Daf 13b (דַּף י״ג ע״ב)

He said to me (אָמַר לִי): since you are from the friends (הוֹאִיל וּמִן חַבְרַיָּיא אַנְתְּ), take this bundle of writing (טוֹל הַאי קִיטְרָא דִּכְתָבָא), and give it to the friends (וְהָב לֵיהּ לְחַבְרַיָּיא), those who know the Secrets of the spirits of the Righteous (אִינּוּן דְּיַדְעִין רָזִין דְּרוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא). He struck me with that rod (בָּטַשׁ בִּי בְּהַהוּא שַׁרְבִיטָא), and I fell asleep (וְדָמִיכְנָא). Meanwhile (אַדְּהָכִי), I saw many hosts and camps in sleep (חֲמֵינָא כַּמָּה חֵילִין וּמַשִּׁירְיָין גּוֹ שֵׁינָתָא), who were coming on the path to that place (דַּהֲווֹ אַתְיָין בְּאוֹרְחָא לְהַהוּא דּוּכְתָּא). And that man struck with that rod (וְהַהוּא גַּבְרָא בָּטַשׁ בְּהַהוּא שַׁרְבִיטָא), and said: in the path of trees go (וְאָמַר בְּאוֹרְחָא דְּאִילָנִי זִילוּ).

While they were going (אַדְּהָכִי דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי), they flew in the air and ascended (פַּרְחֵי בַּאֲוִירָא וְסַלְקֵי), and I did not know to which place (וְלָא יְדַעְנָא לְאָן אֲתָר). And I heard many voices of camps (וּשְׁמַעְנָא קָלִין דְּמַשִּׁירְיָין סַגִּיאִין), and I did not know from where they were (וְלָא יְדַעְנָא מֵאָן), Some say: to which place (ס״א לְאָן אֲתָר) they were. I awoke (אִתְּעַרְנָא), and I saw nothing (וְלָא חֲמֵינָא מִידִי), and I was afraid in that place (וְדָחִילְנָא בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר). Meanwhile (אַדְּהָכִי), I saw that man (חֲמֵינָא לְהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ). He said to me (אָמַר לִי): did you see anything (חָמִית מִידִי)? I said to him (אֲמֵינָא לֵיהּ): I saw in sleep such and such (חֲמֵינָא גּוֹ שֵׁינָתָא כַּךְ וְכָךְ). He said (אָמַר): in that path go the spirits of the Righteous (בְּהַהוּא אָרְחָא אַזְלֵי רוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא), into the Garden of Eden to enter there (גּוֹ גִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן לְאָעָלָא תַּמָּן). And what you heard from them (וּמַה דְּשַׁמְעַת מִנַּיְיהוּ), that is (הוּא): they stand in the Garden in the likeness of this world (דְּקַיְימֵי בְּגִנְתָּא בְּדִיּוּקְנָא דְהַאי עָלְמָא), and rejoice with the spirits of the Righteous who enter there (וְחַדָּאן בְּרוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא דְּעָאלִין תַּמָּן).

And just as the body was formed in this world from the mixture of four elements (וּכְמָה דְּגוּפָא אִתְבְּנִי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא מִקְּטוּרָא דְּאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדֵי), and was formed in this world (וְאִתְצָיַיר בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), so too the Ruach is formed in the Garden from the mixture of four winds that stand in the Garden (אוּף הָכִי רוּחָא אִתְצָיָיר בְּגִינְתָּא מִקְּטוּרָא דְּאַרְבַּע רוּחִין דְּקַיְּימָא בְּגִינְתָּא), and that Ruach is clothed there and is formed from them (וְהַהוּא רוּחָא אִתְלַבְּשָׁא תַּמָּן וּמִתְצַיְרַת מִנַּיְיהוּ), in the form of the likeness of the body that was formed in this world (בְּצִיּוּרָא דְּדִיּוּקְנָא דְּגוּפָא דְּאִתְצַיָּיר בְּהַאי עָלְמָא).

