וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים, בְּהַקְרִיבְכֶם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה' בְּשָׁבֻעֹתֵיכֶם
On the Day of the First Fruits
Charity begins by turning one's own cruelty into compassion, like the ravens that fed Eliyahu, and it is the hardest beginning of all. It cuts off the 'serpent's brow', the root of the view that everything is nature, which feeds on elders whose days pass without growth. Then the festivals' holy call is heard: all is Hashem's will. That brings awe, the vessel for Hashem's kindness, so the world stands on kindness and is healed. David and Golyas, a Gemara tale of a precious stone, and the Shavuos verse all teach this.
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- Part 1: The Ravens, and the Hardest Beginning ▶ Play⬇ 10.8 MB
- Part 2: Work, the Mishkan, and a World Built on Kindness ▶ Play⬇ 9.5 MB
- Part 3: Awe, the Vessel, and the Festivals ▶ Play⬇ 8.9 MB
- Part 4: The Joy of Yom Tov and the Roar of the Beasts ▶ Play⬇ 8.1 MB
- Part 5: The Brow of Will, the Serpent's Brow, and the Elders ▶ Play⬇ 11.8 MB
- Part 6: Charity Uproots the Serpent's Brow; Yaakov and Esav ▶ Play⬇ 8.6 MB
- Part 7: David and Golyas ▶ Play⬇ 8.2 MB
- Part 8: The Sailors, the Serpent, and the Precious Stone ▶ Play⬇ 12.4 MB
- Part 9: The Festivals and Charity as Healing ▶ Play⬇ 7.6 MB
- Part 10: The Verse of Shavuos, and the Whole Torah as One ▶ Play⬇ 9.6 MB
הַמָּקוֹר · Original text
וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים, בְּהַקְרִיבְכֶם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה' בְּשָׁבֻעֹתֵיכֶם, מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ: (במדבר כ״ח:כ״ו)
א וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ (מלכים־א יז) – זֶה בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה. כִּי בַּתְּחִלָּה, כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין לְהִתְנַדֵּב לִצְדָקָה, אֲזַי צְרִיכִין לְשַׁבֵּר אֶת הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁלּוֹ לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, וְזֶהוּ עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה. כִּי מִי שֶׁהוּא רַחֲמָן בְּטִבְעוֹ וְנוֹתֵן צְדָקָה מֵחֲמַת רַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁבְּטִבְעוֹ, אֵין זֶה עֲבוֹדָה, כִּי יֵשׁ גַּם כַּמָּה חַיּוֹת שֶׁהֵם רַחֲמָנִים בְּטִבְעָם, רַק עִקָּר הָעֲבוֹדָה – לְשַׁבֵּר הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ; כִּי הָעוֹרֵב הוּא בְּטִבְעוֹ אַכְזָרִי, וְנִתְהַפֵּךְ לְרַחֲמָנוּת לְכַלְכֵּל אֶת אֵלִיָּהוּ. כְּמוֹ־כֵן צְרִיכִין בִּצְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל. וְכָל הַנְּדִיבֵי לֵב, כָּל מִי שֶהוּא נַדְבָן, צָרִיךְ לֵילֵךְ וְלַעֲבֹר בִּתְחִלָּה דֶּרֶךְ בְּחִינָה זוֹ, בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים הַנַּ"ל. דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה צְרִיכִים לְשַׁבֵּר הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם, מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם אַכְזָרִיּוּת בִּתְחִלָּה, לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, לְהִתְנַדֵּב לִצְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל:
ב וּבְחִינָה זוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה הִיא קָשָׁה וּכְבֵדָה מְאֹד. כִּי כָל הָעֲבוֹדוֹת וְכָל הַתְּשׁוּבוֹת, כָּל מַה שֶּׁרוֹצִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, כַּמָּה קָלִין שֶׁל אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי וְכַמָּה גְּנִיחוֹת וְכַמָּה כְּפִילוּת וְכַמָּה הַטָּיוֹת (הַיְנוּ תְּנוּעוֹת מְשֻׁנּוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין יִרְאֵי ה' בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם) צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת קֹדֶם שֶׁעוֹשִׂין אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא. וְעִקָּר בַּהַתְחָלָה, שֶׁאָז קָשֶׁה מְאֹד, כִּי כָל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת (מכילתא פ' יתרו והובא בפירש"י שם), וּצְרִיכִין כַּמָּה קָלִין וְכַמָּה גְּנִיחוֹת וְכוּ' קֹדֶם שֶׁמַּתְחִילִין אֵיזֶהוּ הַתְחָלָה.
וְגַם אַחַר כָּךְ לְאַחַר הַהַתְחָלָה גַּם כֵּן אֵינוֹ בָּא בְּנָקֵל עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, וּצְרִיכִין כַּמָּה יְגִיעוֹת וְכַמָּה תְּנוּעוֹת כַּנַּ"ל קֹדֶם שֶׁזּוֹכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהּ הִדּוּר. אַךְ הַהַתְחָלָה קָשָׁה מְאֹד כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עִקָּר תּוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים – מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים (תנחומא פ' נח והובא בפירש"י שם); נִמְצָא שֶׁהַמִּצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְכָל עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם הֵם בְּחִינַת הוֹלָדָה, וְקֹדֶם הַהוֹלָדָה כַּמָּה קָלִין וְכַמָּה חֲבָלִים וְצִירִים יֵשׁ לְהַיּוֹלֶדֶת קֹדֶם שֶׁמּוֹלֶדֶת הַהוֹלָדָה,
וּבִפְרָט מַבְכִּירָה, דְּהַיְנוּ הוֹלָדָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל אִשָּׁה, שֶׁאָז קָשֶׁה עָלֶיהָ מְאֹד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ירמיהו ד׳:ל״א): צָרָה כְּמַבְכִּירָה, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת הַהַתְחָלָה, בְּחִינַת: כָּל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת כַּנַּ"ל.
וּצְדָקָה הִיא תָּמִיד הַתְחָלָה, בִּבְחִינַת (דברים ט"ו): פָּתוֹחַ תִּפְתַּח; שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ פֶּתַח וְהַתְחָלָה, הַצְּדָקָה הִיא פּוֹתַחַת יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר וּמַרְחֶבֶת הַפֶּתַח יוֹתֵר, כִּי כָל דָּבָר וְדָבָר מֵעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, כְּשֶׁרוֹצִין לִכָּנֵס בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ וְאוֹתוֹ הָעֲבוֹדָה, צְרִיכִין לִפְתֹּחַ שָׁם פֶּתַח לִכָּנֵס בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: כָּל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁבַּהַתְחָלָה צְרִיכִין לְשַׁבֵּר וְלִפְתֹּחַ פֶּתַח מֵחָדָשׁ, עַל־כֵּן קָשֶׁה מְאֹד. וּסְגֻלַּת כֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה – לְהַרְחִיב וְלִפְתֹּחַ הַפֶּתַח יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, שֶׁכְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין אֵיזֶהוּ פֶּתַח בְּאֵיזֶה עֲבוֹדָה וְנוֹתְנִין צְדָקָה, אֲזַי הַצְּדָקָה פּוֹתַחַת וּמַרְחֶבֶת הַפֶּתַח יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, כִּי צְדָקָה הִיא הַהַתְחָלָה שֶׁל כָּל הַהַתְחָלוֹת, כִּי הִיא פּוֹתַחַת וּמַרְחֶבֶת כָּל הַפְּתָחִים כַּנַּ"ל.
וְגַם בִּצְדָקָה עַצְמָהּ יֵשׁ הַתְחָלָה, דְּהַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין לִתֵּן צְדָקָה, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה הִיא קָשָׁה וּכְבֵדָה מְאֹד, כִּי הִיא בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלָה שֶׁל כָּל הַהַתְחָלוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
ג אַךְ הַתּוֹעֶלֶת שֶׁל הַצְּדָקָה גָּדוֹל מְאֹד מְאֹד, כִּי הַצְּדָקָה מוֹעֶלֶת תָּמִיד, כִּי צָרְכֵי הַגּוּף הֵם רַבִּים מְאֹד, וַאֲפִלּוּ הַהֶכְרֵחִיּוֹת הֵם רַבִּים וּגְדוֹלִים מְאֹד: אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּמַלְבּוּשִׁים וְדִירוֹת, שֶׁיְּכוֹלִין לְבַלּוֹת יָמָיו וְשָׁנָיו אֲפִלּוּ עַל הַהֶכְרֵחִיּוֹת לְבַד, וְהֵם מוֹנְעִין אֶת הָאָדָם מְאֹד מֵעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא,
וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁגַּם הֵם בְּעַצְמָן הֵם גַּם כֵּן עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי הֵם בְּחִינַת אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא, כִּי בְּעֻבְדָּא דִּלְתַתָּא אִתְעַר לְעֵלָּא, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי כָּל עֲסָקִים וּמְלָאכוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בְּנֵי אָדָם, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְעוֹרֵר אוֹתוֹ הַצִּיּוּר שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַמְּלָאכָה לְמַעְלָה בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, וּמֵבִיא חִיּוּת וְהֶאָרָה לְאוֹתוֹ הַצִּיּוּר שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה, שֶׁהוּא מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד אוֹתוֹ הָעֵסֶק וְהַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁהָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה לְמַטָּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה,
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הָעֲסָקִים וְהַמְּלָאכוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂים, נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בְּחִינַת מִשְׁכָּן. כִּי כָל הַמְּלָאכוֹת כְּלוּלִים בְּל"ט מְלָאכוֹת שֶׁהֵם אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת, אָבוֹת מִכְּלָל דְּאִיכָּא תּוֹלָדוֹת (ב"ק ב.), כִּי כָל מִינֵי מְלָאכוֹת וַעֲסָקִים שֶׁעוֹשִׂין, כֻּלָּם כְּלוּלִים בְּל"ט מְלָאכוֹת שֶׁהֵם הָאָבוֹת, וְהַשְּׁאָר הֵם תּוֹלָדוֹת.
וְל"ט מְלָאכוֹת הֵם כְּנֶגֶד מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת מט:): אָבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אַחַת – כְּנֶגֶד מִי כְּנֶגֶד מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. וְצִיּוּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא כְּצִיּוּרָא דְּעֻבְדָּא דִּבְרֵאשִׁית (ת"ז דף יב בהקדמה), וְהָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה הַמְּלָאכָה, וְצִיּוּרָא דְּגוּפָא כְּצִיּוּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא (בהקדמת התיקונים שם). נִמְצָא שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הָאָדָם שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה הַמְּלָאכָה וְהָעֵסֶק, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת מִשְׁכָּן, כְּשֶׁעוֹשֶׂה הַמְּלָאכָה וְהָעֵסֶק כָּרָאוּי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נוֹתֵן חִיּוּת וְהֶאָרָה לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, וְהוּא קִיּוּם הָעוֹלָם. נִמְצָא שֶׁגַּם זֶה הוּא עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא:
אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אִם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵעַ עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ, לֹא הָיִינוּ צְרִיכִים לְכָל זֶה, כִּי הֲלֹא אֵיךְ בָּרָא הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ אַחַר הֶעְדֵּר הַגָּמוּר, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה שׁוּם הֲוָיָה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עַל יָדָהּ אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בָּרָא עוֹלָמוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ. וְהַכֹּל בְּחַסְדּוֹ בְּלִי אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא כְּלָל, בִּבְחִינַת (תהלים פט): עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה.
וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁהוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ הָיָה יָכוֹל לִבְרֹא עוֹלָמוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ בְּלִי אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא כְּלָל, רַק עַל־יְדֵי חַסְדּוֹ, בְּוַדַּאי הוּא יָכוֹל לְהַחֲיוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָמוֹת רַק עַל־יְדֵי חַסְדּוֹ, וְלֹא הָיִינוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלָל שׁוּם עֵסֶק וּמְלָאכָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ הַהֶכְרֵחִיּוֹת הָיוּ נַעֲשִׂין עַל־יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו ס״א:ה׳-ו׳): וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם, וּבְנֵי נֵכָר אִכָּרֵיכֶם וְכֹרְמֵיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ. כֹּהַנֵי ה' דַיְקָא, בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, בְּחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים כֹּהֲנֵי ה', בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה, רַק הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם בְּחַסְדּוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. אַךְ כְּשֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְאֵין מַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ, אֲזַי צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת בִּשְׁבִיל אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (תהילים ס״ב:י״ג): וּלְךָ ה' הַחֶסֶד, כִּי אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ. הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת: וּלְךָ ה' הַחֶסֶד – שֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵין מַשְׁפִּיעוֹ עָלֵינוּ, אֲזַי: כִּי אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ, הַיְנוּ כְּפִי הָעֲשִׂיּוֹת וְהָעֲסָקִים שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה, כֵּן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ מְשַׁלֵּם. כִּי צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת דַּוְקָא, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵינוֹ מַשְׁפִּיעוֹ עָלֵינוּ, אֲבָל אִם הָיָה מַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ הַחֶסֶד, לֹא הָיִינוּ צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלָל, וַאֲזַי הָיָה נִתְקַיֵּם: כִּי אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, כִּי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלָל כְּשֶׁשּׁוֹפֵעַ חַסְדּוֹ כַּנַּ"ל:
ד אַךְ צָרִיךְ לְקַבֵּל הַחֶסֶד בְּהַדְרָגָה, כִּי רֹב הַחֶסֶד אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְקַבֵּל, כִּי הָיוּ בְּטֵלִים בַּמְּצִיאוּת מֵחֲמַת רֹב הַחֶסֶד, כִּי אֵין יְכוֹלִין לְקַבֵּל רֹב טוֹבָה (תענית כג), וְצָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַחֶסֶד. וְזֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה חֲקִיקָה וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַחֶסֶד, בִּבְחִינַת (בראשית מ״ט:י׳): וּמְחוֹקֵק מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו. רֶגֶל הוּא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת סוֹף, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (סוף קהלת): סוֹף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁמָע, אֶת הָאֱלֹקִים יְרָא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל יְדֵי יִרְאָה, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת רֶגֶל, נַעֲשֶׂה חֲקִיקָה וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל בְּתוֹכוֹ אֶת הַחֶסֶד.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (במדבר י״ז:כ״ג): וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן לְבֵית לֵוִי; הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַחֶסֶד, בְּחִינַת אַהֲרֹן, צָרִיךְ לְקַבְּלוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הַכְּלִי, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, סִטְרָא דְּלֵוִי, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (תהילים כ׳:ז׳): בִּגְבוּרוֹת יֵשַׁע יְמִינוֹ:
ה וְעִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, בִּבְחִינַת: רְצוֹן יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה (תהילים קמ״ה:י״ט), שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּרָא הַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ בְּלִי שׁוּם חִיּוּב כְּלָל, וּמְחַיֶּה וּמְקַיֵּם הַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְאֵין שׁוּם חִיּוּב הַטִּבְעִי כְּלָל, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, כִּי אֲזַי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר וָעֹנֶשׁ, וְשַׁיָּךְ לְהִתְיָרֵא מִפָּנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות ד): וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד – אָמַר: שֶׁמָּא יִגְרֹם הַחֵטְא;
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁאֵין נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, וְסוֹבְרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּכְאִלּוּ מִתְנַהֵג הַכֹּל עַל־פִּי הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֵין שַׁיָּךְ יִרְאָה כְּלָל, כִּי אֵין שָׂכָר וָעֹנֶשׁ כְּלָל, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג רַק כְּפִי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. נִמְצָא שֶׁעִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה – עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן:
ו וְהִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן הוּא עַל־יְדֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים, כִּי כָל אֶחָד מֵהַיָּמִים טוֹבִים מַכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא וּמְגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג רַק עַל פִּי רְצוֹנוֹ בִּלְבַד, בִּבְחִינַת (ויקרא כ״ג:ג׳): מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁהַיּוֹם טוֹב קֹדֶשׁ קוֹרֵא וּמַכְרִיז אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי בְּכָל יוֹם טוֹב וְיוֹם טוֹב עָשָׂה הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עִמָּנוּ אוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת, שֶׁהֵם הֶפֶךְ הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה נִתְגַלָּה הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ, וְאֵין שׁוּם חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע כְּלָל.
בְּפֶסַח – יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּאוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת.
בְּשָׁבוּעוֹת – מַתַּן תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנָּתַן לָנוּ הַתּוֹרָה בְּאוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת.
בְּסֻכּוֹת – הֶקֵּף עַנְנֵי כָּבוֹד. וְעַל כֵּן כָּל יוֹם טוֹב וְיוֹם טוֹב מַכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן בִּבְחִינַת מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל כֵּן הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים נִקְרָאִים רֶגֶל, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל:
אַךְ לֹא תָּמִיד שׁוֹמְעִין אֶת קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמְּגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶה נִכָּר בְּשִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב, כִּי כָל אֶחָד לְפִי מַה שֶּׁמַּרְגִּישׁ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ אֶת קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמַּכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן, כְּמוֹ־כֵן יֵשׁ לוֹ שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב,
כִּי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, אֲזַי יוֹדְעִים, שֶׁכָּל הַשִּׁעְבּוּדִים וְהַגָּלוּת וְכָל הַהַכְבָּדוֹת שֶׁל הָעַכּוּ"ם, שֶׁהֵם מַכְבִּידִים עָלֵינוּ – עַל כֻּלָּם יִנְקֹם בָּהֶם הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִגְאָלֵינוּ מִיָּדָם.
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁסּוֹבְרִים, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, אֵין שַׁיָּךְ נְקָמָה בָּהֶם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג רַק עַל פִּי סֵדֶר הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (תהילים נ״ח:י״א): יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם, פְּעָמָיו יִרְחַץ בְּדַם הָרָשָׁע. פְּעָמָיו דַיְקָא. הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה (דברים ט״ז:ט״ז), שֶׁהֵם הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים, שֶׁעַל יָדָם נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם וְכוּ', כַּנַּ"ל,
וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם): וְיֹאמַר אָדָם אַךְ פְּרִי לַצַּדִּיק, אַךְ יֵשׁ אֱלֹקִים שֹׁפְטִים בָּאָרֶץ. דְּהַיְנוּ, שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֱלֹקִים שׁוֹפֵט בִּרְצוֹנוֹ, וְיֵשׁ פְּרִי לַצַּדִּיק, וּבָהֶם יִנְקֹם, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב, עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה בְּיוֹם טוֹב עַל־יְדֵי קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה, שֶׁהַיּוֹם טוֹב מַכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל,
אַךְ לֹא כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה הַנַּ"ל שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, כִּי יֵשׁ חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת דּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים, וְהֵם חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁמַּרְאִין בְּחָכְמָתָם הַמֻּטְעֵית שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, וּכְאִלּוּ אֵין שׁוּם רָצוֹן, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וַאֲפִלּוּ הָאוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה עִמָּנוּ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, מְשִׂימִים הַכֹּל בְּתוֹךְ דֶּרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע. וְהַחֲכָמִים הַלָּלוּ הֵם בְּחִינַת חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, וְהֵם דּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים רַבִּים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ, שֶׁטּוֹעִים גַּם כֵּן אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְסוֹבְרִים כְּמוֹתָם, כְּאִלּוּ הַכֹּל עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּכְשֶׁהֵם מִתְגַּבְּרִים, אֲזַי קוֹל שַׁאֲגָתָם עוֹלֶה וּמִתְגַּבֵּר עַל קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁקּוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁבָּת שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי עִקָּר שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב – עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (שם עד): שָׁאֲגוּ צֹרְרֶיךָ בְּקֶרֶב מוֹעֲדֶךָ, שָׂמוּ אוֹתֹתָם אֹתוֹת – שֶׁשַּׁאֲגַת הַצּוֹרְרִים, דְּהַיְנוּ קוֹל הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, שֶׁהֵם חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, נִכְנָס בְּקֶרֶב הַמּוֹעֲדִים מַמָּשׁ, הַיְנוּ בְּתוֹךְ קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמַּכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל, וְשַׁאֲגַת הַצּוֹרְרִים נִכְנָס בְּתוֹכָם מַמָּשׁ, וְשׁוֹאֲגִים בְּקוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל רַק עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּפִי סֵדֶר אוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם. וְזֶה: שָׂמוּ אוֹתֹתָם אֹתוֹת – שֶׁמְּשִׂימִים אוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם לְאוֹתוֹת, שֶׁאוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַכֹּל רַק עַל פִּי אוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּפִי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
ז וְהַכְנָעָתָם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, הוּא עַל־יְדֵי חָכָם גָּדוֹל שֶׁבִּקְּדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְקַשֵּׁר כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁשָּׁם הוּא בְּחִינַת הִסְתַּלְּקוּת מֹשֶׁה, כַּיָּדוּעַ (זוהר פ' יתרו פח: וע' זוהר נשא קכ"ט). וְהוּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן, בְּחִינַת (שמות כ״ח:ל״ח): וְהָיָה עַל מִצְחוֹ לְרָצוֹן. וְצָרִיךְ לְקַשֵּׁר כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה הוּא מִתְגַּבֵּר וּמַכְנִיעַ וְסוֹתֵר דֵּעוֹת חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁכּוֹפְרִים בְּרָצוֹן.
אַךְ כְּנֶגֶד זֶה יֵשׁ בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, כִּי כָל דָּבָר יֵשׁ לוֹ שֹׁרֶשׁ, וְשֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע הוּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, בְּחִינַת (שמואל א י״ז:ו׳): וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו, הַנֶּאֱמָר בְּגָלְיַת, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל, כִּי גָּלְיַת הָיָה כּוֹפֵר, וְהָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַרְאוֹת שֶׁכָּל הַסִּבּוֹת הַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל,
וְזֶהוּ: רַגְלָיו, בְּחִינַת סִבּוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית ל׳:ל׳): וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אוֹתְךָ לְרַגְלִי – בְּסִבּוֹתַי, כִּי כֵן הוּא הַפֵּרוּשׁ שָׁם, שֶׁיַּעֲקֹב אָמַר לְלָבָן, שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ הָיָה מְסַבֵּב אֵלָיו הַבְּרָכָה עַל יָדוֹ וּבְסִבָּתוֹ. נִמְצָא שֶׁרֶגֶל הוּא בְּחִינַת סִבּוֹת. רַק שֶׁיַּעֲקֹב תָּלָה כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ כַּנַּ"ל, וְגָלְיַת הָיָה תוֹלֶה כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ בְּמֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, דְּהַיְנוּ בְּחִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, וְזֶהוּ: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו, כַּנַּ"ל:
וְלִפְעָמִים מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ בְּפֹעַל, דְּהַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּרָטִי, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק חָכְמָתוֹ מִמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, וְהוּא מַרְאֶה בְּחָכְמָתוֹ, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. וְיֵשׁ שֶׁנִּכְנָס בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, בְּתוֹךְ הֶחָכָם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְחָכְמָה זוֹ שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ מַתְחֶלֶת לִכָּנֵס עִמּוֹ מֵעִיּוּן לְעִיּוּן, עַד שֶׁנִּכְנָס בְּעִיּוּן דַּק מְאֹד, עַד שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהַטִּיל פְּגָם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן וְלִכְפֹּר שָׁם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּאִלּוּ אֵין רָצוֹן כְּלָל, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
ח וְדַע, שֶׁזֶּה הַמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ יְנִיקָתוֹ מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר, מִמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, כְּשֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם שְׁלֵמוּת, מִזֶּה יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל, כִּי זָקֵן – זֶה קָנָה חָכְמָה (קדושין לב:), וְצָרִיךְ הָאָדָם, כָּל מַה שֶּׁמַּזְקִין, כָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּתּוֹסֵף וּבָא לוֹ יוֹם מִימֵי חַיָּיו, לְהוֹסִיף בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁבָּא אַחַר כָּךְ תּוֹסְפוֹת אוֹר קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (קינים פ"ג): זִקְנֵי תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁמַּזְקִינִין, דַּעְתָּן מִתְיַשֶּׁבֶת עֲלֵיהֶן; כִּי צְרִיכִין בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁבָּא אַחַר כָּךְ לְהוֹסִיף בּוֹ קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית א׳:ה׳): וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹקִים לָאוֹר יוֹם – שֶׁכָּל יוֹם צָרִיךְ שֶׁיָּאִיר בְּיוֹתֵר כַּנַּ"ל.
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהַזְּקֵנִים, הַמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, פּוֹגְמִים אֶת יְמֵיהֶם וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין אוֹר קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, מִזֶּה יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע הַנַּ"ל, (כִּי מִנְּפִילַת הַיָּמִים שֶׁל הַזְּקֵנִים, אֲשֶׁר אֵין דַּעְתָּם מִתְיַשֶּׁבֶת כַּנַּ"ל, מִפְּגַם הַדַּעַת הַזֶּה שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הַזְּקֵנִים יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע) וּמִתְגַּבֵּר, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, דַּעַת חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁכּוֹפְרִים בָּרָצוֹן עַל־יְדֵי נְפִילַת הַדַּעַת וְהַיָּמִים, שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים מֵהַזְּקֵנִים הַמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ בְּחִינַת (איוב י״ד:א׳): קְצַר יָמִים, שְׂבַע רֹגֶז; הַיְנוּ שְׁתֵּי הַבְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל. קְצַר יָמִים זֶה בְּחִינַת הַזְּקֵנִים שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי, שֶׁאֵין מוֹסִיפִין קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת בְּכָל יוֹם, שֶׁזֶּהוּ עִקָּר הַזִּקְנָה וְהָאֲרִיכוּת יָמִים כַּנַּ"ל, וּכְשֶׁהַזְּקֵנִים פּוֹגְמִים אֶת יְמֵיהֶם וְאֵין מַאֲרִיכִין אֶת יְמֵיהֶם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת כַּנַּ"ל, זֶה בְּחִינַת קְצַר יָמִים, וּמִזֶּה יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא הֶפֶךְ מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן, וְזֶהוּ: שְׂבַע רֹגֶז – הֶפֶךְ הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהַזְּקֵנִים כָּרָאוּי, בְּחִינַת: זָקֵן – זֶה קָנָה חָכְמָה וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מִתְגַּבֵּר הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, בִּבְחִינַת (ישעיהו ט׳:י״ד): זָקֵן וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים – שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זָקֵן שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה מִתְגַּבֵּר הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת נְשׂוּא פָנִים, כִּי נְשִׂיאַת פָּנִים הוּא בְּחִינַת רָצוֹן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אֱלִישָׁע לִיהוֹרָם (מלכים ב ג׳:י״ד): לוּלֵי פְּנֵי יְהוֹשָׁפָט אֲנִי נֹשֵׂא אִם אַבִּיט אֵלֶיךָ וְאִם אֶרְאֶךָּ – שֶׁאֱלִישָׁע לֹא הָיָה לוֹ שׁוּם רָצוֹן לִיהוֹרָם, רַק עַל־יְדֵי נְשִׂיאַת פָּנִים שֶׁל יְהוֹשָׁפָט, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְרַצָּה אֵלָיו. נִמְצָא שֶׁנְּשִׂיאוּת פָּנִים הוּא בְּחִינַת רָצוֹן, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת זָקֵן וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים, כַּנַּ"ל:
ט וּצְדָקָה מוֹעִיל לָזֶה, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מְתַקְּנִין וּמַעֲלִין פְּגַם נְפִילַת הַיָּמִים וְהַדַּעַת שֶׁל הַזְּקֵנִים מַאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים, שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי, שֶׁמִּזֶּה יְנִיקַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל, בִּבְחִינַת (קהלת יא): שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, כִּי בְרֹב הַיָּמִים תִּמְצָאֶנּוּ – שֶׁכֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה מוֹצְאִין בְּרֹב הַיָּמִים, דְּהַיְנוּ בְּמַאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מַעֲלִין וּמְתַקְּנִין הַפְּגָם שֶׁלָּהֶם כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ: שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, הַיְנוּ שֶׁתִּתֵּן צְדָקָה, וְהַכָּתוּב מַבְטִיחֲךָ, שֶׁהַהֶפְסֵד שֶׁאַתָּה מַפְסִיד מָמוֹנְךָ שֶׁפִּזַּרְתָּ לִצְדָקָה תַּרְוִיחַ וְתִמְצָאֶנּוּ בְּרֹב הַיָּמִים, בְּמַאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מַעֲלִין פְּגַם נְפִילַת הַדַּעַת שֶׁל הַמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָּמִים, שֶׁמִּזֶּה הוּא יְנִיקַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל, וּמוֹצִיאִין כָּל הַיְנִיקָה וְהַחִיּוּת שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, וּמִתְגַּבֵּר בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן.
כִּי עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה הִיא בִּבְחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, דְּהַיְנוּ מַה שֶׁצְּרִיכִים בַּהַתְחָלָה לְשַׁבֵּר הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, וּמִזֶּה בְּעַצְמוֹ מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן, כִּי מִנֵהּ וּבֵהּ אַבָּא לֵיזִיל בֵּהּ נַרְגָּא (סנהדרין ל"ט), מֵאַחַר שֶׁמִּתְגַּבֵּר וּמְהַפֵּךְ אַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁבְּטִבְעוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְהַפֵּךְ הָרֹגֶז לְרָצוֹן.
וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּכְנָע מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ וְנִתְגַּלֶּה בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן, אֲזַי נִכְנָעִים וְנוֹפְלִים קוֹל הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה יְכוֹלִין לְקַבֵּל הַחֶסֶד כַּנַּ"ל. וּכְשֶׁשּׁוֹפֵעַ הַחֶסֶד, אֲזַי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם עֵסֶק וּמְלָאכָה כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי אֲזַי נִתְקַיֵּם: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם וְכוּ' וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ וְכוּ', כַּנַּ"ל. וְכָל זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל. נִמְצָא שֶׁתּוֹעֶלֶת הַצְּדָקָה גָּדוֹל מְאֹד:
י וְעַל־כֵּן כְּשֶׁרָצָה יַעֲקֹב לַעֲשׂוֹת רָצוֹן בְּעֵשָׂו, אָמַר: וְלָקַחְתָּ מִנְחָתִי מִיָּדִי, כִּי עַל־כֵּן רָאִיתִי פָנֶיךָ כִּרְאֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים וַתִּרְצֵנִי (בראשית ל״ג:י׳).
כִּי גַּם מַה שֶּׁנּוֹתְנִין לָעַכּוּ"ם, הוּא גַּם־כֵּן בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ב"ב ט): וְנוֹגְשַׂיִךְ צְדָקָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה נַעֲשֶׂה רָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ: וְלָקַחְתָּ מִנְחָתִי מִיָּדִי, הַיְנוּ צְדָקָה, בְּחִינַת (מלאכי ג׳:ג׳): מַגִּישֵׁי מִנְחָה בִּצְדָקָה.
כִּי עַל־כֵּן רָאִיתִי פָנֶיךָ כִּרְאוֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים, הַיְנוּ כְּמוֹ רְאוֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת (דברים ט״ז:ט״ז): שָׁלוֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה יֵרָאֶה כָל זְכוּרְךָ אֶת פְּנֵי ה', דְּהַיְנוּ יָמִים טוֹבִים, שֶׁעַל יָדָם נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, (וְעִקָּר הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן עַל־יְדֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים הוּא עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל), כְּמוֹ־כֵן יִהְיֶה נַעֲשֶׂה אֶצְלוֹ רָצוֹן עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה, וְזֶהוּ: וַתִּרְצֵנִי, כַּנַּ"ל. (כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַמִּנְחָה וְהַצְּדָקָה שֶׁנָּתַן לְעֵשָׂו הִיא בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה מַמָּשׁ, בְּחִינַת: וְנוֹגְשַׂיִךְ צְדָקָה, נִמְצָא שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן הָעֶלְיוֹן, שֶׁהוּא נִתְגַּלֶּה עַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל, וּמִשָּׁם מִשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל הָרָצוֹן לְמַטָּה וְנַעֲשָׂה רָצוֹן גַּם בְּעֵשָׂו):
יא וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מִלְחֶמֶת דָּוִד וְגָלְיַת (שמואל א י"ז),
כִּי גָּלְיַת הָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַרְאוֹת בְּחָכְמָתוֹ, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, כִּי הָיָה יוֹנֵק מִמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, בִּבְחִינַת: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו, שֶׁתָּלָה כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת בְּחִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל כֵּן חֵרֵף מַעַרְכוֹת אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים (שם), כִּי הָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַרְאוֹת, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל־יְדֵי מַעֲרֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּפִי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
וְדָוִד הָיָה אִישׁ חַיִל, וְעָמַד כְּנֶגְדּוֹ וְאָמַר, שֶׁכְּבָר הָיָה לוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה כָּזוֹ:
וּבָא הָאֲרִי וְהַדּוֹב – דְּהַיְנוּ חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת הַנַּ"ל הַדּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים, שֶׁהֵם חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע כַּנַּ"ל.
וְנָשָׂא זֶה מֵהָעֵדֶר – הַיְנוּ מֵהֶעְדֵר הַגָּמוּר, שֶׁנָּשָׂא וְסִלֵּק זֹאת מֵהֶעְדֵּר הַגָּמוּר, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁכָּפַר בָּזֶה, שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּרָא הַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ אַחַר הֶעְדֵּר הַגָּמוּר, רַק שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
וְיָצָאתִי אַחֲרָיו וְהִכִּתִיו – הַיְנוּ שֶׁהָיִיתִי מִתְגַּבֵּר עָלָיו וְהִכְנַעְתִּי וְהִשְׁפַּלְתִּי אוֹתוֹ.
וַיָּקָם עָלַי – הַיְנוּ שֶׁאַחַר כָּךְ הִתְגַּבֵּר עוֹד כְּנֶגְדִּי.
וְהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ – הַיְנוּ שֶׁהֵבַנְתִּי, שֶׁכָּל כֹּחוֹ וִינִיקָתוֹ עַל־יְדֵי מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן הֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ, שֶׁהֶחֱזַקְתִּי וְתָפַסְתִּי שָׁם בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ יְנִיקָתוֹ בְּזִקְנֵי הַדּוֹר.
וְהִכִּתִיו וַהֲמִיתִּיו – שֶׁהִכְנַעְתִּי וְהִשְׁפַּלְתִּי אֶת חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ, בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ יְנִיקָתָם כַּנַּ"ל.
וְעַל כֵּן: וְהָיָה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי כְּאֶחָד מֵהֶם – כִּי הוּא גַּם כֵּן בְּחִינָה זוֹ מַמָּשׁ, שֶׁכָּל כֹּחוֹ מִמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, בְּחִינַת: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן גַּם הוּא כְּמוֹתָם, וְאוּכַל לְהַכְנִיעוֹ וּלְהַפִּילוֹ.
וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם): וַתִּטְבַּע הָאֶבֶן בְּמִצְחוֹ – הַיְנוּ בְּמֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהִכְנִיעוֹ עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת (משלי י״א:א׳): אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ, בְּחִינַת רָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת שֶׁהִזְהִיר יִשַׁי אֶת דָּוִד בְּלֶכְתּוֹ לְשָׁם: וְאֶת עֲרֻבָּתָם תִּקָּח. זֶה בְּחִינַת עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה. כִּי עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה – בִּבְחִינַת עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה הוּא מוֹצִיא הַחִיּוּת שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר כַּנַּ"ל:
וְדַע, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמַּכְנִיעִין וְסוֹתְרִין דֵּעוֹת חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע וּמַשְׁפִּילִין אוֹתָם, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אִם אֵין הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן חָזָק וְתַקִּיף, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁעֲדַיִן יֵשׁ סָפֵק בָּרָצוֹן, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְבֹרָר בְּבֵרוּר חָזָק שֶׁמִּתְנַהֵג רַק עַל פִּי הָרָצוֹן, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁחָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע נִכְנַעַת, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן מֵאַחַר שֶׁהָרָצוֹן אֵינוֹ חָזָק, עֲדַיִן יֵשׁ יְכֹלֶת, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לְמֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁיַּחֲזֹר וְיִתְעוֹרֵר וְיִתְגַּבֵּר כְּבַתְּחִלָּה, וְגַם עַל זֶה צְרִיכִין כֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה, כִּי הַצְּדָקָה מוֹעֶלֶת תָּמִיד וְעוֹמֶדֶת תָּמִיד כְּנֶגֶד מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל:
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: רַב יְהוּדָא הִנְדּוּאָה מִשְׁתָּעֵי: זִמְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה אָזְלֵינָא בִּסְפִינְתָּא וְחָזֵינָא הַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא דְּהָדַר לֵהּ תַּנִּינָא, וְנָחֵת בַּר אָמוֹרַאי לַאֲתוּיֵהּ. אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא, קָא בָּעֵי בָּלַע לִסְפִינְתָּא. אֲתָא צִפָּרָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁה. אִתְהֲפִכוּ מַיָּא וַהֲווֹ דְּמָא אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא חַבְרֵהּ, שְׁקַלֵהּ וְתָלְיָא לָהּ וְאַחְיֵהּ. הָדַר אָתֵי, קָא בָּעֵי בָּלְעָה לִסְפִינְתָּא. הָדַר אָתֵי צִפָּרָא (פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא), פְּסַקָה לְרֵישֵׁהּ, שְׁקַלֵהּ לְהַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא, שַׁדְיֵהּ לִסְפִינְתָּא. הֲוָה צִפָּרָא מְלִיחֵי בַּהֲדָן, אוֹתְבִינְהוּ עֲלַיְהוּ, שְׁקַלוּהוּ וּפְרַחוּ לְהוּ בַּהֲדֵהּ: (ב"ב עד:)
זִמְנָא חֲדָא אָזְלֵינָא בִּסְפִינְתָּא – זֶה בְּחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁשָּׁם קְבוּרַת מֹשֶׁה, שֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת סְפִינְתָּא, בְּחִינַת (דברים ל״ג:כ״א): כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן.
וְחָזֵינָא הַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא דְּהָדַר לֵהּ תַּנִּינָא – הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ, בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן הַנַּ"ל.
דְּהָדַר לֵהּ תַּנִּינָא – זֶה מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁמְּסַבֵּב וּמִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
וְנָחֵת בַּר אָמוֹרַאי לַאֲתוּיֵהּ – הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת הֶחָכָם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה, בְּחִינַת (משלי ז׳:ד׳): אֱמֹר לַחָכְמָה אֲחוֹתִי אָתְּ, שֶׁהֶחָכָם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה רָצָה לְהִתְגַּבֵּר וּלְהַעֲלוֹת הָרָצוֹן, לְקַשְׁרוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא קָא בָּעֵי בָּלַע לִסְפִינְתָּא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁבָּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, וְרָצָה לִבְלֹעַ הַסְּפִינָה, בְּחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, בְּחִינַת: כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן, כִּי מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ רָצָה לְהִתְגַּבֵּר גַּם בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, לְהַטִּיל פְּגָם וּכְפִירָה שָׁם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כַּנַּ"ל.
אֲתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא – הַיְנוּ עוֹרֵב,
פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ. פֵּרוּשׁ, שֶׁבָּא בְּחִינַת עוֹרֵב, דְּהַיְנוּ צְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה – בִּבְחִינַת עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי וְכוּ'; לַהֲפֹךְ אַכְזָרִיּוּת לְרַחֲמָנוּת, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה מִתְגַּבְּרִים עַל מֵצַּח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי מִנֵּהּ וּבֵהּ אַבָּא לֵיזִיל בֵּהּ נַרְגָּא כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאֲתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, דְּהַיְנוּ עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, וּפְסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ, שֶׁחָתַךְ רֹאשׁ הַנָּחָשׁ בְּחִינוֹת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהִכְנִיעוֹ וַהֲרָגוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל.
אִתְהֲפִכוּ מַיָּא וַהֲווֹ דְּמָא – הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה שֶׁהִכְנִיעַ מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִכְנְעוּ וְנָפְלוּ קוֹל שַׁאֲגַת הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, הַדּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים רַבִּים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ כַּנַּ"ל, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, וַאֲזַי: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ אִתְהֲפִכוּ מַיָּא – הַיְנוּ שַׁאֲגַת הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, בְּחִינַת (איוב ג׳:כ״ד): יִתְּכוּ כַמַּיִם שַׁאֲגֹתָי. וַהֲווֹ דְּמָא – זֶה בְּחִינַת: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם, פְּעָמָיו יִרְחַץ בְּדַם הָרָשָׁע כַּנַּ"ל. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַכְנָעַת קוֹל שַׁאֲגַת הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם וְכוּ', כִּי נִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב כַּנַּ"ל.
אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא חַבְרֵהּ, שְׁקַלֵהּ וְתָלְיָא לֵהּ וְאַחְיֵהּ – שֶׁבָּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, וּשְׁקַלֵהּ לָאֶבֶן טוֹב הַנַּ"ל, שֶׁנָּטַל אֶת הָאֶבֶן טוֹב, בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ. וְתָלְיָא לֵהּ, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהִטִּיל בּוֹ סָפֵק, וְזֶהוּ: וְתָלְיָא לֵהּ, כְּמוֹ דָּבָר הַתּוֹלֶה בְּסָפֵק, שֶׁהִטִּיל סָפֵק בָּרָצוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אֶבֶן טוֹב הַנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה וְאַחְיֵהּ – שֶׁחָזַר וְחָיָה חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, כִּי חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע חָזְרָה וְנִתְגַּבְּרָה עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה סָפֵק בְּרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ: הָדַר אָתֵי קָא בָּעֵי בָּלְעָה לִסְפִינְתָּא – שֶׁחָזַר וּבָא הַתַּנִּין מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ לִבְלֹעַ הַסְּפִינָה, בְּחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כַּנַּ"ל.
הָדַר אָתֵי צִפָּרָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ – הַיְנוּ שֶׁחָזַר וּבָא הָעוֹרֵב בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל, וּפְסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ, שֶׁהָרַג אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ וְהִכְנִיעוֹ, כִּי תָּמִיד מַכְנִיעִין אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל.
וּשְׁקַלֵהּ לְהַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא וְשַׁדְיֵהּ לִסְפִינְתָּא – כִּי אַחַר שֶׁהִכְנִיעַ אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, לְגַמְרֵי, אֲזַי נָטַל אֶת הָאֶבֶן טוֹב, בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן, בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ, וְשַׁדְיֵהּ לִסְפִינְתָּא – שֶׁהִשְׁלִיכוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁשָּׁם מְקַשְּׁרִין כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
הֲוָה צִפֳּרֵי מְלִיחֵי בַּהֲדָן, אוֹתְבִינְהוּ עֲלַיהוּ, שְׁקַלוּהוּ וּפְרַחוּ לְהוּ, פֵּרוּשׁ, שֶׁהָיָה עִמָּנוּ צִפֳּרֵי מְלִיחֵי, הַיְנוּ נַפְשׁוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ שֶׁטָּעוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם, אַחֲרֵי חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, שֶׁדּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים רַבִּים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ: צִפֳּרֵי מְלִיחֵי, כִּי הֵם כַּצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחֻזוֹת בַּפָּח (קהלת ט׳:י״ב). וְזֶהוּ מְלִיחֵי – לְשׁוֹן מְמֻלָּח, הַיְנוּ מְבֻלְבָּל, כִּי גַּם הֵם נִתְבַּלְבְּלוּ עַל־יְדֵי חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת הַנַּ"ל, וְטָעוּ גַּם כֵּן אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְעַכְשָׁו פָּרְחוּ לְהוּ וְיָצְאוּ לְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי הָאֶבֶן טוֹב הַנַּ"ל, עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה עַתָּה כַּנַּ"ל.
וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, אֲזַי נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה מְקַבְּלִין הַחֶסֶד כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה גַּם כֵּן בְּחִינַת פָּרְחוּ, בְּחִינַת: וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן לְבֵית לֵוִי, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת הַשְׁפָּעַת הַחֶסֶד עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה, שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל:
יב וְזֶה בְּחִינַת רְפוּאוֹת, כִּי הוּא רְפוּאָה לְכָל הַמַּכּוֹת, כִּי כָל בְּחִינוֹת אֵלּוּ הֵם בְּחִינַת רְפוּאוֹת.
צְדָקָה הִיא רְפוּאָה, בִּבְחִינַת (מלאכי ג׳:כ׳): צְדָקָה מַרְפֵּא בִּכְנָפֶיהָ. זָקֵן – זֶה קָנָה חָכְמָה (קדושין לב), הוּא בְּחִינַת רְפוּאָה, בִּבְחִינַת (משלי י״ב:י״ח): לְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּא. רָצוֹן הוּא בְּחִינַת רְפוּאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו ס״א:א׳): ה' שְׁלָחַנִי לַחֲבֹשׁ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי לֵב, לִקְרֹא שְׁנַת רָצוֹן. מְלֶאכֶת מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית הוּא רְפוּאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ד"ה ב כד): וַתַּעַל אֲרוּכָה לַמְּלָאכָה בְּיָדָם.
כִּי רְפוּאוֹת הַמַּכָּה הִיא עַל־יְדֵי כַּמָּה בְּחִינוֹת. שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה צְרִיכִין שֶׁיֻּפְתַּח פִּי הַמַּכָּה, אַחַר כָּךְ צָרִיךְ כֹּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁךְ, שֶׁיִּמְשֹׁךְ וְיוֹצִיא הַלֵּחָה וְהַדָּמִים הַמְקֻלְקָלִים מִתּוֹךְ הַמַּכָּה, אַחַר־כָּךְ צְרִיכִין לְהָדִיחַ כָּל הַדָּמִים, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה בָּהֶם שׁוּם קִלְקוּל וַעֲכִירוּת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ הַדָּמִים לֵילֵךְ וּלְסַבֵּב כָּל סֵדֶר סִבּוּבָם כְּסֵדֶר בְּלִי שׁוּם עִכּוּב. כִּי כְּשֶׁהַדָּמִים הוֹלְכִים וּמְסַבְּבִים בַּגּוּף כְּדַרְכָּם, כְּשֶׁבָּאִים לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ קִלְקוּל, דְּהַיְנוּ בִּמְקוֹם הַמַּכָּה, נִתְעַכְּבִים שָׁם, וְשָׁם נִתְעַכֵּב וְנִמְשָׁךְ כָּל עֲכִירוּת וְקִלְקוּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּהַדָּמִים, כִּי כֵן הַדֶּרֶךְ – שֶׁבַּמָּקוֹם הַמְּקֻלְקָל שָׁם נִתְעַכֵּב כָּל מִינֵי עֲכִירוּת וְקִלְקוּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּהַדָּמִים, וַאֲזַי נִתְעַכְּבִים שָׁם הַדָּמִים, וְאֵין יְכוֹלִים לְסַבֵּב סִבּוּבָם כְּסֵדֶר הִלּוּכָם וּמְרוּצָתָם, כִּי יֵשׁ לְהַדָּמִים סֵדֶר הַהִלּוּךְ, שֶׁהוֹלְכִים וּמְסַבְּבִים הַגּוּף כָּךְ וְכָךְ פְּעָמִים בְּשָׁעָה, וְכַיּוֹצֵא, וּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם עֲכִירוּת, נִתְעַכְּבִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַמְּקֻלְקָל כַּנַּ"ל, וְאֵינָם יְכוֹלִים לְסַבֵּב כַּסֵּדֶר, עַל־כֵּן צְרִיכִין לַהֲדִיחָם וּלְכַבְּסָם. אַחַר כָּךְ צְרִיכִים לִסְגֹּר פִּי הַמַּכָּה.
וְכָל אֵלּוּ בְּחִינוֹת רְפוּאוֹת נַעֲשִׂים עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל,
כִּי צְדָקָה הִיא בְּחִינַת פְּתִיחַת פִּי הַמַּכָּה, בִּבְחִינַת: פָּתוֹחַ תִּפְתַּח.
חָכְמָה הִיא בְּחִינַת כֹּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁךְ, בִּבְחִינַת (איוב כ״ח:י״ח): וּמֶשֶׁךְ חָכְמָה מִפְּנִינִים – מִלִּפְנַי וְלִּפְנִים (וּכְמוֹ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ירושלמי שבת פ' המצניע) עַל פָּסוּק: יְקָרָה הִיא מִפְּנִינִים – מִלִּפְנַי וְלִפְנִים, עַיֵּן שָׁם), שֶׁבְּחִינַת חָכְמָה מוֹשֶׁכֶת וּמוֹצִיאָה הַקִּלְקוּל מִלִּפְנַי וְלִפְנִים, מִכָּל מְקוֹמוֹת הַפְּנִימִיִּים.
רֶגֶל שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת הֲדָחַת וְכִבּוּס הַדָּמִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ הַדָּמִים לְסַבֵּב סִבּוּבָם כַּסֵּדֶר. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת רֶגֶל, בְּחִינַת (מלכים־א א): עֵין רוֹגֵל – עֵין כּוֹבֵס, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י שָׁם. הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל יְדֵי רֶגֶל וְיוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת הֲדָחַת וְכִבּוּס הַדָּמִים כַּנַּ"ל, וַאֲזַי יְכוֹלִים הַדָּמִים לְסַבֵּב כַּסֵּדֶר. וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָא הָרֶגֶל חַג – לְשׁוֹן סִבּוּב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיהו מ׳:כ״ב): הַיֹּשֵׁב עַל חוּג הָאָרֶץ – עַל סִבּוּב הָאָרֶץ, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הֲדָחַת וְכִבּוּס הַדָּמִים, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה הֵם מְסַבְּבִים כַּסֵּדֶר כַּנַּ"ל.
מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית – דְּהַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה,
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינוֹת אֵלּוּ הַנַּ"ל זוֹכִין לְהַשְׁפָּעַת הַחֶסֶד, שֶׁיִּתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, בְּחִינַת: וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינָה זוֹ, בְּחִינַת כֹּהֵן, חֶסֶד – עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִסְגָּר פִּי הַמַּכָּה, בִּבְחִינַת (ויקרא י״ג:ד׳): וְהִסְגִּיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַנֶּגַע; שֶׁעַל יְדֵי בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, בְּחִינַת כֹּהֵן, נִסְגָּר הַמַּכָּה לְגַמְרֵי וְנִתְרַפֵּא בִּשְׁלֵמוּת:
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ:
וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים – זֶה בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלָה, בְּחִינַת צָרָה כְּמַבְכִּירָה. וְאֵיזֶהוּ הַתְחָלָה,
בְּהַקְרִיבְכֶם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה' – הַיְנוּ הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה, כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין מֵחָדָשׁ לִתֵּן צְדָקָה. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה, בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה חֲדָשָׁה, בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה. כִּי מִנְחָה בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: מַגִּישֵׁי מִנְחָה בִּצְדָקָה. וְעַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה נִתְתַּקֵּן בְּחִינַת זָקֵן כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶהוּ:
בְּשָׁבֻעֹתֵיכֶם – זֶה בְּחִינַת זָקֵן, כִּי בְּסִינַי נִדְמָה לָהֶם כְּזָקֵן (כשפירש"י בפרשת אנכי), כִּי עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה, נִתְתַּקֵּן בְּחִינַת זָקֵן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת שָׁבוּעוֹת כַּנַּ"ל, וַאֲזַי נִתְבַּטֵּל יְנִיקָתוֹ שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר שֶׁאֵינָם כְּתִקּוּנוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמְּגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ:
מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם – הַיְנוּ קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ כַּנַּ"ל, שֶׁהוּא נִשְׁמַע עַתָּה עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה, שֶׁמַּכְנִיעַ אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, כַּנַּ"ל. וַאֲזַי עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, כָּל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ –
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה נִשְׁפָּע חֶסֶד, וַאֲזַי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, בִּבְחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה, וַאֲזַי: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם וְכוּ', וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ, כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ:
כָּל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ – כִּי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה וְשׁוּם עֵסֶק, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, בְּחִינַת: וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ, כַּנַּ"ל:
יֵשׁ חִלּוּק בֵּין הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת וּבֵין הַמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, כִּי חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת הֵם הַחֲכָמִים שֶׁאוֹחֲזִים בְּחָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע לַהֲנָּאָתָם, כִּי יֵשׁ לָהֶם הֲנָאָה מִזֶּה, כְּדֵי לְהַחֲזִיק דַּעַת וָשֶׁקֶר שֶׁלָּהֶם וְכַיּוֹצֵא. אֲבָל הֶחָכָם שֶׁהוּא בִּבְחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, הוּא רָשָׁע וְכוֹפֵר בְּלִי שׁוּם הֲנָאָה, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם הֲנָאָה מֵחָכְמָתוֹ, רַק הוּא (כְּמוֹ רָשָׁע יָרֵא, שֶׁהוּא) רָשָׁע וְכוֹפֵר בְּלִי שׁוּם הֲנָאָה כַּנַּ"ל:
כְּלַל הַמַּאֲמָר כֻּלּוֹ אֶחָד, וְכֻלּוֹ קָשׁוּר זֶה בָּזֶה, שֶׁהַצְּדָקָה הִיא קָשָׁה מְאֹד בַּהַתְחָלָה, אֲבָל הַתּוֹעֶלֶת שֶׁל הַצְּדָקָה גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה וְעֵסֶק, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מוֹצִיאִין יְנִיקַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁמָע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמְּגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן, וַאֲזַי נִתְגַלֶּה יִרְאָה, כִּי עִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה – עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, וְעַל יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַשְׁפָּעַת הַחֶסֶד, כִּי בְּלֹא הַכְּלִי וְהַצִּנּוֹר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְקַבֵּל אֶת הַחֶסֶד, רַק עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה שֶׁהוּא צִנּוֹר וּכְלִי, עַל יָדָהּ מְקַבְּלִין אֶת הַחֶסֶד, וַאֲזַי מִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, וְאָז אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם וְכוּ', 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 four: Uv'yom habikurim.
Charity begins by breaking your own cruelty and turning it into compassion, like the ravens that fed Eliyahu. That beginning is the hardest of all.
It weakens the serpent's brow, the root of the view that all is nature, which feeds on days that passed without growth. Charity uproots it.
Then the festival's holy call is heard: everything runs by Hashem's will.
The will revealed brings awe, and awe is the vessel through which Hashem's kindness flows, healing and sustaining the world.
Our own reflection: give a little more than is easy, and let each day add light.
Explainer
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah four: Uv'yom habikurim, on the day of the first fruits. In about nine minutes we will walk through the whole Torah: how one act of charity sets off a chain that reaches all the way to Shavuos, to healing, and to a world that stands on Hashem's kindness.
Rebbe Nachman opens with Eliyahu the prophet, hiding by the brook, fed by ravens. The raven is cruel by nature, yet Hashem turned it to compassion to feed the prophet. That, says the Rebbe, is the real service of charity: not giving because you happen to be soft-hearted, since some animals are kind by nature too, but breaking the cruelty in yourself and turning it into compassion.
Every beginning in serving Hashem is hard. Before any good deed there are sighs, groans and struggles, and the beginning is hardest of all. Rebbe Nachman compares it to a birth: good deeds are the true offspring of the tzaddikim, and every birth comes with pain, above all the first.
And charity is always a beginning. 'You shall surely open your hand': charity opens a door in every kind of service and keeps widening it. It is the beginning of all beginnings, and that is exactly why its own beginning is so heavy.
Why is it worth it? Because the body's needs are endless. Food, clothing and a home can swallow a whole life. Our work is not worthless: through honest work a person awakens the pattern of Creation above. The thirty-nine labors are the labors that built the Mishkan, and the Mishkan mirrors both Creation and the human body. Ordinary work, done properly, builds a kind of Mishkan.
But Hashem created the whole world from nothing, with no deed of ours at all: 'the world is built on kindness.' If He can create by kindness alone, He can sustain the world by kindness alone. Then, says the prophet, strangers will tend our flocks, and we will be called the kohanim of Hashem. We work only because that kindness is held back.
Yet kindness cannot be received all at once; too much good would overwhelm us. It needs a vessel, a channel, and that vessel is awe of Heaven. Rebbe Nachman links awe to the regel, the foot, since Koheles ends with awe: 'the end of the matter… fear Elokim.'
And awe comes from one thing: the revelation of Hashem's will. If the world is a machine running by the compulsion of nature, there is no reward and punishment, and nothing to be in awe of. When we see that everything is created and sustained by His will at every moment, awe follows.
Who reveals the will? The festivals. Each one is a 'holy calling', proclaiming that all is by Hashem's will. On Pesach, the Exodus; on Shavuos, the giving of the Torah; on Sukkos, the Clouds of Glory: each a miracle against nature. That is why the festivals are called regalim, from regel, the foot, which is awe.
The more a person hears the festival's call, the more joy he has on Yom Tov. For if everything is Hashem's will, then every hardship of the long exile will be answered, and redemption will come. 'There is fruit for the righteous; there is Elokim judging on the earth.'
But not everyone hears it. There are 'wild beasts', scholars of nature, who explain even the great miracles as nature, and lead many astray. When their roar grows strong, it drowns out the festival's call, even inside the festival itself, and the joy fades. Tehillim says: 'Your foes roared in the midst of Your appointed place.'
Who can silence them? A great sage of holiness, the 'brow of will', like the golden plate on the Kohen Gadol's forehead, 'for ratzon'. He binds every desire in the world back to the root of will, where Moshe Rabbeinu passed away, and so refutes the scholars of nature.
Against him stands the serpent's brow, the very root of the wisdom of nature. Golyas wore it: 'a copper greave upon his legs.' Regel also means cause. Yaakov saw Hashem behind every cause; Golyas hung every cause on nature. And the serpent's brow can creep even into a holy mind, one subtle question after another.
Where does it draw its strength? From the elders of the generation who are not as they should be. A true elder adds light, holiness and understanding with every new day, so his days are long days. When days pass without growth, they are 'short of days, and full of anger', and the serpent's brow feeds on them.
And here the circle closes. Charity repairs those fallen days: 'send your bread upon the waters, for in the multitude of days you will find it.' Breaking your own cruelty turns harshness into will, like an axe whose handle is cut from the forest it fells. The serpent's brow loses its food, the beasts fall silent, the festival's call is heard, awe returns, and kindness flows.
That is why Yaakov sent Esav a gift. Rebbe Nachman calls it charity. And Yaakov said, 'I have seen your face like seeing the face of Elokim, and you were pleased with me': like the festivals, when we come to be seen before Hashem, charity revealed the will above, and favor flowed down, even into Esav.
David against Golyas follows the same map. The lion and the bear that David fought are the beasts. They kept rising, until he seized them by the beard, the elders, the root of their strength. And the stone sank into Golyas' forehead: 'a perfect stone is His will' against the serpent's brow. Yishai's word to David, arubasam, hints at the raven, charity.
Then a tale of the sea from the Gemara. Sailors see a precious stone with a sea-serpent wrapped around it. A bird cuts off the serpent's head; another serpent revives it; the bird returns, cuts it off again, and throws the stone into the ship. The ship is the root of will, the stone is His will, the serpent is the wisdom of nature, revived by doubt, and the bird is the raven, charity, needed again and again. The confused souls, the 'salted birds', then fly free.
Every link in the chain is also a cure. Charity opens the wound. Wisdom draws out what is damaged from within. The festival washes the blood so it can flow in its circuit, which is why a festival is called chag, a circle. And kindness, the kohen, closes the wound and heals it completely.
And now the opening verse reads like a summary. 'The day of the first fruits' is a beginning: a new charity, 'a new offering'. 'On your Shavuos' hints at the elder, since at Sinai Hashem appeared like an elder full of mercy. 'A holy calling' is the festival's voice, heard again. And 'you shall do no work of labor': the world stands on Hashem's kindness.
As Rebbe Nachman says at the end, the whole teaching is one. Charity is hard at the start, but it removes the serpent's food, lets the festival's call be heard, reveals awe, and opens the channel of kindness, until the world stands on that kindness alone.
Our own reflection: when giving feels hard, that is the beginning of the real service. Let each day add a little light, and on Yom Tov, listen for the call: it is all His will.
Full shiur
— Part 1: The Ravens, and the Hardest Beginning —
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah four: Uv'yom habikurim, on the day of the first fruits. A shiur in ten parts. Part one: the ravens, and why every beginning is hard.
A word on method. Every card carries a label. Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah four. Grey is a verse or a teaching of the Sages that he quotes. Green is our own explanation, not a quotation. The Hebrew on screen is the public-domain text from Sefaria, and the English is our own paraphrase, kept close to the Hebrew.
Here is the map. Sections one to three: charity, which begins by breaking a person's own cruelty, why every beginning is so hard, and a world that stands on Hashem's kindness. Sections four to six: awe of Heaven, the vessel that receives that kindness, and the festivals that reveal that everything runs by Hashem's will. Sections seven to ten: the serpent's brow, the root of the wisdom that says everything is nature, how it feeds on the elders of the generation, and how charity uproots it. Section eleven: David and Goliath, and a strange story of sailors and a precious stone. And sections twelve to fifteen: how the festivals bring healing, the verse about Shavuos, and how the whole Torah is one.
The Torah opens with a verse from Bamidbar, chapter twenty eight, about Shavuos. And on the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new meal-offering to Hashem on your festival of Shavuos, it shall be a holy calling for you; you shall do no work of labor.
Rebbe Nachman begins with Eliyahu the prophet, fed by ravens by the brook. 'And I have commanded the ravens to feed you.' This is the aspect of charity. For at the start, when a person begins to give charity, he must break his own cruelty and turn it into compassion; this is the main labor of charity. One who is compassionate by nature and gives because of that natural compassion is not doing service, for some animals too are compassionate by nature. The main service is to break the cruelty and turn it into compassion.
Why the ravens? This is 'I have commanded the ravens to feed you': the raven is cruel by nature, and it was turned to compassion to feed Eliyahu. So it must be with charity. Every generous-hearted person, everyone who gives, must first pass along this path, 'the ravens': first he must break the cruelty he has at the start and turn it into compassion, to give charity.
Our explanation. Rebbe Nachman is not saying that kind people are worse. He is saying that real service of Hashem begins where nature ends. A soft heart that gives easily is a gift from Hashem. But the work of charity is to take the part of us that holds back, the raven in us, and turn it to feed others. Every giver passes through that gate at the beginning.
Section two. Now he widens the point to every beginning. This, the beginning of charity, is very hard and heavy. For in every kind of service and every return to Hashem, whenever one wants to do some act of serving Hashem, how many cries of 'oy', how many groans, how many bendings and swayings, the unusual movements of those who fear Hashem in their service, one must go through before doing the deed. Above all at the start, when it is hardest, for all beginnings are hard; many cries and groans come before any beginning.
He gives a reason. Even after the beginning, the service of Hashem does not come easily; it takes much effort and many movements before one merits to do a deed that has beauty. But the beginning is hardest. For the main offspring of the tzaddikim are good deeds; so the mitzvos, the good deeds and all service of Hashem are like a birth, and before a birth there are many cries and pains.
And especially the first time. Especially a first birth, which is hardest of all, as it says, 'distress as of one bearing her first child.' This is the aspect of the beginning: all beginnings are hard.
Why does charity belong to beginnings? Charity is always a beginning, as in 'you shall surely open your hand.' Even where there is already an opening and a beginning, charity opens it further and widens it more. For in every path of serving Hashem, when one wants to enter it, one must open a door there to come in; this is why all beginnings are hard, because at the start one must break through and open a new door.
And here is the gift of charity. The special power of charity is to widen and open the door more and more. When one makes some opening in any service and gives charity, the charity opens and widens that door further, for charity is the beginning of all beginnings: it opens and widens every door.
And so we come back to the ravens. And charity itself has a beginning: when one first begins to give, that is 'I have commanded the ravens.' So the beginning of charity is very hard and heavy, for it is the beginning of all beginnings.
Our summary of the first two sections. Charity begins by turning one's own cruelty into compassion, like the ravens that fed Eliyahu. Every beginning in serving Hashem is hard, as hard as a birth. And charity is the beginning of all beginnings: it opens a door in every kind of service and keeps widening it. That is exactly why its own beginning is the hardest of all. In the next part we will see what charity achieves.
— Part 2: Work, the Mishkan, and a World Built on Kindness —
Part two: work in this world, the Mishkan, and a world built on kindness.
Section three. Why is the hard beginning worth it? But the benefit of charity is very, very great, for charity always helps. The needs of the body are very many; even the bare necessities, food and drink, clothing and a home, are many and great, so that a person can spend his days and years on the necessities alone, and they hold a person back greatly from serving the Creator.
But he adds a surprising point about our work. Yet these too are themselves a service of the Creator, for they are an awakening from below; through a deed below, there is an awakening above. Through every business and craft that people do, the pattern of that same craft is awakened above, in the work of Creation; it brings life and light to the pattern of that craft in the work of Creation above, which corresponds to the business and craft the person does below, in this world.
How so? For through the business and crafts people do, a Mishkan is made. All crafts are included in the thirty-nine main categories of labor; they are called 'fathers', which implies there are 'offspring'. Every kind of work and business people do is included in the thirty-nine fathers, and the rest are their offspring.
He brings the Gemara in Shabbos and the Tikkunei Zohar. And the thirty-nine labors correspond to the work of the Mishkan, as our Sages said: the main labors are forty less one, corresponding to the work of the Mishkan. The Mishkan's form is like the form of Creation, and the body's form is like the Mishkan's. So when a person does his work and business properly, as he should, a Mishkan is made, giving life and light to the work of Creation, the world's existence. So this too is a service of the Creator.
Our explanation. The thirty-nine kinds of labor forbidden on Shabbos are the very labors that built the Mishkan. And the Mishkan, say the Tikkunei Zohar, mirrors Creation, while the human body mirrors the Mishkan. So when a person does his daily work honestly and properly, he is, in a hidden way, building a Mishkan, and giving life to the world. Ordinary work is not outside the service of Hashem.
And yet there is a higher way. Even so, if Hashem would pour His kindness upon us, we would need none of this. For see how Hashem created the whole world after complete nothingness, when nothing yet existed to bring about an awakening from below, and still He created such worlds. All was in His kindness, with no awakening from below at all, as in 'the world is built on kindness.'
He draws the conclusion. Since Hashem could create such worlds with no awakening from below, only by His kindness, surely He can give life to the worlds and sustain them only by His kindness. Then we would not need to do any business or work at all; even the necessities would be done by others,
as the prophet Yeshayahu says, as it is written, 'Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks, and foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers, and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' The kohanim, precisely: the aspect of kindness, 'the world is built on kindness'. They will be called kohanim of Hashem, needing to do no work, for the world stands by His kindness. But when the kindness is held back, Heaven forbid, and not poured upon us, we must work for the sake of the awakening from below.
He reads a verse from Tehillim, sixty two. This is 'And Yours, Hashem, is kindness, for You repay each man according to his deed.' When the kindness is held back with Hashem, that is 'Yours, Hashem, is kindness': it stays with Him and He does not pour it upon us. Then 'You repay each man according to his deed': according to the deeds and work a person does, so Hashem repays.
And the other reading of the same verse: For we must work precisely because the kindness is held back with Him and not poured on us. But if He poured His kindness on us, we would not need to work at all, and then 'You repay each man according to his deed' would be fulfilled as if he had worked, for when His kindness flows there is no need to work at all.
Our summary of section three. Our daily work is real service: it awakens the pattern of Creation above and builds a kind of Mishkan. But Hashem created the whole world from nothing, with no deed of ours, only by kindness, and He can sustain it the same way. When His kindness flows, we are like kohanim: others tend the flocks, and we are free to serve. When kindness is held back, we must work. Charity is the key that opens this kindness, and the coming sections show how.
— Part 3: Awe, the Vessel, and the Festivals —
Part three: awe of Heaven, the vessel for kindness, and the festivals that reveal Hashem's will.
Section four. If kindness is the goal, why not receive it all at once? But the kindness must be received in stages, for one cannot receive a great flood of kindness; we would be nullified out of existence by too much kindness, for people cannot bear too much good. So one must make a vessel and a channel through which to receive the kindness.
And the vessel is awe. This is made through awe, for through awe an engraving is cut, a channel for receiving the kindness, as in 'the lawgiver from between his feet.' The foot, regel, is the aspect of awe, which is the aspect of the end, as it is written at the end of Koheles: 'The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear Elokim.' So through awe, the aspect of the foot, an engraving and channel is made to receive the kindness within it.
Our explanation. Kindness is like water: without a channel it floods or runs away. Awe of Heaven is the engraved channel that lets kindness reach us in measure. Rebbe Nachman connects awe to the foot, regel, because Koheles ends with awe: the foot is the end of the body, and awe is 'the end of the matter.' Keep the word regel in mind: it will soon mean the festivals.
He brings the blossoming staff of Aharon. This is 'Behold, the staff of Aharon of the house of Levi had blossomed.' Kindness, the aspect of Aharon, must be received through a vessel, which is awe, the side of Levi. And this is 'with the mighty deeds of the salvation of His right hand.'
Section five. And where does awe come from? The main source of awe is the revelation of Hashem's will, as in 'He does the will of those who fear Him.' Through the revelation of the will, awe is made: when it is revealed that everything is conducted by His will, for He created everything by His will with no compulsion at all,
and gives life to and sustains everything by His will, and there is no natural compulsion at all, then awe is made. For then there is reward and punishment, and it makes sense to stand in awe before Him, as our Sages said on 'and Yaakov was very afraid': he said, perhaps sin will cause harm.
And the opposite. But when the will is not revealed, and people think there is a compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid, as if everything runs by nature, then there is no room for awe at all, for there is no reward and punishment, since everything runs only by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid. So the main source of awe is the revelation of the will.
Our explanation. Two pictures of the world. In one, nature is a machine: things happen because they must, and no one is listening. In the other, everything happens because Hashem wills it, at every moment. Only in the second picture do our deeds matter, with reward and punishment, and only there can a person stand in awe, like Yaakov who feared that a sin might change what had been promised.
Section six. How is the will revealed? The revelation of the will comes through the festivals, for each festival proclaims, calls out and reveals the will, that everything runs only by His will, as in 'a holy calling.' The holy festival calls out and proclaims the will, for on each festival Hashem did awesome signs for us, against nature, by which the will was revealed: that all is by His will, with no compulsion of nature at all.
Pesach. On Pesach, the Exodus from Egypt: He brought us out of Egypt with awesome signs.
Shavuos. On Shavuos, the giving of the Torah: He gave us the Torah with awesome signs.
And Sukkos. On Sukkos, the surrounding Clouds of Glory. So every festival proclaims and calls out the will, as 'a holy calling.' And that is why the festivals are called regel, which is the aspect of awe: through the festival, the revelation of the will, awe is made.
Our summary so far. Hashem's kindness must reach us through a vessel, and that vessel is awe. Awe comes from seeing that the world runs by Hashem's will, not by blind nature. And the festivals, Pesach, Shavuos and Sukkos, each a reminder of miracles against nature, call out that will. That is why they are called regalim: the word for the foot, which is awe. In the next part: why not everyone hears the festival's call.
— Part 4: The Joy of Yom Tov and the Roar of the Beasts —
Part four: the joy of Yom Tov, and the roar of the wild beasts.
We are still in section six. But the voice of the festival's call, which reveals the will, is not always heard, and this shows in the joy of Yom Tov: each person has joy on the festival according to how much he feels and hears the voice of the festival's call, proclaiming the will.
Why does hearing the will bring joy? For when the will is revealed, that everything is by Hashem's will, then we know that all the servitudes and the exile and all the burdens the nations lay upon us, Hashem will repay them for all of it and redeem us from their hand.
But when people think, Heaven forbid, that everything is by the compulsion of nature, there is no room for retribution against them, since everything runs only by the order of nature, Heaven forbid.
He reads a verse from Tehillim, fifty eight. This is 'The righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution; he will wash his steps in the blood of the wicked.' 'His steps', pe'amav, precisely: through the three times, pe'amim, a year, which are the festivals, by which the will is revealed, through this 'the righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution.'
And the end of that psalm. As it is written there: 'And man will say, surely there is fruit for the righteous; surely there is Elokim judging on earth.' That is: it is revealed that there is Elokim who judges by His will, that there is fruit for the righteous, and that He repays the oppressors; and through this 'the righteous one will rejoice'. This is the joy of Yom Tov, through the revelation of the will, revealed on the festival by the voice of its call, as the festival proclaims and calls out the will.
Our explanation. The joy here is not a desire for revenge. It is the relief of knowing that the world is not blind. If everything were only nature, the long exile and all its burdens would mean nothing, and no one would ever answer for them. When the festival reveals that Hashem runs the world by His will, a Jew knows there is a Judge, there is fruit for the righteous, and redemption will come. That knowledge is the joy of Yom Tov.
Why, then, do so many not hear it? But not everyone hears the voice of the festival's call, for there are wild beasts that trample and tear: the scholars of nature, who show with their mistaken wisdom that everything is by nature, as if there were no will at all, Heaven forbid. Even the awesome signs Hashem did for us, they place within the way of nature.
These scholars are the wild beasts; they trample and tear many of our people, who are misled after them and think as they do, as if everything were by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid. When they grow strong, the sound of their roar rises over the voice of the festival's call to the will, and then the joy of Yom Tov ceases, Heaven forbid, for the main joy of the festival comes through the revelation of the will.
He finds them in Tehillim, seventy four. This is 'Your foes roared in the midst of Your appointed place; they set up their own signs as signs.' The roar of the foes, the voice of the wild beasts, the scholars of nature, enters right into the festivals, into the voice of the festival's call that proclaims the will. The roar enters right inside, and they roar that everything is only by the compulsion of nature, following the order of the signs of the heavens.
And this is 'they set up their signs as signs': they make the signs of the heavens into the signs, saying that everything is only by the signs of the heavens, by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid.
Our summary of section six. Every festival is a holy calling, proclaiming that the world runs by Hashem's will. The more a person hears that call, the more joy he has on Yom Tov, because he knows there is justice and redemption. But the wild beasts, the scholars who explain everything as nature, roar over the call, even inside the festival itself, and the joy fades. In the next part we meet their root: the serpent's brow, and the one who can overcome it.
— Part 5: The Brow of Will, the Serpent's Brow, and the Elders —
Part five: the brow of will against the serpent's brow, and the elders of the generation.
Section seven. Who can silence the roar? These wild beasts, the scholars of nature, are subdued through a great sage of holiness, who can bind all the wills to the root of will, where Moshe's passing took place, as is known from the Zohar. He is the aspect of the brow of will, as in 'it shall be on his forehead for favor', l'ratzon. He must bind all the wills in the world to the root of will, and through this he overcomes, subdues and refutes the views of the scholars of nature, who deny the will.
Our explanation. The Kohen Gadol wore a golden plate on his forehead, and the Torah says it was there 'for favor', l'ratzon, the same word as will. The Zohar teaches that Moshe Rabbeinu passed away at a time of supreme will and favor. The great sage of holiness stands at that root: he gathers every longing and desire in the world and binds it back to Hashem's will. Where he stands, the claim that 'it is all nature' cannot hold.
And there is an opposite brow. But opposite this stands the serpent's brow, the root of the wisdom of nature, for everything has a root, and the root of the wisdom of nature is the serpent's brow, as in 'and a copper greave upon his legs', said of Golyas. That is the serpent's brow, for Golyas was a denier who wanted to show that all causes are by nature, Heaven forbid; this is the serpent's brow.
Why on his legs? And this is 'his legs', raglav: the aspect of causes, as it is written, 'Hashem has blessed you l'ragli', through me, meaning by my cause. Yaakov told Lavan that Hashem had brought the blessing to him through him and because of him. So regel is the aspect of causes. Only, Yaakov attributed all causes to Hashem, while Golyas attributed all his causes to the serpent's brow, the compulsion of nature; and this is 'a copper greave upon his legs.'
And a warning. Sometimes the serpent's brow grows strong in actual form, through a particular person who draws his wisdom from it and shows with his wisdom that everything is by nature, Heaven forbid. And sometimes the serpent's brow enters into the sage of holiness, and this wisdom begins to enter with him from inquiry to inquiry, until it enters a very subtle inquiry, until he wants to cast a flaw, Heaven forbid, in the root of will and deny it there, as if there were no will at all, Heaven forbid.
Our summary of section seven. Two brows face each other. The brow of will belongs to the great sage of holiness, who binds every desire to the root of Hashem's will. The serpent's brow is the root of the view that everything is nature, worn by Golyas on his legs, because he hung every cause on nature. Yaakov, by contrast, saw Hashem behind every cause. And the danger is real: the serpent's brow can creep even into a holy mind, one subtle question at a time.
Section eight. Where does the serpent's brow get its strength? Know that this serpent's brow draws its nourishment from the elders of the generation, from those of long days in the generation, when they lack completeness. From this the serpent's brow feeds, for an elder, zaken, is one who has acquired wisdom.
And the danger. But when the elders, those of long days in the generation, damage their days and do not add the light of holiness and knowledge each day, the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, feeds from this, and the view of the wisdom of nature, which denies the will, grows strong, Heaven forbid, through the fall of knowledge and of days among the elders who are not as they should be.
And the danger. But when the elders, those of long days in the generation, damage their days and do not add the light of holiness and knowledge each day, the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, feeds from this. From the fallen days of these elders, whose minds are not settled, from this flaw in their knowledge, the serpent's brow feeds, and the view of the wisdom of nature, which denies the will, grows strong, Heaven forbid, through the fallen knowledge and days of the elders who are not as they should be.
He reads a verse from Iyov. This is 'short of days and full of trouble.' Both aspects: 'short of days' is the elders who are not as they should be, who do not add holiness and knowledge each day, which is the essence of old age and long days. When the elders damage their days and do not lengthen them with holiness and knowledge, that is 'short of days', and from this feeds the serpent's brow, the opposite of the brow of will. And this is 'full of trouble', rogez, the opposite of will.
And the good side. But when the elders are as they should be, 'an elder is one who has acquired wisdom', the revelation of the will grows strong, as in 'the elder and the one whose face is lifted.' Through an elder of holiness the will grows strong, which is the aspect of 'lifted face', for lifting the face is the aspect of will,
as Elisha said to Yehoram: 'Were it not that I lift up the face of Yehoshafat, I would not look at you nor see you.' Elisha had no will toward Yehoram, only by lifting the face of Yehoshafat was he favorably disposed to him. So lifting the face is the aspect of will, and this is 'the elder and the one whose face is lifted.'
Our explanation. Rebbe Nachman redefines old age. A true elder is not someone who has simply lived many years, but someone whose every day added light, holiness and understanding. Such days are long days. Days that pass without growth are 'short of days', however many they are, and that emptiness is exactly what the serpent's brow feeds on. A holy elder, by contrast, lifts the face of the generation and reveals Hashem's will.
— Part 6: Charity Uproots the Serpent's Brow; Yaakov and Esav —
Part six: how charity uproots the serpent's brow, and Yaakov's gift to Esav.
Section nine. Now the whole Torah turns back to charity. Charity helps for this. Through charity one repairs and raises the flaw of the fallen days and knowledge of the elders of long days who are not as they should be, from which the serpent's brow feeds, as in 'Send your bread upon the face of the waters, for in the multitude of days you will find it.' The power of charity is found in 'the multitude of days', in those of long days, for through charity their flaw is raised and repaired.
Read it slowly. This is 'Send your bread upon the face of the waters': give charity, and the verse promises you that the loss you take on the money you scattered to charity, you will gain back and find 'in the multitude of days', in those of long days. For through charity one raises the flaw of the fallen knowledge of those of long days, from which the serpent's brow feeds; one takes away all the nourishment and life of the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, and the brow of will grows strong.
Why charity, of all things? For the main service of charity is 'I have commanded the ravens': at the start one must break one's cruelty and turn it into compassion. From this itself the will grows strong, for 'from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe.' Since he overcomes the cruelty in his nature and turns it to compassion, through this the anger is turned into will.
Our explanation. The serpent's brow is 'full of rogez', harshness, the opposite of will. And where is harshness found? In our own nature, in the cruelty we must break to give charity. So when a person overcomes that cruelty and gives, he takes the very material of the serpent and turns it into will and favor. The axe that cuts down the forest has a handle made of its own wood.
And now the whole chain falls into place. Then, when the serpent's brow is subdued and the brow of will revealed, the voice of the wild beasts falls, and the festival's call is heard: the revelation of the will. When the will is revealed, awe is made, and through awe the kindness can be received. When kindness flows, no business or work is needed, for 'strangers shall stand and tend your flocks… and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' All this comes through charity. So its benefit is very great.
Our summary of the whole chain so far. Charity breaks a person's cruelty and raises the fallen days of the elders, so the serpent's brow loses its nourishment and the brow of will grows strong. Then the roar of the beasts falls silent, and the festival's call is heard. The will revealed brings awe; awe is the vessel; and through it Hashem's kindness flows, so that the world stands on kindness, and we are like kohanim.
Section ten. Rebbe Nachman finds this in the meeting of Yaakov and Esav. That is why, when Yaakov wanted to win Esav's favor, ratzon, he said: 'Take my gift from my hand, for I have seen your face as one sees the face of Elokim, and you were pleased with me', vatirtzeini.
For what is given to the nations is also a kind of charity, as our Sages said on 'and your taskmasters righteousness', tzedakah; and through charity, will is made. That is what he told him: 'Take my gift from my hand', meaning charity, as in 'they will bring an offering in righteousness.'
And the second half of the verse. 'For I have seen your face as one sees the face of Elokim': like seeing the face of Elokim, which is 'three times a year all your males shall be seen before Hashem', the festivals, through which the will is revealed. So too will was made with Esav through the charity; and this is 'and you were pleased with me.'
Our explanation. Yaakov faced a brother who came with four hundred men. He did not rely on strength. He sent a gift, and Rebbe Nachman calls it charity. Charity reveals Hashem's will above, as the festivals do, when we come to be seen before Him; and from there will and favor flow down, until even Esav's heart was softened. That is vatirtzeini: you were pleased with me.
— Part 7: David and Golyas —
Part seven: David and Golyas.
Section eleven. Rebbe Nachman now reads a famous battle. This is the aspect of the battle of David and Golyas. For Golyas wanted to show with his wisdom that everything is by nature, for he fed from the serpent's brow, as in 'a copper greave upon his legs': he hung all causes on the compulsion of nature, which is the serpent's brow. That is why he taunted 'the ranks of the living Elokim', for he wanted to show that everything comes through the ranks, the order, of the heavens, by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid.
David answers Shaul. And David was a man of valor; he stood against him and said that he had already had such an encounter: 'And there came the lion and the bear': the wild beasts that trample and tear, the scholars of nature.
'And took a lamb from the flock', meha'eder: from complete absence, he'eder. He lifted and removed this from complete nothingness, meaning he denied that Hashem created everything by His will after complete nothingness, saying that all is by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid.
'I went out after it and struck it': I overcame it, subdued it and brought it low. 'And it rose up against me': afterwards it grew strong against me again.
'And I seized it by its beard', bizkano: I understood that all its strength and nourishment come through the serpent's brow, which feeds on the elders of the generation who are not as they should be. So I seized it by its beard, zakan: I grasped it there, at the root of its nourishment, in the elders, zekeinim, of the generation.
'And struck it and killed it': I subdued and brought low the scholars of nature, the wild beasts, by seizing it by its beard, the root of their nourishment.
And so David concludes: So 'this Philistine shall be like one of them', for he is exactly this aspect: all his strength is from the serpent's brow, 'a copper greave'. So he too is like them, and I can subdue him and bring him down.
And how did David win? This is what is written: 'and the stone sank into his forehead', into the serpent's brow; he subdued it through 'a perfect stone is His will', the aspect of will.
Our explanation. Golyas came covered in armor, yet the stone struck his forehead. Rebbe Nachman sees in that forehead the serpent's brow, the source of Golyas' denial. David did not answer it with argument. He answered it with a stone, and Mishlei says, 'a perfect stone is His will.' The brow of will strikes the serpent's brow at its root.
And one more detail David received from his father. This is the aspect of Yishai's instruction to David when he went there: 'and take their pledge', arubasam. This is the aspect of the raven, orev, the aspect of charity. For the main service of charity is the raven, 'I have commanded the ravens', for through charity he removes the life of the serpent's brow, which feeds on the elders of the generation.
And a deep warning. Know that even when the views of the scholars of nature are subdued and refuted, if the revelation of the will is not strong and firm, if there is still doubt, not clarified with strong clarity that all runs only by the will, then though the wisdom of nature is subdued, the serpent's brow can still, Heaven forbid, reawaken and grow strong as before. For this too the power of charity is needed, for charity always helps and always stands against the serpent's brow.
Our summary of David and Golyas. The lion and the bear are the scholars of nature. They rise again after being struck, until David grasps them by the beard: the root of their strength in the elders of the generation. Golyas is the same: his strength is his copper brow, and a stone of Hashem's will sinks into it. And Yishai's word, arubasam, hints at the raven, charity, which alone keeps the serpent's brow from coming back. Next, a mysterious story from the Gemara that holds the same secret.
— Part 8: The Sailors, the Serpent, and the Precious Stone —
Part eight: the sailors, the serpent, and the precious stone.
Now Rebbe Nachman opens a story from the Gemara in Bava Basra, one of the tales of the sea. This is the meaning of the story told by Rav Yehudah the Indian: Once we were traveling on a ship, and we saw a precious stone with a sea-serpent coiled around it. A diver went down to bring it up. The serpent came and wanted to swallow the ship. A bird came and cut off its head. The waters turned into blood. Its companion serpent came, took the stone, hung it upon it, and revived it.
And the story goes on. Again it came and wanted to swallow the ship. Again the bird came and cut off its head, took that precious stone and threw it into the ship. We had salted birds with us; we placed the stone upon them, they took it and flew away with it.
Now the explanation, line by line. 'Once we were traveling on a ship': this is the aspect of the root of will, where Moshe is buried, for he passed away into the root of will. This is the ship, sefinta, as in 'for there the portion of the lawgiver is hidden', safun.
'And we saw a precious stone': this is 'a perfect stone is His will', the aspect of the will. 'With a sea-serpent coiled around it': this is the serpent's brow, which surrounds and overpowers the will.
'A diver, bar Amorai, went down to bring it': the sage of holiness, as in 'say to wisdom, you are my sister', emor. The sage of holiness wanted to grow strong and raise the will, to bind it to the root of will.
'The serpent came and wanted to swallow the ship': the serpent's brow, root of the wisdom of nature, came and wanted to swallow the ship, the root of will, 'there the lawgiver's portion is hidden'; for the serpent's brow wanted to overpower even the root of will, to cast a flaw and denial there, Heaven forbid.
'A bird came', pushkantza: that is, a raven. 'It cut off its head': the raven, the aspect of charity, came; for the main service of charity is the raven, 'I have commanded the ravens', to turn cruelty into compassion. Through this one overcomes the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, for 'from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe.'
So the bird came, the raven, the aspect of charity, and cut off its head: it cut off the serpent's head, the serpent's brow, subduing and slaying it through charity.
Our explanation. The sages of the Gemara hid deep ideas in tales of the sea, and Rebbe Nachman reads this one as a map of our Torah. The ship is the root of will, where Moshe Rabbeinu is hidden. The precious stone is Hashem's will, with the serpent of 'it's all nature' wrapped around it. The holy sage dives for it, but the serpent is too strong. What defeats it is the raven: charity, cruelty turned into compassion.
'The waters turned into blood': when he subdued the serpent's brow, root of the wisdom of nature, the roaring voice of the wild beasts, who trample and tear many of our people, was subdued and fell. Then the voice of the festival's call is heard, the revelation of the will; and then 'the righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution.'
So 'the waters turned' is the roar of the wild beasts, as in 'my roarings pour out like water.' 'And became blood' is 'the righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution; he will wash his steps in the blood of the wicked.' For through subduing the roar of the beasts, 'the righteous one rejoices', since the voice of the festival's call is heard.
And then the danger we learned in section eleven. 'Its companion serpent came, took it, hung it and revived it': the serpent's brow came and took the precious stone, 'a perfect stone is His will'. 'Hung it', talya: it cast doubt into it, like something hanging in doubt, doubt about the will, the precious stone. Through this 'it revived it': the wisdom of nature, the serpent's brow, came back to life, for it grew strong again through the doubt in the will.
So 'again it came and wanted to swallow the ship': the serpent, the serpent's brow, came again to swallow the ship, the root of will, Heaven forbid. 'Again the bird came and cut off its head': the raven, charity, came again and killed the serpent's brow and subdued it, for the serpent's brow is always subdued through charity.
'And took that precious stone and threw it into the ship': once it had completely subdued the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, it took the precious stone, the will, 'a perfect stone is His will', and threw it into the ship: it cast it into the root of will, where all the wills are bound.
And the ending of the story. 'We had salted birds with us; we placed it upon them, they took it and flew away': we had with us salted birds, the souls of Israel from among our people who had strayed after the scholars of nature, the wild beasts that trample and tear many of our people.
So 'salted birds', for they are 'like birds caught in a snare'. And 'salted', meluchim, means mixed up: they too were confused by the wild beasts and strayed after them. Now they flew away and went out in peace, through the precious stone, through the will that has now been revealed.
And when the will is revealed, awe is made, and through awe one receives the kindness. This too is the aspect of 'they flew', parchu, as in 'behold, the staff of Aharon of the house of Levi had blossomed', parach: the flow of kindness through awe, which comes through the revelation of the will.
Our summary of the story. The ship is the root of will, and the precious stone is Hashem's will. The serpent wraps it in 'it's all nature', and even when slain, a second serpent revives it through doubt. Each time, the raven, charity, cuts off its head, until the stone is thrown back into the ship. Then the confused souls who had strayed, the salted birds, fly free; awe is revealed, and kindness blossoms like Aharon's staff.
— Part 9: The Festivals and Charity as Healing —
Part nine: the festivals and charity as healing.
Section twelve. Now Rebbe Nachman shows that every piece of this Torah is also a cure. This is the aspect of healing, for He is the healing for all wounds; all these aspects are aspects of healing.
He gives a verse for each one. Charity is healing, as in 'righteousness, with healing in its wings.' An elder, one who has acquired wisdom, is healing, as in 'the tongue of the wise is healing.' Will is healing, as it is written, 'Hashem has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted… to proclaim a year of will', ratzon. The work of Creation is healing, as it is written, 'and the work prospered', literally 'healing rose up for the work in their hands.'
He describes how a wound heals. For healing a wound takes several stages. First the wound must be opened. Then a drawing force is needed to draw out the damaged fluid from within the wound. Then all the blood must be cleansed, so that no damage or murkiness remains in it, so that it can flow and circulate in its full order without any holdup.
Why must it be cleansed? For when the blood flows and circulates through the body in its way and reaches a place where there is damage, the place of the wound, it is held up there, and all the murkiness and damage in the blood is held up and drawn there; for that is the way, that every kind of murkiness gathers at the damaged place. Then the blood is held up there and cannot circulate in the order of its course.
For the blood has an order of movement, circulating through the body so many times an hour, and so on; when there is murkiness, it is held up at the damaged place and cannot circulate in order. So it must be cleansed and washed. Afterwards the opening of the wound must be closed.
Now he maps the stages onto the Torah. All these stages of healing come through the aspects above: charity is the opening of the wound, as in 'you shall surely open your hand.'
Wisdom is the drawing force, as in 'the drawing of wisdom is above pearls', peninim, which our Sages read as 'from the innermost', lifnai velifnim. Wisdom draws out the damage from the innermost, from all the inner places.
Regel, the festival, which is the revelation of the will, brings about the rinsing and washing of the blood, so that it can circulate in order. This is regel as in Ein Rogel, 'the washer's spring', as Rashi explains there. Through the regel, the festival, the revelation of the will, the blood is rinsed and washed, and then it can circulate in order.
That is why the festival is called chag, meaning circling, as it is written, 'He sits upon the circle, chug, of the earth': the circuit of the earth. For through rinsing and washing the blood, it circulates in order.
And the last stage. The work of Creation is 'the world is built on kindness'. For through these aspects one merits the flow of kindness, that the world should stand by His kindness, 'and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' Through this aspect, the kohen, kindness, the opening of the wound is closed, as in 'and the kohen shall close up the affliction': through kindness, the kohen, the wound closes completely and is fully healed.
Our summary of section twelve. Every element of this Torah is also a cure. Charity opens the wound. Wisdom, the true elder, draws out what is damaged from deep within. The festival, the revelation of Hashem's will, washes the blood so it can flow in its circuit again, which is why a festival is called chag, a circle. And kindness, the kohen, closes the wound completely. The same chain that sustains the world heals the body and the soul.
— Part 10: The Verse of Shavuos, and the Whole Torah as One —
Part ten: the verse of Shavuos decoded, and the whole Torah as one.
Section thirteen. We return to the opening verse about Shavuos. This is the meaning of the verse: 'And on the day of the first fruits', bikkurim: this is the aspect of a beginning, as in 'distress as of one bearing her first child', mavkirah. And what is the beginning?
'When you bring a new meal-offering to Hashem': the beginning of charity, when one begins anew to give charity. This is a new offering, a new charity, the beginning of charity; for an offering, mincha, is charity, as it is written, 'they bring an offering in righteousness.' And through charity the aspect of the elder is repaired, and this is:
'On your Shavuos': this is the aspect of the elder, for at Sinai He appeared to them like an elder, as Rashi explains. Through the new offering, the beginning of charity, the aspect of the elder is repaired, which is the aspect of Shavuos. Then the nourishment of the serpent's brow, which feeds on the elders of the generation who are not as they should be, is cancelled, and the voice of the festival's call is heard, revealing the will. And this is:
'It shall be a holy calling for you': the voice of the festival's call, the revelation of the will, which is 'a holy calling', now heard through charity, which subdues the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature. And then, through the revelation of the will, 'you shall do no work of labor':
for through the revelation of the will awe is made, and through awe kindness flows, and then no work is needed, for the world stands by His kindness, 'the world is built on kindness', and then 'strangers shall stand and tend your flocks… and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' And this is 'you shall do no work of labor': for no work or business at all is needed, since the world stands by His kindness, 'and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.'
Our explanation. Now the opening verse reads like a summary of the whole Torah. The day of first fruits is a beginning: a new act of charity, the hardest beginning of all. Shavuos recalls Sinai, where Hashem appeared like an elder full of mercy, and so it hints at the repaired elders. A holy calling is the festival's voice, heard once more. And 'you shall do no work of labor': the world stands on Hashem's kindness, and we are free like kohanim.
Section fourteen is a short note. There is a difference between the wild beasts and the serpent's brow. The scholars of nature who are the wild beasts hold to the wisdom of nature for their own benefit; they gain something from it, to uphold their views and their falsehood and the like. But the wise man who is the serpent's brow is wicked and a denier with no benefit at all; he gains nothing from his wisdom, yet he is wicked and a denier with no benefit, as above.
And section fifteen ties it all together. The whole teaching is one, all bound together. Charity is very hard at the beginning, but its benefit is very great, for through charity one need not do any work or business, since the world stands by His kindness. For through charity the serpent's brow, which feeds from the elders of the generation, loses its nourishment; then the voice of the festival's call, which reveals the will, is heard; and then awe is revealed, for the main source of awe is the revelation of the will.
Through awe a vessel and channel is made to receive the flow of kindness, for without the vessel and channel the kindness cannot be received; only through awe, the channel and vessel, is kindness received. Then the world stands by His kindness, and then no work is needed, for 'strangers shall stand and tend your flocks' is fulfilled.
Let us review the whole path. Charity begins by turning one's own cruelty into compassion, like the ravens that fed Eliyahu, and it is the hardest beginning of all. It weakens the serpent's brow, the root of the view that all is nature, which feeds on days that passed without growth. Then the beasts fall silent, and the festival's holy call is heard: everything runs by Hashem's will. The will revealed brings awe, and awe is the vessel. Through it Hashem's kindness flows, sustaining the world and healing every wound, and we stand like kohanim, free to serve Him.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. Give a little more than is easy, because that is where the service of charity begins. Let each day add some light, so that your days are truly long days. And on Yom Tov, listen for the festival's call: everything is Hashem's will, and that is the source of our joy.
This has been Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah four. Uv'yom habikurim.
Sources for this Torah
Texts used
Hebrew: Likutei Moharan Tinyana (Part II), Torah 4, edition 'Likutei Moharan Tinyana – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan%2C_Part_II.4
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 10: The birth image is the Rebbe's own metaphor for bringing a good deed into the world; kept brief and modest.
Part 2, scene 9: Kohanim are the aspect of chesed, kindness, as in the Kabbalah (Avraham's attribute, inherited by the kohen).
Part 3, scene 5: In Kabbalah Aharon the kohen is chesed, kindness, and Levi is gevurah, strength and awe; the verse joins them.
Part 4, scene 5: The verse is quoted as the Rebbe quotes it; the narration keeps it brief. His point is the word pe'amav, 'steps' = 'times', the three pilgrimage festivals.
Part 5, scene 4: Mitzchas nechoshes (copper greave) is read as metzach nachash, 'brow of the serpent'; nechoshes and nachash share a root.
Part 6, scene 4: 'Minei uvei aba lezil bei narga' (Sanhedrin 39a): the axe's handle comes from the very forest it cuts.
Part 7, scene 4: A play on words: me'ha'eder, 'from the flock', read as me'he'eder, 'from nothingness' (creation from nothing).
Part 10, scene 4: Rashi on Shemos 20:2: at Sinai Hashem revealed Himself 'like an elder full of mercy'. Narration does not describe any image.
Part 10, scene 8: The Hebrew card omits a short parenthetical gloss in the text ('like a fearful wicked one').
Every on-screen quotation in the full shiur, by part
Part 1 — The Ravens, and the Hardest Beginning
Scene 4 · Bamidbar 28:26, as quoted in LM II:4 · paragraph §1.1
וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים, בְּהַקְרִיבְכֶם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה' בְּשָׁבֻעֹתֵיכֶם, מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ:
EN (our paraphrase): And on the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new meal-offering to Hashem on your festival of Shavuos, it shall be a holy calling for you; you shall do no work of labor.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §1 · paragraph §1.2
וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ – זֶה בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה. כִּי בַּתְּחִלָּה, כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין לְהִתְנַדֵּב לִצְדָקָה, אֲזַי צְרִיכִין לְשַׁבֵּר אֶת הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁלּוֹ לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, וְזֶהוּ עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה. כִּי מִי שֶׁהוּא רַחֲמָן בְּטִבְעוֹ וְנוֹתֵן צְדָקָה מֵחֲמַת רַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁבְּטִבְעוֹ, אֵין זֶה עֲבוֹדָה, כִּי יֵשׁ גַּם כַּמָּה חַיּוֹת שֶׁהֵם רַחֲמָנִים בְּטִבְעָם, רַק עִקָּר הָעֲבוֹדָה – לְשַׁבֵּר הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And I have commanded the ravens to feed you.' This is the aspect of charity. For at the start, when a person begins to give charity, he must break his own cruelty and turn it into compassion; this is the main labor of charity. One who is compassionate by nature and gives because of that natural compassion is not doing service, for some animals too are compassionate by nature. The main service is to break the cruelty and turn it into compassion.
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §1 · paragraph §1.3
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ; כִּי הָעוֹרֵב הוּא בְּטִבְעוֹ אַכְזָרִי, וְנִתְהַפֵּךְ לְרַחֲמָנוּת לְכַלְכֵּל אֶת אֵלִיָּהוּ. כְּמוֹ־כֵן צְרִיכִין בִּצְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל. וְכָל הַנְּדִיבֵי לֵב, כָּל מִי שֶהוּא נַדְבָן, צָרִיךְ לֵילֵךְ וְלַעֲבֹר בִּתְחִלָּה דֶּרֶךְ בְּחִינָה זוֹ, בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים הַנַּ"ל. דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה צְרִיכִים לְשַׁבֵּר הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם, מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם אַכְזָרִיּוּת בִּתְחִלָּה, לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, לְהִתְנַדֵּב לִצְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'I have commanded the ravens to feed you': the raven is cruel by nature, and it was turned to compassion to feed Eliyahu. So it must be with charity. Every generous-hearted person, everyone who gives, must first pass along this path, 'the ravens': first he must break the cruelty he has at the start and turn it into compassion, to give charity.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §2 · paragraph §2.1
וּבְחִינָה זוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה הִיא קָשָׁה וּכְבֵדָה מְאֹד. כִּי כָל הָעֲבוֹדוֹת וְכָל הַתְּשׁוּבוֹת, כָּל מַה שֶּׁרוֹצִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, כַּמָּה קָלִין שֶׁל אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי וְכַמָּה גְּנִיחוֹת וְכַמָּה כְּפִילוּת וְכַמָּה הַטָּיוֹת צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת קֹדֶם שֶׁעוֹשִׂין אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא. וְעִקָּר בַּהַתְחָלָה, שֶׁאָז קָשֶׁה מְאֹד, כִּי כָל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת, וּצְרִיכִין כַּמָּה קָלִין וְכַמָּה גְּנִיחוֹת וְכוּ' קֹדֶם שֶׁמַּתְחִילִין אֵיזֶהוּ הַתְחָלָה.
EN (our paraphrase): This, the beginning of charity, is very hard and heavy. For in every kind of service and every return to Hashem, whenever one wants to do some act of serving Hashem, how many cries of 'oy', how many groans, how many bendings and swayings, the unusual movements of those who fear Hashem in their service, one must go through before doing the deed. Above all at the start, when it is hardest, for all beginnings are hard; many cries and groans come before any beginning.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §2 · paragraph §2.2
וְגַם אַחַר כָּךְ לְאַחַר הַהַתְחָלָה גַּם כֵּן אֵינוֹ בָּא בְּנָקֵל עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, וּצְרִיכִין כַּמָּה יְגִיעוֹת וְכַמָּה תְּנוּעוֹת כַּנַּ"ל קֹדֶם שֶׁזּוֹכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה עֻבְדָּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהּ הִדּוּר. אַךְ הַהַתְחָלָה קָשָׁה מְאֹד כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עִקָּר תּוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים – מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים; נִמְצָא שֶׁהַמִּצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְכָל עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם הֵם בְּחִינַת הוֹלָדָה, וְקֹדֶם הַהוֹלָדָה כַּמָּה קָלִין וְכַמָּה חֲבָלִים וְצִירִים יֵשׁ לְהַיּוֹלֶדֶת קֹדֶם שֶׁמּוֹלֶדֶת הַהוֹלָדָה,
EN (our paraphrase): Even after the beginning, the service of Hashem does not come easily; it takes much effort and many movements before one merits to do a deed that has beauty. But the beginning is hardest. For the main offspring of the tzaddikim are good deeds; so the mitzvos, the good deeds and all service of Hashem are like a birth, and before a birth there are many cries and pains.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §2 · paragraph §2.3
וּבִפְרָט מַבְכִּירָה, דְּהַיְנוּ הוֹלָדָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל אִשָּׁה, שֶׁאָז קָשֶׁה עָלֶיהָ מְאֹד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: צָרָה כְּמַבְכִּירָה, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת הַהַתְחָלָה, בְּחִינַת: כָּל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): Especially a first birth, which is hardest of all, as it says, 'distress as of one bearing her first child.' This is the aspect of the beginning: all beginnings are hard.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §2 · paragraph §2.4
וּצְדָקָה הִיא תָּמִיד הַתְחָלָה, בִּבְחִינַת: פָּתוֹחַ תִּפְתַּח; שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ פֶּתַח וְהַתְחָלָה, הַצְּדָקָה הִיא פּוֹתַחַת יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר וּמַרְחֶבֶת הַפֶּתַח יוֹתֵר, כִּי כָל דָּבָר וְדָבָר מֵעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, כְּשֶׁרוֹצִין לִכָּנֵס בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ וְאוֹתוֹ הָעֲבוֹדָה, צְרִיכִין לִפְתֹּחַ שָׁם פֶּתַח לִכָּנֵס בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: כָּל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁבַּהַתְחָלָה צְרִיכִין לְשַׁבֵּר וְלִפְתֹּחַ פֶּתַח מֵחָדָשׁ, עַל־כֵּן קָשֶׁה מְאֹד.
EN (our paraphrase): Charity is always a beginning, as in 'you shall surely open your hand.' Even where there is already an opening and a beginning, charity opens it further and widens it more. For in every path of serving Hashem, when one wants to enter it, one must open a door there to come in; this is why all beginnings are hard, because at the start one must break through and open a new door.
Scene 12 · LM II:4 §2 · paragraph §2.4
וּסְגֻלַּת כֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה – לְהַרְחִיב וְלִפְתֹּחַ הַפֶּתַח יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, שֶׁכְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין אֵיזֶהוּ פֶּתַח בְּאֵיזֶה עֲבוֹדָה וְנוֹתְנִין צְדָקָה, אֲזַי הַצְּדָקָה פּוֹתַחַת וּמַרְחֶבֶת הַפֶּתַח יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, כִּי צְדָקָה הִיא הַהַתְחָלָה שֶׁל כָּל הַהַתְחָלוֹת, כִּי הִיא פּוֹתַחַת וּמַרְחֶבֶת כָּל הַפְּתָחִים כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): The special power of charity is to widen and open the door more and more. When one makes some opening in any service and gives charity, the charity opens and widens that door further, for charity is the beginning of all beginnings: it opens and widens every door.
Scene 13 · LM II:4 §2 · paragraph §2.5
וְגַם בִּצְדָקָה עַצְמָהּ יֵשׁ הַתְחָלָה, דְּהַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין לִתֵּן צְדָקָה, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה הִיא קָשָׁה וּכְבֵדָה מְאֹד, כִּי הִיא בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלָה שֶׁל כָּל הַהַתְחָלוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): And charity itself has a beginning: when one first begins to give, that is 'I have commanded the ravens.' So the beginning of charity is very hard and heavy, for it is the beginning of all beginnings.
Part 2 — Work, the Mishkan, and a World Built on Kindness
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.1
אַךְ הַתּוֹעֶלֶת שֶׁל הַצְּדָקָה גָּדוֹל מְאֹד מְאֹד, כִּי הַצְּדָקָה מוֹעֶלֶת תָּמִיד, כִּי צָרְכֵי הַגּוּף הֵם רַבִּים מְאֹד, וַאֲפִלּוּ הַהֶכְרֵחִיּוֹת הֵם רַבִּים וּגְדוֹלִים מְאֹד: אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּמַלְבּוּשִׁים וְדִירוֹת, שֶׁיְּכוֹלִין לְבַלּוֹת יָמָיו וְשָׁנָיו אֲפִלּוּ עַל הַהֶכְרֵחִיּוֹת לְבַד, וְהֵם מוֹנְעִין אֶת הָאָדָם מְאֹד מֵעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא,
EN (our paraphrase): But the benefit of charity is very, very great, for charity always helps. The needs of the body are very many; even the bare necessities, food and drink, clothing and a home, are many and great, so that a person can spend his days and years on the necessities alone, and they hold a person back greatly from serving the Creator.
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.2
וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁגַּם הֵם בְּעַצְמָן הֵם גַּם כֵּן עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי הֵם בְּחִינַת אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא, כִּי בְּעֻבְדָּא דִּלְתַתָּא אִתְעַר לְעֵלָּא, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי כָּל עֲסָקִים וּמְלָאכוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בְּנֵי אָדָם, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְעוֹרֵר אוֹתוֹ הַצִּיּוּר שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַמְּלָאכָה לְמַעְלָה בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, וּמֵבִיא חִיּוּת וְהֶאָרָה לְאוֹתוֹ הַצִּיּוּר שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה, שֶׁהוּא מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד אוֹתוֹ הָעֵסֶק וְהַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁהָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה לְמַטָּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה,
EN (our paraphrase): Yet these too are themselves a service of the Creator, for they are an awakening from below; through a deed below, there is an awakening above. Through every business and craft that people do, the pattern of that same craft is awakened above, in the work of Creation; it brings life and light to the pattern of that craft in the work of Creation above, which corresponds to the business and craft the person does below, in this world.
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.3
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הָעֲסָקִים וְהַמְּלָאכוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂים, נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בְּחִינַת מִשְׁכָּן. כִּי כָל הַמְּלָאכוֹת כְּלוּלִים בְּל"ט מְלָאכוֹת שֶׁהֵם אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת, אָבוֹת מִכְּלָל דְּאִיכָּא תּוֹלָדוֹת, כִּי כָל מִינֵי מְלָאכוֹת וַעֲסָקִים שֶׁעוֹשִׂין, כֻּלָּם כְּלוּלִים בְּל"ט מְלָאכוֹת שֶׁהֵם הָאָבוֹת, וְהַשְּׁאָר הֵם תּוֹלָדוֹת.
EN (our paraphrase): For through the business and crafts people do, a Mishkan is made. All crafts are included in the thirty-nine main categories of labor; they are called 'fathers', which implies there are 'offspring'. Every kind of work and business people do is included in the thirty-nine fathers, and the rest are their offspring.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.4
וְל"ט מְלָאכוֹת הֵם כְּנֶגֶד מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: אָבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אַחַת – כְּנֶגֶד מִי כְּנֶגֶד מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. וְצִיּוּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא כְּצִיּוּרָא דְּעֻבְדָּא דִּבְרֵאשִׁית, וְהָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה הַמְּלָאכָה, וְצִיּוּרָא דְּגוּפָא כְּצִיּוּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא. נִמְצָא שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הָאָדָם שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה הַמְּלָאכָה וְהָעֵסֶק, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת מִשְׁכָּן, כְּשֶׁעוֹשֶׂה הַמְּלָאכָה וְהָעֵסֶק כָּרָאוּי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נוֹתֵן חִיּוּת וְהֶאָרָה לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, וְהוּא קִיּוּם הָעוֹלָם. נִמְצָא שֶׁגַּם זֶה הוּא עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא:
EN (our paraphrase): And the thirty-nine labors correspond to the work of the Mishkan, as our Sages said: the main labors are forty less one, corresponding to the work of the Mishkan. The Mishkan's form is like the form of Creation, and the body's form is like the Mishkan's. So when a person does his work and business properly, as he should, a Mishkan is made, giving life and light to the work of Creation, the world's existence. So this too is a service of the Creator.
Scene 7 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.5
אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אִם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵעַ עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ, לֹא הָיִינוּ צְרִיכִים לְכָל זֶה, כִּי הֲלֹא אֵיךְ בָּרָא הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ אַחַר הֶעְדֵּר הַגָּמוּר, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה שׁוּם הֲוָיָה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עַל יָדָהּ אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בָּרָא עוֹלָמוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ. וְהַכֹּל בְּחַסְדּוֹ בְּלִי אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא כְּלָל, בִּבְחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה.
EN (our paraphrase): Even so, if Hashem would pour His kindness upon us, we would need none of this. For see how Hashem created the whole world after complete nothingness, when nothing yet existed to bring about an awakening from below, and still He created such worlds. All was in His kindness, with no awakening from below at all, as in 'the world is built on kindness.'
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.6
וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁהוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ הָיָה יָכוֹל לִבְרֹא עוֹלָמוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ בְּלִי אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא כְּלָל, רַק עַל־יְדֵי חַסְדּוֹ, בְּוַדַּאי הוּא יָכוֹל לְהַחֲיוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָמוֹת רַק עַל־יְדֵי חַסְדּוֹ, וְלֹא הָיִינוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלָל שׁוּם עֵסֶק וּמְלָאכָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ הַהֶכְרֵחִיּוֹת הָיוּ נַעֲשִׂין עַל־יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים,
EN (our paraphrase): Since Hashem could create such worlds with no awakening from below, only by His kindness, surely He can give life to the worlds and sustain them only by His kindness. Then we would not need to do any business or work at all; even the necessities would be done by others,
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.6
כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם, וּבְנֵי נֵכָר אִכָּרֵיכֶם וְכֹרְמֵיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ. כֹּהַנֵי ה' דַיְקָא, בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, בְּחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים כֹּהֲנֵי ה', בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה, רַק הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם בְּחַסְדּוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. אַךְ כְּשֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְאֵין מַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ, אֲזַי צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת בִּשְׁבִיל אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): as it is written, 'Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks, and foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers, and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' The kohanim, precisely: the aspect of kindness, 'the world is built on kindness'. They will be called kohanim of Hashem, needing to do no work, for the world stands by His kindness. But when the kindness is held back, Heaven forbid, and not poured upon us, we must work for the sake of the awakening from below.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.7
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: וּלְךָ ה' הַחֶסֶד, כִּי אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ. הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת: וּלְךָ ה' הַחֶסֶד – שֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵין מַשְׁפִּיעוֹ עָלֵינוּ, אֲזַי: כִּי אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ, הַיְנוּ כְּפִי הָעֲשִׂיּוֹת וְהָעֲסָקִים שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה, כֵּן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ מְשַׁלֵּם.
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'And Yours, Hashem, is kindness, for You repay each man according to his deed.' When the kindness is held back with Hashem, that is 'Yours, Hashem, is kindness': it stays with Him and He does not pour it upon us. Then 'You repay each man according to his deed': according to the deeds and work a person does, so Hashem repays.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §3 · paragraph §3.7
כִּי צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת דַּוְקָא, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהַחֶסֶד נִתְעַכֵּב אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאֵינוֹ מַשְׁפִּיעוֹ עָלֵינוּ, אֲבָל אִם הָיָה מַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ הַחֶסֶד, לֹא הָיִינוּ צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלָל, וַאֲזַי הָיָה נִתְקַיֵּם: כִּי אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, כִּי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלָל כְּשֶׁשּׁוֹפֵעַ חַסְדּוֹ כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): For we must work precisely because the kindness is held back with Him and not poured on us. But if He poured His kindness on us, we would not need to work at all, and then 'You repay each man according to his deed' would be fulfilled as if he had worked, for when His kindness flows there is no need to work at all.
Part 3 — Awe, the Vessel, and the Festivals
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §4 · paragraph §4.1
אַךְ צָרִיךְ לְקַבֵּל הַחֶסֶד בְּהַדְרָגָה, כִּי רֹב הַחֶסֶד אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְקַבֵּל, כִּי הָיוּ בְּטֵלִים בַּמְּצִיאוּת מֵחֲמַת רֹב הַחֶסֶד, כִּי אֵין יְכוֹלִין לְקַבֵּל רֹב טוֹבָה, וְצָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַחֶסֶד.
EN (our paraphrase): But the kindness must be received in stages, for one cannot receive a great flood of kindness; we would be nullified out of existence by too much kindness, for people cannot bear too much good. So one must make a vessel and a channel through which to receive the kindness.
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §4 · paragraph §4.1
וְזֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה חֲקִיקָה וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַחֶסֶד, בִּבְחִינַת: וּמְחוֹקֵק מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו. רֶגֶל הוּא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת סוֹף, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: סוֹף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁמָע, אֶת הָאֱלֹקִים יְרָא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל יְדֵי יִרְאָה, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת רֶגֶל, נַעֲשֶׂה חֲקִיקָה וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל בְּתוֹכוֹ אֶת הַחֶסֶד.
EN (our paraphrase): This is made through awe, for through awe an engraving is cut, a channel for receiving the kindness, as in 'the lawgiver from between his feet.' The foot, regel, is the aspect of awe, which is the aspect of the end, as it is written at the end of Koheles: 'The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear Elokim.' So through awe, the aspect of the foot, an engraving and channel is made to receive the kindness within it.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §4 · paragraph §4.2
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן לְבֵית לֵוִי; הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַחֶסֶד, בְּחִינַת אַהֲרֹן, צָרִיךְ לְקַבְּלוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הַכְּלִי, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה, סִטְרָא דְּלֵוִי, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: בִּגְבוּרוֹת יֵשַׁע יְמִינוֹ:
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'Behold, the staff of Aharon of the house of Levi had blossomed.' Kindness, the aspect of Aharon, must be received through a vessel, which is awe, the side of Levi. And this is 'with the mighty deeds of the salvation of His right hand.'
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §5 · paragraph §5.1
וְעִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, בִּבְחִינַת: רְצוֹן יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּרָא הַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ בְּלִי שׁוּם חִיּוּב כְּלָל,
EN (our paraphrase): The main source of awe is the revelation of Hashem's will, as in 'He does the will of those who fear Him.' Through the revelation of the will, awe is made: when it is revealed that everything is conducted by His will, for He created everything by His will with no compulsion at all,
Scene 7 · LM II:4 §5 · paragraph §5.1
וּמְחַיֶּה וּמְקַיֵּם הַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְאֵין שׁוּם חִיּוּב הַטִּבְעִי כְּלָל, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, כִּי אֲזַי יֵשׁ שָׂכָר וָעֹנֶשׁ, וְשַׁיָּךְ לְהִתְיָרֵא מִפָּנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד – אָמַר: שֶׁמָּא יִגְרֹם הַחֵטְא;
EN (our paraphrase): and gives life to and sustains everything by His will, and there is no natural compulsion at all, then awe is made. For then there is reward and punishment, and it makes sense to stand in awe before Him, as our Sages said on 'and Yaakov was very afraid': he said, perhaps sin will cause harm.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §5 · paragraph §5.2
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁאֵין נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, וְסוֹבְרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּכְאִלּוּ מִתְנַהֵג הַכֹּל עַל־פִּי הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֵין שַׁיָּךְ יִרְאָה כְּלָל, כִּי אֵין שָׂכָר וָעֹנֶשׁ כְּלָל, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג רַק כְּפִי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. נִמְצָא שֶׁעִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה – עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן:
EN (our paraphrase): But when the will is not revealed, and people think there is a compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid, as if everything runs by nature, then there is no room for awe at all, for there is no reward and punishment, since everything runs only by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid. So the main source of awe is the revelation of the will.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.1
וְהִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן הוּא עַל־יְדֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים, כִּי כָל אֶחָד מֵהַיָּמִים טוֹבִים מַכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא וּמְגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג רַק עַל פִּי רְצוֹנוֹ בִּלְבַד, בִּבְחִינַת: מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁהַיּוֹם טוֹב קֹדֶשׁ קוֹרֵא וּמַכְרִיז אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי בְּכָל יוֹם טוֹב וְיוֹם טוֹב עָשָׂה הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עִמָּנוּ אוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת, שֶׁהֵם הֶפֶךְ הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה נִתְגַלָּה הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ, וְאֵין שׁוּם חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע כְּלָל.
EN (our paraphrase): The revelation of the will comes through the festivals, for each festival proclaims, calls out and reveals the will, that everything runs only by His will, as in 'a holy calling.' The holy festival calls out and proclaims the will, for on each festival Hashem did awesome signs for us, against nature, by which the will was revealed: that all is by His will, with no compulsion of nature at all.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.2
בְּפֶסַח – יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּאוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת.
EN (our paraphrase): On Pesach, the Exodus from Egypt: He brought us out of Egypt with awesome signs.
Scene 12 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.3
בְּשָׁבוּעוֹת – מַתַּן תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנָּתַן לָנוּ הַתּוֹרָה בְּאוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת.
EN (our paraphrase): On Shavuos, the giving of the Torah: He gave us the Torah with awesome signs.
Scene 13 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.4
בְּסֻכּוֹת – הֶקֵּף עַנְנֵי כָּבוֹד. וְעַל כֵּן כָּל יוֹם טוֹב וְיוֹם טוֹב מַכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן בִּבְחִינַת מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל כֵּן הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים נִקְרָאִים רֶגֶל, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת יִרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): On Sukkos, the surrounding Clouds of Glory. So every festival proclaims and calls out the will, as 'a holy calling.' And that is why the festivals are called regel, which is the aspect of awe: through the festival, the revelation of the will, awe is made.
Part 4 — The Joy of Yom Tov and the Roar of the Beasts
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.5
אַךְ לֹא תָּמִיד שׁוֹמְעִין אֶת קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמְּגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶה נִכָּר בְּשִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב, כִּי כָל אֶחָד לְפִי מַה שֶּׁמַּרְגִּישׁ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ אֶת קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמַּכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן, כְּמוֹ־כֵן יֵשׁ לוֹ שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב,
EN (our paraphrase): But the voice of the festival's call, which reveals the will, is not always heard, and this shows in the joy of Yom Tov: each person has joy on the festival according to how much he feels and hears the voice of the festival's call, proclaiming the will.
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.6
כִּי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, אֲזַי יוֹדְעִים, שֶׁכָּל הַשִּׁעְבּוּדִים וְהַגָּלוּת וְכָל הַהַכְבָּדוֹת שֶׁל הָעַכּוּ"ם, שֶׁהֵם מַכְבִּידִים עָלֵינוּ – עַל כֻּלָּם יִנְקֹם בָּהֶם הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִגְאָלֵינוּ מִיָּדָם.
EN (our paraphrase): For when the will is revealed, that everything is by Hashem's will, then we know that all the servitudes and the exile and all the burdens the nations lay upon us, Hashem will repay them for all of it and redeem us from their hand.
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.7
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁסּוֹבְרִים, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, אֵין שַׁיָּךְ נְקָמָה בָּהֶם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג רַק עַל פִּי סֵדֶר הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
EN (our paraphrase): But when people think, Heaven forbid, that everything is by the compulsion of nature, there is no room for retribution against them, since everything runs only by the order of nature, Heaven forbid.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.8
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם, פְּעָמָיו יִרְחַץ בְּדַם הָרָשָׁע. פְּעָמָיו דַיְקָא. הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה, שֶׁהֵם הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים, שֶׁעַל יָדָם נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם וְכוּ', כַּנַּ"ל,
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'The righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution; he will wash his steps in the blood of the wicked.' 'His steps', pe'amav, precisely: through the three times, pe'amim, a year, which are the festivals, by which the will is revealed, through this 'the righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution.'
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.9
וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְיֹאמַר אָדָם אַךְ פְּרִי לַצַּדִּיק, אַךְ יֵשׁ אֱלֹקִים שֹׁפְטִים בָּאָרֶץ. דְּהַיְנוּ, שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֱלֹקִים שׁוֹפֵט בִּרְצוֹנוֹ, וְיֵשׁ פְּרִי לַצַּדִּיק, וּבָהֶם יִנְקֹם, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב, עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה בְּיוֹם טוֹב עַל־יְדֵי קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה, שֶׁהַיּוֹם טוֹב מַכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל,
EN (our paraphrase): As it is written there: 'And man will say, surely there is fruit for the righteous; surely there is Elokim judging on earth.' That is: it is revealed that there is Elokim who judges by His will, that there is fruit for the righteous, and that He repays the oppressors; and through this 'the righteous one will rejoice'. This is the joy of Yom Tov, through the revelation of the will, revealed on the festival by the voice of its call, as the festival proclaims and calls out the will.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.10
אַךְ לֹא כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה הַנַּ"ל שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, כִּי יֵשׁ חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת דּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים, וְהֵם חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁמַּרְאִין בְּחָכְמָתָם הַמֻּטְעֵית שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, וּכְאִלּוּ אֵין שׁוּם רָצוֹן, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וַאֲפִלּוּ הָאוֹתוֹת נוֹרָאוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה עִמָּנוּ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, מְשִׂימִים הַכֹּל בְּתוֹךְ דֶּרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע.
EN (our paraphrase): But not everyone hears the voice of the festival's call, for there are wild beasts that trample and tear: the scholars of nature, who show with their mistaken wisdom that everything is by nature, as if there were no will at all, Heaven forbid. Even the awesome signs Hashem did for us, they place within the way of nature.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.10
וְהַחֲכָמִים הַלָּלוּ הֵם בְּחִינַת חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, וְהֵם דּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים רַבִּים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ, שֶׁטּוֹעִים גַּם כֵּן אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְסוֹבְרִים כְּמוֹתָם, כְּאִלּוּ הַכֹּל עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּכְשֶׁהֵם מִתְגַּבְּרִים, אֲזַי קוֹל שַׁאֲגָתָם עוֹלֶה וּמִתְגַּבֵּר עַל קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁקּוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁבָּת שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי עִקָּר שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב – עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): These scholars are the wild beasts; they trample and tear many of our people, who are misled after them and think as they do, as if everything were by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid. When they grow strong, the sound of their roar rises over the voice of the festival's call to the will, and then the joy of Yom Tov ceases, Heaven forbid, for the main joy of the festival comes through the revelation of the will.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.11
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: שָׁאֲגוּ צֹרְרֶיךָ בְּקֶרֶב מוֹעֲדֶךָ, שָׂמוּ אוֹתֹתָם אֹתוֹת – שֶׁשַּׁאֲגַת הַצּוֹרְרִים, דְּהַיְנוּ קוֹל הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, שֶׁהֵם חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, נִכְנָס בְּקֶרֶב הַמּוֹעֲדִים מַמָּשׁ, הַיְנוּ בְּתוֹךְ קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמַּכְרִיז וְקוֹרֵא אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל, וְשַׁאֲגַת הַצּוֹרְרִים נִכְנָס בְּתוֹכָם מַמָּשׁ, וְשׁוֹאֲגִים בְּקוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל רַק עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּפִי סֵדֶר אוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם.
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'Your foes roared in the midst of Your appointed place; they set up their own signs as signs.' The roar of the foes, the voice of the wild beasts, the scholars of nature, enters right into the festivals, into the voice of the festival's call that proclaims the will. The roar enters right inside, and they roar that everything is only by the compulsion of nature, following the order of the signs of the heavens.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §6 · paragraph §6.11
וְזֶה: שָׂמוּ אוֹתֹתָם אֹתוֹת – שֶׁמְּשִׂימִים אוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם לְאוֹתוֹת, שֶׁאוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַכֹּל רַק עַל פִּי אוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּפִי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
EN (our paraphrase): And this is 'they set up their signs as signs': they make the signs of the heavens into the signs, saying that everything is only by the signs of the heavens, by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid.
Part 5 — The Brow of Will, the Serpent's Brow, and the Elders
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §7 · paragraph §7.1
וְהַכְנָעָתָם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, הוּא עַל־יְדֵי חָכָם גָּדוֹל שֶׁבִּקְּדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְקַשֵּׁר כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁשָּׁם הוּא בְּחִינַת הִסְתַּלְּקוּת מֹשֶׁה, כַּיָּדוּעַ. וְהוּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן, בְּחִינַת: וְהָיָה עַל מִצְחוֹ לְרָצוֹן. וְצָרִיךְ לְקַשֵּׁר כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה הוּא מִתְגַּבֵּר וּמַכְנִיעַ וְסוֹתֵר דֵּעוֹת חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁכּוֹפְרִים בְּרָצוֹן.
EN (our paraphrase): These wild beasts, the scholars of nature, are subdued through a great sage of holiness, who can bind all the wills to the root of will, where Moshe's passing took place, as is known from the Zohar. He is the aspect of the brow of will, as in 'it shall be on his forehead for favor', l'ratzon. He must bind all the wills in the world to the root of will, and through this he overcomes, subdues and refutes the views of the scholars of nature, who deny the will.
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §7 · paragraph §7.2
אַךְ כְּנֶגֶד זֶה יֵשׁ בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, כִּי כָל דָּבָר יֵשׁ לוֹ שֹׁרֶשׁ, וְשֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע הוּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, בְּחִינַת: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו, הַנֶּאֱמָר בְּגָלְיַת, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל, כִּי גָּלְיַת הָיָה כּוֹפֵר, וְהָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַרְאוֹת שֶׁכָּל הַסִּבּוֹת הַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל,
EN (our paraphrase): But opposite this stands the serpent's brow, the root of the wisdom of nature, for everything has a root, and the root of the wisdom of nature is the serpent's brow, as in 'and a copper greave upon his legs', said of Golyas. That is the serpent's brow, for Golyas was a denier who wanted to show that all causes are by nature, Heaven forbid; this is the serpent's brow.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §7 · paragraph §7.3
וְזֶהוּ: רַגְלָיו, בְּחִינַת סִבּוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אוֹתְךָ לְרַגְלִי – בְּסִבּוֹתַי, כִּי כֵן הוּא הַפֵּרוּשׁ שָׁם, שֶׁיַּעֲקֹב אָמַר לְלָבָן, שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ הָיָה מְסַבֵּב אֵלָיו הַבְּרָכָה עַל יָדוֹ וּבְסִבָּתוֹ. נִמְצָא שֶׁרֶגֶל הוּא בְּחִינַת סִבּוֹת. רַק שֶׁיַּעֲקֹב תָּלָה כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ כַּנַּ"ל, וְגָלְיַת הָיָה תוֹלֶה כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ בְּמֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, דְּהַיְנוּ בְּחִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, וְזֶהוּ: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו, כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): And this is 'his legs', raglav: the aspect of causes, as it is written, 'Hashem has blessed you l'ragli', through me, meaning by my cause. Yaakov told Lavan that Hashem had brought the blessing to him through him and because of him. So regel is the aspect of causes. Only, Yaakov attributed all causes to Hashem, while Golyas attributed all his causes to the serpent's brow, the compulsion of nature; and this is 'a copper greave upon his legs.'
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §7 · paragraph §7.4
וְלִפְעָמִים מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ בְּפֹעַל, דְּהַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּרָטִי, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק חָכְמָתוֹ מִמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, וְהוּא מַרְאֶה בְּחָכְמָתוֹ, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. וְיֵשׁ שֶׁנִּכְנָס בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, בְּתוֹךְ הֶחָכָם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְחָכְמָה זוֹ שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ מַתְחֶלֶת לִכָּנֵס עִמּוֹ מֵעִיּוּן לְעִיּוּן, עַד שֶׁנִּכְנָס בְּעִיּוּן דַּק מְאֹד, עַד שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהַטִּיל פְּגָם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן וְלִכְפֹּר שָׁם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּאִלּוּ אֵין רָצוֹן כְּלָל, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
EN (our paraphrase): Sometimes the serpent's brow grows strong in actual form, through a particular person who draws his wisdom from it and shows with his wisdom that everything is by nature, Heaven forbid. And sometimes the serpent's brow enters into the sage of holiness, and this wisdom begins to enter with him from inquiry to inquiry, until it enters a very subtle inquiry, until he wants to cast a flaw, Heaven forbid, in the root of will and deny it there, as if there were no will at all, Heaven forbid.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §8 · paragraph §8.1
וְדַע, שֶׁזֶּה הַמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ יְנִיקָתוֹ מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר, מִמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, כְּשֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם שְׁלֵמוּת, מִזֶּה יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל, כִּי זָקֵן – זֶה קָנָה חָכְמָה,
EN (our paraphrase): Know that this serpent's brow draws its nourishment from the elders of the generation, from those of long days in the generation, when they lack completeness. From this the serpent's brow feeds, for an elder, zaken, is one who has acquired wisdom.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §8 · paragraph §8.1
וְצָרִיךְ הָאָדָם, כָּל מַה שֶּׁמַּזְקִין, כָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּתּוֹסֵף וּבָא לוֹ יוֹם מִימֵי חַיָּיו, לְהוֹסִיף בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁבָּא אַחַר כָּךְ תּוֹסְפוֹת אוֹר קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: זִקְנֵי תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁמַּזְקִינִין, דַּעְתָּן מִתְיַשֶּׁבֶת עֲלֵיהֶן; כִּי צְרִיכִין בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁבָּא אַחַר כָּךְ לְהוֹסִיף בּוֹ קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹקִים לָאוֹר יוֹם – שֶׁכָּל יוֹם צָרִיךְ שֶׁיָּאִיר בְּיוֹתֵר כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): But when the elders, those of long days in the generation, damage their days and do not add the light of holiness and knowledge each day, the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, feeds from this, and the view of the wisdom of nature, which denies the will, grows strong, Heaven forbid, through the fall of knowledge and of days among the elders who are not as they should be.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §8 · paragraph §8.2
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהַזְּקֵנִים, הַמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, פּוֹגְמִים אֶת יְמֵיהֶם וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין אוֹר קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, מִזֶּה יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע הַנַּ"ל, כִּי מִנְּפִילַת הַיָּמִים שֶׁל הַזְּקֵנִים, אֲשֶׁר אֵין דַּעְתָּם מִתְיַשֶּׁבֶת כַּנַּ"ל, מִפְּגַם הַדַּעַת הַזֶּה שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הַזְּקֵנִים יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע וּמִתְגַּבֵּר, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, דַּעַת חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁכּוֹפְרִים בָּרָצוֹן עַל־יְדֵי נְפִילַת הַדַּעַת וְהַיָּמִים, שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים מֵהַזְּקֵנִים הַמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): But when the elders, those of long days in the generation, damage their days and do not add the light of holiness and knowledge each day, the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, feeds from this. From the fallen days of these elders, whose minds are not settled, from this flaw in their knowledge, the serpent's brow feeds, and the view of the wisdom of nature, which denies the will, grows strong, Heaven forbid, through the fallen knowledge and days of the elders who are not as they should be.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §8 · paragraph §8.3
וְזֶהוּ בְּחִינַת: קְצַר יָמִים, שְׂבַע רֹגֶז; הַיְנוּ שְׁתֵּי הַבְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל. קְצַר יָמִים זֶה בְּחִינַת הַזְּקֵנִים שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי, שֶׁאֵין מוֹסִיפִין קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת בְּכָל יוֹם, שֶׁזֶּהוּ עִקָּר הַזִּקְנָה וְהָאֲרִיכוּת יָמִים כַּנַּ"ל, וּכְשֶׁהַזְּקֵנִים פּוֹגְמִים אֶת יְמֵיהֶם וְאֵין מַאֲרִיכִין אֶת יְמֵיהֶם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת כַּנַּ"ל, זֶה בְּחִינַת קְצַר יָמִים, וּמִזֶּה יוֹנֵק מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא הֶפֶךְ מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן, וְזֶהוּ: שְׂבַע רֹגֶז – הֶפֶךְ הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'short of days and full of trouble.' Both aspects: 'short of days' is the elders who are not as they should be, who do not add holiness and knowledge each day, which is the essence of old age and long days. When the elders damage their days and do not lengthen them with holiness and knowledge, that is 'short of days', and from this feeds the serpent's brow, the opposite of the brow of will. And this is 'full of trouble', rogez, the opposite of will.
Scene 12 · LM II:4 §8 · paragraph §8.4
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהַזְּקֵנִים כָּרָאוּי, בְּחִינַת: זָקֵן – זֶה קָנָה חָכְמָה וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מִתְגַּבֵּר הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, בִּבְחִינַת: זָקֵן וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים – שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זָקֵן שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה מִתְגַּבֵּר הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת נְשׂוּא פָנִים, כִּי נְשִׂיאַת פָּנִים הוּא בְּחִינַת רָצוֹן,
EN (our paraphrase): But when the elders are as they should be, 'an elder is one who has acquired wisdom', the revelation of the will grows strong, as in 'the elder and the one whose face is lifted.' Through an elder of holiness the will grows strong, which is the aspect of 'lifted face', for lifting the face is the aspect of will,
Scene 13 · LM II:4 §8 · paragraph §8.4
כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אֱלִישָׁע לִיהוֹרָם: לוּלֵי פְּנֵי יְהוֹשָׁפָט אֲנִי נֹשֵׂא אִם אַבִּיט אֵלֶיךָ וְאִם אֶרְאֶךָּ – שֶׁאֱלִישָׁע לֹא הָיָה לוֹ שׁוּם רָצוֹן לִיהוֹרָם, רַק עַל־יְדֵי נְשִׂיאַת פָּנִים שֶׁל יְהוֹשָׁפָט, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְרַצָּה אֵלָיו. נִמְצָא שֶׁנְּשִׂיאוּת פָּנִים הוּא בְּחִינַת רָצוֹן, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת זָקֵן וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים, כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): as Elisha said to Yehoram: 'Were it not that I lift up the face of Yehoshafat, I would not look at you nor see you.' Elisha had no will toward Yehoram, only by lifting the face of Yehoshafat was he favorably disposed to him. So lifting the face is the aspect of will, and this is 'the elder and the one whose face is lifted.'
Part 6 — Charity Uproots the Serpent's Brow; Yaakov and Esav
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §9 · paragraph §9.1
וּצְדָקָה מוֹעִיל לָזֶה, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מְתַקְּנִין וּמַעֲלִין פְּגַם נְפִילַת הַיָּמִים וְהַדַּעַת שֶׁל הַזְּקֵנִים מַאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים, שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי, שֶׁמִּזֶּה יְנִיקַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל, בִּבְחִינַת: שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, כִּי בְרֹב הַיָּמִים תִּמְצָאֶנּוּ – שֶׁכֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה מוֹצְאִין בְּרֹב הַיָּמִים, דְּהַיְנוּ בְּמַאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מַעֲלִין וּמְתַקְּנִין הַפְּגָם שֶׁלָּהֶם כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): Charity helps for this. Through charity one repairs and raises the flaw of the fallen days and knowledge of the elders of long days who are not as they should be, from which the serpent's brow feeds, as in 'Send your bread upon the face of the waters, for in the multitude of days you will find it.' The power of charity is found in 'the multitude of days', in those of long days, for through charity their flaw is raised and repaired.
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §9 · paragraph §9.2
וְזֶהוּ: שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, הַיְנוּ שֶׁתִּתֵּן צְדָקָה, וְהַכָּתוּב מַבְטִיחֲךָ, שֶׁהַהֶפְסֵד שֶׁאַתָּה מַפְסִיד מָמוֹנְךָ שֶׁפִּזַּרְתָּ לִצְדָקָה תַּרְוִיחַ וְתִמְצָאֶנּוּ בְּרֹב הַיָּמִים, בְּמַאֲרִיכֵי יָמִים כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מַעֲלִין פְּגַם נְפִילַת הַדַּעַת שֶׁל הַמַּאֲרִיכֵי יָּמִים, שֶׁמִּזֶּה הוּא יְנִיקַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל, וּמוֹצִיאִין כָּל הַיְנִיקָה וְהַחִיּוּת שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, וּמִתְגַּבֵּר בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן.
EN (our paraphrase): This is 'Send your bread upon the face of the waters': give charity, and the verse promises you that the loss you take on the money you scattered to charity, you will gain back and find 'in the multitude of days', in those of long days. For through charity one raises the flaw of the fallen knowledge of those of long days, from which the serpent's brow feeds; one takes away all the nourishment and life of the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, and the brow of will grows strong.
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §9 · paragraph §9.3
כִּי עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה הִיא בִּבְחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, דְּהַיְנוּ מַה שֶׁצְּרִיכִים בַּהַתְחָלָה לְשַׁבֵּר הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, וּמִזֶּה בְּעַצְמוֹ מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן, כִּי מִנֵהּ וּבֵהּ אַבָּא לֵיזִיל בֵּהּ נַרְגָּא, מֵאַחַר שֶׁמִּתְגַּבֵּר וּמְהַפֵּךְ אַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁבְּטִבְעוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְהַפֵּךְ הָרֹגֶז לְרָצוֹן.
EN (our paraphrase): For the main service of charity is 'I have commanded the ravens': at the start one must break one's cruelty and turn it into compassion. From this itself the will grows strong, for 'from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe.' Since he overcomes the cruelty in his nature and turns it to compassion, through this the anger is turned into will.
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §9 · paragraph §9.4
וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּכְנָע מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ וְנִתְגַּלֶּה בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן, אֲזַי נִכְנָעִים וְנוֹפְלִים קוֹל הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה יְכוֹלִין לְקַבֵּל הַחֶסֶד כַּנַּ"ל. וּכְשֶׁשּׁוֹפֵעַ הַחֶסֶד, אֲזַי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם עֵסֶק וּמְלָאכָה כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי אֲזַי נִתְקַיֵּם: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם וְכוּ' וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ וְכוּ', כַּנַּ"ל. וְכָל זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל. נִמְצָא שֶׁתּוֹעֶלֶת הַצְּדָקָה גָּדוֹל מְאֹד:
EN (our paraphrase): Then, when the serpent's brow is subdued and the brow of will revealed, the voice of the wild beasts falls, and the festival's call is heard: the revelation of the will. When the will is revealed, awe is made, and through awe the kindness can be received. When kindness flows, no business or work is needed, for 'strangers shall stand and tend your flocks… and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' All this comes through charity. So its benefit is very great.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §10 · paragraph §10.1
וְעַל־כֵּן כְּשֶׁרָצָה יַעֲקֹב לַעֲשׂוֹת רָצוֹן בְּעֵשָׂו, אָמַר: וְלָקַחְתָּ מִנְחָתִי מִיָּדִי, כִּי עַל־כֵּן רָאִיתִי פָנֶיךָ כִּרְאֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים וַתִּרְצֵנִי.
EN (our paraphrase): That is why, when Yaakov wanted to win Esav's favor, ratzon, he said: 'Take my gift from my hand, for I have seen your face as one sees the face of Elokim, and you were pleased with me', vatirtzeini.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §10 · paragraph §10.2
כִּי גַּם מַה שֶּׁנּוֹתְנִין לָעַכּוּ"ם, הוּא גַּם־כֵּן בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וְנוֹגְשַׂיִךְ צְדָקָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה נַעֲשֶׂה רָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ: וְלָקַחְתָּ מִנְחָתִי מִיָּדִי, הַיְנוּ צְדָקָה, בְּחִינַת: מַגִּישֵׁי מִנְחָה בִּצְדָקָה.
EN (our paraphrase): For what is given to the nations is also a kind of charity, as our Sages said on 'and your taskmasters righteousness', tzedakah; and through charity, will is made. That is what he told him: 'Take my gift from my hand', meaning charity, as in 'they will bring an offering in righteousness.'
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §10 · paragraph §10.3
כִּי עַל־כֵּן רָאִיתִי פָנֶיךָ כִּרְאוֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים, הַיְנוּ כְּמוֹ רְאוֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹקִים, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת: שָׁלוֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה יֵרָאֶה כָל זְכוּרְךָ אֶת פְּנֵי ה', דְּהַיְנוּ יָמִים טוֹבִים, שֶׁעַל יָדָם נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, כְּמוֹ־כֵן יִהְיֶה נַעֲשֶׂה אֶצְלוֹ רָצוֹן עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה, וְזֶהוּ: וַתִּרְצֵנִי, כַּנַּ"ל. כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַמִּנְחָה וְהַצְּדָקָה שֶׁנָּתַן לְעֵשָׂו הִיא בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה מַמָּשׁ, בְּחִינַת: וְנוֹגְשַׂיִךְ צְדָקָה, נִמְצָא שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן הָעֶלְיוֹן, שֶׁהוּא נִתְגַּלֶּה עַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל, וּמִשָּׁם מִשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל הָרָצוֹן לְמַטָּה וְנַעֲשָׂה רָצוֹן גַּם בְּעֵשָׂו:
EN (our paraphrase): 'For I have seen your face as one sees the face of Elokim': like seeing the face of Elokim, which is 'three times a year all your males shall be seen before Hashem', the festivals, through which the will is revealed. So too will was made with Esav through the charity; and this is 'and you were pleased with me.'
Part 7 — David and Golyas
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.1, §11.2
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מִלְחֶמֶת דָּוִד וְגָלְיַת, כִּי גָּלְיַת הָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַרְאוֹת בְּחָכְמָתוֹ, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי הַטֶּבַע, כִּי הָיָה יוֹנֵק מִמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, בִּבְחִינַת: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו, שֶׁתָּלָה כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת בְּחִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל כֵּן חֵרֵף מַעַרְכוֹת אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים, כִּי הָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַרְאוֹת, שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל־יְדֵי מַעֲרֶכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּפִי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
EN (our paraphrase): This is the aspect of the battle of David and Golyas. For Golyas wanted to show with his wisdom that everything is by nature, for he fed from the serpent's brow, as in 'a copper greave upon his legs': he hung all causes on the compulsion of nature, which is the serpent's brow. That is why he taunted 'the ranks of the living Elokim', for he wanted to show that everything comes through the ranks, the order, of the heavens, by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid.
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.3, §11.4
וְדָוִד הָיָה אִישׁ חַיִל, וְעָמַד כְּנֶגְדּוֹ וְאָמַר, שֶׁכְּבָר הָיָה לוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה כָּזוֹ: וּבָא הָאֲרִי וְהַדּוֹב – דְּהַיְנוּ חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת הַנַּ"ל הַדּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים, שֶׁהֵם חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): And David was a man of valor; he stood against him and said that he had already had such an encounter: 'And there came the lion and the bear': the wild beasts that trample and tear, the scholars of nature.
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.5
וְנָשָׂא זֶה מֵהָעֵדֶר – הַיְנוּ מֵהֶעְדֵר הַגָּמוּר, שֶׁנָּשָׂא וְסִלֵּק זֹאת מֵהֶעְדֵּר הַגָּמוּר, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁכָּפַר בָּזֶה, שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּרָא הַכֹּל בִּרְצוֹנוֹ אַחַר הֶעְדֵּר הַגָּמוּר, רַק שֶׁהַכֹּל עַל פִּי חִיּוּב הַטֶּבַע, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And took a lamb from the flock', meha'eder: from complete absence, he'eder. He lifted and removed this from complete nothingness, meaning he denied that Hashem created everything by His will after complete nothingness, saying that all is by the compulsion of nature, Heaven forbid.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.6, §11.7
וְיָצָאתִי אַחֲרָיו וְהִכִּתִיו – הַיְנוּ שֶׁהָיִיתִי מִתְגַּבֵּר עָלָיו וְהִכְנַעְתִּי וְהִשְׁפַּלְתִּי אוֹתוֹ. וַיָּקָם עָלַי – הַיְנוּ שֶׁאַחַר כָּךְ הִתְגַּבֵּר עוֹד כְּנֶגְדִּי.
EN (our paraphrase): 'I went out after it and struck it': I overcame it, subdued it and brought it low. 'And it rose up against me': afterwards it grew strong against me again.
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.8
וְהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ – הַיְנוּ שֶׁהֵבַנְתִּי, שֶׁכָּל כֹּחוֹ וִינִיקָתוֹ עַל־יְדֵי מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר שֶׁאֵינָם כָּרָאוּי כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן הֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ, שֶׁהֶחֱזַקְתִּי וְתָפַסְתִּי שָׁם בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ יְנִיקָתוֹ בְּזִקְנֵי הַדּוֹר.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And I seized it by its beard', bizkano: I understood that all its strength and nourishment come through the serpent's brow, which feeds on the elders of the generation who are not as they should be. So I seized it by its beard, zakan: I grasped it there, at the root of its nourishment, in the elders, zekeinim, of the generation.
Scene 7 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.9
וְהִכִּתִיו וַהֲמִיתִּיו – שֶׁהִכְנַעְתִּי וְהִשְׁפַּלְתִּי אֶת חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ, בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ יְנִיקָתָם כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And struck it and killed it': I subdued and brought low the scholars of nature, the wild beasts, by seizing it by its beard, the root of their nourishment.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.10
וְעַל כֵּן: וְהָיָה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי כְּאֶחָד מֵהֶם – כִּי הוּא גַּם כֵּן בְּחִינָה זוֹ מַמָּשׁ, שֶׁכָּל כֹּחוֹ מִמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, בְּחִינַת: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן גַּם הוּא כְּמוֹתָם, וְאוּכַל לְהַכְנִיעוֹ וּלְהַפִּילוֹ.
EN (our paraphrase): So 'this Philistine shall be like one of them', for he is exactly this aspect: all his strength is from the serpent's brow, 'a copper greave'. So he too is like them, and I can subdue him and bring him down.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.11
וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב: וַתִּטְבַּע הָאֶבֶן בְּמִצְחוֹ – הַיְנוּ בְּמֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהִכְנִיעוֹ עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ, בְּחִינַת רָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): This is what is written: 'and the stone sank into his forehead', into the serpent's brow; he subdued it through 'a perfect stone is His will', the aspect of will.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.12
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת שֶׁהִזְהִיר יִשַׁי אֶת דָּוִד בְּלֶכְתּוֹ לְשָׁם: וְאֶת עֲרֻבָּתָם תִּקָּח. זֶה בְּחִינַת עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה. כִּי עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה – בִּבְחִינַת עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה הוּא מוֹצִיא הַחִיּוּת שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): This is the aspect of Yishai's instruction to David when he went there: 'and take their pledge', arubasam. This is the aspect of the raven, orev, the aspect of charity. For the main service of charity is the raven, 'I have commanded the ravens', for through charity he removes the life of the serpent's brow, which feeds on the elders of the generation.
Scene 12 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.13
וְדַע, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמַּכְנִיעִין וְסוֹתְרִין דֵּעוֹת חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע וּמַשְׁפִּילִין אוֹתָם, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אִם אֵין הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן חָזָק וְתַקִּיף, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁעֲדַיִן יֵשׁ סָפֵק בָּרָצוֹן, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְבֹרָר בְּבֵרוּר חָזָק שֶׁמִּתְנַהֵג רַק עַל פִּי הָרָצוֹן, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁחָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע נִכְנַעַת, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן מֵאַחַר שֶׁהָרָצוֹן אֵינוֹ חָזָק, עֲדַיִן יֵשׁ יְכֹלֶת, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לְמֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁיַּחֲזֹר וְיִתְעוֹרֵר וְיִתְגַּבֵּר כְּבַתְּחִלָּה, וְגַם עַל זֶה צְרִיכִין כֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה, כִּי הַצְּדָקָה מוֹעֶלֶת תָּמִיד וְעוֹמֶדֶת תָּמִיד כְּנֶגֶד מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): Know that even when the views of the scholars of nature are subdued and refuted, if the revelation of the will is not strong and firm, if there is still doubt, not clarified with strong clarity that all runs only by the will, then though the wisdom of nature is subdued, the serpent's brow can still, Heaven forbid, reawaken and grow strong as before. For this too the power of charity is needed, for charity always helps and always stands against the serpent's brow.
Part 8 — The Sailors, the Serpent, and the Precious Stone
Scene 2 · Bava Basra 74b, as quoted in LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.14
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: רַב יְהוּדָא הִנְדּוּאָה מִשְׁתָּעֵי: זִמְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה אָזְלֵינָא בִּסְפִינְתָּא וְחָזֵינָא הַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא דְּהָדַר לֵהּ תַּנִּינָא, וְנָחֵת בַּר אָמוֹרַאי לַאֲתוּיֵהּ. אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא, קָא בָּעֵי בָּלַע לִסְפִינְתָּא. אֲתָא צִפָּרָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁה. אִתְהֲפִכוּ מַיָּא וַהֲווֹ דְּמָא אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא חַבְרֵהּ, שְׁקַלֵהּ וְתָלְיָא לָהּ וְאַחְיֵהּ.
EN (our paraphrase): This is the meaning of the story told by Rav Yehudah the Indian: Once we were traveling on a ship, and we saw a precious stone with a sea-serpent coiled around it. A diver went down to bring it up. The serpent came and wanted to swallow the ship. A bird came and cut off its head. The waters turned into blood. Its companion serpent came, took the stone, hung it upon it, and revived it.
Scene 3 · Bava Basra 74b, as quoted in LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.14
הָדַר אָתֵי, קָא בָּעֵי בָּלְעָה לִסְפִינְתָּא. הָדַר אָתֵי צִפָּרָא, פְּסַקָה לְרֵישֵׁהּ, שְׁקַלֵהּ לְהַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא, שַׁדְיֵהּ לִסְפִינְתָּא. הֲוָה צִפָּרָא מְלִיחֵי בַּהֲדָן, אוֹתְבִינְהוּ עֲלַיְהוּ, שְׁקַלוּהוּ וּפְרַחוּ לְהוּ בַּהֲדֵהּ:
EN (our paraphrase): Again it came and wanted to swallow the ship. Again the bird came and cut off its head, took that precious stone and threw it into the ship. We had salted birds with us; we placed the stone upon them, they took it and flew away with it.
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.15
זִמְנָא חֲדָא אָזְלֵינָא בִּסְפִינְתָּא – זֶה בְּחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁשָּׁם קְבוּרַת מֹשֶׁה, שֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת סְפִינְתָּא, בְּחִינַת: כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן.
EN (our paraphrase): 'Once we were traveling on a ship': this is the aspect of the root of will, where Moshe is buried, for he passed away into the root of will. This is the ship, sefinta, as in 'for there the portion of the lawgiver is hidden', safun.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.16, §11.17
וְחָזֵינָא הַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא דְּהָדַר לֵהּ תַּנִּינָא – הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ, בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן הַנַּ"ל. דְּהָדַר לֵהּ תַּנִּינָא – זֶה מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁמְּסַבֵּב וּמִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And we saw a precious stone': this is 'a perfect stone is His will', the aspect of the will. 'With a sea-serpent coiled around it': this is the serpent's brow, which surrounds and overpowers the will.
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.18
וְנָחֵת בַּר אָמוֹרַאי לַאֲתוּיֵהּ – הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת הֶחָכָם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה, בְּחִינַת: אֱמֹר לַחָכְמָה אֲחוֹתִי אָתְּ, שֶׁהֶחָכָם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה רָצָה לְהִתְגַּבֵּר וּלְהַעֲלוֹת הָרָצוֹן, לְקַשְׁרוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'A diver, bar Amorai, went down to bring it': the sage of holiness, as in 'say to wisdom, you are my sister', emor. The sage of holiness wanted to grow strong and raise the will, to bind it to the root of will.
Scene 7 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.19
אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא קָא בָּעֵי בָּלַע לִסְפִינְתָּא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁבָּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, וְרָצָה לִבְלֹעַ הַסְּפִינָה, בְּחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, בְּחִינַת: כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן, כִּי מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ רָצָה לְהִתְגַּבֵּר גַּם בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, לְהַטִּיל פְּגָם וּכְפִירָה שָׁם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'The serpent came and wanted to swallow the ship': the serpent's brow, root of the wisdom of nature, came and wanted to swallow the ship, the root of will, 'there the lawgiver's portion is hidden'; for the serpent's brow wanted to overpower even the root of will, to cast a flaw and denial there, Heaven forbid.
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.20, §11.21
אֲתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא – הַיְנוּ עוֹרֵב, פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ. פֵּרוּשׁ, שֶׁבָּא בְּחִינַת עוֹרֵב, דְּהַיְנוּ צְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי עִקָּר עֲבוֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה – בִּבְחִינַת עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי וְכוּ'; לַהֲפֹךְ אַכְזָרִיּוּת לְרַחֲמָנוּת, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה מִתְגַּבְּרִים עַל מֵצַּח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי מִנֵּהּ וּבֵהּ אַבָּא לֵיזִיל בֵּהּ נַרְגָּא כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'A bird came', pushkantza: that is, a raven. 'It cut off its head': the raven, the aspect of charity, came; for the main service of charity is the raven, 'I have commanded the ravens', to turn cruelty into compassion. Through this one overcomes the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, for 'from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe.'
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.22
וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאֲתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, דְּהַיְנוּ עוֹרֵב, בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, וּפְסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ, שֶׁחָתַךְ רֹאשׁ הַנָּחָשׁ בְּחִינוֹת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהִכְנִיעוֹ וַהֲרָגוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): So the bird came, the raven, the aspect of charity, and cut off its head: it cut off the serpent's head, the serpent's brow, subduing and slaying it through charity.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.23
אִתְהֲפִכוּ מַיָּא וַהֲווֹ דְּמָא – הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה שֶׁהִכְנִיעַ מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִכְנְעוּ וְנָפְלוּ קוֹל שַׁאֲגַת הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, הַדּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים רַבִּים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ כַּנַּ"ל, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, וַאֲזַי: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'The waters turned into blood': when he subdued the serpent's brow, root of the wisdom of nature, the roaring voice of the wild beasts, who trample and tear many of our people, was subdued and fell. Then the voice of the festival's call is heard, the revelation of the will; and then 'the righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution.'
Scene 12 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.24
וְזֶהוּ אִתְהֲפִכוּ מַיָּא – הַיְנוּ שַׁאֲגַת הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, בְּחִינַת: יִתְּכוּ כַמַּיִם שַׁאֲגֹתָי. וַהֲווֹ דְּמָא – זֶה בְּחִינַת: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם, פְּעָמָיו יִרְחַץ בְּדַם הָרָשָׁע כַּנַּ"ל. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַכְנָעַת קוֹל שַׁאֲגַת הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה: יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם וְכוּ', כִּי נִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): So 'the waters turned' is the roar of the wild beasts, as in 'my roarings pour out like water.' 'And became blood' is 'the righteous one will rejoice when he sees retribution; he will wash his steps in the blood of the wicked.' For through subduing the roar of the beasts, 'the righteous one rejoices', since the voice of the festival's call is heard.
Scene 13 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.25
אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא חַבְרֵהּ, שְׁקַלֵהּ וְתָלְיָא לֵהּ וְאַחְיֵהּ – שֶׁבָּא בְּחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, וּשְׁקַלֵהּ לָאֶבֶן טוֹב הַנַּ"ל, שֶׁנָּטַל אֶת הָאֶבֶן טוֹב, בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ. וְתָלְיָא לֵהּ, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהִטִּיל בּוֹ סָפֵק, וְזֶהוּ: וְתָלְיָא לֵהּ, כְּמוֹ דָּבָר הַתּוֹלֶה בְּסָפֵק, שֶׁהִטִּיל סָפֵק בָּרָצוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אֶבֶן טוֹב הַנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה וְאַחְיֵהּ – שֶׁחָזַר וְחָיָה חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, כִּי חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע חָזְרָה וְנִתְגַּבְּרָה עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה סָפֵק בְּרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'Its companion serpent came, took it, hung it and revived it': the serpent's brow came and took the precious stone, 'a perfect stone is His will'. 'Hung it', talya: it cast doubt into it, like something hanging in doubt, doubt about the will, the precious stone. Through this 'it revived it': the wisdom of nature, the serpent's brow, came back to life, for it grew strong again through the doubt in the will.
Scene 14 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.26, §11.27
וְזֶהוּ: הָדַר אָתֵי קָא בָּעֵי בָּלְעָה לִסְפִינְתָּא – שֶׁחָזַר וּבָא הַתַּנִּין מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ לִבְלֹעַ הַסְּפִינָה, בְּחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כַּנַּ"ל. הָדַר אָתֵי צִפָּרָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ – הַיְנוּ שֶׁחָזַר וּבָא הָעוֹרֵב בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל, וּפְסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ, שֶׁהָרַג אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ וְהִכְנִיעוֹ, כִּי תָּמִיד מַכְנִיעִין אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): So 'again it came and wanted to swallow the ship': the serpent, the serpent's brow, came again to swallow the ship, the root of will, Heaven forbid. 'Again the bird came and cut off its head': the raven, charity, came again and killed the serpent's brow and subdued it, for the serpent's brow is always subdued through charity.
Scene 15 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.28
וּשְׁקַלֵהּ לְהַהוּא אֶבֶן טָבָא וְשַׁדְיֵהּ לִסְפִינְתָּא – כִּי אַחַר שֶׁהִכְנִיעַ אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, לְגַמְרֵי, אֲזַי נָטַל אֶת הָאֶבֶן טוֹב, בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן, בְּחִינַת: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ, וְשַׁדְיֵהּ לִסְפִינְתָּא – שֶׁהִשְׁלִיכוֹ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁשָּׁם מְקַשְּׁרִין כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): 'And took that precious stone and threw it into the ship': once it had completely subdued the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature, it took the precious stone, the will, 'a perfect stone is His will', and threw it into the ship: it cast it into the root of will, where all the wills are bound.
Scene 16 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.29
הֲוָה צִפֳּרֵי מְלִיחֵי בַּהֲדָן, אוֹתְבִינְהוּ עֲלַיהוּ, שְׁקַלוּהוּ וּפְרַחוּ לְהוּ, פֵּרוּשׁ, שֶׁהָיָה עִמָּנוּ צִפֳּרֵי מְלִיחֵי, הַיְנוּ נַפְשׁוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ שֶׁטָּעוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם, אַחֲרֵי חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת, שֶׁדּוֹרְסִים וְטוֹרְפִים רַבִּים מִבְּנֵי עַמֵּנוּ כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'We had salted birds with us; we placed it upon them, they took it and flew away': we had with us salted birds, the souls of Israel from among our people who had strayed after the scholars of nature, the wild beasts that trample and tear many of our people.
Scene 17 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.30
וְזֶהוּ: צִפֳּרֵי מְלִיחֵי, כִּי הֵם כַּצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחֻזוֹת בַּפָּח. וְזֶהוּ מְלִיחֵי – לְשׁוֹן מְמֻלָּח, הַיְנוּ מְבֻלְבָּל, כִּי גַּם הֵם נִתְבַּלְבְּלוּ עַל־יְדֵי חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת הַנַּ"ל, וְטָעוּ גַּם כֵּן אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְעַכְשָׁו פָּרְחוּ לְהוּ וְיָצְאוּ לְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי הָאֶבֶן טוֹב הַנַּ"ל, עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת הָרָצוֹן שֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה עַתָּה כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): So 'salted birds', for they are 'like birds caught in a snare'. And 'salted', meluchim, means mixed up: they too were confused by the wild beasts and strayed after them. Now they flew away and went out in peace, through the precious stone, through the will that has now been revealed.
Scene 18 · LM II:4 §11 · paragraph §11.31
וַאֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלֶּה הָרָצוֹן, אֲזַי נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה מְקַבְּלִין הַחֶסֶד כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה גַּם כֵּן בְּחִינַת פָּרְחוּ, בְּחִינַת: וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן לְבֵית לֵוִי, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת הַשְׁפָּעַת הַחֶסֶד עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה, שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): And when the will is revealed, awe is made, and through awe one receives the kindness. This too is the aspect of 'they flew', parchu, as in 'behold, the staff of Aharon of the house of Levi had blossomed', parach: the flow of kindness through awe, which comes through the revelation of the will.
Part 9 — The Festivals and Charity as Healing
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.1
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת רְפוּאוֹת, כִּי הוּא רְפוּאָה לְכָל הַמַּכּוֹת, כִּי כָל בְּחִינוֹת אֵלּוּ הֵם בְּחִינַת רְפוּאוֹת.
EN (our paraphrase): This is the aspect of healing, for He is the healing for all wounds; all these aspects are aspects of healing.
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.2
צְדָקָה הִיא רְפוּאָה, בִּבְחִינַת: צְדָקָה מַרְפֵּא בִּכְנָפֶיהָ. זָקֵן – זֶה קָנָה חָכְמָה, הוּא בְּחִינַת רְפוּאָה, בִּבְחִינַת: לְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּא. רָצוֹן הוּא בְּחִינַת רְפוּאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: ה' שְׁלָחַנִי לַחֲבֹשׁ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי לֵב, לִקְרֹא שְׁנַת רָצוֹן. מְלֶאכֶת מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית הוּא רְפוּאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וַתַּעַל אֲרוּכָה לַמְּלָאכָה בְּיָדָם.
EN (our paraphrase): Charity is healing, as in 'righteousness, with healing in its wings.' An elder, one who has acquired wisdom, is healing, as in 'the tongue of the wise is healing.' Will is healing, as it is written, 'Hashem has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted… to proclaim a year of will', ratzon. The work of Creation is healing, as it is written, 'and the work prospered', literally 'healing rose up for the work in their hands.'
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.3
כִּי רְפוּאוֹת הַמַּכָּה הִיא עַל־יְדֵי כַּמָּה בְּחִינוֹת. שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה צְרִיכִין שֶׁיֻּפְתַּח פִּי הַמַּכָּה, אַחַר כָּךְ צָרִיךְ כֹּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁךְ, שֶׁיִּמְשֹׁךְ וְיוֹצִיא הַלֵּחָה וְהַדָּמִים הַמְקֻלְקָלִים מִתּוֹךְ הַמַּכָּה, אַחַר־כָּךְ צְרִיכִין לְהָדִיחַ כָּל הַדָּמִים, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה בָּהֶם שׁוּם קִלְקוּל וַעֲכִירוּת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ הַדָּמִים לֵילֵךְ וּלְסַבֵּב כָּל סֵדֶר סִבּוּבָם כְּסֵדֶר בְּלִי שׁוּם עִכּוּב.
EN (our paraphrase): For healing a wound takes several stages. First the wound must be opened. Then a drawing force is needed to draw out the damaged fluid from within the wound. Then all the blood must be cleansed, so that no damage or murkiness remains in it, so that it can flow and circulate in its full order without any holdup.
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.3
כִּי כְּשֶׁהַדָּמִים הוֹלְכִים וּמְסַבְּבִים בַּגּוּף כְּדַרְכָּם, כְּשֶׁבָּאִים לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ קִלְקוּל, דְּהַיְנוּ בִּמְקוֹם הַמַּכָּה, נִתְעַכְּבִים שָׁם, וְשָׁם נִתְעַכֵּב וְנִמְשָׁךְ כָּל עֲכִירוּת וְקִלְקוּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּהַדָּמִים, כִּי כֵן הַדֶּרֶךְ – שֶׁבַּמָּקוֹם הַמְּקֻלְקָל שָׁם נִתְעַכֵּב כָּל מִינֵי עֲכִירוּת וְקִלְקוּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּהַדָּמִים, וַאֲזַי נִתְעַכְּבִים שָׁם הַדָּמִים, וְאֵין יְכוֹלִים לְסַבֵּב סִבּוּבָם כְּסֵדֶר הִלּוּכָם וּמְרוּצָתָם,
EN (our paraphrase): For when the blood flows and circulates through the body in its way and reaches a place where there is damage, the place of the wound, it is held up there, and all the murkiness and damage in the blood is held up and drawn there; for that is the way, that every kind of murkiness gathers at the damaged place. Then the blood is held up there and cannot circulate in the order of its course.
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.3
כִּי יֵשׁ לְהַדָּמִים סֵדֶר הַהִלּוּךְ, שֶׁהוֹלְכִים וּמְסַבְּבִים הַגּוּף כָּךְ וְכָךְ פְּעָמִים בְּשָׁעָה, וְכַיּוֹצֵא, וּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם עֲכִירוּת, נִתְעַכְּבִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַמְּקֻלְקָל כַּנַּ"ל, וְאֵינָם יְכוֹלִים לְסַבֵּב כַּסֵּדֶר, עַל־כֵּן צְרִיכִין לַהֲדִיחָם וּלְכַבְּסָם. אַחַר כָּךְ צְרִיכִים לִסְגֹּר פִּי הַמַּכָּה.
EN (our paraphrase): For the blood has an order of movement, circulating through the body so many times an hour, and so on; when there is murkiness, it is held up at the damaged place and cannot circulate in order. So it must be cleansed and washed. Afterwards the opening of the wound must be closed.
Scene 7 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.4, §12.5
וְכָל אֵלּוּ בְּחִינוֹת רְפוּאוֹת נַעֲשִׂים עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל, כִּי צְדָקָה הִיא בְּחִינַת פְּתִיחַת פִּי הַמַּכָּה, בִּבְחִינַת: פָּתוֹחַ תִּפְתַּח.
EN (our paraphrase): All these stages of healing come through the aspects above: charity is the opening of the wound, as in 'you shall surely open your hand.'
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.6
חָכְמָה הִיא בְּחִינַת כֹּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁךְ, בִּבְחִינַת: וּמֶשֶׁךְ חָכְמָה מִפְּנִינִים – מִלִּפְנַי וְלִּפְנִים עַל פָּסוּק: יְקָרָה הִיא מִפְּנִינִים – מִלִּפְנַי וְלִפְנִים, עַיֵּן שָׁם, שֶׁבְּחִינַת חָכְמָה מוֹשֶׁכֶת וּמוֹצִיאָה הַקִּלְקוּל מִלִּפְנַי וְלִפְנִים, מִכָּל מְקוֹמוֹת הַפְּנִימִיִּים.
EN (our paraphrase): Wisdom is the drawing force, as in 'the drawing of wisdom is above pearls', peninim, which our Sages read as 'from the innermost', lifnai velifnim. Wisdom draws out the damage from the innermost, from all the inner places.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.7
רֶגֶל שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת הֲדָחַת וְכִבּוּס הַדָּמִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ הַדָּמִים לְסַבֵּב סִבּוּבָם כַּסֵּדֶר. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת רֶגֶל, בְּחִינַת: עֵין רוֹגֵל – עֵין כּוֹבֵס, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י שָׁם. הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל יְדֵי רֶגֶל וְיוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת הֲדָחַת וְכִבּוּס הַדָּמִים כַּנַּ"ל, וַאֲזַי יְכוֹלִים הַדָּמִים לְסַבֵּב כַּסֵּדֶר.
EN (our paraphrase): Regel, the festival, which is the revelation of the will, brings about the rinsing and washing of the blood, so that it can circulate in order. This is regel as in Ein Rogel, 'the washer's spring', as Rashi explains there. Through the regel, the festival, the revelation of the will, the blood is rinsed and washed, and then it can circulate in order.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.7
וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָא הָרֶגֶל חַג – לְשׁוֹן סִבּוּב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: הַיֹּשֵׁב עַל חוּג הָאָרֶץ – עַל סִבּוּב הָאָרֶץ, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הֲדָחַת וְכִבּוּס הַדָּמִים, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה הֵם מְסַבְּבִים כַּסֵּדֶר כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): That is why the festival is called chag, meaning circling, as it is written, 'He sits upon the circle, chug, of the earth': the circuit of the earth. For through rinsing and washing the blood, it circulates in order.
Scene 11 · LM II:4 §12 · paragraph §12.8, §12.9
מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית – דְּהַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינוֹת אֵלּוּ הַנַּ"ל זוֹכִין לְהַשְׁפָּעַת הַחֶסֶד, שֶׁיִּתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, בְּחִינַת: וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינָה זוֹ, בְּחִינַת כֹּהֵן, חֶסֶד – עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִסְגָּר פִּי הַמַּכָּה, בִּבְחִינַת: וְהִסְגִּיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַנֶּגַע; שֶׁעַל יְדֵי בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, בְּחִינַת כֹּהֵן, נִסְגָּר הַמַּכָּה לְגַמְרֵי וְנִתְרַפֵּא בִּשְׁלֵמוּת:
EN (our paraphrase): The work of Creation is 'the world is built on kindness'. For through these aspects one merits the flow of kindness, that the world should stand by His kindness, 'and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' Through this aspect, the kohen, kindness, the opening of the wound is closed, as in 'and the kohen shall close up the affliction': through kindness, the kohen, the wound closes completely and is fully healed.
Part 10 — The Verse of Shavuos, and the Whole Torah as One
Scene 2 · LM II:4 §13 · paragraph §13.1, §13.2
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים – זֶה בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלָה, בְּחִינַת צָרָה כְּמַבְכִּירָה. וְאֵיזֶהוּ הַתְחָלָה,
EN (our paraphrase): This is the meaning of the verse: 'And on the day of the first fruits', bikkurim: this is the aspect of a beginning, as in 'distress as of one bearing her first child', mavkirah. And what is the beginning?
Scene 3 · LM II:4 §13 · paragraph §13.3
בְּהַקְרִיבְכֶם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה' – הַיְנוּ הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה, כְּשֶׁמַּתְחִילִין מֵחָדָשׁ לִתֵּן צְדָקָה. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה, בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה חֲדָשָׁה, בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה. כִּי מִנְחָה בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: מַגִּישֵׁי מִנְחָה בִּצְדָקָה. וְעַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה נִתְתַּקֵּן בְּחִינַת זָקֵן כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶהוּ:
EN (our paraphrase): 'When you bring a new meal-offering to Hashem': the beginning of charity, when one begins anew to give charity. This is a new offering, a new charity, the beginning of charity; for an offering, mincha, is charity, as it is written, 'they bring an offering in righteousness.' And through charity the aspect of the elder is repaired, and this is:
Scene 4 · LM II:4 §13 · paragraph §13.4
בְּשָׁבֻעֹתֵיכֶם – זֶה בְּחִינַת זָקֵן, כִּי בְּסִינַי נִדְמָה לָהֶם כְּזָקֵן, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת הַתְחָלַת הַצְּדָקָה, נִתְתַּקֵּן בְּחִינַת זָקֵן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת שָׁבוּעוֹת כַּנַּ"ל, וַאֲזַי נִתְבַּטֵּל יְנִיקָתוֹ שֶׁל מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר שֶׁאֵינָם כְּתִקּוּנוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמְּגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ:
EN (our paraphrase): 'On your Shavuos': this is the aspect of the elder, for at Sinai He appeared to them like an elder, as Rashi explains. Through the new offering, the beginning of charity, the aspect of the elder is repaired, which is the aspect of Shavuos. Then the nourishment of the serpent's brow, which feeds on the elders of the generation who are not as they should be, is cancelled, and the voice of the festival's call is heard, revealing the will. And this is:
Scene 5 · LM II:4 §13 · paragraph §13.5
מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם – הַיְנוּ קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב שֶׁהוּא הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, שֶׁזֶּה בְּחִינַת מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ כַּנַּ"ל, שֶׁהוּא נִשְׁמַע עַתָּה עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה, שֶׁמַּכְנִיעַ אֶת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע, כַּנַּ"ל. וַאֲזַי עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן, כָּל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ –
EN (our paraphrase): 'It shall be a holy calling for you': the voice of the festival's call, the revelation of the will, which is 'a holy calling', now heard through charity, which subdues the serpent's brow, the wisdom of nature. And then, through the revelation of the will, 'you shall do no work of labor':
Scene 6 · LM II:4 §13 · paragraph §13.6, §13.7
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן נַעֲשֶׂה יִרְאָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי יִרְאָה נִשְׁפָּע חֶסֶד, וַאֲזַי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, בִּבְחִינַת: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה, וַאֲזַי: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם וְכוּ', וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ, כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ: כָּל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ – כִּי אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה וְשׁוּם עֵסֶק, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, בְּחִינַת: וְאַתֶּם כֹּהֲנֵי ה' תִּקָּרֵאוּ, כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): for through the revelation of the will awe is made, and through awe kindness flows, and then no work is needed, for the world stands by His kindness, 'the world is built on kindness', and then 'strangers shall stand and tend your flocks… and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.' And this is 'you shall do no work of labor': for no work or business at all is needed, since the world stands by His kindness, 'and you shall be called the kohanim of Hashem.'
Scene 8 · LM II:4 §14 · paragraph §14.1
יֵשׁ חִלּוּק בֵּין הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת וּבֵין הַמֵּצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, כִּי חַכְמֵי הַטֶּבַע שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חַיּוֹת רָעוֹת הֵם הַחֲכָמִים שֶׁאוֹחֲזִים בְּחָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע לַהֲנָּאָתָם, כִּי יֵשׁ לָהֶם הֲנָאָה מִזֶּה, כְּדֵי לְהַחֲזִיק דַּעַת וָשֶׁקֶר שֶׁלָּהֶם וְכַיּוֹצֵא. אֲבָל הֶחָכָם שֶׁהוּא בִּבְחִינַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, הוּא רָשָׁע וְכוֹפֵר בְּלִי שׁוּם הֲנָאָה, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם הֲנָאָה מֵחָכְמָתוֹ, רַק הוּא רָשָׁע וְכוֹפֵר בְּלִי שׁוּם הֲנָאָה כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): There is a difference between the wild beasts and the serpent's brow. The scholars of nature who are the wild beasts hold to the wisdom of nature for their own benefit; they gain something from it, to uphold their views and their falsehood and the like. But the wise man who is the serpent's brow is wicked and a denier with no benefit at all; he gains nothing from his wisdom, yet he is wicked and a denier with no benefit, as above.
Scene 9 · LM II:4 §15 · paragraph §15.1
כְּלַל הַמַּאֲמָר כֻּלּוֹ אֶחָד, וְכֻלּוֹ קָשׁוּר זֶה בָּזֶה, שֶׁהַצְּדָקָה הִיא קָשָׁה מְאֹד בַּהַתְחָלָה, אֲבָל הַתּוֹעֶלֶת שֶׁל הַצְּדָקָה גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה וְעֵסֶק, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מוֹצִיאִין יְנִיקַת מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ שֶׁיּוֹנֵק מִזִּקְנֵי הַדּוֹר, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁמָע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁמְּגַלֶּה אֶת הָרָצוֹן, וַאֲזַי נִתְגַלֶּה יִרְאָה, כִּי עִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה – עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן,
EN (our paraphrase): The whole teaching is one, all bound together. Charity is very hard at the beginning, but its benefit is very great, for through charity one need not do any work or business, since the world stands by His kindness. For through charity the serpent's brow, which feeds from the elders of the generation, loses its nourishment; then the voice of the festival's call, which reveals the will, is heard; and then awe is revealed, for the main source of awe is the revelation of the will.
Scene 10 · LM II:4 §15 · paragraph §15.1
וְעַל יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַשְׁפָּעַת הַחֶסֶד, כִּי בְּלֹא הַכְּלִי וְהַצִּנּוֹר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְקַבֵּל אֶת הַחֶסֶד, רַק עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּרְאָה שֶׁהוּא צִנּוֹר וּכְלִי, עַל יָדָהּ מְקַבְּלִין אֶת הַחֶסֶד, וַאֲזַי מִתְקַיֵּם הָעוֹלָם בְּחַסְדּוֹ, וְאָז אֵין צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם מְלָאכָה, כִּי נִתְקַיֵּם: וְעָמְדוּ זָרִים וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם וְכוּ', כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): Through awe a vessel and channel is made to receive the flow of kindness, for without the vessel and channel the kindness cannot be received; only through awe, the channel and vessel, is kindness received. Then the world stands by His kindness, and then no work is needed, for 'strangers shall stand and tend your flocks' is fulfilled.
Hebrew phrases in the Explainer
Scene 2 · §1.2: לְשַׁבֵּר אֶת הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת שֶׁלּוֹ לְהָפְכוֹ לְרַחֲמָנוּת,
Scene 3 · §2.1: כִּי כָל הַתְחָלוֹת קָשׁוֹת,
Scene 4 · §2.4: פָּתוֹחַ תִּפְתַּח;
Scene 5 · §3.3: נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בְּחִינַת מִשְׁכָּן.
Scene 6 · §3.5: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה.
Scene 7 · §4.1: נַעֲשֶׂה חֲקִיקָה וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַחֶסֶד,
Scene 8 · §5.1: וְעִקָּר הַיִּרְאָה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָרָצוֹן,
Scene 9 · §6.4: הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים נִקְרָאִים רֶגֶל,
Scene 10 · §6.5: שִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב,
Scene 11 · §6.11: שָׁאֲגוּ צֹרְרֶיךָ בְּקֶרֶב מוֹעֲדֶךָ,
Scene 12 · §7.1: וְהָיָה עַל מִצְחוֹ לְרָצוֹן.
Scene 13 · §7.2: וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו,
Scene 14 · §8.1: לְהוֹסִיף בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁבָּא אַחַר כָּךְ תּוֹסְפוֹת אוֹר קְדֻשָּׁה וָדַעַת,
Scene 15 · §9.1: שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם, כִּי בְרֹב הַיָּמִים תִּמְצָאֶנּוּ
Scene 16 · §10.1: וַתִּרְצֵנִי.
Scene 17 · §11.11: וַתִּטְבַּע הָאֶבֶן בְּמִצְחוֹ
Scene 18 · §11.27: הָדַר אָתֵי צִפָּרָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, פְּסַקֵהּ לְרֵישֵׁהּ
Scene 19 · §12.2: צְדָקָה מַרְפֵּא בִּכְנָפֶיהָ.
Scene 20 · §13.3: מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַה'
Scene 21 · §15.1: כְּלַל הַמַּאֲמָר כֻּלּוֹ אֶחָד,
Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap
Scene 2 · §1.3: וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: וְאֶת הָעֹרְבִים צִוִּיתִי לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ;
Scene 3 · §7.2: מֵצַח הַנָּחָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא שֹׁרֶשׁ חָכְמַת הַטֶּבַע,
Scene 4 · §6.1: מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁהַיּוֹם טוֹב קֹדֶשׁ קוֹרֵא וּמַכְרִיז אֶת הָרָצוֹן
Scene 5 · §4.1: לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר לְקַבֵּל עַל יָדוֹ הַחֶסֶד.