Daf 124b (דַּף קכ״ד ע״ב)

Rabbi Yehudah said, (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר) "Adonai (אֲדֹנָי)—Alef Dalet Nun Yod—(אָלֶף דַּלֶית נוּן יוֹד) Kudsha Berikh Hu is called, (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִקְרֵי) and He who is so called (וְהַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי) is as He is written. (כְּמָה דְּאִיהוּ כְּתִיב). And who is this?" (וּמַאן הוּא). Rabbi Yosi says, (רַבִּי יוֹסִי אוֹמֵר) "'Visions (Mar'ot) of Elohim' (מַרְאֹת אֱלֹהִים) (Ezekiel 1). 'Vision' (Mar'at) is written. (מַרְאַת כְּתִיב). And what is Mar'at? (וּמַהוּ מַרְאַת). It is the perfection of everything: (שְׁלִימוּ דְּכֹלָּא) Yod Hei Vav Hei. (יוּ״ד הֵ״א וָא״ו הֵ״א). (Some say: Mar'at is Alef, etc. (נ״א מראת איהו א' כו') For what is Mar'at? (מַרְאַת לְמַאי אִיהוּ) Alef Dalet Nun Yod (אָלֶ״ף דָּלֶי״ת נוּ״ן יוּ״ד)— this is pronounced as written, (הַאי אִקְרֵי כִּכְתָבוֹ) and this is not pronounced as written. (וְהַאי לָא אִקְרֵי כִּכְתָבוֹ) Therefore, it is called by this; (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ אִקְרֵי בְּהַאי) thus it is written, 'Mar'at Elohim'." (וְעַל כַּךְ מַרְאַת אֱלֹהִים כְּתִיב).

Rabbi Yehudah said, (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר) "Sometimes the higher ones are called by the name of the lower ones, (לְזִמְנִין, עִלָּאִין אִקְרוּן בִּשְׁמָא דְּתַּתָּאִין) and sometimes the lower ones by the name of the higher ones. (וּלְזִמְנָא, תַּתָּאִין אִקְרוּן בִּשְׁמָא דְּעִלָּאִין). 'HaAdon Hashem'— (הָאָדֹן יְיָ') refers to the supreme name 'Adonai'. (בִּשְׁמָא עִלָּאָה אֲדֹנָי הוּא). And this we have established clearly. (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי). And in many ways words have been explained, (וּבִגְוָונִין סַגִּיאִין אִתְפָּרְשָׁן מִלֵּי) yet all is one. (וְכֹלָּא חַד). Blessed is the Merciful One; blessed be His Name forever and ever." (בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא בְּרִיךְ שְׁמֵיהּ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמִין). "(Exodus 23) Behold, I send an angel before you, etc." (הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שׁוֹלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ לְפָנֶיךָ וְגוֹ').

Rabbi Yitzchak opened: (רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח) "(Song of Songs 1) Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, etc." (יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ וְגוֹ') The Congregation of Yisrael said, (אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל) "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." (יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ). Why does it say "kiss me"? (מַאי טַעֲמָא יִשָּׁקֵנִי) It should say "love me." (יֶאֱהָבֵנִי מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ) Why "kiss me"? (אֲמַאי יִשָּׁקֵנִי). Rather, thus we have learned: (אֶלָּא הָכִי תָּנֵינָן) What is a kiss? (מַאי נְשִׁיקוֹת) It is the union of spirit with spirit. (אַדְבְּקוּתָא דְּרוּחָא בְּרוּחָא). Thus, a kiss is with the mouth, (דִּבְגִינִי כַּךְ נְשִׁיקָה בַּפֶּה) for the mouth is the outlet and source of the spirit. (דְּהָא פּוּמָא אַפְקוּתָא וּמְקוֹרָא דְּרוּחָא הוּא) Therefore, kisses are mouth-to-mouth in affection, (וְעַל דָּא נְשִׁיקִין בְּפוּמָא, בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא) and spirit clings to spirit, (וְדַבְקִין רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא) never separating from each other. (דְּלָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁן דָּא מִן דָּא). Therefore, whoever's soul departs by a kiss, (וְעַל דָּא מַאן דְּנָפִיק נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ בִּנְשִׁיקָה) is united with another spirit, (מִתְדְּבַּק בְּרוּחָא אַחֲרָא) a spirit never separated from him. (בְּרוּחָא דְּלָא מִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ). This is called a kiss. (וְהַיְינוּ אִקְרֵי נְשִׁיקָה). Therefore, the Congregation of Yisrael said, (וְעַל דָּא אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל) "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth," (יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ) to unite spirit with spirit, (לְאַדְבְּקָא רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא) never to separate from each other. (דְּלָא יִתְפְּרִישׁ דָּא מִן דָּא). "For your love is better than wine" (כִּי טוֹבִים דּוֹדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן). What does wine seek here? (מַאי בָּעֵי הָכָא יַיִן) Is it not written, "(Isaiah 28) And these also erred through wine…" (וְהָא כְּתִיב וְגַם אֵלֶּה בְּיַיִן שָׁגוּ וְגוֹ') and it is written, "(Leviticus 10) Wine and strong drink you shall not drink, you nor your sons…" (יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ) What is the reason wine is mentioned here? (מַאי טַעֲמָא הָכָא יַיִן). Rabbi Chiya said, (רַבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר) "It is from the wine of Orayta" (מִיֵּינָהּ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). Rabbi Chizkiyah said, (רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר) "This is what is written, '(Psalms 104) And wine gladdens the heart of man' (דָּא דִּכְתִּיב וְיַיִן יְשַׂמַּח לְבַב אֱנוֹשׁ), and therefore it is written, 'For your love is better than wine'—for joy of the heart. (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, כִּי טוֹבִים דּוֹדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן, לְחֶדְוָותָא דְּלִבָּא). Better than wine— (מִיָּיִן) because it gladdens me more than anything." (דְּחַדֵּי לִי יַתִּיר מִכֹּלָּא).

