Daf 118b (דַּף קי״ח ע״ב)

Rabbi Yehudah said (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה): behold, it is written (וְהָא כְּתִיב), “For you shall go out with joy” (כִּי בְּשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ) (Yeshayahu 55:12). And this is Knesset Yisrael [Assembly of Israel] (וְדָא הִיא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל). Since it says, “you shall go out” (כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר תֵצֵאוּ), the going out is from exile (מִן גָּלוּתָא הוּא), and it is called joy (וְאִקְרֵי שִׂמְחָה). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): surely, thus it is (וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא), for all the time that she is in exile and lies in the dust (דְּכָל זִמְנָא דְּאִיהִי בְּגָלוּתָא וּשְׁכִיבַת לְעַפְרָא), she is not called joy (לָא אִקְרֵי שִׂמְחָה), until Kudsha Berikh Hu comes to her (עַד דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יֵיתֵי לְגַבָּהּ), raises her from the dust (וְיוֹקִים לָהּ מֵעַפְרָא), and says (וְיֵימָא): “Shake yourself from the dust, etc.” (הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר וְגוֹ׳) (Yeshayahu 52:2).

Arise, shine, etc. (קוּמִי אוֹרִי וְגוֹ׳). And they will be joined together as one-some say: and He will raise her from the dust-then it is called joy (וְיִתְחַבְּרוּן כַּחֲדָא, [וְיוֹקִים לָהּ מֵעַפְרָא], כְּדֵין חֶדְוָותָא אִקְרֵי). The joy of all, and then for you shall go out with joy surely (חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֹלָּא, וּכְדֵין בְּשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ וַדַּאי). Then many hosts shall go forth to greet the Matronita, to the joy of the wedding feast of the King, as it is said: (Isaiah 55) The mountains and the hills shall break forth, etc. (כְּדֵין כַּמָה חַיָּילִין יִפְּקוּן לָקֳבְלָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא, לְחֶדְוָותָא דְּהִלּוּלָא דְּמַלְכָּא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, הֶהָרִים וְהַגְּבָעוֹת יִפְצְחוּ וְגוֹ׳). And it is written: (Isaiah 52) For Hashem will go before you, and your rearguard, etc. (וּכְתִיב כִּי הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם יְיָ וּמְאַסִּפְכֶם וְגוֹ׳).

(Numbers 2) Every man by his banner with the signs. These are the four camps of the Congregation of Yisrael, which are the twelve tribes, twelve boundaries, surrounding her (אִישׁ עַל דִּגְלוֹ בְאוֹתוֹת. אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע מַשִּׁרְיָין דִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינּוּן תְּרֵיסָר שְׁבָטִין, תְּרֵיסָר תְּחוּמִין, סְחוֹר סְחוֹר לָהּ). All in the likeness above, as it is written: (Psalms 122) For there the tribes went up, the tribes of Yah, etc. (כֹּלָּא כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, כְּתִיב שֶׁשָּׁם עָלוּ שְׁבָטִים שִׁבְטֵי יָהּ וְגוֹ׳). There the tribes went up-these are the twelve tribes, twelve boundaries below (שֶׁשָּׁם עָלוּ שְׁבָטִים, אִלֵּין י״ב שְׁבָטִין, י״ב תְּחוּמִין דִּלְתַתָּא).

The tribes of Yah-this has been established, for Y-H is testimony to Yisrael surely (שִׁבְטֵי יָהּ, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ בְּגִין דְּיָ״הּ עֵדוּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וַדַּאי). And because of this: the Re’uveni, the Shim‘oni-Y-H is in each and every one (וּבְגִין דָּא, הָראוּבֵנִי, הַשִּׁמְעוֹנִי, יָ״הּ בְּכָל חַד וְחַד). But surely thus it is, that this supernal holy tree was sealed upon them with His seals (אֲבָל וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא, דְּהָא אִילָנָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, בְּהוּ אַחְתָּם בְּחוֹתָמוֹי). And it is established, as it is written: (Ezekiel 1) And the likeness of their faces was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right, etc. (וְאוֹקְמוּהָ דִּכְתִּיב, וּדְמוּת פְּנֵיהֶם פְּנֵי אָדָם וּפְנֵי אַרְיֵה אֶל הַיָּמִין וְגוֹ׳). The form of man was included in them all, and faces were to the four sides of the world, and they spread forth in their aspects, and all were included in him-in man (דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּאָדָם אִתְכְּלִיל בְּכֻלְּהוּ, וְאַפִּין הֲווֹ לְד׳ סִטְרִין דְּעָלְמָא, וּמִתְפָּרְשָׁן בְּדִיּוּקְנֵיהוֹן, וְכֻלְהוֹן כְּלִילָן בֵּיהּ בְּאָדָם).

