Daf 249a (דַּף רמ״ט ע״א)

Ra‘aya Meheimna said, at that time, these masters of wisdom… until the serpent will be removed from the world (אָמַר רַעְיָא מְהֵימְנָא בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא אֵלֵּין מָארֵי חָכְמְתָא וְגוֹ׳ עַד אִתְעֲבַר נָחָשׁ מֵעָלְמָא). And if you say, seventy years she travails and two years she gives birth (וְאִי תֵּימָא דִּלְע׳ תָּחִיל וּלְב׳ שְׁנִין אוֹלִידַת), after one thousand and two hundred, count 272 (בָּתַר אֶלֶף וּמָאתָן, כְּחוּשְׁבַּן רע״ב). Behold, it is written: Before she travailed, she brought forth (הָא כְּתִיב בְּטֶרֶם תָּחִיל יָלָדָה) (Isaiah 66). And the secret of the matter: “And it shall be that before they call, I shall answer” (וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה, וְהָיָה טֶרֶם יִקְרָאוּ וַאֲנִי אֶעֱנֶה עוֹד וְגוֹ׳) (Isaiah 65). And what is “before”? (וּמַאי בְּטֶרֶם). Rather, before the completion of seventy-two years after one thousand and two hundred (אֶלָּא קֹדֶם דְּיִשְׁתְּלִימוּ, שִׁבְעִין וּתְרֵין שְׁנִין, בָּתַר אֶלֶף וּמָאתָן), those are the birth pangs of the birthing woman (אִינּוּן חֲבָלִים דְּיוֹלֵדָה), two Meshichin shall be revealed in the world (יִתְגָלְיָין ב׳ מְשִׁיחִין בְּעָלְמָא). And at that time: “And in His Sanctuary, all say: Glory” (וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא, וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלּוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּבוֹד) (Psalms 29). And they have established: “The wise shall inherit glory” (וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, כָּבוֹד חֲכָמִים יִנְחָלוּ) (Proverbs 3).

At that hour, these masters of Torah shall be honored (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, אִלֵּין מָארֵי תּוֹרָה יִהוֹן נִכְבָּדִים), those who endured many pangs and contractions like the birthing woman (אִלֵּין דִּסְבִילוּ כַּמָה חֲבָלִים וְצִירִין כַּיּוֹלֵדָה), and who were despised among the peoples of the earth (וַהֲווּ מְבוּזִּין בֵּין עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ), they shall be honored (יְהוֹן נִכְבָּדִים). And immediately: “Hashem sat at the Flood” (וּמִיַּד, יְיָ לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב) (Psalms 29), to the wicked (לְרַשִׁיעֲיָא). “Flood” means the judgments of the Flood (אֵין מַבּוּל, אֶלָּא דִּינִין דְּמַבּוּל). In likeness of: “The fountains of the deep were opened and the windows of the heavens were opened” (כְּגַוְונָא דְּנִפְתָּחוּ מַעְיְינוֹת תְּהוֹם וַאֲרוּבּוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם נִפְתְּחוּ) (Bereshit 7) in the days of the Deluge (בְּיוֹמֵי טוּפְנָא), so too here judgments will be aroused against them above and below (אוּף הָכָא יִתְעָרוּן דִּינִין לְגַבַּיְיהוּ עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא), without end or limit (עַד דְּלֵית סוֹף וְתַכְלִית). And all the disgrace and shame that the nations, idolaters and star-worshippers of the world, did to the Name of Hashem and to His people (וְכָל בִּזּוּיִין וּקְלָנָא, דְּעָבְדוּ אוּמִין עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת דְּעָלְמָא, לְשֵׁם יְיָ וּלְעַמֵּיהּ), and all the blasphemies that Yisrael endured from them for the sake of Hashem’s Name (וְכַמָּה חֵרוּפִין דִּסְבִילוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִנַּיְיהוּ עַל שֵׁם יְיָ), from all of them Kudsha Berikh Hu will take vengeance (מִכֻּלְּהוּ נָטִיל נוּקְמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And for this reason He is called: “Hashem is vengeful and a keeper and master of wrath against them” (וְעַל דָּא אִתְקְרֵי, נוֹקֵם יְיָ וְנוֹטֵר וּבַעַל חֵמָה לְגַבַּיְיהוּ) (Nahum 1). And in the first month-who is first? That is Nisan (וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן, מַאן רִאשׁוֹן. דָּא נִיסָן). There she gave birth to that Chayyah (תַּמָּן אוֹלִידַת הַהִיא חַיָּה), to fulfill what the masters of the Mishnah established (לְקַיֵּים מַה דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין): “In Nisan they were redeemed, and in Nisan they are destined to be redeemed” (בְּנִיסָן נִגְאֲלוּ וּבְנִיסָן עֲתִידִין לְהִגָּאֵל). And on its fourteenth day: “For a hand is on the throne of Yah” (וּבְי״ד דִּילֵיהּ, וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי יָד עַל כֵּס יָהּ) (Exodus 17). There He swears to remove from the world the seed of Esav, the Amalekites (תַּמָּן אוֹמֵי לְאַעְבְּרָא מֵעָלְמָא זַרְעָא דְּעֵשָׂו עֲמָלֵקִיִּים). At that time: “Draw and take for yourselves lambs for your families, and slaughter the Passover” (בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, מִשְׁכוּ וּקְחוּ לָכֶם צֹּאן לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיכֶם וְשַׁחֲטוּ הַפָּסַח) (Exodus 12). “Draw”-as it is written: “He drew back his hand from the sucklings” (מִשְׁכוּ: מָשַׁךְ יָדוֹ אֶת לוֹצְּצִּים) (Hosea 7).

