Daf 2a (דף ב ע״א)

He said to me, Rabbi: A concealed word was before Kudsha Berikh Hu, and it was revealed in the supernal Academy, and this is it (אָמַר לִי רִבִּי מִלָּה סְתִימָא הֲוָה קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְגָלֵי בִּמְתִיבְתָּא עִלָּאָה וְדָא הוּא). At the time when the Concealed of all concealed sought to be revealed, He made at first one point (בְּשַׁעְתָּא דִּסְתִימָא דְכָל סְתִימִין בָּעָא לְאִתְגַּלְּיָא, עֲבַד בְּרֵישָׁא נְקוּדָ״ה). And this ascended to become Thought p1-9(וְדָא סָלִיק לְמֶהוֵי מַחֲשָׁבָה). He formed in it all forms (צִיֵּיר בָּהּ כָּל צִיּוּרִין). He engraved in it all engravings (חָקַק בָּהּ כָּל גְּלִיפִין). And He engraved within the Hidden Holy Luminary, a engraving of one concealed form, Holy of Holies (וְאַגְלִיף גּוֹ בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא סְתִימָא גְּלִיפוּ דְּחַד צִיּוּרָא סְתִימָאָה קֹדֶשׁ קַדִּישִׁין), a profound structure that went forth from within Thought (בִּנְיָינָא עֲמִיקָא דְּנָפַק מִגּוֹ מַחֲשָׁבָה), and it is called Mi (Who)—beginning of the structure (וְאִקְרֵי מִ״י שֵׁירוּתָא לְבִנְיָנָא) [Some say: Reshita (נ״א רֵאשִׁיתָא)]. It exists and it does not exist (קַיָּימָא וְלָא קַיָּימָא), deep and hidden in the Name (עָמִיק וְסָתִים בִּשְׁמָא). It is not called except Mi (Who) (לָא אִקְרֵי אֶלָּא מִ״י).

It desired to be revealed and to be called by the Name (בָּעָא לְאִתְגַּלְיָיא וּלְאִתְקְרֵי בִּשְׁמָא), and it clothed itself in a precious garment that shines (וְאִתְלַבַּשׁ בִּלְבוּשׁ יְקָר דְּנָהִיר), and created Eleh (These) (וּבָרָא אֵלֶּה). And Eleh (These) ascended in the Name (וְסָלִיק אֵלֶּ״ה בִּשְׁמָא). These letters joined one with another (אִתְחַבְּרוּן אַתְוָון אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין), and the Name Elohim was completed (וְאִשְׁתְּלִים בִּשְׁמָא אֱלֹהִים). And until He created Eleh (These), the Name Elohim did not ascend (וְעַד לָא בָרָא אֵלֶּה לָא סָלִיק בִּשְׁמָא אֱלֹהִים). And those who sinned with the Calf [Some say: in the world] (וְאִנּוּן דְּחָבוּ בְּעֶגְלָא [נ״א בְּעָלְמָא]), on this secret they said, “These are your gods, O Yisrael” (עַל רָזָא דְנָא אָמְרוּ אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Exodus 32). And just as Mi (Who) was joined with Eleh (These) (וּכְמָה דְּאִשְׁתַּתַּף מִ״י בְּאֵלֶּה), so too is the Name joined continually (הָכִי הוּא שְׁמָא דְּאִשְׁתַּתַּף תָּדִיר). And in this secret the world is sustained (וּבְרָזָא דָא אִתְקַיֵּים עָלְמָא). And Eliyahu flew and I did not see him (וּפְרַח אֵלִיָּהוּ וְלָא חָמֵינָא לֵיהּ). And from him I knew this word that I have established upon its secret and its secret (וּמִנֵּיהּ יְדַעְנָא מִלָּה דָא דְאוֹקִימְנָא עַל רָזָא וְסִתְרָא דִילָהּ). Rabbi El'azar came, and all my Friends, and they bowed before him (אֲתָא רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְכֻלְהוּ חַבְרַיָיא וְאִשְׁתְּטָחוּ קַמֵּיהּ). They wept and said: If we had not come into the world except to hear this, it would have been enough (בָּכוּ וְאָמְרוּ אִלְמָלֵא לָא אֲתֵינָא לְעָלְמָא אֶלָּא לְמִשְׁמַע דָּא דַּיַּי).

Rabbi Shimon said (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): Because of this, the heavens and their hosts were created with MaH (What) (עַל דָּא שְׁמַיָא וְחֵילֵיהוֹן בְּמָּ״ה אִתְבְּרִיאוּ), as it is written, “When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers…” (כִּי אֶרְאֶה שָׁמֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂה אֶצְבְּעוֹתֶיךָ וְגו׳) (Psalms 8). And it is written, “MaH (What)—How majestic is Your Name in all the earth, who has set Your glory upon the heavens” (וּכְתִיב, מָ״ה אַדִּיר שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תְּנָה הוֹדְךָ עַל הַשָּׁמָיִם) (Psalms 8). “Upon the heavens” (עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם)—this is to ascend in the Name (אִיהוּ לְסַלְקָא בִּשְׁמָא). For He created light to illuminate, and this one was clothed in that one, and ascended in the supernal Name (בְּגִין דְּבָרָא נְהוֹרָא לִנְהוֹרֵיהּ וְאִתְלַבַּשׁ דָּא בְדָא וְסָלִיק בִּשְׁמָא עִלָּאָה). And because of this, “In the beginning, Elohim created” (וְעַל דָּא בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים): this is the Supernal Elohim (דָּא אֱלֹהִים עִלָּאָה).

For MaH (What) was not thus, nor was it built (דְּהָא מָ״ה לָא הֲוֵי הָכִי וְלָא אִתְבְּנֵי). But at the time when these letters Eleh (These) were drawn from above to below (אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְמַשְּׁכָן אַתְוָון אִלֵּין אֵלֶּ״ה מִלְּעֵילָא לְתַתָּא). And Imma added “to the face of the Master, Hashem” (וְאִמָּא אוֹזִיפַת אֶל פְּנֵי הָאָדוֹן יְיָ), and this is called “Adon (master),” as you say, “Behold, the Ark of the Covenant, the Master of all the earth” (וְדָא אִקְרֵי אָדוֹן כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר הִנֵּה אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ) (Joshua 3). Then the letter Heh went forth and brought in the Yod (כְּדֵין נַפְקַת ה׳ וְאָעִילַת י׳), and adorned herself with the garments of the male (וְאִתְקַשִּׁיטַת בְּמָאנֵי דְכוּרָא), corresponding to all the males of Yisrael (לְקָבְלֵיהוֹן דְּכָל דְּכַר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And other letters Yisrael drew from above toward this place (וְאַתְוָון אָחֳרָנִין מָשְׁכָן לוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעֵילָא לְגַבֵּי אֲתַר דָּא), as it is written, “These I remember” (אֵלֶּה אֶזְכְּרָה) (Psalms 42). I remembered in my mouth and I poured out my tears (אַדְכַּרְנָא בְּפוּמָאי וְשָׁפִיכְנָא דִּמְעָאי), with the yearning of my soul, in order to draw these letters (בִּרְעוּת נַפְשִׁי בְּגִין לְאַמְשְׁכָא אַתְוָון אִלֵּין). And then I advanced from above until the House of Elohim (וּכְדֵין אֱדַדֵּם מֵעֵילָא עַד בֵּית אֱלֹהִים), to be Elohim in its likeness (לְמֶהֱוֵי אֱלֹהִים כְּגַוְונָא דִילֵיהּ). And with what? With the voice of rejoicing and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating (וּבְמַאי, בְּקוֹל רִנָּה וְתוֹדָה הָמוֹן חוֹגֵג) (Psalms 42).

Rabbi El'azar said (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר): My silence built a Temple above and built a Temple below (שְׁתִיקָא דִילִי בְּנָא מַקְדְּשָׁא לְעֵילָא וּבְנָא מַקְדְּשָׁא לְתַתָּא). And surely “a word is worth a sela, silence two” (וּבְוַדַּאי מִלָּה בְּסֶלַע מִשְׁתּוֹקָא בִּתְרֵין). A word for a sela, that which I spoke and was awakened in it (מִלָּה בְּסֶלַע מַה דְּאָמַרְנָא וְאִתְעַרְנָא בֵּיהּ). Silence is worth two, that which I kept silent—through it were passed and built two worlds as one (מִשְׁתּוֹקָא בִּשְׁתַּיִם מַה דְּשָׁתִיקְנָא דְּאִבְרוּ וְאִיבְנוּ תְּרִין עָלְמִין כְּחֲדָא).

Rabbi Shimon said (אֲמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), from here and onward the verse is complete (מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה שְׁלִימוּ דִקְרָא), as it is written, “He who brings out their host by number” (דִּכְתִיב, הַמּוֹצִיא בְּמִסְפָּר צְבָאָם) (Isaiah 40). Two levels are they, which must each be inscribed (תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין אִנּוּן דְּאִיצְטְרִיךְ לְמֶהֱוֵי רְשִׁים כָּל חַד מִינַיְיהוּ). One is that which is said: MaH (What) (חַד דָּא דְּאִתָּמַר מָ״ה). And one is Mi (Who) (וְחַד מִ״י). This is above, and this is below (דָא עִלָּאָה וְדָא תַתָּאָה). This above is inscribed and said, “He who brings out their host by number” p1-10(דָּא עִלָּאָה רָשִׁים וְאָמַר הַמּוֹצִיא בְּמִסְפַּר צְבָאָם). “He who brings out”—this is the One who is known, and none is like Him (הַמּוֹצִיא הַהוּא דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע וְלֵית כַּוָּותֵיהּ).

Like this (כְּגַוְונָא דָא): “He who brings forth bread from the earth” (הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ). “He who brings forth” (הַמּוֹצִיא)—this is the One who is known (הַהוּא דְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא), this is the lower level (דָּא דַרְגָא תַתָּאָה), and all is one (וְכֹלָא חַד). “By number” (בְּמִסְפַּר)—these are six hundred thousand, who stand as one (שִׁתִּין רִבּוֹא אִנּוּן דְּקַיָּימִין כְּחֲדָא), and they brought forth hosts according to their kinds, without number (וְאַפִּיקוּ חֵילִין לְזִינַיְיהוֹן דְּלֵית לוֹן חֻשְׁבְּנָא). Some say: Like this ([נ״א כְּגוֹונָא דָא]), for all of them, whether those six hundred thousand or all their hosts (לְכֻלָּם, בֵּין אִנּוּן שִׁתִּין, בֵּין כָּל חֵילִין דִּילְהוֹן), “By Name He calls” (בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא). What is “By Name He calls”? (מַאי בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא). If you say that He called them by their names (אִי תֵימָא דְּקָרָא לוֹן בִּשְׁמָהַתְהוֹן), it is not so (לָאו הָכִי הוּא), for if so, it should have said “by His Name” (דְאִם כֵּן בִּשְׁמוֹ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ). Rather (אֶלָּא), at the time when this level had not yet ascended in the Name (above) and was called Mi [Who] (בְּזִמְנָא דְדַרְגָא דָא לָא סָלִיק בִּשְׁמָא (לְעֵילָא) וְאִקְרֵי מִ״י), it neither begot nor brought forth the concealed ones according to their kinds, even though they were all concealed within it (לָא אוֹלִיד וְלָא אַפִּיק טְמִירִין לְזִינֵיהּ אַף עַל גַּב דְּכֻלְהוּ הֲווּ טְמִירִין בֵּיהּ). Once He created Eleh [These] (כֵּיוָן דְּבָרָא אֵלֶּ״ה), and it ascended in His Name and was called Elohim (וְאִסְתַּלַּק בִּשְׁמֵיהּ וְאִקְרֵי אֱלֹהִים), then by the power of this Name He brought them forth in completeness (כְּדֵין בְּחֵילָא דִּשְׁמָא דָא אַפִּיק לוֹן בִּשְׁלִימוּ), and this is “By Name He calls” (וְדָא הוּא בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא): by that Name of His He called and brought forth every single kind to endure in its completeness (בְּהַהוּא שֵׁם דִּילֵיהּ קְרָא וְאַפִּיק כָּל זִינָא וְזִינָא לְאִתְקַיֵּימָא בִּשְׁלִימוּתֵיהּ). Like this (כְּגַוְונָא דָא): “See, I have called by Name” (רְאֵה קָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם) (Exodus 31:2). “I mentioned My Name so that it would be established in Betzalel for the establishment of his completeness” (אַדְכַּרְנָא שְׁמִי לְאִתְקְיָימָא בְּצַלְאֵל עַל קִיּוּם אַשְׁלָמוּתֵיהּ). “From the multitude of powers” (מֵרוֹב אוֹנִים)—what is “from the multitude of powers”? (מַאי מֵרוֹב אוֹנִים). This is the head of the levels (דָּא רִישׁ דַּרְגִּין), in whom all wills ascended and were concealed in a hidden way (דִּסְלִיקוּ בֵּיהּ כָּל רְעוּתִין וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ בֵּיהּ בְּאֹרַח סָתִים). And “mighty in strength” (וְאַמִּיץ כֹּחַ)—this is the secret of the Supernal World which ascended in the Name Elohim, as we have said (דָּא רָזָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּאִסְתַּלַּק בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים כִּדְקָאָמְרָן). “Not one is missing” (אִישׁ לָא נֶעְדָּר) from those six hundred thousand whom He brought forth by the power of the Name (מֵאִנּוּן שִׁתִּין רִבּוֹא דְּאֲפִיק בְּחֵילָא דִשְׁמָא). And because not one is missing (וּבְגִין דְּאִישׁ לָא נֶעְדָּר), in every place where Yisrael died and were punished for their sins (בְּכָל אֲתַר דְּמִיתוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִתְעֲנָשׁוּ בְּחוֹבַיְיהוֹ), they were numbered and not one was lacking from those six hundred thousand, not even one (אִתְמְנוּן וְלָא אַעֲדַר מֵאִנּוּן שִׁתִּין רִבּוֹא אֲפִילוּ חָד). So that all should be one Diyukna [Likeness] (בְּגִין לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָא דִיוּקְנָא חֲדָא). Just as not one is lacking above (כְּמָה דְּאִישׁ לָא נֶעְדַּר לְעֵילָא), so too not one is lacking below (אוּף הָכִי לָא נֶעְדַּר לְתַתָּא).