Introduction of the Chief Rabbi, our teacher the sage

Rabbi Shlomo ben Ezrap1-1, may his light shine

הַקְדָּמַת הָרַב הַכּוֹלֵל כְּמוֹהַר״ר שְׁלֹמֹה ן עֶזְרָה נר״ו

These matters give life seven times (הָנֵי מִילֵּי מְחַיִּים שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים). Concerning these they said: they advance, but do not delay (בְּאֵלּוּ אָמְרוּ מַקְדִּימִין וְלֹא מְאַחֲרִין). At the opening of the word, before “My anointed one,” they are written and sealed (וּפִתְחַת הַתֵּבָה לִפְנֵי מְשִׁיחִי נִכְתָּבִים וְנֶחְתָּמִים). And all that precedes it is within the earth (וְכָל שֶׁלִּפְנָיו לִפְנִים הָאֲר״ש). These gleams are like the brightness of the firmament (הָנֵי זְהוֹרוֹרֵי כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ). Unto the Name in which he is expert and well-versed (לַשֵּׁם שֶׁבּוֹ מֻמְחֶה וּפָקִיעַ). Shlomo, through his wisdom, makes knowledge heard (שְׁלֹמֹה בְּחָכְמָתוֹ דַּעַת מַשְׁמִיעַ). It is derived by “within, within”; he removes the golden garments; and the gold of the earth (אָתְיָא תּוֹךְ תּוֹךְ, זְהָבִים מַעֲבִיר, וּזְהַב הָאֲר״ש). These are from behind (הָנֵי מֵאַחֲרֵי). The rear portion of the house (הַסֵּיפָא דְּבֵיתָא). We divide his statement (פָּלְגִינַן דִּבּוּרֵיהּ). That which follows from it—this (הָא דְּסָלִיק מִנֵּיהּ דָּא). He reserved a remainder (שִׁיּוּרֵי שַׁיְּירֵי). At the ends of the earth (בִּקְצוֹת הָאֲר״ש).

These are the prior ones (הֵנִי מַקְדְּמֵי). From the beginning—the prior ones (מֵרֹאשׁ מַקְדְּמֵי). At first, it arose in thought (תְּחִלָּה עָלָה בַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה). Ma‘aseh Merkavah [the Work of the Chariot] (מַעֲשֵׂה מֶרְכָּבָה). This is a seal (הַאי סִיתּוּמְתָּא). An excellent work (עֲבִידְתָּא שַׁפִּירְתָּא). The concealed world (עַלְמָא דְאִתְכַּסְיָא). Thus are the holy ones on high emanated (כֵּן נֵאֲצֵ״ל קְדוּשִׁי מְעִלַּיָּא). “And if He creates a creation” (וְאִם בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא) (Numbers 16:30). She prepared and also investigated (הֲכִינָה וְגַם חָקְרָה). It too is concealed (גַּם הִיא נֶעֱלָמָה). Depth and height (עוּמְקָא וְרוּמָא). And when it is upright (וּכְאֲשֶׁר יָשָׁר), in the eyes of the Former who formed (בְּעֵינֵי הַיּוֹצֵ״ר אֲשֶׁר יָצַ״ר). “He made everything beautiful in its time” (אֶת הַכֹּל עָשָׂ״ה יָפֶה בְּעִתּוֹ) (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The enumeration of the inhabited world, by His wisdom (מִנְיַן תֵּבֵל בְּחָכְמָתוֹ). The end of a matter, from its beginning (אַחֲרִית דָּבָר מֵרֵאשִׁיתוֹ). And man upon it—the complete one (וְאָדָם עָלֶיהָ הַשָּׁלֵם). A complete king (מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם), who bears His Name (אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹ). And Hashem gave wisdom to Shlomo (וְה׳ נָתַן חָכְמָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה) (I Kings 5:26). And his song was: “The song of my Beloved concerning His vineyard” (וַיְהִי שִׁירוֹ שִׁירַת דּוֹדִי לְכַרְמוֹ) (Isaiah 5:1). Most holy offerings (קֹדֶשׁ קֳדָשִׁים). This [case concerns] the most holy offerings (הָא בְּקָדְשֵׁי). Holy offerings—this [case] (קֳדָשִׁים הָא).

These are the concealed things which Atik Yomin conceals (הֵנִי מְכַסְּיֵין דְּכִיסַן עַתִּיק יוֹמִין). He gives wisdom to the wise (יְהַב חָכְמְתָא לְחַכִּימִין). This parashah is sealed (פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ סְתוּמָא). And the advantage of knowledge is wisdom (וְיִתְרוֹן דַּעַת הַחָכְמָה). The benefit of the wise (טוּבֵיְנָא דְּחַכִּימֵי). A sage is superior—what is his strength? (חָכָם עֲדִיף מַאי אוּלְמֵיּה). And through the prophets I will compare (וּבְיַד הַנְּבִיאִים אֲדַמֶּה). Not all times are equal (לֹא כָּל הָעִתִּים שָׁווִין). For he feared to look, and I was afraid to declare (כִּי יָרֵא מֵהַבִּיט וָאִירָא מֵחַוּוָת). And in the heart of every wise one is the warmth of the clear radiance of light (וּבְלֵב כָּל חָכָם כְּחֹם צַח נֹגַהּ אוֹר). And the hidden things—the secrets of all—He brings forth to light (וּתַעֲלוּמוֹת סִתְרֵי כֹּל יוֹצִיא לָאוֹר). What is concealed from them, He reveals to him (דְּמִכְסֵי מִנַּיְיהוּ מְגַלֵּיָא לֵיהּ). For the paths shine for him (דְּנָהֲרִין לֵיהּ שְׁבִילֵי). The heavens are like the paths of a river of knowledge (דִּשְׁמַיָּא כִּשְׁבִילֵי דְּנַהַר דֵּעָה). And in sealed wisdom—behold, in hiddenness (וּבְסָתוּם חָכְמָה הָא בְּצִנְעָא). When he changed his demeanor (בִּשְׁנוֹת״וּ). Its taste (אֶת טַעֲמוֹ). And the spirit of Hashem began to impel him (וַתָּחֶל רוּחַ ה׳ לְפַעֲמוֹ). In the court of Shlomo (בְּבֵית דִּינוֹ שֶׁל שְׁלֹמֹה). Blessed is He who has such in His world (בָּרוּךְ שֶׁכָּכָה לוֹ בְּעוֹלָמוֹ). A watcher and a holy one—this is the Holy One (עִיר וְקַדִּישׁ הָא דְּקַדִּישׁ הָא).

These are established; everything that has a name; flesh [is fit] to be stored away (הֵנִי קְבִיעִי כָּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם שֵׁם הַבָּשָׂר לְהַצְנִיעַ). The spirit of holiness appeared (רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ הוֹפִיעַ). At the gathering of the Companions (בְּהִתְכַּנְּשׁוּת חֲבַרַיָּא). This reveals secrets (דֵּין גַלֵּי רָזַיָּא). A holy luminary (בוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא). That human beings are unable (דְּלָא יָכְלִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא). To know and ponder this in their minds (לְמֵידַע וּלְמַרְחַשׁ בְּדַעְתַּיְהוּ בְּהַאי). Concerning Rabbi Shim‘on ben Yoḥai (בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי). Behold, the hidden [meaning] of the derashah: “A lion arose” (הֵן נִסְתָּר דְּרַש״ה אָר״י עֲלָה). An angel of Hashem surrounds, at the right of the Exile (מַלְאַךְ ה׳ סָבִיב מִמִּין הַגּוֹלָה). In the wondrous and the concealed [matters] (בַּמּוּפְלָא וּבַמְּכוּסֶה). And He removed the covering (וַיָּסֵר אֶת הַמַּכְסֶה). In hidden treasures (בְּמִטְמוֹנֵי מִסְתָּרִים). In eight gates (בִּשְׁמוֹנָה שְׁעָרִים). Words concerning the Most High, who sits upon the Keruvim (מֵלִין לְצַד עִלָּאָה יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרוּבִים). And they are among the Writings (וְהֵמָּה בַּכְּתוּבִים). The tamarisk which is in Ramah (ההָאֵשֶׁל אֲשֶׁר בָּרָמָה). All that is written for life by Morenu haRav Chaim Vital, of blessed memory—mysteries of wisdom (כָּל הַכָּתוּב לְחַיִּים מוֹהַרְח״וּ זל״ה״ה תַּעֲלוּמוֹת חָכְמָה). Matters that stand on high (דְּבָרִים הָעוֹמְדִים בְּרוּמוֹ). And Shelomoh concealed them (וַיַּעֲלֵם שְׁלֹמֹה). Its taste and its rationale are with it (טַעֲמוֹ וְנִימֻקוֹ עִמּוֹ). And the matter that is concealed—this is that which is guarded (וּמִלְּתָא דְּמִטַּמְּרָא הָא דְּמִנְטַּרָא הָא).

These are the guardians of that which is concealed from him and revealed (הֵנִי נָטְרֵין דְּמִטַּמְּרַן לֵיהּ גָּלְיֵין). Matters in their clarity (דְּבָרִים עַל בּוּרְיָן). Its root is open by the waters (שֹׁרְשׁוֹ פָתוּחַ עַלֵי מָיִם). Like the days of heaven (כִּימֵ״י שָׁמַיִם). Removed in the Songs (סָר בַּשִּׁירִים). The Song of Songs (שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים). And he made for it an opening—the opening of the sages (וְעָשָׂה לוֹ פּוֹתַחַת פְּתִיחְתָּא דְּחַכִּימֵי). That goes according to his reasoning (דַּאֲזִיל לְטַעֲמֵיהּ). A golden crown all around (זֵר זָהָב סָבִיב). That it is all around (שֶׁהִיא סָבִיב). Thus he called its name: Sefer Divrei Shlomo [the Book of the Words of Shlomo] (הֲכִי קָרָא שְׁמוֹ אֵת סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה). The holy anointing oil—a fitting expounder (שֶׁמֶן מִשְׁחַת קֹדֶשׁ נָאֶה דוֹרֵשׁ). Concealment from the Torah (הַסְּתָ״ר מִן הַתּוֹרָה). A radiance shone upon him (הוֹפִיעַ עָלָיו נְהוָרָא). And the matter which the Sages concealed (וּמִלְּתָא דְּעַלְמו״ה רַבָּנַן). The radiances of the sun—He cast His radiance upon them, in their stature and in their form (זֶהֳרֵי חַמָּה שַׁדַּי זֵיהֲר״י בְּקוֹמָתַן וּבְצִבְיוֹנָן). How sweet is speech to every palate that tastes it (מַה מָּתוֹק מִדְּבַר כָּל חֵךְ שֶׁטּוֹעֲמוֹ). And Shlomo’s wisdom increased (וַתִּרְבֶּה חָכְמַת שְׁלֹמֹה). He acquired a good name; he acquired it for himself (קָנָה שֵׁם טוֹב קָנָה לְעַצְמוֹ). For it was acquired for him from Heaven (דְּמִקְנוֹ לֵיהּ מִן שְׁמַיָּא). This concerns matters of Heaven (הָא בְּמִילֵּי דִּשְׁמַיָּא הָא).

These are the garments of the Rabbis—the fruit of his choicest delights (הֵנִי מָאנֵי דְרַבָּנַן פְּרִי מְגִדָּיו). Splendor is for all His pious ones (הָדָר הוּא לְכָל חֲסִידָיו). This is one who is glorious in his garment (זֶה הַדּוֹר בִּלְבוּשׁוֹ). The crown of his God is upon his head (נֵזֶר אֱלֹהָי״וּ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ). He is engaged in sacred matters (מִתְעַסֵּק בַּקֳּדָשִׁים). Wisdom and knowledge of the holy ones (חָכְמָה וְדַעַת קְדֹשִׁים). Matters of sanctity (דְּבָרִים שֶׁבַּקְּדוּשָׁה). He would read in the Torah, correct it, and expound it (הָיָה קוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה מַגִּיהָהּ וְדוֹרְשָׁהּ). A Torah of truth was in his mouth (תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ). This is judgment (דִּין הוּא). He reveals deep things (גָּלֵי עֲמִיקְתָא). Matters of excellence (מִילֵּי מַעֲלוּתָא). Be’er Laḥai Ro’i [the Well of the Living One Who Sees Me] (בְּא״ר לְח״י רְאִי). The wise one, complete, the divine kabbalist (הֶחָכָם הַשָּׁלֵם הַמְקוּבָּל הָאֱלֹהִי). And the desire of his lips (וַאֲרֶשֶׁת שְׂפָתָיו). These, these are his wonders—his lips are roses dripping myrrh (הֵן הֵן נוֹרְאוֹתָיו שִׂפְתוֹתָיו שׁוֹשַׁנִּים נוֹטְפוֹת מוֹר). In the bitter oil (בַּשֶּׁמֶן הַמָּר). May his God be with him (יְהִי אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ). And he would offer a thousand burnt-offerings (וְיַעַל אֶלֶף עוֹלוֹ״ת יַעֲלֶה). Shlomo (שְׁלֹמֹה). Perfected from the upper chamber, from the best of his field and the best of his vineyard (מֻשְׁתַּלֵּם מִן הָעֲלִיָּה מִטּוּב שָׂדֵהוּ וּמִטּוּב כַּרְמוֹ). Praise and fruit—behold, lion-cubs; behold (שִׁבְחָא וּפֵירֵי הָא כְּפִירֵי הָא).

These are known to him—the Holy Rabbis (הֵנִי יָדְעֵי לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן קַדִּישִׁי). Those who draw near to Hashem (לַה׳ מַגִּישִׁי). From matters hidden from the eye (מֵעֲלוּמֵי עַיֵּין). And wisdom—from where? (וְהַחָכְמָה מֵאַיִן). A secret matter belongs to me (דְּבַר סֵתֶר לִי). And he sits opposite me (וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב מִמּוּלִי). If so, then what is this ordination? (אִם כֵּן אֵפוֹא מַה זוֹ סְמִיכָה). Anyone who has not undergone establishment and assessment (כָּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ בְּהַעֲמָד״ה וְהַעֲרָכָה). Truly they said: From elders I gain understanding (בֶּאֱמֶת אָמְרוּ מִזְּקֵנִים אֶתְבּוֹנָן). They are superior to us (אִינְהוּ עֲדִיפִי מִנָּן). Let their witnesses testify—great investigators (יִתְּנוּ עֵדֵיהֶן גְּדוֹלִים חוֹקְרֵי). They give him praise and shall be among those who commend him (נוֹתְנִים לוֹ אֶת הַשֶּׁבַח וִיהְיוּ מֵאַשְּׁרֵי). In his honor and in his very self (בִּכְבוֹדוֹ וּבְעַצְמוֹ). A Song of Ascents for Shlomo (שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לִשְׁלֹמֹה). One who seeks the good of his people (דּוֹרֵשׁ טוֹב לְעַמּוֹ). From their mouths, and not from their writing—from the mouth of the witness; behold, there is a witness—behold! (מִפִּיהֶם וְלוֹ מִפִּי כִתְבָּם אֲפוּמָא דְּסַהֲדָא הָא דְּאִיכָּא סַהֲדָא הָא).

These go out at the base of the house (הֵנִי נָפְקֵי בִּשְׁפוּלֵי בֵיתָא). Prayer is needed (בְּעָיָא צְלוֹתָא). The hands to their Maker (יְדֵי לְעוֹשֵׂיהֶן). Two, according to the halakhah, equal in their measure (שְׁתַּיִם כַּהִלְכָתָן שָׁוִין בְּשִׁעוּרֵיהֶן). Let them make a path of supplication (יַעֲשׂוּ דֶרֶךְ בַּקָּשָׁה). Morning and evening (צַפְרָא וְרַמְשָׁא). The one whom my soul loves (אֵת שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי). My chosen one—my soul desired (בְּחִירִי רָצְתָה נַפְשִׁי). There is one who loves and clings more closely than a brother (יֵשׁ אֹהֵב דָּבֵק מֵאָח). Like a companion, like a brother (כְּרִיעַ כְּאָח). May his years amount to one hundred and one (שְׁנוֹתָיו יַעֲלוּ בְּאֶחָד וּמֵאָה). Wealth and honor together—the earth and its fullness (הָעוֹשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד יַחְדָּו אֶרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ). All precious and pleasant treasure (כָּל הוֹן יָקָר וְנָעִים). My father, my son (אָבִי בְּנִי). My peace, my faithful one (שְׁלוֹמִי אֱמוּנִי). Wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men (אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים וִידוּעִים). And Hashem shall give forth His voice (וַה׳ יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ). Let it be heard from His voice (יִשָּׁמַע מֵהַקּוֹלוֹ). Return, children, to your borders (שׁוּבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם). Quietness and security forever (הַשֶּׁקֶט וּבֶטַח עַד עוֹלָם). And their king shall be at their head—his splendor shall be exalted, and his kingship shall be uplifted (וּמַלְכָּם בְּרֹאשָׁם יָרוּם הוֹדוֹ וְתִנָּשֵׂא מַלְכוּתוֹ). And the House when it is built (וְהַבַּיִת בְּהִבָּנוֹתוֹ). For Hashem has comforted His people (כִּי נִחַם ה׳ עַמּוֹ). In the House that Shlomo built (בַּבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה שְׁלֹמֹה). The work of Heaven is greater than the splendor of His majesty when He arises (מַעֲשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם עָדִיף מֵהֲדַר גְּאוֹנוֹ בְּקוּמוֹ). Et vaHev baSufah [Et vaHev in the whirlwind]—this at the end, this (אֵת וָהֵב בַּסּוּפָה הָא בַּסֵּיפָא הָא).

Life is in the power of a speaking tongue (חַיִּים בְּיַד לָשׁוֹן מְדַבֶּרֶת). Corresponding to the frame (לְעוּמַּת הַמִּסְגֶּרֶת). The utterance of the lips—he prophesied and did not know what he prophesied (נִיב שְׂפָתַיִם נִבָּא וְלֹא יָדַע מַה נִּבָּא). Here: Shin Nun Hei—“Behold, Hashem rides” (כָּאן שׁנ״ה הִנֵּה ה׳ רוֹכ״ב). Concerning the A”B, Q”L, and Bet Alef (ע״ל ע״ב ק״ל וּב״א). The writing that is inscribed (כְּתָבָא דִּי רְשִׁים). At the beginning of the months (בְּרֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים). “Behold, an order for receiving the great and small Alef” (הֵן סֵדֶר לְקַבֵּל אַלְפ״א רַב זְעֵירָא).