סימן י"ח-ר' יונתן משתעי
פרפראות לחכמה - Parparos LeChochma
אות א מאמר זה נאמר בטירהאוויציע (כמדומה שהיה בשנת תקס"ד), ואיזה זמן קודם שאמר מאמר זה נכנסתי פעם אחד אליו אני וחבירי ובאנו לחדרו והיה שוכב על מטתו, והתחיל לדבר אתנו ואמר אני חייתי היום חיים שלא חייתי עדיין מעולם, כי יש כמה מיני חיים והכל נקרא חיים, אבל היום חייתי חיים טובים שלא חייתי מעולם חיים כאלה ואחר כך התחיל לדבר ולזרוק מפיו הקדוש דיבורים, וגילה קצת ראשי פרקים ממאמר הנורא הזה, ולא גילה לנו אז כל המאמר בפירוש, רק ראשי פרקים בשמחה גדולה וכו' (כל זאת הועתק מספר חיי מוהר"ן ועיי"ש עוד):
And in my humble opinion — as a possibility: this means that heresy and damage to faith have no hold and dominion except in this world — and all this because the goal — which is the pleasure of the World to Come — is presently distant from the thoughts of men and they have no attainment and grasp of it. But at the time of the goal — then all minus will be nullified and the holy knowledge of faith will spread in the world — for already before the final goal — in the days of Mashiach alone — faith will spread in the world as well — as it is written: "for then I will convert the peoples to a pure language — so that all will call in the Name of Hashem" . And therefore then: the perfection of the letters and speech will be complete — when speaking words that are the opposite of holy faith. And all the worlds were created with letters — and the perfection of the letters is the yud — which is the aspect of the World to Come — for the ultimate purpose of creation is the pleasure of the World to Come. And then it will be known and recognized that all creation was for this — "in order that they know Him" [b'gin d'yishtamod'un lay]. And likewise the perfection of the letters is the aspect of the yud — which is the aspect of the World to Come — and the Tzaddikim — through accepting the crown and Malchus and the perfection of the letters of faith therein — merit to attain the goal even in this world — and draw illumination from this to all of Israel — to each one according to his root in the soul of the Tzaddik. And therefore the Malchus of the Sitra Achra has no connection or hold in the aspect of the holy Malchus in which shines the light of the goal of the World to Come. This discourse was said in Tiriovitzia.
אות ב במאמר זה אות ב', ואי אפשר לקרב זאת התכלית למחשבות בני אדם וכו' היינו כי עיקר ביאת האדם לעולם הזה ותכלית כל מעשיו הוא שיעשוע עולם הבא, והתכלית הוא קרוב להמחשבה ביותר כנ"ל אם כן היה צריך זאת להיות במחשבת האדם תמיד ולזכור תמיד רק התכלית הזה אך מחמת שזה התכלית נאמר עליו (ישעיה ס"ד) עין לא ראתה אלקים וכו', היינו שאין לשום בריה שום השגה בנעימות הטוב הגנוז והצפון של זה התכלית רק להשם יתברך לבדו נודע זאת בחינת (שם) אלקים זולתך וכו', על כן אי אפשר לקרב זה התכלית למחשבות בני אדם אבל הצדיקים באמת גם הם יכולין לתפוס במחשבתם תכלית עולם הבא וכו', כי אף על פי ששלימות ענין זה ידוע ונראה רק להשם יתברך, אף על פי כן יש גם להצדיקים איזה תפיסה בזה, וכל אחד מישראל לפי שרשו שיש לו בתוך נשמת הצדיק כן מקבל ממנו גם כן זאת התכלית וכו':
There — Letter Zayin — "For techayles [blue-dyed wool] is mixed of black with white…" — It is possible that this means: for the soul attained a great light from knowing Hashem even before coming to this world of Asiyah. And likewise regarding all creation — only Hashem wished to bestow His goodness to others — and to grant the souls of Israel an even greater attainment in the World to Come — specifically through having stood the test of free will in this world. And this was, as it were, the initial thought of creation — in order to come through it to this good goal. This is the aspect of: "the end of the deed was first in thought." It follows that the essential perfection of attaining the goal is through the aspect of creation and the world of Asiyah — in which the goal is distant from the thoughts of men — this being the aspect of black [shachor]. And through the aspect of the initial thought — namely: that specifically from this world one draws oneself and clings and waits for this goal — the aspect of: "the eye has not seen — He shall do for those who wait for Him" — this being the aspect of the joining of black with white. For in truth: this is the essential perfection — to cleave oneself to this goal even in this world — for the world being distant from the goal is because they are presently in the world of Asiyah — and the goal is the aspect of the end of Asiyah — for the pleasure of the World to Come is at the end of the world of Asiyah — the aspect of: "today to do them and tomorrow to receive their reward" . And on the contrary: the essential reward will be for the very fact that this goal is naturally distant from the thoughts of men — and through this there is free will — the aspect of: "how great is Your goodness that You have hidden away for those who fear You — hidden" — specifically hidden. And through the person being in this world which is distant from the goal — and the person has no attainment of it — and yet he cleaves himself to the goal — this is the essential perfection. And this is the aspect of techayles — the joining of black with white — meaning: that even in this world one's thought should be attached to the goal — and gaze at the very end — the aspect of: "who is wise — he who sees the future [hanolad]" — [this being the aspect of the Daughter's voice [bas kol]] — who flips every matter from its beginning to its end — meaning: that even in this world one gazes in all his matters only at the goal which is the end. For in truth: this end is the aspect of the beginning of all creation — for "the end of the deed was first in thought." And one who separates, G-d forbid, one's thought in this world entirely from this goal — will certainly not attain it even then — on the contrary: one will receive harsh punishment, G-d forbid. It follows that all the whiteness [levanunis] of the goal of the pleasure of the World to Come is joined with the blackness of this world — for specifically through it one merits this good goal — when one improves one's deeds and attaches one's thought well — even in this world — to this goal. [It seems it was in the year 5564.] Some time before he said this discourse, I and a companion of mine entered to him once — came to his room — and he was lying on his bed. And he began to speak with us and said: "Today I have lived a life such as I have never lived before — for there are several kinds of life, and all are called life. But today I lived a good life such as I have never lived before." And then he began to speak and throw from his holy mouth words — and he revealed several chapter-headings of this awesome discourse, without revealing to us the full discourse in detail — only chapter-headings with great joy. [All of this is copied from Chayyay Moharan — see there further.] There — Letter Beis — "And it is impossible to bring this goal close to the thoughts of men…" — This means: for the essential coming of man to this world and the purpose of all his deeds is the pleasure of the World to Come.
