Daf 173b (דַּף קע״ג ע״ב)

Again he opened and said (תּוּ פָּתַח וְאָמַר), “Upon a high mountain ascend, you herald of Zion…” (Isaiah 40) (עַל הַר גָּבוֹהַּ עֲלִי לָךְ מְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן וְגוֹ׳). “Upon a high mountain” - this is surely Mount Avarim, the place where Moshe was buried (עַל הַר גָּבוֹהַּ, הַאי וַדַּאי הַר הָעֲבָרִים, אֲתָר דְּמֹשֶׁה אִתְקְבַר). And behold it has already been established, that Shekhinta shall ascend there and herald to the world (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא תְּסַלֵּק לְתַמָן, וּתְבַשֵּׂר עָלְמָא). But all of it is “herald of Zion” - this is My desire in her, the woman that Natan son of David gave (אֲבָל כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ, מְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן, דָּא אִיהִי חֶפְצִי בָּהּ, אִתְּתָא דְּנָתָן בַּר דָּוִד). She is the mother of Mashiach, Menachem son of Amiel (אִימָּא אִיהִי דִּמְשִׁיחָא, מְנַחֵם בַּ״ר עַמִּיאֵ״ל), and she shall go forth and herald, and she is included in “herald of Zion” (וְאִיהִי תִּיפּוּק וּתְבַשֵּׂר, וְאִיהִי בִּכְלָלָא דִּמְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן).

A voice shall be heard in the world (קָלָא יִשְׁתְּמַע בְּעָלְמָא), and two kings shall be aroused in the world to wage war (וּתְרֵין מַלְכִין יִתְּעֲרוּן בְּעָלְמָא, לְאַגָּחָא קְרָבָא), and the holy Name shall go forth upon the world (וְיִפּוּק שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא עַל עָלְמָא). What shall you herald and say? (מַה תְּבַשֵּׂר וְתֵימָא). “Behold, Hashem, Elohim, comes with strength, and His arm rules for Him; behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him” (Isaiah 40) (הִנֵּה יְיָ אֱלֹהִים בְּחָזָק יָבֹא וּזְרוֹעוֹ מוֹשְׁלָה לּוֹ. הִנֵּה שְׂכָרוֹ אִתּוֹ וּפְעוּלָּתוֹ לְפָנָיו). “Behold, His reward is with Him” - for Kudsha Berikh Hu proclaims to all the heavenly family (הִנֵּה שְׂכָרוֹ אִתּוֹ, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כָּרִיז בְּכָל פָּמַלְיָא דִּלְעֵילָּא), and says to them: “Gather and let us judge the judgment” (וְיֵימָא לוֹן, אִתְכְּנָשׁוּ וְדָאִינוּ דִּינָא). “One who gave over his soul for the sanctification of My Name - what is his reward?” (מַאן דְּמָסַר נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ עַל קְדוּשַׁת שְׁמִי, אַגְרֵיהּ מַאי הוּא). And they shall say: such and such (וְאִינּוּן יֵימְרוּן כַּךְ וְכַךְ). “One who endured many insults and blasphemies every day for My sake - what is his reward?” (מַאן דְּסָבִיל כַּמָה חֵרוּפִין וְגִדּוּפִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא עָלַי, מַהוּ אַגְרֵיהּ). And they say: such (אִינּוּן אַמְרֵי כַּךְ). “One who suffered punishment every day for My sake - what is his reward?” (מַאן דְּאִתְעֲנָשׁ בְּכָל יוֹמָא עָלַי, מַהוּ אַגְרֵיהּ). And they say: such (אִינּוּן אַמְרֵי כַּךְ). This is what is written: “Behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him” (Isaiah 40) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, הִנֵּה שְׂכָרוֹ אִתּוֹ וּפְעוּלָּתוֹ לְפָנָיו).

What is “His work”? (מַהוּ וּפְעוּלָּתוֹ). Rather, as it is written: “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You; You have wrought for those who trust in You” (Psalm 31) (אֶלָּא כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב, מָה רַב טוּבְךָ וְגוֹ׳ פָּעַלְתָּ לַחוֹסִים בָּךְ). This is His work (דָּא הוּא פְּעוּלָּתוֹ). “Before the sons of men” - what is it? (נֶגֶד בְּנֵי אָדָם מַהוּ). Rather, before the worshippers of stars and constellations (אֶלָּא נֶגֶד עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת). “Which You have stored up for those who fear You” - what is “which You have stored up”? (אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִּירֵאֶיךָ, מַהוּ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ). For who can steal and take from His hand that which He wishes to give? (וְכִי מַאן יִגְזוֹל וְיִטּוֹל מִן יְדוֹי, מַה דְּהוּא בָּעֵי לְמֵיהַב). Therefore it is written “which You have stored up” (דִּכְתִּיב צָפַנְתָּ). But go out and see the works of mercy that Kudsha Berikh Hu does (אֶלָּא פּוּק וְחָמֵי עוֹבָדִין דְּרַחֲמָנוּ דְּעָבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), for with that by which He strikes, with it He gives healing (בְּמַה דְּאִיהוּ מָחֵי, בֵּיהּ יָהִיב אַסְוָותָא). With what does He strike? With the left (בְּמַה מָחֵי בִּשְׂמָאלָא), with the right He draws near, and with the left He strikes (בִּימִינָא קָרִיב, וּבִשְׂמָאלָא מָחֵי). With that which He strikes, with it He gives healing to the world (בְּמָה דְּמָחֵי, בֵּיהּ יָהִיב אַסְוָותָא לְעוֹלָם). As it is written: “Out of the north the evil shall break forth” (Jeremiah 1) (כְּתִיב מִצָּפוֹן תִּפָּתַח הָרָעָה), and in the north He strikes (וּבְצָפוֹן מָחֵי). For from there go forth all judgments and all harsh decrees (דְּמִתַּמָּן נָפְקֵי כָּל דִּינִין וְכָל גְּזִירֵי קַשְׁיָין). And in it rests every good reward and all goodness that Kudsha Berikh Hu is prepared to give to Yisrael (וּבֵיהּ שָׁרֵי כָּל אֲגָר טַב, וְכָל טִיבוּ, דְּזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֵיהַב לְיִשְׂרָאֵל).

At the time to come, Kudsha Berikh Hu will call to the north (לְזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי, קָרֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַצָּפוֹן), and will say to it: “In you I have placed all goodness and every good reward for My children who endured so many evils in this world for the sanctification of My Name. Give forth the good rewards that I have placed in you” (וְיֵימָּא לֵיהּ, בָּךְ יָהַבִית כָּל טִיבוּ, וְכָל אֲגָר טוֹב לִבַנַי, דְּסַבְלוּ כַּמָה בִּישִׁין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, עַל קְדוּשַׁת שְׁמִי. הַב אַגְרִין טָבִין דְּיָהֲבִית בָּךְ). This is what is written: “I will say to the north, Give, and to the south, Do not withhold…” (Isaiah 43) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, אוֹמַר לַצָּפוֹן תֵּנִי וּלְתֵימָן אַל תִּכְלָאִי וְגוֹ׳). And is it the way of the south to withhold blessings? (וְכִי אָרְחָא הָכִי הוּא דְּדָרוֹם, לְמִמְנַע בִּרְכָאן).

But behold, all blessings are from the side of the south (וְהָא כָּל בִּרְכָאן מִסִּטְרָא דְּדָרוֹם), and all goodness of the world goes forth from the south (וְכָל טָבִין דְּעָלְמָא מִדָּרוֹם נָפְקֵי), yet He says to the south: Do not withhold (וְאִיהוּ אָמַר לְתֵימָן אַל תִּכְלָאִי). Rather, at that time Kudsha Berikh Hu will arouse Avraham (אֶלָּא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, יִתְּעַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם), and will say to him: “Arise, for the time has come for Me to redeem your children, to give them a good reward for all that they endured in exile” (וְיֵימָא לֵיהּ קוּם, דְּהָא מָטָא זִמְנָא דַאֲנָא פָּרִיק לִבְנַךְ, לְמֵיהַב לוֹן אֲגָר טַב, עַל כָּל מַה דְּסַבְלוּ בְּגָלוּתָא). And because Avraham was in their sale, as it is written, “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32) (וּמִגּוֹ דְּאַבְרָהָם הֲוָה בִּזְבִינוּ דִּלְהוֹן, דִּכְתִיב, אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם), this is Avraham (דָּא אַבְרָהָם). He appeared as though not good in His sight (הֲוָה לֵיהּ כְּמַאן דְּלָא טַב בְּעֵינוֹי), and showed himself as one who desired that they should be punished more for their sins (וְאַחְמֵי גַּרְמֵיהּ, כְּמַאן דְּבָעֵי דְּיִלְקוּן עַל חוֹבֵיהוֹן יַתִּיר). And he will say: “Collect from their sins, collect from their iniquities” (וְיֵימָּא גְּבוּ מֵחוֹבֵיהוֹן, גְּבוּ מֵחֲטָאֵיהוֹן). Kudsha Berikh Hu will say to Avraham: “I know all that you have said before Me (אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם, יְדַעְנָא כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ מַה דְּאַמְרַת לְאַנְפִּין). I too so say before you (אֲנָא אוּף הָכִי לְאַנְפִּין).

