Daf 118a (דַּף קי״ח ע״א)

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), no counting was found in Yisrael that they were blessed in it, like this counting (לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח מִנְיָינָא בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִתְבָּרְכָן בֵּיהּ, כְּהַאי מִנְיָינָא). For this counting was for blessing, and was to complete the perfection of the worlds (דְּהַאי מִנְיָינָא לְאִתְבָּרְכָא הֲוָה, וּלְאַשְׁלְמָא שְׁלֵימוּתָא דְּעָלְמִין הֲוָה). And in the place where blessings go forth, they were appointed (וּבַאֲתָר דְּבִרְכָּאן נָפְקִין אִתְמְנוּן). As it is written: On the first of the second month (דִּכְתִיב בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי) (Numbers 1). This is the brightness of the blessings of the world, from which brightness goes forth to the world (דְּאִיהוּ זִיוָא דְּבִרְכָּאָן דְּעָלְמָא, דְּמִנֵּיהּ נָפִיק זִיוָא לְעָלְמָא). And because of this it is called the month of Ziv, for the brightness of all goes forth from it (וְעַל דָּא אִקְרֵי חֹדֶשׁ זִי״ו, דְּזִיוָא דְּכֹלָּא נָפִיק מִנֵּיהּ). And because of this it is written: (Psalms 134) Hashem will bless you from Zion (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ מִצִּיּוֹן). And all is one word (וְכֹלָּא חַד מִלָּה). And it is written: (Psalms 133) For there Hashem commanded the blessing, etc. (וּכְתִיב כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְיָ אֶת הַבְּרָכָה וְגוֹ׳).

Rabbi Yehudah was present before Rabbi Shimon (רִבִּי יְהוּדָה הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): Yisrael-from where are they blessed? (יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאָן אֲתָר אִתְבָּרְכָן). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): Woe to the world that the sons of men do not look and do not gaze at the glory of the supernal King (וַוי לְעָלְמָא, דְּלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, בִּיקָרָא דְּמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): at the time when Yisrael are found meritorious before Kudsha Berikh Hu (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל זַכָּאִין קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), then the worlds are present-some say: with Him (וַהֲווּ עָלְמִין [ס״א עִמֵּיהּ])-in one supernal holy tree, from which is the sustenance of all (שְׁכִיחִין בְּחַד אִילָנָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, דִּמְזוֹנָא דְּכֹלָּא בֵּיהּ). And it was blessed from the place where all blessings are gathered (הֲוָה מִתְבָּרֵךְ מֵאֲתָר דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן כְּנִישִׁין בֵּיהּ). And in it the roots were planted and established (וּבֵיהּ אִתְנְטַע וְאַשְׁתִּילוּ שָׁרְשׁוֹי). And Yisrael below were blessed-some say: and their roots were planted (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא, הֲווֹ מִתְבָּרְכָן [וְאַשְׁתִּילוּ שָׁרְשׁוֹי])-from the place where all those blessings go forth, and they are not delayed from going out (מֵאֲתָר דְּכָל אִינּוּן בִּרְכָאן נָפְקִין בֵּיהּ, וְלָא מִתְעַכְּבֵי לְמֵיפַּק). This is what is written: Hashem will bless you from Zion (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ מִצִּיּוֹן). And it is written: (Psalms 133) As the dew of Hermon that descends upon the mountains of Zion, for there Hashem commanded the blessing-life forever (וּכְתִיב כְּטַל חֶרְמוֹן שֶׁיּוֹרֵד עַל הַרְרֵי צִיּוֹן כִּי שָׁם צִוָּה יְיָ אֶת הַבְּרָכָה חַיִּים עַד הָעוֹלָם). And this is the brightness of the world (וְדָא אִיהוּ נְהִירוּ דְּעָלְמָא). As it is written: (Psalms 50) From Zion, the perfection of beauty, Elohim has shined forth (דִּכְתִיב מִצִּיּוֹן מִכְּלָל יוֹפִי אֱלֹהִים הוֹפִיעַ). Has shined forth-brightness (הוֹפִיעַ: נָהִיר). As you say: (Deuteronomy 33) He shined forth from Mount Paran (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן). Some say: and this is brightness (ס״א וְדָא נְהִירוּ). And when it shines, it shines to all the worlds (וְכַד יְנָהֵר, יְנָהֵר לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין). And when this brightness is aroused (וְכַד הַאי נְהִירוּ אִתְּעַר), all is in fellowship (כֹּלָּא הוּא בְּחַבְרוּתָא). Some say: all is in love (ס״א כֹּלָּא הוּא בְּחֲבִיבוּתָא). All is in love (כֹּלָּא הוּא בִּרְחִימוּתָא), all is in completeness (כֹּלָּא הוּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ). Then it is the peace of all, the peace of above and below (כְּדֵין הוּא שְׁלָמָא דְּכֹלָּא, שְׁלָמָא דְּעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא). This is what is written: (Psalms 122) Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, יְהִי שָׁלוֹם בְּחֵילֵךְ שַׁלְוָה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָיִךְ).

(Numbers 2) Every man by his banner, with the signs of their father’s house, shall the children of Yisrael camp, etc. (אִישׁ עַל דִּגְלוֹ בְאוֹתוֹת לְבֵית אֲבוֹתָם יַחֲנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ׳). Rabbi El'azar opened (רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח): (Isaiah 66) Rejoice with Yerushalayim, and be glad with her, all you that love her, etc. (שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְגִילוּ בָּהּ כָּל אֹהֲבֶיהָ וְגוֹ׳). How beloved is the Orayta before Kudsha Berikh Hu (כַּמָה חֲבִיבָא אוֹרַיְיתָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), for behold, in every place where the words of the Orayta are heard, Kudsha Berikh Hu and all His hosts are obedient to its words (דְּהָא בְּכָל אֲתָר דְּמִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אִשְׁתְּמָעוּ, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְכָל חַיָּילִין דִּילֵיהּ כֻּלְּהוּ צַיְיתִין לְמִלוּלֵיהּ). And Kudsha Berikh Hu comes to dwell with it, as it is written: (Exodus 20) In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned, etc. (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְדַיְּירָא עִמֵּיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, בְּכָל הַמָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי וְגוֹ׳). And not only this, but the enemies fall before it, and this has been established (וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּשַׂנְאוֹי נַפְלִין קַמֵּיהּ, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): the commandments of the Orayta are supernal above (פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא עִלָּאִין אִינּוּן לְעֵילָּא). When a man comes and performs one commandment, that commandment stands before Kudsha Berikh Hu, and it is crowned before Him, and He says: So-and-so did for Me, and from So-and-so am I-because he aroused it above (אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ וְעָבִיד פִּקּוּדָא חֲדָא, הַהוּא פִּקּוּדָא קַיְּימָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּמִתְעַטְּרָא קַמֵּיהּ, וְאָמַר פְּלַנְיָיא עֲבַד לִי, וּמִן פְּלַנְיָיא אֲנָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אִתְּעַר לֵיהּ לְעֵילָּא). In the same way that he aroused it below, so too it is aroused above, and makes peace above and below (כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִיהוּ אִתְּעַר לֵיהּ לְתַתָּא, הָכִי נָמֵי אִתְּעַר לְעֵילָּא, וְעָבִיד שְׁלָמָא לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא). As you say: (Isaiah 27) Or let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me-peace shall he make with Me (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, אוֹ יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעוּזִּי יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם לִי שָׁלוֹם יַעֲשֶׂה לִי). He shall make peace with Me-above (יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם לִי, לְעֵילָּא). Peace shall he make with Me-below (שָׁלוֹם יַעֲשֶׂה לִּי, לְתַתָּא).

Blessed is the portion of that man who performs the commandments of the Orayta (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דְּעָבִיד פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא). Rejoice with Yerushalayim, etc. (שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם וְגוֹ׳), because joy is not found except at the time when Yisrael stand in the Holy Land (בְּגִין דְּחֶדְוָה לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל קַיְימֵי בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא). For there the woman is joined with her husband (דְּתַמָּן אִתְחַבְּרַת אִתְּתָא בְּבַעְלָהּ), and then is the joy of all, the joy of above and below (וּכְדֵין הוּא חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֹלָּא, חֶדְוָותָא דְּעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא). At the time when Yisrael are not found in the Holy Land, it is forbidden for a man to rejoice or to show joy (בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְמֵחדֵי, וּלְאַחְזָאָה חֵידוּ). As it is written: Rejoice with Yerushalayim and be glad with her, etc.-with her, precisely (דִּכְתִיב, שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם וְגִילוּ בָהּ וְגוֹ׳, וְגִילוּ בָהּ דַּיְיקָא).

Rabbi Abba saw one man who was rejoicing in the theaters of Babylon (רִבִּי אַבָּא חָמָא חַד בַּר נָשׁ, דְּהֲוָה חַדֵּי בְּבֵי טְרוֹנְיָיא דְּבָבֶל). He struck him and said: Rejoice with Yerushalayim is written (בָּטַשׁ בֵּיהּ, אָמַר שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם כְּתִיב). Rabbi Abba said: at the time when Yerushalayim is in joy, then a man must rejoice (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, בְּזִמְנָא דִּיְרוּשָׁלַיִם בְּחֶדְוָה, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶחְדֵּי). Rabbi El'azar is consistent with his reasoning, who said: Rejoice with Yerushalayim-that is what is written: (Psalms 100) Serve Hashem with joy (רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם, הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב, עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּשִׂמְחָה). One verse says: Serve Hashem with joy (כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר, עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּשִׂמְחָה). And one verse says: (Psalms 2) Serve Hashem with fear, and rejoice with trembling (וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר, עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּיִרְאָה וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה). What is the difference between this and that? (מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי). Rather, here is in the time when Yisrael dwell in the Holy Land (אֶלָּא, כָּאן בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרָאן בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא). Here is in the time when Yisrael dwell in another land (כָּאן בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרָאן בְּאַרְעָא אַחֲרָא). Another matter (ד״א): Serve Hashem with fear-this is the Community of Yisrael, at the time when she is in exile among the nations (עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּיִרְאָה, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִיהִי בְּגָלוּתָא בֵּינֵי עֲמַמְיָא).