Daf 88b (דַּף פ״ח ע״ב)

Rabbi Abba (some say: Rav Hamnuna Sava) (רַבִּי אַבָּא (נ״א: רַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא) when he would sit at the Shabbat meal (כַּד הֲוָה יָתִיב בִּסְעוּדָתָא דְּשַׁבְּתָא), he would rejoice at each and every one (הֲוֵי חַדֵּי בְּכָל חַד וְחַד), and he would say: this is the holy meal of Atika Kadisha, the concealed one of all (וַהֲוָה אָמַר, דָּא הִיא סְעוּדָתָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא סְתִימָא דְּכֹלָּא). At the next meal he would say: this is the meal of Kudsha Berikh Hu (בִּסְעוּדָתָא אַחֲרָא הֲוָה אָמַר, דָּא הִיא סְעוּדָתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And so at all the meals, and he would rejoice in each and every one (וְכֵן בְּכֻלְּהוּ סְעוּדָתֵי, וַהֲוָה חַדֵּי בְּכָל חַד וְחַד). When he would complete his meals, he would say: the meals of faith have been completed (כַּד הֲוָה אַשְׁלִים סְעוּדָתֵי, אָמַר, אַשְׁלִימוּ סְעוּדָתֵי דִּמְהֵימָנוּתָא).

Rabbi Shimon, when he would come to the meal, would say thus: prepare the meal of supernal faith, prepare the meal of the King (רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, כַּד הֲוָה אָתֵי לִסְעוּדָתָא, הֲוָה אָמַר הָכִי, אַתְקִינוּ סְעוּדָתָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה, אַתְקִינוּ סְעוּדָתָא דְּמַלְכָּא), and he would sit and rejoice (וַהֲוָה יָתִיב וְחַדֵּי). When he completed the third meal, they would proclaim about him, “Then you shall delight in Hashem” (כַּד אַשְׁלִים סְעוּדָתָא תְּלִיתָאָה, הֲווֹ מַכְרִזֵי עָלֵיהּ, אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יְיָ׳) (Isaiah 58), “and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth” (וְהִרְכַּבְתִּיךָ עַל בָּמֳתֵי אָרֶץ), “and I will feed you the inheritance of Ya'akov your father” (וְהַאֲכַלְתִּיךָ נַחֲלַת יַעֲקֹב אָבִיךָ).

Rabbi El'azar said to his father: how are these meals established? (אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְאָבוּי, אִלֵּין סְעוּדָתֵי הֵיךְ מִתְתַּקְנִין). He said to him: on the night of Shabbat it is written, “And I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth” (אָמַר לֵיהּ, לֵילְיָא דְּשַׁבְּתָא, כְּתִיב, וְהִרְכַּבְתִּיךָ עַל בָּמֳתֵי אָרֶץ) (Isaiah 58). On that night the Matronita is blessed, and all the orchard of the apples, and the table of a person is blessed, and an extra soul is given, and that night is the joy of the Matronita (בֵּיהּ בְּלֵילְיָא, מִתְבָּרְכָא מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ חֲקַל תַּפּוּחִין, וּמִתְבָּרְכָא פָּתוֹרֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, וְנִשְׁמְתָא אִתּוֹסְפַת, וְהַהוּא לֵילְיָא, חֶדְוָה דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא הֲוֵי). And a person must rejoice in that joy and eat the meal of the Matronita (וּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶחדֵי בְּחֶדְוָותָא, וּלְמֵיכַל סְעוּדָתָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא).

On the day of Shabbat, at the second meal, it is written, “Then you shall delight in Hashem”-in Hashem indeed (בְּיוֹמָא דְּשַׁבְּתָא, בִּסְעוּדָתָא תִּנְיָינָא, כְּתִיב, אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יְיָ׳-עַל יְיָ׳ וַדַּאי) (Isaiah 58). For at that hour, Atika Kadisha is revealed, and all worlds are in joy, and the perfection and joy of Atika are accomplished, and it is certainly His meal (דְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִתְגַּלְיָא עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין בְּחֶדְוָותָא, וּשְׁלִימוּ וְחֶדְוָותָא דְּעַתִּיקָא עַבְדֵּינָן, וּסְעוּדָתָא דִּילֵיהּ הוּא וַדַּאי).

