Daf 70b (דַּף ע׳ ע״ב)

Afterwards, they go with them and roam with them in the world (לְבָתַר דְּאַזְלִין בְּהוּ, וְשָׁאטִין בְּהוּ בְּעָלְמָא), they return to their graves (מְהַדְּרִין לְקִבְרַיְיהוּ), and see the worms of the body gnawing the flesh (וְחַמָּן תּוֹלַעְתָּא דְּגוּפָא מְנַקְּרֵי בִּשְׂרָא), and they mourn over them (וּמִתְאַבְּלָן עָלַיְיהוּ). And those sorcerers would go to the graves (וְאִינּוּן חַרְשִׁין הֲווֹ אַזְלֵי לְבֵי קִבְרֵי), and with their sorceries (וְחַרְשֵׁי בְּחַרְשַׁיְיהוּ) would make an image of a man (וְעַבְדִין חַד צַלְמָא דְּבַר נָשׁ), and slaughter before it a goat (וְדַבְחִין קַמֵּיהּ חַד צְפִירָא). Afterwards they bring that goat into that grave (לְבָתַר עָאלִין לְהַהוּא צְפִירָא, בְּהַהוּא קִבְרָא), and that image they break apart into four directions (וְהַהוּא צַלְמָא מְתַּבְּרִין לֵיהּ לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין, נ״א מְדַבְּרִין), and raise it up to the four sides of the grave (וּמַעֲלִין לֵיהּ לְאַרְבַּע זִיוְויָין דְּקִבְרָא).

Then the sorcerers, with their sorceries (כְּדֵין מְחָרְשֵׁי בְּחַרְשַׁיְיהוּ), gather those gatherings (וּמִתְכַּנְּפֵי אִינּוּן כִּנּוּפֵי), and those evil kinds (וְאִינּוּן זִינִין בִּישִׁין), and they bring that soul (וּמַיְיתִין הַהִיא נַפְשָׁתָא), and it enters into the grave and speaks with them (וְעָאל בְּקִבְרָא וּמִשְׁתָּעֵי בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק): happy are the Righteous in this world and in the world to come (זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין, וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי), for behold they are all holy (דְּהָא כֻּלְּהוּ קַדִּישִׁין). Their body is holy (גּוּפָא דִלְהוֹן קַדִּישָׁא). Their Nefesh is holy (נַפְשָׁא דִלְהוֹן קַדִּישָׁא). Their Ruach is holy (רוּחָא דִלְהוֹן קַדִּישָׁא). Their Neshamah is Holy of Holies (נִשְׁמְתָא דִלְהוֹן קֹדֶשׁ קֳדָשִׁים). Three levels they are, corresponding to that which is above (תְּלַת דַּרְגִּין אִינּוּן, כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָּא). For it was taught (דְּתַנְיָא): Rabbi Yehuda said (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה): it is written: “‘Let the earth bring forth a living soul’” (כְּתִיב תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה) (Bereshit 1) — this is the supernal Neshamah of Adam Kadma’ah (דָּא הִיא נִשְׁמְתָא עִלָּאָה דְּאָדָם קַדְמָאָה).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): three levels they are, and they are joined as one (תְּלַת דַּרְגִּין אִינּוּן, וְאִתְדְּבָקוּ כְּחַד): Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah (נֶפֶשׁ, רוּחַ, נְשָׁמָה). And above them is Neshamah (וְעִלָּאָה מִנַּיְיהוּ, נְשָׁמָה).

