כְּשֶׁחָלָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַגָּדוֹל, אָמַר לְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא
When Rabbi Eliezer Fell Ill
Under strict judgement a cure is bound to a set remedy, healer and day, so a doctor cannot know what will work. A pidyon — charity given to sweeten the judgement — cancels the decree, and only then may the doctor heal with any good remedy. 'V'rapo y'rapei' equals 'pidyon nefesh', and its vowels give the order: first the sweetening (cholam), then the balm (tzeirei).
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הַמָּקוֹר · Original text
כְּשֶׁחָלָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַגָּדוֹל, אָמַר לְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: חֵמָּה עַזָּה בָּעוֹלָם (סנהדרין קא). כִּי לֹא הָיָה אָז מִי שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּין, כִּי הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְפִדְיוֹן לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּין, וְלֹא נִמְצָא. כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה וְהַפִּדְיוֹן, אָז דַיְקָא טוֹב לְרַפְּאוֹת הַחוֹלֶה עַל־יְדֵי רְפוּאוֹת, כִּי אֲזַי דַיְקָא אַחַר הַפִּדְיוֹן וְהַהַמְתָּקָה יֵשׁ רְשׁוּת לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת.
כִּי הִנֵּה בֶּאֱמֶת, אֵיךְ יָכוֹל הָרוֹפֵא לַחְגֹּר מָתְנָיו לְרַפְּאוֹת הַחוֹלֶה עַל־יְדֵי רְפוּאוֹת וְסַמִּים, הֲלֹא אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ הַסַּם הַצָּרִיךְ לִרְפוּאוֹת אוֹתוֹ הַחוֹלֶה, כִּי יֵשׁ סַמִּים הַרְבֵּה שֶׁהֵם מְסֻגָּלִים לִרְפוּאוֹת הַחוֹלַאַת, אַךְ בְּוַדַּאי הַחוֹלֶה אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהִתְרַפֵּא כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי הַמְּיֻחָד לִרְפוּאָתוֹ, כְּפִי שֶׁנִּגְזַר לְמַעְלָה,
כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ע"ז נה), שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין לְמַעְלָה, שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְעַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי. וְאִם כֵּן אֵיךְ יָכוֹל הָרוֹפֵא לְהַכְנִיס עַצְמוֹ לְרַפְּאוֹת, הֲלֹא אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ הַסַּם, שֶׁנִּגְזַר לְמַעְלָה.
אֲבָל אַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה וְהַפִּדְיוֹן אָז יָכוֹל לְרַפְּאוֹת. כִּי מַה שֶׁצָּרִיךְ שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא דַּיְקָא עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, הוּא מֵחֲמַת מִדַּת הַדִּין, שֶׁכְּפִי מִדַּת הַדִּין נִגְזַר שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת עַד אוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן וְיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, וְעַל כֵּן נִגְזַר שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי סִבּוֹת אֵלּוּ, דְּהַיְנוּ סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת עַד יוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, כִּי כְּפִי הַזְּמַן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת, כָּךְ גּוֹזְרִין הַסִּבּוֹת לִרְפוּאָתוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַד שֶׁיִּזְדַּמְּנוּ יַחַד סִבּוֹת אֵלּוּ: סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לוֹ רְפוּאָה כִּי אִם בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי;
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין פִּדְיוֹן וּמַמְתִּיקִין הַדִּין, וַאֲזַי נִתְבַּטֵּל הַגְּזֵרָה, אֲזַי קֹדֶם שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין דִּין אַחֵר, כִּי כְּשֶׁנִּמְתָּק דִּין זֶה אֲזַי גּוֹזְרִין דִּין אַחֵר, וּבֵין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ, דְּהַיְנוּ אַחַר הַמְתָּקַת הַדִּין הָרִאשׁוֹן קֹדֶם שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין דִּין אַחֵר, אֲזַי יָכוֹל הָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת הַחוֹלֶה עַל־יְדֵי סַמִּים, כִּי אֲזַי אֵין דִּין, וַאֲזַי יוּכַל לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַל־יְדֵי אֵיזֶה סַם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, כִּי אֵין צָרִיךְ דַּוְקָא סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְכוּ' מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵין דִּין כַּנַּ"ל.
נִמְצָא שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי פִּדְיוֹן, שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת פִּדְיוֹן תְּחִלָּה לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּין, וְאָז דַיְקָא יֵשׁ רְשׁוּת לַרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
וְזֶהוּ וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא (שמות כ״א:י״ט) (עִם שְׁתֵּי הַתֵּבוֹת) מִסְפַּר פִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ. כִּי עִקָּר הָרְפוּאָה – עַל־יְדֵי פִּדְיוֹן דַּוְקָא, עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמַּמְתִּיקִין הַדִּין.
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות ס): מִכָּאן שֶׁנָּתְנָה תּוֹרָה רְשׁוּת לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת. מִכָּאן דַיְקָא, הַיְנוּ אַחַר הַפִּדְיוֹן, אָז דַּיְקָא יֵשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְהָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת, כִּי קֹדֶם הַפִּדְיוֹן אֵין רְשׁוּת לְהָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת, כִּי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, רַק אַחַר הַפִּדְיוֹן וְהַהַמְתָּקָה, אָז יֵשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְרַפְּאוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
גַּם הַחִלּוּק שֶׁבֵּין הַנְּקֻדּוֹת שֶׁל וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא הוּא כִּי וְרַפֹּא בְּחוֹלָם, יְרַפֵּא בְּצֵירֵי, הַיְנוּ כִּי חוֹלָם הוּא בְּחִינַת הַמְתָּקָה, כַּמּוּבָא בְּכִּתְבֵי הָאֲרִ"י ז"ל, שֶׁחוֹלָם – גִּימַטְרִיָּא שָׁלֹשׁ הֲוָיוֹת, שֶׁהֵם מַמְתִּיקִין שְׁלֹשָׁה אֱלֹקִים שֶׁבַּגָּרוֹן, שֶׁהֵם מֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת, שֶׁיּוֹרְדִין בַּגָּרוֹן, וְנִמְתָּקִין עַל־יְדֵי שָׁלֹשׁ הֲוָיוֹת, גִּימַטְרִיָּא חֹלָם.
וַאֲזַי אַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה – יְרַפֵּא בְּצֵירֵי, בְּחִינַת (ירמיהו ח׳:כ״ב): הַצֳרִי אֵין בְּגִלְעָד אִם רֹפֵא אֵין שָׁם, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת רְפוּאוֹת, שֶׁאַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת וְרַפֹּא בְּחוֹלָם, אֲזַי דַיְקָא יְכוֹלִין לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַל־יְדֵי רְפוּאוֹת, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת יְרַפֵּא בְּצֵירֵי כַּנַּ"ל:
Hebrew text: Likutei Moharan Tinyana - rabenubook.com via Sefaria (Public Domain) · Sefaria. Names of Hashem are written in the customary form.
Transcripts
1-minute recap
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah three.
A cure is decreed above: a set remedy, a set healer, a set day.
A pidyon, charity to sweeten the judgement, cancels that decree.
Then the doctor has permission to heal, with any good remedy: v'rapo y'rapei.
Our own reflection: tzedakah and prayer first, then the doctor, with faith.
Explainer
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah three: when Rabbi Eliezer the Great fell ill. A short Torah about the pidyon, and the doctor's permission to heal.
When Rabbi Eliezer fell ill, he said: there is fierce wrath in the world. Rebbe Nachman explains: no one could make a pidyon, a redemption, to sweeten the judgement.
The Sages teach that a cure is decreed above: through a particular remedy, a particular person, on a particular day. So how can a doctor know which remedy will work?
Under strict judgement, the illness must last until its set day, so only those exact causes can cure it, and only then.
But a pidyon sweetens the judgement and cancels the decree. In that space, before any new judgement, the doctor's remedies can work, any good remedy.
That is why the verse says v'rapo y'rapei, and its numerical value is pidyon nefesh. From here, the Sages say, the doctor has permission to heal: after the pidyon.
Even the vowels agree. V'rapo, with a cholam, is the sweetening. Y'rapei, with a tzeirei, is tzori, the balm of Gilead, the remedy. First the sweetening, then the cure.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. Give tzedakah and pray first. Then go to the doctor, with faith.
Full shiur
— Part 1: The Pidyon and the Doctor's Permission —
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah three: when Rabbi Eliezer the Great fell ill. A shiur in one part: the pidyon, and the doctor's permission to heal.
Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah three. Grey is a verse or teaching he quotes. Green is our own explanation. The Hebrew is the public-domain text from Sefaria; the English is our own paraphrase.
When Rabbi Eliezer the Great fell ill, he said to Rabbi Akiva: there is fierce wrath in the world. For there was no one then who could sweeten the judgement; a pidyon, a redemption, was needed to sweeten the judgement, and none was found. For truly, after the sweetening and the pidyon, then precisely it is good to heal the sick with remedies; only after the pidyon and the sweetening does the doctor have permission to heal.
Our explanation. A pidyon, literally a redemption, is charity given to sweeten a harsh judgement, traditionally through a tzaddik. Rebbe Nachman teaches that the order matters: first the judgement is sweetened, and only then can the doctor truly help.
For how can a doctor gird himself to heal the sick with remedies? He does not know which remedy this patient needs. There are many remedies that suit an illness, but the patient can surely be healed only by the particular remedy assigned to him, as was decreed above.
As our Sages said: it is decreed above that he will be healed by a particular remedy, through a particular person, on a particular day. If so, how can the doctor step in to heal, when he does not know the remedy decreed above?
But after the sweetening and the pidyon he can heal. The need for a particular remedy and person comes from the attribute of judgement: by judgement it was decreed that the illness last until a particular time and day.
So it was decreed that he could be healed only through these causes, a particular remedy and a particular person, so that the illness would last until that day. According to the time the illness must last, the causes of its cure are decreed, so that he cannot be healed until they all come together, on that particular day.
But when a pidyon is made and the judgement is sweetened, the decree is cancelled. Then, before another judgement is decreed, in between, the doctor can heal the patient with remedies, because there is no judgement, and he can be healed by whatever remedy; no particular one is needed.
So it is impossible for the doctor to heal except through a pidyon: first a pidyon must be made to sweeten the judgement, and only then does the doctor have permission to heal.
Our explanation, step by step. Under strict judgement, an illness is bound to a set time, and to one particular cure, one particular healer, one particular day. A pidyon sweetens and cancels that decree. In the space that opens before any new judgement, the doctor's remedies can work freely.
This is 'v'rapo y'rapei', he shall surely heal, which has the numerical value of pidyon nefesh, the redemption of a soul. For healing comes mainly through a pidyon, through sweetening the judgement.
This is what our Sages said: from here we learn that the Torah gave the doctor permission to heal. 'From here' precisely: after the pidyon, then the doctor has permission. Before the pidyon he has no permission, since the cure must come through a particular remedy; only after the pidyon and the sweetening may he heal.
There is also the difference in the vowels of 'v'rapo y'rapei': v'rapo with a cholam, y'rapei with a tzeirei. The cholam is sweetening, as brought in the writings of the Arizal: cholam has the numerical value of three of Hashem's four-letter Names, which sweeten three judgements in the throat, the 'small mind' that descends through the throat.
Then, after the sweetening, y'rapei with a tzeirei, as in 'is there no balm, tzori, in Gilead, is there no healer there?': remedies. After the sweetening, v'rapo with the cholam, one can be healed through remedies, y'rapei with the tzeirei.
Our explanation. Even the vowels of the verse teach the order. V'rapo, with a cholam, is the sweetening of judgement. Y'rapei, with a tzeirei, recalls the tzori, the balm of Gilead: the medicine. First Hashem's judgement is sweetened; then the doctor's medicine can heal.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. When someone is ill, give tzedakah and pray first. Then go to the doctor, with faith. The cure is in Hashem's hands, and the doctor is His messenger.
This has been Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah three.
Sources for this Torah
Texts used
Hebrew: Likutei Moharan Tinyana (Part II), Torah 3, edition 'Likutei Moharan Tinyana – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan%2C_Part_II.3
English: our own paraphrase of the Hebrew, written for these videos. It is not copied from any published translation.
Verses and teachings of the Sages appear only as Rebbe Nachman quotes them inside this Torah.
How the text is shown
The Divine Name is shown as ה' and voiced as Hashem. Other Names are written in the customary form (אֱלֹקִים, קֵ-ל, קָהּ, שַׁ-דַּ-י, אֲדֹ-נָ-י, אֶקְיֶ-ה, צְבָקוֹת). No full Name is written or voiced.
Parenthetical source references inside the printed Hebrew are left off the screen to save space; the citation line names the source instead.
Long paragraphs are shown in consecutive pieces. Every Hebrew word on screen is from the edition above; nothing is reworded.
Cards labelled EXPLANATION (green), and every line marked 'our own reflection — not a quote', are our own words, not quotations.
Notes
Part 1, scene 14: §2.1 is Kabbalistic (the Arizal's teaching on the vowel cholam); the narration speaks of 'three of Hashem's four-letter Names' and never voices them.
Every on-screen quotation in the full shiur, by part
Part 1 — The Pidyon and the Doctor's Permission
Scene 3 · LM II:3 §1, on Sanhedrin 101a · paragraph §1.1
כְּשֶׁחָלָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַגָּדוֹל, אָמַר לְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: חֵמָּה עַזָּה בָּעוֹלָם. כִּי לֹא הָיָה אָז מִי שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּין, כִּי הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְפִדְיוֹן לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּין, וְלֹא נִמְצָא. כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה וְהַפִּדְיוֹן, אָז דַיְקָא טוֹב לְרַפְּאוֹת הַחוֹלֶה עַל־יְדֵי רְפוּאוֹת, כִּי אֲזַי דַיְקָא אַחַר הַפִּדְיוֹן וְהַהַמְתָּקָה יֵשׁ רְשׁוּת לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת.
EN (our paraphrase): When Rabbi Eliezer the Great fell ill, he said to Rabbi Akiva: there is fierce wrath in the world. For there was no one then who could sweeten the judgement; a pidyon, a redemption, was needed to sweeten the judgement, and none was found. For truly, after the sweetening and the pidyon, then precisely it is good to heal the sick with remedies; only after the pidyon and the sweetening does the doctor have permission to heal.
Scene 5 · LM II:3 §1 · paragraph §1.2
כִּי הִנֵּה בֶּאֱמֶת, אֵיךְ יָכוֹל הָרוֹפֵא לַחְגֹּר מָתְנָיו לְרַפְּאוֹת הַחוֹלֶה עַל־יְדֵי רְפוּאוֹת וְסַמִּים, הֲלֹא אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ הַסַּם הַצָּרִיךְ לִרְפוּאוֹת אוֹתוֹ הַחוֹלֶה, כִּי יֵשׁ סַמִּים הַרְבֵּה שֶׁהֵם מְסֻגָּלִים לִרְפוּאוֹת הַחוֹלַאַת, אַךְ בְּוַדַּאי הַחוֹלֶה אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהִתְרַפֵּא כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי הַמְּיֻחָד לִרְפוּאָתוֹ, כְּפִי שֶׁנִּגְזַר לְמַעְלָה,
EN (our paraphrase): For how can a doctor gird himself to heal the sick with remedies? He does not know which remedy this patient needs. There are many remedies that suit an illness, but the patient can surely be healed only by the particular remedy assigned to him, as was decreed above.
Scene 6 · LM II:3 §1, on Avodah Zarah 55a · paragraph §1.3
כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין לְמַעְלָה, שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְעַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי. וְאִם כֵּן אֵיךְ יָכוֹל הָרוֹפֵא לְהַכְנִיס עַצְמוֹ לְרַפְּאוֹת, הֲלֹא אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ הַסַּם, שֶׁנִּגְזַר לְמַעְלָה.
EN (our paraphrase): As our Sages said: it is decreed above that he will be healed by a particular remedy, through a particular person, on a particular day. If so, how can the doctor step in to heal, when he does not know the remedy decreed above?
Scene 7 · LM II:3 §1 · paragraph §1.4
אֲבָל אַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה וְהַפִּדְיוֹן אָז יָכוֹל לְרַפְּאוֹת. כִּי מַה שֶׁצָּרִיךְ שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא דַּיְקָא עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, הוּא מֵחֲמַת מִדַּת הַדִּין, שֶׁכְּפִי מִדַּת הַדִּין נִגְזַר שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת עַד אוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן וְיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי,
EN (our paraphrase): But after the sweetening and the pidyon he can heal. The need for a particular remedy and person comes from the attribute of judgement: by judgement it was decreed that the illness last until a particular time and day.
Scene 8 · LM II:3 §1 · paragraph §1.4
וְעַל כֵּן נִגְזַר שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי סִבּוֹת אֵלּוּ, דְּהַיְנוּ סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת עַד יוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, כִּי כְּפִי הַזְּמַן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת, כָּךְ גּוֹזְרִין הַסִּבּוֹת לִרְפוּאָתוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַד שֶׁיִּזְדַּמְּנוּ יַחַד סִבּוֹת אֵלּוּ: סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְאִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לוֹ רְפוּאָה כִּי אִם בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי;
EN (our paraphrase): So it was decreed that he could be healed only through these causes, a particular remedy and a particular person, so that the illness would last until that day. According to the time the illness must last, the causes of its cure are decreed, so that he cannot be healed until they all come together, on that particular day.
Scene 9 · LM II:3 §1 · paragraph §1.5
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין פִּדְיוֹן וּמַמְתִּיקִין הַדִּין, וַאֲזַי נִתְבַּטֵּל הַגְּזֵרָה, אֲזַי קֹדֶם שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין דִּין אַחֵר, כִּי כְּשֶׁנִּמְתָּק דִּין זֶה אֲזַי גּוֹזְרִין דִּין אַחֵר, וּבֵין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ, דְּהַיְנוּ אַחַר הַמְתָּקַת הַדִּין הָרִאשׁוֹן קֹדֶם שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין דִּין אַחֵר, אֲזַי יָכוֹל הָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת הַחוֹלֶה עַל־יְדֵי סַמִּים, כִּי אֲזַי אֵין דִּין, וַאֲזַי יוּכַל לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַל־יְדֵי אֵיזֶה סַם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, כִּי אֵין צָרִיךְ דַּוְקָא סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְכוּ' מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵין דִּין כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): But when a pidyon is made and the judgement is sweetened, the decree is cancelled. Then, before another judgement is decreed, in between, the doctor can heal the patient with remedies, because there is no judgement, and he can be healed by whatever remedy; no particular one is needed.
Scene 10 · LM II:3 §1 · paragraph §1.6
נִמְצָא שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי פִּדְיוֹן, שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת פִּדְיוֹן תְּחִלָּה לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּין, וְאָז דַיְקָא יֵשׁ רְשׁוּת לַרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): So it is impossible for the doctor to heal except through a pidyon: first a pidyon must be made to sweeten the judgement, and only then does the doctor have permission to heal.
Scene 12 · LM II:3 §1, on Shemos 21:19 · paragraph §1.7
וְזֶהוּ וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא מִסְפַּר פִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ. כִּי עִקָּר הָרְפוּאָה – עַל־יְדֵי פִּדְיוֹן דַּוְקָא, עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמַּמְתִּיקִין הַדִּין.
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'v'rapo y'rapei', he shall surely heal, which has the numerical value of pidyon nefesh, the redemption of a soul. For healing comes mainly through a pidyon, through sweetening the judgement.
Scene 13 · LM II:3 §1, on Bava Kamma 85a · paragraph §1.8
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: מִכָּאן שֶׁנָּתְנָה תּוֹרָה רְשׁוּת לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת. מִכָּאן דַיְקָא, הַיְנוּ אַחַר הַפִּדְיוֹן, אָז דַּיְקָא יֵשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְהָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת, כִּי קֹדֶם הַפִּדְיוֹן אֵין רְשׁוּת לְהָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת, כִּי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, רַק אַחַר הַפִּדְיוֹן וְהַהַמְתָּקָה, אָז יֵשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְרַפְּאוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): This is what our Sages said: from here we learn that the Torah gave the doctor permission to heal. 'From here' precisely: after the pidyon, then the doctor has permission. Before the pidyon he has no permission, since the cure must come through a particular remedy; only after the pidyon and the sweetening may he heal.
Scene 14 · LM II:3 §2 · paragraph §2.1
גַּם הַחִלּוּק שֶׁבֵּין הַנְּקֻדּוֹת שֶׁל וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא הוּא כִּי וְרַפֹּא בְּחוֹלָם, יְרַפֵּא בְּצֵירֵי, הַיְנוּ כִּי חוֹלָם הוּא בְּחִינַת הַמְתָּקָה, כַּמּוּבָא בְּכִּתְבֵי הָאֲרִ"י ז"ל, שֶׁחוֹלָם – גִּימַטְרִיָּא שָׁלֹשׁ הֲוָיוֹת, שֶׁהֵם מַמְתִּיקִין שְׁלֹשָׁה אֱלֹקִים שֶׁבַּגָּרוֹן, שֶׁהֵם מֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת, שֶׁיּוֹרְדִין בַּגָּרוֹן, וְנִמְתָּקִין עַל־יְדֵי שָׁלֹשׁ הֲוָיוֹת, גִּימַטְרִיָּא חֹלָם.
EN (our paraphrase): There is also the difference in the vowels of 'v'rapo y'rapei': v'rapo with a cholam, y'rapei with a tzeirei. The cholam is sweetening, as brought in the writings of the Arizal: cholam has the numerical value of three of Hashem's four-letter Names, which sweeten three judgements in the throat, the 'small mind' that descends through the throat.
Scene 15 · LM II:3 §2 · paragraph §2.2
וַאֲזַי אַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה – יְרַפֵּא בְּצֵירֵי, בְּחִינַת: הַצֳרִי אֵין בְּגִלְעָד אִם רֹפֵא אֵין שָׁם, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת רְפוּאוֹת, שֶׁאַחַר הַהַמְתָּקָה שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת וְרַפֹּא בְּחוֹלָם, אֲזַי דַיְקָא יְכוֹלִין לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת עַל־יְדֵי רְפוּאוֹת, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת יְרַפֵּא בְּצֵירֵי כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): Then, after the sweetening, y'rapei with a tzeirei, as in 'is there no balm, tzori, in Gilead, is there no healer there?': remedies. After the sweetening, v'rapo with the cholam, one can be healed through remedies, y'rapei with the tzeirei.
Hebrew phrases in the Explainer
Scene 2 · §1.1: חֵמָּה עַזָּה בָּעוֹלָם.
Scene 3 · §1.3: שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין לְמַעְלָה, שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְעַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי.
Scene 4 · §1.4: שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ הַחוֹלַאַת עַד אוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן וְיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי,
Scene 5 · §1.5: כְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין פִּדְיוֹן וּמַמְתִּיקִין הַדִּין,
Scene 6 · §1.8: מִכָּאן שֶׁנָּתְנָה תּוֹרָה רְשׁוּת לְרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת.
Scene 7 · §2.2: הַצֳרִי אֵין בְּגִלְעָד
Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap
Scene 2 · §1.3: שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין לְמַעְלָה, שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא עַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי וְעַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי.
Scene 3 · §1.5: כְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין פִּדְיוֹן וּמַמְתִּיקִין הַדִּין,
Scene 4 · §1.7: וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא מִסְפַּר פִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ.