Daf 120a (דַּף ק״כ ע״א)

Surely the Shekhinta is in the West (וַדַּאי שְׁכִינְתָּא בְּמַּעֲרָב), and we have established (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא) that it is in order to be between North and South (בְּגִין דְּלִהֱוֵי בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם), and to be joined in the Body (וּלְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּגוּפָא), and to be in a single Zivug (וּלְמֶהֱוִי בְּזִוּוּגָא חַד). And the North receives her under the head (וְצָפוֹן מְקַבְּלָא לָהּ תְּחוֹת רֵישָׁא), and the South embraces her (וְדָרוֹם מְחַבְּקָא לָהּ). This is what is written: “His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי) (Song of Songs 2). And we have certainly established (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא וַדַּאי), the bed of Shlomo is between North and South (מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם), and to be joined in the Body (וּלְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּגוּפָא), and then all is one totality for the world to be blessed (וּכְדֵין כְּלָלָא חַד לְאִתְבָּרְכָא עָלְמָא).

It was taught (תְּנָן), whoever recites “Tehillah leDavid” three times every day (כָּל הָאוֹמֵר תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד ג׳ פְּעָמִים בְּכָל יוֹמָא), is assured that he is a son of the World to Come (מוּבְטַח לוֹ שֶׁהוּא בֶּן הַעוֹלָם הַבָּא). And we have established (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא) that it is in order to unite her with this Tehillah (בְּגִין לְזַוְּוגָא לָהּ לְהַאי תְּהִלָּה), and that it be found each day between North and South (וּלְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם).

When a human being comes in the morning (אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ בְּצַפְרָא), he accepts upon himself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven (מְקַבֵּל עָלֵיהּ עוֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם), as it is said in the order of praise (כְּמָה דְּאַתְמַר מִסִּדּוּר שִׁבְחָא), with those praises that he says with “Tehillah leDavid” (בְּאִינּוּן תּוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּקָאָמַר עִם תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד), and all the HalleluYah verses (וְכֻלְּהוּ הַלְלוּיָהּ) that are the order of ten praises (דְּאִינּוּן סִדּוּרָא דַּעֲשַׂרָה תּוּשְׁבְּחָן), which are the ten holy crowns of the Holy Name (דַּעֲשַׂרָה כִּתְרִין קַדִּישִׁין דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא). And because of this there are ten Hallelu-yah (וּבְגִין כַּךְ עַשְׂרָה אִינּוּן הַלְלוּיָהּ). After he finishes with the ten praises (לְבָתַר סִיֵּים בַּעֲשַׂרָה תּוּשְׁבְּחָן), which are: “Hallelu-Yah! Praise El in His sanctuary…” (דְּאִינּוּן הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ וְגוֹ׳) (Psalm 150). “Praise Him…” etc. (הַלְלוּהוּ וְגוֹ׳). Who are these ten HalleluYah? (מַאן אִינּוּן עַשְׂרָה הַלְלוּיָהּ). But behold, they are five! (וְהָא חֲמִשָּׁה אִינּוּן). Rather, it begins with “Hallelu-Yah” and ends with “HalleluYah” (אֶלָּא שָׁרֵי שְׁבָחָא בְּהַלְלוּיָהּ, וְסִיֵּים בְּהַלְלוּיָהּ). After this exaltation of the order of praise (לְבָתַר עִלּוּיָא דְּסִדּוּר שְׁבָחָא), with “Then Moshe sang” (בְּאָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה) (Exodus 15), which includes all (דְּאִית בֵּיהּ כֹּלָּא). And with this he accepts upon himself the yoke of the holy Kingdom (וּבְדָא מְקַבֵּל עָלֵיהּ עוֹל מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא). Afterwards, “Ashrei” attaches to Chesed (לְבָתַר אַשְׁרֵי לֵיהּ בְּחֶסֶד), at the end of prayer, to be sanctified in it (בְּסִיוּמָא דִּצְלוֹתָא לְאִתְקַדְּשָׁא בֵּיהּ). Afterwards, in the prayer of Mincha, which depends on Gevurah (לְבָתַר בִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה דִּגְבוּרָה תַּלְיָיא), judgment begins (וְדִינָא שָׁארֵי).

