Daf 277a (דַּף רע״ז ע״א)

Ra‘aya Meheimna arose (קָם רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא), kissed him on his face and on his eyes and blessed him (נָשִׁיק לֵיהּ בְּאַנְפּוֹי וְעַל עֵינוֹי וּבָרִיךְ לֵיהּ), and said to him (וְאָמַר לֵיהּ): Be blessed from the mouth of Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (תְּהֵא מְבֹרַךְ מִפּוּמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ), in every measure of His (בְּכָל מִדָּה וּמִדָּה דִּילֵיהּ), and in His ten Sefirot (וּבְעֶשֶׂר סְפִירָן דִּילֵיהּ), and in all His Names (וּבְכָל שְׁמָהָן דִּילֵיהּ), and in all masters of the academy (וּבְכָל מָארֵי מְתִיבְתָּאן), and in all the angels (וּבְכָל מַלְאָכִין). And they all answered and said Amen (וְעָנּוּ כֻּלְּהוּ וְאָמְרוּ אָמֵן). And Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta acknowledged his blessing (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ הוֹדוּ בְּבִרְכָתֵיהּ). Eliyahu, arise and open your mouth in commandments with me (אֵלִיָּהוּ, קוּם אַפְתַּח פּוּמָךְ בְּפִקּוּדִין עִמִּי), for you are my helper from every side (דְּאַנְתְּ הוּא עוֹזֵר דִּילִי, מִכָּל סִטְרָא), for upon you it is said first (דְּהָא עֲלָךְ אִתְּמַר בְּקַדְמִיתָא): Pinchas the son of El‘azar, the son of Aharon the Kohen (פִּנְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן) (Numbers 28), the son of Aharon indeed, the son of my brother he is (בֶּן אַהֲרֹן וַדַּאי, בֶּן אָח דִּילִי הוּא), and a brother is born for adversity (וְאָח לְצָרָה יִוָּלֵד) (Proverbs 17).

If a man finds a virgin girl who is not betrothed, etc. (כִּי יִמְצָא אִישׁ נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא אוֹרָשָׂה וְגוֹ׳). This commandment is to judge in the case of a seducer, fifty silver (פִּקּוּדָא דָּא, לָדוּן בִּמְפַתֶּה חַמִשִּׁים כֶּסֶף). This is what is written: If a man finds a virgin girl who is not betrothed (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, כִּי יִמְצָא אִישׁ נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא אוֹרָשָׂה) (Deuteronomy 22). These are Yisrael, from the side of the Shekhinta they are called daughter (אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִתְקְרִיאוּ בַּת). And he seizes her (וּתְפָשָׂהּ), with the bond of Tefillin (בְּקִשּׁוּרָא דִּתְפִילִּין). And he seizes her (וּתְפָשָׂהּ), with the wings of the mitzvah (בְּכַנְפֵי מִצְוָה). Who is not betrothed (אֲשֶׁר לֹא אוֹרָשָׂה), the only daughter-this is the Neshama (בַּת יְחִידָה, דָּא נְשָׁמָה). And he lay with her (וְשָׁכַב עִמָּהּ), in the prayer of lying down, in Hashkivenu (בִּצְלוֹתָא דִּשְׁכִיבָא, בְּהַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ). And he shall give to the father of the girl fifty silver (וְנָתַן לַאֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה חֲמִשִּׁים כֶּסֶף), twenty-five and twenty-five, the letters of union (כ״ה כ״ה אַתְוָון דְּיִחוּדָא).

Ra‘aya Meheimna arose (קוּם רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא), for indeed whoever engages in halakha not for its own sake, and halakha is broadened, indeed she is seized for him (דְּוַדַּאי מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּדַל בַּהֲלָכָה שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ, וְרָוַוח הֲלָכָה, וַדַּאי בִּתְפִישָׂה אִיהִי לְגַבֵּיהּ). And with all this, they established: forever let a man occupy himself in the Torah even not for its own sake, for from not for its own sake he comes to for its own sake (וְעִם כָּל דָּא אוֹקְמוּהָ, לְעוֹלָם יַעֲסוֹק אָדָם בַּתּוֹרָה אֲפִילּוּ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ, שֶׁמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ בָּא לִשְׁמָהּ). And this halakha is from the side of the Good Youth (וְהַאי הֲלָכָה מִסִּטְרָא דְּנַעַר טוֹב), who was separated from the Tree of Good and Evil (דְּאִתְפְּרַשׁ מֵאִילָנָא דְּטוֹב וָרָע), which is prohibition and permission, impurity and purity, kosher and unfit (דְּאִיהוּ אִיסוּר וְהֶיתֵּר, טוּמְאָה וְטָהֲרָה, כָּשֵׁר וּפָסוּל). And by the name “Youth” she is called “Girl” (וְעַל שֵׁם נַעַר, אִתְקְרִיאַת אִיהִי נַעֲרָה). For in the future it will be fulfilled in her: “And the wicked shall be shaken out of it” (וְיִנָּעֲרוּ רְשָׁעִים מִמֶּנָּה) (Job 38), who are the forbidden, the impure, and the unfit-Samael and his legions (דְּאִינּוּן אִיסוּר טָמֵא וּפָסוּל, סָמָאֵל וּמַשִּׁרְיָיתֵיהּ).

Another matter: If a man finds a virgin girl (דָּבָר אַחֵר כִּי יִמְצָא אִישׁ נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה), these are Yisrael (אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל), as it is written: For Yisrael was a youth, and I loved him (דִּכְתִּיב כִּי נַעַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וָאוֹהֲבֵהוּ) (Hosea 11), a youth from the side of Metatron (נַעַר מִסְּטָר דִּמְטַטְרוֹ״ן). And there is no man except Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְאֵין אִישׁ אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), as it is said: Hashem is a man of war (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר יְיָ אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה) (Exodus 15). If a man finds a virgin girl (כִּי יִמְצָא אִישׁ נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה), the virgin of Yisrael (בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל), of whom it is said: Fallen, she shall no more rise, virgin of Yisrael (דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ נָפְלָה לֹא תוֹסִיף קוּם בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Amos 5). Behold, I will entice her and bring her to the wilderness (הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מְפַתֶּיהָ וְהוֹלַכְתִּיהָ הַמִּדְבָּר) (Hosea 2). And afterward I will open for them fifty gates of freedom (וּלְבָתַר אַפְתַּח לוֹן חַמְשִׁין תַּרְעִין דְּחֵירוּ), which are fifty gates of mercy (דְּאִינּוּן חַמְשִׁין תַּרְעִין דְּרַחֲמֵי), from the side of Avraham their father (מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבְרָהָם אֲבוּהוֹן). And this is: And he shall give to the father of the girl fifty silver (וְהַאי אִיהוּ וְנָתַן לַאֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה חֲמִשִּׁים כָּסֶף). And silver is the level of Chesed (וְכֶסֶף מִדַּרְגָּא דְּחֶסֶד), the level of Avraham (דַּרְגָּא דְּאַבְרָהָם).

For in the Exodus from Egypt (דִּבְמִפְקָנוּ דְּמִצְרַיִם), fifty gates of freedom were opened for them (חַמְשִׁין תַּרְעִין דְּחֵירוּ אַפְתַּח לוֹן), from the side of judgment of the left (מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא), which is Adonai (דְּאִיהוּ אֲדֹנָי), for there it is written: I will judge (דְּתַמָּן דָּן אָנֹכִי) (Bereshit 15). First judgment: I will judge (קֹדֶם דִּינָא דָּן אָנֹכִי), and afterward they went out (וּלְבָתַר נַפְקוּ). But in the final redemption (אֲבָל בְּפוּרְקָנָא בַּתְרַיְיתָא), with great mercy (וּבְרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים) (Isaiah 54), from the side of Avraham (מִסִּטְרָא דְּאַבְרָהָם), and Gedulah, the level of Avraham (וּגְדוּלָּה דַּרְגָּא דְּאַבְרָהָם), which is Binah (דְּבִינָה), there is the Great Hand (תַּמָּן אִיהִי יַד הַגְּדוֹלָה), there is the fifty silver (תַּמָּן אִיהִי נ׳ כָּסֶף). And afterward he shall not be able to send her away in exile all his days (וּלְבָתַר לֹא יוּכַל שַׁלְחָהּ בְּגָלוּתָא כָּל יָמָיו), because she shall be his wife (בְּגִין דְּלוֹ תִּהְיֶה לְאִשָּׁה), as it is said: And I will betroth you to Me forever (כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי לְעוֹלָם) (Hosea 2). And another verse: For your Maker is your husband, Hashem Tzevaot is His Name (וּקְרָא אַחֲרִינָא כִּי בוֹעֲלַיִךְ עוֹשַׂיִךְ יְיָ צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ) (Isaiah 54). It shall no longer be said to you: Forsaken (לֹא יֵאָמֵר לָךְ עוֹד עֲזוּבָה) (Isaiah 62). For although the Shekhinta is in exile (דְּאַף עַל גַּב דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִיהִי בְּגָלוּתָא), Kudsha Berikh Hu has not departed from her (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא זָז מִנָּהּ).

