Daf 186a (דַּף קפ״ו ע״א)

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), there are two secrets here (תְּרֵין רָזִין הָכָא): one, that the moon is called “the seventh month” (חַד דְּהָא סִיהֲרָא חֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי אִקְרֵי), and because of this it is called the “seventh month tenth” (וּבְּגִין כָּךְ אִקְרֵי חֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי עָשׂוֹר), because ten times it illumines her (בְּגִין דְּקָא מְנָהֲרִין לָהּ עֶשֶׂר זִמְנִין), behold, one hundred (הָא מֵאָה).

And furthermore, this matter which you said is true (וְתוּ, הַאי מִלָּה דְּקָאַמְרַת, וַדַּאי), that it ascends to seventy on this day (לְשִׁבְעִין סְלִיקָא בְּהַאי יוֹמָא). And in the degree of seventy it is (וּבְדַרְגָּא דְּשִׁבְעִין אִיהוּ), and in the degree of one hundred it is (וּבְדַרְגָּא דְּמֵאָה אִיהוּ). But the degree of one hundred is not to be completed and illuminated (לְדַרְגָּא דְּמֵאָה לָאֲשַׁלְּמָא וְלָאַנְהָרָא). And in this degree of seventy (וּבְהַאי דַּרְגָּא דְּשִׁבְעִין), for on this day He takes all the people of Yisrael to judgment (דְּהָא בְּיוֹמָא דָּא נָטִיל לְכָל עַמָּא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְמֵידָן), and all of them stand in the soul more than in the body (וְכֻלְּהוּ קַיְימִין בְּנִשְׁמְתָא יַתִּיר מִגּוּפָא), for on this day the affliction is of the soul and not of the body (דְּהָא בְּיוֹמָא דָּא עִנּוּיָא דְּנַפְשָׁא אִיהוּ, וְלָא מִגּוּפָא), as it is said (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר): “And you shall afflict your souls… for every soul which shall not be afflicted” (וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם כִּי כָל הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא תְעוּנֶּה).

And this day takes hold of all souls, and they are in His domain (וְהַאי יוֹמָא נָטִיל לְכָל נַפְשָׁאן וַהֲווּ בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ). And if it did not stand in the Secret (or: in the domain) of seventy (וְאִי לָא קַיְּימָא בְּרָזָא [נ״א בִּרְשׁוּתָא] דְּשִׁבְעִין), he would have no authority over the souls (לֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ בְּנַפְשָׁאן). Some say: to stand there (ס״א לְקַיְּימָא תַּמָּן). For the existence of the souls is in the secret of seventy (דְּקִיּוּמָא דְּנַפְשָׁאן בְּרָזָא דְּשִׁבְעִין), as it is said (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר) (Psalms 90): “The days of our years, in them seventy years…” (יְמֵי שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָּהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְגוֹ׳). And if you will say: the souls of the many who did not complete seventy years, it does not rule over them (וְאִי תֵּימָא נַפְשָׁאן דְּרַבְיֵי דְּלָא אַשְׁלִימוּ לְשִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין לָא שַׁלְטָא בְּהוּ). Surely it rules over them (וַדַּאי שַׁלְטָא בְּהוּ), but not in completion (אֲבָל לָא בִּשְׁלִימוּ).

It is like one who merited many days in the commandments of the Orayta (כְּמַאן דְּזָכֵי יוֹמִין סַגִּיאִין לְפִקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא), yet with all this, in all seventy years it goes (וְעִם כָּל דָּא בְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין אַזְלָא). And concerning this we have learned (וְעַל דָּא תָּנֵינָן): “One who increases and one who decreases” (אֶחָד הַמַּרְבֶּה וְאֶחָד הַמַּמְעִיט). Who is one? (מַאן אֶחָד). In the unity of seventy years (בְּיִחוּדָא דְּשִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין), whether one increases or one decreases (מַאן דְּאַסְגֵּי, וּמַאן דְּאַמְעִיט).

And because of this, on Yom Kippur He passes through all seventy (וְעַל דָּא, בְּיוֹמָא דְּכִפּוּרֵי אַעְבַּר בְּכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְעִין), and this degree is completed in all (וְאִשְׁתְּלִים הַאי דַּרְגָּא בְּכֻלְּהוּ). And all souls ascend before Him (וְכָל נִשְׁמָתִין סַלְּקִין קָמֵיהּ), and He judges them in judgment (וְדָאִין לְהוֹן בְּדִינָא). And Kudsha Berikh Hu has compassion upon Yisrael on this day (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חַיִּיס עָלַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיוֹמָא דָּא). Whoever did not remove filth from his spirit to atone for him (מַאן דְּלָא אַעֲבָר טִינָא מִרוּחֵיהּ לְכַפָּרָא עָלֵיהּ), on this day, when his prayer ascends (בְּיוֹמָא דָּא, כַּד סָלִיק צְלוֹתֵיהּ בְּהַאי יוֹמָא), it sinks in that place which is called filth and mire (טָבַע בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִקְרֵי רֶפֶשׁ וָטִיט), and he is in the depths of the sea and does not ascend to be crowned at the head of the King (וְאִיהוּ מְצוּלוֹת יָם וְלָא סָלִיק לְאִתְעַטְּרָא בְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא).

On this day a person does not need to confess his sins before another (בְּיוֹמָא דָּא לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ בַּר נָשׁ לְפָרְשָׁא חֲטָאוֹי קָמֵי אַחֲרָא), because there are many who take that word and raise it above (בְּגִין דְּכַמָּה אִינּוּן דְּנַטְלֵי הַהִיא מִלָּה, וְסַלְקֵי לָהּ לְעֵילָּא), and there are witnesses in that word (וְאִית סָהֲדִין בְּהַהִיא מִלָּה). And what is written (וּמַה): “From she that lies in your bosom guard the openings of your mouth” (מִשֹּׁכֶבֶת חֵיקֶךָ שְׁמֹר פִּתְחֵי פִּיךָ) (Micah 7). How much more those who go and gaze to accuse them and bear witness against him (כָּל שֶׁכֵּן אִינּוּן דְּאַזְלֵי וְעַיְּינֵי לְקַטְרְגָא לוֹן, וְסָהֲדֵי עָלֵיהּ). How much more so if he is brazen before all, and it is a profanation of the Name of Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן דְּחָצִיפוּ אִיהוּ לְקָמֵי כֹּלָּא, וְחִלוּל שְׁמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And concerning this it is written (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב) (Ecclesiastes 5): “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin” (אֶל תִּתֵּן אֶת פִּיךָ לַחֲטִיא אֶת בְּשָׂרֶךָ). From here and onward — a mystery in color (מִכָּאן וְהַלְאָה רָזָא בְּגוּוָן).

He opened and said (פָּתַח וְאָמַר), (Exodus 12): “This month shall be for you the beginning of months…” (הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים וְגוֹ׳). And are not all times and months those of Kudsha Berikh Hu? (וְכִי כֻּלְּהוּ זִמְנִין וְחֳדָשִׁין לָאו אִינּוּן דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). but: “your months” is not written (אֶלָּא חָדַשֵׁיכֶם לֹא כְּתִיב). Rather: “This month shall be for you” (אֶלָּא הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם) — it is Mine, but I have given it to you (דִּילִי אִיהוּ, אֲבָל אֲנָא מָסְרִית לֵיהּ לְכוֹן); it is yours in revelation (דִּלְכוֹן אִיהוּ בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא).

But the seventh is Mine (אֲבָל שְׁבִיעָאָה דִּילִי אִיהוּ), and for this reason it is “in concealment” (וְעַל דָּא אִיהוּ בַּכֶּסֶה), and not in revelation (וְלָא בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא). Your month is arranged according to the order of the letters of Aviv (יַרְחָא דִּלְכוֹן, אִיהוּ בְּסִדּוּרָא, כְּסֵדֶר דְּאַתְוָון אָבִיב), which is Av–Beit–Gimel (דְּאִיהוּ אב״ג). Twelve is the Secret of three (י״ב אִיהוּ רָזָא דְּג׳). Some say: and it is Av–Beit–Gimel in the order of the letters (ס״א: וְאִיהוּ אב״ג כְּסִדְרָא דְּאַתְוָון). But the seventh month is Mine (אֲבָל יַרְחָא שְׁבִיעָאָה דִּילִי אִיהוּ), from the end of the letters (מִסּוֹפָא דְּאַתְוָון). Some say: Tishrei (ס״א: תִּשְׁרֵי). Why is this? (מַאי טַעֲמָא). You ascend from below to above (אָתּוּן מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָּא), but I from above to below (וַאֲנָא מֵעֵילָּא לְתַתָּא).

This is Mine (הַאי דִּילִי). At the beginning of the month, I am in concealment (בְּרִישָׁא דְּיַרְחָא, אֲנָא אִיהוּ בְּאִתְכַּסְיָיא). On the tenth of the month, I am revealed (בַּעֲשָׂרָה דְּיַרְחָא, אֲנָא אִיהוּ), because I am in the first five, and the last five, and the third five (בְּגִין דַּאֲנָא בְּחָמֵשׁ קַדְמָאֵי, וּבְחָמֵשׁ אַחֲרָנִין, וּבְחָמֵשׁ תְּלִיתָאֵי). At the beginning of the month, I am revealed through five days (בְּקַדְמִיתָא דְּיַרְחָא אֲנָא אִיהוּ, בְּגִין חֲמִשָּׁא יוֹמִין). On the tenth of the month, I am revealed through five other days (בַּעֲשָׂרָה דְּיַרְחָא אֲנָא אִיהוּ, בְּגִין חֲמֵשׁ יוֹמִין אַחֲרָנִין). On the fifteenth of the month, I am revealed through the third five (בט״ו דְּיַרְחָא אֲנָא אִיהוּ, בְּגִין חֲמֵשׁ תְּלִיתָאֵי).