אות ג שם ויחר אף ה' במשה פירוש זאת ההקטנה וכו' זה מחמת שנשתלשל בו חרון אף ה' וכו' אמר המחבר ובזה מיושב היטב שיטת ריב"ק זבחים דף ק"ב (ונראה שגם שיטת החכמים עמו ערש"י שם), שאמר כל חרון אף שבתורה נאמר בו רושם חוץ מזה וקשה למה באמת לא עשה חרון אף הזה רושם במשה חס ושלום, אבל לפי פירוש רבינו זצ"ל בכאן ניחא, כי אדרבה הכתוב מבאר ומיישב ענין של משה שטען כל כך עם השם יתברך ולא רצה לילך בהשליחות, זה היה מחמת שנשתלשל בו חרון אף ה', וזהו בעצמו הרושם שעשה כי על ידי זה לא רצה משה להיות מנהיג:
The author writes: This above discourse is very deep — and its matters are extremely subtle and spiritual — as is apparent to every reader. But nonetheless I did not withhold from myself elaborating somewhat on what appears to me in my humble opinion according to the simple meaning of the words — apart from the hidden matters within it — which are the aspect of: "the eye has not seen." And the goal is very close to thought — as above.
אות ד שם, אבל על ידי שנמתק הרוגז והחרון אף על ידי רחמנות כנ"ל, אז נמתק החרון אף שיש בתוך הצדיקים על ידי הרחמנות, ואז הרחמנות גובר עליהם ומרחמים על העולם ומתרצים בהנהגתו וכו' ובזאת הרחמנות הם מנהיגים את העולם וכו' נראה לעניות דעתי דרוצה לומר, כי מתחלה על ידי מיעוט אמונה שיש בישראל חס ושלום נשתלשל בהצדיקים חרון אף ורוגז והסתירו פניהם מן העולם, ולא נתרצו להנהיג את העולם, ועל ידי שנמתק הרוגז והחרון אף על ידי רחמנות שזה בחינת ברוגז רחם תזכור כנ"ל, על ידי זה נמתק גם החרון אף שיש בתוך הצדיקים על ידי הרחמנות וכו' כנ"ל, היינו שאדרבא נתהפך הרוגז לרחמים, שאמרו בלבם אדרבא וכי כך הוא המדה שבשביל שיש מיעוט אמונה בישראל אנחנו מסתירים פנינו מהם לגמרי, ויוכלו לבוא חס ושלום על ידי זה למה שיבואו, ולא עוד אלא שנדמה לנו שאין אנו ראויים להנהיג העולם, ובאמת אדרבא מאחר שאין מנהיג ומנהל לישראל וגם נתמעט האמונה ביניהם, בוודאי הרחמנות שעל ישראל גדול מאוד, אם כן עלינו נפל חובת היום לקבל העטרה של המלכות והמנהיגות לטובת ישראל, מאחר שאנו חזקים בעזרת השם יתברך באמונתו הקדושה בשלימות, ואין בנו שום צד מינות חס ושלום או שום דרכי אמורי וכיוצא וכמבואר באות ג' על כן מוכרחים אנחנו לקבל עלינו השררה והמנהיגות, בכדי להשלים האמונה גם אצל כלל ישראל ולהביאם גם כן אל התכלית הטוב, וזה גם כן בחינת ויחר אף ה' במשה הנ"ל, כי מתחלה היה קישוי שעבוד לישראל על ידי בחינת החרון אף, ואחר כך כשנתעוררו רחמיו יתברך על ישראל ומשה מיאן בשליחותו והקטין עצמו מחמת החרון אף הנ"ל, אז חרה אף ה' במשה וגזר עליו בהכרח לקבל המנהיגות, מחמת גודל הרחמנות שיש על ישראל כנ"ל וזה שכתב אחר כך שזה בחינת קרטליתא, פירוש ארגז זה בחינת רוגז הנ"ל, דמיקבע בה אבנים טובות זה בחינת העטרה הנ"ל, בחינת רחמנות הנ"ל, היינו כנ"ל כי הרוגז בעצמו שהיה על ידי מיעוט אמונה נתהפך אחר כך ונמתק לרחמים, שעל ידי זה בעצמו נתעורר אחר כך ברחמים להנהיג את ישראל בכדי להשלים אצלם האמונה כנ"ל ומה שכתב שאבנים טובות זה בחינת העטרה הנ"ל, רוצה לומר כי עטרה למלך עושים מאבנים טובות וכמבואר גם לעיל בסוף סימן ו', וגם המלכות בעצמה נקראת אבנא טובא כמובא בזוהר הקדוש בכמה מקומות:
Siman Nineteen — Tefillah L'Chavakukסימן יט — תפלה לחבקוק If so, this should be in the mind of man always — to remember only this goal always. But since this goal has been said of it: "the eye has not seen, O G-d, except You" [Isaiah 64] — meaning: no creature whatsoever has any attainment of the sweetness of the hidden and concealed good of this goal — only to Hashem alone is this known — the aspect of "O G-d, besides You" — therefore it is impossible to bring this goal close to the thoughts of men. But the true Tzaddikim — they too can grasp in their thought the goal of the World to Come — for even though the perfection of this matter is known and visible only to Hashem — nonetheless the Tzaddikim also have some grasp of it. And each person of Israel — according to his root within the soul of the Tzaddik — so he too receives this goal from the Tzaddik. There: "And Hashem's anger burned against Moshe — this diminishment… because of which Hashem's wrath descended upon him…" The author writes: Through this the approach of Rivak [Rabbi Yochanan ben Karkus], Zevachim p.