At that time: “Thus says Hashem to the shepherds who transgress against Me” (בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ לָרוֹעִים הַפּוֹשְׁעִים בִּי). And it says: “And into the land of Yisrael they shall not come” (וְאוֹמֵר, וְאֶל אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יָבֹאוּ) (Ezekiel 13). And these are the shepherds of poverty, the leaders of the generation (וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן רוֹעִים דְּעָנָא, פַּרְנָסֵי דָּרָא). And therefore it is said of them: “Behold, I will entice her and lead her into the wilderness” (וּבְגִין דָּא אִתְּמַר עָלַיְיהוּ, הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מְפַתֶּיהָ וְהוֹלַכְתִּיהָ הַמִּדְבָּרָה) (Hosea 2). “And I shall enter into judgment with you…” (וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אִתְּכֶם וְגוֹ׳) (Ezekiel 20), as I judged your fathers, whom I killed with the plague of darkness (כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אֶת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם דְּקָטִיל לוֹן בְּמַכַּת חֹשֶׁךְ). Thus ends Ra‘aya Meheimna (ע״כ רַעְיָא מְהֵימְנָא).

And in the first month, etc. (וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן וְגוֹ׳). Rabbi Abba opened (רִבִּי אַבָּא פָּתַח): “As a deer longs for channels of water, so my soul longs for You, Elohim” (כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרוֹג עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם כֵּן נַפְשִׁי תַעֲרוֹג אֵלֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים) (Psalms 42). This verse they have established (הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ). It is written here deer (כְּתִיב הָכָא אַיָּל), and it is written there hind (וּכְתִיב הָתָם אַיֶּלֶת), because there is male (בְּגִין דְּאִית דְּכַר) and there is female (וְאִית נוּקְבָא). And even though there is male and female, all is one (וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִית דְּכַר וְנֻקְבָא, כּוּלָּא חַד). This deer, he is called male (הָאִי אִיל, אִיהוּ אִקְרֵי דְּכַר), and he is called female (וְאִיהוּ אִקְרֵי נוּקְבָא). This is what is written: as deer longs (הַדָּא הוּא דִּכְתִיב כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרוֹג), and it is not written he longs (וְלָא כְּתִיב יַעֲרוֹג). And all is one (וְכָלָּא חַד). 'Doe of the Dawn' (Ayelet Ha-Shachar) (אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר).

What is the 'Doe of the Dawn' (Ayelet Ha-Shachar)? (מַאי אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר). Rather, this is one compassionate creature (אֶלָּא דָּא אִיהִי חַיָּה חֲדָא רַחֲמָנִית), that there is not in all the creatures of the world a compassionate one like her (דְּלֵית בְּכָל חֵיוָן דְּעָלְמָא רַחֲמָנִית כְּוָותָהּ). Because at the time when the hour presses her (בְּגִין דִּבְשַׁעֲתָא דִּדְחִיקַת לָהּ שַׁעֲתָא), and she requires sustenance for herself and for all creatures (וְאִצְטְרִיכַת לִמְזוֹנָא לָהּ וּלְכָל חֵיוָן), she goes to wander on a distant path (אִיהִי אַזְלַת לְמֵרָחִיק לְאֹרַח רְחִיקָא), and she comes and brings sustenance (וְאָתִיאַת וְאוֹבִילַת מְזוֹנָא). And she does not want to eat until she comes and returns to her place (וְלָא בָּעָאת לְמֵיכַל, עַד דְּתֵיתֵי וְתִתְהַדָר לְאַתְרָהָא). Why (אֲמָאי). Because all the other creatures gather to her (בְּגִין דְּיִתְכַּנְשׁוּן לְגַבָהּ שְׁאַר חֵיוָן), and she distributes to them from that sustenance (וּתְחָלֵק לוֹן מֵהַהוּא מְזוֹנָא). And when she comes (וְכַד אָתַת), all the other creatures gather to her (מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין לְגַבָּהּ כָּל שְׁאַר חֵיוָן), and she stands in the middle (וְהִיא קַיְּימָא בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא), and she distributes to each and every one (וּפַלְגַת לְכָל חַד וְחַד).

And the sign is: “She rises while it is yet night, and gives prey to her household, etc.” (וְסִימָן, וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְגוֹ׳) (Proverbs 31). And from that which she distributes to them, she is satisfied (וּמִמַּה דִּפְלִיגַת לוֹן, אִיהִי שַׂבְעָה), as if she ate more food than all (כְּאִלּוּ אָכְלָה יַתִּיר מֵיכְלָא מִכֹּלָּא). When does she distribute to them (אִימָתַי פַּלְגַּת לְהוֹן). When the morning comes, which is called dawn (וְכַד יֵיתֵי צַפְרָא דְּאִקְרֵי שַׁחַר), pangs of exile come to her (יֵיתֵי לָהּ חֲבָלִים דְּגָלוּתָא). And because of this, she is called 'Doe of the Dawn' (Ayelet Ha-Shachar) (וּבְגִין דָּא, אִתְקְרִיאַת אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר), on account of the darkness of the dawn (עַל שֵׁם קַדְרוּתָא דְּצַפְרָא), that pangs are to her like the birthing woman (דַּחֲבָלִים לָהּ כַּיּוֹלֵדָה). This is what is written: “As a woman with child, that draws near to give birth, she writhes and cries out in her pangs, etc.” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, כְּמוֹ הָרָה תַּקְרִיב לָלֶדֶת תָּחִיל תִּזְעַק בַּחֲבָלֶיהָ וְגוֹ׳) (Isaiah 26).

(Ra‘aya Meheimna said, at that time, continues after this) (אָמַר רַעְיָא מְהֵימְנָא בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא שַׁיָּיךְ אַחֲרֵי זֶה). When does she distribute to them (אֵימָתַי פַּלְגַּת לְהוֹן). When the dawn wishes to come (כַּד צַפְרָא בָּעֵי לְמֵיתֵי), while it is still night (בְּעוֹד דְּאִיהִי לֵילְיָא), and the darkness rises to illuminate (וְקַדְרוּתָא סְלִיקַת לְאַנְהָרָא). As you say: “She rises while it is yet night, and gives prey to her household, etc.” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְגוֹ׳) (Proverbs 31). When the morning shines, all are satisfied with her sustenance (כֵּיוָן דְּאַנְהִיר צַפְרָא, כֻּלְּהוּ שַׂבְעִין בִּמְזוֹנָא דִּילָהּ). Then one voice awakens in the middle of the firmament (כְּדֵין, קָלָא חֲדָא אִתְעַר בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא דִּרְקִיעַ), it calls with might and says (קָארֵי בְּחַיִל וְאָמַר): near ones, ascend to your places (קְרִיבִין עוּלוּ לְדוּכְתַיְיכוּ), distant ones, go out (רְחִיקִין פּוּקוּ), each and every one gather to his place that appears to him (כָּל חַד וְחַד לִיכְנֻשׁ לְאַתְרֵיהּ דְּאִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ). When the sun shines, each and every one is gathered to his place (כֵּיוָן דְּאַנְהִיר שִׁמְשָׁא, כָּל חַד וְחַד אִתְכְּנִישׁ לְאַתְרֵיהּ). This is what is written: “The sun rises, they gather, etc.” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, תִּזְרַח הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפוּן וְגוֹ׳) (Psalms 104). And she goes by day and is revealed at night, and part in the dawn (וְאִיהִי אַזְלַת בִּימָמָא, וְאִתְגַּלְיָא בְּלֵילְיָא, וּפַלְגָּא בְּצַפְרָא). And because of this she is called 'Doe of the Dawn' (Ayelet Ha-Shachar) (וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִקְרֵי, אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר).