Daf 109b (דַּף ק״ט ע״ב)

Masters of the academies (מָארֵי מְתִיבְתָּאן), with an oath upon you (בְּאוֹמָאָה עָלַיְיכוּ), do not depart from me (לָא תַּעְדוּ מִנִּי), until I prepare offerings for Kudsha Berikh Hu (עַד דְּאַתְקִין קָרְבְּנִין לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). For the Shekhinta is an offering to Hashem (דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִיהִי קָרְבָּן לַיְיָ), in every limb of the King (בְּכָל אֵבֶר וְאֵבֶר דְּמַלְכָּא), in complete union, in male and female (בְּחִבּוּרָא שְׁלִים, בִּדְכַר וְנוּקְבָּא). In all the limbs, such as: the eyes with the eyes (בְּכָל אֵבָרִים, דְּאִינּוּן: מִנְּהוֹן בְּרֵישָׁא, עַיְינִין בְּעַיְינִין), ears with ears (אוּדְנִין לְגַבֵּי אוּדְנִין), nose with nose (חוֹטָמָא בְּחוֹטָמָא), face with face (אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין), mouth with mouth (פּוּמָא בְּפוּמָא). As it is said (כְּגוֹן): And he placed his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes (וַיָּשֶׂם פִּיו עַל פִּיו וְעֵינָיו עַל עֵינָיו) (II Kings 4). And with this he revived the child (וּבְדָא הֲוָה מְחַיֶּה הַיֶּלֶד). So too the hands of the King with the hands of the Matronita (וְהָכִי יְדִין דְּמַלְכָּא, עִם יְדִין דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא), body with body (גּוּפָא בְּגוּפָא), in all His limbs (בְּכָל אֵבָרִים דִּילֵיהּ): a complete offering (קָרְבְּנָא שְׁלִים). For a man without a wife (דְּבַּר נָשׁ בְּלָא אִתְּתָא), he is half a body (פַּלְגוּ גּוּפָא אִיהוּ), and the Shekhinta does not rest upon him (וּשְׁכִינְתָּא לָא שַׁרְיָא עָלֵיהּ).

Thus (הָכִי), Some say: Kudsha Berikh Hu (ס״א: כּוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), He is not in an offering with the Shekhinta (לָאו אִיהוּ בְּקָרְבְּנָא עִם שְׁכִינְתָּא), in all of Yisrael (בְּכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל), who are men of qualities (דְּאִינּוּן אַנְשֵׁי מִדּוֹת), who are her limbs (דְּאִינּוּן אֵבָרִים דִּילָהּ). The Cause of causes does not rest there (עִלַּת הָעִלּוֹת לָא שַׁרְיָא תַּמָּן), and it is as though Kudsha Berikh Hu were not one (וּכְאִלּוּ לָא הֲוָה קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חַד), when He is not with His Shekhinta (בָּתַר דְּלָאו אִיהוּ עִם שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ). And outside the Land, where the Shekhinta is distanced from her Husband (וּבְחוּצָּה לָאָרֶץ דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא מְרַחֲקָא מִן בַּעְלָהּ), it is said (אִתְּמַר): Whoever dwells outside the Land is as if he has no God (כָּל הַדָּר בְּחוּצָּה לָאָרֶץ, דּוֹמֶה כְּמִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֱלוֹהַּ).

Because there are no offerings outside the Land (בְּגִין דְּלֵית תַּמָּן קָרְבְּנִין בְּחוּצָּה לָאָרֶץ). And at the time that Kudsha Berikh Hu is joined with His Shekhinta (וּלְזִמְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִתְקָרֵב עִם שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ), this verse is fulfilled in Him (אִתְקַיָּים בֵּיהּ הַאי קְרָא): On that day Hashem shall be one and His Name one (בַּיוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְיָ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד) (Zechariah 14). And the Cause of causes rests upon them (וְעִלַּת הָעִלּוֹת שַׁרְיָא עָלַיְיהוּ). Even though the fathers established prayers in place of offerings (אַף עַל גַּב דְּתָקִינוּ אֲבָהָן צְּלוֹתִין בַּאֲתַר דְּקָרְבְּנִין), this is to offer souls, spirits, and Neshamot (הַאי אִיהוּ לְקָרְבָא נַפְשִׁין וְרוּחִין וְנִשְׁמָתִין), which are intellectual (דְּאִינּוּן שִׂכְלִיִּים), to Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ), as limbs to the body (כְּאֵבָרִין לְגַבֵּי גּוּפָא). But from the side of the thrones and the angels (אֲבָל מִסִּטְרָא דְּכוּרְסְיָין וּמַלְאָכִין), which are bodies and limbs (דְּאִינּוּן גּוּפִין וְאֵבָרִין), outside of the King and Matronita (דִּלְבַר מִמַּלְכָּא וּמִמַטְרוֹנִיתָא), there is no offering (לֵית תַּמָּן קָרְבְּנָא). And concerning this it is said regarding the throne (וּבְגִין דָּא אִתְּמַר בְּכוּרְסְיָּיא): And he said: because a hand upon the throne of Yah (וַיּאמֶר כִּי יָד עַל כֵּס יָהּ) (Exodus 17).

Kisei (throne) - missing an Alef (כֵּס, חָסֵר מִכִּסֵּא א׳). Some say: missing the Name Havayah (נ״א ה״ו חָסֵר מִשֵּׁם הוי״ה). And it is written (וְכִתִיב): A throne of glory, exalted from the beginning, the place of our sanctuary (כִּסֵּא כָּבוֹד מָרוֹם מֵרִאשׁוֹן מְקוֹם מִקְדָּשֵׁנוּ) (Jeremiah 17). And the limbs in separation from the body (וְאֵבָרִין בְּפֵרוּדָא מִן גּוּפָא) - He is within (אִיהוּ לְגוֹ), and they are without (וְאִינּוּן לְבַר). This is what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב): Behold, their heroes cried without (הֶן אֶרְאֶלָּם צָּעֲקוּ חוּצָּה), without indeed (חוּצָּה וַדַּאי) (Isaiah 33).

May it be Your will (יְהֵא רַעֲוָא דִּילָךְ), to return us to the Temple (לְאַחְזְרָא לָן לְבֵי מַקְדְּשָׁא), to establish the prayer that the ancients instituted (לְקַיֵּים צְּלוֹתָא דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ קַדְמָאֵי): May it be Your will Hashem our God and God of our fathers that You bring us up in joy to our land and plant us within our borders, and there we shall perform before You our obligatory offerings, the continual offerings in their order, each one in its proper arrangement, and the additional offerings according to their law (יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתַּעֲלֵנוּ בְשִׂמְחָה לְאַרְצֵנוּ וְתִטָּעֵנוּ בִּגְבוּלֵנוּ וְשָׁם נַעֲשֶׂה לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת קָרְבָּנוֹת חוֹבוֹתֵינוּ תְּמִידִין כְּסִדְרָן כָּל חַד בְּסִדּוּרָא דִּילֵיהּ וּמוּסָפִין כְּהִלְכָתָן). For here, outside of the Land of Yisrael (דִּכְעָן לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל), there are no offerings (לֵית תַּמָּן קָרְבְּנִין), like bodies of Beri’ah (כְּגוּפִין דִּבְרִיאָה), while Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta are from the side of Atzilut (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ מִסִּטְרָא דַּאֲצִילוּת דִּילֵיהּ), where there is no separation and division (לֵית תַּמָּן פִּרוּדָא וְאַפְרָשׁוּתָא). For the Shekhinta is His union, His blessing, and His holiness (דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִיהִי יִחוּדֵיהּ וּבִרְכָתֵיהּ וּקְדוּשָׁתֵיהּ). And she is not called a body (וְלָא אִתְקְרִיאַת גוּפָא), except when she is materialized in thrones and in the angels of Beri’ah (אֶלָּא כַּד אִתְגַשְׁמוּ בְּכוּרְסַיִּין וּמַלְאָכִין דִּבְרִיאָה), like a soul clothed in a lowly body (כְּנִשְׁמָתָא דְּאִתְלַבְּשָׁא בְּגוּפָא שְׁפָלָה). Therefore (וּבְגִין דָּא), when the Shekhinta is outside the Sanctuary (כַּד שְׁכִינְתָּא אִיהִי לְבַר מֵהֵיכָלָא דְּבֵי מַקְדְּשָׁא) and outside her throne (וּלְבַר מִכּוּרְסְיָין דִּילָהּ), it is as though she is not one with Him (כִּבְיָכוֹל כְּאִלּוּ לָא הֲוָה חַד עִמֵּיהּ). From the side of the supernal throne (מִסִּטְרָא דְּכִסֵּא עֶלְיוֹן), which is the body for Kudsha Berikh Hu (דְּאִיהוּ גּוּפָא לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), and the angels that depend upon it (וּמַלְאָכִין דְּתַּלְיָין מִנֵּיהּ), like limbs that depend upon a body (כְּאֵבָרִין דְּתַּלְיָין מִן גּוּפָא), these are male (דְּאִינּוּן דְּכוּרִין). And the souls that are hewn from it are male (וְנִשְׁמָתִין דְּאִתְגְּזָרוּ מִנֵיהּ דְּכוּרִין).

