Daf 97a (דַּף צ״ז ע״א)

"When a man sells" (וְכִי יִמְכֹּר אִישׁ): This refers to Kudsha Berikh Hu (דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). "His daughter" (אֶת בִּתּוֹ): This is the holy Neshama (דָּא נִשְׁמְתָא קַדִּישָׁא). "As a maidservant" (לְאָמָה): To be a servant enslaved among you in this world (לְמֶהֱוֵי אָמָה מִשְׁתַּעְבְּדָא בֵּינַיְיכוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא).

When the time comes for her to depart from this world (בְּמָטוּ מִנַּיְיכוּ, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמָטֵי זִמְנָא לְנָפְקָא מֵהַאי עָלְמָא), "She shall not go out as the male servants do" (לֹא תֵצֵא כְּצֵאת הָעֲבָדִים): she shall not depart defiled by sins (לָא תִּפּוּק מִתְטַנְּפָא בְּחוֹבִין), but shall go forth as a free woman, pure and clean (תִּפּוּק בַּת חוֹרִין, בְּרִירָה נְקִיָּה), so that her Master will rejoice in her and praise Himself through her (בְּגִין דְּיֶחֱדֵי בָּהּ מָארָהּ וְיִשְׁתָּבַּח בָּהּ), granting her a good reward (וְיָהִיב לָהּ אֲגַר טָב), in the delights of the Garden of Eden (בְּצִחְצוּחֵי דְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן). As it is said (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): "And He will satisfy your soul with delights" (וְהִשְׁבִּיעַ בְּצַחְצָחוֹת נַפְשֶׁךָ) (Isaiah 58).

Certainly, she departs pure and clean, as is proper (וַדַּאי כַּד תִּפּוּק בְּרִירָה נְקִיָּה כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת). "But if she is displeasing in the eyes of her master" (אֲבָל אִם רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנֶיהָ), when she goes out defiled by sins (כַּד נַפְקַת מְלוּכְלָכָא בְּטִנוּפֵי חוֹבִין), and does not appear before Him as is proper (וְלָא אִתְחֲזִיאַת קָמֵיהּ כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת), woe unto that body (וַוי לְהַהוּא גּוּפָא), for it is eternally lost from that Neshama (דְּאִתְאֲבִיד מֵהַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא לְעָלְמִין). For when Neshamot ascend purely and depart clean from this world (בְּגִין, דְּכַד נִשְׁמָתִין סַלְּקִין בְּרִירָן, וְנָפְקִין נְקִיִּין מֵהַאי עָלְמָא), each and every Neshama enters into the Book p6-40(כָּל נִשְׁמְתָא וְנִשְׁמְתָא, עָאלַת בְּסִפְרָא) of the King's treasury (דְּאַחְמָתָא דְּמַלְכָּא), and they are all recorded by name (וְכֻלְּהוּ בִּשְׁמָהָן). And He says (וְאָמַר): “This is the Neshama [Soul] of so-and-so (דָּא הִיא נִשְׁמָתָא דִּפְלַנְיָא), destined to return to that very body which she left” (זְמִינַת תְּהֵא לְהַהוּא גּוּפָא דְּשַׁבְקַת). Thus it is written (וּכְדֵין כְּתִיב): “He designated her for himself,” spelled Lo [to him] with a Vav (לוֹ יְעָדָהּ, בְּו׳) (Shemot 21:8). But when she departs displeasing in the eyes of her Master (וְכַד נַפְקַת רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנֶיהָ), defiled through transgressions and the filth of sins (דְּקָא אִסְתְּאָבַא בְּחוֹבִין, וּבְטִנּוּפָא דְּחַטָּאִין), then it is written: “He did not designate her,” spelled Lo [not] with an Aleph (כְּדֵין לא יְעָדָהּ בְּא׳).

