Primary textDaf 67a (דַּף ס״ז ע״א)

Daf 67a (דַּף ס״ז ע״א)

Its explanation is: even the seven Ohr Penimim [Inner Lights] that ascended Above to fashion Arich Anpin from them through its seven Ketarim [Crowns], seven Chokhmot [Wisdoms], and seven Binot [Understandings] (פֵּי׳ אֲפִלּוּ הַז׳ אוֹרוֹת פְּנִימִיּוֹת שֶׁעָלוּ לְמַעְלָה לְתַקֵּן מֵהֶם אֲרִיךְ ע״י ז׳ כְּתָרִי׳ וְז׳ חָכְמוֹת וְז׳ בִּינוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ), through it there was also abundance to sustain these Kelim [Vessels] of Arich Anpin and to build them (עַל יָדוֹ הָיָה גַּם כֵּן שֶׁפַע לְהַחֲזִיק לְאֵלּוּ הַכֵּלִים שֶׁל אֲרִיךְ לִבְנוֹתָם), therefore it says, “Everything ascends through it” (לָכֵן אָמַר כֹּלָּא סָלְקִין בֵּיהּ), “and they are united within it” (וְאִתְאַחֲדִין בֵּיהּ). And it also comes to inform us that even after the Tikkun [Rectification], all the worlds depend upon it (וְגַם בָּא לָנוּ לְהוֹדִיעַ אַף אַחֲרֵי הַתִּקּוּן שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת תְּלוּיִים בּוֹ), for it is the source of all the worlds that are within the sphere of the Tehiru (כִּי הוּא מָקוֹר לְכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ כַּדּוּר הַטְּהִירוּ), because it has in its hand the thread of Ein Sof passing through the limbs of the Hidden Adam Kadmon (כִּי הוּא יֵשׁ בְּיָדוֹ חוּט שֶׁל אֵין סוֹף הָעוֹבֵר בְּתוֹךְ אֵיבְרֵי אָדָם קַדְמָאָה), therefore it has the power to give ascent and praise to all the worlds (לָכֵן יֵשׁ לוֹ לָתֵת עֲלִיָּה וְשֶׁבַח לְכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת), and because it left below, to hover over the surface of the Tehiru, the Yod of the Primordial Nekudah [Point] (וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ לְמַטָּה לִהְיוֹת מְרַחֵף עַל פְּנֵי הַטְּהִירוּ הַיוֹד שֶׁל הַנְּקוּדָּה קַדְמָאָה), while it itself ascended to join itself with the Ohr [Light] of the Garment, called Ein Sof (וְהוּא נִסְתַּלֵּק לְחַבֵּר עַצְמוֹ בְּאוֹר הַמַּלְבּוּשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא אֵין סוֹף), and this Yod ascended Above to its first place (וְהַיוֹד הַזֹּאת נִסְתַּלְּקָה לְמַעְלָה אֶל מְקוֹמָהּ הָרִאשׁוֹן), and left its Reshimu [Impression] joined with the Light of the Primordial Nekudah [Point] hovering over the surface of the sphere of the Tehiru (וְהִנִּיחָה רֹשֶׁם שֶׁלָּהּ מְחֻבָּר עִם אוֹר נְקוּדָּה קַדְמָאָה הַמְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי כַּדּוּר הַטְּהִירוּ), and this is the meaning of, “And it is Mati [Reaching] and is hidden in the place of Ein Sof” (וְזֶהוּ אוֹמְרוֹ וְאִיהוּ מָטֵי וְאִתְגְּנִיז בַּאֲתַר דְּאֵין סוֹף), whose numerical value is Ohr [Light] (אֲשֶׁר הוּא גּי׳ אוֹר), “and everything becomes one” (וְכֹלָּא חַד אִתְעֲבִיד). Its explanation is: afterward, when they were compressed, when Arich Anpin ascended Above and pressed the feet of the Hidden Adam Kadmon above the Tehiru (פֵּי׳ אַחַ״כ כְּשֶׁנִּדְחֲקוּ בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֲרִיךְ נִסְתַּלֵּק לְמַעְלָה וְדָחַק רַגְלֵי אָדָם קַדְמָאָה סְתִימָאָה לְמַעְלָה מִן הַטְּהִירוּ), in this manner they were compressed one within another (בְּאֹפֶן זֶה נִדְחֲקוּ זֶה בְּתוֹךְ זֶה), until the Light of the Reshimu [Impression] of this Yod attached itself to the Yod of the Nekudah [Point] (עַד שֶׁנִּדְבַּק אוֹר רְשִׁימוּ שֶׁל יוֹד הַזֹּאת עִם הַיוֹד שֶׁל נְקוּדָּה), and this is, “and everything becomes one” (וְזֶהוּ וְכֹלָּא חַד אִתְעֲבִיד), until it became one great Yod (עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה יוֹד אַחַת גְּדוֹלָה), and it is what bears all the worlds entirely (וְהִיא הַנּוֹשְׂאוֹת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת כֻּלָּם). “That Nekudah [Point] of Ohr [Light] is Ohr [Light]” (הַהוּא נְקוּדָּה דְּאוֹר אוֹר אִיהוּ), “and it spread forth, and within it shone seven letters of the Alef-Bet, and they did not congeal, and they were moist” (וְאִתְפַּשַּׁט וּנְהִירוּ בֵּיהּ שֶׁבַע אַתְוָון דְּאַלְפָא בֵיתָא וְלָא אִקְרִישׁוּ וְלַחִים הֲווּ), “afterward Choshekh [Darkness] emerged, and within it emerged seven other letters of the Alef-Bet, and they did not congeal, and they remained moist” (נָפַק חֹשֶׁךְ לְבָתַר וְנָפְקוּ בֵּיהּ שֶׁבַע אַתְוָון אַחֲרָנִין דְּאַלְפָא בֵיתָא וְלָא אִקְרִישׁוּ וְקַיְימוּ לַחִים).

Its explanation is: from that Nekudah [Point] of the aforementioned Yod (פֵּרוּשׁוֹ הוּא מֵהַהִיא נְקוּדָּה שֶׁל יוֹד הַנִּזְכָּר), and they are the seven letters of the Alef-Bet, which are in this order: Even Kadmai [Primordial Stone] (וְהֵם ז׳ אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁל אַלְפָא בֵיתָא שֶׁהֵם כְּסֵדֶר הַזֶּה אֶבֶן קַדְמִי), whose numerical value equals Ohr [Light] (שֶׁעוֹלִים כְּמִנְיַן אוֹר), for from them the Ohr [Light] was created (כִּי מֵהֶם נִבְרָא הָאוֹר), and if you ask: why did it not take the letters of the Alef-Bet in order, Alef-Bet, Gimel-Dalet, Heh-Vav-Zayin (וְא״ת לָמָּה לֹא לָקַח אוֹתִיּוֹת אַלְפָא בֵיתָא כְּסֵדֶר א״ב ג״ד הו״ז), it may be answered through this introduction (אֶלָּא יְתֹרַץ בְּהַקְדָּמָה הַזֹּאת), p1-71namely that immediately after the creation of the Bet, the Nekudah [Point] was stretched out in the mystery of an elongated Nun (דְּהַיְינוּ שֶׁתֵּכֶף אַחַר בְּרִיאַת הַבֵּית הָיְתָה נִשְׁטַח הַנְּקוּדָּה בְּסוֹד נו״ן אֲרוּכָה), namely the letters Even [Stone] (דְּהַיְינוּ אוֹתִיּוֹת אֶבֶן). Therefore the Zohar says, “that Nekudah [Point]” (לָכֵן אוֹמֵר הַזֹּהַר הַהִיא נְקוּדָּה), which is the Yod of the Primordial Avir [Air] (שֶׁהִיא הַיוד שֶׁל אֲוִיר קַדְמוֹן), from which all the letters were made (שֶׁמִּמֶּנָּה נַעֲשׂוּ כָּל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת), for the Yod is the head of all the letters (כִּי הַיוד הִיא רֹאשׁ לְכָל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת), and the initial point of every letter is a Yod (וְכָל אוֹת תְּחִלַּת נְקוּדָּתָהּ הִיא יוד), therefore all the letters were made from it (לָכֵן מִמֶּנָּה נַעֲשׂוּ כָּל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת), and within this Yod the Light was gathered in (וּבְהַיוד הַזֹּאת הָיָה הָאוֹר כְּמָס <מִתְכַּנֵּס בָּהּ), hidden and sealed in potential and not in actuality (סָתוּם וְחָתוּם בְּכֹחַ וְלֹא בְּפֹעַל), and afterward it brought forth the letters Even Kadmai [Primordial Stone] in actuality (וְאַחַ״כ הוֹצִיאָה אוֹתִיּוֹת אֶבֶן קַדְמִי בְּפֹעַל), so that from them the Ohr [Light] of Chesed [Kindness] would be created (כְּדֵי שֶׁמֵּהֶם יִבָּרֵא הָאוֹר שֶׁל חֶסֶד). And this is the meaning of, “that Nekudah [Point] of the Yod of the Primordial Avir [Air] is Ohr [Light]” (וְזֶהוּ אוֹמְרוֹ הַהִיא נְקוּדָּה שֶׁל יוד דַּאֲוִיר קַדְמוֹן דְּאוֹר), that is to say, it had previously been within the letters Ohr [Light], between the Vav and the Resh (ר״ל שֶׁהָיְתָה מִקֹּדֶם בְּאוֹתִיּוֹת אוֹר בֵּין וי״ו לְרי״שׁ), and it too is Ohr [Light] (גַּם כֵּן אוֹר אִיהוּ), and within it is the thickening of the Light in potential and not in actuality (וְיֵשׁ בָּהּ הִתְעַבּוּת הָאוֹר בְּכֹחַ וְלֹא בְּפֹעַל), in the mystery of the Reshimu [Impression] of the Ein Sof, whose numerical value is Ohr [Light] (בְּסוֹד רְשִׁימוּ שֶׁל אֵין סוֹף שֶׁהוּא בְּגִי׳ אוֹר), and therefore it is Ohr [Light] (וְלָכֵן אוֹר אִיהוּ). Even though it departed from Avir [Air] and the Name Ohr [Light] remained there, and it was separated from there (אַעַפּ״י שֶׁהָלַךְ מֵאֲוִיר וְאִשְׁתָּאַר שָׁם אוֹר וְהוּא נִבְדָּל מִשָּׁם), nevertheless an impression of Ohr [Light], formerly called Ein Sof, remained within it (אַעַפּ״י נִשְׁאָר בָּהּ רְשׁוּמָה שֶׁל אוֹר הַנִּקְרָא מִקֹּדֶם אֵין סוֹף), and for this reason it is also called Ohr [Light], by the power of the Reshimu [Impression] that remained with it (וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה נִקְרָא גַּם כֵּן אוֹר מִכֹּחַ הָרְשִׁימוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר עִמָּהּ), and it also received abundance to bring forth thick Light from subtle Light (וְגַם קִבְּלָה שֶׁפַע לְהוֹצִיא אוֹר עָב מֵאוֹר דַּק), namely Lesser Faces from Greater Faces (דְּהַיְינוּ אַנְפֵּי זוּטְרֵי מֵאַנְפֵּי רַבְרְבָא). And this Nekudah [Point] spread forth (וְנִתְפַּשַּׁט הַנְּקוּדָּה הַזֹּאת), and within it were found shining the seven letters of the Alef-Bet of Even Kadmai [Primordial Stone] (וְנִמְצְאוּ נָהִירִין בֵּיהּ ז׳ אַתְוָון דְּאַלְפָא בֵיתָא שֶׁל אֶבֶן קַדְמִי), whose numerical value equals the Ohr [Light] of Chesed [Kindness] (שֶׁעוֹלִים כְּמִנְיַן אוֹר שֶׁל חֶסֶד), and concerning this Scripture says, “Let there be Light” (וְעַל זֶה אוֹמֵר הַכָּתוּב יְהִי אוֹר) (Genesis 1:3), which alludes to Even Kadmai [Primordial Stone], as mentioned above (שֶׁהוּא עַל אֶבֶן קַדְמִי מְרַמֵּז כַּנִּזְכָּר). Therefore it says, “they were moist and did not congeal” (לָכֵן אָמַר לַחִים הֲווּ וְלָא אִתְקְרִישׁוּ), namely that the line was stretched out immediately after the birth of the Nekudah [Point] after the Tzimtzum [Contraction] (הַיְינוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁטַח הַקַּו תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד אַחַר הוֹלֶדֶת הַנְּקוּדָּה אַחַר <בַּעֲבוּר צ״ל> הַצִּמְצוּם), for when the letters descended below, they too did not descend in order (דְּגַם כֵּן כְּשֶׁיָּרְדוּ הָאוֹתִיּוֹת לְמַטָּה לֹא יָרְדוּ כְּסֵדֶר).

Notes

  1. Compare Sarug, Limudei Atzilut, folio 11d (Jerusalem MS 4°19, folio 24a) (סָרוּק, לִמּוּדֵי אֲצִילוּת, יא ט״ד (בכ״י יְרוּשָׁלַיִם 4°19, כד ע״א)): “Know that the Gimel begins as a Yod (וְדַע שֶׁהַג׳ תְּחִלָּתוֹ י׳), and from it one straight line extended downward (וְנִתְפַּשֵּׁט מִמֶּנּוּ קַו א׳ יָשָׁר לְמַטָּה), which was like an elongated Nun (שֶׁהָיְתָה כְּמוֹ ן׳ אֲרוּכָה), and through this one great difficulty in the Introduction of the Zohar will be resolved (וּבָזֶה יְתֹרַץ קֻשְׁיָא א׳ עֲצוּמָה בְּהַקְדָּמַת הַזֹּהַר), and this is its language: ‘Seven letters of the Alef-Bet that did not congeal and were moist, and Ohr [Light] was created from them’ (וְז״ל שֶׁבַע אַתְוָון דְּאַלְפ״א בֵיתָא דְּלָא אִקְרִישׁוּ וְלַחִים הֲווּ וְאִתְבְּרוּ מִנַּיְיהוּ אוֹר). And the explanation of the matter is (וּפֵירוּשָׁא דְּמִלְּתָא), that the seven letters of the Alef-Bet, which are Even Kadmai [Primordial Stone], whose numerical value equals Ohr [Light] (כִּי ז׳ אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁל אלפ״א בית״א שֶׁהֵם אב״ן קרמ״י שֶׁעוֹלִין כְּמִנְיַן אוֹר), from them the Ohr [Light] was created (נִבְרָא מֵהֶם הָאוֹר). And if you ask why it did not take the Alef-Bet in order, Alef, Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Heh, Vav, Zayin (וְא״ת לָמָּה לֹא לָקַח הָאַלְפָא בֵיתָא כְּסֵדֶר א׳ ב׳ ג׳ ד׳ ה׳ ו׳ ז׳), it may be resolved through this introduction (אֶלָּא יְתֹרַץ בְּהַקְדָּמָה זֹאת), namely that immediately after the Bet, the Nekudah [Point] was stretched out in the mystery of the Vav (שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ דְּהַיְינוּ שֶׁתֵּיכֶף אַחַר הַב׳ הָיָה נִשְׁתַּטָּה הַנְּקוּדָּה בְּסוֹד ו׳), namely the letters Even [Stone] (הַיְינוּ אוֹתִיּוֹת אב״ן).”

    Compare Emek HaMelekh, Gate 1, Chapter 30 (עֵמֶק הַמֶּלֶךְ, שַׁעַר א, פֶּרֶק ל): “Now we shall come to the letter Gimel (וְנָבוֹא לְאוֹת הַגִּימֶל). Know that the Gimel begins as a Yod (וְדַע שֶׁהַגִּימֶל תְּחִלָּתוֹ יוֹד), and from it one straight line extended downward (וְנִתְפַּשֵּׁט מִמֶּנָּה קַו אֶחָד יָשָׁר לְמַטָּה), which was like an elongated Nun (שֶׁהָיְתָה כְּמוֹ ן׳ אֲרוּכָה), and through this one great difficulty in the Introduction of the Small Zohar will be resolved (וּבָזֶה יְתֹרַץ קֻשְׁיָא אַחַת עֲצוּמָה בְּהַקְדָּמַת הַזֹּהַר קָטָן), and this is its language: ‘Seven letters of the Alef-Bet that were not sanctified and were moist, and Ohr [Light] was created from them’ (וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנוֹ שֶׁבַע אַתְוָון דְּאַלְפָא בֵיתָא דְּלָא אִתְקַדִּישׁוּ וְלַחִים הֲווּ וְאִתְבְּרִיאוּ מִינַּיְיהוּ אוֹר). And the explanation of the matter is (וּפֵירוּשָׁא דְּמִלְּתָא), that the seven letters of the Alef-Bet, which are Alef, Bet, Nun, Kuf, Dalet, Mem, Yod, whose numerical value equals Ohr [Light] (כִּי ז׳ אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁל אַלְפָא בֵיתָא שֶׁהֵם א׳ב׳ן ק׳ד׳מ׳י שֶׁעוֹלִים כְּמִנְיַן אוֹר), from them the Ohr [Light] was created (נִבְרָא מֵהֶם הָאוֹר). And if you ask why it did not take the letters of the Alef-Bet in order, Alef-Bet, Gimel-Dalet, Heh-Vav-Zayin (וְאִם תֹּאמַר לָמָּה לֹא לָקַח אוֹתִיּוֹת אַלְפָא בֵיתָא כְּסֵדֶר א״ב ג״ד הו״ז), it may be resolved through this introduction that we have stated (אֶלָּא יְתֹרַץ בְּהַקְדָּמָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ), namely that immediately after the Bet, the Nekudah [Point] was stretched out in the mystery of the Zayin (דְּהַיְינוּ שֶׁתֵּכֶף אַחַר דְּהַבֵּית הָיָה נִשְׁתַּטְּחָה הַנְּקוּדָּה בְּסוֹד ז׳), namely the letters Alef, Bet, Nun (הַיְינוּ אוֹתִיּוֹת א׳ב׳ן). Therefore it says, ‘They were moist and did not congeal’ (לָכֵן אָמַר לַחִים הֲווּ וְלָא אִתְקְרִישׁוּ), namely that the line was stretched out immediately after the birth of the Nekudah [Point], on account of the Tzimtzum [Contraction] (הַיְינוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּטַּח הַקַּו תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד אַחַר הוֹלֶדֶת הַנְּקוּדָּה, בַּעֲבוּר הַצִּמְצוּם), and likewise, when the letters descended below, they did not descend in order but in confusion (וְגַם כֵּן כְּשֶׁיָּרְדוּ הָאוֹתִיּוֹת לְמַטָּה, לֹא יָרְדוּ כְּסֵדֶר כִּי אִם בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא), and therefore they did not congeal, that is, they did not freeze and did not settle upon their proper arrangement (וְלָכֵן לֹא אִתְקְרִישׁוּ הַיְינוּ לֹא נִקְפְּאוּ, וְלֹא נִתְיַשְּׁבוּ עַל מְתֻכּוּנָתָם), and therefore, ‘they were not sanctified’ (וְלָכֵן לֹא אִתְקַדִּישׁוּ) (Zohar 1:16b). And let us return to the matter of the Gimel (וְנַחֲזוֹר לְעִנְיַן הַגִּימֶל), for after it spread forth like a Nun and went beyond its boundary below (שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁנִּתְפַּשְּׁטָה כְּמוֹ נו״ן, וְיָצְאָה מִגְּבוּלָהּ לְמַטָּה), it returned Above as the Bet had done (חָזְרָה לְמַעְלָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשְׂתָה הַבֵּי״ת), except that the Bet had a large roof (אֶלָּא שֶׁהַבֵּי״ת הָיָה לָהּ גַּג גָּדוֹל), and when this lower roof spread out and was doubled, it was equal to the upper roof (וְלָזֶה הַגַּג הַתַּחְתּוֹן כְּשֶׁנִּתְפַּשְּׁטָה וְנִכְפַּל הָיָה שָׁוֶה לַגַּג הָעֶלְיוֹן). However, the Gimel has a small roof (אָמְנָם הַג׳ הַגַּג שֶׁלָּהּ קָטָן), and it is impossible for the long line to form a fold as small as its roof (וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַקַּו הָאָרוֹךְ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה כֶּפֶל קָטָן כְּמוֹ הַגַּג שֶׁלָּהּ), therefore the lower doubled line became intermediate (וְלָכֵךְ נַעֲשָׂה הַקַּו הַכְּפוּלָה הַתַּחְתּוֹן בֵּינוֹנִי), the lower middle one rose slightly upward and drew the lower roof (הָאֶמְצָעִי שֶׁל מַטָּה עָלָה מְעַט לְמַעְלָה וּמָשַׁךְ הַגַּג הַתַּחְתּוֹן), and the little that remained below is the tail of the Gimel (וְהַמְּעַט שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר לְמַטָּה הוּא זָנָב הַגִּימֶל).”