Daf 236b (דַּף רל״ו ע״ב)

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): when Yisrael made that deed (כַּד עָבְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַהוּא עוֹבָדָא), and caused that sin (וְגָרְמוּ לְהַהוּא חוֹבָא), why specifically a calf (מַאי טַעֲמָא עֵגֶל), and not the Sitra achra (וְלָא סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא)? And if you say (וְאִי תֵּימָא), that they chose a calf (דְּאִינּוּן בְּרִירוּ עֶגְלָא) — not so (לָאו הָכִי). But they said: “Arise, make us gods that shall go before us” (אֶלָּא אִינּוּן אָמְרוּ קוּם עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ) (Exodus 32). And Aharon’s will was to delay them (וְאַהֲרֹן רְעוּתֵיהּ הֲוָה לְאַעְכְּבָא לוֹן). But surely the work was done as was fitting (אֶלָּא וַדַּאי עֲבִידְתָּא אִתְעָבִיד כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי).

For from the side of gold there goes forth a fiery spirit (דְּהָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּדַהֲבָא, נָפְקָא סוּסְפִיתָא), when gold is purified (כַּד אִתְבְּרִיר דַּהֲבָא). And from there spread all those left-side forces (וּמִתַּמָּן מִתְפַּשְּׁטֵי כָּל אִינּוּן סִטְרֵי שְׂמָאלָא), which are the burning of that fiery spirit of gold (דְּאִינּוּן הִתּוּכָא דְּהַהוּא סוּסְפִיתָא דְּדַהֲבָא), and they spread into many sides (וּמִתְפָּרְשָׁאן לְכַמָּה סִטְרִין). And all those that have a reddish appearance (וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאִית לוֹן חֵיזוּ סוּמָקָא), the color of gold stands upon the mountains (גוָֹון דְּדַהֲבָא קַיְימָא בְּטוּרֵי), like the sun in its power (כַּד שִׁמְשָׁא בְּתוּקְפֵּיהּ). For the strength of the sun draws forth the gold and begets it in the earth (בְּגִין דְּתוּקְפָּא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא אַחְזֵי דַּהֲבָא, וְאוֹלִיד לֵיהּ בְּאַרְעָא). And that which is appointed in that power of the sun (וְהַהוּא דִּמְמָנָא בְּהַהוּא תּוּקְפָּא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא), its appearance is like a calf (חֵיזוּ דִּילֵיהּ כְּעֶגְלָא). And it is called: “Pestilence that walks at noonday” (וְאִקְרִי קֶטֶב יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָיִם) (Psalms 91). And this goes forth from the calf, the red fire of gold (וְדָא נָפְקָא מִגּוֹ עֶגְלָא הִתּוּכָא סוּמָקָא דְּדַהֲבָא). And all these come from that red side (וְכָל הָנֵי אַתְיָין מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא סוּמָקָא), an impure spirit (רוּחַ מְסַאֲבָא).

For all those that spread from the impure spirit spread in the world (דְּכָל אִינּוּן דְּמִתְפָּרְשֵׁי מֵרוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא מִתְפַּשְּׁטֵי בְּעָלְמָא). And this impure spirit (וְהַאי רוּחַ מִסְאֲבָא), this is the evil serpent p1-19(אִיהוּ חִוְיָא בִּישָׁא). And there is one who rides upon it (וְאִית מַאן דְּרָכִיב עָלֵיהּ), male and female (וְאִינּוּן דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָּא). And they are called “these” (וְאִקְרוּן אֵלֶּה), for they are prepared in the world in all their sides (דְּאִינּוּן מִזְדַּמְּנִין בְּעָלְמָא, בְּכָל אִינּוּן סִטְרִין דִּלְהוֹן). And the Holy Spirit is called “this” (וְרוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא אִקְרֵי זֹאת), which is the secret of the Covenant (דְּאִיהִי רָזָא דִּבְרִית), the holy sign that is always found with man (רְשִׁימָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח תָּדִיר עִמֵּיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ). And so it is written: “This is Hashem” (וְכֵן זֶה יְיָ׳) (Isaiah 25), “This is my God” (זֶה אֵלִי) (Exodus 15). But these are called “these” (אֲבָל אִלֵּין אִקְרוּן אֵלֶּה). And upon this it is written: “These are your gods, O Yisrael” (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Exodus 32). And because of this it is written: “Even these shall be forgotten” (וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב גַּם אֵלֶּה תִּשְׁכַּחְנָה) (Isaiah 49). But “I” is the secret of “this” (וְאָנֹכִי רָזָא דְּזֹאת), I will not forget you (לֹא אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ). And it is written: “For these things I weep” (וּכְתִיב עַל אֵלֶּה אֲנִי בוֹכִיָּה) (Lamentations 1), for that sin caused them to be wept for with many tears (דְּהַהוּא חוֹבָה גָּרִים לְמִבְכֵּי לוֹן כַּמָּה בִּכְיָין).

Another interpretation: “For these things I weep” (דָּבָר אַחֵר עַל אֵלֶּה אֲנִי בוֹכִיָּה). What is the reason? (מַאי טַעֲמָא). Because permission was given to that place to rule over Yisrael (בְּגִין דְּאִתְיְיהִיב רְשׁוּ לַאֲתָר דָּא לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל), and to destroy the Temple (וּלְחַרְבָּא בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא). And because permission was given to them to rule (וּבְגִין דְּאִתְיְיהִיב לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְשַׁלְּטָאָה), it is written: “For these things I weep” (כְּתִיב עַל אֵלֶּה אֲנִי בוֹכִיָּה).

The secret of the matter: “For these things” — this is the side of defilement that was given permission to rule (רָזָא דְּמִלָּה, עַל אֵלֶּה דָּא סִטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא דְּאִתְיְיהִיב לוֹן רְשׁוּ לְשַׁלְּטָאָה). “I weep” — this is the Holy Spirit, which is called “I [Ani]” (אֲנִי בוֹכִיָּה דָּא רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא דְּאִקְרֵי אֲנִי). And if you say (וְאִי תֵּימָא), behold it is written: “These are the words of the covenant” (הָא כְּתִיב אֵלֶּה דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית) (Deuteronomy 28). So it is indeed (הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי): for all of them do not exist except from “these” (דְּכָל אִינּוּן לָא מִתְקַיְּימִין, אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ אֵלֶּה), for there are all curses, as we have established (דְּתַמָּן כָּל לְוָוטִין כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא), that it is “cursed,” as it is written: “Cursed are you above all cattle” (דְּאִיהוּ אָרוּר, דִּכְתִיב אָרוּר אַתָּה מִכָּל הַבְּהֵמָה) (Bereshit 3). And because of this, He preceded and said “these” (וּבְגִין כָּךְ, אַקְדִּים וְאָמַר אֵלֶּה), that it stands for whoever transgresses the words of the covenant (דְּקַיְּימָא לְמַאן דְּעָבַר דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית).

“These are the commandments which Hashem commanded Moshe” (אֵלֶּה הַמִּצְוֹת אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְיָ׳ אֶת מֹשֶׁה) (Leviticus 27), because the commandments of the Orayta are to purify man (בְּגִין דְּפִקּוּדַיָּא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לְאִתְדַכְּאָה בַּר נָשׁ), that he not stray from this path (וְלָא יִסְטֵי לְאוֹרְחָא דָּא), and that he guard himself from there (וְיִסְתָּמַר מִתַּמָּן), and separate from them (וְיִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנַּיְיהוּ). And if you say: “These are the generations of Noach, Noach” (וְאִי תֵּימָא אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ) (Bereshit 6) — so it is indeed (הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי), for from him came Ḥam, who is the father of Kena‘an (דְּהָא נָפַק חָם, דְּאִיהוּ אֲבִי כְּנַעַן), and it is written: “Cursed be Kena‘an” (וּכְתִיב אָרוּר כְּנַעַן) (Bereshit 9). And this is the secret of “these” (וְאִיהוּ רָזָא דָּא דְּאֵלֶּה). And upon this, all those burnings, the fiery spirit of gold (וְעַל דָּא כָּל הָנִי הִתּוּכָא סוּסְפִיתָא דְּדַהֲבָא). And Aharon brought near the gold (וְאַהֲרֹן קָרִיב דַּהֲבָא), which is his side (דְּאִיהוּ סִטְרָא דִּילֵיהּ), for it is included in the strength of fire (דְּכָלִיל אִיהוּ בְּתּוּקְפָא דְּאֶשָּׁא), and all is one — this side of gold and fire (וְכֹלָּא חַד, וְסִטְרָא דָּא דַּהֲבָא וָאֶשָּׁא). And the impure spirit that is always found in the wilderness (וְרוּחַ מִסַאֲבָא דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח תָּדִיר בְּמַדְבְּרָא), found a place at that time to strengthen itself there (אַשְׁכַּח אֲתָר בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא לְאִתַּתְקְפָא בֵּיהּ). And what Yisrael had been purified from, from that first defilement that was cast into the world and caused death to all (וּמַה דַּהֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּכְיָין, מֵהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא קַדְמָאָה, דְּאָטִיל בְּעָלְמָא, וְגָרִים מוֹתָא לְכֹלָּא), when they stood on Mount Sinai (כַּד קַיְימוּ עַל טוּרָא דְּסִינַי), it caused them again as before, to be defiled and to be overpowered (גָּרַם לוֹן כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, לְסָאֲבָא לוֹן, וּלְאִתַּתְקְפָא עָלַיְיהוּ), and it caused death to them and to all the world and to their generations after them (וְגָרִים לוֹן מוֹתָא, וּלְכָל עָלְמָא, וּלְדָרֵיהוֹן בַּתְרֵיהוֹן). This is what is written: “I said you are gods… but you shall die like men” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם וְגוֹ׳ אָכֵן כְּאָדָם תְּמוּתוּן וְגוֹ׳) (Psalms 82). (ע״כ).

And because of this, Aharon returned afterward to purify himself, in the secret of supernal faith (וּבְגִין כַּךְ, אַהֲרֹן אַהְדָּר לְבָתַר לְאִתְדַכְּאָה, בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה), in those seven holy days (בְּאִינּוּן שִׁבְעָה יוֹמִין קַדִּישִׁין), and afterward to purify himself with the calf (וּלְבָתַר לְאִתְדַכְּאָה בְּעֶגְלָא). And come and see (וְתָא חֲזֵי): in all of this, Aharon wished to purify himself (בְּכֹלָּא בָּעָא אַהֲרֹן לְאִתְדַכְּאָה). For if it were not for him, the calf would not have come forth (דְּאִלּוּ אִיהוּ לָא הֲוָה, לָא נָפַק עֶגְלָא).

What is the reason? (מַאי טַעְמָא). Because Aharon is the right side (בְּגִין דְּאַהֲרֹן אִיהוּ יְמִינָא). And he is the power of the sun (וְאִיהוּ תּוּקְפָּא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא). And gold is from the sun (וְדַהֲבָא מִשִׁמְשָׁא). The impure spirit descended and was included there (רוּחַ מִסַאֲבָא נָחַת, וְאִתְכְּלִיל תַּמָּן). And Yisrael became defiled (וְאִסְתְּאָבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל), and he became defiled (וְאִסְתְּאַב אִיהוּ), until they were purified (עַד דְּאִתְדָּכוּ).