The commandment after this: to take his violated woman (פִּקּוּדָא בָּתַר דָּא לִישָׂא אֲנוּסָתוֹ). For indeed violation exists in two aspects (דְּוַדַּאי אֲנוּסָה אִית מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין): a violation in his love toward her, and she does not love him (אֲנוּסָה בִּרְחִימוּ דִּילֵיהּ לְגַבָּהּ וְאִיהִי לָא רְחִימַת לֵיהּ). And there is a violation that she loves him (וְאִית אֲנוּסָה דִּרְחִימַת אִיהִי לֵיהּ), but she fears to join with him without kiddushin and blessing (וּדְחִילַת לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא עִמֵּיהּ בְּלָא קִדּוּשִׁין וּבְרָכָה), and she does not desire if she is a common woman to him (וְאִיהִי לָא בָּעָאת אִם הִיא הֶדְיוֹטָא לְגַבֵּיהּ). And she shall be his wife (וְלוֹ תִּהְיֶה לְאִשָּׁה).

In the secrets of the Torah, we must present a parable (בְּסִתְרֵי תּוֹרָה, אִית לָן לְהַמְשִׁיל מָשָׁל): there is a Neshama that is the Matronita (נִשְׁמְתָא אִית דְּאִיהִי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא). And there is a Neshama that is a handmaid (וְנִשְׁמְתָא אִית, דְּאִיהִי אָמָה), such as it is written: If a man shall sell his daughter for a handmaid (כְּגוֹן וְכִי יִמְכּוֹר אִישׁ אֶת בִּתּוֹ לְאָמָה) (Exodus 21). And there is a Neshama that is a common handmaid of a human being (וְנִשְׁמְתָא אִית, דְּאִיהִי שִׁפְחָה הֵדְיוֹטָא דְּבַּר נָשׁ). Likewise, there is one who is a servant of the handmaid with regard to the Neshama (אוּף הָכִי, אִית דְּאִיהוּ עֶבֶד שִׁפְחָה לְגַבֵּי נִשְׁמְתָא). And at times the Neshama goes in the mystery of Gilgul (Reincarnation) (וּלְזִמְנִין נִשְׁמְתָא אַזְלָא בְּרָזָא דְּגִלְגּוּלָא), as it is written: And the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְלֹא מָצְאָה הַיּוֹנָה מָנוֹחַ לְכַף רַגְלָהּ) (Bereshit 8). And the evil inclination pursues after her (וְיֵצֶר הָרָע רָדִיף אֲבַּתְרָהָא), to enter into the body (לְאַעֲלָא בְּגוּפָא), which is a handmaid with regard to the evil inclination (דְּאִיהוּ שִׁפְחָה לְגַבֵּי יֵצֶר הָרָע).

This is the Jewish demon (אִיהוּ שֵׁד יְהוּדִי). And the Neshama is Yod, the Hebrew handmaid (וְנִשְׁמְתָא י׳, אַמָּה הָעִבְרִיָּה). Within her, that demon is transformed into Shaddai (וּבָהּ הַהוּא שֵׁד, אִתְהַדָּר שַׁדַּי), who guards that Neshama [Soul] (דְּנָטִיר לָהּ לְהַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא). He returns within her in Teshuvah [Repentance] (וְתָב בָּהּ בְּתִיּוּבְתָּא), and blesses Kudsha Berikh Hu [the Holy One, blessed be He] within her every day with Barukh [Blessed] (וּמְבָרֵךְ בָּהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכָל יוֹמָא בְּבָרוּך). He sanctifies Kudsha Berikh Hu [the Holy One, blessed be He] within her with “Kadosh [Holy], Kadosh [Holy], Kadosh [Holy]” (וּמְקַדֵּשׁ בָּהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּקָדשׁ קָדשׁ קָדשׁ). He unites Kudsha Berikh Hu [the Holy One, blessed be He] with her in the recitation of Shema [Hear] (וּמְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע).

What had been a demon is transformed into his angel, Metatron (מַה דְּהֲוָה אִיהוּ שֵׁד, אִתְהַדָּר מַלְאָךְ דִּידֵיהּ מְטַטְרוֹן), a spirit from him (רוּחָא מִנֵּיהּ), and is transformed into Shaddai (וְאִתְהַדָּר שַׁדַּי), for Metatron has the numerical value of Shaddai (דְּהָכִי סָלִיק בִּמְטַטְרוֹן, בְּחוּשְׁבַּן שַׁדַּי).

And immediately it is fulfilled in him: and she shall be his wife, he shall not be able to send her away all his days (וּמִיַּד יִתְקְיָּים בֵּיהּ, וְלוֹ תִהְיֶה לְאִשָּׁה לֹא יוּכַל לְשַׁלְּחָהּ כָּל יָמָיו). But if he did not return in repentance (וְאִי לָא חָזַר בְּתִיוּבְתָּא), she becomes enslaved to him for the sins that he did (אִיהִי לְגַבֵּיהּ מִשְׁתַּעְבְּדָא בְּחוֹבִין דְּעַבְדַּת), and it is fulfilled in him: the woman and her children shall be her master’s (וְיִתְקְיָּים בֵּיהּ הָאִשָּׁה וִילָדֶיהָ תִּהְיֶה לַאדוֹנֶיהָ) (Exodus 21). And it is said of that demon, the owner of his debts (וְאִתְּמַר בְּהַהוּא שֵׁד בַּעַל חוֹבֵיהּ): and he shall go out by himself (וְהוּא יֵצֵא בְּגַפּוֹ). And that demon is like the staff of Moshe (וְהַאי שֵׁד, אִיהוּ כְּמַטֶּה דְּמֹשֶׁה), that was turned from staff into serpent, and from serpent into staff (דְּאִתְהַפָּךְ מִמַּטֶּה לְנָחָשׁ, וּמִנָחָשׁ לְמַטֶּה).

So too this demon, it is turned from demon into angel, and from angel into demon (הָכִי הַאי שֵׁד, אִתְהַפָּךְ מִשֵׁד לְמַלְאָךְ, וּמִמַלְאָךְ לְשֵׁד), according to the deeds of man (כְּפוּם עוֹבָדוֹי דְּבַר נָשׁ). And by the name of the shedim who come from this (וְעַל שֵׁם שֵׁדִים דְּאָתוּ מֵהַאי), the masters of the Mishnah have established (אוֹקְמוּהָ מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין): that there are some of them like ministering angels (דְּאִית מִנְּהוֹן כְּמַלְאָכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת), and these are sages who know what was and what will be (וְאִינּוּן תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים דְּיַדְעִין מַאי דְּהֲוָה, וּמַה דְּעָתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי). And they, in their form on earth, are masters of philosophy (וְאִינּוּן בְּדִּיוּקְנַיְיהוּ בְּאַרְעָא, אִינּוּן מָארֵי פִּילוֹסוֹפְיָא), the astrologers of Yisrael (אִצְטַגְנִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), who know what was and what will be (דְּיַדְעִין מַאי דְּהֲוָה, וּמַאי דְּעָתִיד לְמֶהוֵי), from the signs of the sun and the moon (מֵאוֹתוֹת דְּחַמָּה וְסִיהֲרָא), their eclipses (לָקוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן), and every star and constellation (וְכָל כֹּכָב וּמַזָּל), and what they show in the world (וּמָה אַחְזֵי בְּעָלְמָא).