אות ה שם, והדרו לה מיני דכוורי דמיקרי בירשא זה בחינת אמונה וכו' רוצה לומר כי עיקר המלכות הוא על ידי הרחמנות שתלוי רק באמונה כנ"ל באות ב' ובאות ג', וכן הצדיק מקבל המלכות וההנהגה רק בכדי להשלים אמונת ישראל כנ"ל (וכמובן גם בסי' כ"ב במאמר חותם בתוך חותם):
Section 2 — Letter ב — [on Letter Gimmel of the discourse] Section 10 — Letter י — [on Letter Zayin of the discourse]
אות ו שם באות ג', והמלכות תהפך למינות וכו' רוצה לומר תהפך דייקא, כי המינות הוא היפוך ממש מהמלכות שעיקרה בבחינת רחמים, ועיקר הרחמים תלוי באמונה כנ"ל:
There — the same Letter — regarding the perfection of the holy tongue: see the Kitzur Likutay Moharan and in Likutay Aitzos, Dibbur, Letter Gimmel — where it is explained that this means one should guard the tongue and speech from blemishing it with flawed speech, G-d forbid — of idle words, slander, lies, and the like — but on the contrary: to sanctify speech with holy words of Torah and prayer. And likewise the prayer that one prays between oneself and one's Creator — explaining one's conversation before Him in the vernacular language we speak [lashon Ashkenaz] — this too is counted within the perfection of the holy tongue. 102 — is well resolved [and it appears that the approach of the Sages is with him — see Rashi there] — who said: "Every instance of wrath in the Torah — a mark was made there — except this one." And it is difficult: why in truth did this wrath not leave a mark on Moshe, G-d forbid? But according to Rabbainu's explanation here, it is well: for on the contrary — the verse clarifies and resolves the matter of Moshe — who argued so greatly with Hashem and did not wish to go on the mission. This was because Hashem's wrath descended upon him — and this itself is the mark that it made — for through this Moshe did not wish to be the leader. There: "But through the sweetening of the anger and wrath through compassion — as above — then the wrath that was within the Tzaddikim is sweetened through compassion — and then compassion overpowers them and they have mercy on the world — and they are reconciled to leading it.
אות ז שם באות ד', אלא אם כן זה המחזיק במלכות מתגבר באפיקורסית ומינות עד שמפריד את האמונה מהנהגה מבחינת המלכות וכו' נראה לעניות דעתי בדרך אפשר דרוצה לומר שמתגבר באפיקורסית ומינות, היינו שמכניס חס ושלום בכלל ישראל הרוצה למשול עליהם ולהנהיג אותם אפיקורסית ומינות חס ושלום, אזי האמונה נפרדת מהמלכות ואזי יכול להיות שיתקיים המלכות בידו (רק שאף על פי כן מן השמים אין מניחים אותו ליקח אותם כמבואר באות ואו), כי כל זמן שישראל מחזיקים באמונה אף על פי שיש בהם מיעוט אמונה חס ושלום, אף על פי כן האמונה מחזקת תמיד בהמלכות וההנהגה של ישראל, שלא יקח אותה זר שאינו ראוי לה, אם לא שהוא מתגבר להכניס בישראל חס ושלום אפיקורסית ומינות עד שמפריד את האמונה מהנהגה כנ"ל, וכן משמע גם באות ה"א:
And see the Targum Yonatan there: "Hashem has hidden my shame — and in the future Yehoshua the son of Yosef will gather the shame of Egypt from the sons of Israel and circumcise them on the far side of the Jordan" — meaning: when he circumcised Israel at Gilgal, as it says: "today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from upon you." And this is precisely relevant to our matter. And likewise regarding "for my mouth is speaking to you" — as elaborated in the discourse — see Rashi there: "and behold your eyes see in my glory — that I am your brother who is circumcised like you." And further: "for my mouth speaks to you in the holy tongue." The whole matter is elaborated — for the holy tongue and the rectification of the covenant [tikun habris] — which is the aspect of the mitzvah of circumcision — depend on each other. And through this comes honor. And see there at the end of Letter Vov — on the matter of "in all your ways know Him" — that this too is the same aspect: for when one takes it to heart that every thing was created with letters — and the letters are the essential vitality of every thing — and the perfection of the letters is the final point which is the yud — the aspect of the World to Come — which is the goal — therefore: the very beginning of the creation of every thing — and its coming into being and vitality and ultimate purpose — all is the goal which is the yud — the aspect of the World to Come. Only: in this world all is hidden and concealed — for even the vitality of every thing — which is the letters — is also hidden and concealed. And as it were even the letters and speech are not perfect — because His faith has not yet spread in this world in perfection — until the future. But the true Tzaddikim who merited faith in perfection — beyond which there is no greater perfection — as elaborated in Letter Gimmel — and were crowned with the crown of the holy Malchus — in which is the essential perfection of the letters through faith — through this they know and attain the goal — and draw illumination from this to all of Israel. And this is all their hope and all their desire: to accept the Malchus and leadership — in order to complete the faith of Israel — and bring their thought close to the goal. And see Zohar Pinchas p. 239: "the eye has not seen" — and in Idra Zuta, p. 290b.
