Daf 13a (דַּף י״ג ע״א)

The House, this one, has three roofs (וּבֵיתָא דָא אִית לֵיהּ תְּלַת גַּגִּין), and these are three pillars that support it (וְאִינוּן תְּלַת עַמּוּדִין דְּסָמְכִין לָהּ), and they are Vav, Vav, Vav (וְאִינוּן ו' ו' ו'). About them it is said (Exodus 27:10) “The Vavs of the pillars and their fillets of silver” (עֲלַיְהוּ אִתְּמַר וָוִי הָעַמּוּדִים וַחֲשׁוּקֵיהֶם כָּסֶף). These three pillars are the three Patriarchs (תְּלַת עַמּוּדִים אִלֵּין תְּלַת אֲבָהָן), who support the House which is the Shekhinta (דְּסָמְכִין לְבֵיתָא דְאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא). “And their fillets”-these are the two true supports (וַחֲשׁוּקֵיהֶם אִלֵּין תְּרֵין סַמְכֵי קְשׁוֹט), of which it is said Yakhin and Bo‘az (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן יָכִין וּבוֹעַז), and upon them the House stands (וַעֲלַיְהוּ בֵיתָא קַיְימָא). “And the middle bar” (Exodus 26:28) is the point from within (וְהַבְּרִיחַ הַתִּיכוֹן דָּא נְקוּדָה מִלְּגָאו), which is concealed within (דְּסָתִים מִלְּגָאו). This bar is Vav, expansion (מַבְרִיחַ דָּא ו', אִתְפַּשְׁטוּתָא), of that point which is Yod (דְהַהִיא נְקוּדָה דְּאִיהִי י'), truly a bar (מַבְרִיחַ וַדַּאי), from this end-the upper Heh-to that end-the lower Heh (מִן קָצֶה דָא ה' עִלָּאָה אֶל הַקָּצֶה דָא ה' תַּתָּאָה), the connection of the three pillars which are the Vavs of the pillars (קִשּׁוּרָא דִתְלַת עַמּוּדִים דְּאִינוּן וָוִי הָעַמּוּדִים).

This is the Life of Worlds (דָּא חַ״י עָלְמִין), for thus the three Vavs-Vav, Vav, Vav-ascend to the reckoning of Chai (18) (דְּכַךְ אִינוּן סָלְקִין תְּלַת ו' ו' ו' לְחוּשְׁבַּן חַ״י), which is the Tzaddik, the foundation of the world (דְּאִיהוּ צַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם). The two Hehs, when they are taken from the middle pillar which is called “the middle bar” (ה' ה' כַּד נָטְלִין מֵעַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא דְאִתְקְרֵי הַבְּרִיחַ הַתִּיכוֹן), they are called bars in His name (אִתְקְרִיאוּ אִינוּן בְּרִיחִים עַל שְׁמֵיהּ). This is what is written (Exodus 26:27): “And five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, etc.” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְרִיחִים לְקַרְשֵׁי צֶלַע הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְכוּ'). And the construction of the Mishkan was the image of the work of Bereshit (וְתִקּוּנָא דְמַשְׁכְּנָא הֲוָה צִיּוּרָא דְעוֹבָדָא דִבְּרֵאשִׁית), and the Garden of Eden (וְגִנְּתָא דְעִדֶן), and in these images of the Nekudot and embroidery of colors (וּבְאִלֵּין צִיּוּרִין דְּנִקּוּדִין וּרְקִימוּ דְגַוָּונִין), there the wise shall shine (דְּתַמָּן הַמַּשְׂכִּילִים יַזְהִירוּ). And all is Bereshit, Bet-Reshit (וְכֹלָּא בְרֵאשִׁית, ב' רֵאשִׁית), in it “the wise shall shine” (בָּהּ וְהַמַּשְׂכִּילִים יַזְהִירוּ), as the brightness-this is Elohim (כְּזֹהַר דָּא אֱלֹהִי״ם), and it is the throne in calculation (וְהוּא הַכִּסֵּ״א לְחֻשְׁבָּנָא).

