Daf 171a (דַּף קע״א ע״א)

Their surroundings, which are the pillars (סַחֲרָנַיְיהוּ דְּאִינּוּן עַמּוּדִין), have lattices of artistic design (אִית שְׂבָכִין עוֹבָד צִיּוּר). Red fire, and white light, and threads of gold (אֶשָּׁא סוּמָקָא, וּנְהוֹרָא חִוָּורָא, וְחוּטִין דְּדַהֲבָא), all around, encircle on every side (סְחוֹר סְחוֹר, סָחֲרִין לְכָל סְטָר). And a fountain of water, as it is said (Zechariah 14): “And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Yerushalayim, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea” (וּמַעְיָינָא דְּמַיָּא כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וְהָיָה בַּיוֹם הַהוּא יֵצְאוּ מַיִם חַיִּים מִיְרוּשָלַיִם חֶצְיָם אֶל הַיָּם הַקַּדְמוֹנִי וְחֶצְיָם אֶל הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן).

Here the Head of the Academy explained this verse inwardly, and his voice was heard outside (הָכָא פָּרִישׁ רַב מְתִיבְתָּא קְרָא דָּא לְגוֹ, וְקַלֵיהּ אִשְׁתְּמַע לְבַר). From when he explained this verse, holy, holy (מִדַּהֲוָה פָּרִישׁ קְרָא דָּא. [אִי קַדִּישָׁא אִי קַדִּישָׁא]) a child’s voice was aroused outside (קַל יְנוֹקָא אִתְּעַר מִלְּבַר) - that child who was expounding his learning and was studying before one of the pillars of the world, the son of Rabbi Yehudah, you raised him (הַהוּא יְנוֹקָא דְּהֲוָה פָּרִישׁ תַּלְמוּדֵיהּ, וְגָמִיר קַמֵּי חַד עַמּוּדָא דְּעָלְמָא, בְּרֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי יְהוּדָה, דְּרָבִית אַנְתְּ). And they were holding him for judgment (וַהֲווּ אַחְדֵּי בֵּיהּ לְדִינָא), and his voice was aroused outside with this verse (וְקַלֵיהּ אִתְּעַר מִלְּבַר, בְּהַאי קְרָא). And he said: The waters, which are words, how do they ascend above from it, to a place higher than it, in many levels? (וְאָמַר, מַיָּא דְּאִינּוּן מִלְּרַע הֵיךְ סַלְּקִין לְעֵילָּא מִנֵּיהּ, לַאֲתָר עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר מִנֵּיהּ, בְּכַמָּה דַּרְגִּין). And why are those waters needed above? (וּמַה אִצְטְרִךְ לוֹן לְאִינּוּן מַיִין לְעֵילָּא). And what is the place from which all fountains and rivers go out, and there is no cessation to the fountains and rivers, and it is irrigated from a descending place? (וּמָה אֲתָר דְּכָל [תַּפּוּחֵי] מַבּוּעִין וּנְחָלִין נָפְקִין מִנֵּיהּ, וְלֵית פְּסִיקוּ לְמַבּוּעֵי וְנַחֲלֵי, אִתְשַׁקְיָא מֵאֲתָר נָגִיב). Who has seen a well’s hollow giving water to a spring that flows? (מַאן חָמָא חֲפִירָא דְּבֵירָא, יָהִיב מַיִין לְמַבּוּעָא דִּנְבִיעַ). And does Yerushalayim give water to the eastern sea, the place from which all the waters of the world go out and spring from it? (וְכִי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, יָהִיב מַיִין אֶל הַיָּם הַקַּדְמוֹנִי, אֲתָר דְּכָל מֵימִין דְּעָלְמָא נָפְקֵי מִתַּמָּן, וְנַבְעִין מִנֵּיהּ).

O holy pious one, at this voice all the voices of the friends of the Academy there were found listening and attending (אִי חֲסִידָא קַדִּישָׁא, לְקָלָא דָּא אִשְׁתְּכָכוּ, וְצָיְיתוּ כָּל קָלִין דִּבְנֵי מְתִיבְתֵּי דְּתַמָּן). And because of this, the masters of judgment could not approach him (וּבְגִין כָּךְ לָא יָכִילוּ מָארֵי דְּדִינָא לְמִקְרַב גַּבֵּיהּ).

Rabbi Shim‘on wept (בָּכָה רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן). He said to him: Do not weep, Holy Luminary (אָמַר לֵיהּ לָא תִּבְכֵּי בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא), meritorious is your portion (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ), for even children, from you, speak hidden secrets of the Orayta (דְּאֲפִילּוּ יְנוּקֵי, מִנָּךְ אַמְרֵי רָזִין סְתִימִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). Come, and I shall tell you what the friends of the Academy did concerning the voice of that child (תָּא, וְאֵימָא לְךָ, מַה דְּעָבְדוּ בְּנֵי מְתִיבְתֵּי עַל קַלֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא יְנוֹקָא). When the voice of that child entered, like an arrow inward, they all listened to it (כַּד עָאל קַלֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא יְנוֹקָא, כְּגִירָא לְגוֹ, וְכֻלְּהוּ צַיְיתֵי לֵיהּ). At that moment the Head of the Academy trembled, and all those who were before him (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִזְדַּעְזָע רַב מְתִיבְתָּא, וְכָל אִינּוּן דַּהֲווֹ קַמֵּיהּ). And he said: Who are they that do not allow that son of the Living Elohim to enter? (וְאָמַר, מַאן אִינּוּן דְּלָא שַׁבְקִין לְהַהוּא בְּרָא דֶּאֱלָהָא חַיָיא, לְמֵיעַל). Three pillars that stand before the Head of the Academy rose and held him, and he entered (קָמוּ וְאָחִידוּ בֵּיהּ תְּלַת עַמּוּדִין דְּקַיְימֵי קַמֵּי רַב מְתִיבְתָּא, וְעָאל). And all the friends of the Academy gathered to him (וְכָל בְּנֵי מְתִיבְתֵּי אִתְכְּנָשׁוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ). The Head of the Academy said: Speak your verses, holy son (אָמַר רַב מְתִיבְתָּא, אֵימָּא קְרָאִיךְ בְּרָא קַדִּישָׁא). He said: Until now I was afraid, for I was of another Academy, and thus they told me when the masters of judgment held me (אָמַר, עַד כְּעַן דָּחִילְנָא, דְּהָא אֲנָא מִמְּתִיבְתָּא אַחֲרִינָא הֲוִינָא, וְהָכִי אָמְרוּ לִי, כַּד מָארֵי דְּדִינָא הֲווֹ אֲחַדִין בֵּיה). He said to him: Do not fear, holy son (אָמַר לֵיהּ, לָא תִּדְחַל בְּרָא קַדִּישָׁא). Here you shall be with us seven days, and each day you will be bathed in the holy dew, and afterwards they will raise you into that Academy among the other children here (הָכָא תְּהֵא בֵּינָנָא שִׁבְעָה יוֹמִין, וְתִתְסְחֵי בְּכָל יוֹמָא מִטַּלָּא קַדִּישָׁא. וּלְבָתַר יְסַלְּקוּן לָךְ. לְגוֹ הַהוּא מְתִיבְתָּא בִּשְׁאַר יַנּוּקָא דְּהָכָא). That child opened and said: “And it shall be in that day” (Isaiah 25) (פָּתַח הַהוּא יְנּוּקָא וְאָמַר, וְהָיָה בַּיוֹם הַהוּא). “That day” - it is not known what it is (הַהוּא, לָא יְדִיעַ מַאן הוּא). But everywhere “in that day” refers to the final day (אֶלָּא בְּכָל אֲתָר בַּיוֹם הַהוּא, יוֹמָא בַּתְרָאָה הוּא). Why is it called “that day”? (אֲמַאי אִקְרֵי יוֹם הַהוּא). Because it is the day that grasps the end in connection (אֶלָּא דָּא הוּא יוֹמָא דְּאָחִיד סוֹפָא בְּשֵׁירוּתָא). “Connection” it is called, as it is said: “And the Levite shall serve” (Numbers 18) (שֵׁירוּתָא אִקְרֵי הוּא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וְעָבַד הַלֵּוִי הוּא פּוּלְחָנָא דְּלֵוִי). To the degree called “He,” hidden and concealed (לְדַרְגָּא דְּאִקְרֵי הוּא, טָמִיר וְגָנִיז). And that is called “that day” - to show the end of all levels, for it is the connection, and all is one (וְאִקְרֵי הַהוּא [ה׳ הוּא], לְאַחֲזָאָה סוֹפָא דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁירוּתָא, וְכֹלָּא חַד). And because it is the end, the letter hei is added to it (וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ סוֹפָא, אִתּוֹסַף בֵּיהּ ה׳). (Some say: “And the Levite shall serve - it is hidden and concealed. And it is called ‘that day,’ to show the end of all levels, that it holds the connection, and all is one” (נ״א: וְעָבַד הַלֵּוִי הוּא טָמִיר וְגָנִיז. וְאִקְרֵי יוֹם הַהוּא, לְאַחֲזָאָה סוֹפָא דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין, דַּאֲחִיד שֵׁירוּתָא וְכֹלָּא חַד).

Yerushalayim [Jerusalem] is destined to bring forth waters and to cause a spring to flow (זְמִינָא יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לְאַפָּקָא מַיִין, וּלְנַבְעָא נְבִיעוּ). Here it must be said: the end of all the levels is not Yerushalayim; rather, Yerushalayim and “that Day” are surely all one (הָכָא אִית לוֹמַר, סוֹפָא דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין, לָאו אִיהוּ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, אֶלָּא וַדַּאי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְיוֹמָא הַהוּא כֹּלָּא חַד). What is the difference between this and that? (מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי). Rather, Yerushalayim: when all her holy levels surround it, they are called Yerushalayim (אֶלָּא יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, כָּל דַּרְגִּין קַדִּישִׁין דִּילָהּ, כַּד אִסְתַּחֲרָן, אִקְרוּן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם). And so they are seen (וְהָכִי אִתְּחֲמָאן). And there are levels that surround it and are called Azarot [Courtyards], some inner and some outer (וְאִית דַּרְגִּין דְּסַחֲרָן, וְאִקְרוּן עֲזָרוֹת, אִלֵּין פְּנִימָאִין, וְאִלֵּין לְבַר). And there are levels that, when they surround it, are called Lishkot [Chambers] (וְאִית דַּרְגִּין דְּאִקְרוּן כַּד אִסְתַּחֲרָן, לְשָׁכוֹת). [Some say: when these inner and outer ones surround it, they are called Yerushalayim; and there are levels that surround it and are called Azarot [Courtyards]; and there are levels that are called Lishkot [Chambers]] (נ״א: כַּד אִסְתַּחֲרָן אִלֵּין פְּנִימָאִין, וְאִלֵּין לְבַר. אִקְרוּן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם. וְאִית דַּרְגִּין דְּסַחֲרָן, וְאִקְרוּן עֲזָרוֹת, וְאִית דַּרְגִּין דְּאִקְרוּן לְשָׁכוֹת). And there are levels that, when they surround it, are called Heikhal [Sanctuary] and Devir [Inner Sanctuary] (וְאִית דַּרְגִּין דְּאִקְרוּן כַּד אִסְתַּחֲרָן. הֵיכָל וּדְבִיר). Within all those levels is one point: “All the glory of the king’s daughter is within” (לְגוֹ מִכָּל אִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין, אִית חַד נְקוּדָה, כְּבוּדָּה בַת מֶלֶךְ פְּנִימָה) (Psalms 45). This point is called “that Day,” and your sign is: “That shall be called a land” (נְקוּדָה דָּא, אִקְרֵי יוֹם הַהוּא, וְסִימָנִיךְ הַהוּא יִקָּרֵא אֶרֶץ) (Deuteronomy 3). And when this Day arises, a spring of water shall arise from within the lattices of the Azarah [Courtyard] (וְכַד יְקוּם יוֹמָא דָּא, מִגּוֹ שְׂבָכִין דַּעֲזָרָה יְקוּם נְבִיעוּ דְּמַיָּא). And that spring shall flow toward the eastern sea (וְהַהוּא נְבִיעוּ מִן הַיָּם הַקַּדְמוֹנִי לֶהֱוִי). Like a mother, whose son is between her arms: from the abundance of milk that he nurses, his mouth is filled and he grows through it; he pours milk into his mother’s mouth (כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִמָּא, דִּבְרָהּ בֵּין דְּרוֹעָהָא, וּמִסְּגִיאוּ חֲלָבָא דְּיָנִיק, אִתְמְלֵי פּוּמֵיהּ, וְאִתְרַבֵּי בֵּיהּ, אָרִיק חֲלָבָא לְפוּמָא דְּאִמֵּיהּ). So, half of it is toward the eastern sea (כַּךְ חֶצְיָם אֶל הַיָּם הַקַּדְמוֹנִי).

The Head of the Academy took him and kissed him (נַטְלֵיהּ רַב מְתִיבְתָּא, וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ). He said: By your life (אָמַר חַיֶּיךָ), Some say: the life of the world, for this word thus (נ״א: חַיֵּין דְּעָלְמָא דְּמִלָּה דָּא הֲכִי), they established it in the heavenly Academy, and so it is surely (אוּקְמוּהָ בִּמְתִיבְתָּא דִּרְקִיעָא, וְהָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי). The last sea: her latter levels (יָם הָאַחֲרוֹן: דַּרְגִּין בַּתְרָאִין דִּילָהּ). O holy pious one, how much joy upon joy was added to that child among the friends of the Academy (אִי חֲסִידָא קַדִּישָׁא, כַּמָה חֶדְוָה עַל חֶדְוָה, אִתּוֹסַף בְּהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא, גּוֹ בְּנֵי מְתִיבְתֵּי). Twenty-seven reasons of the Orayta that child said (כ״ז טַעֲמֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אָמַר הַהוּא יַנּוּקָא). And seventy crowns they placed upon his father that day (וְשִׁבְעִין כִּתְרִין אַעְטְּרוּהָ לַאֲבוּהָ בְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא). Meritorious is his portion, who merits to teach his son (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ, מַאן דְּזָכֵי לְמֵילַף לִבְרֵיהּ). Rabbi Shim‘on said: His father did not merit to teach him (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, לָא זָכָה אֲבוּהָ לְמֵילַף לֵיהּ). He said: His father left (אָמַר, אֲבוּהָ שָׁבַק).