Mikha’el to the right (מִיכָאֵל מִימִינָא), Gavri’el to the left (גַּבְרִיאֵל מִשְּׂמָאלָא), Uri’el before them (אוּרִיאֵל לְקַדְמַיְיהוּ), Refa’el behind them (רְפָאֵל לַאֲחוֹרַיְיהוּ), Shekhinta upon them (שְׁכִינְתָּא עָלַיְיהוּ). Two from here and two from here, and She is in the middle (תְּרֵין מִכָּאן, וּתְרֵין מִכָּאן, וְהִיא בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא). In this likeness on the earth below, two from here and two from here, and Y-ah between them (כְּגַוְונָא דָּא בְּאַרְעָא דִּלְתַתָּא, תְּרֵי מִכָּאן, וּתְרֵי מִכָּאן, וְיָ״הּ בֵּינַיְיהוּ). When two banners are taken, what is written? And the Tent of Meeting shall journey, the camp of the Levi’im, etc. (כֵּיוָן דְּנַטְלִין תְּרֵין דְּגָלִים, מַה כְּתִיב. וְנָסַע אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מַחֲנֵה הַלְוִיִּם וְגוֹ׳).

And afterwards, those other two-four camps they are to the four directions of the world, and they are found twelve (וּלְבָתַר, אִינּוּן תְּרֵין אַחֲרָנִין ד׳ מַשִּׁרְיָין אִינּוּן לְד׳ סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא, וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ תְּרֵיסָר). So too below, in the likeness of above (אוּף הָכִי לְתַתָּא כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא). And the first to journey shall be the banner of the camp of Yehudah-corresponding to the host of Uri’el (וְנָסַע בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה, לָקֳבֵיל מַשִּׁרְיָיא דְּאוּרִיאֵל). And the camp of Re’uven corresponding to the host of Mikha’el (וּמַחֲנֶה דִּרְאוּבֵן לָקֳבֵיל מַשִּׁרְיָיא דְּמִיכָאֵל). This to the south, and this to the east (דָּא לַדָּרוֹם, וְדָא לְמִזְרָח). The altar likewise-southeast (מִזְבֵּחַ הָכִי נָמֵי דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית). And the camp of Dan to the north (וּמַחֲנֵה דָּן לַצָּפוֹן). The camp of Ephraim to the west (מַחֲנֵה אֶפְרַיִם יָמָה). The camp of Dan corresponding to the host of Gavri’el (מַחֲנֵה דָּן לָקֳבֵיל מַשִּׁרְיָיא דְּגַבְרִיאֵל). The camp of Ephraim to the west, corresponding to the host of Refa’el (מַחֲנֶה אֶפְרַיִם לְמַעֲרָב, לָקֳבֵיל מַשִּׁרְיָיא דִּרְפָאֵל).

The altar likewise-northwest (מִזְבֵּחַ הָכִי נָמֵי צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית). All is held one with the other until all ascends and is united in the Holy Name, which is the service of all, the supernal of all, the holy of all, and all is included in Him (כֹּלָּא אָחִיד דָּא בְּדָא, עַד דְּסַלְּקָא כֹּלָּא וְאִתְאֲחָד בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁירוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא. עִלָּאָה דְּכֹלָּא קַדִּישָׁא דְּכֹלָּא. כֹּלָּא אִתְכְּלִיל בֵּיהּ). Yod, east, is the service of light; it goes and flows and brings forth to the south (י׳ מִזְרָח הוּא שֵׁירוּתָא דִּנְהוֹרָא, אָזִיל וְשָׁאט וְאַפִּיק לְדָרוֹם). And the south goes forth and depends upon the service of the east (וְדָרוֹם נָפִיק וְתַלְיָיא בְּשֵׁירוּתָא דְּמִזְרָח). Heh is south; from it goes forth the south in the world (ה׳ דָּרוֹם. מִנֵּיהּ נָפִיק דָּרוֹם בְּעָלְמָא). And Yod enters into the service of the east and brings it forth (וְעָיִיל י׳ בְּשֵׁירוּתָא דְּמִזְרָח, וְאַפִּיק לֵיהּ). And from the Heh depends south and north, and that [Aleph-Dalet-Gimel] which is between them (וּמִן ה׳ תַּלְיָיא דָּרוֹם וְצָפוֹן, וְהַהוּא [אד״ג] דְּבֵינַיְיהוּ). Yod, east; Y-ah-south and north depend on it (י׳ מִזְרָח, יָ״הּ דָּרוֹם וְצָפוֹן תַּלְיָיאן בֵּיהּ). Vav in the middle, and this is the male child (ו׳ בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא. וְדָא הוּא בֵּן דְּכָר).

Because of this, he is between north and south (בְּגִין כָּךְ אִיהוּ בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם). And on this we have learned: whoever places his bed between north and south, he will have male children (וְעַל דָּא תָּנֵינָן, מַאן דְּיָהִיב מִטָּתוֹ בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם, הַוְיָין לֵיהּ בָּנִים זְכָרִים). For this male child is between north and south (דְּהַאי בֵּן דְּכַר אִיהוּ בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם). The supernal Heh-upon it depend north and south, and the male child is between them, in the secret of Yod-Heh-Vav (ה׳ עִלָּאָה בָּהּ תַּלְיָא צָפוֹן וְדָרוֹם, וּבֵן דְּכָר בֵּינַיְיהוּ, בְּרָזָא דְּיו״ה). The final Heh is west (ה׳ בַּתְרָאָה מַעֲרָב).

And because of this, the south is held by the east, which is the service of the sun and depends on it (וְעַל דָּא דָּרוֹם אָחִיד מִזְרָח, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁירוּתָא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא וְתַלְיָיא בֵּיהּ). And because of this, we have learned, from the side of Abba is held and depends the supernal Chesed (וְעַל דָּא תָּנֵינָן, מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבָּא אָחִיד וְתַלְיָיא חֶסֶד עִלָּאָה). From the side of Imma depends Gevurah (מִסִּטְרָא דְּאִמָּא תַּלְיָיא גְּבוּרָה). In this likeness all is held one with the other (כְּגַוְונָא דָּא אָחִיד כֹּלָּא דָּא בְּדָא).

The corners of the altar likewise are arranged, and it comes to the corner of the southeast (זַוְויָין דְּמַדְבְּחָא הָכִי נָמֵי אִסְתַּחֲרָן, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית). For the south has its strength in the east, which is the service of the sun, and the power of the sun does not dwell except in service (דְּדָרוֹם תּוּקְפֵּיהּ בְּמִזְרָח, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁירוּתָא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, וְתּוּקְפָּא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא לָא שַׁרְיָיא אֶלָּא בְּשֵׁירוּתָא). The northeast (מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית). Since the south takes its power from the east, it illumines to the north, and the north is included in the south, for the left is included in the right (כֵּיוָן דְּדָרוֹם נָטִיל תּוּקְפֵּיהּ דְּמִזְרָח, הוּא אַנְהִיר לַצָּפוֹן וְצָפוֹן אִתְכְּלִיל בְּדָרוֹם, דְּהָא שְׂמָאלָא אִתְכְּלִיל בִּימִינָא).

The northwest, for the west, which is in the final Heh, takes from the north (צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית, דְּהָא מַעֲרָב דְּאִיהִי בְּה׳ בַּתְרָאָה, נַטְלָא מִצָּפוֹן). And because of this, the north goes to the west (וְעַל דָּא צָפוֹן אָזִיל לְמַעֲרָב). The southwest goes-Some say: to embrace-in order to join with the south (מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית, הִיא אַזְלָא [נ״א לָאִתְחַבְּקָא] לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּדָרוֹם), just as the south depends on the east, and its power goes in service (כְּמָה דְּדָרוֹם תַּלְיָיא בְּמִזְרָח, וְתוּקְפֵּיהּ אָזִיל בְּשֵׁירוּתָא). So also the west goes (Some say: to embrace) in order to unite with the south (הָכִי נָמֵי מַעֲרָב, אַזְלָא [נ״א לָאִתְחַבְּקָא] לְאִתְאַחֲדָא בְּדָרוֹם). This is what is written: (Song of Songs 2) And His right hand embraces me (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי). The right hand-this is the south (יְמִינָא דָּא הוּא דָּרוֹם).

Because of this it draws from two sides, from the north and from the south (בְּגִין כָּךְ יַנְקָא מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין, מִצָּפוֹן וּמִדָּרוֹם). This is what is written: (Song of Songs 2) His left hand under my head, and His right hand embraces me (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי). His left hand-this is the north, and His right hand-this is the south (שְׂמֹאלוֹ דָּא הוּא צָפוֹן, וִימִינוֹ דָּא הוּא דָּרוֹם).

And this secret we have learned: Kudsha Berikh Hu places His bed between north and south (וְרָזָא דָּא אוֹלִיפְנָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהִיב מִטָּתֵיהּ, בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם). And is surely held to this son (וַאֲחִידַת לְהַאי בֵּן וַדַּאי). And because of this, mankind must place their beds between north and south (וְעַל דָּא אִית לְהוּ לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא לְמֵיהַב מִטָּתַיְיהוּ בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם). And thus my father taught me (וְהָכִי אוֹלִיף לִי אַבָּא), that they are given male children (דְּיַהֲבִין לְהוּ בְּנִין דִּכְרִין). For he intended toward the side of the complete supernal faith, in the wholeness of all (דְּהָא אִיהוּ אִתְכְּוָון כְּלַפֵּי מְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָא עִלָּאָה, בִּשְׁלֵימוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא). Toward Kudsha Berikh Hu, who is between north and south, and toward the Congregation of Yisrael, which shines between north and south (לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּאִיהוּ בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם, וּלְגַבֵּי כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל דְאַנְהִירִין [נ״א דְּאִיהִי] בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם). Surely they shall have male children (וַדַּאי יֶהֶוְוָן לֵיהּ בְּנִין דִּכְרִין).