Rabbi Yose said (דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי): in all mankind there is a Nefesh (בְּכֻלְּהוּ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אִית נֶפֶשׁ). And there is a higher Nefesh above the Nefesh (וְאִית נֶפֶשׁ עִלָּאָה מִנֶּפֶשׁ). If a man merits in this Nefesh (זָכָה בַּר נָשׁ בְּהַאי נֶפֶשׁ), they pour upon him one crown called Ruach (מְרִיקִין עָלֵיהּ עִטְרָא חַד דְּאִקְרֵי רוּחַ). This is what is written: “‘Until a spirit be poured upon us from on high’” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֹם) (Isaiah 32). Then man is aroused with another higher arousal, to look into the ways of the Holy King (כְּדֵין אִתְּעַר בַּר נָשׁ בְּאִתְעָרוּתָא אָחֳרָא עִלָּאָה, לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּנִמוּסֵי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא). If man merits in that Ruach (זָכָה בַּר נָשׁ בֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא רוּחָא), they crown him with a supernal holy crown that includes all (מְעַטְּרִין לֵיהּ בְּכִתְרָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה דְּכָלִיל כֹּלָּא), which is called Neshamah (דְּאִקְרֵי נְשָׁמָה). And this is called “the Neshamah of God” (דְּאִתְקְרֵי נִשְׁמַת אֱלוֹהַּ). And it was taught, in the mystery of mysteries (וְתָאנָא בְּרָזָא דְּרָזִין), within the secrets of the book of King Shlomo (בְּגוֹ רָזִין דְּסִפְרָא דִּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא). This verse, as it is written: “‘And I praised the dead who are already dead’” (הַאי קְרָא, דִּכְתִּיב וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים שֶׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ) (Ecclesiastes 4). Since it is written, “‘And I praised the dead’” (כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִּיב וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים), why “who are already dead”? (אֲמַאי שְׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ). Rather, “who are already dead” in this world, in the service of their Master p1-18(אֶלָּא שְׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן). And there it is written (וְתַמָּן כְּתִיב): three dwellings did Kudsha Berikh Hu make for the Righteous (תְּלָת מָדוֹרִין עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא).

One — some say: for those Righteous who merited not to depart from this world, and when needed (חַד; נ״א: דְּזַכוּ אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּלָא אִשְׁתַּצִּיאוּ מֵהַאי עָלְמָא וּכְד אִצְטְרִיךְ), for the souls of those Righteous who did not leave this world (לְנַפְשָׁאן דְּאִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּלָא אִסְתְּלָקוּ מֵהַאי עָלְמָא), and are found in this world (וּשְׁכִיחִין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא). And when the world needs mercy, and those living sit in sorrow (וְכַד אִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא רַחֲמִין, וְאִינּוּן חַיִּין יַתְבִין בְּצַעֲרָא), they pray prayer for them (אִינּוּן מְצָלוּ צְלוֹתָא עָלַיְיהוּ). And they go and make known the matter to those who sleep in Ḥevron (וְאַזְלִין וּמוֹדְעִין מִלָּה לְאִינּוּן דְּמִיכִין דְּחֶבְרוֹן), and they are aroused (וּמִתְעָרִין), and ascend to the Garden of Eden on earth (וְעַאלִין לְגַּן עֵדֶן דְּאַרְעָא).

There are the spirits of the Righteous (דְּתַמָּן רוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא), clothed in crowns of radiance (מִתְלַבְּשָׁן בְּעִטְרִין דִּנְהוֹרָא), and wrapped in them (וְאִתְיַיעֲטוּ בְּהוּ). And they decree a decree (וְגַזְרִין גְּזֵרָה), and Kudsha Berikh Hu does their will and has compassion upon the world (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד רְעוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְחָס עַל עָלְמָא). And those souls of the Righteous are found in this world to protect the living (וְאִינּוּן נַפְשָׁן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, לְאַגָּנָא עַל חַיַּיָא). And this is called Nefesh (וְהַאי אִקְרֵי נֶפֶשׁ). And this has not departed from this world (וְדָא לָא אִסְתָּלְקָא מֵהַאי עָלְמָא; נ״א: אִשְׁתַּצִּי), but is found in this world (וּשְׁכִיחָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), to see, and to know, and to protect the generation (לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא וּלְמִנְדַּע וּלְאַגָּנָא עַל דָּרָא).

And this is what the Friends said: the dead know the suffering of the world (וְהַאי הוּא דְּאָמְרוּ חַבְרַיָּיא, דְּמֵתֵי יַדְעֵי בְּצַעֲרָא דְּעָלְמָא). And the punishment of the guilty on earth is by this (וְעוֹנְשָׁא דְּחַיָּיבִין דִּי בְּאַרְעָא, בְּהַאי הוּא), as it is written: “‘And that soul shall be cut off from its people’” (דִּכְתִּיב וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִיא מֵעַמֶּיהָ) (Leviticus 7). And the second dwelling is the Garden of Eden on earth (וּמָדוֹרָא תִּנְיָינָא הוּא גַּן עֵדֶן דִּי בְּאַרְעָא).

