Daf 205a (דַּף ר״ה ע״א)

As they were sitting (עַד דַּהֲווֹ יַתְבִין), they heard a voice (שָׁמְעוּ חַד קָלָא), which was saying (דְּהֲוָה אָמַר), Fortunate are you Rabbi Yosei (זַכָּאָה אַנְּתְּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי), for the words of this little child and his tears (דְּמִלִּין דְּהַאי גַּדְיָא זְעֵירָא, וְדִמְעוֹי), ascended before the throne of the Holy King (סְלִיקוּ לְגַבֵּי כֻּרְסְיָיא דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא), and they judged judgment (וְדָנוּ דִּינָא). And Kudsha Berikh Hu summoned the Angel of Death for your sake (וּתְלֵיסָר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אַזְמִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוְת בְּגִינָךְ), and behold, twenty-two years were added to you (וְהָא עֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין שְׁנִין אוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ), until you teach Orayta (עַד דְּתוֹלִיף אוֹרַיְיתָא), to this perfect child (לְהַאי גַּדְיָא שְׁלֵימָא), beloved before Kudsha Berikh Hu (חֲבִיבָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא).

Rabbi El'azar and the friends arose (קָמוּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְחַבְרַיָּיא), and did not allow any man to remain in the house (וְלָא שָׁבְקוּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֵיקָם בְּבֵיתָא). Immediately they saw that pillar of fire which ascended (מִיַּד חָמוּ הַהוּא עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶשָּׁא דְּסָלִיק), and Rabbi Yosei opened his eyes (וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי פָּתַח עֵינוֹי). And that child was clinging, his mouth to his father’s mouth (וְהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא דָּבִיק פּוּמֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ). Rabbi El'azar said (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר), Fortunate is our portion, that we have seen the resurrection of the dead, eye to eye (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָנָא דַּחֲמֵינָא תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, עֵינָא בְּעֵינָא). They drew near to him (קְרִיבוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ), and behold, that child was resting, as if he had passed from this world (וַהֲוָה הַהוּא יַנּוּקָא נָאִים, כְּמָה דְּגָוַע מֵהַאי עָלְמָא). They said (אָמְרוּ), Fortunate is your portion, Rabbi Yosei (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי), and blessed is the Merciful One who has performed a miracle for you (וּבָרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּאַרְחִישׁ לָךְ נִיסָא), for the cry and the tears of your son (עַל גַּעְיָא וּבִכְיָיא דִּבְנָךְ), and for his words, that thus pressed with sweet words to knock upon the gates of heaven (וּבְמִלּוֹי, דְּהָכִי דָּחִיק בְּמִלִּין שְׁפִּירִין לִתְרַע שְׁמַיָא). For his words and his tears, life was added to you (בְּמִלּוֹי וּבְדִמְעוֹי אוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ חַיִּין).

They took the Yenuka (child) (נְטָלוּהוּ לְהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא), and kissed him (וּנְשַׁקוּהוּ), and wept with him from great joy (וּבָכוּ עִמֵּיהּ מֵחֶדְוָה סַגִּיא). And they brought him out to another house (וְאַפְקוּהוּ לְבֵיתָא אַחֲרָא), and they roused him there (וְאַתְּעֲרוּ עָלֵיהּ), but did not inform him immediately (וְלָא אוֹדְעוּ לֵיהּ מִיָּד), only afterward (אֶלָּא לְבָתַר הָכִי). They rejoiced there for three days (חֲדוּ תַּמָּן תְּלָתָא יוֹמִין), and renewed with that Rabbi Yosei many new insights in Orayta (וְחַדִישׁוּ בַּהֲדֵי הַהוּא רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, כַּמָה חִדּוּשִׁין בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא).

Rabbi Yosei said to them (אָמַר לוֹן רִבִּי יוֹסֵי), friends, permission was not given to me to reveal from that which I saw in that world, except after twelve years (חַבְרַיָּיא, לָא אִתְיְהִיבַת לִי רְשׁוּ לְגַלָּאָה מֵהַהוּא דַּחֲמֵינָא בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, אֶלָּא לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסָר שְׁנִין). But the three hundred and sixty-five tears that my son shed (אֲבָל תְּלַת מְאָה וְשִׁתִּין וַחֲמֵשׁ דִּמְעִין, דְּאוֹשִׁיד בְּרִי), entered into the account before the Holy King (עָאלוּ בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא). And I say to you, friends (וְאוֹמֵינָא לְכוּ חַבְרַיָּיא), that at the time he opened in that verse and cried with those words (דִּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּפָתַח בְּהַהוּא פְּסוּקָא, וְגָעָא בְּאִינּוּן מִלִּין), three hundred thousand benches shook in the Academy of the firmament (אִזְדַּעֲזָעוּ תְּלַת מְאָה אַלְפֵי סַפְסָלֵי דַּהֲווֹ בִּמְתִיבְתָּא דִּרְקִיעָא), and all stood before the Holy King (וְכֻלְּהוּ קַיְימֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא), and they asked mercy upon me (וּבָעוּ רַחֲמֵי עָלַי), and became sureties for me (וְעָרְבוּ לִי). And Kudsha Berikh Hu was filled with mercy upon me (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְמְלֵי רַחֲמִין עָלַי). And those words were proper before Him (וְשַׁפִּיר קַמֵּיהּ, אִינּוּן מִלִּין), and how he gave over his soul for me (וְהֵיךְ מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ עָלַי). And one advocate stood before Him and said (וְחַד אַפֹּטְרוֹפֹּסָא הֲוָה קַמֵּיהּ, וְקָאָמַר), Master of the world (מָארֵי דְּעָלְמָא), behold it is written (הָא כְּתִיב), “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You established strength, because of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger” (מִפִּי עוֹלְלִים וְיוֹנְקִים יִסַּדְתָּ עוֹז לְמַעַן צוֹרְרֶיךָ לְהַשְׁבִּית אוֹיֵב וּמִתְנַקֵּם) (Psalms 8). May it be Your will before You (יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קַמָּךְ), in the merit of Orayta (זְכוּ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), and the merit of that child who gave over his soul for his father (וּזְכוּ דְּהַהוּא רַבְיָא, דְּקָא מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ עַל אֲבוּהָּ), that You have compassion upon him and he be saved (דְּתֵחוּס עָלֵיהּ, וְיִשְׁתֵּזִיב). And thirteen men were summoned under me (וּתְלֵיסָר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אַזְמִין לֵיהּ תְּחוֹתַי), and surety was given to me, from this mighty judgment (וְעִרְבוֹנָא יָהַב לֵיהּ, מִדִּינָא תַּקִּיפָא דָּא). Then Kudsha Berikh Hu called the Angel of Death (כְּדֵין קָרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוְת), and commanded him over me (וּפָקִיד לֵיהּ עָלַי), that he should return after twenty-two years (דְּלֵיתֻב לְבָתַר עֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין שְׁנִין). For this is not a surety before Him (דְּהָא לָאו עִרְבוֹנָא קַמֵּיהּ), but to return into his hand (אֶלָּא לִיתוּב לִידוֹי), the pledges that were in his hand (מַשְׁכֹּנִין דַּהֲווֹ בִּידוֹי). Now, friends (הַשְׁתָּא חַבְרַיָּיא), because Kudsha Berikh Hu saw that you are truly meritorious (בְּגִין דְּחָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּאַתּוּן זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט), a miracle was performed before your eyes (אִתְרְחִישׁ נִיסָא לְעֵינַיְיכוּ).

Rabbi Yosei opened and said (פָּתַח רִבִּי יוֹסֵי וְאָמַר), “Hashem puts to death and brings to life, He brings down to She’ol and raises up” (יְיָ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל) (I Samuel 2). This verse is to be contemplated (הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ). For does “Hashem puts to death”? (וְכִי יְיָ מֵמִית).

Behold, this Name is the name of life for all (וְהָא שְׁמָא דָּא סַמָא דְּחַיִּין אִיהוּ לְכֹלָּא). And the matter of death does not rest in it (וּמִלָּה דָּא דְּמוֹתָא, לָא שַׁרְיָא בֵּיהּ). And in every place this Name gives life to all worlds (וּבְכָל אֲתָר שְׁמָא דָּא יָהִיב חַיִּין לְכָל עָלְמָא). What is “Hashem puts to death” (מַהוּ יְיָ מֵמִית). Men think that He kills all mankind (חַשְׁבִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּאִיהוּ קָטִיל לְכָל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא). Rather, “Hashem puts to death” – surely it is upon him (אֶלָּא יְיָ מֵמִית וַדַּאי דְּאִיהוּ עָלֵיהּ), that none of the accusers of the world can harm him while it rests upon him (לָא יַכְלִין כָּל מְקַטְרְגִין דְּעָלְמָא לְנַזְקָא לֵיהּ). When it departs from him (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִסְתָּלִיק מִנֵּיהּ), immediately all the accusers can overpower him (מִיָּד כָּל מְקַטְרְגִין יַכְלִין לֵיהּ), and man dies (וּמִית בַּר נָשׁ).

Not so (לָאו הָכִי). Rather, Hashem puts to death (אֶלָּא יְיָ מֵמִית), whom does He put to death (לְמַאן מֵמִית). To that drawing of the Sitra achra, the evil one (לְהַהוּא מְשִׁיכוּ דְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא בִּישָׁא). When that drawing of the Sita achra sees the radiance of the glory of Kudsha Berikh Hu (כֵּיוָן דִּמְשִׁיכוּ דְּסִטְרָא בִּישָׁא, חָמֵי לֵיהּ לְזִיו יְקָרֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), immediately it dies (מִיַּד מִית). And it has no existence even for one moment (וְלֵית לֵיהּ קִיוּמָא אֲפִילּוּ רִגְעָא חֲדָא). When that drawing of the Other Side dies and is removed from the world (כֵּיוָן דְּהַהוּא מְשִׁיכוּ דִּסְטָר אַחֲרָא מִית וְאִתְעֲבָר מִן עָלְמָא), immediately He makes alive (מִיַּד מְחַיֶּה). Whom does He make alive (לְמַאן מְחַיֶּה).

To that drawing of The Holy Spirit which comes from the side of holiness (לְהַהוּא מְשִׁיכוּ דְּרוּחַ קֻדְשָׁא, דְּאָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה), He makes him alive and establishes him in complete existence (מְחַיֶּה לֵיהּ, וְאוֹקִים לֵיהּ בְּקִיּוּמָא שְׁלִים). All this Kudsha Berikh Hu does in one moment (כֹּלָּא עָבִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּזִמְנָא חֲדָא). And that which is said, “He brings down to She’ol and brings up” (וּמַה דְּאָמַר מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל) (I Samuel 2). He brings down that holy spirit to She’ol (מוֹרִיד לְהַהוּא רוּחַ קַדִּישָׁא לִשְׁאוֹל), and makes there for it an immersion, to be purified (וְעָבִיד לֵיהּ תַּמָּן טְבִילָה, לְאִתְּדַכָּאָה), and immediately raises it up (וּמִיַּד סָלִיק לֵיהּ). (Some say: to She’ol, to be cleansed there, and immediately He raised it up, and made for it immersion there (לשאול, לאתדנא תמן, ומיד סליק ליה ועביד ליה תמן טבילה). And it entered the place it needed, in Gan Eden (וְעָאל לַאֲתָר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ בְּגַן עֵדֶן).

And I, friends (וַאֲנָא, חַבְרַיָּיא), at that time when I departed from the world (בְּהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִסְתְּלַקְנָא מֵעָלְמָא), my spirit departed and immediately slept (רוּחָא דִּילִי אִסְתְּלַּק וְדָמַךְ מִיַּד), until a short time when Kudsha Berikh Hu revived me (עַד שַׁעֲתָא זְעֵירָא דְּאַחְיָיא לִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), and the body was dead (וְגוּפָא הֲוָה מִית). At the time my son opened in those words (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּפָתַח בְּרִי בְּאִינּוּן מִלִּין), then his soul flew (כְּדֵין פַּרְחָה נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ). (Some say: my soul (נ״א: נִשְׁמָתִי). And it was aroused with my soul (וְאִעֲרָעָת בְּנִשְׁמְתָא דִּילִי), which ascended from purification and from immersion (דְּהֲוָה סַלְּקָא מִגּוֹ דַּכְיוּ וּמִגּוֹ טְבִילָה). And it entered the place it entered (וְעָאלַת בַּאֲתָר דְּעָאלָת), and there its judgment was judged (וְתַמָּן אִתְּדָּן דִּינָהָא). And twenty-two years of life were given to me (וְאִתְיְיהִיבוּ לִי עֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין שְׁנִין דְּחַיִּין), because of the tears and words of my son (בְּגִין דִּמְעִין וּמִלִּין דִּבְרִי). From here onward (מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה), I must engage with what I have seen (אִית לִי לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּמַה דַּחֲמֵינָא), for I have nothing to engage with in the words of this world (דְּהָא לֵית לִי לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּמִלִּין דְּהַאי עָלְמָא). Since I have seen what I have seen (כֵּיוָן דַּחֲמֵינָא מַה דַּחֲמֵינָא), Kudsha Berikh Hu desires that nothing be lost or forgotten from me (וּבָעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּלָא יִתְאַבִיד וְיִתְנְשֵׁי מִנַּאי כְּלוּם).