The second throne is the body of the Shekhinta (כִּסֵּא תִּנְיָינָא, גּוּפָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא), and all the souls that depend upon it are female (וְכָל נִשְׁמָתִין דְּתַּלְיָין מִנֵּיהּ נוּקְבִין). And the angels that depend from that throne are female (וּמַלְאָכִין דְּתַּלְיָין מֵהַהוּא כּוּרְסְיָיא נוּקְבִין). And their nearness is with Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (וּקָרִיבוּ דִּלְהוֹן בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ). Thus is the union of Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (הָכִי יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ). And even though they are as souls to the throne and angels (אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִינּוּן כְּנִשְׁמָתִין לְגַבֵּי כּוּרְסְיָיא וּמַלְאָכִין), so they are to You, Cause of causes (הָכִי אִינּוּן לְגַבָּךְ עִלַּת הָעִלּוֹת), like a body (כְּגוּפָא), for You are the One who unites them and draws them close (דְּאַנְתְּ הוּא דִּמְיַיחֵד לוֹן וּמְקָרֵב לוֹן).

And therefore Your faith is in them (וּבְגִין דָּא אֱמוּנָה דִּילָךְ בְּהוֹן). And there is no soul above You (וְאַנְתְּ לֵית עֲלָךְ נִשְׁמְתָא), that You should be as a body to her (דְּתֶהֱוֵי אַנְתְּ כְּגוּפָא לְגַבָּהּ). For You are the soul of souls (דְּאַנְתְּ הוּא נְשָׁמָה לַנְשָׁמוֹת), and there is no soul above You (וְלֵית נְשָׁמָה עֲלָךְ), nor God above You (וְלָא אֱלָהָא עֲלָךְ). You are outside of all (אַנְתְּ לְבַר מִכֹּלָּא), and within all (וּלְגָאו מִכֹּלָּא), and to every side (וּלְכָל סִטְרָא), and above all (וּלְעֵילָּא מִכֹּלָּא), and below all (וּלְתַתָּא מִכֹּלָּא). And there is no other God (וְלֵית אֱלָהָא אָחֳרָא), above or below (עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא), nor on any side (וּמִכֹּל סִטְרָא), nor within the ten Sefirot (וּמִלְגוֹ דְּעֶשֶׂר סְפִירָן), from which is all (דְּמִנְּהוֹן כֹּלָּא), and upon which all depends (וּבְהוֹן כֹּלָּא תַּלְיָא). And You are in every Sefirah (וְאַנְתְּ בְּכָל סְפִירָה), in its length and breadth (בְּאָרְכָּה וְרָחְבָּהּ), above and below (עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא), and between every Sefirah and Sefirah (וּבֵין כָּל סְפִירָה וּסְפִירָה), and in the depth of every Sefirah and Sefirah (וּבְעוֹבִי דְּכָל סְפִירָה וּסְפִירָה). And You are the One who brings near Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (וְאַנְתְּ הוּא דִּמְקָרֵב לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ), in every Sefirah (בְּכָל סְפִירָה וּסְפִירָה), and in all the shining branches that depend on them (וּבְכָל עַנְפִין דִּנְהוֹרִין דְּתַלְיָין מִנְּהוֹן), like bones, and sinews, and skin, and flesh, that depend on the body (כְּגָרְמִין, וְגִידִין, וְעוֹר, וּבָשָׂר, דְּתַלְיָין מִן גּוּפָא). And You have no body (וְאַנְתְּ לֵית לָךְ גּוּפָא), and no limbs (וְלָא אֵבָרִים), and You have no female counterpart (וְלֵית לָךָ נוּקְבָּא), but You are One without a second (אֶלָּא אֶחָד בְּלָא שֵׁנִי).

May it be Your will (יְהֵא רַעֲוָא דִּילָךְ), that You bring the Shekhinta near to Kudsha Berikh Hu (דִּתְקָרֵב אַנְתְּ שְׁכִינְתָּא לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), in all the levels which are her Atzilut (בְּכָל דַּרְגִּין דְּאִינּוּן אֲצִּילוּת דִּילָהּ), which are the Neshamot of the possessors of middot (דְּאִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתִין דְּבַעֲלֵי מִדּוֹת): the princes of Yisrael (נְשִׂיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), the wise (חֲכָמִים), the understanding (נְבוֹנִים), the pious (חֲסִידִים), the mighty (גִּבּוֹרִים), the men of truth (אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת), the prophets (נְבִיאִים), the righteous (צַּדִּיקִים), the kings (מְלָכִים) - all of them of Atzilut (כֻּלְּהוּ דַּאֲצִּילוּת). For there are others from Beri’ah (דְּאִית אָחֳרָנִין דִּבְרִיאָה). For the Shekhinta is an offering (דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִיהִי קָרְבָּן): the anointing oil (שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה).

From the right, oil for the light (מִימִינָא שֶׁמֶן לַמָּאוֹר), as it is said (כְּגוֹן): the great light (אֶת הַמָּאוֹר הַגָּדוֹל) (Bereshit 1). The oil of holy anointing is from the left (שֶׁמֶן מִשְׁחַת קֹדֶשׁ אִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא), of which it is said: and you shall sanctify the Levi’im (דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ: וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֶת הַלְּוִיִּם) (Numbers 8). Beaten oil (שֶׁמֶן כָּתִית) is from the side of the Tzaddik (אִיהִי מִסִּטְרָא דְּצַּדִּיק), who is crushed from the limbs, which are olives (דְּאִיהוּ כָּתִישׁ כְּתִישִׁין מֵאֵבָרִין דְּאִינּוּן זֵיתִים), to make oil for the wick (לְאַחֲתָא מִשְׁחָא לְגַבִּי פְּתִילָה). The wick is Techeilah (blue) (פְּתִילָה תֵּכְלָא), and from there Gevurah, which is awe (וּגְבוּרָה מִתַּמָּן אִיהִי יִרְאָה). And the Levi’im guard the Sanctuary (וּלְוִיִּם שׁוֹמְרִין הַמִּקְדָּשׁ). And from there is the commandment to fear the Temple (וּמִתַּמָּן פִּקּוּדָא לִירָא מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ). And it is the commandment of the service of the Levi’im in the Temple (וְאִיהוּ מִצְּוַת עֲבוֹדַת הַלְּוִיִּם בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ), in twenty-four watches of Levi’im (בְּכ״ד מִשְׁמָרוֹת לְוִיִּם), in which the Levi’im in song and melody (דִּבְהוֹן לְוִיִּם בְּשִׁירָה וּבְזִמְרָה) would sing before You (הֲווֹ מְזַמְּרִין קֳדָמָךְ), to elevate the Shekhinta (לְסַלְּקָא שְׁכִינְתָּא), for she is song and melody in them to Hashem (דְּאִיהִי שִׁירָה וְזִמְרָה בְּהוֹן לַיְיָ). Twenty-four with song and melody are twenty-six (כ״ד עִם שִׁירָה וְזִמְרָה כ״ו), like the number of the Name YHVH (כְּחוּשְׁבָּן יְדוָ״ד). And after this commandment is the commandment of the continual incense before Kudsha Berikh Hu (וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ פִּקּוּדָא אִיהִי מִצְּוַת קְטֹרֶת תָּמִיד לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), and the incense is as an offering (וּקְטֹרֶת כְּקָרְבְּנָא).