Why all this? (מַאי טַעְמָא כּוּלֵי הַאי). Because this entire month is from the supernal world (בְּגִין דְּכָל יַרְחָא דָּא מֵעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה אִיהוּ). And the supernal world is in the secret of five (וְעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה בְּרָזָא דְּחָמֵשׁ אִיהוּ), in every time and season (בְּכָל זִמְנָא וְזִמְנָא). And because of this, this month is in concealment (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ יַרְחָא דָּא אִיהוּ בַּכֶּסֶה), and not in revelation (וְלָא בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא), because the supernal world is concealed (בְּגִין דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה בַּכֶּסֶה אִיהוּ), and all its fullness is in concealment (וְכָל מִלּוֹי בְּאִתְכַּסְיָיא).

And this month is of Kudsha Berikh Hu alone (וְיַרְחָא דָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדוֹי). When the fifteenth day arrives (כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא יוֹמָא דְּחָמֵיסָר), then it is revealed (כְּדֵין גַּלְיָיא). All is renewed in the renewal of the moon (כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ מָטָא בְּחַדְתּוּתָא דְּסִיהֲרָא), and the moon is completed (וְסִיהֲרָא אִשְׁתְּלִימָת), and illumined from Imma ‘Ila’ah (וְאִתְנְהִירַת מֵאִימָּא עִלָּאָה), and stands to illumine below from the light above (וְקַיְּימָא לְאַנְהָרָא לְתַתָּאֵי מִגּוֹ נְהוֹרָא דִּלְעֵילָּא). And for this reason it is called “first” (וְעַל דָּא אִקְרֵי רִאשׁוֹן), as you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר) (Leviticus 23): “And you shall take for yourselves on the first day” (וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן). Until now all the days stood in the supernal secret (עַד הַשְׁתָּא קַיְימֵי כֻּלְּהוּ יוֹמִין בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה). From here they descend into the lower secret (מִכָּאן נַחְתִּין לְרָזָא תַּתָּאָה).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), from the supernal day were these first days (מִיּוֹמָא עִלָּאָה הֲווֹ אִלֵּין יוֹמִין קַדְמָאִין), the mystery of the supernal world (רָזָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה), that which judges the judgment of the world (מַאן דָּאִין דִּינָא דְּעָלְמָא). For judgment is not found in this world (דְּהָא דִּינָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), except from the lower judgment (אֶלָּא מִדִּינָא תַּתָּאָה). Some say: the mystery (ס״א רָזָא). As it is written (Isaiah 54): “The God of all the earth shall He be called” (דְּדָא אֱלֹהֵי כָל הָאָרֶץ יִקָּרֵא). And if you should say (דְּאִי תֵּימָא), that the judgment of the world is judged above (דִּינָא דְּעָלְמָא דָּאִין לְעֵילָּא), if so, it would not be called the world of freedom (אִי הָכִי לָא אִתְקְרֵי עָלְמָא דְּחִירוּ), the world of radiance of all worlds (עָלְמָא דִּנְהִירוּ דְּכָל עָלְמִין), the world of all life (עָלְמָא דְּכָל חַיִּין), the world of all freedom (עָלְמָא דְּכָל חִירוּ). And if you will say, from the judgment of Yitzchak (וְאִי תֵּימָא מִדִּינָא דְּיִצְחָק), if he should arouse judgment toward this world (אִי אִיהוּ אִתְּעַר דִּינָא לְגַבֵּי הַאי עָלְמָא), all the world would not be able to endure (לָא יַכְלִין כָּל עָלְמָא לְמִסְבַּל), for that supernal mighty fire (דְּהַהוּא אֶשָּׁא תַּקִּיפָא עִלָּאָה), there is none who could endure it (לָא אִית מַאן דְּסָבִיל לֵיהּ), except the fire below (אֶלָּא אֶשָּׁא דִּלְתַתָּא), which is the fire that bears the fire (דְּאִיהוּ אֶשָּׁא דְּסָבִיל אֶשָּׁא). Rather (אֶלָּא), just as this world is the lower world of all worlds (כְּמָה דְּעָלְמָא דָּא עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה דְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין), so too all judgments are from the lower world (הָכִי נָמֵי כָּל דִּינוֹי מֵעָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה), for “God judges” (דֶּאֱלֹהִים שׁוֹפֵט). And this is called the supernal judgment upon this world (וְדָא אִקְרֵי דִּינָא עִלָּאָה עַל הַאי עָלְמָא). And because it is the seventh degree (וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ דַּרְגָּא שְׁבִיעָאָה), He does not decree judgment upon a man (לָא גָּזִיר גְּזֵרָה עַל בַּר נָשׁ), except from twenty years and above (אֶלָּא מֵעֶשְׂרִין שְׁנִין וּלְעֵילָּא).