It is found throughout the South - Some say: in Yoma (אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּכָל דָּרוֹמָא - ס״א: יוֹמָא) - that this is the bed placed between North and South (דָּא מִטָּה דְּאִתְיְהִיבַת בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם), to be joined in this Zivug in the Body properly (לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּזִוּוּגָא דָּא בְּגוּפָא כְּדְּקָא יָאוּת). And one who orders and joins her every day in this manner (וּמַאן דִּמְסַדֵּר וּמְחַבֵּר לָהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא), assuredly he is a son of the World to Come (וַדַּאי הוּא בֶּן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא). Because of this (בְּגִין כַּךְ), this is the standard of the camp of Ephraim westward (הַאי דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה אֶפְרַיִם יָמָּה), and it is between North and South (וְאִיהוּ בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם). The South: Reuven on one side (דָּרוֹם רְאוּבֵן מִן סִטְרָא חַד), as it is written: “The standard of the camp of Reuven southward” (דִּכְתִיב דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה רְאוּבֵן תֵּימָנָה) (Numbers 2).

The North: Dan on the other side (צָפוֹן דָּן מִסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא), as it is written: “The standard of the camp of Dan northward” (דִּכְתִיב דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה דָן צָפוֹנָה) (Numbers 2). Ephraim is between this one and that one (אֶפְרַיִם, בֵּין דָּא לְדָא). Thus it is found that the West, which is Ephraim, is between North and South (אִשְׁתְּכַח מַעֲרָב דְּאִיהוּ אֶפְרַיִם, בֵּין צָפוֹן לְדָרוֹם), all in the likeness of that which is above (כֹלָּא כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא). A mystery for those who dwell in the South, brothers (רָזָא לְיַתְבֵי דְּרוֹמָא אֲחוּנָא). And so did our brothers send to them (וְהָכִי שָׁדַר לוֹן אֲחוּנָא), from the side of the lamps - Some say: from the order of the lamps (מִסִּטְרָא דְּבוּצִינִין; ס״א: מִסִּדְרֵי בּוּצִינִין), in bound mysteries (בְּרָזִין קְטִירִין). That you must unite a union in the pattern of the supernal knot (דְּבָעִיתוּ לְיַחֲדָא יִחוּדָא בְּטוּפְסְרָא דְּקִטְרָא עִלָּאָה). Accept upon yourselves the yoke of the holy Kingdom every day first (קַבִּילוּ עָלַיְיכוּ עוֹל מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא בְּכָל יוֹמָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא), and by this you shall ascend - Some say: by the bond (וּבְדָא תַּעֲלוּן; ס״א: בִּקְשׁוּרָא) - in the holy fortress of the South (בְּקִסוּרָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּדָרוֹם). Some say: in the holy citadel of the South (ס״א: בְּקַסְטְרָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּדָרוֹם). And close off the sides of the world (וְאַסְחֲרוּ סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא), until they are bound in one knot (עַד דְּמִתְקַשְּׁרָן בְּקִטוּרָא חֲדָא). And in the South strengthen - Some say: blow (וּבְדָרוֹם תְּקִיפוּ; ס״א: תְּקִיעוּ) - the place, and there you shall dwell (דּוּכְתָּא, וְתַמָּן תִּשְׁרוּן).

Rabbi El'azar asked Rabbi Shimon his father (רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר שָׁאִיל לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֲבוֹי), he said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): A sign for the Zivug of the union, from where? (סִימָנָא לְזִוּוּגָא דְּיִחוּדָא מִנַּיִן). He said to him: My son (אָמַר לֵיהּ בְּרִי), even though we have established matters for every side, and words are scattered here and there (אַף עַל גַּב דְּאוֹקִימְנָא מִלִּין לְכָל סְטָר וּסְטָר, וְאִתְבָּדָרוּ הָכָא מִלָּה וְהָכָא מִלָּה), take this sign in your hand (סִימָנָא דָּא נְקוֹט בִּידָךְ). And thus it is (וְהָכִי הוּא), like the circuit of the altar (כְּעֵין סָחֲרָא דְּמַדְבְּחָא). As it is taught (דִּתְנָן): “And he came to the southeastern corner, then the northeastern, the northwestern, and the southwestern” (וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית, צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית, מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית).

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): But is it not possible until a man first accepts upon himself the yoke of the holy Kingdom (וְהָא לָא יָכִיל עַד דִּמְקַבָּל עָלֵיהּ בַּר נָשׁ עוֹל מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא בְּקַדְמִיתָא), and places upon himself this yoke (וְיָהִיב עָלֵיהּ עוֹל דָּא)? Yet you say he first goes to the South (וְאַתְּ אַמְרַת דְּיֵיתֵי לְדָּרוֹם בְּקַדְמִיתָא). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): All of this I said to you (כֹלָּא הָא אֲמֵינָא לָךְ). For behold, “And he came to the corner” (דְּהָא וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן), I said is first (אֲמֵינָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא). And you know the mystery of the “corner” (וְהָא יַדְעַתָא רָזָא דְּקֶרֶן), and this is the yoke of the holy Kingdom (וְדָא הוּא עוֹל מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא). Afterward, the southeastern corner (לְבָתַר דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית), there is the Tree of Life (דְּתַמָּן הוּא אִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי). And this is to be joined to it in the East, which is Abba Ila’ah (וְדָא לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא לֵיהּ בְּמִזְרָח דְּאִיהוּ אַבָּא עִלָּאָה). For behold, the son comes from the side of Abba (דְּהָא בֵּן מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבָּא קָא אָתֵי).

And because of this, from South to East (וּבְגִין כַּךְ, מִדָּרוֹם לְמִזְרָח), for the strength of the South is in the East (דְּתּוּקְפָּא דְּדָרוֹם בְּמִזְרָח הוּא), and they must be joined together as one, South with East (וּבָעֵי לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא כַּחֲדָא, דָּרוֹם בְּמִזְרָח). And the East, which is joined with the North (וּמִזְרָח דְּאִתְקְשַׁר בְּצָּפוֹן), as you say: “And Your hidden treasure You will fill their belly” (כְּמָה דְּאַתְ אָמַר וְצָפוּנְךָ תְּמַלֵּא בִטְנָם) (Psalm 17). Because this one completes and fills rivers and springs (בְּגִין דְּהַאי אַשְׁלִים וּמַלֵּי נַחֲלִין וּמַבּוּעִין). And because of this: the northeastern corner (וְעַל דָּא מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית).

These are Abba and Imma who are never separated forever (אִלֵּין אַבָּא וְאִמָּא דְּלָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁן לְעָלְמִין). And we have established this (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא). And that which is said “North” (וּמַה דְּאִתְּמַר צָפוֹנִית), this is the supernal hidden one (דְּאִיהוּ טְמִירָא עִלָּאָה). And from her side comes forth North (וּמִסְטַר דִּילָהּ נָפִיק צָפוֹן). And judgments from her side are aroused (וְדִינִין מִסִּטְרָא דִּילָהּ מִתְעָרִין), even though she is compassion and joy (אַף עַל גַּב דְּהִיא רַחֲמֵי וְחֵידוּ). And we have established this (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא). And when she goes forth, North goes forth within her (וְכַד אִיהִי נָפְקַת, צָפוֹן נָפְקַת בֵּיהּ), for it is included and bound with the South (דְּאִיהוּ אִתְכְּלִיל וְאִתְקְשַׁר בַּדָּרוֹם).

Afterwards: the northwestern corner (לְבָתַר צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית). For from the side of Abba the son goes forth (דְּהָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבָּא נָפִיק בֵּן), and from the side of Imma the daughter goes forth (וּמִסִּטְרָא דְּאִמָּא נְפִיקַת בַּת). And because of this: northwestern corner (וּבְגִין כַּךְ צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית). And this is the first corner (וְדָא הוּא קֶרֶן דְּקַדְמֵיתָא), for now it is joined with the “plain North” (דְּהַשְׁתָּא אִתְקְשַׁר בַּצָּפוֹן סְתָם). Afterwards, it must be joined with the South (לְבָתַר בָּעֵי לְקַשְּׁרָא לָהּ בַּדָּרוֹם), for there is the binding of all (דְּתַמָּן הוּא קִשּׁוּרָא דְּכֹלָּא), and the Body is found there (וְגוּפָא בֵּיהּ אִשְׁתְּכַח). And because of this: the southwestern corner (וְעַל דָּא מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית).