Daf 144b (דַּף קמ״ד ע״ב)

A voice was heard (שָׁמַע קָלָא): “Happy are you, Rabbi Shimon (זַכָּאָה אַנְתְּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), happy is your portion and the portion of your friends who stand with you (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ וְחַבְרַיָּיא, אִלֵּין דְּקַיְימִין בַּהֲדָךְ), for behold, there has been revealed to you that which was not revealed to all the hosts above (דְּהָא אִתְגְּלֵי לְכוֹן מַה דְּלָא אִתְגְּלֵי לְכָל חֵילָא דִּלְעֵילָּא).

But come and see (אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי), for behold it is written: ‘In his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and in his youngest he shall set up its gates’ (בִּבְכוֹרוֹ יְיַסְּדֶנָּה וּבִצְעִירוֹ יַצִּיב דְּלָתֶיהָ) (Joshua 6). How much more so when with great and mighty desire their souls cleaved together at this time of union (וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן דְּבִרְעוּ סַגִּי וְתַקִּיף, אִתְדָּבָקוּ נַפְשַׁתְהוֹן בְּשַׁעֲתָא דָּא דְּאִתְנְסִיבוּ). Happy is their portion (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן), for behold, they departed in wholeness (דְּהָא בִּשְׁלֵימוּתָא אִסְתָּלָקוּ).” Some say: this was not so for those before them, so why did they die (דְּלָא הֲוָה כֵּן לְאִנּוּן דַּהֲווֹ קַמַּיְיהוּ, אֲמַאי מִיתוּ).

It was taught (תָּאנָא): while the words were still being revealed (בְּעוֹד דְּאִתְגַּלְּיָין מִלִּין), supernals and lower ones were moved (אִתְרְגִישׁו עִלָּאִין וְתַּתָּאִין)—these are the chariots (דְּאִינּוּן רְתִיכִין). And a voice was aroused (וְקָלָא אִתְעַר) in two hundred and fifty worlds (בְּמָאתָן וְחַמְשִׁין עָלְמִין), for these ancient words were revealed below (דְּהָא מִלִּין עַתִּיקִין לְתַתָּא אִתְגַּלְיָין). And until these souls were sweetened in those words (וְעַד דְּאִלֵּין מִתְבַּסְּמָן נִשְׁמָתַיְיהוּ בְּאִינּוּן מִלִּין), their souls departed in a kiss (נַפְקָא נִשְׁמָתַיְיהוּ בִּנְשִׁיקָה), and were bound in that parsa (וְאִתְקַשָּׁר בְּהַהוּא פַּרְסָא), and the supernal angels took them (וְנַטְלִין לְהוּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי), and raised them above (וְסַלְּקִין לוֹן לְעֵילָּא). Why these specifically (וַאֲמַאי אִלֵּין)? Because they entered and did not go out another time from before this (מִשּׁוּם דְּעָאלוּן וְלָא נַפְקוּ זִמְנָא אַחֲרָא מִן קַדְמַת דְּנָא), while all the others entered and went out (וְכֻלְּהוּ אַחֲרִינֵי עָאלוּ וְנַפְקוּ).

Rabbi Shimon said (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): how happy is the portion of these three (כַּמָה זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּהָנֵי תְּלָתָא), and happy is our portion for the World to Come because of this (וְזַכָּאָה חוּלָקָנָא לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי בְּגִין דָּא). A second voice went forth and said (נָפַק קָלָא תִּנְיָינוּת וְאָמַר): “But you who cleave to Hashem your God are all alive this day” (וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם) (Deuteronomy 4). They rose and went (קָמוּ וְאַזְלוּ). In every place they gazed, fragrance ascended (בְּכָל אֲתָר דַּהֲווֹ מִסְתַּכְּלֵי סָלִיק רֵיחִין). Rabbi Shimon said (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): learn from this, that the world is blessed because of us (שְׁמַע מִינָּהּ, דְּעָלְמָא מִתְבְּרָךְ בְּגִינָן). And the faces of all shone (וַהֲווּ נַהֲרִין אַנְפּוֹי דְּכֻלְּהוּ), and the sons of the world could not gaze upon them (וְלָא הֲווֹ יַכְלִין בְּנֵי עָלְמָא לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּהוּ).

It was taught (תָּאנָא): ten entered, and seven went out (עֲשָׂרָה עָאלוּ, וְשֶׁבַע נַפְקוּ), and Rabbi Shimon rejoiced (וַהֲוָה חַדֵּי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן). But Rabbi Abba was saddened (וְרִבִּי אַבָּא עָצִיב). One day Rabbi Shimon was sitting with Rabbi Abba (יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה יָתִיב רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְרִבִּי אַבָּא עִמֵּיהּ). Rabbi Shimon spoke a word (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מִלָּה), and they saw those three whom the supernal angels were bringing (וְחָמוּ לְאִלֵּין תְּלָתָא דַּהֲווֹ מַיְיתִין לְהוֹן מַלְאֲכִין עִלָּאִין), and showing them the treasuries and the supernal Idrin (וּמְחַזְיָין לְהוּ גְּנִיזִין וְאִדָּרִין דִּלְעֵילָּא), for their honor (בְּגִין יְקָרָא דִּלְהוֹן). And they were bringing them into the mountains of pure balsam (וַהֲווּ עַיְילֵי לוֹן בְּטוּרֵי דְּאֲפַרְסְמוֹנָא דַּכְיָא). Then Rabbi Abba’s spirit was calmed (נַח דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי אַבָּא).

It was taught (תָּאנָא): from that day, the friends did not move from the house of Rabbi Shimon (מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא לָא אַעְדּוּ חַבְרַיָּיא מִבֵּי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן). And when Rabbi Shimon would reveal secrets (וְכַד הֲוָה רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מְגַלֶּה רָזִין), none were found there except them (לָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין תַּמָּן אֶלָּא אִינּוּן). And Rabbi Shimon would call them: “We are the seven, the eyes of Hashem” (וַהֲוָה קָארֵי לְהוּ רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, שִׁבְעָה אֲנָן עֵינֵי יְיָ), as it is written: “These seven are the eyes of Hashem” (שִׁבְעָה אֵלֶּה עֵינֵי יְיָ) (Zechariah 4). And upon us it is said (וְעָלָן אִתְּמַר). Rabbi Abba said (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא): we are six lamps that shine from the seventh (אֲנָן שִׁיתָא בּוֹצִינֵי, דְּנַהֲרָאן מִשְּׁבִיעָאָה). You are the seventh of all (אַנְתְּ הוּא שְׁבִיעָאָה דְּכֹלָּא). For the six have no existence except from the seventh (דְּהָא לֵית קִיוּמָא לְשִׁיתָא, בַּר מִשְּׁבִיעָאָה), for all depends upon the seventh (דְּכֹלָּא תָּלֵי בִּשְׁבִיעָאָה). Rabbi Yehudah called him Shabbat (רִבִּי יְהוּדָה קָארֵי לֵיהּ שַׁבָּת), for all six are blessed from it (דְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁיתָא מִנֵּיהּ מִתְבָּרְכִין), as it is written (דִּכְתִּיב): “Shabbat for Hashem, holy to Hashem” (שַׁבָּת לַיְיָ, קֹדֶשׁ לַיְיָ) (Exodus 20). As Shabbat is “for Hashem, holy,” so too Rabbi Shimon is “Shabbat for Hashem, holy” (מַה שַׁבָּת לַיְיָ קֹדֶשׁ, אוּף רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן שַׁבָּת לַיְיָ קֹדֶשׁ).

Rabbi Shimon said (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): I am astonished at that one who is lame in the loins. (תַּוַּהְנָא עַל הַהוּא חַגִיר חַרְצָן), master of the hairs (מָארֵיהּ דְּשַׂעְרֵי), why he was not found in our Idra at the time when these holy words were revealed (אֲמַאי לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּבֵי אִדָּרָא דִּילָן, בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִתְגַּלְּיָין מִלִּין אִלֵּין קַדִּישִׁין). Meanwhile, Elijah came (אַדְּהָכִי, אָתָא אֵלִיָּהוּ), and three shining beams were in his face (וּתְלַת קַטְפוֹרֵי נְהִירִין בְּאַנְפּוֹי). Rabbi Shimon said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): why is it that my master was not present in the engraving of the Master’s crown (מַאי טַעְמָא לָא שְׁכִיחַ מוֹר בְּקַרְדוּטָא [נ״א: בְּקַרְטְמָא] גְּלִיפָא דְּמָארֵיהּ), on the day of the hilula (בְּיוֹמָא דְּהִלּוּלָא)?

