Daf 9b (דַּף ט׳ ע״ב)

In You alone we will mention Your Name (לְבַד בְּךָ נַזְכִּיר שְׁמֶךָ). The secret of the Holy Name (רָזָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא), the totality of the twenty-two letters (כְּלָלָא דְּעֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין אַתְוָון), and Knesset Yisrael is not blessed except from within this Name that is called “You” (וּכְנְסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא מִתְבָּרְכָא אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ שְׁמָא דָּא דְּאִקְרֵי בְּךָ), as You say (Exodus 32) (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר)“Which You swore to them by Yourself” (אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם בָּךְ), “By You Yisrael will bless” (Psalms 72) (בְּךָ יְבָרֵךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל). “For in You I will run through a troop” (Psalms 18) (כִּי בְּךָ אָרוּץ גְּדוּד). And at the time of completion it was found (וּבִזְמְנָא דִּשְׁלִימוּ אִשְׁתְּכַח), that this was not separated from that (לָא הֲוָה מִתְפְּרַשׁ דָּא מִן דָּא). And it is forbidden to separate this from that (וְאָסִיר לְאַפְרְשָׁא דָּא מִן דָּא), a woman from her husband (אִתְּתָא מִבַּעְלָהּ), not by will, and not by recollection (לָאו בְּרַעְיוֹנִי, וְלָאו בִּדְכִירוּ), so as not to display separation (בְּגִין דְּלָא לְאַחֲזָאָה פִּרוּדָא).

But now in exile, separation is found (וְהַשְּׁתָּא בְּגָלוּתָא פִּרוּדָא אִשְׁתְּכַח), for through the distortion of every time and season (דְּמִגּוֹ עָאקוּ דְּכָל זִמְנָא וְזִמְנָא), we make separation (אֲנָן עַבְדִין פִּרוּדָא), to mention that Name (לְאַדְכְּרָא הַהוּא שֵׁם), apart from her Husband (בַּר מִבַּעְלָהּ), because she lies in the dust (בְּגִין דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִיבַת לְעַפְרָא), and this is: In You alone we will mention Your Name (וְהַיְינוּ לְבַד בְּךָ נַזְכִּיר שְׁמֶךָ). Apart from her Husband (בַּר מִבַּעְלָהּ), we mention this Name in separation (אֲנָן דַּכְרִין לְהַאי שֵׁם בְּפֵרוּדָא), because we are distant from You (בְּגִין דַּאֲנַן רְחִיקִין מִינָךְ), and others rule over us (וְשַׁלְטִין אַחֲרָנִין עֲלָן), and Your Name is in separation from the Name that is called in You (וּשְׁמֶךָ אִיהוּ בְּפֵרוּדָא מִן שְׁמָא דְּאִקְרֵי בְּךָ), and this is in the days of exile (וְהַאי בְּיוֹמֵי דְּגָלוּתָא).

For the first exile was from the First Temple (בְּגִין דְּגָלוּתָא קַדְמָאָה הֲוָה מִבַּיִת רִאשׁוֹן), and the First Temple is the secret of the first Heh (וּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן הוּא רָזָא דְּה״ קַדְמָאָה), and corresponding to its seventy years (וְלָקֳבֵל ע׳ שְׁנִין דִּילָהּ), the exile of the First Temple was seventy years (גָּלוּתָא דְּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן הֲוָה ע׳ שְׁנִין), and in those seventy years the fourth Ima was not present upon them (וְאִינּוּן ע׳ שְׁנִין לָא אִשְׁתְּכַחַת אִימָא רְבִיעָא עָלַיְיהוּ), and there was separation from the supernal Name, the secret of the supernal Heh (וַהֲוָה פִּרוּדָא מִן שְׁמָא עִלָּאָה, רָזָא דְּה״ עִלָּאָה). And then the Yod, the supernal secret, ascended upward and upward to Ein Sof (וּכְדֵין יו״ד, רָזָא עִלָּאָה, אִסְתַּלָּק לְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא לְאֵין סוֹף), and the First Temple, supernal and holy, did not pour forth the flow of living waters (וּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, לָא נְבִיעַ נְבִיעוּ דְּמַיִין חַיִּין), for her source had ascended (דְּהָא מְקוֹרָא דִּילָהּ אִסְתַּלָּק). And she was seventy years in exile (וְאִיהִי ע׳ שְׁנִין בְּגָלוּתָא), for she is called seven years (בְּגִין דְּאִיהִי ז׳ שְׁנִין אִקְרֵי), as you say (I Kings 6) (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר) “And he built it seven years” (וַיִּבְנֵהוּ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים).

And if you should say that the kingdom of Bavel ruled above in the mystery of seventy years—Heaven forbid (וְאִי תֵּימָא, דְּשָׁלְטָא מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל לְעֵילָּא בְּרָזָא דְּע׳ שְׁנִין, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם), rather, in the time that the Temple stood (אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּהֲוָה בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא קַיָּים), the light and flow of Ima Ila’ah would shine and descend below (נְהוֹרָא וּנְבִיעוּ דְּאִמָא עִלָּאָה, הֲוָה נָהִיר וְנָחִית לְתַתָּא).

Once Yisrael sinned, and the Temple was destroyed (כֵּיוָן דְּחָטוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִתְחָרַב מַקְדְּשָׁא), and the kingdom of Bavel ruled (וְשָׁלְטָא מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל), it was covered and that light was darkened (הֲוָה חָפֵי, וְאַחְשִׁיךְ הַהוּא נְהִירוּ), and the lower holy ones were no longer radiant (וְתַתָּאֵי קַדִּישִׁין לָא הֲווֹ נְהִירִין). Since the lower ones were not illuminated (כֵּיוָן דְּתַתָּאֵי לָא הֲווֹ נְהִירִין), because of the dominion of the kingdom of Bavel (בְּגִין שָׁלְטָנוּ דְּמַלְכוּתָא דְּבָבֶל), that light was withdrawn (אִסְתַּלָּק הַהוּא נְהוֹרָא), and that supernal spring which flowed the secret of the Yod (וְהַהוּא מַבּוּעָא עִלָּאָה דְּהֲוָה נְבִיעַ רָזָא דְּיו״ד), ascended above, above to Ein Sof (אִסְתַּלָּק לְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא בְּאֵין סוֹף). Then, those seventy years were not luminous (כְּדֵין אִינּוּן ע׳ שְׁנִין לָא הֲווֹ נְהִירִין), because that illumination was withheld (בְּגִין הַהוּא נְהִירוּ דְּאִתְמְנַע). And this is certainly the seventy-year exile (וְדָא הוּא ודַּאי גָּלוּתָא דְּע׳ שְׁנִין).

Once the dominion of Bavel passed (כֵּיוָן דְּאַעְדִּיאוּ שֻׁלְטָנוּ דְּבָבֶל), and the lower Heh began to shine (וְשָׁרִיאַת ה״א תַּתָּאָה לְאַנְהָרָא), all Yisrael did not return to elevate her to be a perfect Segulah as formerly (יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלְּהוּ, לָא אָהַדְרוּ לְאַדְכָּאָה לְמֶהֱוֵי סְגוּלָה שְׁלֵימָתָא כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין), but only a little, and with mixture (אֶלָּא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא). And when the fullness was not found (וְכֵיוָן דִּשְׁלִימוּ לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח), and the lower Heh was not fully empowered to rule (וְשָׁרִיאַת ה״א תַּתָּאָה לֹא שָׁלְטָאָה), then the supernal outflow of the Yod did not descend so fully to illuminate as formerly (כְּדֵין יו״ד נְבִיעוּ עִלָּאָה לָא נָחִית כָּל כַּךְ לְאַנְהֲרָא כְּמָה דְּהֲוָה כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין), but only a little, and in mixture (אֶלָּא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא), for they were not purified as before (דְּלָא הֲווֹ דַּכְיָין כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין), as is seen (כְּמָה דְּאִתְחָזֵי).

And because of this, the supernal flow did not flow, and did not shine (וְעַל כָּךְ נְבִיעוּ עִלָּאָה, וְלָא נְבִיעַ, וְלָא נָהִיר), except that it returned to shine little by little (אֶלָּא דְּאַהֲדָר לְאַנְהָרָא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר), from within the pressure of the left side of the Name (מִגּוֹ דֹּחֲקָא דְּשְׂמָאלָא דִּשְׁמָא) — Some say: of exile and judgment (נ״א: דְגָלוּתָא וְדִינָא). And because of this, many battles were stirred upon Yisrael (וְעַל דָּא, אִתְגָּרוּ בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל קְרָבִין סַגִּיאִין), until “darkness will cover the earth” (Isaiah 60) (עַד דְּהַחֹשֶׁךְ יְכַסֶּה אֶרֶץ), and the lower Heh was darkened (וְה״א תַּתָּאָה אִתְחֲשָׁךְ), and she fell to the ground (וְנַפְלַת לְאַרְעָא), and the supernal outflow ascended as before (וּנְבִיעוּ עִלָּאָה אִסְתַּלָּק כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין), because the kingdom of Edom was strengthened (בְּגִין דְמַלְכוּת אֱדוֹם אִתְתַּקַּף), and Yisrael returned to their corruptions (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַדְרוּ לְסַרְחָנַיְיהוּ). And because of this, the Second Temple was destroyed (וְעַל דָּא, ה״א בַּיִת שֵׁנִי אִתְחָרַב), and all those twelve tribes of hers (וְכָל אִינּוּן תְּרֵיסַר שְׁבָטִין דִּילָהּ), according to the count of their encampments (כְּחוּשְׁבָּן מַשִׁרְיָין דִּלְהוֹן), are in the exile of the kingdom of Edom (אִינּוּן בְּגָלוּתָא דְּמַלְכוּת אֱדוֹם). And the supernal outflow was withdrawn from that flow that stood upon her (וּנְבִיעוּ עִלָּאָה אִסְתַּלָּק מֵהַהוּא נְבִיעוּ דְּקַיְּימָא עָלָהּ), as you say (Isaiah 57) (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר) “The Tzaddik is lost” (הַצַּדִּיק אָבָד), that is, that flow of the supernal source was lost (אֲבַד הַהוּא נְבִיעוּ דִּמְקוֹרָא עִלָּאָה), which was flowing and drawing from above (דְּהֲוָה נָגִיד וּמָשִׁיךְ מִלְּעֵילָּא). (Some say: many battles and the kingdom of Yavan ruled over them (נ״א: קְרָבִין סַגִּיאִין וּמַלְכוּת יָוָן שַׁלְטָא עֲלַיְיהוּ), after they returned in repentance, they were strengthened over them and prevailed against them (לְבָתַר דְּהַדְרוּ בְּתִיוּבְתָּא אִתְתַּקְּפוּ עֲלַיְיהוּ וְאִתְקִיפִיָּאוּ לוֹן), and because Yisrael returned to their corruptions (וּבְגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הֲדָרוּ לְסַרְחָנַיְיהוּ), the kingdom of Edom was strengthened (מַלְכוּת אֱדוֹם אִתְתַּקֵּף), and the Second Temple was destroyed (וּבֵית שֵׁנִי אִתְחָרַב), and the lower Heh darkened and fell to the earth (וְה״א תַּתָּאָה אִתְחַשָּׁכַת וְנָפְלַת לְאַרְעָא), and the supernal flow ascended from that spring that stood upon her (וּנְבִיעוּ עִלָּאָה אִסְתַּלַּק מֵהַהוּא מַבּוּעָא דְּקַיְּימָא עָלֶיהָ), as you said: “The Tzaddik is lost” (כַּמָּה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר: הַצַּדִּיק אָבָד), that flow of the supernal source was lost (אָבַד הַהוּא נְבִיעוּ דְּמְקוֹרָא עִלָּאָה), that was streaming and drawing upon her (דְּהֲוָה נָגִיד וּמָשׁוּךְ עֲלֶיהָ).

What is the reason? “For darkness shall cover the earth” (Isaiah 60) (מַאי טַעְמָא דִּין דְּהַחֹשֶׁךְ יְכַסֶּה אֶרֶץ). And then there was separation in the Heh, the Second Temple (וּכְדֵין הֲוָה פִּרוּדָא בְּה״א, בַּיִת שֵׁנִי), and she was in the exile of Edom (וְאִיהִי בְּגָלוּתָא דֶּאֱדוֹם), with all those twelve tribes (בְּכָל אִינּוּן תְּרֵיסַר שְׁבָטִין) — Some say: of hers (נ״א: דִּילָהּ) — and their encampments (וּמַשְׁרְיָין דִּילְהוֹן). The twelve tribes ascend to a great calculation (תְּרֵיסַר שְׁבָטִין סַלְּקִין לְחוּשְׁבַּן סַגִּי), and regarding the secret — Some say: and because of this (וְעַל דְּרָזָא, נ״א: וְעַל דָּא) — of the Heh there was in them — Some say: and the Heh (דְּה״א הֲוָה בְּהוּ, נ״א: וְעַל דָּא וְה״א), in all that accounting — Some say: darkness (בְּכָל הַהוּא חוּשְׁבָּנָא, נ״א: חֲשׂוֹכָא), exile was extended (גָּלוּתָא אִתְמְשַׁךְ).

The secret of secrets was delivered to the wise of heart (רָזָא דְּרָזִין לְחַכִּימֵי לִבָּא אִתְמְסָר). Ten tribes: one thousand years (י׳ שְׁבָטִין אֶלֶף שְׁנִין), two tribes: two hundred years (תְּרֵין שְׁבָטִין מָאתַן שְׁנִין). The remainder: tears to fall (שָׁאַרוּ דִּמְעִין לְמִנְפַּל). He opened and said (פָּתַח וְאָמַר): "She weeps, yea, she weeps in the night, and her tear is on her cheek" (Lamentations 1) (אֵיכָה א׳: בָּכוֹ תִבְכֶּה בַּלַּיְלָה וְדִמְעָתָהּ עַל לֶחְיָהּ). At the end of the twelve tribes of the exile (לְסוֹף תְּרֵיסַר שְׁבָטִין דְּגָלוּתָא), the night will darken for Yisrael (לֵילְיָא יִתְחֲשַׁךְ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל), until the Vav is aroused (עַד דְּיִתְּעַר וָ״ו), for a time of sixty and six years (לִזְמַן שִׁתִּין וְשִׁית שְׁנִין).

After the twelve tribes, which are one thousand and two hundred years of exile (לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר שְׁבָטִין, דְּאִינּוּן אֶלֶף וּמָאתָן שְׁנִין דְּגָלוּתָא), and after — according to the path — sixty and six years in the darkness of night (וּלְבָתַר ע״ד שִׁתִּין וְשִׁית שְׁנִין בְּחָשׁוֹכָא דְּלֵילְיָא), then, "And I will remember My covenant with Ya'akov" (Leviticus 26) (כְּדֵין, וַזָּכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקֹב) — this is the arousal of the letter Vav (דָּא אִתְעָרוּתָא דְּאוֹת וא״ו), which is the Nefesh of the house of Ya'akov (דְּאִיהוּ נֶפֶשׁ דְּבֵית יַעֲקֹב). And the secret of this is: "All the soul that came with Ya'akov to Egypt… sixty-six" (Bereshit 46) (וְרָזָא דָּא: כָּל הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַבָּאָה לְיַעֲקֹב מִצְרַיְמָה וְגוֹ׳ שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ). And it is the Vav, the Nefesh of the Second Temple (וְאִיהוּ ו״ו, נֶפֶשׁ דְּבַיִת שֵׁנִי), the secret of the lower Heh (רָזָא דְּה״א תַּתָּאָה). And this Vav is the secret of sixty-six (וְדָא ו רָזָא דְּשִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ): Sixty: for the arousal of Ya'akov (שִׁשִּׁים: לְאִתְעָרוּתָא דְּיַעֲקֹב). And six: for the arousal of Yosef (וְשֵׁשׁ: לְאִתְעָרוּתָא דְּיוֹסֵף). And for this reason it is Vav-Vav (וְעַל דָּא אִיהוּ וָ״ו), for they are two in one union (דְּאִנּוּן תְּרֵין בְּחִבּוּרָא חֲדָא), and one mystery (וְרָזָא חֲדָא).