11a (י״א:א׳)

Afterwards she said, “Do not look at me that I am blackened” (Song of Songs 1:6) (אַחַר כָּךְ אָמְרָה: ״אַל תִּרְאֻנִי שֶׁאֲנִי שְׁחַרְחֹרֶת), meaning: do not mock me (פֵּרוּשׁ: אַל תִּלְעֲגוּ לִי), as in “for they looked into the Ark of Hashem” (I Samuel 6:19) (כְּמוֹ ״כִּי רָאוּ בַּאֲרוֹן ה׳), that I am with black dots (שֶׁאֲנִי בִּנְקֻדּוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת).

For now, those who engage in me do not have the power they once had when I was black alone (שֶׁעַכְשָׁו אֵין לָעוֹסְקִים בִּי הַכֹּחַ שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם כְּשֶׁהָיִיתִי שְׁחוֹרָה לְבַד), for now people have power to gaze upon me (שֶׁעַכְשָׁו יֵשׁ כֹּחַ לִבְנֵי אָדָם לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בִּי). This is what she said: “The sun has scorched me” (Song of Songs 1:6) (זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרָה: ״שְׁזָפְתַנִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ)-those who serve the sun (שֶׁהֵם עוֹבְדֵי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ). “This is what ‘the sons of my mother were incensed against me’” (Song of Songs 1:6) (זֶהוּ "בְּנֵי אִמִּי נִחֲרוּ בִי)-“the sons of my mother” are the children of my nation, who are Yisrael (בְּנֵי אִמִּי – בְּנֵי אוּמָתִי שֶׁהֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל), Hashem’s wrath burned against them for their sin (חָרָה אַף ה׳ בָּהֶם עַל חַטָּאתָם), this is “they were incensed against me” (זֶהוּ "נִחֲרוּ בִי)-that they did not grasp me (שֶׁלֹּא הִשִּׂיגוּנִי).

Therefore the nations said, “He set me to guard the vineyards” (Song of Songs 1:6) (לָכֵךְ הָאֻמּוֹת ״שָׂמֻנִי נוֹטֵרָה אֶת הַכְּרָמִים)-meaning: they interpreted and copied from me matters to uphold their forged religions (פֵּרוּשׁ: שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ וְהֶעְתִּיקוּ מִמֶּנִּי דְּבָרִים לְהַעֲמִיד וּלְקַיֵּם דַּתּוֹתֵיהֶם הַמְּזוּיָּפוֹת), and took roots and principles from the Torah (וְלָקְחוּ שָׁרָשִׁים וְעִקָּרִים מִן הַתּוֹרָה), for in their religion there was no foundation or root (לְפִי שֶׁבְּדָתָם לֹא הָיָה עִקָּר וְשֹׁרֶשׁ), for all are built on Tohu (שֶׁכֻּלָּם בְּנוּיוֹת עַל תֹּהוּ). And from where did they get this power to establish their religion? (וּמֵאַיִן בָּא לָהֶם זֶה הַכֹּחַ לְהַעֲמִיד דָּתָם) Because of the sins of Yisrael (בִּשְׁבִיל עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל).

Therefore, “My vineyard”-which is Yisrael, as it is written, “For the vineyard of Hashem of Hosts is the house of Yisrael” (Isaiah 5:7) (לָכֵן ״כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי״ שֶׁהֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ״כִּי כֶרֶם ה׳ צְבָאוֹת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל)-“I did not guard” (Isaiah 5:7) (לֹא נָטַרְתִּי), I did not protect them (וְלֹא שָׁמַרְתִּים).

Therefore, Yisrael did not retain the power and strength over the celestial ministers that they had before they sinned (לְפִיכָךְ לֹא הָיָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הַיְּכֹלֶת וְהַכֹּחַ עַל שָׂרֵי מַעְלָה שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם קֹדֶם שֶׁחָטְאוּ). On the contrary, the celestial princes gained strength (אֲדַרְבָּה, אָזְרוּ כֹּחַ הַשָּׂרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה), and even the nations influenced by those supernal ministers rule over Yisrael (וַאֲפִלּוּ הָאֻמּוֹת הַמֻּשְׁפָּעוֹת מֵהַשָּׂרִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים מוֹשְׁלִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל). This is what is written, “Hashem is your guard; Hashem is your shadow on your right hand” (Psalms 121:5) (זֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב ה׳ שֹׁמְרֶךָ, ה׳ צִלְּךָ עַל יַד יְמִינֶךָ)-meaning: the Holy One Blessed Be He was your protector and shield and shadow (פֵּרוּשׁ: הקב״ה הָיָה לְךָ לְשׁוֹמֵר וּלְמָגֵן וְצֵל) when you were worthy and kept the Torah properly (כְּשֶׁהָיִיתָ זַכָּאִי וְשׁוֹמֵר אֶת הַתּוֹרָה כַּרָּאוּי), when it is called “right hand,” because the Torah is called “From His right hand a fiery law for them” (Deuteronomy 33:2) (שֶׁאָז נִקְרֵאת ״יָמִין״ בַּעֲבוּר הַתּוֹרָה הַנִּקְרֵאת ״מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ). And it is written: “Length of days is in her right hand” (Proverbs 3:16) (וְכָתוּב ״אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָה)-if you had engaged in Torah with your right hand (אִם אַתֶּם הֱיִיתֶם עוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה בְּיַד יְמִין), and had not turned toward the left to pursue bodily pleasures (שֶׁלֹּא הִטִּיתֶם לְיַד שְׂמֹאל לְבַקֵּשׁ תַּעֲנוּגֵי הַגּוּף), then you would have been guarded from all evil and lived and endured forever (אָז הֱיִיתֶם שְׁמוּרִים מִכָּל רָע וְקַיָּמִים וְחַיִּים לְעוֹלָם).

This is what the verse says, “Length of days is in her right hand” (זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָה). But now that you turned to the left (אֲבָל עַתָּה שֶׁהִטִּיתֶם לִצַּד שְׂמֹאל), you attain the visible and worldly vanities (תַּשִּׂיגוּ הַמְּפֻרְסָמוֹת שֶׁהֵם הֶבְלֵי הָעוֹלָם), which are “wealth and honor” (Proverbs 3:16) (וְהֵם ״עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד).

Therefore now the nations have power and dominion to oppress and harm Yisrael in exile (לָכֵן יֵשׁ עַכְשָׁו יְכֹלֶת וּמֶמְשָׁלָה לָאוּמּוֹת לְעַנּוֹת וּלְהָרֵעַ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגָּלוּת), and they say: “Our strength has done this for us” (וְאוֹמְרִים: ״כֹּחֵנוּ עָשָׂה לָנוּ אֶת זֶה), for they say that Yisrael has no strength or merit (כִּי אֵין בָּהֶם כֹּחַ וְלֹא זְכוּת), that the Holy One Blessed Be He should pay attention and save them from our hands (שֶׁיַּשְׁגִּיחַ הקב״ה וְיַצִּילֵם מִיָּדֵנוּ).

This is what the Psalmist laments (זֶהוּ שֶׁמִּתְרַעֵם הַמְּשׁוֹרֵר): Master of worlds, God of vengeance (רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים, בַּעַל הַנְּקָמוֹת)-as it is written: “God of vengeance, Hashem; God of vengeance, appear” (Psalms 94:1) (כַּדְּכְתִיב: ״אֵל נְקָמוֹת ה׳ אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִיעַ)-the first vengeance is Yours, and the second is ours (הָאֶחָד נְקָמָתְךָ, וְהָאֶחָד נְקָמָתֵנוּ), as if to say that weakness has entered into Your strength, Heaven forbid (כְּבִיכוֹל שֶׁנִּכְנֶסֶת חֻלְשָׁה בְּכֹחֲךָ). And this is what is written: “Until when will the wicked exult?” (Psalms 94:3) (וְזֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב ״עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים יַעֲלֹזוּ), and all the doers of iniquity boast saying… (וּמִתְאַמְּרִים כָּל פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן בַּאֲמָרָם).

If the Holy One Blessed Be He were watching over Yisrael as in ancient times (אִם יַשְׁגִּיחַ הקב״ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כִּימֵי עוֹלָם), when He performed miracles with them (שֶׁעָשָׂה עִמָּהֶם נִסִּים), and in their distress they cried out to Him and He saved them (וּבְעֵת צָרָתָם אֵלָיו יִצְעָקוּ וְיַצִּילֵם), but now they are smitten and afflicted, they cry out and are not answered (וְעַתָּה הֵם מֻכִּים וּמְעֻנִּים צוֹעֲקִים וְאֵינָם נַעֲנִים), this is only because He has hidden His face from them (אֵין זֶה אֶלָּא כִּי הִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מֵהֶם). This is what is written: “And they will say, ‘Yah will not see’” (Psalms 94:7) (זֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב: ״וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא יִרְאֶה יָהּ), meaning: when they were at the sea, they cried out (פֵּרוּשׁ: כְּשֶׁהָיוּ בַּיָּם צוֹעֲקִים), and after they went out they sang “My strength and song is Yah” (Exodus 15:2) (וְאַחַר שֶׁיָּצְאוּ שׁוֹרְרוּ ״עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ), and in all their distress it is said, “The Name of the God of Ya'akov will protect you” (Psalms 20:2) (וּבְכָל צָרָתָם אָמַר ״יְשַׂגְּבְךָ שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב), but now (וְעַכְשָׁו) that He does not answer them as in those days (שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹנֶה אוֹתָם כַּיָּמִים הָהֵם), surely “Yah will not see, nor will He understand” (Psalms 94:7) (וָדַאי ״לֹא יִרְאֶה יָהּ וְלֹא יָבִין)-this is the speech of the nations of the world (זֶהוּ דִּבּוּרָם שֶׁל אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם).

But we know this will not endure (וְיָדַעְנוּ שֶׁזֶּה לֹא יִתְמַיֵּד), yet for the sake of Your Name, hasten to redeem them (אֲבָל בַּעֲבוּר שִׁמְךָ תְּמַהֵר לִגְאָלָם), for I know that You are aware and watch forever (כִּי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ וּמַשְׁגִּיחַ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד), and the thoughts of men are but vanity (וּמַחְשְׁבוֹת בְּנֵי אָדָם אֵלֶּה הֶבֶל הֵמָּה).

For surely You will again have mercy on us and revive us (כִּי בְוַדַּאי תָּשׁוּב תְּרַחֲמֵנוּ וּתְחַיֵּינוּ), and return us to our original state (וּתְחַזִּירֵנוּ לְקַדְמוּתֵנוּ), and You will teach us from Your true Torah (וְאַתָּה תְּלַמְּדֵנוּ מִתּוֹרָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּית), to be alive and enduring (לִהְיוֹת חַיִּים וְקַיָּמִים), as the verse says, “For with You is the source of life” (Psalms 36:10) (כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״כִּי עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים)-eternal life, as You will enlighten our eyes with Your Torah (חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר תָּאִיר עֵינֵינוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ). This is what it means, “In Your light we shall see light” (Psalms 36:10) (זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר ״בְּאוֹרְךָ נִרְאֶה אוֹר).

And know that what I said-that the sin of Yisrael was greater in speaking against the manna and in craving coarse foods that stupefy the heart and cloud the intellect (וְדַע, כִּי מַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתִּי שֶׁגָּדוֹל עֲוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּסִפְרָם בִּגְנוּת הַמָּן וּבְבַקָּשָׁם מַאֲכָלוֹת גַּסּוֹת הַמְּטַמְטְמוֹת אֶת הַלֵּב וְהַמְעַבּוֹת אֶת הַשֵּׂכֶל)-more than the sin of the Calf (יוֹתֵר מֵעֲוֹן הָעֵגֶל)-the reason is that the Calf was demanded and made by the Erev Rav (הַטַּעַם הוּא שֶׁהָעֵגֶל שָׁאֲלוּ וּבִקְּשׁוּ אוֹתוֹ הָעֵרֶב רַב), as our Sages interpreted: “For your people have become corrupt, whom You brought up from Egypt” (Exodus 32:7) (כְּמוֹ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ רַז״ל ״כִּי שִׁחֵת עַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלִיתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם)-those whom You brought up, for My hosts, the children of Yisrael, I brought up (אוֹתָם שֶׁאַתָּה הוֹצֵאתָ וְהֶעֱלִיתָ אוֹתָם, כִּי צִבְאוֹתַי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי הֶעֱלִיתִי אוֹתָם), and they did not make or request the Calf (וְהֵם לֹא עָשׂוּ אֶת הָעֵגֶל וְלֹא בִּקְּשׁוּהוּ).