Daf 82b (דַּף פ״ב ע״ב)

Rabbi Yehudah said: but have we not learned that the world stands upon seven pillars? (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר: וְהָא תָּנִינָן דְּעַל שִׁבְעָה סָמְכִין עָלְמָא קָיְימָא), as it is written: “She has hewn her seven pillars” (דִּכְתִיב: חָצְבָה עַמּוּדֶיהָ שִׁבְעָה) (Mishlei 9:1). Rabbi Yosei said to him: so it is indeed (אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי), but here they are all supported through the seventh (אֲבָל הָכָא כֻּלְהוּ אָחֳרָנִין בִּשְׁבִיעָאָה קָיְימֵי), who is the foundation of the world (דְּאִיהוּ סָמְכָא דְעָלְמָא), and he is the Tzaddik (וְאִיהוּ צַדִּיק), and he gives drink to the world (וְדָא אַשְׁקֵי וְרָוִי עָלְמָא), some say: from all (ס״א: מִן כֹּלָא), and sustains everything (וְזָן כֹּלָּא). And about him it is written: “Say of the righteous that it shall be good, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds” (וְעָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב: אִמְרוּ צַדִּיק כִּי טוֹב כִּי פְּרִי מַעַלְלֵיהֶם יֹאכֵלוּ) (Yeshayahu 3:10), and it is written: “Hashem is good to all, and His mercy is upon all His works” (וּכְתִיב: טוֹב יְיָ לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו) (Tehillim 145:9).

Rabbi Yitzchak said: but is it not written, “A river went out from Eden to water the garden…” (אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: הָא כְּתִיב: וְנָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָּן) (Bereishit 2:10)? That is the support upon which the world stands (דָּא הוּא סָמְכָא דְעָלְמָא קָאֵים עֲלֵיהּ), and he waters the Garden of Eden (וְאִיהוּ אַשְׁקֵי לְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן), and the garden is watered by him and from him produces fruit (וְגִנְתָּא אִשְׁתַּקֵּי מִנֵּיהּ, וּמִנֵּיהּ עֲבִידָא פֵּירִין), and all these fruits blossom in the world (וְכֻלְּהוּ פֵּירִין פָּרְחִין בְּעָלְמָא), and they are the existence of the world (וְאִנּוּן קִיּוּמָא דְעָלְמָא), the existence of the Orayta (קִיּוּמָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). And who are they? The souls of the Righteous (וּמַאן נִינְהוּ נִשְׁמַתְּהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא), who are the fruit of the deeds of Kudsha Berikh Hu (דְּאִנּוּן פְּרִי עוֹבָדוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And therefore, every night the souls of the Righteous ascend (וּבְגִין כָּךְ, בְּכָל לֵילְיָא וְלֵילְיָא נִשְׁמַתְּהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא סָלְקָן). And when the night is divided, Kudsha Berikh Hu enters Gan Eden to delight in them (וְכַד אִתְפְּלַג לֵילְיָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא בְּהוּ). In whom? Rabbi Yosei said: in all of them (בְּמַאן אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: בְּכֻלְּהוּ), whether those whose dwellings are in that world (בֵּין אִנּוּן דִּמְדוֹרֵיהוֹן בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא), or those still in their dwellings in this world (בֵּין אִנּוּן דְּיָתְבֵי בִּמְדוֹרֵיהוֹן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), in all of them Kudsha Berikh Hu delights in the middle of the night (בְּכֻלְּהוּ מִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בְּהוּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא).

Come and see, the upper world requires arousal from the lower world (תָּא חֲזֵי, עָלְמָא דִּלְעֵילָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתְעֲרוּתָא דְּעָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה), and when the souls of the Righteous depart this world and ascend above (וְכַד נִשְׁמַתְּהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא נָפְקֵי מֵהַאי עָלְמָא וְסָלְקֵי לְעֵילָא), all are clothed in supernal radiance, in a glorious form (כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְלַבְּשִׁין בְּנְהוֹרָא דִּלְעֵילָא בְּדִיּוּקְנָא יְקָר), and in them Kudsha Berikh Hu delights and desires them (וּבְהוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע וְתָאִיב לוֹן), for they are the fruit of His deeds (דְּאִינּוּן פְּרִי עוֹבָדוֹי). And for this they are called Yisrael, who possess holy souls, children of Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְעַל דָּא אִקְרוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִית לְהוֹן נִשְׁמָתִין קַדִּישִׁין, בָּנִין לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), as it is said: “You are children of Hashem your God” (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר: בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַיְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם) (Devarim 14:1), children indeed - the will of His deeds (בָּנִים וַדַּאי, אִיבָּא דְּעוֹבָדוֹי).

Rabbi Yisa said: and even those who are in this world, of the earth (אָמַר רַבִּי יֵיסָא: וְאֲפִילּוּ אִנּוּן דְּבְהַאי עָלְמָא (דְּאַרְעָא, how so? (הֵיאַךְ) He said to him: because at midnight, all those who are truly meritorious awaken to read Orayta and to recite praises of the Orayta (אָמַר לֵיהּ: בְּגִין דִּי בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא כָּל אִנּוּן זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט כֻּלְהוּ מִתְעָרֵי לְמִקְרֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּלְמִשְׁמַע תּוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), and it has been said that Kudsha Berikh Hu and all the Righteous in the Garden of Eden listen to their voices (וְהָא אִתְּמָר דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְכָל אִנּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּבְגוֹ גִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן כֻּלְהוּ צַיְיתִין לְקָלֵיהוֹן), and a thread of Chesed is drawn upon them by day, as it is written: “By day Hashem will command His lovingkindness, and in the night His song is with me” (וְחוּטָא דְּחֶסֶד אִתְמְשַׁךְ עֲלַיְיהוּ בִּימָמָא, דִּכְתִיב: יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה יְיָ חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירוֹ עִמִּי) (Tehillim 42:9). And for this reason, the praises that rise up in the night before Him-these are complete praises (וְעַל דָּא תּוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּסָלְקִין בְּלֵילְיָא קַמֵּיהּ, דָּא תּוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא שְׁלִים).

Come and see: at the moment when Yisrael were shut in their houses, when Kudsha Berikh Hu killed the firstborn of the Egyptians (תָּא חֲזֵי: בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הֲווּ סְגִירִין בְּבָתֵּיהוֹן, כַּד קָטַל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכוֹרֵיהוֹן דְּמִצְרָאֵי), they were saying Hallel and praises before Him (הֲווּ אֲמָרֵי הַלֵּילָא וּתּוּשְׁבְּחָן קַמֵּיהּ).

Come and see: King David would rise at midnight (תָּא חֲזֵי: דְּדָוִד מַלְכָּא הֲוָה קָם בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא), for if you say that he sat or lay on his bed and said songs and praises-no (דְּאִי תֵּימָא דְּהֲוָה יָתֵיב אוֹ שָׁכִיב בְּעַרְסֵיהּ וְהֲוָה אָמַר שִׁירִין וּתּוּשְׁבְּחָן - לָא), rather, as it is written: “At midnight I rise to give thanks to You” (אֶלָּא כְּמָה דִּכְתִיב: חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה אָקוּם לְהוֹדוֹת לָךְ) (Tehillim 119:62). I rise-certainly in standing, to engage in songs and praises of the Orayta (אָקוּם וַדַּאי בַּעֲמִידָה לְאִתְעַסְּקָא בְּשִׁירִין וּתּוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). And because of this, King David lives forever (וּבְגִין כָּךְ: דָּוִד מַלְכָּא חַי לְעָלְמִין), and even in the days of the King Mashiach, he is King (וְאֲפִילּוּ בִּימֵי מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא, אִיהוּ מַלְכָּא). For it was taught: the King Mashiach-if he is from the living, his name is David; if from the dead, his name is David (דְּהָא תְּנַן: מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא אִי מִן חַיָּיא הוּא: דָּוִד שְׁמֵיהּ, וְאִי מִן מֵתַּיָּיא הוּא: דָּוִד שְׁמֵיהּ). And he would awaken early, before dawn came, as it is written: “Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre-I will awaken the dawn” (וְאִיהוּ הֲוָה אִתְעַר בְּצַפְרָא עַד לָא יֵיתֵי דִּכְתִיב: עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר - אָעִירָה שָׁחַר) (Tehillim 57:9).

Come and see: the entire night that Sarah was with Pharaoh, supernal angels came to sing before Kudsha Berikh Hu with songs and praises (תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל הַהוּא לֵילְיָא דְּשָׂרָה הֲוַת לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּפַרְעֹה, אָתוּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי לְזַמְּרָא לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּשִׁירִין וּתְּשׁוּבְחָן), and Kudsha Berikh Hu said to them: all of you, go and prepare mighty pestles in Egypt (אָמַר לְהוּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא: כֻּלְּכוּ זִילוּ וַעֲבִידוּ מַכְתְּשִׁין רַבְרְבִין בְּמִצְרָיִם), mark those whom I intend to smite afterward (רְשִׁימוּ לְמַאן דְּאֲנָא זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד לְבָתַר). What is written? “And Hashem plagued Pharaoh with great plagues…” (מַה כְּתִיב: וַיְנַגַּע יְיָ אֶת פַּרְעֹה נְגָעִים גְּדוֹלִים וְגו׳) (Bereishit 12:17).

Come and see: what is written? “And Pharaoh called to Avram…” (תָּא חֲזֵי: מַה כְּתִיב: וַיִּקְרָא פַּרְעֹה לְאַבְרָם וְגו׳) (Bereishit 12:18). From where did he know? For here it does not say, as it said regarding Avimelekh: “Now therefore, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet…” (מִנָּא הֲוָה יָדַע דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב הָכָא כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, דִּכְתִיב: וְעַתָּה הָשֵׁב אֵשֶׁת הָאִישׁ כִּי נָבִיא הוּא וְגו׳) (Bereishit 20:7), and here He said nothing to him (וְהָכָא לָא אָמַר לֵיהּ מִדִּי).

Rabbi Yitzchak said: but it is written: “Because of Sarai, the wife of Avram” (אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: הָא כְּתִיב: עַל דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם) (Bereishit 12:17). For so they told him: “Because of Sarai, the wife of Avram.” (דְּהָכִי הֲווּ אָמְרֵי לֵיהּ: עַל דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם). For He did not speak with him as He did with Avimelekh (דְּהָא לָא הֲוָה מְמַלֵּיל עִמֵּיהּ כְּמָה דִּמְמַלֵּיל בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ), but with this single word it was said, and no more (אֶלָּא בְּמִלָּה דָּא אִתְּמַר וְלָא יַתִּיר). This plague, “Because of Sarai, the wife of Avram,” was it (מַכְתְּשָׁא דָּא: עַל דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם אִיהִי), and He did not speak with him (וְלָא הֲוָה מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ), then he understood that she was Avraham's wife (כְּדֵין יָדַע דְּהָא אִתְּתֵּיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם אִיהִי). Immediately: “And Pharaoh called to Avram and said…” (מִיָּד: וַיִּקְרָא פַּרְעֹה לְאַבְרָם וַיֹּאמֶר וְגו׳) (Bereishit 12:18). And Pharaoh commanded men concerning him… (וַיְצַו עָלָיו פַּרְעֹה אֲנָשִׁים) (Bereishit 12:20). Why? So that no man should come near to harm him (לָמָּה בְּגִין דְּלָא יִקְרַב בַּר נָשׁ בְּהוּ לְאַבְאָשָׁא לוֹן). And they sent him away-they escorted him throughout all the land of Egypt (וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אוֹתוֹ - לְוָיָיה עֲבָדוּ לֵיהּ בְּכָל אַרְעָא דְּמִצְרַיִם). Kudsha Berikh Hu said to him: as you are destined to do to My children, so shall you send them out from your land, as it is written: “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh let the people go…” (אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא: הָכִי אַנְתְּ זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד לִבְנוֹי, אַתְּ תּוֹזִיף לוֹן מֵאַרְעָךְ, דִּכְתִיב: וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת הָעָם) (Shemot 13:17), for he expelled them from all his land (דְּאוֹזִיף לוֹן מִכָּל אַרְעֵיהּ).