Thus that body is lost from her (וְאִתְאֲבִיד הַהוּא גּוּפָא מִינָהּ), and she is no longer destined for it (וְאִיהִי לָא אִזְדַּמְּנַת לְגַבֵּיהּ), except when her Master desires her (בַּר הַהִיא דְּמָארָהּ אִתְרְעֵי), and the body returns in complete Teshuvah (וְתָב בְּתִיוּבְתָּא דְּגוּפָא בָּהּ). Then it is written (כְּדֵין כְּתִיב): “And he shall redeem her” (וְהֶפְדָּהּ) (Shemot 21:8), as you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “He redeemed his Nefesh [Soul] from descending into the pit” (פָדָה נַפְשׁוֹ מֵעֲבוֹר בַּשָּׁחַת) (Iyov 33:28). “And he shall redeem her” (וְהֶפְדָּהּ)—this depends upon the person himself (הַאי אִיהוּ בְּבַר נָשׁ), whose own counsel can redeem her (דְּעֵיטָא דִּילֵיהּ, דְּיִפְרוֹק לָהּ), and he shall return in Teshuvah (וְיֵתוּב בְּתִיוּבְתָּא). Thus Kudsha Berikh Hu speaks concerning both sides (וְלִתְרֵין סִטְרִין קָאָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא): “And he shall redeem her” (וְהֶפְדָּהּ)—through Teshuvah (בְּתִיוּבְתָּא). After he returns in Teshuvah (לְבָתַר דְּתָב בְּתִיוּבְתָּא), he redeems her from the path of Gehinnom (פָּדָא לָהּ מֵאָרְחָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם).

"He shall have no power to sell her to a foreign people" (לְעַם נָכְרִי לֹא יִמְשֹׁל לְמָכְרָהּ). Who is this foreign people? (מַאן עַם נָכְרִי). The Neshama is abased (עֲלוּבָתָא אִיהִי נִשְׁמָתָא); when she departs from this world, and the person corrupted his ways with her (דְּכַד נַפְקַת מֵעָלְמָא, וּבַר נָשׁ אַסְטֵי אָרְחֵיהּ בַּהֲדָהּ), she tries to ascend upward among holy hosts (הִיא בָּעָאת לְסַלְּקָא לְעֵילָּא, גּוֹ מַשְׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין). For holy hosts stand on the path of Gan Eden (בְּגִין דְּמַשְׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין קַיְימִין בְּהַהוּא אָרְחָא דְגַּן עֵדֶן), and foreign hosts stand on the path of Gehinnom (וּמַשְׁרְיָין נוּכְרָאִין קַיְימִין בְּהַהוּא אָרְחָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם).

If the Neshama merits (זָכְתָה נִשְׁמְתָא), it is guarded (וְהַהוּא נְטִירוּ), and they spread a precious garment over her (וּפְרִישׂוּ דִּלְבוּשָׁא יַקִּירָא עָלָהּ). Many holy hosts prepare themselves (כַּמָּה מַשְׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין, קָא מִתְעַתְּדָן לָהּ) to join her (לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדָהּ), and bring her into Gan Eden (וּלְמֵיעָאל לָהּ לְגַּן עֵדֶן).

If she does not merit (לֹא זָכְתָה), numerous foreign hosts (כַּמָּה מַשְׁיירְיָן נוּכְרָאִין) prepare themselves to take her along the path to Gehinnom (מִתְעַתְּדָן לְמֵיעַל לָהּ בְּאָרְחָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם). And these hosts of destructive angels stand ready to exact vengeance upon her (וְאִינּוּן מַשְׁרְיָין דְּמַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה זְמִינִין לְמֶעְבַּד בָּהּ נוּקְמִין). The verse explicitly corrects this (אָתָא קְרָא וְאוֹכַח): "He shall have no power to sell her to a foreign people" (לְעַם נָכְרִי לא יִמְשֹׂל לְמָכְרָהּ). These foreign people are the destructive angels (אִלֵּין מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה). "Because he betrayed her" (בְּבִגְדוֹ בָהּ): this is protection (אִיהוּ נְטִירָא), for Kudsha Berikh Hu provides her protection (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד לָהּ נְטִירָא), so that a foreign people shall have no dominion over her (דְּלָא יִשְׁלוֹט בָּהּ עַם נָכְרִי), through the protective garment spread upon her (בְּהַהוּא פְּרִיסוּ דִּנְטִירוּ עָלָּהּ).