In it Kudsha Berikh Hu made supernal precious dwellings (בֵּיהּ עָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָדוֹרִין עִלָּאִין יַקִּירִין), in the likeness of this world and in the likeness of the supernal world (כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּכְגַוְונָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה). And palaces of two kinds without number (וְהֵיכָלִין בִּתְרֵין גַּוְונִין, דְּלֵית לְהוֹן חוּשְׁבָּנָא). And trees and grasses and fragrances that ascend every day (וְאִילָנִין וַעֲשָׂבִין וְרֵיחִין דְּסַלְּקִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא). And in this place rests that which is called the Ruach of the Righteous (וּבְהַאי אֲתַר שָׁארֵי הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי רוּחַ דְּאִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא). And the dwelling of that Ruach abides there (וּמָדוֹרָא דְּהַהוּא רוּחָא בֵּיהּ שָׁארֵי). And every Ruach is clothed in a precious garment (וְכָל רוּחַ וְרוּחַ מִתְלַבְּשָׁא בִּלְבוּשׁ יַקִּירָא), in the likeness of this world and in the likeness of that supernal world (כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וּכְגַוְונָא דְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה).

The third dwelling (מָדוֹרָא תְּלִיתָאָה), that supernal holy dwelling which is called the Bundle of Life (הַהוּא מָדוֹרָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא דְּאִיתְקְרֵי צְרוֹרָא דְּחַיֵּי). There delights that supernal holy level which is called Neshamah (דְּתַמָּן מִתְעַדְּנָא הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִקְרֵי נְשָׁמָה). And this cleaves to be delighted in supernal delight (וְהַאי אִתְדְּבַק לְאִתְעַנְּגָא בְּעִדּוּנָא עִלָּאָה). Concerning it is written: “‘Then you shall delight in Hashem, and I will cause you to ride, etc.’” (עָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יְיָ׳ וְהִרְכַּבְתִּיךָ וְגוֹ׳) (Isaiah 58). And it was taught (וְתָאנָא): at the time when the world requires mercy (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא רַחֲמִי), and those Righteous are meritorious (וְאִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא זַכָּאִין).

That Nefesh which is found in the world, to protect the world (הַהוּא נֶפֶשׁ דְּאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בְּעָלְמָא, לְאַגָּנָא עַל עָלְמָא). Nefesh ascends and goes and roams in the world (נֶפֶשׁ סָלִיק וְאָזִיל וְשָׁאט בְּעָלְמָא), and informs the Ruach (וּמוֹדַע לְרוּחַ). And Ruach ascends and is crowned (וְרוּחַ סָלִיק וְאִתְעַטָּר), and informs the Neshamah (וּמוֹדַע לַנְשָׁמָה). And Neshamah [informs] Kudsha Berikh Hu (וּנְשָׁמָה לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And then Kudsha Berikh Hu has compassion on the world (וּכְדֵין חָס קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַל עָלְמָא).

Then it descends from above to below (כְּדֵין נַחְתָּא מֵעֵילָּא לְתַתָּא): Neshamah informs the Ruach (נְשָׁמָה אוֹדַע לְרוּחַ), and Ruach informs the Nefesh (וְרוּחַ אוֹדַע לְנַפְשָׁא). And on every Shabbat and Shabbat, and every Rosh Chodesh (וּבְכָל שַׁבְּתָא וְשַׁבְּתָא, וְרֵישׁ יַרְחָא), all of them join together and are crowned as one (כֻּלְּהוּ, מִתְחַבְּרָן וּמִתְעַטְּרָן כְּחַד), until they join to come and bow before the supernal King (עַד דְּאִזְדְּוָּוגוּ לְמֵיתֵי לְסַגְּדָא לְמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה). And afterwards they return to their places (וּלְבָתַר תַּיְיבִין לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ). This is what is written: “‘And it shall be, from one new moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, all flesh shall come, etc.’” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְהָיָה מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ וּמִדֵּי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבַּתוֹ יָבֹא כָל בָּשָׂר וְגוֹ׳) (Isaiah 66).