Do not restrain, I seek to appease You concerning Your children (אַל תִּכְלָאִי אֲנָא בָּעֵי לְפַיְּיסָא לָךְ עַל בָּנֶךָ), do not withhold goodness from them (לָא תִּמְנָע טִיבוּ מִנְּהוֹן), do not withhold good reward from them (לָא תִּמְנָע אֲגָר טַב מִנְּהוֹן), how much and how much they have suffered for their sins (כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה סַבְלוּ עַל חוֹבֵיהוֹן), and because of this I say to the north, give (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ אוֹמַר לַצָּפוֹן תֵּנִי). And this is “which You have stored up” (Psalm 31) (וְהַיְינוּ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ), and this is the word - some say: that shall be (וְדָא הוּא מִלָּה נ״א דְּתְּהֵא) - of that herald (דְּהַהִיא מְבַשֶּׂרֶת).

And further she shall herald a second time (וְתוּ תְּבַשֵּׂר זִמְנָא תִּנְיָינָא), at the hour when Shekhinta ascends upon that supernal mountain (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא תְּסַלֵּק עַל הַהוּא טוּרָא עִלָּאָה), and she shall go and herald to the Patriarchs (וְתֵהַךְ וּתְבַשֵּׂר לַאֲבָהָן). Immediately she shall go to Yerushalam (מִיַּד תֵּהַךְ לִיְרוּשָׁלַם), and behold her in destruction (וְתֶחמֵי לָהּ בְּחָרְבָּנָא). She shall enter Zion (תֵּיעוּל לְצִיּוֹן), and there shake its wall as before (וְתַמָּן תְּקַרְקֵר קִירָא כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין), upon the place of her dwelling, and upon her glory in that place (עַל אֲתָר בֵּי מוֹתְבָה, וְעַל יְקָרָא דִּילָהּ בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר). And there she shall remain (וְתַמָּן אוֹמִיאַת), not to be taken from there, and not to go out, until Kudsha Berikh Hu redeems her children, and this is My desire in her (דְּלָא תִּיטוֹל מִתַּמָּן, וְלָא תִּפּוּק, עַד דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִפְרוּק לִבְנָהָא, וְדָא חֶפְצִי בָּהּ). She shall herald as before and say (תְּבַשֵּׂר כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין וְאַמְרַת), “Cry out and sing, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Yisrael” (Isaiah 12) (צַהֲלִי וָרֹנִּי יוֹשֶׁבֶת צִיּוֹן כִּי גָּדוֹל בְּקִרְבֵּךְ וְגוֹ׳). What is “great in your midst”? (מַאי גָּדוֹל בְּקִרְבֵּךְ).

This is Kudsha Berikh Hu, Who comes to her, to raise her up from the dust (דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּאִיהוּ אָתֵי לְגַבָּהּ, לְאַקָּמָא לָהּ מֵעַפְרָא), and shall say to her: “Shake yourself from the dust, arise, sit, O Yerushalam” (Isaiah 52) (וְיֵימָא לָהּ הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי שְׁבִי יְרוּשָׁלַם). Yerushalam it is, and Yerushalam is surely her name (יְרוּשָׁלַם אִיהִי, וִיְרוּשָׁלַם שְׁמָהּ וַדַּאי). And with this, surely how much joy upon joy is there for the Righteous in Gan Eden (וּבְדָא אוּף הָכִי, כַּמָה חֵדּוּ עַל חֵדּוּ הֲוִי לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא בְּגַן עֵדֶן). And because of this, blessed is he whose soul on Shabbat testifies before the King concerning a new interpretation of Orayta (וּבְגִין כָּךְ זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ, מַאן דְּנִשְׁמָתֵיהּ בְּשַׁבָּת אַסְהִידַת קָמֵי מַלְכָּא, עַל חִדּוּשָׁא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), before Kudsha Berikh Hu and His whole heavenly family (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְכָל פָּמַלְיָא דִּילֵיהּ), and before all those souls of the Righteous who are in Gan Eden (וְכָל אִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתִין דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא דַּהֲווֹ בְּגַן עֵדֶן), all of them are crowned in that word (כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְעַטְּרִין בְּהַהוּא מִלָּה).