Daf 112a (דַּף קי״ב ע״א)

A servant, to serve in all kinds of service (עֶבֶד, לְמִפְלַח בְּכָל זִינֵי פּוּלְחָנָא), in prayer which is called service (בִּצְלוֹתָא דְּאִקְרֵי עֲבוֹדָה), like that servant who is the supernal mystery, who never sleeps, ever constant (כְּהַאי עֶבֶד דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא עִלָּאָה, דְּלָא שָׁכִיךְ לְעָלְמִין תָּדִיר). And he praises and sings constantly (וְקָא מְשַׁבְּחָא וּמְנַגְּנָא תָּדִיר). And this has been said regarding other services (וְהָא אִתְּמַר בְּפוּלְחָנִין אָחֳרָנִין), that all the services and matters of the worlds, all of them, he performs and serves (דְּכָל פּוּלְחָנִין וּמִלִּין דְּעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ אִיהוּ עָבִיד וּפָלַח). And because of this he is called Master (וּבְגִין דָּא אִקְרֵי אָדוֹן), for he is a servant to serve, therefore he is called Master of all the earth (בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ עֶבֶד לְמִפְלַח, אִקְרֵי אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ). A man who is crowned in this mystery, to be a servant to serve the service of his Master (בַּר נָשׁ דְּאִתְעַטָּר בְּרָזָא דָּא, לְמֵיהֱוִי עֶבֶד לְמִפְלַח פּוּלְחָנֵיהּ דְּמָארֵיה), he ascends and is crowned to be in this level, and is likewise called Master (אִיהוּ סָלִיק וְאִתְעַטָּר לְמֶהֱוִי בְּדַרְגָּא דָּא, וְאִקְרֵי אוּף הָכִי אֲדוֹן). For he is blessed in all those services, for this world, and it stands firm for him (דְּהָא אִיהוּ בַּרִיךְ בְּכָל אִינּוּן פּוּלְחָנִין, לְהַאי עָלְמָא, וְקִיֵּים לֵיהּ). And because of this he is called Master (וְעַל דָּא אִקְרֵי אֲדוֹן). Some say: Master of the earth (ס״א אֲדוֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ).

Fortunate is the portion of this son, who merits to labor to know the treasures of his Father and all the secrets of His house (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּהַאי בֵּן, דְּזָכֵי לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא לְמִנְדַּע בְּגִנְזֵי דְּאֲבוֹי, וּבְכָל רָזִין דְּבֵיתֵיהּ), like an only son whom his Father has placed in authority over all His treasures (כִּבְרָא יְחִידָאי דְּאַשְׁלְטֵיהּ אֲבוֹי בְּכָל גְּנָזוֹי). And this is the glory, that he rules over all, one who labors in Orayta to know Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְדָא אִיהוּ יְקָרָא, דְּשַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא מַאן דְּיִשְׁתְּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לְמִנְדַּע לֵיהּ לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And in those treasures of His he is called son to Kudsha Berikh Hu (וּבְאִינּוּן גְּנִיזִין דִּילֵיהּ, אִקְרֵי בֵּן לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). All the hosts of heaven, none can protest against him, whenever he must enter unto his Father (כָּל חֵילֵי שְׁמַיָא, לֵית מַאן דְּיִמְחֵי בִּידֵיהּ, בְּכָל שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֵיעַל לְגַבֵּי אֲבוֹי). Fortunate is his portion in all the worlds (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ בְּעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ). And because of this, when he labors to know Him in a particular way, in the secret of Chokhmah, then he is called son (וּבְגִין דָּא, כַּד אִשְׁתָּדַּל לְמִנְדַּע לֵיהּ בְּאֹרַח פְּרָט, בְּרָזָא דְּחָכְמְתָא, כְּדֵין אִקְרֵי בֵּן).

In the service by which a man serves Kudsha Berikh Hu (בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּבַּר נָשׁ פָּלַח לֵיהּ לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), there is a service in which a man must be included in both, to be servant and son, to be crowned with them by Kudsha Berikh Hu (אִית פּוּלְחָנָא, דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְכַּלְּלָא בְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ, לְמֶהֱוִי עֶבֶד וּבֵן, לְאִתְעַטְּרָא בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And what is it? (וּמָה אִיהוּ). It is the service of prayer (דָּא פּוּלְחָנָא דִּצְלוֹתָא), in which a man must be both servant and son (דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֶהֱוִי בָּהּ עֶבֶד וּבֵן), to be included in these supernal levels (לְאִתְכַּלְּלָא בְּדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין אִלֵּין). To serve and to rectify prayer in the secret of servant (לְמִפְלַח וּלְאַתְקְנָא צְלוֹתָא בְּרָזָא דְּעֶבֶד), to serve the worship of the repair of the worlds (לְמִפְלַח פּוּלְחָנָא דְּתִקּוּנָא דְּעָלְמִין). And to cleave his will to the secrets of Chokhmah (וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא רְעוּתֵיהּ בְּרָזִין דְּחָכְמְתָא), to cleave to his Master in supernal treasures as is fitting (לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּמָארֵיהּ בִּגְנִיזִין עִלָּאִין כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי).

A son cleaves constantly to his Father without any separation at all (בֵּן אִתְדְּבַק תָּדִיר בַּאֲבוֹי בְּלָא פִּרוּדָא כְּלָל), there is none who can protest against him (לֵית מַאן דְּיִמְחֵי בִּידֵיהּ). A servant performs the service of his Master (עֶבֶד, עָבִיד פּוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהּ), and prepares the repairs of the worlds (וְאַתְקִין תִּקּוּנֵי עָלְמָא). One who is both together in one inclusion, in one joining (מַאן דַּהֲוִי תַּרְוַויְיהוּ בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא, בְּחִבּוּרָא חֲדָא), this is the man who prepares the mystery of all faith in one inclusion, without any separation at all, and joins all together as one (דָּא אִיהוּ בַּר נָשׁ דְּאַתְקִין רָזָא דְּכָל מְהֵימְנוּתָא בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא, בְּלָא פִּרוּדָא כְּלָל, וּמְחַבֵּר כֹּלָּא כַּחֲדָא).

This is the person (דָּא אִיהוּ בַּר נָשׁ) of whom Kudsha Berikh Hu proclaims (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַכְרִיז עֲלוֹי) among all those hosts and camps of all the worlds (בְּכָל אִלֵּין חַיָּילִין וּמַשִׁרְיָין דְּכָל עָלְמִין), and among all those firmaments (וּבְכָל אִינּוּן רְקִיעִין): “Take heed of this faithful one of the King’s household (אִזְדְּהָרוּ בִּפְלַנְיָא מְהֵימָנָא דְּבֵי מַלְכָּא), for all the treasures of his Master are in his hand” (דְּכָל גִּנְזֵי דְּמָארֵיהּ בִּידֵיהּ).

Fortunate is he in this world, and fortunate is he in the World to Come (זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְזַכָּאָה אִיהוּ בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). From that day and further, the man is known and inscribed in all the worlds (מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא וּלְהַלְאָה, אִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע בַּר נָשׁ, וְאִתְרְשִׁים בְּעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ). At the time when it is necessary, all the hosts and camps, all are warned to be with him (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ כָּל חֵילִין וּמַשִׁרְיָין כֻּלְּהוּ אִזְדְּהָרָן לְמֶהֱוִי גַּבֵּיהּ). And Kudsha Berikh Hu desires none except him alone (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא בָּעֵי אֶלָּא אִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדוֹי). And a voice is awakened: it is fitting that the unique one should be with the Unique One, and that the unique one should engage with the Unique One (וְקָלָא אִתְּעַר, יֵאוֹת הוּא לְיָּחִיד לְמֶהֱוִי גַּבֵּיהּ דְּיָחִיד, וּלְאִתְעַסְּקָא יָחִיד בְּיָחִיד). And the secret of these two levels, we find in one verse (וְרָזָא דִּתְרֵין דַּרְגִּין אִלֵּין, אַשְׁכַּחְנָא בְּחַד קְרָא), as it is written (דִּכְתִיב): And He said to me: You are My servant, Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified (וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר) (Isaiah 49). And He said to me: You are My servant - behold servant (וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה, הָא עֶבֶד). Yisrael - behold son (יִשְׂרָאֵל הָא בֵּן). When they are included as one, then it is written: in whom I will be glorified (דְּכַד אִינּוּן כְּלָלָא חֲדָא, כְּדֵין כְּתִיב אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר). Blessed is Hashem forever, amen and amen; Hashem shall reign forever, amen and amen (בָּרוּךְ יְיָ לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן יִמְלוֹךְ יְיָ לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן). (Shemot 134b, commandment to study Torah) (שמות קל״ד ע״ב פְּקוּדָא לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה).

Parashat Bechukotai

f in My statutes you will walk, etc. (Leviticus 26) (ויקרא כ״ו אִם בְּחֻקּוֹתַי תֵּלֵכוּ וְגוֹ׳). Rabbi Ḥiyya opened (רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח): (Micah 6) My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav counseled, and what Bil‘am the son of Be‘or answered him, etc. (מיכה ו עַמִּי זְכָר נָא מַה יָּעַץ בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וּמֶה עָנָה אוֹתוֹ בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר וְגוֹ׳). My people, remember now (עַמִּי זְכָר נָא), fortunate is the portion of this people, that their Master rebuked them thus (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָא דְּעַמָּא דָּא, דְּמָארֵיהוֹן אוֹכַח לוֹן הָכִי). My people, remember now (עַמִּי זְכָר נָא), even though you strayed from My ways, you are My people (אַף עַל גַּב דְּאַתּוּן סָטָאן מֵאוֹרְחָי, עַמִּי אַתּוּן), for I do not desire to do with you according to your deeds (דְּלָא בָּעֵינָא לְמֶעְבַּד לְכוּ כְּעוֹבָדַיְיכוּ).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר): Fortunate is the portion of the people, that their Master said to them (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָא דְּעַמָּא, דְּמָארַיְיהוּ אָמַר לוֹן): (Micah 6) My people, what have I done to you? and how have I wearied you? testify against Me (עַמִּי מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ וּמָה הֶלְאֵיתִיךָ עֲנֵה בִּי). What Balak king of Moav counseled (מַה יָּעַץ בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב): with many words and deeds he sought to drive you out from the world (בְּכַמָּה מִלִּין וְעוֹבָדִין אָמַר לְשֵׁיצָאָה לְכוּ מֵעָלְמָא), and how many sorceries were aroused against you (וְכַמָּה חַרְשִׁין אִתְּעַר לָקֳבְלַיְיכוּ).

Rabbi Yosei said (אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי): Kudsha Berikh Hu said to Yisrael (אָמַר לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל): Remember now (זְכוֹר נָא). Woe, for we cry every day and groan and weep (וַוי דַּאֲנָן צַוְוחִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וְגָעֵינָן וּבָכֵינָן): (Lamentations 5) Remember, Hashem, what has come upon us (איכה ה זְכוֹר יְיָ מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ). (Psalms 137) Remember, Hashem, the children of Edom (תהלים קלז זְכוֹר יְיָ לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם). And He does not desire to look upon us (וְלָא בָּעֵי לְאַשְׁגְּחָא עֲלָנָא). He said to us: in prayer, remember now (הוּא אָמַר לָן בְּבָעוּ זְכוֹר נָא). And “now” is only a language of supplication (אֵין נָא אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן בָּעוּתָא). And we did not heed Him (וַאֲנָן לָא אַשְׁגַּחְנָא בֵּיהּ).

Likewise, we cry: Remember, Hashem, what has come upon us (כְּגַוְונָא דָּא אֲנָן צַוְוחִין, זְכוֹר יְיָ מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ). Remember, Hashem, the children of Edom (זְכוֹר יְיָ לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם). (Psalms 74) Remember Your congregation, which You purchased of old (תהלים עד זְכוֹר עֲדָתְךָ קָנִיתָ קֶּדֶם). (Psalms 106) Remember me, Hashem, with the favor of Your people (תהלים קו זָכְרֵנִי יְיָ בִּרְצוֹן עַמֶּךָ). And He does not desire to look upon us (וְלָא בָּעֵי לְאַשְׁגְּחָא עֲלָנָא).