"And if he designates her for his son" (וְאִם לִבְנוֹ יִיעָדֶנָּה) (Exodus 21). Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי) how careful a person must be not to corrupt his ways in this world (כַּמָּה אִית לֵיהּ לְּבַּר נָשׁ לְאִזְדַּהֲרָא דְּלָא יִסְטֵי אָרְחוֹי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא). For if a person merits in this world (דְּאִי זָכָה בַּר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), and properly guards his Neshama (וְנָטִיר לָהּ לְנִשְׁמְתָא כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת), this is the person in whom Kudsha Berikh Hu delights (הַאי אִיהוּ בַּר נָשׁ דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרְעֵי בֵּיהּ). He praises him daily before His heavenly retinue (וְאִשְׁתָּבַח בֵּיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמַיָּא, בְּפָמַלְיָיא דִּילֵיהּ), and says: "Behold, the holy child I have in that world (וְאָמַר, חֲמוּ בְּרָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּאִית לִי בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא)!

Such and such he does; such and such are his perfected deeds" (כַּךְ וְכָךְ עָבִיד, כַּךְ וְכָךְ עוֹבָדוֹי מִתְתַּקְּנָן). And when this Neshama departs from this world (וְכַד הַאי נִשְׁמְתָא, נַפְקַת מְהַאי עָלְמָא), meritorious, clean, and pure (זַכְיָיא נְקִיָּיה בְּרִירָה), Kudsha Berikh Hu illuminates her with many radiant lights (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַנְהִיר לָהּ בְּכַמָּה נְהוֹרִין), and calls upon her daily (בְּכָל יוֹמָא קָארֵי עָלָהּ), saying: "This is the Neshama of My son so-and-so (דָּא הִיא נִשְׁמְתָא דִּפְלַנְיָא בְּרִי). Let her be preserved for that body she left behind" (נְטִירָא לִיהֲוִי לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גּוּפָא דְּשָׁבַק). And this is what is written (וְדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב): "And if he designates her for his son, he shall treat her according to the custom of daughters" (וְאִם לִבְנוֹ יִיעָדֶנָּה כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנוֹת יַעֲשֶׂה לָּהּ). What is "according to the custom of daughters"? (מַאי כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנוֹת). Here lies a mystery for the wise (הָכָא אִית רָזָא לְחַכִּימִין): Within a powerful rock, a concealed firmament (בְּגוֹ טִנָרָא תַּקִּיפָא, רְקִיעָא טְמִירָא), there is a certain palace (אִית הֵיכָלָא חֲדָא) called the Palace of Love (דְּאִקְרֵי הֵיכַל אַהֲבָה). There hidden treasures are found (וְתַמָּן אִינּוּן גִּנְזִין טְמִירִין), and all the kisses of the love of the King are there (וְכָל נְשִׁיקִין דִּרְחִימוּ דְמַלְכָּא אִינּוּן תַּמָּן), and there the beloved Neshamot of the King enter (וְאִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתִין רְחִימָאן דְּמַלְכָּא עָאלִין תַּמָּן).

When the King enters that palace of the King (כֵּיוָן דְּמַלְכָּא עָאל בְּהַהוּא הֵיכָלָא דְּמַלְכָּא), there it is written (תַּמָּן כְּתִיב): "And Jacob kissed Rachel" (וַיִּשַּׁק יַעֲקֹב לְרָחֵל) (Bereshit 29). And Kudsha Berikh Hu finds there that holy Neshama (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַשְׁכַּח תַּמָּן לְהַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא קַדִּישָׁא), immediately He hastens and kisses her (קָדִים מִיַּד וְנָשִׁיק לָהּ), and embraces her (וְגָפִיף לָהּ), and raises her up with Him (וְסָלִיק לָהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ), and delights in her (וְאִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בָּהּ). And this is "according to the custom of daughters he shall treat her" (וְדָא הוּא כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנוֹת יַעֲשֶׂה לָהּ), like the way a father behaves towards his beloved daughter (כְּדִינָא דְּאַבָּא עָבִיד לִבְרַתֵיהּ, דְּאִיהִי חֲבִיבָא לְגַבֵּיהּ): he kisses her (דְּנָשִׁיק לָהּ), embraces her (וְגָפִיף לָהּ), and gives her gifts (וְיָהִיב לָהּ מַתְנָן). So Kudsha Berikh Hu does each day (כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד), with the meritorious Neshama (לְנִשְׁמְתָא זַכָּאָה), as it is written (בְּכָל יוֹמָא, כְּמָה דְּכְתִּיב): "According to the custom of daughters, he shall treat her" (כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנוֹת יַעֲשֶׂה לָהּ).