At the third meal of Shabbat, it is written, “And I will feed you the inheritance of Ya'akov your father” (בִּסְעוּדָתָא תְּלִיתָאָה דְּשַׁבְּתָא, כְּתִיב, וְהַאֲכַלְתִּיךָ נַחֲלַת יַעֲקֹב אָבִיךָ) (Isaiah 58) this is the meal of Ze’ir Anpin, which is in completion (דָּא הִיא סְעוּדָתָא דִּזְעֵיר אַפִּין, דְּהַוֵי בִּשְׁלֵימוּתָא). And all six days are blessed from that completion (וְכֻלְּהוּ שִׁיתָא יוֹמִין, מֵהַהוּא שְׁלִימוּ מִתְבָּרְכָן).

And a person must rejoice in his meal, and complete these meals (וּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶחדֵי בִּסְעוּדָתֵיהּ, וּלְאַשְׁלְמָא אִלֵּין סְעוּדָתֵי), which are the meals of perfect faith (דְּאִינּוּן סְעוּדָתֵי מְהֵימָנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא), of the holy seed of Yisrael, who possess supernal faith-for it is theirs and not of the nations who serve stars and constellations (דְּזַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּי מְהֵימָנוּתָא עִלָּאָה, דְּהָא דִּילְהוֹן הִיא, וְלָא דְּעַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת). And because of this it is written, “Between Me and the children of Yisrael” (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ אָמַר, בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Exodus 31).

Come and see: through these meals, Yisrael are recognized as sons of the King (תָּא חֲזֵי, בִּסְעוּדָתֵי אִלֵּין, אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינּוּן בְּנִי מַלְכָּא), as those from the palace of the King (דְּאִינּוּן מֵהֵיכָלָא דְּמַלְכָּא), as sons of faith (דְּאִינּוּן בְּנִי מְהֵימָנוּתָא). And one who blemishes even one of these meals (וּמַאן דְּפָגִים חַד סְעוּדָתָא מִנַּיְיהוּ), shows a blemish above (אַחְזֵי פְּגִימוּתָא לְעֵילָּא), and reveals himself as not of the sons of the supernal King (וְאַחְזֵי גַּרְמֵיהּ דְּלָאו מִבְּנֵי מַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה הוּא), not of the palace of the King (דְּלָאו מִבְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא דְּמַלְכָּא הוּא), not of the holy seed of Yisrael (דְּלָאו מִזַּרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא). And upon him they place the severity of three judgments: the judgment of Gehinnom and so on (וְיָהֲבִין עָלֵיהּ חוּמְרָא דִּתְלַת מִלִּין, דִּינָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם וְגו').

Come and see: on all other times and festivals, a person must rejoice and gladden the poor (וְתָא חֲזִי, בְּכֻלְּהוּ שְׁאַר זִמְנִין וְחַגִּין, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לֶחְדֵי, וּלְמֵחְדֵי לְמִסְכְּנֵי). But if he rejoices alone and does not give to the poor, his punishment is great (וְאִי הוּא חַדֵּי בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְלָא יָהִיב לְמִסְכְּנֵי, עוֹנְשֵׁיהּ סַגִּי), for he rejoices by himself and brings no joy to another (דְּהָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי חַדֵּי, וְלָא יָהִיב חִדוּ לְאָחֲרָא). About him it is written, “I will spread dung upon your faces, the dung of your festivals” (וְעָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב, וְזֵרִיתִי פֶרֶשׁ עַל פְּנֵיכֶם, פֶּרֶשׁ חַגֵּיכֶם) (Malachi 2).

