Daf 288b (דַּף רפ״ח ע״ב)

Three heads are engraved (תְּלַת רֵישִׁין אִתְגַּלְּפָן), this one within that one (דָּא, לְגוֹ מִן דָּא), and that one above this one (וְדָא, לְעֵילָּא מִן דָּא). One head-hidden wisdom, concealed and not opened (רֵישָׁא חֲדָא, חָכְמְתָּא סְתִימָאָה, דְּאִתְכַּסְּיָיא, וְלָאו מִתְפַּתְּחָא). And this hidden wisdom is the head of all the heads of the rest of the wisdoms (וְחָכְמְתָּא דָּא סְתִימָאָה, רֵישָׁא לְכָל רֵישֵׁיהּ דִּשְׁאַר חָכְמוֹת). The supernal head, Atika Kadisha, concealed of all concealed (רֵישָׁא עִלָּאָה, עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין). The head of all heads, the head that is not a head (רֵישָׁא דְּכָל רֵישָׁא, רֵישָׁא דְּלָאו רֵישָׁא). And it is not known, and not made known, what is in this head (וְלֹא יָדַע, וְלָא אִתְיְדַע, מַה דַּהֲוֵי בְּרֵישָׁא דָּא), for it is not grasped in Chokhmah nor in understanding (דְּלָא אִתְדְּבַק בְּחָכְמְתָּא, וְלָא בְּסוּכְלְתָנוּ). And upon this it is called, “Flee to your place” (Numbers 24) (וְעַל הַאי אִקְרֵי, בְּרַח לְךָ אֶל מְקוֹמֶךָ). “And the living creatures ran and returned” (Ezekiel 1) (וְהַחַיּוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב). And therefore Atika Kadisha is called Ein (וּבְגִין כַּךְ עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא אִקְרֵי אַיִן). In it depends Ein (דְּבֵיהּ תַּלְיָיא אַיִן). And all those hairs, and all those strands, go out from the concealed brain (וְכָל אִינּוּן שַׂעְרֵי, וְכָל אִינּוּן נִימִין, מִמּוֹחָא סְתִימָאָה נָפְקִין). And all of them are weighed in balance (וְכֻלְּהוּ שְׁעִיעִין בְּשִׁקּוּלָא). Some say: they sit in balance (נ״א: יַתְבִין בְּשִׁקּוּלָא). And they are not seen as small (וְלָא אִתְחֲזֵי קְדָלָא).

All is one, because this Atika Kadisha is one (כֹּלָּא הוּא, בְּגִין דְּהַאי עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא בְּחַד הֲוֵי). All in joy, and it never changes from mercy to all worlds (כֹּלָּא בְּחֵידוּ, וְלָא שַׁנְיָא מֵרַחֲמֵי לְעָלְמִין). In thirteen measures of mercy it is found (בִּתְלַת עֲשַׂר מְכִילָן דְּרַחֲמִין אִשְׁתְּכַח). Because this hidden Chokhmah that is in it spreads three times into four (בְּגִין דְּהַאי חָכְמְתָּא סְתִימָאָה דְּבֵיהּ, מִתְפְּרַשׁ תְּלַת זִמְנִין לְאַרְבַּע אַרְבַּע). And it is Atika, that includes them, and rules over all (וְהוּא עַתִּיקָא, כָּלִיל לוֹן, וְשָׁלִיט עַל כֹּלָּא).

One path of light shines in the middle of the hairs that go out from the brain (חַד אָרְחָא דְּנָהִיר בְּפַלְגּוּתָא דְּשַׂעְרֵי דְּנַפְקֵי מִמּוֹחָא), this is the path in which the Tzaddikim shine to the World to Come (הוּא אָרְחָא דִּנְהִירִין בֵּיהּ צַדִּיקַיָּיא לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). As it is written, “And the path of the righteous is as the shining light” (Proverbs 4) (דִּכְתִיב, וְאֹרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֹר נוֹגַהּ וְגוֹ׳). And because of this it is written, “Then you shall delight yourself in Hashem” (Isaiah 58) (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יי׳). And from this path shine all the other paths that depend on Ze’ir Anpin (וּמֵהַאי אָרְחָא מִתְנַהֲרִין כָּל שְׁאַר אָרְחִין, דְּתַּלְיָין בִּזְעֵיר אַנְפִּין).

