calmed its rage. And so on — as above. And I was afraid to expand the speech somewhat further on this matter. And if I erred — He who is compassionate will forgive.