Rabbi Yehudah said, (רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר) "It is written, '(Bereshit 29) Jacob kissed Rachel, raised his voice, and wept.' (כְּתִיב, וַיִּשַּׁק יַעֲקֹב לְרָחֵל וְיִשָּׂא אֶת קוֹלוֹ וַיֵּבְךְ) Why did he weep? (אֲמַאי קָא בָּכָה). Because of the attachment of his spirit to her, (אֶלָּא בְּאִתְדַּבְּקוּתָא דְּרוּחָא בָּהּ) his heart could not endure, (לָא יָכִיל לִבָּא לְמִסְבַּל) and he wept. (וּבָכָה). And if you say, behold it is written, '(Bereshit 33) And he kissed him, and they wept.' (וְאִי תֵּימָא, הָא כְּתִיב, וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ). We have learned: (תָּנֵינָן) Why is 'he kissed him' dotted? (אֲמַאי נָקוּד וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ) Rather, because there was no attachment of spirit at all, (אֶלָּא דְּלָא אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ רוּחָא כְּלָל) thus it is written, '(Proverbs 27) The kisses of an enemy are burdensome.' (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, וְנַעְתָּרוֹת נְשִׁיקוֹת שׂוֹנֵא). What is 'the kisses of an enemy are burdensome'? (מַאי וְנַעְתָּרוֹת נְשִׁיקוֹת שׂוֹנֵא). Rather, one who kisses with love, (אֶלָּא מַאן דְּנָשִׁיק בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא) his spirit adheres to the other's spirit, (מִתְדָּבַק רוּחֵיהּ בְּרוּחֵיהּ) in attachment of love. (בִּדְבֵיקוּתָא דַּחֲבִיבוּתָא) But one who does not kiss with love, (וּמַאן דְּלָא נָשִׁיק בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא) it is not attachment, (לָאו בִּדְבֵיקוּתָא הוּא) rather, it is burdensome. (אֶלָּא וְנַעְתָּרוֹת). What is burdensome (נַעְתָּרוֹת)? Arrogance, (גַּסּוּתָא) that his spirit is not attached through that kiss, (דְּלָא דָּבִיק רוּחֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא נְשִׁיקָה). and is not attached at all. (וְלָא אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ כְּלָל). Therefore, it is written, (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ כְּתִיב) 'Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,' (יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ) for it is attachment of spirit to spirit." (דְּהוּא דְּבֵקוּתָא רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא). It was taught: (תָּנָא) Every time Kudsha Berikh Hu walks among Yisrael, (כָּל זִמְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָזִיל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל) it is, as it were, the attachment of spirit with spirit. (כִּבְיָכוֹל אִתְדָּבַּק רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא) Therefore it is written: "(Deuteronomy 4) But you who cleave unto Hashem," (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ') meaning in all manners of attachment, (בְּכָל אִינּוּן גַּוְונֵי דְּבֵיקוּתָא) never separating one from the other. (וְלָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁא דָּא מִן דָּא). Thus, when it was said, (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְּמַר) "Behold, I send an angel before you," (הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׂלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ לְפָנֶיךָ) Moses knew that it implied separation. (יָדַע מֹשֶׁה דִּפְרִישׁוּתָא הוּא). He thus said, (אָמַר) "(Exodus 33) If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." (אִם אֵין פָּנֶיךָ הוֹלְכִים אַל תַּעֲלֵנוּ מִזֶּה).

Rabbi Abba said, (רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר) What is written immediately above this? (מַה כְּתִיב לְעֵילָּא מִן דָּא) "(Exodus 23) The first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of Hashem your God; do not boil a kid in its mother’s milk." (רֵאשִׁית בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ תָּבִיא בֵּית יְיָ' אֱלהֶיךָ לֹא תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ). What does this signify? (מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי). It signifies not mixing a lower matter with a higher one, (אֶלָּא דְּלָא לְעָרְבָא מִלָּה תַּתָּאָה בְּעִלָּאָה) so that the external side shall not draw nourishment from the inner side. (דְּלָא יָנְקָא סִטְרָא דִּלְבַר, מִסִּטְרָא פְּנִימָאָה). What is the difference between this one and that one? (מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי). The external side is the side of impurity, (דָּא דִּלְבַר, מִסִּטְרָא דִּמְסַאֲבָא). and the inner side is the side of holiness. (וְדָא דִּלְגוֹ, בְּסִטְרָא קַדִּישָׁא). Who is the "mother"? (מַאן אִמּוֹ). She is the Congregation of Yisrael, (דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל) who is called "mother." (דְּאִתְקְרֵי אֵם). "In its mother's milk," (בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ) means that one who does not belong should not draw nourishment from this side. (דְּלָא יָנִיק מֵהַאי סִטְרָא, מַאן דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ). And here it is written, (וְהָכָא כְּתִיב) "Behold, I send an angel before you." (הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ לְפָנֶיךָ). Moses said: (אָמַר מֹשֶׁה) "But we have accepted a promise from You (הָא קַבִּילְנָא בִּטְחוֹנָא מִינָךְ) that You will never separate from us. (דְּלָא תִּתְפְּרַשׁ מִינָן) Indeed, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.' (וַדַּאי אִם אֵין פָּנְיךָ הוֹלְכִים אַל תַּעֲלֵנוּ מִזֶּה). For how then will it be known, etc." (וּבַמֶּה יִוָּדַע אֵיפוֹא וְגוֹ').