Meanwhile, Sava returned as before and said (אַדְהָכִי הָא סָבָא אִתְחַזַּר כְּמִלְּקַדְמִין וְאָמַר): “Holy Luminary, return! (בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, חֲזוֹר בָּךְ). You entered the Garden and were startled to go out from there (עָאלַת לְגִנְּתָא וְאִתְבְּהִילַת לְנַפְקָא מִתַּמָּן), and from there you entered the Mishkan, which is the image of the work of Bereshit (וּמִתַּמָּן עָאלַת לְמַשְׁכְּנָא דְאִיהוּ צִיּוּר דְעוֹבָדָא דִבְּרֵאשִׁית), and you went out from there (וְנָפְקַת מִתַּמָּן). You must return there (אִית לָךְ לְאַחְזָרָא תַּמָּן), for behold, many hosts guard you from the holy nation (דְּהָא כַּמָּה חֲיָילִין נָטְרִין לָךְ מֵעַמָּא קַדִּישָׁא), to hear what are the images there (לְמִשְׁמַע מָאן צִיּוּרִין דְּתַמָּן), which are in the likeness of the dwellings of the Shekhinta (דְּאִינוּן כְּגַוְונָא דְּדִיּוֹרִין דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא), about which it is said (Exodus 25:8): “And they shall make Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them” (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם). For truly the Mishkan, the Menorah, the Sanctuary, the Altar, and the Table-all are the likeness of the dwellings of the Shekhinta above and below (דְּוַדַּאי מַשְׁכְּנָא וּמְנַרְתָּא וּמַקְדְּשָׁא וּמַדְבְּחָא וּפָתוֹרָא, כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ דִיּוֹקְנָא דְּדִיּוֹרִין דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא לְעִילָא וְתַתָּא).

Immediately Rabbi Shimon opened and said (מִיָּד פָּתַח רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר): “And all the wise-hearted among those who did the work…” (Exodus 36:7) (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כָל חֲכַם לֵב בְּעוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה וְגוֹ'). What is “all wise-hearted”? (מַאי כָּל חֲכַם לֵב). That one who is wise with wisdom (הַהוּא דְאִיהוּ חָכָם בְּחָכְמָה), and with the thirty-two paths of it (וּבְל״ב נְתִיבוֹת דִּילֵיה), which are included in the six days of Bereshit (דְּאִינוּן כְּלִילָן בְּשִׁית יוֹמֵי דִבְּרֵאשִׁית). And this is “sixfold twisted” (וְהַיְינוּ שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר), which are the six days of Bereshit (דְּאִינוּן שִׁית יוֹמֵי דִבְּרֵאשִׁית), included from ten utterances and thirty-two paths (כְּלִילָן מֵעֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן וְל״ב שְׁבִילִין), which are the thirty-two times “Elohim” in the work of Bereshit (דְּאִינוּן ל״ב זִמְנִין אֱלֹהִי״ם בְּעוֹבָדָא דִבְּרֵאשִׁית).

