Daf 44b (דַּף מ״ד ע״ב)

And now, these male beings go and perform missions in the world (וְהַשְׁתָּא אִינוּן גּוּבְרִין וְעָבְדִין שְׁלִיחוּתָא בְּעָלְמָא), and before they finish, they are extinguished-then that spark strikes them (וְעַד לָא מְסַיְּימֵי מִתְדָּעֲכֵי [כְּדֵין], וְהַהוּא נִיצּוֹצָא בָּטַשׁ בְּהוּ), and it illuminates them, and they are renewed as at first (וְנָהִיר לוֹן וְאִתְחַדְּשׁוּן כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין). And these are female beings who go and roam, and before they finish, they are extinguished (וְאִינוּן נוּקְבֵי וְאָזְלֵי וְשָׁאטָן, וְעַד לָא מְסַיְּימֵי מִתְדָּעֲכֵי). And that spark strikes them and illuminates them, and they return to how they were at first (וְהַהוּא נִיצּוֹצָא בָּטַשׁ בְּהוּ וְנָהִיר לוֹן וְאִתְהַדְּרָן כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין), because that spark is included from all, included from the four colors (בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא נִיצּוֹצָא כָּלִיל מִכֹּלָּא, כָּלִיל מִד׳ גְּוָונִין), and because of that they change into all those colors (וּבְגִין דָּא אִינוּן מִתְהַפְּכִין לְכָל הָנֵי גַּוְונֵי).

This ruach was integrated with another ruach, as has been said (רוּחָא דָּא אִתְכְּלִיל בְּרוּחָא אָחֳרָא כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן), and the two were seen as one (וְאִתְחַזּוּן תְּרֵין כְּחֲדָא), not like the earlier ones where, when this one was integrated with that one, it was not seen except as one alone (וְלָא כְּאָחֳרָנִין קַדְמָאִין, דְּכַד אִתְכְּלִיל דָּא בְּדָא, לָא אִתְחַזֵּי בַּר חָד). But here, two were seen and they stood in affection, included from all the lower ones (וְהָכָא אִתְחַזּוּן תְּרֵין, וְקָיְמֵי בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא כְּלִילָן מִכֻּלְּהוּ תַּתָּאֵי), and even though they are two, they are one (וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִינוּן תְּרֵין, אִינוּן חַד).

When ruach is extended-some say: when it was extended-ruach into ruach, they are seen in affection, included from all the lower ones (כַּד אִתְפְּשַׁט [נ״א: בַּר דְּאִתְפְּשָׁטוּ] רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא, וְאִתְחַזּוּן בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא כְּלִילָן מִכֻּלְּהוּ תַּתָּאֵי). And this-some say: this-is the secret of what is written: Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, feeding among the roses (Shir haShirim 4) (וְדָא [ד״א: דָּא] הוּא רָזָא דִּכְתִיב: שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ כִּשְׁנֵי עָפָרִים תְּאוֹמֵי צְבִיָּה הָרוֹעִים בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים). And when two ruchin extend one within the other in affection (וְכַד תְּרֵין רוּחִין מִתְפַּשְׁטָן דָּא בְּדָא בְּחֲבִיבוּתָא), then this palace is restored and called the palace of Love, the palace of Affection (כְּדֵין אִתְהַדַּר הַאי הֵיכָלָא וְאִקְרֵי הֵיכַל אַהֲבָה, הֵיכַלָא דִּרְחִימוּתָא). This palace stands constantly in its station (הֵיכַלָא דָּא קָאִים תָּדִיר בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ), concealed in the secret of secrets for one who needs to cleave to it (אִתְגְּנִיז בְּרָזָא דְרָזִין לְמַאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתְדַּבַּקָא בֵּיהּ). And here it is written: I will give you my love offerings (Shir haShirim 7) (וְהָכָא כְּתִיב: אֶתֵּן אֶת דּוֹדַי לָךְ).

Afterwards, when the two ruchin shine as one (לְבָתַר, כַּד נָהֲרִין תְּרֵין רוּחִין דְּאִנּוּן חַד), many legions go forth in many directions-thousands and myriads without measure (נָפְקֵי כַּמָּה חַיָּילִין לְכַמָּה סִטְרִין: אַלְפִין וְרִבְּוָון דְּלֵית לוֹן שִׁיעוּרָא). Among them are those called Mandrakes (dudaim) (מִנְּהוֹן אִקְרוּן דּוּדָאִים), among them are Vines (gefanin) (מִנְּהוֹן גְּפָנִים), among them are Pomegranates (rimonim) (מִנְּהוֹן רִמּוֹנִים), until legions reach outward to that star called Nogah [Venus] (עַד דְּמָטוּ כַּמָּה חַיָּילִין לְבַר עַד הַהוּא כּוֹכְבָא דְּאִקְרֵי נוֹגַהּ), and all of them in love-never separated (וְכֻּלְּהוּ בַּחֲבִיבוּ דְּלָא מִתְפָּרְשִׁין לְעָלְמִין). And here it is written: If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly despised (Shir haShirim 8) (בְּהָכָא כְּתִיב: אִם יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶת כָּל הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ בָּאַהֲבָה בּוֹז יָבוּזוּ לוֹ). Here (some say: it is written) is prostration and spreading of the hands, to cleave to the love of his Master (הָכָא [ד״א: כְּתִיב] הִשְׁתַּחֲוָאָה וּפְרִישׂוּ דְּיָדִין לְאִתְדַּבָּקָא בִּרְחִימוּ דְּמָארֵיהּ).

The sixth palace-here is the ruach that is called 'Chut HaShani' (the Scarlet Thread) (הֵיכָלָא שְׁתִּיתָאָה: הָכָא הוּא רוּחָא דְּאִקְרֵי חוּ״ט הַשָּׁנִי), the secret of what is written: Your lips are like a thread of scarlet (Shir haShirim 4) (רָזָא דִּכְתִיב: כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתוֹתָיִךְ). This palace is called Palace of Will (הַאי הֵיכָלָא [הֵיכָלָא דְּאִתְּקְרֵי]: אִקְרֵי הֵיכָל הָרָצוֹן). Here is the ruach which is the desire of all the lower ruchin-they run after it to cleave to it in a kiss of love (הָכָא רוּחָא דְּאִיהוּ רַעֲוָא דְּכָל הָנֵי רוּחִין תַּתָּאִין: רָהֲטִין אֲבַתְרֵיהּ לְאִתְדַּבָּקָא בֵּיהּ בִּנְשִׁיקָה בִּרְחִימוּתָא). This ruach is integrated with six, and stands in six (הַאי רוּחָא אִתְכְּלִיל בְּשִׁית, וְקָיְימָא בְּשִׁית). It is integrated with six below with it (אִתְכְּלִיל בְּשִׁית דִּלְתַּתָּא בַּהֲדֵיהּ), and it stands with six above (וְקָיְימָא בְּשִׁית עִלָּאִין). And for this reason, this ruach brings forth twelve lights, integrated from all below and above (וּבְגִין כָּךְ הַאי רוּחָא אַפִּיק תְּרֵיסַר נְהוֹרִין: כְּלִילָן כֻּלְּהוּ מִתַּתָּא וּמִלְּעֵילָא). These twelve lights are ready to ascend above and to receive all those below (הָנֵי תְּרֵיסַר נְהוֹרִין אִנּוּן חָדוּן לְסַלְקָא לְעֵילָא וּלְקַבֶּלָא כָּל אִנּוּן דִּלְתַּתָּא). This palace, which is the will-the desire-of all (הֵיכָלָא דָּא דְּאִיהוּ רָצוֹן רַעֲוָא דְּכֹלָּא), whoever binds bonds and raises them here (מָאן דְּקָשַׁר קִשְׁרִין וְסָלִיק לוֹן הָכָא), this is what brings forth will from Hashem in love (דָּא הוּא דְּאַפִּיק רָצוֹן מֵיְיָ בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא). Within this palace, Moshe was gathered in love, who kissed kisses of affection (בְּגוֹ הֵיכָלָא דָּא אִתְכְּנִישׁ מֹשֶׁה בִּרְחִימוּ דְּנָשִׁיק נְשִׁיקֵי רְחִימוּתָא). This is the palace of Moshe (הַאי הוּא הֵיכָלָא דְּמֹשֶׁה). This ruach is the ruach of love, the ruach of unification that draws love to all sides (רוּחָא דָּא רוּחָא דִּרְחִימוּתָא, רוּחָא דְּיִחוּדָא דְּאַמְשִׁיךְ רְחִימוּ לְכָל סִטְרִין). And these-some say: they-twelve lights ascend and blaze (וְאִנּוּן [ד״א: אַנּוּן] תְּרֵיסַר נְהוֹרִין סָלְקִין וְלָהֲטִין). From their sparks come forth four holy supernal living beings, beloved in love (מִנְּצִיצוּ דִּלְהוֹן נָפְקֵי אַרְבַּע חֵיוָון קַדִּישִׁין רְחִימֵי דְּאַהֲבָה). These are called great chayot so that the small ones may unite and be integrated with them (אִלֵּין אִקְרוּן חַיּוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת לְאִתְחַבְּרָא אִנּוּן זוּטֵי לְאִתְכְּלָלָא בְּהוּ), as it is written: small chayot with great ones (Tehillim 104) (דִּכְתִיב: חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלוֹת). These are bound one to another to the four directions, like a walnut that connects to four sides (אִלֵּין אֲחִידָן דָּא בְּדָא לְד׳ סִטְרִין, כֶּאֱגוֹזָא דְּמִתְחַבְּרָא לְד׳ סִטְרִין). And for this reason, this palace is called Ginat Egoz (the garden of nuts)-as it is written: I went down to the garden of nuts (Shir haShirim 6) (וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִקְרֵי הֵיכָלָא דָּא: גִּנַּת אֱגוֹז, דִּכְתִיב: אֶל גִּנַּת אֱגוֹז יָרַדְתִּי). What is to the garden of nuts? For the sake of Ginat Egoz I descended-this is the palace of Love, to bind male with female (מַאי: אֶל גִּנַּת אֱגוֹז בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּגִּנַּת אֱגוֹז יָרַדְתִּי: דְּאִיהוּ הֵיכָלָא דִּרְחִימוּ, לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא דְּכוּרָא בְּנוּקְבָּא).