This Atika, Elder of elders (הַאי עַתִּיקָא סָבָא דְּסָבִין), the supernal Keter, above (כִּתְרָא עִלָּאָה, לְעֵילָּא). In which all crowns are crowned (דְּמִתְעַטְּרִין בֵּיהּ כָּל עִטְרִין), and crowns shine forth (וְכִתְרִין, מִתְנַהֲרִין). And all the other lamps blaze from it (וְכָל שְׁאַר בּוֹצִינִין מִנֵּיהּ מִתְלַהֲטִין), and shine (וּמִתְנְהִירִין). And it is the supernal lamp (וְהוּא, הוּא בּוּצִינָא עִלָּאָה), hidden and unknown (טְמִירָא דְּלָא אִתְיְדַע). Some say: all the other lamps blaze from it and shine (נ״א: וְכָל שְׁאַר בּוֹצִינִין מִנֵּיהּ מִתְלַהֲטִין וּמִתְנַהֲרִין). This Atika is found in three heads (הַאי עַתִּיקָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בִּתְלַת רֵישִׁין), and included in one head (וּכְלִילָן בְּחַד רֵישָׁא). And that head is the supernal head, above, above (וְהַהוּא [נ״א: וְהוּא] רֵישָׁא עִלָּאָה, לְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא). And because Atika Kadisha is marked in three (וּבְגִין דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְרְשִׁים בִּתְלַת), so too all the other lamps that shine from it are included in three (אוּף הָכִי כָּל שְׁאַר בּוֹצִינִין דְּנַהֲרִין מִנֵּיהּ, כְּלִילָן בִּתְלַת). Still, Atika is marked in two (עוֹד, עַתִּיקָא אִתְרְשִׁים בִּתְרֵין). The generality of Atika is in two (כְּלָלָא דְּעַתִּיקָא בִּתְרֵין). It is the supernal Keter of all supernals (הוּא כִּתְרָא עִלָּאָה דְּכָל עִלָּאִין), the head of all heads (רֵישָׁא דְּכָל רֵישֵׁי). And that which is above this one is not known (וְהַהוּא דַּהֲוֵי לְעֵילָּא מִן דָּא, דְּלָא אִתְיְדַע). So too all the other lamps are concealed in two (כַּךְ כָּל שְׁאַר בּוֹצִינִין, סְתִימִין בִּתְרֵין).

Still, Atika Kadisha is marked and concealed in one (עוֹד עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְרְשִׁים וְאַסְתִּים בְּחַד), and it is one, and all is one (וְהוּא חַד, וְכֹלָּא הוּא חַד). So too all the other lamps are sanctified, bound, and returned into one, and they are one (כַּךְ כָּל שְׁאַר בּוֹצִינִין, מִתְקַדְּשִׁין, מִתְקַשְּׁרִין, וּמִתְהַדְּרִין בְּחַד, וְאִינּוּן חַד).

The forehead revealed in Atika Kadisha is called will (מִצְחָא דְּאִתְגְּלֵי בְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, רָצוֹן אִקְרֵי). For this supernal head is concealed above, unknown (דְּהָא רֵישָׁא עִלָּאָה דָּא סָתִים לְעֵילָּא, דְּלָא אִתְיְדַע). It extends one beam in brightness, fitting, that is included in the forehead (פָּשִׁיט חַד טוּרְנָא בְּסִימָא, יָאָה, דְּאִתְכְּלִיל בְּמִצְחָא). And because it is the will of all wills (וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ [נ״א: דְּהַהוּא] רַעֲוָא דְּכָל רַעֲוִין), it is arranged in the forehead (אִתְתְּקַן בְּמִצְחָא). And it is revealed with a plain engraving (וְאִתְגַּלְיָיא בְּבוּסִיטָא [ס״א אִתְגַּלִּיף בְּפְסִיטָא]). This forehead is called will (הַאי מִצְחָא אִקְרֵי רָצוֹן). And when this will is revealed (וְכַד רָצוֹן דָּא אִתְגַּלְיָיא), the will of wills is found in all the worlds (רַעֲוָא דְּרַעֲוִין אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין). And all prayers below are received (וְכָל צְלוֹתִין דִּלְתַּתָּא מִתְקַבְּלִין). And the face of Ze’ir Anpin is illuminated (וּמִתְנַהֲרִין אַנְפּוֹי דִּזְעֵיר אַנְפִּין). And all is found in mercy (וְכֹלָּא בְּרַחֲמֵי אִשְׁתְּכַח). And all judgments are suppressed and subdued (וְכָל דִּינִין אִתְטַמְּרָן וְאִתְכַּפְיָין).

On Shabbat, at the time of the Minḥah prayer (בְּשַׁבְּתָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה), which is the time when all judgments are aroused (דְּהוּא עִידָּן דְּכָל דִּינִין מִתְעָרִין), this forehead is revealed (אִתְגַּלְיָיא הַאי מִצְחָא), and all judgments are subdued (וְאִתְכַּפְיָין כָּל דִּינִין), and mercies are found in all the worlds (וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ רַחֲמִין בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין). And because of this, Shabbat is found without judgment, neither above nor below (וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִשְׁתְּכַח שַׁבָּת בְּלָא דִּינָא, לָא לְעֵילָּא וְלָא לְתַתָּא). And even the fire of Gehinnom is extinguished in its place (וַאֲפִילּוּ אֶשָּׁא דְּגֵיהִנָּם אִשְׁתְּקַע [ס״א אִשְׁתְּכַּךְ] בְּאַתְרֵיהּ), and the guilty rest (וְנַיְיחִין חַיָּיבַיָּא). And because of this, an extra soul of joy is added on Shabbat (וְעַל דָּא אִתּוֹסַף נִשְׁמְתָא דְּחֵדוּ בְּשַׁבְּתָא). And a man must rejoice in the three meals of Shabbat (וּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶחְדֵּי בִּתְלַת סְעוּדָתֵי דְּשַׁבְּתָא), for all faith and all the totality of faith are found therein (דְּהָא כָּל מְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְכָל כְּלָלָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, בֵּיהּ אִשְׁתְּכַח). And a man must set his table, and eat the three meals of faith, and rejoice in them (וּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְסַדְּרָא פָּתוֹרָא, וּלְמֵיכַל תְּלַת סְעוּדָתֵי דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וּלְמֵחדֵי בְּהוּ).

Rabbi Shimon said (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), I call as witness upon me all those here, that from my days I have never neglected these three meals (אַסְהַדְנָא עָלַי לְכָל אִלֵּין דְּהָכָא, דְּהָא מִן יוֹמָאי לָא בָּטִילְנָא אִלֵּין ג׳ סְעוּדָתֵי). And because of them, I have never required a fast on Shabbat (וּבְגִינֵיהוֹן לָא אִצְטְרִיכְנָא לְתַעֲנִיתָא בְּשַׁבְּתָא). And even on other days I did not require it, all the more so on Shabbat (וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּיוֹמֵי אַחֲרִינֵי לָא אִצְטְרִיכְנָא, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשַׁבְּתָא). For whoever merits in them, merits to complete faith (דְּמַאן דְּזָכֵי בְּהוּ, זָכֵי לִמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא). One is the meal of the Matronita (חַד, סְעוּדָתָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא). One is the meal of the Holy King (וְחַד, סְעוּדָתָא דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא). And one is the meal of Atika Kadisha, concealed of all concealed (וְחַד, סְעוּדָתָא דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין). And in that world he shall merit to these (וּבְהַהוּא עָלְמָא יִזְכֵּי בְּהוּ לְאִלֵּין). When this will is revealed, all judgments are subdued from their roots (הַאי רָצוֹן כַּד אִתְגַלְיָיא, כָּל דִּינִין אִתְכַּפְיָין מִשּׁוּלְשְׁלֵיהוֹן).

The Tikkun of Atika Kadisha is established in one Tikkun, the inclusive of all Tikkunim (תִּקּוּנָא דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְתְּקַן בְּתִקּוּנָא חַד, כְּלָלָא דְּכָל תִּקּוּנִין). And it is the supernal hidden Chokhmah (וְהִיא חָכְמָה עִלָּאָה, סְתִימָאָה). The inclusive of all the rest, and this is called the concealed supernal Eden (כְּלָלָא דְּכָל שְׁאָר, וְהַאי אִקְרֵי עֵדֶן עִלָּאָה סְתִימָא). And it is the brain of Atika Kadisha (וְהוּא מוֹחָא דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא). And this brain spreads to every limb (וְהַאי מוֹחָא אִתְפְּשַׁט לְכָל עִיבָר). From it another Eden spreads (מִנֵּיהּ אִתְפְּשַׁט עֵדֶן אַחֲרָא). And from this Eden it is engraved (וּמֵהַאי עֵדֶן אִתְגְּלַף).