Daf 298a (דַּף רצ״ח ע״א)

It was taught, Rabbi Yehudah says (תַּנְיָא רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר), in many places I have looked, that Kudsha Berikh Hu has never removed His love from Yisrael (בְּכַמָּה אַתְרֵי אִסְתְּכַּלְנָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא אַעְדֵּי רְחִימוּתָא מִנַּיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). For in every place that they are, Kudsha Berikh Hu is among them (דִּבְכָל אֲתָר דְּאִינּוּן הָווֹ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ). As it is written (דִּכְתִיב), I have not despised them nor abhorred them to destroy them, to break My covenant with them (לֹא מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלּוֹתָם לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם) (Leviticus 26). Precisely “with them,” to be among them, never to be removed from them forever (דַּיְיקָא אִתָּם בֵּינַיְיהוּ עִמְּהוֹן לָא אַעְדֵּי מִנַּיְיהוּ לְעָלְמִין).

Rabbi Yitzḥak was going on the way, and Rabbi Ḥiyya met him (רִבִּי יִצְחָק הֲוָה אָזִיל בְּאָרְחָא וְפָגַע בֵּיהּ רִבִּי חִיָּיא). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), I see in your face that indeed your dwelling is in the dwelling of the Shekhinta (חֲמֵינָא בְּאַנְפָּךְ דְּהָא בְּמָדוֹרָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא מָדוֹרָךְ). What is written (מַאי כְּתִיב). “And I descended to deliver him from the hand of Egypt” (וָאֵרֵד לְהַצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם) (Exodus 3). It should have said: “Ve’ered [and I will descend]” (וָאֵרֵד מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ). Why does it say Va’ered [and I descended] first? (וָאֵרֵד בְּקַדְמִיתָא). When was this? (אֵימָתַי). When Ya‘akov went down to Egypt (כַּד נָחַת יַעֲקֹב לְמִצְרַיִם). And why? (וְלָמָּה). “To deliver him from the hand of Egypt” (לְהַצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם). For had He not been among them, they could not have endured the exile (דְּאִלְמָלֵא לָא הֲוָה בֵּינַיְיהוּ לָא יַכְלִין לְמִסְבַּל גָּלוּתָא). As you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “With him I am in distress; I will deliver him and honor him” (עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה אֲחַלְצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ) (Psalms 91).

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), surely, in every place where Yisrael dwell, Kudsha Berikh Hu is among them (וַדַּאי בְּכָל אֲתָר דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שַׁרְיָין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ). And in every place where the sages of the generation go, Kudsha Berikh Hu goes with them (וְכָל אֲתָר דְּחַכִּימֵי דָּרָא אַזְלִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָזִיל עִמְּהוֹן). As it is written (דִּכְתִיב), For He shall give His angels charge over you, etc. (כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךָ וְגוֹ׳) (Psalms 91). From where do we know this. For it is written (מְנָלָן דִּכְתִיב), And Yaakov went on his way, etc., and Yaakov said when he saw them, This is God’s camp (וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹהִים זֶה) (Bereshit 32).

Now let us join together and go on the way (הַשְׁתָּא נִשְׁתַּתֵּף כַּחֲדָא וְנֵיזִיל בְּאָרְחָא), for we know that we are going to one place, to greet the countenance of the Shekhinta (דְּהָא יְדַעְנָא דִּלְאֲתָר חַד אַזְלֵינָן לְקַבְּלָא אַנְפּוֹי דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא). He said to him, surely so (אָמַר לֵיהּ וַדַּאי). Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק), we have learned, those who are sent for a mitzvah are not harmed, not on their going and not on their returning (תָּנֵינָן שְׁלוּחֵי מִצְוָה אֵינָן נִיזוֹקִין לָא בַּהֲלִיכָתָן וְלָא בַּחֲזָרָתָן). And we are going to be seen before Kudsha Berikh Hu, and I am not afraid (וַאֲנָן לְאִתְחֲזָאָה קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַזְלֵינָן וְלָא דָּחִילְנָא).

While they were going (עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי), Rabbi Ḥiyya said (אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא), it is written (כְּתִיב), These are the generations of the heavens and the earth (אֵלֶּה תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ) (Bereshit 2). The heavens, to include Kudsha Berikh Hu (הַשָּׁמַיִם לְאַכְלְלָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And the earth, to include Kudsha Berikh Hu and all that is below (וְהָאָרֶץ לְאַכְלְלָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְכָל מַה דִּלְתַתָּא). These are called the generations of the heavens from them (אִינּוּן אִקְרוּן תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם מִנַיְיהוּ).

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), if so, what is 'When they were created' (behibaram) (מַהוּ בְּהִבָּרְאָם), for it has been said, with the Heh He created them (וְאִתְּמַר בְּה׳ בְּרָאָם). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), all is one matter (כֹּלָּא חַד מִלָּה). When the heavens were joined, this Heh brought forth offspring, and they are called the generations of the heavens and the earth (כַּד שָׁמַיִם אִתְחַבָּרוּ, הַאי ה׳ אַפִּיקַת תּוֹלְדוֹת, וְאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן תּוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ).

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), if so, how do we establish 'With the Letter He [be-Heh] He created them' [ber'am] is 'In Abraham' (בְּמַאי אוֹקִימְנָא בְּה׳ בְּרָאָם בְּאַבְרָהָם). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), all is one matter, in Avraham, that is the heavens, from there they dwell to spread forth (כֹּלָּא חַד מִלָּה הוּא, בְּאַבְרָהָם הַיְינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם דְּמִתַּמָּן שַׁרְיָין לְאִתְפַּשְׁטָא). With the Letter He [be-Heh] He created them [ber'am], that is the earth, and all is one matter (בְּה׳ בְּרָאָם הַיְינוּ וְהָאָרֶץ, וְכֹלָּא חַד מִלָּה). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), surely it is so, and we have already learned (וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא, וְהָא אוֹלִיפְנָא), as it is written, These are the generations of the heavens and the earth (דִּכְתִיב, אֵלֶּה תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ) (Bereshit 2).

And we have learned, this world was created with the Heh, as it is written, 'When they were created' (behibaram) (וְתָנֵינָן, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה נִבְרָא בְּה׳ דִּכְתִיב בְּהִבָּרְאָם) (Bereshit 2). And the World to Come was created with the Yod, as it is written (וְהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא נִבְרָא בְּיוֹד דִּכְתִיב), And a river goes forth from Eden to water the garden (וְנָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָּן) (Bereshit 2), to include the heavens (לְאַכְלְלָא הַשָּׁמַיִם), and the garden, to include the earth (אֶת הַגָּן לְאַכְלְלָא אֶת הָאָרֶץ). And we have already established (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא), as it is written, A fountain of gardens (מַעְיַן גַּנִּים), this is the heavens (דָּא הִיא הַשָּׁמַיִם). A well of living waters (בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים), as it is written, And the servants of Yitzḥak dug there a well (דִּכְתִיב, וַיִּכְרוּ שָׁם עַבְדֵי יִצְחָק בְּאֵר) (Bereshit 26). And it is written, And he removed from there and dug another well, etc. (וַיַּעְתֵּק מִשָּׁם וַיַחְפּוֹר בְּאֵר אַחֶרֶת וְגוֹ׳) (Bereshit 26). And flowing from Lebanon, for they are crowned above, and ascend into the head of the King (וְנוֹזְלִין מִן לְבָנוֹן דְּאִינּוּן מִתְעַטְּרִין לְעֵילָּא וְסַלְּקִין בְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא). As it is written (דִּכְתִיב), For great above the heavens is Your kindness (כִּי גָּדוֹל מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ) (Psalms 108). From Lebanon, from there they go forth to Binah (מִן לְבָנוֹן מִתַּמָּן נָפְקִין לְבִינָה). And it flows and extends to all directions, until those fountains flow and descend to be gathered into the place called the great sea (וְנָגִיד וְאִתְמְשַׁךְ לְכָל זִוְויָין עַד דְּנַגְדִּין אִינּוּן מַבּוּעִין וְנַחְתִּין לְאִתְכַּנְּשָׁא לְאֲתָר דְּאִקְרֵי יַמָּא רַבָּא). As it is written (דִּכְתִיב), All the rivers go to the sea, etc. (כָּל הַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים אֶל הַיָּם וְגוֹ׳) (Ecclesiastes 1). And it is written (וּכְתִיב), Look to the rock from which you were hewn, etc. (הַבִּיטוּ אֶל צוּר חוּצַּבְתֶּם וְגוֹ׳) (Isaiah 51). Afterwards it is written (לְבָתַר כְּתִיב), A locked garden is my sister, my bride, etc. (גַּן נָעוּל אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה וְגוֹ׳) (Song of Songs 4). And from here, offspring go forth to all (וּמִכָּאן נְפִיקוּ תּוֹלְדוֹת לְכֹלָּא). As it is written (דִּכְתִיב), 'When they were created' (behibaram) (בְּהִבָּרְאָם), with the Heh He created them, truly with Avraham (בְּה׳ בְּרָאָם מַמָּשׁ בְּאַבְרָהָם). Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק), even with Yaakov, truly (וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּיַעֲקֹב מַמָּשׁ). And all is one matter (וְכֹלָּא חַד מִלָּה).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק), when we would sit before Rabbi Shimon, all was said before him openly, and we did not need all this (כַּד אֲנָן יַתְבִין לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כֹּלָּא אִתְּמַר קַמֵּיהּ בְּאִתְגַּלְיָא וְלָא אִצְטְרִיכְנָא לְכָל הַאי). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), Rabbi Shimon is not like other men, for all of them are before him as other prophets before Moshe (לָאו רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כִּשְׁאַר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּכֻלְּהוּ קַמֵּיהּ כִּשְׁאַר נְבִיאֵי לְקַמֵּי מֹשֶׁה).

While they were going (עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי), Rabbi Ḥiyya said (אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא), it is written (כְּתִיב), Can a woman forget her suckling child, from having compassion on the son of her womb, etc. (הֲתִשְׁכַּח אִשָּׁה עוּלָהּ מֵרַחֵם בֶּן בִּטְנָּה וְגוֹ׳) (Isaiah 49). This verse has already been established, but here what does it mean (הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ וְהָכָא מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי). Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק), if in the gathering of the friends it was not supported, what shall we say (אִי בְּקִטוּרָא דְּחַבְרַיָּיא סְמִיכָא לָא אַסְמַכְנָא אֲנָן מַה נֵימָא). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), behold, a voice of one hint I once heard one day when I was going on the road, and I did not know who said it, nor did I know the word (דְּהָא קָלָא דִּרְמִיזָא חַד שְׁמַעְנָא יוֹמָא חַד כַּד הֲוָה אֲזִילְנָא בְּאָרְחָא וְלָא יְדַעְנָא מַאן אָמַר וְלָא יְדַעְנָא מִלָּה). And come and see (וְתָּא חֲזֵי), seven days I was weakened because of this, and I did not taste anything (ז׳ יוֹמִין הֲווֹ דַּחֲלִישְׁנָא עַל דָּא וְלָא טַעִימְנָא מִדִּי). And now I am going to the Holy Luminary, that he may tell me, perhaps he remembers (וְהַשְׁתָּא אֲזִלְנָא לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּבוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּלֵימָא לִי דִּילְמָא אֵדְכַר). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), perhaps it was that day when Rabbi El'azar went to his father-in-law, and that day I went with him, and behold I remembered the word (דִּילְמָא הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּהֲוָה אָזִיל רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּחָמוּי וְהַהוּא יוֹמָא אֲזִילְנָא עִמֵּיהּ וְהָא אַדְכַּרְנָא מִלָּה).