Daf 116b (דַּף קט״ז ע״ב)

Yabok (יֶקֶ״ב): Unification (Yichud), Holiness (Kedushah), [and] the Blessing (Berakhah) of Kudsha Berikh Hu (יִ״חוּד. קְ״דוּשָׁה. בְּ״רָכָה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And this is Shekhinta (וְדָא שְׁכִינְתָּא), for She is Berakhah (דְּאִיהִי בְּרָכָה) of Kudsha Berikh Hu (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), from the right side (מִימִינָא). And She is Kedusha (וְאִיהִי קְדוּשָּׁה), from His left side (מִשּׂמָאלֵיהּ). And She is His Union (וְאִיהִי יִחוּדֵיהּ), in the center (בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא). And Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), thus ascend His letters (הָכִי סַלְּקִין אַתְווֹי דִּילֵיהּ), Yabok (יַבֹּ״ק). In this manner (כְּגַוְונָא דָּא), The Holy One Blessed Be He (הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא): numerically Yabokp6-62 (בְּחֻשְׁבַּן יַבֹּ״ק). And whoever is expert (וּמַאן דְּאִיהוּ בָּקִ״י) in His Halakhah (בַּהֲלָכָה דִּילֵיהּ), which is Shekhinta (דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא), Kudsha Berikh Hu is with him (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עִמֵּיהּ). For Her sake (דִּבְגִינָהּ), He will never depart from him (לָא יָזוּז מִנֵּיהּ לְעָלַם).

For there is a Halakhah (דְּאִית הֲלָכָה) that is Her Maiden (דְּאִיהִי נַעֲרָה דִּילָהּ), from the side of the youth (מִסִּטְרָא דְּנַעַר), and concerning Her it is said (וּבְגִינָהּ אִתְּמַר), "The Halakhah is according to so-and-so" (הֲלָכָה כִּפְלוֹנִי). But your Halakhah (אֲבָל הֲלָכָה דִּילָךְ), Faithful Shepherd (רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא), is that of which it is said (אִיהִי דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ), "Halakhah to Moshe from Sinai" (הֲלָכָה לְמֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי), from the mouth of Gevurah (מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה), Kudsha Berikh Hu gave you (יָהִיב לָךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), His own Daughter (בְּרָתָא דִּילֵיהּ). And because of this (וּבְגִין דָּא), concerning other halakhot it is said (עַל הֲלָכוֹת אַחֲרָנִין אִתְּמַר), "Many daughters have done valorously" (רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל) (Mishlei 31). Concerning your Halakhah it is said (עַל הֲלָכָה דִּילָךְ אִתְּמַר), "But you have risen above them all" (וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה).

For you have prevailed over all of them (דְּאִתְגַּבַּרְתּ עַל כֻּלְּהוּ), with strength (בִּגְבוּרָה). "Hashem is with you, mighty warrior" (יְיָ' עִמְּךָ גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל) (Shoftim 6). He established Himself through you (אַתְקִין בָּךְ), and He completed the building of the King (וְאַשְׁלִים בִּנְיָינָא דְּמַלְכָּא), and He builds His structure upon your mouth (וְאִיהוּ בָּנֵי בִּנְיָינֵיהּ עַל פּוּמָךְ), and by your hand (וְעַל יְדָךְ). Fortunate is your portion (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ).

The Faithful Shepherd opened and said (פָּתַח רַעְיָא מְהֵימָנָא וְאָמַר), "The angel who redeems me from all evil" (הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגּוֹאֵל אוֹתִי מִכָּל רָע) (Bereishit 48), which is Shekhinta (דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא), concerning whom it is said (דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ), "And the angel of Elohim moved" (וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים) (Shemot 14). "May he bless the youths" (יְבָרֵךְ לְכוּ) in the World to Come (בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). "And may they multiply abundantly in the midst of the earth" (וְיִדְגּוּ לָרֹב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ), in this world (בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין).

So that your dominion will be in two worlds (לְמֶהֱוֵי שֻׁלְטָנוּתֵכוֹן בִּתְרֵין עָלְמִין), and thus you are called living (דְּאַתּוּן חַיִּין). For whoever is of this world (דְּמַאן דְּאִיהוּ מֵעָלְמָא דָּא), is called living (חַי אִתְקְרֵי). As it is written (כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב), "It is a Tree of Life to those who grasp it" (עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ) (Mishlei 3); life is there, life is here (חַיִּים תַּמָּן, חַיִּים הָכָא). But whoever is not so (מַה דְּלָאו הָכִי), whoever is clothed in these Klipot (מַאן דְּאִיהוּ מְלוּבָּשׁ בְּאִלֵּין קְלִיפִּין), of skin and flesh and bones and sinews of the lowly body (דְּעוֹר וּבָשָׂר וַעֲצָמוֹת וְגִידִים דְּגוּפָא שְׁפֵלָא), this spirit is considered dead there (דְּרוּחָא הוּא מִית תַּמָּן). What is death? (מַה מֵיתָא) One neither sees nor hears nor speaks (לָא חָמֵי וְלָא שָׁמַע וְלָא מְמַלֵּל), and has no movement in any of his limbs (וְלֵית לֵיהּ תְּנוּעָה בְּכָל אֵבָרִין דִּילֵיהּ). So is this spirit (הָכִי רוּחָא), he does not perceive what is above him (לָא חָזָא דִּלְעֵיל מִנִּיהּ). As it is said in Orayta concerning them (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא עָלַיְיהוּ), "Know what is above you" (דָּע מַה לְמַעְלָה מִמָּךְ), "an eye sees, an ear hears" (עַיִן רוֹאֶה וְאֹזֶן שׁוֹמַעַת), "and all your deeds are written in a book" (וְכָל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ בְּסֵפֶר נִכְתָּבִים) (Avot 2).

For many angels go with him (דְּכַמָּה מַלְאָכִין אַזְלִין עִמֵּיהּ), as it is written concerning them (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן), "For He commands His angels for you" (כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ) (Tehillim 91). Yet this body has no permission (וְלֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ בְּהַאי גּוּפָא) to gaze upon them (לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּהוֹן), nor to hear their voices (וּלְמִשְׁמַע בְּקַלֵיהוֹן), for they are beings of fire (דְּאִינּוּן חִיוָן דְּאֶשָּׁא), speaking and sanctifying and blessing (מְמַלְּלָן וּמְקַדְּשָׁן וּמְבָרְכָן), and unifying Kudsha Berikh Hu together with Yisrael (וּמְיַחֲדָן לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּחֲדָא). All the more so Shekhinta (כָּל שֶׁכֵּן לִשְׁכִינְתָּא), who is above them (דְּאִיהִי עָלַיְיהוּ). And all the more so Kudsha Berikh Hu (כָּל שֶׁכֵּן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), who is above His Shekhinta (דְּאִיהוּ לְעֵילָּא מִן שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ), who through Her accepts the prayers of Yisrael (דְּבָהּ מְקַבֵּל צְלוֹתִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And due to sins (וּבְגִין חוֹבִין), they were clothed in these Klipot (הֲווֹ מִתְלַבְּשִׁין בְּאִלֵּין קְלִיפִּין). Like the likeness of Adam (כְּגַוְונָא דְּאָדָם), whose forefathers' sins are in their hands (דְּחוֹבֵי אֲבָהַתְהוֹן בִּידֵיהוֹן). This is as the masters of the Mishnah taught (וְהַאי אִיהוּ דְּאוּקְמוּהָ מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין), "When they hold the deeds of their forefathers in their hands" (כְּשֶׁאוֹחֲזִין מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם בִּידֵיהֶם). And because of these Klipot of sin (וּבְגִין אִלֵּין קְלִיפִין דְּחוֹבִין), Scripture says (אָמַר קְרָא), "For your iniquities have separated between you and your Elohim" (כִּי אִם עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם הָיוּ מַבְדִּילִים בֵּינֵיכֶם לְבֵין אֱלֹהֵיכֶם) (Yeshayah 59). Because of these Klipot (וּבְגִין אִלֵּין קְלִיפִין), Kudsha Berikh Hu covers Himself with many wings (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִתְכַּסְיָא בְּכַמָּה גַּדְפִּין), as it says concerning them (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן), "With two He covers His face, and with two He covers His feet…" (בִּשְׁתַּיִם יְכַסֶּה פָּנָיו וּבִשְׁתַּיִם יְכַסֶּה רַגְלָיו וְגוֹ') (Yeshayah 6).

In the future to come (לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא), (Isaiah 30), "And your Teacher will no longer be concealed" (וְלֹא יִכָּנֵף עוֹד מוֹרֶיךָ), "and your eyes shall see your Teacher" (וְהָיוּ עֵינֶיךָ רוֹאוֹת אֶת מוֹרֶיךָ). For you in that world (דְּאַתּוּן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), who have neither Klipot nor skins (דְּלֵית לְכוֹן קְלִיפִּין וְעוֹרִין), you have permission to gaze upon the inhabitants of this world (אִית לְכוֹן רְשׁוּ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא), but the inhabitants of this world (וּבְנֵי עָלְמָא), (some say: do not) have permission to gaze upon you (ס״א לֵית אִית לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּכוּ). For this reason (וּבְגִין דָּא), it is said about you (עָלַיְיכוּ אִתְּמַר) that you are living (דְּאַתּוּן חַיִּין), and your world is called (וְעָלְמָא דִּלְכוֹן) the World of Life (עוֹלָם הַחַיִּים). But the lower world (אֲבָל עָלְמָא שְׁפָלָא), this is the world of the dead (דָּא עוֹלָם הַמֵּתִים), for all the gods of the nations of the world (דְּכָל אֱלָהוּת דְּאוּמִין דְּעָלְמָא), apart from Hashem (מִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְיָ׳), all of them are dead (כֻּלְּהוֹן מֵתִים).

Rabbi Shimon said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), the Holy Luminary (some say: Faithful Shepherd) (בּוּצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא) (נ״א רַעְיָא מְהֵימְנָא), even with all this (עִם כָּל דָּא), you are unable to gaze upon the inhabitants of the World to Come (דְּאַנְתְּ לָא יָכִיל לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי) with the eyes (בְּעַיְינִין), nor upon the angels (וְלָא בְּמַלְאֲכַיָּא), all the more so upon Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּבִשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ). However, with the eye of the intellect of your heart (אֲבָל בְּעֵין הַשֵּׂכֶל דְּלִבָּךְ), you see everything (אַתְּ חֲזִי בְּכֹלָּא) among the inhabitants of the World to Come (בִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי), and among the angels (וּבְמַלְאָכִין), and among Kudsha Berikh Hu and His Shekhinta (וּבְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ), who surround you (דְּסַחֲרִין לָךְ). Therefore, Shlomo said (וּבְגִין דָּא אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה), as written of him (דִּכְתִּיב בֵּיהּ), "And he became wiser than all men" (וַיֶּחְכַּם מִכָּל הָאָדָם) (Kings I 5), and also, "My heart saw much wisdom and knowledge" (וְלִבִּי רָאָה הַרְבֵּה חָכְמָה וָדָעַת) (Kohelet 1).

But with prophecy (אֲבָל בַּנְּבוּאָה), you have no permission to gaze upon it (לֵית לְכוֹן רְשׁוּ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ), (all the more so) a prophet with the eye of intellect (כָּל שֶׁכֵּן נָבִיא בְּעֵין הַשֵּׂכֶל), rather only with the eyes (אֶלָּא בְּעַיְינִין), for it is a vision and appearance of the eyes (דְּאִיהִי מַרְאֶה וְחֶזְיוֹן דְּעַיְינִין). As it is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב), "In a vision I shall make Myself known to him" (בַּמַּרְאָה אֵלָיו אֶתְוַדָּע) (Bamidbar 12), and also, "In a vision of the night" (וְעוֹד בְּחֶזְיוֹן לַיְלָה). A vision by day (מַרְאֶה בִּימָמָא), a vision by night (חֶזְיוֹן בְּלֵילְיָא), all by eyes (וְכֹלָּא בְּעַיְינִין), and not with the intellectual eye of the heart (וְלָא בְּעֵין הַשֵּׂכֶל דְּלִבָּא). The eyes are two messengers of the heart (וְעַיְינִין אִינּוּן תְּרֵי סַרְסוּרֵי דְּלִבָּא), its servants (וּמִשַּׁמָּשִׁין דִּילֵיהּ). And it is the king among them (וְאִיהוּ מַלְכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ) (some say: toward them) (לְגַבַּיְיהוּ). Therefore, a sage is superior to a prophet (וּבְגִין דָּא חָכָם עָדִיף מִנָּבִיא). So too are the two ears (וְהָכִי הוּא תְּרֵין אוּדְנִין), two servants of the heart (תְּרֵין שַׁמָּשֵׁי דְּלִבָּא).