Daf 116b (דַּף קט״ז ע״ב)

They rejoiced before You (שָׂמְחוּ לְפָנֶיךָ), at the time when they ascend to cleave unto You (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּסָלְקִין לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בָּךְ). Like the joy of the harvest (כְּשִׂמְחַת בַּקָּצִיר), this is Kenesset Yisrael whose joy is the harvest that is hers (דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּשִׂמְחַת בַּקָּצִיר דִּילֵיהּ הֲוָה). As when they rejoice in their share of the spoil (כַּאֲשֶׁר יָגִילוּ בְּחַלְּקָם שָׁלָל). As when they rejoice (כַּאֲשֶׁר יָגִילוּ), these are the rest of the hosts and ranks below (אִלֵּין שְׁאָר חֵילִין וּרְתִיכִין לְתַתָּא), at the time when spoil is divided and prey is seized (בְּזִמְנָא דִּמְחַלְּקֵי שָׁלָל וְטַרְפֵי טַרְפָא), at the beginning of all things (בְּרֵאשִׁיתָא דְכֹלָּא).

Rabbi Yehuda opened and said (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח וְאָמַר), “A time to act for Hashem—they have violated Your Torah” (עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ הֵפֵרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ) (Psalms 119). “A time to act for Hashem”—what is it? (עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ מַהוּ). But this has already been established (אֶלָּא הָא אוּקְמוּהָ). However, “time”—this is Kenesset Yisrael, who is called “Time” (אֲבָל עֵת, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִקְרֵי עֵת). As you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר), “and he shall not come at all times into the sanctuary” (וְאַל יָבֹא בְכָל עֵת אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ) (Leviticus 16). What is “[he shall not come] at all times”? (מַאי וְאַל יָבֹא בְכָל עֵת). As you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר), “to guard you from the strange woman” (לִשְׁמָרְךָ מֵאִשָּׁה זָרָה) (Proverbs 7). And this is what is written (וְדָא הוּא), “And they brought before Hashem strange fire etc.” (וַיַּקְרִיבוּ לִפְנֵי יְיָ אֵשׁ זָרָה וְגו׳) (Leviticus 10). Why “time”? (מַאי טַעְמָא עֵת). Because she has a time and a season for all things (בְּגִין דְּאִית לָהּ עֵת וּזְמַן לְכֹלָּא), to draw near, to shine forth, to become joined as is proper (לְקָרְבָא לְאִתְנַהֲרָא לְאִתְחַבְּרָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת). As you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר), “But as for me, my prayer is unto You, Hashem, at a time of favor” (וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי לְךָ יְיָ עֵת רָצוֹן) (Psalms 69). “To act for Hashem”—as it is written (לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיְיָ כְּמָה דִכְתִיב), “And David made a name” (וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִד שֵׁם) (II Samuel 8). For anyone who labors in Orayta (דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא), it is as if he made and rectified this “time” (כְּאִילוּ עָבִיד וְתַקֵּן הַאי עֵת), to unite her with Kudsha Berikh Hu (לְחַבְּרָא לָהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And why all this? (וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה). Because they have violated Your Torah (בְּגִין דְּהֵפֵרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ), for had they not violated Your Torah (דְּאִילוּ לָא הֵפֵרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ), the separation of Kudsha Berikh Hu from Yisrael would not have been found for all eternity (לָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח פִּירוּדָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל לְעָלְמִין).