Running Commentary on Torah 16 — R' Yochanan's Fish

Beginner: **The ma'amar.** **"Rabbi Yochanan mishta'ei: **'Zimna chada hava kazlina bi'sfinta, v'chazinan ha'i kura d'afik reisheih mi'maya, v'damya einei k'trei sahari, v'nafitz maya mi'tartei usya k'trei maberei d'Sura'"** — 'Once we were traveling in a ship, and I saw a great **fish (kura)** that took its head out of the water; its eyes were like **two moons**, and it splashed water from its two nostrils like the **two rivers of Sura**.' (Bava Basra 74a.) Intermediate: **BB 74a — R' Yochanan ma'amar**: in a ship saw **kura** (fish) raise **reisheih** out of water; **einei k'trei sahari** (eyes like two moons); **nafitz maya mi'tartei usya** (splashed water from two nostrils) **k'trei maberei d'Sura** (like two rivers of Sura).

Beginner: **Rashbam**: **nafitz** = splashed/poured. **Usya** = its nostrils. **Maberei d'Sura** = the rivers of Sura. Intermediate: Rashbam: **nafitz**=poured; **usya**=nostrils; **maberei d'Sura**=rivers of Sura.

Beginner: **The Rebbe's peirush.** **"**V'chazinan ha'i kura** — this is the **tzaddik**, called **dag** (fish), as is known (Me'orei Or, *dag*)."** **"**D'afik reisheih mi'maya, v'damya einei k'trei sahari, v'nafitz maya mi'tartei usya k'trei maberei d'Sura** — the tzaddik cannot always have his thought roving in supernal chochmos, because at times he must **step outside** to engage in worldly matters, per Chazal (Menachos 99a): **'p'amim bitulah shel Torah — zo hi kiyumah.'**"** **"**'Afik reisha mi'maya'** = when he brings himself **out** of supernal chochmos — then: **'damya einei k'trei sahari'** — for **pkichas einayim** is connoted by chochmah — 'va'tipakachnah einei shneihem' (Bereshis 3:7). When engaged in chochmah, his eyes are **k'shemesh**; when he withdraws from supernal chochmah — this is like **bias ha'shemesh**, and his eyes remain **k'sahari** — because **sahra** only shines when **shemesh is removed**."** **"Bechina of **'v'eineinu me'iros ka'shemesh v'cha'yare'ach'** — sometimes like shemesh (when cleaved to chochmah), sometimes like yare'ach (when withdrawing)."** **"**Nafitz maya mi'tartei usya** = **trei Meshichin** (Zohar Pinchas 246b; 252b) — to whom the **akum** will stream and draw themselves — **'v'naharu eilav kol ha'goyim'** (Yeshayahu 2:2). **Trei neharos d'Sura = akum** (on account of **'saru m'harah min ha'derech,'** Shemos 32:8 — 'sur' = AZ), comprised of the two umos **Esav and Yishmael**."** **"Via these **trei Meshichin** = tartei usya = bechina of **'ru'ach apeinu meshiach Hashem'** (Eichah 4:20) — through them the umos will be redeemed and drawn like rivers to learn **d'var Hashem**."** **"**Esav + Yishmael** = **trei ananin** that cover the einayim, preventing them from always shining as shemesh. Therefore the tzaddik must **nullify his deveikus** at times, so the two **umin Esav+Yishmael** don't overcome his eyes and nullify his chochmah entirely. But via trei Meshichin — **'yafutzu ma'yanosav chutzah'** — and all will have **safa berurah** — then it will be fulfilled: **'v'hayah or ha'levanah k'or ha'chamah'** (Yeshayahu 30:26) — and the tzaddik will no longer need to nullify deveikus."** Reb Nosson's note: **(From siman 15 until here — Rabbeinu's own language.)** Intermediate: **Peirush**: **Kura=tzaddik=dag** (Me'orei Or "dag"). **Afik reisha**=tzaddik withdraws from supernal chochmah to engage world (Men 99a "p'amim bitulah shel Torah — zo kiyumah"). **Einei k'trei sahari**: chochmah=shemesh (Ber 3:7 "va'tipakachnah"); withdrawal=bias shemesh → eyes=sahra (moon shines only when sun set). **Trei usya**=**trei Meshichin** (Zohar Pin 246b, 252b; "v'naharu eilav," Yesh 2:2); **trei neharos d'Sura**=akum ("saru," Shem 32:8)=**Esav+Yishmael**. **Ru'ach apeinu** (Eichah 4:20). 2 umos=2 ananin covering eyes; tzaddik must nullify deveikus; l'asid "v'hayah or ha'levanah k'or ha'chamah" (Yesh 30:26).