But if he rejoices on Shabbat, even if he does not give to another, no punishment is given to him as on other festivals (וְאִי אִיהוּ בְּשַׁבְּתָא חַדֵּי, אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא יָהִיב לְאַחֲרָא, לָא יַהֲבִין עָלֵיהּ עוֹנְשָׁא, כִּשְׁאַר זִמְנִין וְחַגִּין), for it is written, “the dung of your festivals” (דִּכְתִּיב, פֶּרֶשׁ חַגֵּיכֶם) your festivals, and not “your Shabbats” (פֶּרֶשׁ חַגֵּיכֶם קָאָמַר, וְלֹא פֶּרֶשׁ שַׁבַּתְּכֶם). And it is written, “Your new moons and your appointed festivals My soul hates” (וּכְתִיב, חָדְשֵׁיכֶם וּמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם שָׂנְאָה נַפְשִׁי) (Isaiah 1), but it does not say “Shabbat.” And because of this, it is written, “Between Me and the children of Yisrael” (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ כְּתִיב, בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Exodus 31). And since all faith is found in Shabbat (וּמִשּׁוּם דְּכָל מְהֵימָנוּתָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּשַׁבְּתָא), a person is given an additional soul-an exalted soul, a soul in which all completion exists (יַהֲבִין לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ נִשְׁמְתָא אַחֲרָא, נִשְׁמְתָא עִלָּאָה, נִשְׁמְתָא דְּכָל שְׁלִימוּ בָּהּ), like the soul of the world to come (כְּדוּגְמָא דְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). And because of this, it is called Shabbat (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ אִקְרֵי שַׁבָּת). What is Shabbat?-the Name of Kudsha Berikh Hu (מַהוּ שַׁבָּת שְׁמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), the Name that is complete on all sides (שְׁמָא דְּאִיהוּ שְׁלִים מִכָּל סִטְרוֹי).

Rabbi Yose said, certainly it is so (אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וַדַּאי כַּךְ הוּא). Woe to the person who does not complete the joy of the Holy King (וַוֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, דְּלָא אַשְׁלִים חֶדָוָותָא דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא). And what is His joy? These three meals of faith (וּמַאן חֶדְוָותָא דֵּילֵיהּ אִלֵּין תְּלַת סְעוּדָתֵי מְהֵימָנוּתָא). The meals of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'akov are contained in them (סְעוּדָתֵי דְּאַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב כְּלִילָן בְּהוּ), and they are joy upon joy, complete faith from every side (וְכֻלְּהוּ חִדוּ עַל חִדוּ, מְהֵימָנוּתָא שְׁלֵימוּתָא, מִכָּל סִטְרוֹי).

It was taught: on this day the Patriarchs are crowned (תָּאנָא, בַּהֲדֵין יוֹמָא מִתְעַטְּרָן אֲבָהָן), and all their offspring draw sustenance-unlike all other festivals and times (וְכָל בְּנִין יַנְקִין, מַה דְּלָאו הָכִי בְּכָל שְׁאַר חַגִּין וּזְמָנִין). On this day, the guilty in Gehinnom rest (בַּהֲדֵין יוֹמָא, חַיָּיבַיָּא דְּגֵיהִנָּם נַיְיחִין). On this day, all judgments are subdued, and they are not aroused in the world (בַּהֲדֵין יוֹמָא, כָּל דִּינִין אִתְכַּפְיָין, וְלָא מִתְעָרִין בְּעָלְמָא). On this day, the Orayta is crowned with complete crowns (בַּהֲדֵין יוֹמָא, אוֹרַיְיתָא מִתְעַטְּרָא בְּעִטְרִין שְׁלֵימִין). On this day, joy and delight are heard in 250 worlds (בַּהֲדֵין יוֹמָא, חֶדְוָותָא וְתַפְנוּקָא אִשְׁתְּמַע, בְּמָאתָן וְחַמְשִׁין עָלְמִין).

Come and see: on all six days of the week, when the hour of Minḥah arrives, harsh judgment rules, and all judgments are aroused (תָּא חֲזִי, בְּכָל שִׁיתָא יוֹמֵי דְּשַׁבְּתָא, כַּד מָטָא שַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה, דִּינָא תַּקִּיפָא שַׁלְטָא, וְכָל דִּינִין מִתְעָרִין) (Daf 156a). But on the day of Shabbat, when the time of Minḥah comes, the will of all wills is found (אֲבָל בְּיוֹמָא דְּשַׁבְּתָא, כַּד מָטָא עִדַן דִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה, רַעֲוָא דְּרַעֲוִין אִשְׁתְּכַח), and Atika Kadisha reveals His will (וְעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא גַּלְיָא רָצוֹן דִּילֵיהּ), and all judgments are subdued, and goodwill and joy are found in all (וְכָל דִּינִין מִתְכַּפְיָין, וּמִשְׁתְּכַח רְעוּתָא וְחֵדּוּ בְּכֹלָּא).