Daf 172a (דַּף קע״ב ע״א)

There are illnesses among human beings (מַרְעִין אִית בִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא), such as yellowish and greenish ones (כְּגוֹן יְרוֹקִין וְקַסְטִירִין). Their healing does not depend (דְּאַסְוָותָא דִילְהוֹן לָא תָּלֵי) except upon one vision of gleaming iron that sparkles to the eyes (אֶלָּא בְּחַד מַרְאֶה דְּפַרְזְלָא קָלִיל נָצִיץ לְעַיְינִין), and its owner shows it in order to gaze at it (וְאִית לֵיהּ לְמָארֵיהּ דְּמַרֵע לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ). And it does not (וְלָא), Some say: is commonly found (נ״א: שַׁכִיךְ), Some say: is healed (ס״א: אִתְסִי), through this until that vision passes from one side to the other (בְּהַאי עַד דְּאַעְבַּר הַהוּא מַרְאֶה לְסִטְרָא דָּא וּלְסִטְרָא דָּא), like the scepter (כְּגַוְונָא דְּשַׁרְבִיטָא), which sends a lightning spark to the face (דְּיוֹשִׁיט נְצִיצוּ דְּבָרָק לְאַנְפּוֹי), and with that extension of lightning that sparkles to the eyes (וּבְהַהוּא אוֹשִׁיטוּ דְּבָרָק דְּקָא נָצִיץ לְעַיְינִין), healing comes to him (אָתֵי לֵיהּ אַסְוָותָא).

So too (אוּף הָכִי), all those over whom the stars have dominion (כָּל אִינּוּן דְּשַׁלְטֵי עָלַיְיהוּ אִינּוּן כֹּכָבַיָּא), they have no perfection or greatness in what appears (לֵית לוֹן תִּקּוּנָא וּגְדוּלָא בַּמֶּה דְּאִתְחָזֵי), except in that extension of the scepter (בַּר הַהוּא פְּשִׁיטוּ דְּשַׁרְבִיטָא), and through this they are perfected (וּבְהַאי מִתַּתְקְנֵי), through vision, through color, through force (בְּחֵיזוּ, בְּגָוְון, בְּחֵילָא), as it appears (כְּמָה דְּאִתְחָזֵי). And it is proper (וְשַׁפִּיר אִיהוּ), for this manner is hinted at in the book of King Shlomo (דְּהָא כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, רָמִיז בְּסִפְרָא דִּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא), in the wisdom of precious stones (בְּחָכְמְתָא דְּאַבְנִין יְקִירִין), that if they lack the radiance of the sparkle and flame of the known stars (דְּאִי חָסֵר מִנְּהוֹן נֹגְהָא דִּנְצִיצוּ וּלְהִיטוּ דְּכֹּכָבַיָּא יְדִיעָן), they do not grow (לָא מְגַדְּלִין), and they are not perfected forever (וְלָא מְתַקְּנֵי לוֹן לְעָלְמִין), Some say: they are never perfected (ס״א: מִתַּתְּקְנִין לְעָלְמִין). And all of this was prepared by Kudsha Berikh Hu for the rectification of the world (וְכֹלָּא אַתְקִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְתִקּוּנָא דְּעָלְמָא), as you say: “To give light upon the earth” (Bereshit 1) (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ), for all that is needed in this world to repair it (בְּכָל מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא לְתַקְּנָא לֵיהּ). It is written: “And you shall make fifty hooks of copper” (Exodus 26) (כְּתִיב וְעָשִׂיתָ קַרְסֵי נְחֹשֶׁת חֲמִשִּׁים), and it is written: “And you shall make fifty hooks of gold” (כְּתִיב וְעָשִׂיתָ חֲמִשִּׁים קַרְסֵי זָהָב). And we have learned (וְתָנֵינָן), whoever did not see those hooks in the Mishkan (מַאן דְּלָא חָמָא אִינּוּן קְרָסִים בְּמַשְׁכְּנָא), has not seen the radiance of the stars in the firmament (לָא חָמָא נְהִירוּ דְּכֹּכָבַיָּא בִּרְקִיעָא), because in that vision and in that color (בְּגִין דִּבְהַהוּא חֵיזוּ, וּבְהַהוּא גַּוְונָא), they are similar to all who gaze upon them (דַּמְיָין לְכָל מַאן דְּאִסְתַּכַּל בְּהוּ).

There are stars in the firmament (כֹּכָבַיָּא אִית בִּרְקִיעָא), which emerge from that firmament where all the stars are attached (דְּאִלֵּין נַפְקֵי מֵהַהוּא רְקִיעָא דְּכָל כֹּכָבַיָּא אַדּוּקִין תַּמָּן). In that firmament there are one hundred window-lintels (בְּהַהוּא רְקִיעָא אִית מְאָה חַלּוֹנִי מַשְׁקוֹפִין), some on the side of the east (מִנְּהוֹן לִסְטַר מִזְרָח), and some on the side of the south (וּמִנְּהוֹן לִסְטַר דָּרוֹם). And in every single window, one star (וּבְכָל חַלּוֹנָא וְחַלּוֹנָא כֹּכָבָא חַד). And when the sun goes through those windows and lintels of the firmament (וְכַד שִׁמְשָׁא אָזִיל בְּאִינּוּן חַלּוֹנִין וּמַשְׁקוֹפִין דִּי בִּרְקִיעָא), it shines with brilliance (נָצִיץ בִּנְצִיצוּ), and those stars emerge to sparkle from that radiance of the sun (וְאִלֵּין כֹּכָבַיָּא נַפְקֵי לְאִתְנַצְּצָא מֵהַהוּא נְצִיצוּ דְּשִׁמְשָׁא), and they become colored (וְאִצְטַבָּעוּ)—some red like the appearance of copper (מִנְהוֹן סוּמָקִין כְּגַוְונָא דִּנְחֹשֶׁת), and some green like the appearance of gold (וּמִנְהוֹן יְרוֹקִין כְּגַוְונָא דְּזָהָב). And because of this—these are red, and these are green (וְעַל דָּא, אִלֵּין סוּמָקִין, וְאִלֵּין יְרוֹקִין).

Fifty are in those fifty windows (חֲמִשִּׁים אִינּוּן בְּאִינּוּן חֲמִשִּׁים חַלּוֹנִין), Some say: and fifty are in the other windows (נ״א: וְחֲמִשִּׁים אִינּוּן בְּאִינּוּן חַלּוֹנִין אַחֲרָנִין). On the eastern side are the green ones (דְּלִסְטַר מִזְרָח אִינּוּן יְרוֹקִין), and on the southern side are the red ones (דְּלִסְטַר דָּרוֹם אִינּוּן סוּמָקִין), in them is unified the conclusion of the Mishkan (בְּהוּ אִתְאַחָד סִיּוּמָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא).

In all those stars that go out from that firmament (בְּכָל אִינּוּן כֹּכָבַיָּא דְּנַפְקֵי מֵהַהוּא רְקִיעַ), those stars mingle by night (מִתְעָרְבֵי אִינּוּן כֹּכָבַיָּא בְּלֵילְיָא), and they sparkle, blaze, and rule over this world (וְנַצְצֵי וּמְלַהֲטֵי וְשַׁלְטֵי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא). Some of them over copper (מִנְהוֹן עַל נְחֹשֶׁת), and some over greenish gold (מִנְהוֹן עַל זָהָב יְרַקְרָק), and they are rectified and grow according to their strength (וְאִתְתַּקְנָן וּמְגַדְּלָן עַל חֵילָא דִּלְהוֹן).

These stars rule over twenty-five and a half points of the night (אִלֵּין כֹּכָבַיָּא שַׁלְטֵי בְּכ״ה וּפַלְגָּא נְקוּדִין דְּלֵילְיָא), which are moments of the hour (דְּאִינּוּן רִגְעֵי שַׁעֲתָא), and they are the ones that grow copper, which are red, fiery, and sparkling (וְאִינּוּן דְּמְגַדְּלֵי נְחֹשֶׁת דְּאִינּוּן סוּמָקֵי וְלַהֲטֵי וְנַצְצֵי). And when they extend their sparkling three times toward the east (וְכַד אוֹשִׁיטוּ תְּלָת זִמְנִין נְצִיצוּ לְסִטְרָא דְּמִזְרָח), or five, or seven (אוֹ חֲמֵשׁ, אוֹ שֶׁבַע), kings of the nations will come upon that side (מַלְכֵי עַמִּין יִיִתוּן עַל הַהוּא סִטְרָא), and all wealth and gold will be removed from that side (וְכָל עֻתְרָא וְדַהֲבָא יִסְתַּלָּק מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא).

But if the sparkling is one, or two, four, six—one after the other (וְאִי נְצִיצוּ חַד, תְּרֵין, אַרְבַּע, שִׁית, דָּא בָּתַר דָּא), fear and dread will fall (אֵימָתָא וּפַחֲדָא יִפּוֹל), and will dwell upon that side (וְיִשְׁרֵי עַל הַהוּא סִטְרָא). If the sparkling strikes and subsides, strikes and subsides (בָּטִישׁ נְצִיצוּ וְשָׁכִיךְ, בָּטִישׁ נְצִיצוּ וְשָׁכִיךְ), wars will be aroused (יִתְּעֲרוּ קְרָבֵי), and they will not be fulfilled (וְלָא יִתְעַבִּידוּ), Some say: disturbances will happen in that place (ד״א: בְּעָלְמָא בְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא). For at that time (דְּהָא בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא), arousal above is before Kudsha Berikh Hu (אִתְעֲרוּתָא הוּא לְעֵילָּא קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), through those appointed over the world who rule over the other nations (בְּאִינּוּן מְמָנָן דְּעָלְמָא דְּשַׁלְטִין עַל שְׁאָר עַמִּין), and likewise, in this manner, on the other side as well (וְכֵן כְּגַוְונָא דָּא בְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא).