אות ח שם ביאור המאמר של המשתעי, וחזינין האי קרטליתא דמיקבע בה אבנים טובות ומרגליות רוצה לומר בחינת הרוגז שנמתק על ידי הרחמנות שעל ידי זה נתעטרו הצדיקים במדת המלכות וההנהגה, והדרי לה מיני דכוורא דמיקרי בירשא, זה בחינת מדת האמונה שמחזקת תמיד בהמלכות וההנהגה שלא יקח אותה זר שאינו ראוי לה ונחית בר אמוראי לאתויה שרצה אחד שאין אמונתו בשלימות רק יש בו עדיין גם מדרכי האמורי, ועל כן נקרא בר אמוראי ורצה ליקח את הקרטליתא הנ"ל היינו המלכות וההנהגה הנ"ל, ונדמה לו שהוא מחמת רחמנות ובאמת הוא רחוק מרחמנות הזה ובעי דנשמטי לאטמיה היינו שהבירשא הנ"ל שהוא בחי' האמונה הנ"ל, רצה לשמוט ולתלוש ממנו, בחינת (ישעיה ל"ג) אוטם אזנו משמוע דמים, כי רצה להפיל אותו לשנאת החכמים, וזרק זיקא לא היינו הבר האמוראי הנ"ל התגבר עצמו במינות כל כך, עד שהפריד את האמונה שהוא בחינת בירשא מלהחזיק בהמלכות שהוא בחינת הקרטליתא, וזה ונחית היינו הבירשא הנ"ל ואז היה יכול הבר אמוראי ליקח הקרטליתא, היינו עם בחינת המלכות וההנהגה שמתנהג על ידי הדיבור שעיקר שלימות האותיות שלימות הדיבור הוא על ידי אמונה, שזה בחינת דאתתא דרבי חנינא בן דוסא וזה דעתידא למשדי בה תכלתא לצדיקייא לעלמא דאתי, כי על ידי שלימות אותיות אמונה שבמלכות, שהוא אצל הצדיקים המנהיגים את העולם, על ידי זה הם אוחזים בהתכלית שהוא בחינת עולם הבא, ומשיגים אותו עד שאפילו שאר ישראל כל אחד כפי שרשו שיש לו בתוך נשמת הצדיק כן מקבל ממנו גם כן זה התכלית כפי הפרת הכעס ברחמנות, שזה גם כן בחינת קרטליתא הנ"ל וכמבואר לעיל באות ב'
Section 7 — Letter ז — [on Letter Hay of the discourse] And through this compassion they lead the world." In my humble opinion: this means that at first — through the diminished faith that exists among Israel, G-d forbid — wrath and anger descended upon the Tzaddikim — and they hid their faces from the world and were not reconciled to leading the world. And through the sweetening of the anger and wrath through compassion — the aspect of: "in wrath remember mercy" [Habakkuk 3] — through this the wrath that was within the Tzaddikim is also sweetened through compassion. And they say in their hearts: on the contrary — is this the measure: that because of the diminished faith among Israel we hide our faces from them entirely — and they may come thereby, G-d forbid, to wherever they come — and moreover: it seems to us that we are not worthy to lead the world? But in truth — on the contrary: since there is no leader and guide for Israel and their faith has also diminished — certainly the compassion for Israel is very great. Therefore the duty falls upon us to accept the crown of kingship and leadership — for the good of Israel — since we are strengthened, with the help of Hashem, in His holy faith in perfection — and there is in us no trace of heresy or any ways of the Amorites and the like — as elaborated in Letter Gimmel. Therefore we are compelled to accept upon ourselves the authority and leadership — in order to complete the faith among all of Israel as well — and bring them too to the good goal. And this too is the aspect of "Hashem's anger burned against Moshe" above — for initially there was the hard bondage upon Israel through the aspect of wrath. And afterwards — when His compassion for Israel was stirred — and Moshe refused his mission and diminished himself because of the above-mentioned wrath — then Hashem's anger burned against Moshe — and He decreed that he must accept the leadership — because of the great compassion that exists for Israel. And this is what he wrote afterwards: that this is the aspect of the kartelirah [chest/box] — meaning the wrath above — "in which precious stones are set" — this being the above-mentioned crown — the aspect of the above-mentioned compassion. Meaning: the very wrath that existed because of the diminished faith — turned afterwards and was sweetened into compassion — through which he was stirred afterwards with compassion to lead Israel in order to complete the faith among them. And what he wrote: that the precious stones are the aspect of the crown — meaning: for a king's crown is made of precious stones — as is also elaborated above at the end of Siman 6. And also Malchus itself is called avna tava [precious stone] as is brought in the holy Zohar in many places. There: "And the ornament thereof is types of fish called birah — this being the aspect of faith." — This means: for the essential Malchus comes through the compassion which depends only on faith — as above in Letter Beis and Letter Gimmel. And the Tzaddik accepts the Malchus and the leadership only in order to complete the faith of Israel — as above.
אות ט ונראה לעניות דעתי בדרך אפשר, דרוצה לומר כי להמינות ופגם אמונה אין לה אחיזה ושליטה כי אם בעולם הזה, וכל זה על ידי שהתכלית שהוא שיעשוע עולם הבא רחוק לעת עתה ממחשבות בני אדם ואין להם השגה ותפיסה בו, אבל לעת התכלית אזי יתבטל כל המינות ותתפשט ידיעת אמונה הקדושה בעולם כי הלא אפילו קודם לתכלית האחרון באמת רק בימות המשיח לבד תתפשט גם כן האמונה בעולם, כמו שכתוב (צפניה ג) כי אז אהפוך אל העמים שפה ברורה לקרוא כולם בשם ה', ועל כן אז יהיה שלימות האותיות והדיבור כשמדברין בהם דיבורים שהם ההיפוך חס ושלום מהאמונה הקדושה וכל העולמות נבראו באותיות, ושלימות האותיות הוא היוד שהיא בחינת עולם הבא, כי תכלית הבריאה הוא שיעשוע עולם הבא ואז יכירו וידעו אותו יתברך שבשביל זה היתה כל הבריאה בגין דישתמודעין ליה וכמו כן שלימות האותיות הוא בחינת היוד שהיא בחינת עולם הבא, והצדיקים על ידי שמקבלין העטרה והמלכות ושלימות אותיות אמונה שבה זוכין להשיג את התכלית גם בעולם הזה, וממשיכים הארה מזה גם לכלל ישראל, לכל אחד לפי שורשו שיש לו בנשמת הצדיק כנ"ל, ועל כן אין להמלכות דהסטרא אחרא שום שייכות ואחיזה בבחינת המלכות דקדושה שמאיר בה אור התכלית של עולם הבא כנ"ל:
Section 8 — Letter ח — [on Letter Vov of the discourse] 📋 Translator's Summary — Siman 18 (Rabbi Yonasan Mishtaay)
אות י שם אות ז', כי התכלת מעורב שחור עם לבן וכו' אפשר דרוצה לומר כי הנשמה השיגה אור גדול מידיעת השם יתברך גם קודם ביאתה לזה העולם המעשה, וכמו כן לענין כלל הבריאה גם כן, רק השם יתברך רצה להטיב מטובו לאחרים ולזכות את נשמות ישראל בהשגה יותר גדולה בעולם הבא, ודייקא על ידי שעמד בנסיון בחירתו בעולם הזה, וזה היה כביכול תחלת המחשבה של הבריאה בכדי לבוא על ידה לתכלית הזה הטוב, שזה בחינת סוף מעשה במחשבה תחלה נמצא שעיקר שלימות השגת התכלית הוא על ידי בחינת הבריאה ועולם המעשה, שבו התכלית רחוק ממחשבות בני אדם שזה בחינת שחור ועל ידי בחינת תחלת המחשבה היינו מה שדייקא מזה העולם נמשכין ומדבקין עצמן ומחכים לזה התכלית, בבחינת עין לא ראתה וכו' יעשה למחכה לו, שזה בחינת חיבור שחור ולבן כי באמת זהו עיקר השלימות לדבק את עצמו בזה התכלית גם בעולם הזה, כי מה שהעולם רחוקים מהתכלית הוא מחמת שהם לעת עתה בעולם המעשה, והתכלית הוא בחינת סוף המעשה, כי שיעשוע עולם הבא הוא בסוף עולם המעשה, בבחינת (עירובין כ"ב) היום לעשותם ולמחר לקבל שכרם ואדרבא עיקר השכר יהיה על שזה התכלית רחוק בטבע ממחשבות בני אדם, ועל ידי זה יש בחירה שזה בחינת (תהלים ל"א) מה רב טובך אשר צפנת ליראיך, צפנת דייקא, ועל ידי שהאדם בעולם הזה שהוא רחוק מהתכלית ואין להאדם שום השגה בו, ואף על פי כן משם מדבק את עצמו אל התכלית זהו עיקר השלימות וזה בחינת תכלת חיבור שחור עם לבן, היינו שגם בעולם הזה יהיה מחשבתו מקושר אל התכלית ויסתכל על הסוף האחרון בבחינת (תמיד ל"ב) איזהו חכם הרואה את הנולד (שזה בחינת הבת קול) שמהפך כל דבר מראשו לסופו היינו שגם בעולם הזה מסתכל בכל עניניו רק על התכלית שהוא הסוף כי באמת זה הסוף הוא בחינת הראש לכל הבריאה, כי סוף מעשה במחשבה תחלה, ומי שמפריד חס ושלום בזה העולם מחשבתו לגמרי מזה התכלית בוודאי לא ישיג אותו גם אז, רק אדרבא להיפוך יקבל עונש קשה חס ושלום נמצא כל הלבנונית של התכלית של שיעשוע עולם הבא מחובר עם השחרורית של זה העולם, כי דייקא על ידו זוכין לזה התכלית הטוב כשמטיב את מעשיו ומדבק מחשבתו היטב גם בעולם הזה בתכלית הזה
Therefore when He chose us from all the nations and elevated us above all tongues — He also gave us the holiness of the Land of Israel — where the Shechinah dwells — which is the aspect of the holy tongue — the holy spirit. And therefore the Sages said that the essential holy spirit is in the Land of Israel. And see in the holy Zohar, Shemos, p. 152: that in the place of the Temple — which is the source of the holiness of the Land of Israel — there all the letters of the alef-beis shine — which are the aspect of the holy tongue. Therefore when the spies spoke slander about the Land of Israel they damaged the aspect of the holy tongue greatly. And when Moshe prayed to rectify this, he said: "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified" — so that through this the matter would be rectified. And this is what the Sages said : at the time when Moshe heard "slow to anger even for the wicked" he did not agree to this — and therefore he now said: "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified as You have spoken, saying — slow to anger even for the wicked." For in truth the essential meaning of patience with the wicked is only for this: perhaps they will return in repentance — or worthy children will come from them — and this is the essential perfection of holiness — the aspect of the holy tongue — when one elevates even the good within the translation [targum] into the holy tongue. And this is the aspect of what the Sages said : "in the place where penitents stand — even the completely righteous cannot stand" — for the completely righteous are the aspect of the holy tongue itself — and penitents are the aspect of the elevation of the good within nogah to the holy tongue — which is its essential completion. And therefore at the time of the sin of the spies — Moshe prayed that He be patient even with the wicked — so that through this the power of Hashem's holy tongue would be strengthened more — as above. [And this is also understood in Siman 22 in the discourse Chosum B'soch Chosum.] There — Letter Gimmel — "And Malchus will turn to heresy [minus]…" — meaning: it turns specifically — for heresy is the exact opposite of Malchus — whose essential nature is the aspect of compassion — and the essential compassion depends on faith as above.