These four divide into twelve, three by three to each direction (אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע מִתְפָּרְשָׁן לִתְרֵיסַר, תְּלַת תְּלַת לְכָל סִטְרָא). All those below are included within them (כָּל אִנּוּן תַּתָּאֵי כְּלִילָן בְּהוּ), and in them, spirits stand within spirits, lights within lights. (וּבְהוּ קַיָּימִין רוּחִין בְּרוּחִין, נְהוֹרִין בִּנְהוֹרִין), all of them one within the other until they become one (כֻּלְּהוּ אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין, עַד דְּאִתְעֲבִידוּ חַד). Then this ruach, which is included from all of them, ascends to be crowned (some say: to be awakened) within the supernal ruach, that which is called Shamayim (וּכְדֵין הַאי רוּחָא דְּכָלִיל מִכֻּלְּהוּ סָלְקָא לְאִתְעַטְּרָא [נ״א: לְאִתְעַרָא] בְּרוּחָא דִּלְעֵילָא, הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי שָׁמַיִם), and is prepared to be joined with it (וְזַמִּין לֵיהּ לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ). Once all those below are bound with it, he says: Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth (Shir haShirim 1) (כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְקַשְּׁרוּ כֻּלְהוּ דִּלְתַּתָּא בַּהֲדֵיהּ, אָמַר: יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ), and then there is joy in the bonding of ruach with ruach, and for the fulfillment of this through that (וּכְדֵין אִיהוּ חֶדְוָה לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא, וּלְאִשְׁתַּלָּמָא דָּא בְּדָא), then it is completion in one union (כְּדֵין אִיהוּ שְׁלִימוּ בְּחִבּוּרָא חָדָא).