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): “By your life, Rabbi (חַיֶּיךָ רִבִּי), seven days were clarified before Kudsha Berikh Hu (שֶׁבַע יוֹמִין אִתְבְּרִירוּ קַמֵּיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), for all those who would come and be found with you (כָּל אִינּוּן דְּיֵיתוּן וְיִשְׁתַּכְחֻן עִמָּךְ). Yet you did not enter into your Idra (עַל לָא עַיִילְתּוּן בְּבֵי אִדָּרָא דִּלְכוֹן). And I desired to be found there (וּבָעֵינָא לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא), but I was bound on my shoulders—Some say: ‘and I too was prepared there, and desired before Him to be found, but then I was bound on my shoulders’ (זַמִּין קָטִיר בְּכַתְפוֹי [נ״א: וַאֲנָא הֲוֵי זָמִין תַּמָּן, וּבָעֵינָא קַמֵּיהּ לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא, וּכְדֵין קָטִיר בְּכַתְפוֹי]), and I could not (וְלָא יָכִילְנָא).

For that day Kudsha Berikh Hu sent me (דְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא שָׁדַרְנִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), to perform miracles for Rav Hamnuna Sava and his friends (לְמֶעְבַּד נִסִּין לְרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא וְחַבְרוֹי), who were delivered into the palace (Some say: the chariot) of the King (דְּאִתְמְסָרוּ בְּאַרְמוֹנָא [נ״א: בְּקָרוֹנְיָא] דְּמַלְכָּא). And I worked miracles for them (וְאַרְחִישְׁנָא לְהוּ בְּנִסָּא), for I cast down for them the wall of the palace of the King (דְּרָמֵינָא לְהוּ כּוֹתָלָא דְּהֵיכָלָא דְּמַלְכָּא), and they were killed in its ruins, forty-five princes (וְאִתְקְטָרוּ בְּקִטְרוֹי, דְּמִיתוּ אַרְבָּעִין וַחֲמִשָּׁה פַּרְדַּשְׁכֵּי). And I brought Rav Hamnuna and his friends out (וַאֲפִיקְנָא לְרַב הַמְנוּנָא וְחַבְרוֹי), and led them—Some say: carried them—to Bik’at Ono (וְרָמֵינָא [נ״א: וַאוֹלִיכְנָא] לוֹן לְבִקְעַת אוֹנוֹ), and they were saved (וְאִשְׁתְּזִיבוּ). And I prepared for them bread and water (וְזַמִּינְנָא קַמַּיְיהוּ נָהֲמָא וּמַיָּיא), for they had not eaten for three days (דְּלָא אַכְלוּ תְּלָתָא יוֹמִין). And all that day I did not depart from them (וְכָל הַהוּא יוֹמָא לָא בָּדִילְנָא מִנַּיְיהוּ). And when I returned (וְכַד תַּבְנָא), I found the parsa in which all those friends were taken (אַשְׁכַּחְנָא פַּרְסָא דְּנָטְלוּ כָּל אִינּוּן סַמְכִין), and three of the friends were upon it (וּתְלַת מִן חַבְרַיָּיא עֲלָהּ). And I asked them (וְשָׁאִילְנָא לוֹן). And they said (וְאָמְרוּ): “The portion of Kudsha Berikh Hu (חוּלָקָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), from the hilula of Rabbi Shimon and his friends (מֵהִלּוּלָא דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְחַבְרוֹי). Happy are you, Rabbi Shimon (זַכָּאָה אַנְתְּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), and happy is your portion (וְזַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ), and the portion of those friends who sit before you (וְחוּלָקָא דְּאִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא דְּיַתְבִין קַמָּךְ). How many levels have been rectified for you for the World to Come (כַּמָה דַּרְגִּין אִתְתָּקָנוּ לְכוֹן לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). How many shining lamps are ready to shine for you (כַּמָה בּוֹצִינִין דִּנְהוֹרִין זְמִינִין לְנַהֲרָא לְכוּ).”