And the Wise [the Maskilim] (וְהַמַּשְׂכִּילִים), in them the letters are known (בְּהוֹן אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעִין אַתְוָון), of which it is said: Bezalel knew how to combine the letters by which the heavens and the earth were created (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן יוֹדֵעַ הָיָה בְּצַלְאֵל לְצַרֵף אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם נִבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ). And these are twenty-eight letters (וְאִינוּן כ״ח אַתְוָון), and fourteen others are concealed in them (וְאַרְבַּע סְרֵי אָחֳרָנִין גְּנִיזִין בְּהוֹן). And these are the twenty-eight letters (וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן כ״ח אַתְוָון): “Bereshit bara (created) Elohim et hashamayim (the heavens) ve’et ha’aretz (the earth)” (Bereshit 1:1) (בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִי״ם אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ). And about them it is said (Psalms 111:6): “He declared the power of His works to His people” (וַעֲלַיְהוּ אִתְּמַר כֹּחַ מַעֲשָׂיו הִגִּיד לְעַמּוֹ). And in exile this power was removed from them (וּבְגָלוּתָא אִסְתַּלַּק הַאי כֹּ״חַ מִנַּיְיהוּ), and about them it is said (Lamentations 1:6): “They went without strength before the pursuer” (וְאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וַיֵּלְכוּ בְלֹא כֹחַ לִפְנֵי רוֹדֵף). And because of this they say in the Kaddish: “And now, may the strength of my Lord be magnified” (Numbers 14:17) (וּבְגִין דָּא אָמְרִין בְּקַדִּישׁ וְעַתָּה יִגְדַּל נָא כֹּחַ אֲדֹנָ״י), corresponding to the other twenty-eight letters (לָקֳבֵל כ״ח אַתְוָון אָחֳרָנִין), which are in these seven words (דְּאִית בְּאִלֵּין שֶׁבַע תֵּיבִין דְּאִינוּן): “Yehei Shmei Rabbah mevarach le‘alam ul‘almei almaya” [May His Great Name be blessed forever and for all eternity] (יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא). And this is the one who answers “Amen, Yehei Shmei Rabbah” with all his strength (וְדָא אִיהוּ הָעוֹנֶה אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ). Fourteen others are “Hashem Eloheinu Hashem” (י״ד אָחֳרָנִין אִינוּן יהו״ה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יהו״ה), and the sign is: “Light for the fourteenth-they search for leaven by the light of the candle” (Pesachim 1:1) (וְסִימָן אוֹר לְאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹדְקִין אֶת הֶחָמֵץ לְאוֹר הַנֵּר). And in these fourteen letters is the oath (וּבְאִלֵּין י״ד אַתְוָון אוֹמָאָה), this is what is written (Exodus 17:16): “For the hand upon the throne of Yah” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב כִּי יָ״ד עַל כֵּס יָה).

Sava arose and said (קָם סָבָא וְאָמַר): “Holy Luminary (בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא), surely these are the fourteen of Purim (בְּוַדַּאי אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע סְרֵי דְּפוּרִים אִינוּן), on the fourteenth day thereof and on the fifteenth day thereof-this is Yod-Dalet and Yod-Heh (בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹ וּבַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בּוֹ דָּא י״ד י״ה). But the signs of the twenty-eight are ‘Ohr Arba‘ah Asar’ (light of the fourteenth)” (אֲבָל סִימָנִין דְכ״ח אִינוּן אוֹר אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר). The first fourteen of the twenty-eight (י״ד קַדְמָאִין דְכ״ח), the second fourteen are “in the first month, on the fourteenth day” (Numbers 9:5) (י״ד תִּנְיָינִין אִינוּן בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם וְכוּ'). And these are the fourteen joints of the right hand (וְאִינוּן י״ד פִּרְקִין דְּיָ״ד יְמִינָא), and the fourteen of the left hand (וְיָ״ד שְׂמָאלָא), and the fourteen joints of the body (וְי״ד פִּרְקִין דְּגוּפָא), which are three of the right arm (וּתְלַת פִּרְקִין דִּדְרוֹעָא יְמִינָא), and three of the left arm (וּתְלַת דִּדְרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא), and three of the right thigh (וּתְלַת דְּשׁוֹקָא יְמִינָא), and three of the left thigh (וּתְלַת דְּשׁוֹקָא שְׂמָאלָא), and two of the body (וּתְרֵין דְּגוּפָא). And the secret of the matter: “Three facing the sea, and three facing the south, etc.” (1 Kings 7:25) (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה שְׁלֹשָׁה פּוֹנִים יָמָּה, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה פּוֹנִים נֶגְבָּה וְכוּ'). And all this is in this manner: the repair of the body corresponds to the repair of the Mishkan (וְכֹלָּא דָא כְּגַוְונָא דְּדָא, תִּקּוּנָא דְגוּפָא כְּתִקּוּנָא דְמַשְׁכְּנָא). Behold three times fourteen: Purim on the fourteenth day thereof (פּוּרִים בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹ), Pesach, light of the fourteenth (פֶּסַח אוֹר לְאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר), the third, “in the first month, on the fourteenth day” (Numbers 9:5) (תְּלִיתָאָה בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם). And they ascend to forty-two days (וְסָלְקִין לְאַרְבְּעִין וּתְרֵין יוֹמִין). And this is: “And all the wise-hearted made…” (Exodus 36:8) (וְדָא אִיהוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כָל חֲכַם לֵב כּו').