אות - פו

What they say at a wedding as a jest-word (165), and say beforehand: "Alah" — this is a hint that a woman ascends with him and does not descend with him (166). And this "Alah" as a jest-word means she ascends with him to all joy and good and delight — but does not descend with him (167). What they cover the bride with a veil [dek tuch], for the bride alludes to Rachel — "a beautiful young maiden who has no eyes" (Zohar Shemos 95a). Also a hint to the aspect of (Proverbs 25:2): "The glory of G-d is to conceal a matter" (168). What they throw wheels [oyfin — wheat and the like] — hint... (missing in original) — and what they throw upon the groom wheels alludes to (Ezekiel 1:20): "Wherever the spirit would go, there the wheels would go." And the groom is in the aspect of the spirit (169). What each person gives money called "Shabbes" for the sake of the dancers — this is on account of (Psalms 68:13): "Kings of armies flee, flee" (170) — that is, they are dancing. "And the one who dwells in the house divides the spoil" (171) — they give "Shabbes" money for the sake of the dancers. The wedding is in the aspect of Sinai, as is stated (172): "On the day of his wedding" — this is the standing at Mount Sinai (Taanis 26b). And Sinai has the same numerical value as Sulam [ladder]. And it is written: "And behold the angels of G-d ascending and descending upon it" (173) — this alludes to the dancing, for during dancing one rises and falls, for it is the way of dancing that one raises one's body and lowers one's body. And what they call this money "Shabbes" — for the initial letters of "u'nvas" — "ba'yis t'chalek sha'lal" are the letters of Shabbas (174). What the groom gives the Torah discourse — as our Sages o.b.m. said: "On the day of his wedding — this is the standing at Mount Sinai" — to hint that the wedding is the standing at Mount Sinai, therefore he delivers a discourse. And what they give him money called a "derashah geshank" [discourse gift] — to hint: "You have ascended on high, You have taken captivity captive" (Psalms 68:19) — because of this you took gifts. And this is the derashah geshank given to the groom. What the groom delivers the discourse — the discourse is effective for matches, as is written (Bereishis 28:11): "And he lay down in that place" — "there are twenty-two" letters (175) — the discourse which is in twenty-two letters is for the match. The prancing [pristakeis — jumping and leaping] that they do during dancing — this is in the aspect of (Bereishis 46:4): "I will descend with you to Egypt and I will also bring you up." For the exile in Egypt was in order to clarify the sparks of Adam HaRishon's nocturnal emission (176), and the wedding is the rectification and union of the Bris (177) which is the aspect of "I will also bring you up, indeed bring up." What they interrupt the discourse — this is in the aspect of the breaking of the Tablets. The groomsman dresses the groom in the kitl [white robe]. This is a hint of (Bereishis 46:4): "And Yosef shall place his hand upon your eyes" (178) — for Yosef is the groomsman and the kitl is the garment of the dead (179). What they flip themselves — this is in the aspect of (Shemos 19:3): "And Moshe ascended" — (Shemos 19:20): "And Hashem descended upon Mount Sinai." That the lower ones ascended above and the upper ones descended below. 165. RAK: This discourse was said to Rabbi Yudel and Rabbi Shmuel Ayzik on Shemini Atzeres 5563. 166. RAK: See Kesuvos 48a, 61a.

167. RAK: See Likutay Moharan 49, section 7. 168. RAK: Rachel is the Zivug of Zeir Anpin. Her matter is pure and strong faith. Honor is the aspect of Malchus — faith. 169. RAK: The Oyfanim are angels of the world of Asiyah — the aspect of the bride. See Likutay Halachos, Even HaEzer, Laws of Kiddushin 2:8. 170. RAK: In the verse in Psalms it says "Malki" but the Gemara (Shabbas 88b) explains it as "Malachim" [angels]. 171. RAK: See Alim LiTerufah 397. 172. RAK: Taanis 26a. 173. RAK: Bereishis 28:12. 174. RAK: See Likutay Moharan 49. 175. RAK: Tikkunei Zohar 18. Eitz Chaim, Gate of the Moon, ch. 3. Likutay Moharan Tinyana 79. 176. RAK: Likutay Moharan Tinyana 5. 177. RAK: A groom on his wedding day — all his transgressions are forgiven (Jerusalem Talmud Bikkurim 3:3). 178. RAK: See Tur, Yoreh Deah 352; Shabbas 151a. 179. RAK: See Orach Chaim 610:4 in the Ramah.