And if not for those four winds which are the atmospheres of the Garden (וְאִלְמָלֵא אִינּוּן אַרְבַּע רוּחִין דְּאִינּוּן אֲוִירִין דְּגִינְתָּא), the Ruach would not be formed in form at all (רוּחָא לָא מִתְצַיְּירָא בְּצִיּוּרָא כְּלָל), and would not be clothed in them (וְלָא אִתְלַבְּשָׁא בְּהוּ). These four winds (אִינּוּן ד׳ רוּחִין) are bound one with another as one (קְטִירִין אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין כַּחֲדָא), and that Ruach is formed and clothed within them (וְהַהוּא רוּחַ אִתְצַיָּיר וְאִתְלָבַשׁ בְּהוּ), in the manner that the body is formed from the mixture of the four elements of the world (כְּגַוְונָא דְּגוּפָא אִתְצַיָיר בְּקִטּוּרֵי דְּד׳ יְסוֹדֵי עָלְמָא).

And therefore (וּבְגִין כַּךְ): “From the four winds, come O spirit” (מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בּוֹאִי הָרוּחַ) from those four winds of Gan Eden (מֵאִינוּן אַרְבַּע רוּחִין דְגַּן עֵדֶן), in which it is clothed and formed (דְּאִתְלַבְשָׁא וְאִתְצֵיירֶת בְּהוּ). And now take this bundle of writing and go on your way (וְהַשְּׁתָּא טוֹל הַאי קִיטְרָא דִּכְתָבָא וְזִיל לְאָרְחָךְ), and give it to the friends (וְהָב לֵיהּ לְחַבְרַיָּיא).

Rabbi El'azar came (אָתָא רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר) and the friends (וְאִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא), and they kissed him upon his head (וּנְשָׁקוּהוּ בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ). Rabbi El'azar said (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר): blessed is the Merciful One who sent you here (בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּשַׁדְרָךְ הָכָא), for surely this is a clarified matter (דְּוַדַּאי דָּא הוּא בְּרִירָא דְּמִלָּה), and Kudsha Berikh Hu appointed this verse to come from your mouth (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַזְמִין לְפוּמִי הַאי קְרָא). He gave them that bundle of writing (יְהָב לוֹן הַהוּא קִיטְרָא דִּכְתָבָא), and as soon as Rabbi El'azar took it and opened it (כֵּיוָן דְנָטַל לֵיהּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וּפָתַח לֵיהּ), a fiery flame issued forth (נָפַק אֲפוּתָא דְּאֶשָּׁא), and surrounded him (וְאַסְחַר לֵיהּ). He saw in it what he saw (חָמָא בֵּיהּ מַה דְּחָמָא), and it flew from his hands (וּפָרַח מִן יְדוֹי).

Rabbi El'azar wept (בָּכָה רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר), and said: who is able to endure the mysteries of the King (וְאָמַר מַאן יָכִיל לְקַיְּימָא בְּגִנְזַיָּיא דְּמַלְכָּא)? (Tehillim 15) “Hashem, who shall sojourn in Your tent? Who shall dwell on Your holy mountain?” (י״י מִי יָגוּר בְּאָהֳלֶךָ מִי יִשְׁכּוֹן בְּהַר קָדְשֶׁךָ). Blessed is this path (זַכָּאָה הַאי אוֹרְחָא), and that moment in which I encountered you (וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִעְרַעְנָא בָּךְ). And from that day (וּמֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא) Rabbi El'azar rejoiced (הֲוָה חַדֵּי רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר), and said nothing to the friends (וְלֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם לְחַבְרַיָּיא), until as they were walking (עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי), they encountered a certain well of water (פָּגְעוּ בְּחַד בֵּירָא דְּמַיָּא), and they stood over it and drank from its water (קַיְימוּ עָלֵיהּ וְשָׁתוּ מִן מַיָּא).

Rabbi El'azar said (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר): blessed is the portion of the Righteous (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא). Ya'akov fled from his brother (יַעֲקֹב עָרַק מִקָּמֵי אֲחוּי), and a well was prepared for him (וְאִזְדְּמַן לֵיהּ בֵּירָא). When the well saw him (כֵּיוָן דְּבִירָא חָמָא לֵיהּ), the waters recognized their Master (מַיָּא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדָעוּ לְמָארֵיהוֹן), and rose toward him (וְסַלְּקִין לְגַבֵּיהּ), and rejoiced with him (וְחַדּוּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ), and there his match was arranged for him (וְתַמָּן אִזְדַּוְּוגַת לֵיהּ בַּת זוּגֵיהּ). Moshe fled from Pharaoh (מֹשֶׁה עָרַק מִקָּמֵי פַּרְעֹה), and that well was prepared for him (וְאִזְדָּמַן לֵיהּ הַהוּא בֵּירָא), and the waters saw him (וּמַיִין חָמוּ לֵיהּ), and recognized their Master (וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדָעוּ לְמָארֵיהוֹן), and they rose to him (וְסַלְקוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ), and there his match was arranged for him (וְתַמָּן אִזְדַּוְּוגַת לֵיהּ בַּת זוּגֵיהּ). What is the difference between Moshe and Ya'akov (מַה בֵּין מֹשֶׁה לְיַעֲקֹב)? Concerning Ya'akov it is written (יַעֲקֹב כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ), (Bereishit 29) “And it was when Ya'akov saw Rachel…” (וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָה יַעֲקֹב אֶת רָחֵל וְגוֹ׳). “Ya'akov approached and rolled the stone…” (וַיִּגַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב וַיָּגֶל אֶת הָאֶבֶן וְגוֹ׳). Regarding Moshe, what is written (מֹשֶׁה מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ): “And the shepherds came and drove them away, and Moshe arose and saved them…” (וַיָּבוֹאוּ הָרוֹעִים וַיְגָרְשׁוּם וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה וַיּוֹשִיעָן וְגוֹ׳).

Indeed, Moshe knew (בְּוַדַּאי יָדַע הֲוָה מֹשֶׁה), once he saw the waters rising toward him (כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא מַיָּא דְּסַלְּקִין לְגַבֵּיהּ), that there his match would be arranged for him (דְּתַמָּן תִּזְדָּמַן לֵיהּ בַּת זוּגֵיהּ). Furthermore (וְתוּ), the Holy Spirit never departed from him (דְּהָא רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא לָא אִתְעָדֵי מִנֵּיהּ לְעָלְמִין), and through it he knew (וּבֵיהּ הֲוָה יָדַע), that Tzipporah would be his destined match (דְּצִפּוֹרָה תֶּהֱוֵי בַּת זוּגֵיהּ). Moshe said (אָמַר מֹשֶׁה): surely Ya'akov came here (וַדַּאי יַעֲקֹב אָתָא לְהָכָא), and the waters rose to him (וּמַיָּא סְלִיקוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ), and a man appeared who brought him to his house (אִזְדַּמַּן לֵיהּ בַּר נָשׁ דְּאַכְנִישׁ לֵיהּ לְבֵיתֵיהּ), and gave him all that he needed (וְיָהַב לֵיהּ כָּל מַה דְּאִצְטָרִיךְ); so too will I (אָנָא אוּף הָכִי).

That man said (אָמַר הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ): thus we have learned (הָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא): that Yitro was a priest to stars and constellations (דְּיִתְרוֹ כּוֹמֶר לְכּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת הֲוָה). Once he saw that stars and constellations had no substance (כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא דְּכּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת לֵית בָּהּ מַמָּשׁוּ), he separated from his worship (אִתְפְּרָשׁ מִפּוּלְחָנָא דִּילֵיהּ). The people arose and excommunicated him (קָמוּ עַמָּא וְנִדּוּהוּ). Once they saw his daughters (כֵּיוָן דְּחָמוּ בְּנָתֵיהּ), they harassed them (הֲווֹ מְתָרְכָן לוֹן), for at first they used to draw water for him (דְּהָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא אִינּוּן הֲווֹ רַעָאן עָאנֵיהּ). When Moshe saw with the Holy Spirit (כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא מֹשֶׁה בְּרוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא), that it was for the matter of stars and constellations they acted thus (דְּעַל מִלָּה דְּכּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת הֲווֹ עַבְדֵי), immediately “Moshe arose and saved them, and watered their flock” (מִיָּד וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה וַיּוֹשִיעָן וַיַּשְׁק אֶת צֹאנָם). And he made zeal for Kudsha Berikh Hu in everything (וְאִתְעָבִיד קִנְאָה לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכֹלָּא).