Daf 48a (דַּף מ״ח ע״א)

For during the exile miracles are likewise performed through them (כִּי בִּזְמַן הַגָּלוּת גַּם כֵּן נַעֲשִׂים נִסִּים עַל יָדָם), since we are not worthy that a miracle be performed for us through the angels (כֵּיוָן שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ זוֹכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ נֵס ע״י הַמַּלְאָכִים), and it is the storm wind that stirs the sediments, one against another (וְהוּא הָרוּחַ סְעָרָה הַסּוֹעֵר הַשְּׁמָרִים אֶחָד אֶל אֶחָד), and surrounds the sparks of purity (וּמְסַבְּבוֹת הַנִּיצוֹצֵי טָהֳרָה), which are the wine within these sediments (הֵם הַיַּיִן שֶׁבַּשְּׁמָרִים הַלָּלוּ), so that they cannot ascend above (שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ לַעֲלוֹת לְמַעְלָה), and, “Upon the head of the wicked shall whirl the storm of fury” (וְאַף עַל רֹאשׁ הָרְשָׁעִים יָחוּל סַעַר חֵמָה) (Jeremiah 30:23), in Gehinnom (בְּגֵיהִנָּם), and this is what the verse means by, “a mighty wind” (וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב רוּחַ חָזָק) (I Kings 19:11), for it comes from mighty Gevurah [Power of Judgment] (כִּי הוּא בָּא מִגְּבוּרָה חֲזָקָה), and from the Fire of Nogah [Brightness] through the Heikhal [Palace] of Nogah [Brightness] (וְאֵשׁ שֶׁל נוֹגַהּ ע״י הֵיכַל הַנּוֹגַהּ), and this spirit kindles the fire more and more (וְהָרוּחַ הַזֶּה מְלַהֵט הָאֵשׁ יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר), and this spirit shatters mountains and breaks rocks (וְהָרוּחַ הַזֶּה מְפָרֵק הָרִים וּמְשַׁבֵּר סְלָעִים), namely the seven Heikhalot [Palaces] of Nukvah, which are called mountains (הֵם הַז׳ הֵיכָלוֹת דְּנוּקְבֵיהּ הַנִּקְרָאִים הָרִים), while the seven compartments spreading from them in the World of Yetzirah are called rocks (וְז׳ מְדוֹרִין הַמִּתְפַּשְּׁטִים מֵהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַיְצִירָה נִקְרָאִים סְלָעִים), and within them the Nefashot [Souls] stand (וּבָהֶם עוֹמְדִים הַנְּפָשׁוֹת), while in the seven mountains the Ruchot [Spirits] stand (וּבְז׳ הָרִים עוֹמְדוֹת הָרוּחוֹת), but they do not attach themselves to the seven Heikhalot [Palaces] of Ze'ir Anpin (אֲבָל בְּז׳ הֵיכְלֵי זְעֵיר אֵינָם מִתְדַּבְּקִים שָׁם), for there is the mystery of the Neshamah [Soul], which is entirely good and contains no sin whatsoever (כִּי שָׁם סוֹד נְשָׁמָה אֲשֶׁר כֻּלָּהּ טוֹב וְאֵין בָּהּ שׁוּם חֵטְא), therefore the storm wind begins its hold from the seven mountains of the Heikhalot [Palaces] of Nukvah, in which the Ruchot [Spirits] stand (וְלָכֵן הָרוּחַ סְעָרָה מַתְחִיל אֲחִיזָתוֹ מִז׳ הָרִים שֶׁל הֵיכְלֵי נוּקְבֵיהּ אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם עוֹמְדוֹת הָרוּחוֹת), and it breaks the attachment of the mountains that seek to cleave to the seven above of the Male (וּמְפָרֵק דְּבֵקוּת הָרִים הָרוֹצִים לְהִדָּבֵק בַּז׳ שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה שֶׁל הַזָּכָר), and its purpose is to destroy their activity and their desire, Heaven forbid (וְהוּא לִשְׁבּוֹר פְּעֻלָּתָם וּרְצוֹנָם ח״ו), to rob the Neshamot [Souls] descending from above from the Zivug [Union] of Ze'ir Anpin and Nukvah (לַעֲשׁוֹק הַנְּשָׁמוֹת הַיּוֹרְדִים מִלְמַעְלָה מִזִּוּוּג זְעֵיר וְנוּקְבֵיהּ), and it desires to blow through its impure air (וּרְצוֹנוֹ לִנְשׁוֹב ע״י אֲוִיר הַטָּמֵא שֶׁלּוֹ), into its garden of grasses called thistles (לְהַגַּן שֶׁל עֲשָׂבִים שֶׁלּוֹ הַנִּקְרָאִים קִמְּשׁוֹנִים), to cast them into its balance (לְהַפִּילָם בַּטִּיקְלָא שֶׁלּוֹ), which is called deceitful scales (הַנִּקְרֵאת מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה), as it is said, “A merchant, in whose hand are deceitful balances, loves to oppress” (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כְּנַעַן בְּיָדוֹ מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה לַעֲשׁוֹק אָהֵב) (Hosea 12:8), for just as in Holiness the Elder says in Parashat Mishpatim, “When the Spirit of the Supernal Kohen blows and gives into this Tree, souls blossom from there and enter a certain treasury” (כִּי כְּמוֹ שֶׁבַּקְּדֻשָּׁה אוֹמֵר הַסָּבָא דְּפ׳ מִשְׁפָּטִים כַּד רוּחָא דְּכָהֲנָא עִלָּאָה נָשְׁבָא וְיָהִיב בְּאִילָנָא דָא פָּרְחִין מִתַּמָּן אִינוּן נִשְׁמָתִין וְעָאלִין בְּאוֹצָר חַד), called Livnat HaSapir [Sapphire Pavement] (הַנִּקְרָא לִבְנַת הַסַּפִּיר), which I shall explain in its place (וּבִמְקוֹמוֹ אֲפָרְשֶׁנּוּ).