אות יא ועיין שם בסוף אות ו' מענין בכל דרכיך דעהו שזה גם כן בחינה זו הנ"ל, כי כשמשים אל לבו כי כל דבר נברא באותיות והאותיות הם עיקר החיות של כל דבר, ושלימות האותיות הוא הנקודה האחרונה שהיא יו"ד בחינת עולם הבא שהוא התכלית וכו', נמצא כי ראשית בריאת כל דבר והוייתו וחיותו ותכליתו הכל הוא התכלית שהוא היו"ד בחינת עולם הבא, רק מחמת שבעולם הזה הכל נעלם ונסתר, כי גם החיות של כל דבר שהוא האותיות גם כן נעלם ונסתר, וכביכול גם אין שלימות להאותיות והדיבור מחמת שלא נתפשט אמונתו יתברך בעולם הזה עדיין בשלימות עד לעתיד אך הצדיקי אמת שזכו לאמונה בשלימות שאין שלימות אחריו כמבואר באות ג', ונתעטרו בהעטרה של המלכות דקדושה שבה עיקר שלימות האותיות שעל ידי האמונה, על ידי זה הם יודעים ומשיגים את התכלית וממשיכים הארה מזה גם לכלל ישראל, וזה כל ישעם וכל חפצם לקבל את המלכות וההנהגה בכדי להשלים האמונה אצל ישראל ולקרב מחשבתם אל התכלית ועיין זוהר פנחס דף רל"ט כתיב עין לא ראתה וכו' ובאידרא זוטא ר"צ:
Now: what Rabbainu wrote — that through this "the power of the letters is stirred and magnified" — meaning: the twenty-eight letters of the work of creation [kaf-ches osvan d'ma'aseh bereishis]. And also in this verse "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified" there are twenty-eight letters. And through this there is support for what is written in the note of the Rema, Siman 56 — and the root of the matter from the introduction to Tikkun HaZohar, p. 13 — to say at the time of reciting Kaddish: "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified." For the Kaddish was composed in the Aramaic translation — and it is very great and awesome praise — which is the aspect of the elevation of the good within the translation to the holy tongue — this being the aspect of "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified" — as is elaborated here. But it is brought in the name of the Holy Ari that he was not accustomed to saying it. And see in the kavvanot of the Holy Ari on the matter of the twenty-eight words and twenty-eight letters in the Kaddish. This discourse was said in the year [5]564, on Shavuos — which fell then on Wednesday and Thursday.
אות יב אמר המחבר, המאמר זה הנ"ל עמוק מאוד ועניניו דקים ורוחניים מאוד כמובן לכל מעיין, אך אף על פי כן לא מנעתי את עצמי לבאר בו קצת הנראה לעניות דעתי כפי פשוטן של דברים, לבד מהנסתרות שיש בו שהוא בחינת עין לא ראתה וכו':
There — at the end of the discourse — "and between one who hears from the mouth of a Sage and one who learns from a book — the difference is very great — for a book is only for remembrance… and the remembrance is in the power of the imagination… and imagination is the aspect of tardaymah [deep sleep] — the aspect of translation [targum] as is known." This means: and midameh [imagination] is the aspect of tardaymah — the aspect of translation — as is known. Therefore: "things transmitted orally — you are not permitted to say them in writing" — and there are things within. This means: for this verse "write this as a memorial in the book" was said about the wars of Amalek — of which it says: "who encountered you on the way" — meaning: the stormy spirit draws sustenance from the holy tongue through the aspect of tardaymah — the aspect of translation — as elaborated in Letter Hay. And the translation is the aspect of writing — as above. And also because the Written Torah — which is the essential holy tongue — was written in writing specifically. And the translation was said orally specifically. And likewise most of the Oral Torah is in the Aramaic language [lashon targum]. But there are things within. [And see in Likutay Halachos, Laws of Evening Prayer, Halacha 2.] There — Letter Daled — "Unless he who holds the Malchus strengthens himself in heresy and minus to the point of separating faith from the governance of Malchus…" In my humble opinion — as a possibility — this means: he strengthens hi mself in heresy and minus — meaning: he introduces, G-d forbid, heresy and minus among all of Israel whom he wishes to rule over and lead — and then faith is separated from Malchus and then it may be possible for the Malchus to remain in his hands. [Only: nonetheless Heaven does not permit him to take it — as is elaborated in Letter Vov.] For as long as Israel holds to faith — even though there is diminished faith, G-d forbid — nonetheless the faith always strengthens the Malchus and leadership of Israel — so that no stranger who is not worthy of it can take it — unless he strengthens himself to introduce into Israel, G-d forbid, heresy and minus — until he separates faith from governance. And likewise it is implied in Letter Hay. There — the elaboration of the passage: "And we saw this chest in which precious stones and pearls are set" — the aspect of the wrath sweetened through compassion — through which the Tzaddikim were crowned with the attribute of Malchus and leadership. "And its ornament is types of fish called birah" — this being the attribute of faith which always strengthens the Malchus and leadership — so that no stranger who is not worthy of it can take it. There: "And the Name Yosef — on account of… the aspect of: 'G-d has gathered [asaf] my disgrace'" — see the Rashbam who explained that he was named Yosef on account of "G-d has gathered" — only she added the yud of Yosef on account of "may Hashem add [yosef] for me another son." "And a son of the Amorites came down to take it" — meaning: one whose faith is not perfect — having still in him some of the ways of the Amorites [darkay Emori] — and therefore is called "son of the Amorites" [bar Amora'i] — and he wished to take the kartelirah — meaning: the Malchus and leadership. And it seemed to him it was out of compassion — but in truth he is distant from this compassion. "And he wished to dislodge its hip-fin" — meaning: the above-mentioned birah — which is the aspect of the above-mentioned faith — he wished to dislodge and uproot from it — the aspect of: "He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed" [Isaiah 33] — for he wished to cause him to fall into hatred of Torah scholars. "And he threw a flame" — meaning: this above-mentioned son of the Amorites strengthened himself in minus to the point of separating the faith — which is the aspect of birah — from holding to the Malchus — which is the aspect of the kartelirah. "And it descended" — meaning: the above-mentioned birah. And then the son of the Amorites could take the kartelirah — together with the aspect of Malchus and leadership — which is conducted through speech, and the essential perfection of the letters — the perfection of speech — is through faith. This being the aspect of the wife of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa. And: "and in the future she will throw blue wool [techayles] upon the Tzaddikim in the World to Come" — for through the perfection of the letters of faith in Malchus — that is with the Tzaddikim who lead the world — through this they hold to the goal which is the aspect of the World to Come — and draw illumination from this to all of Israel — to each one according to his root in the soul of the Tzaddik — as above in Letter Beis. And in proportion to the appeasing of anger through compassion — and this too is the aspect of the above-mentioned kartelirah — as elaborated above in Letter Beis. And in my humble opinion — as a possibility: this means that heresy and damage to faith have no hold and dominion except in this world — and all this because the goal — which is the pleasure of the World to Come — is presently distant from the thoughts of men and they have no attainment and grasp of it. There: "And the serpent — which is the comprehensive evil above — when there is no perfection in the holy tongue — it goes and rules over the holy tongue…" — Here is elaborated the secret of the serpent: that it is the aspect of the evil of the seventy tongues — the aspect of the three utterly impure kelippos. And it is the aspect of the foolish woman [eshes ksilus] who went and seduced Chavah — who is the aspect of the wise woman — the holy tongue. By causing her to stumble through eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil — which is the aspect of the Aramaic translation — which is mixed good and evil — which is the aspect of the kelipas nogah — which sometimes ascends and is included in holiness and sometimes the reverse, G-d forbid. And it is the aspect of the understanding woman [isha maskheles] which is the midpoint between the foolish woman and the wise woman — for maskhel with a left shin [sin] means understanding and wisdom — and with a right shin it means causing destruction, G-d forbid. Likewise this above aspect sometimes is included in holiness and sometimes the reverse, G-d forbid. And the essential completion of the building of the holy tongue is through elevating the good within the translation to the holy tongue and causing the evil within it to fall — for through this all the seventy tongues fall — in the aspect of: "a tongue falls upon a tongue" [lashon nofal al lashon] as is elaborated in the discourse. But at the time of the goal — then all minus will be nullified and the holy knowledge of faith will spread in the world — for already before the final goal — in the days of Mashiach alone — faith will spread in the world as well — as it is written: "for then I will convert the peoples to a pure language — so that all will call in the Name of Hashem" [Zephaniah 3]. And therefore then: the perfection of the letters and speech will be complete — when speaking words that are the opposite of holy faith. And all the worlds were created with letters — and the perfection of the letters is the yud — which is the aspect of the World to Come — for the ultimate purpose of creation is the pleasure of the World to Come. And then it will be known and recognized that all creation was for this — "in order that they know Him" [b'gin d'yishtamod'un lay]. And likewise the perfection of the letters is the aspect of the yud — which is the aspect of the World to Come — and the Tzaddikim — through accepting the crown and Malchus and the perfection of the letters of faith therein — merit to attain the goal even in this world — and draw illumination from this to all of Israel — to each one according to his root in the soul of the Tzaddik. And therefore the Malchus of the Sitra Achra has no connection or hold in the aspect of the holy Malchus in which shines the light of the goal of the World to Come. There — Letter Zayin — "For techayles [blue-dyed wool] is mixed of black with white…" — It is possible that this means: for the soul attained a great light from knowing Hashem even before coming to this world of Asiyah. And likewise regarding all creation — only Hashem wished to bestow His goodness to others — and to grant the souls of Israel an even greater attainment in the World to Come — specifically through having stood the test of free will in this world. And this was, as it were, the initial thought of creation — in order to come through it to this good goal. This is the aspect of: "the end of the deed was first in thought." It follows that the essential perfection of attaining the goal is through the aspect of creation and the world of Asiyah — in which the goal is distant from the thoughts of men — this being the aspect of black [shachor]. And through the aspect of the initial thought — namely: that specifically from this world one draws oneself and clings and waits for this goal — the aspect of: "the eye has not seen — He shall do for those who wait for Him" [Isaiah 64] — this being the aspect of the joining of black with white. For in truth: this is the essential perfection — to cleave oneself to this goal even in this world — for the world being distant from the goal is because they are presently in the world of Asiyah — and the goal is the aspect of the end of Asiyah — for the pleasure of the World to Come is at the end of the world of Asiyah — the aspect of: "today to do them and tomorrow to receive their reward" [Eruvin 22]. And on the contrary: the essential reward will be for the very fact that this goal is naturally distant from the thoughts of men — and through this there is free will — the aspect of: "how great is Your goodness that You have hidden away for those who fear You — hidden" [Psalms 31] — specifically hidden. And through the person being in this world which is distant from the goal — and the person has no attainment of it — and yet he cleaves himself to the goal — this is the essential perfection. And this is the aspect of techayles — the joining of black with white — meaning: that even in this world one's thought should be attached to the goal — and gaze at the very end — the aspect of: "who is wise — he who sees the future [hanolad]" [Tamid 32] — [this being the aspect of the Daughter's voice [bas kol]] — who flips every matter from its beginning to its end — meaning: that even in this world one gazes in all his matters only at the goal which is the end. For in truth: this end is the aspect of the beginning of all creation — for "the end of the deed was first in thought." And one who separates, G-d forbid, one's thought in this world entirely from this goal — will certainly not attain it even then — on the contrary: one will receive harsh punishment, G-d forbid. It follows that all the whiteness [levanunis] of the goal of the pleasure of the World to Come is joined with the blackness of this world — for specifically through it one merits this good goal — when one improves one's deeds and attaches one's thought well — even in this world — to this goal. And see there at the end of Letter Vov — on the matter of "in all your ways know Him" [Proverbs 3:6] — that this too is the same aspect: for when one takes it to heart that every thing was created with letters — and the letters are the essential vitality of every thing — and the perfection of the letters is the final point which is the yud — the aspect of the World to Come — which is the goal — therefore: the very beginning of the creation of every thing — and its coming into being and vitality and ultimate purpose — all is the goal which is the yud — the aspect of the World to Come. Only: in this world all is hidden and concealed — for even the vitality of every thing — which is the letters — is also hidden and concealed. And as it were even the letters and speech are not perfect — because His faith has not yet spread in this world in perfection — until the future. But the true Tzaddikim who merited faith in perfection — beyond which there is no greater perfection — as elaborated in Letter Gimmel — and were crowned with the crown of the holy Malchus — in which is the essential perfection of the letters through faith — through this they know and attain the goal — and draw illumination from this to all of Israel. And this is all their hope and all their desire: to accept the Malchus and leadership — in order to complete the faith of Israel — and bring their thought close to the goal. And see Zohar Pinchas p. 239: "the eye has not seen" — and in Idra Zuta, p. 290b. The author writes: This above discourse is very deep — and its matters are extremely subtle and spiritual — as is apparent to every reader. But nonetheless I did not withhold from myself elaborating somewhat on what appears to me in my humble opinion according to the simple meaning of the words — apart from the hidden matters within it — which are the aspect of: "the eye has not seen." Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman And this too is what the Sages said : when Moshe ascended on high — he found the Holy One tying crowns onto the letters. The Holy One said to him: "you should have helped Me." Immediately he said: "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified." And in Menachos p. 29, the Sages said that Moshe asked the Holy One: "Master of the World — what is holding back Your hand?" He answered: "in the future there will be… a man by the name of Akiva ben Yosef — and he will expound on every crown and crown." And all of the above is precisely aligned to our matter — for just as the whole world was created incomplete — because the holy tongue — which comes from above — is not perfect except when in this world one elevates the good within the translation — so too the complete rectification of all things is through the people of this world specifically. Likewise the totality of the Torah — which is the aspect of the holy tongue — its essential perfection is also only through the homiletical expositions [derashos] of the Sages of this world specifically. And therefore the Holy One was tying crowns onto the letters — and did not write everything explicitly — but left the completion of rectification for the derashos of Rabbi Akiva specifically. And this itself is also the matter of what the Holy One said to Moshe: "you should have helped Me" — meaning literally: to bless Him, as it were, at the time of the writing of the Torah. For the essential perfection is through this world specifically — and immediately he said "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified" — meaning: he truly said this at the time when he prayed for the sin of the spies — but the claim was: "as You have spoken, saying" — meaning: You hinted then that the essential perfection depends on this world specifically — for one must elevate even the good within the translation to the holy tongue — which is done in this world specifically. And according to this matter it is right that You be patient with them as above. It follows that the simple reading of the verse and the Sages' homiletical expositions on it all go to one place — according to what Rabbainu alluded to us in this verse as above. Now: what Rabbainu wrote — that through this "the power of the letters is stirred and magnified" — meaning: the twenty-eight letters of the work of creation [kaf-ches osvan d'ma'aseh bereishis]. And also in this verse "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified" there are twenty-eight letters. And through this there is support for what is written in the note of the Rema, Siman 56 — and the root of the matter from the introduction to Tikkun HaZohar, p. 13 — to say at the time of reciting Kaddish: "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified." For the Kaddish was composed in the Aramaic translation — and it is very great and awesome praise — which is the aspect of the elevation of the good within the translation to the holy tongue — this being the aspect of "and now may the power of Hashem be magnified" — as is elaborated here. But it is brought in the name of the Holy Ari that he was not accustomed to saying it. And see in the kavvanot of the Holy Ari on the matter of the twenty-eight words and twenty-eight letters in the Kaddish.
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