Daf 232a (דַּף רל״ב ע״א)

Ra‘aya Meheimna said: Surely, after the limbs and the arteries of the heart, which are compared to Yisrael, when they cry out (אָמַר רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא, ודַּאי בָּתַר דְּאֵבָרִים וְעַרְקִין דְּלִבָּא, דְּדַמְיָין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אִינּוּן בְּעָאקוּ). They must be awakened in the tube, which is the shofar (צְרִיכִין לְאַתְּעָרָא בְּקָנֶה, דְּאִיהוּ שׁוֹפָר). And this is the tube of the lung (וְדָא קָנֶה דְּרֵיאָה). After the wings of the lung are not able to calm the wrath of gall that overpowers the arteries of the heart and all the arteries of the limbs of the body (בָּתַר דְּכַנְפֵי רֵיאָה לָא יַכְלִין לְשַׁכְּכָא רוּגְזָא דְּמָרָה דְּאִתְגַּבַּרְתּ עַל עַרְקִין דְּלִבָּא, וְעַל כָּל עַרְקִין דְּאֵבָרִים דְּגוּפָא). That spirit which blows within them ascends in the tube, which is the shofar, the World to Come (הַהוּא רוּחָא דְּנָשִׁיב בְּהוֹן, סָלִיק בְּקָנֶה, דְּאִיהוּ שׁוֹפָר, עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי).

For thus it has been established: the esophagus resembles this world, in which there is eating and drinking (דְּהָכִי אוֹקְמוּהָ, וְשֶׁט, דּוֹמֶה לְעָלְמָא דֵּין, דְּבֵיהּ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה). The tube resembles the World to Come, in which there is no eating and drinking (קָנֶה, דּוֹמֶה לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה). And after the Vav spread out from esophagus by excess eating of theft, it extended and became Satan (וּלְבָתַר דְּשָׁט ו׳ מִן וְשֶׁט, בְּרִבּוּי אֲכִילָה דְּגֶזֶל אִתְאֲרָךְ וְאִתְעָבִיד שָׂטָן). And who caused this (וּמַאן גָּרִים דָּא)? “The people spread out and gathered” (Numbers 11) (שָׁטוּ הָעָם וְלָקְטוּ).

Their folly was that they mingled with the Erev rav of drunkards, whose desire was eating and drinking of theft and violence (שָׁטוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן דְּאִתְעָרְבוּ בְּעֵרֶב רַב שַׁטְיָין, דְּתַאֲוָה דִּלְהוֹן אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה דְּגֶזֶל וְחָמָס). “For the spoiling of the poor, for the sighing of the needy” (Psalms 12) (דְּשׁוֹד עֲנִיִּים וְאֶנְקַת אֶבְיוֹנִים). With a bent Nun they are drunkards, who eat without grinding (בְּנוּן כְּפוּפָה שַׁטְיָין, דְּאַכְלִין בְּלָא טְחִינָה). What is written of them: “The meat was yet between their teeth before it was cut off, and the anger of Hashem burned against the people” (Numbers 11) (מַה כְּתִיב בְּהוּ, הַבָּשָׂר עוֹדֶנּוּ בֵּין שִׁינֵּיהֶם טֶרֶם יִכָּרֵת וְאַף יְיָ חָרָה בָעָם).

The Vav spread out from “they spread out,” this is its spirit bent, and it is Nun (אִתְפְּשַׁט ו׳ דְּשָׁטוּ, אִיהוּ דְּרוּחֵיהּ כָּפוּף, וְאִיהוּ נ׳). And this caused that Satan spread out in eating and drinking, and overpowered all the limbs and arteries in the 365 prohibitions (וְדָא גָּרַם דְּאִתְפְּשַׁט שָׂטָן בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, וְאִתְגְּבָּר עַל כָּל אֵבָרִין וְעַרְקִין בְּשס״ה לֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה). As the calculation of “the Satan” is one less, which is Yom Kippur, when there is no eating and drinking (כְּחוּשְׁבָּן הַשָּׂטָ״ן חָסֵר חַד, דָּא יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה). And he is like the tube, and he is the Vav son of Yah, from Binah (וְאִיהוּ כְּגַוְונָא דְּקָנֶה, וְאִיהוּ ו׳ בֶּן יָ״הּ, מִן בִּינָה). And because of this the masters of the Mishnah established: he who sees a tube in a dream will merit wisdom (וּבְגִינֵיהּ אוּקְמוּהָ מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין, הָרוֹאֶה קָנֶה בַּחֲלוֹם, זוֹכֶה לַחָכְמָה). This is what is written: “Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding” (Proverbs 4) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, קְנֵה חָכְמָה קְנֵה בִינָה). For there is no tube that is less than both of them, which are Yod Chokhmah and Heh Binah (דְּלֵית קָנֶה דְּאִיהוּ פָּחוּת מִתַּרְוַויְיהוּ, דְּאִינּוּן י׳ חָכְמָה, ה׳ בִּינָה).

And because of this, one must be aroused by the shofar [ram’s horn] (וּבְגִין דָּא, צָרִיךְ לְאִתְּעָרָא בַּשּׁוֹפָר), which is the windpipe (דְּאִיהוּ קָנֶה), the World to Come (עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי), a long world (עוֹלָם אָרוֹךְ), Erekh Appayim [long-suffering] (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם), from which are found the thirteen measures of mercy (דְּמִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי מִינֵּיהּ י״ג מְכִילִין דְּרַחֲמֵי), according to the reckoning of Vav–Aleph–Vav [VAV] (כְּחוּשְׁבָן וָא״ו), Aleph [A]—Erekh [long] (א׳ אֶרֶךְ), Vav [V], Vav [V]—Appayim [nostrils] (ו׳ ו׳ אַפַּיִם).

And Imma Ila‘ah [supernal Mother] is tekiah [a sustained blast] (וְאִימָּא עִלָּאָה אִיהִי תְּקִיעָה), from the side of Avraham (מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבְרָהָם). Shevarim [broken blasts], from the side of Yitzḥak (שְׁבָרִים, מִסִּטְרָא דְּיִצְחָק). Teru‘ah [staccato blasts], from the side of Ya‘akov (תְּרוּעָה, מִסִּטְרָא דְּיַעֲקֹב). Shekhinta Tata’ah [lower Divine Presence] is the bond of all of them (שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה, קֶשֶׁר דְּכֻלְּהוּ). That is: Kaf [100]—tekiah [a sustained blast] (דְּהַיְינוּ: ק׳ תְּקִיעָה); Shin [300]—shevarim [broken blasts] (ש׳ שְׁבָרִים); Resh [200]—teru‘ah [staccato blasts] (ר׳ תְּרוּעָה). And all are tripled toward the Shekhinta [Divine Presence] (וְכֻלְּהוּ מְשֻׁלָּשִׁין לְגַבֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא), as is said: “They shall triple holiness for You” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, קְדוּשָּׁה לְךָ יְשַׁלֵּשׁוּ).

For no voice can emerge outward except from the mouth (דְּלֵית קָלָא יָכִיל לְנָפְקָא לְבַר, אֶלָּא מִן הַפֶּה). Likewise, the Shekhinta cannot be separated from Kudsha Berikh Hu (אוּף הָכִי, לֵית לְאַפְרְשָׁא שְׁכִינְתָּא מִן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). Of Kudsha Berikh Hu it is said (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ): “The voice of Hashem hews flames of fire” (קוֹל יְיָ חוֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ) (Psalms 29). And the Shekhinta is the prayer of every mouth (וּשְׁכִינְתָּא תְּפִלַּת כָּל פֶּה). And these are the signs: QShR-Q, QSh-Q, QR-Q (וְאִינּוּן סִימָנִין, קשר״ק קש״ק קר״ק). Until here (עד כאן).

They take the shofar, to be awakened in it, teru‘ah and tekiah (נַטְלִין שׁוֹפָר, לְאִתְּעָרָא בֵּיהּ, תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה), severe judgment with mercy (דִּינָא קַשְׁיָא בְּרַחֲמֵי), and shevarim, severe judgment without mercy (וּשְׁבָרִים דִּינָא קַשְׁיָא בְּלָא רַחֲמֵי). Some say: lenient judgment with mercy (ס״א דִּינָא רַפְיָא בְּרַחֲמֵי). And then thus they will be awakened above, to be mingled one with the other (וּכְדֵין הָכִי יִתְּעֲרוּ לְעֵילָּא לְאִתְעָרְבָא דָּא בְּדָא).

Ra‘aya Meheimna

And in the first connection (וּבְחִבּוּרָא קַדְמָאָה), Ra‘aya Meheimna said (אָמַר רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא), with this Satan is sweetened (בְּהַאי אִתְבְּסַם שָׂטָן), and he takes the Nun from esophagus (וְקָמִיט נוּ״ן מִן וְשֶׁט), what was Satan before turns backward (מַה דְּהֲוָה שָׂטָן לְפָנִים, תָּב לַאֲחוֹרָא), and it returns esophagus as at the beginning (וְאִתְהַדָּר וְשֶׁט, כִּדְבְּקַדְמֵיתָא). Because the voice is the voice of Ya‘akov (בְּגִין דְּהַקּוֹל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב). Yisrael do not have their strength in eating and drinking (יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵית חֵילֵיהוֹן בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה), as the other nations who inherited this world (כִּשְׁאַר עַמִּין, דְּיַרְתִין עָלְמָא דֵּין), whose strength is in eating and drinking (דְּחֵילֵיהוֹן בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה).

But their strength is in this voice (אֶלָּא חֵילֵיהוֹן בְּקוֹל דָּא), which is the World to Come (דְּאִיהוּ עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי), a long world (עוֹלָם אָרוֹךְ), created with the letter Yod (דְּאִתְבְּרֵי בְּאָת יוֹ״ד). And because the voice of shofar goes forth from it (וּבְגִין דְּקוֹל שׁוֹפָר מִנֵּיהּ נָפִיק), the Sages said: One does not blow less than ten shofarot (אָמְרוּ רַבָּנָן אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵעֲשָׂרָה שׁוֹפָרוֹת). And with the letter Yod certainly, a long world was made (וּבְאוֹת י׳ וַדַּאי, אִתְעָבִיד עוֹלָם אָרוֹךְ), which is the Vav, the World to Come (דְּאִיהוּ ו׳ עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי), and with the letter Heh He created this world (וּבְאָת ה׳, בָּרָא עָלְמָא דֵּין), which is the small Heh, in which there is eating and drinking of the Orayta (דְּאִיהִי ה׳ זְעֵירָא, דְּבָהּ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). And further, another mystery (וְעוֹד רָזָא אַחֲרָא): After a decree has been decreed with the two letters, which are Heh Heh (בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר גְּזֵרָה בִּתְרֵין אַתְוָון, דְּאִינּוּן ה׳ ה׳), two courts of judgment (תְּרֵין בָּתֵּי דִּינִין), who can nullify the decree of both (מַאן יָכִיל לְבַטְּלָא גְּזֵרָה דְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ).

Yod Vav (י״ו): for the letter Heh is Imma Ila‘ah (דְּאָת הֵ״א אִימָּא עִלָּאָה), Yod is Abba (י׳ אָב). And what is written: “Every vow and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband shall establish it, and her husband shall annul it” (Numbers 30) (וּמַה כְּתִיב, כָּל נֵדֶר וְכָל שְׁבוּעַת אִסָּר לְעַנוֹת נָפֶשׁ, דְּאִיהִי ה׳, אִישָׁהּ יְקִימֶנּוּ וְאִישָׁהּ יְפֵרֶנּוּ). And because of this, one must awaken the voice, which is the Vav, in ten shofarot, which are ten (וּבְגִין דָּא, צָרִיךְ לְאַתְּעָרָא קָלָא דְּאִיהוּ ו׳, בַּעֲשָׂרָה שׁוֹפָרוֹת, דְּאִינּוּן י׳). And their principle is in one breath, each sign in the mouth, which is Yod from the ten (וְעִקָּרָא דִּלְהוֹן בִּנְשִׁימָה אַחַת, כָּל סִימָן וְסִימָן, בַּפֶּה, דְּאִיהִי י׳ מֵעֲשָׂרָה).

Immediately when Rabbi Shimon and all the friends heard these words (מִיַּד דְּשָׁמְעוּ מִלִּין רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְכָל חַבְרַיָּיא), they said: Blessed is God that we have merited to hear words (אָמְרוּ, בְּרִיךְ אֱלָהָא דְּזָכֵינָא לְמִשְׁמַע מִלִּין), from him who is called Master of the Prophets (מֵהַהוּא דְּאִתְקְרֵי רַבָּן שֶׁל נְבִיאִים), Master of the Sages (רַבָּן דַּחֲכָמִים), Master of the ministering angels (רַבָּן דְּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת), for Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta speak through his mouth (דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ מְדַבֵּר עַל פּוּמוֹי), and He writes by his hand these mysteries that have never been heard since the giving of the Torah until now (וְכָתַב עַל יְדוֹי רָזִין אִלֵּין, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּמָעוּ כְּוָותַיְיהוּ מִמַּתָּן תּוֹרָה, וְעַד כְּעַן).

He said to him: The Holy Luminary, complete the words of the mysteries of the first connection, to explain them (אָמַר לֵיהּ, בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, אַשְׁלִים מִלּוּלֵי דְּרָזִין דְּחִבּוּרָא קַדְמָאָה, לְפָרְשָׁא לוֹן), for all the masters of the academies above and the masters of the academies below are all prepared to hear these words from your mouth and your explanations (דְּהָא כָּל מָארֵי מְתִיבְתָּאן דִּלְעֵילָּא, וּמָארֵי מְתִיבְתָּאן דִּלְתַּתָּא, כֻּלְּהוּ מְזוּמָנִין לְמִשְׁמַע מִלִּין אִלֵּין מִפּוּמָךְ, וּפִירוּשִׁין דִּילָךְ). For joy and deliverance will be awakened through them above and below (דְּהָא חֶדְוָה וּפוּרְקָנָא, יִתְּעַר בְּהוֹן לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא). Do not be silent, neither you nor all your company (אַל תִּתְּנוּ דֳּמִי, לֹא אַנְתְּ, וְכָל סִיעָתָא דִּילָךְ). Until here Ra‘ya Meheimna (ע״כ רעיא מהימנא).