He opened and said (פָּתַח וְאָמַר): “Let the Name of the God be blessed from eternity and until eternity, for wisdom and might are His” (Daniel 2) (לֶהֱוֵא שְׁמֵהּ דִּי אֱלָהָא מְבָרַךְ מִן עָלְמָא וְעַד עָלְמָא דִּי חָכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָּא דִּילֵיהּ הִיא). And He changes times and seasons (וְהוּא מְהַשְּׁנֵא עִדָּנַיָּא וְזִמְנַיָּא). And all is in His control (וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ), and He delivers His holy nation from the power and dominion of stars and constellations (וְאַפִּיק לְעַמֵּיהּ קַדִּישָׁא, מֵחֵילָא וּרְשׁוּתָא דְּכֹּכָבַיָּא וּמַזָּלֵי), because they are subject to other sins (בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן טַעֲוָון אַחֲרָן), and not among these portions of Ya'akov (וְלָא בְּאִלֵּין חוּלָקָא דְּיַעֲקֹב), but rather—as it is written: “But the One who forms all—He is” (Jeremiah 10) (כִּי אִם בְּיוֹצֵר הַכֹּל הוּא).

There is a firmament above (רָקִיעַ אִית לְעֵילָּא), above all these firmaments (עַל כָּל אִלֵּין רְקִיעִין), and it is hidden and concealed (וְאִיהוּ טָמִיר וְגָנִיז), and the seal of the stamp of the Mishkan rules over this firmament (וְחוֹתָמָא דְּגוּשְׁפַּנְקָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא שַׁלְטָא עַל הַאי רָקִיעַ). And this firmament is called the Chamber of the Mishkan (וְהַאי רָקִיעַ אִקְרֵי אִדָּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא), and in this firmament are all those windows (וּבְהַאי רָקִיעַ כָּל אִינּוּן חַלּוֹנִין), on this side and on that side (מִסִּטְרָא דָּא, וּמִסִּטְרָא דָּא), and it holds all the arrangements of the Mishkan (וְאָחִיד כָּל אִינּוּן סִדּוּרִין דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא). Six windows are the greatest over all p1-49(שִׁית חַלּוֹנִין אִינּוּן רַבְרְבִין עַל כֻּלְּהוּ), and one is sealed, to rule over them (וְחַד סָתִים לְשַׁלְטָא עָלַיְיהוּ). One window is called the Window of Radiance (חַלוֹנָא חַד, אִקְרֵי חַלוֹן זָהֳרָא), and through it goes forth one star (וּבֵיהּ נָפְקָא כֹּכָבָא חֲדָא), which is called by the Sages “Yad” (דְּאִקְרֵי לְחַכִּימֵי יַ״ד), and this is the iron that smelts downward with the dominion of Yehudah (וְדָא אִיהוּ הִתּוּכָא דְּקָא מְהַתֵּךְ לְתַתָּא בְּשֻׁלְטָנוּתָא דִּיהוּדָה).

Not that it has a portion in it (לָאו דְּאִית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא בֵּיהּ), for the tribes of Yisrael have no portion or inheritance in it (דְּהָא לֵית לַשְּׁבָטִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל חוּלָקָא וְאַחֲסָנָא בְּהוּ), only the tribe of Yehudah rules over it (אֶלָּא שִׁבְטָא דִּיהוּדָה שַׁלְטָא עַל הַאי), and it is not over him (וְלָאו אִיהוּ עָלֵיהּ). And when the children of Yehudah turned their ways from Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְכַד אַסְטוּ בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה אָרְחַיְיהוּ מִבָּתַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), they went to inquire concerning this window and this star (אָזְלוּ לְמִנְדַּע בָּתַר חַלוֹנָא דָּא, וְהַאי כֹּכָבָא).

And they said (וְאָמְרוּ), Some say: for they knew (ס״א: דְּהָא יָדַע)—that this is the hand that conquers the other nations (דְּהַאי יְדָא דְּקָא מְנַצַּח לִשְׁאָר עַמִּין), as it is written about it: “Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies” (Bereshit 49) (דִּכְתִּיב בֵּיהּ: יָדְךָ בְּעֹרֶף אוֹיְבֶיךָ). And they followed after it and performed for it service and worship (וְאָזְלוּ אַבַּתְרֵיהּ וְעָבְדוּ לֵיהּ שִׁמּוּשָׁא וּפֻלְחָנָא). And regarding this it is written: “And Yehudah did what was evil in the eyes of Hashem” (1 Kings 14) (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב: וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוּדָה הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְיָ).