Daf 124a (דַּף קכ״ד ע״א)

Another matter: "And in all that I have said unto you, be guarded." (דָּבָר אַחֵר וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ). Rabbi Yehudah opened: (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח) "(Psalms 81) Hear, My people, and I will testify against you... There shall be no strange god within you... I am Hashem, your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt..." (שְׁמַע עַמִּי וְאָעִידָה בָּךְ וְגוֹ', לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֵל זָר וְגוֹ'. אָנֹכִי יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ הַמַּעַלְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וְגוֹ'). These verses David spoke through Holy Spirit, (הָנֵי קָרָאן, אֲמָרָן דָּוִד בְּרוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא) and they must be contemplated. (וְאִית לְאִסְתַּכָּל בְּהוּ). "Hear, My people": (שְׁמַע עַמִּי) in many places the Orayta warns a person. (בְּכַמָּה אַתְרִין אַזְהָרָא אוֹרַיְיתָא לְבַּר נָשׁ). In many places, Kudsha Berikh Hu warns a person, (בְּכַמָּה אַתְרִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַזְהִיר בֵּיהּ בְּבַר נָשׁ) and all for a person’s benefit, (וְכֹלָּא לְתוֹעַלְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ) so that he will guard the commandments of Orayta. (בְּגִין דְּיִנְטַר פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא) For whoever guards the ways of Orayta, (דְּכָל מַאן דְּיִנְטַר אָרְחֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא) and engages in it, (וְאִשְׁתָּדַּל בָּהּ) it is as if he engages in the Holy Name. (כְּמַאן דְּאִשְׁתָּדַּל בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא).

For we have learned: (דְּתָנֵינָן) the entire Orayta is the Name of Kudsha Berikh Hu, (אוֹרַיְיתָא כֹּלָּא שְׁמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And whoever engages in it, (וּמַאן דְּמִשְׁתַּדַּל בָּהּ) it is as if he engages in the Holy Name. (כְּמַאן דְּמִשְׁתַּדַּל בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא). Because the entire Orayta is one Holy Name, (בְּגִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא כֹּלָּא, חַד שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא הוּא). a supreme Name, (שְׁמָא עִלָּאָה) a Name that includes all names. (שְׁמָא דְּכָלִיל כָּל שְׁמָהָן). Whoever removes even a single letter from it, (וּמַאן דְּגָרַע אוֹת חַד מִינָהּ) it is as if he makes a blemish in the Holy Name. (כְּאִילּוּ עָבִיד פְּגִימוּתָא בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא). It was taught: (תָּאנָא) "And the name of other gods you shall not mention"—do not add to Orayta, nor subtract from it. (וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ, לֹא תּוֹסִיף עַל אוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא תִּגְרַע מִינָּהּ). Rabbi Chiya said: (רַבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר) "And the name of other gods," refers to whoever engages in other books, (וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, דָּא מַאן דְּיִתְעֲסָק בְּסִפְרִין אַחֲרָנִין) which are not from the side of Orayta. (דְּלָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). "You shall not let it be heard upon your mouth": (לָא יִשָּׁמַע עַל פִּיךָ) it is forbidden even to mention them, (דְּאָסוּר אֲפִילּוּ לְאַדְכְּרָא לוֹן) or to learn reasoning from them, (וּלְמֵילַף מִנַּיְיהוּ טַעֲמָא) and certainly regarding Orayta. (כָּל שֶׁכֵּן עַל אוֹרַיְיתָא).

Rabbi Yehudah taught thus: (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מַתְנֵי הָכִי) what is the reason it is written: (מַאי טַעֲמָא כְּתִיב) "And the name of other gods," (וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים) and immediately thereafter: "The Festival of Matzot you shall keep"? (וְסָמִיךְ לֵיהּ אֶת חַג הַמַּצּוֹת תִּשְׁמֹר). Rather, whoever does not keep this, (אֶלָּא, מַאן דְּלָא נָטִיר הַאי) it is as though he does not keep faith with Kudsha Berikh Hu. (כְּמַאן דְּלָא נָטִיר מְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). What is the reason? (מַאי טַעֲמָא). Because faith itself depends on it. (מִשּׁוּם דְּבֵיהּ אֲחִידָא מִלָּה). Rabbi Yitzchak said: (אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק) likewise with all other festivals and appointed times, (וְכֵן בְּכָל שְׁאַר זִמְנִין וְחַגִּין) for all of them depend upon the supreme Holy Name. (דְּהָא כֻּלְּהוּ אֲחִידָן בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה). Therefore, it was taught: (וְעַל דָּא תָּנִינָן) what is the meaning of, "Three times in the year"? (מַאי דִּכְתִּיב שָׁלשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה) Because faith itself depends upon them. (מִשּׁוּם דִּבְהוּ תַּלְיָא מְהֵימְנוּתָא).

"All your males shall appear." (יֵרָאֶה כָּל זְכוּרְךָ) Why "all your males"? (אֲמַאי כָּל זְכוּרְךָ). Rabbi El'azar said, (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר) all your males literally, (כָּל זְכוּרְךָ מַמָּשׁ). because they receive blessings (בְּגִין דְּנַטְלִין בִּרְכָּתָא) from the fountain of the stream. (מִמַּבּוּעָא דְּנַחֲלָא). From here we have learned: (מִכָּאן תָּנֵינָן) every Yisraelite who is circumcised (כָּל בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִתְגְּזַר) must appear before the Holy King, (בָּעֵי לְאִתְחֲזָאָה קָמֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא) in order to receive blessings (בְּגִין דְּנָטִיל בִּרְכָּתָא) from the fountain of the stream. (מִמַּבּוּעָא דְּנַחֲלָא). This is as it is written: (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב) "(Deuteronomy 16) According to the blessing of Hashem your God, which He has given you." (כְּבִרְכַּת יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ). And it is written: (וּכְתִיב) "Before the presence of (Bereshit 2:4) the Lord Hashem," (אֶל פְּנֵי הָאָדוֹן יְיָ') as we have explained, (כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא) that from there blessings are poured forth, (דְּמִתַּמָּן מְרִיקָן בִּרְכָּאן) and they receive blessings. (וְנַטְלִין בִּרְכָּתָא). Fortunate is the portion of Yisrael, (זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל) beyond all other nations. (מִכָּל שְׁאַר עַמִּין).

Once, (זִמְנָא חֲדָא) Yisrael ascended to celebrate a festival, (סְלִיקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמֵחַג חַגָּא) and idolaters mixed among them. (וְאִתְעָרְבוּ עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ) In that year, no blessing was found in the world. (וְהַהוּא שַׁתָּא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בִּרְכָּתָא בְּעָלְמָא). They came and asked Rav Hamnuna Sava. (אָתוּ שָׁאִילּוּ לְרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא) He said to them, (אָמַר לְהוּ) "Did you see any sign at first about this?" (חֲמֵיתוּן סִימָנָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא בְּהַאי). They answered him, (אֲמַר לֵיהּ) "We saw a sign, (סִימָנָא חֲמֵינָן) that when we returned from there, (דְּכַד תַּבְנָא מֵהָתָם) all roads were closed off from water, (כָּל אָרְחִין אַסְתִּימוּ מִמַּיָּא) and clouds and darkness appeared, (וַעֲנָנָא, וַחֲשׁוֹכָא אִשְׁתְּכַח) so that none who ascended there could pass. (דְּלָא יַכְלִין לְמֵהַךְ כָּל אִינּוּן דְּסָלִיקוּ לְתַמָּן). Furthermore, when we went up to appear before heaven, (וְעוֹד, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּעָאלָנָא לְאִתְחֲזָאָה אַפֵּי שְׁמַיָא) it grew dark and stormy." (אִתְחַשָּׁכוּ וְאִתְרְגִיזוּ). He said to them, (אָמַר לְהוּ) "Certainly, either there were among you uncircumcised people, (וַדַּאי אוֹ אִית בֵּינַיְיכוּ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּלָא אִתְגְּזָרוּ) or idolaters ascended among you. (אוֹ עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת סְלִיקוּ בַּהֲדַיְיכוּ). For at that time, no one received blessing, (דְּהָא לָא אִתְבָּרְכָאן בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא) except those Yisraelites who were circumcised. (בַּר מֵאִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִתְגְּזָרוּ). And in this holy sign, (וּבְהַאי אָת קַדִּישָׁא) Kudsha Berikh Hu gazes and blesses them." (מִסְתַּכֵּל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּבָרִיךְ לוֹן).

The next year they ascended, (לְשַׁתָּא אַחֲרָא סְלִיקוּ) and those idolaters who had mixed with them also ascended, (וּסְלִיקוּ אִינּוּן עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת, דְּאִתְעָרְבוּ בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ) when they were eating the sacrifices, (כַּד הֲווֹ אַכְלִין קָרְבְּנַיָּיא) and were rejoicing. (וַהֲווּ חַדָּאן). They saw these idolaters (וְחָמוּ לְאִינוּן עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת) clutching their portions against the wall. (דְּטַפְסָאן בְּקוּטְרַיְיהוּ לְקוּטְרָא דְּכוֹתָלָא). They observed that everyone was blessing, (אַשְׁגָּחוּ בְּהוּ דְּכֹלָּא מְבָרְכִין) but those idolaters were not blessed. (וְאִינּוּן לָא בְּרִיכוּ). They came and reported this to the court. (אָתוּ וְאָמְרוּ מִלָּה לְבֵי דִּינָא) They came and questioned them, (אָתוּ וְשָׁאִילּוּ לוֹן) saying: “This that you ate—(אָמְרוּ, הַאי דַּאֲכַלְתּוּן) your portions—whose sacrifice was it?” (חוּלָקָא דִּלְכוֹן, מַאן קוּרְבָּנָא הֲוָה). They had no answer. (לָא הֲוָה בִּידַיְיהוּ). They investigated and found (בָּדְקוּ וְאַשְׁכָּחוּ) that they were idolaters, (דְּאִינּוּן עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת) and they killed them. (וְקָטְלוּ לוֹן). They said, (אָמְרוּ) “Blessed is the Merciful One, who saved His people, (בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּשֵׁזִיב לְעַמֵּיהּ) for certainly blessing does not rest (דְּוַדַּאי לֵית בִּרְכְתָא שַׁרְיָא) except upon Yisrael, the holy seed, (אֶלָּא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, זַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא) children of faith, children of truth.” (בְּנִי מְהֵימְנוּתָא, בְּנֵי קְשׁוֹט). That year, blessing was fully found in the world. (וְהַהִיא שַׁתָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח בִּרְכְתָא בְּעָלְמָא, בִּשְׁלִימוּ). They opened and said, (פָּתְחוּ וְאָמְרוּ) “(Psalms 140) Surely, Tzaddikim will give thanks to Your name, etc.” (אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ וְגוֹ').

Rabbi Chiya said, (רִבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר) In merit of circumcised Yisrael, (בִּזְכוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל גְּזִירִין) their enemies are subdued beneath them, (אִתְכְּנָעוּ שַׂנְאֵיהוֹן תְּחוֹתֵיהוֹן) and they inherit their inheritance. (וְיַרְתֵּי אַחֲסַנְתֵּהוֹן). Come and see what is written, (תָּא חֲזֵי מַה כְּתִיב) “(Exodus 34) All your males shall appear,” (יֵרָאֶה כָּל זְכוּרְךָ). and immediately thereafter it is written, (וּכְתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ) “For I will dispossess nations before you and broaden your borders.” (כִּי אוֹרִישׁ גּוֹיִם מִפָּנֶיךָ וְהִרְחַבְתִּי אֶת גְּבֻלֶךָ). For Kudsha Berikh Hu uproots dwellers from their places, (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָקַר דִּיּוּרִין מֵאַתְרַיְיהוּ) and settles dwellers in their places. (וְאָתִיב דִּיּוּרִין, לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ). Therefore, “All your males shall appear before the presence of the Lord Hashem.” (וּבְגִינִי כַּךְ יֵרָאֶה כָּל זְכוּרְךָ אֶת פְּנֵי הָאָדוֹן יְיָ'). Rabbi Yehudah said, (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר) “The Lord” (הָאָדוֹן)—as it is written, (כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב) “(Isaiah 10) Behold, the Lord, Hashem of Hosts, will lop off branches with terror, etc.,” (הִנֵּה הָאָדוֹן יְיָ' צְבָאוֹת מְסָעֵף פֻּארָה וְגוֹ') and “A shoot shall go forth, etc.” (וְיָצָא חוֹטֶר וְגוֹ') And all is one, (וְכֹלָּא חַד) He uproots dwellers and settles dwellers. (מְעַקֵּר דִּיּוּרִין וְאָתִיב דִּיּוּרִין). Rabbi Yitzchak said, (רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר) there is a Lord, and there is a Lord, (אִית אָדוֹן, וְאִית אָדוֹן) and all depend upon one. (וְכֹלָּא בְּחַד תַּלְיָא).