Daf 22a (דַּף כ״ב ע״א)

Because of this, whoever desires to approach the King (וּבְגִין דָּא מָאן דְּבָעִי לְאַשָּׂגָא לְמַלְכָּא), has no permission to approach Him except through the Shekhinta (לֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְאַשָּׂגָא לֵיהּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא). This is what is written: “Let not the wise man glory… but in this” (Jeremiah 9) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב אַל יִתְהַלֵּל כו' כִּי אִם בְּזֹאת וְגוֹמֵר). And Aharon, when he entered the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur (וְאַהֲרֹן כַּד עָאל לְקֹדֶשׁ קֻדְשִׁין בְּיוֹמָא דְכִפּוּרֵי), by Her he entered (בָּהּ הֲוָה עָאל), as it is written: “With this shall Aharon come into the holy place” (Leviticus 16) (דִּכְתִיב בְּזֹאת יָבֹא אַהֲרֹן אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ). For She is “a time to act for Hashem” (דְּאִיהִי עִת לַעֲשֹׂת לַיְיָ). And Moshe, because of Her, was sustained in the world (וּמֹשֶׁה בְּגִינָהּ אִתְקַיַּים בְּעָלְמָא), as it is written: “And this is the blessing…” (Deuteronomy 33) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר וְגוֹמֵר). And with Her he struck the ten plagues upon Pharaoh (וּבָהּ עֲבִיד עֲשַׂר מַכְתְּשִׁין לְפַרְעֹה), as it is written: “And for this cause I have raised you up” (Exodus 9) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְאוּלָם בַּעֲבוּר זֹאת הֶעֱמַדְתִּיךָ). And Ya'akov, because he knew that all the will of the King was in Her (וְיַעֲקֹב בְּגִין דַּהֲוָה יָדַע דְּכָל רְעוּתָא דְמַלְכָּא בָּהּ), appointed his sons upon Her (מַנִּי לִבְנוֹי עֲלָהּ), that they should not come before the King except through Her (דְּלָא יַעֲלוּן קֳדָם מַלְכָּא אֶלָּא בָּהּ). And all their requests, in prayers and supplications to the King, were through Her (וְכָל שְׁאֵלְתִּין דִּלְהוֹן בִּצְלוֹתִין וּבָעוּתִין לְמַלְכָּא דִיְהוֹן בָּהּ), as it is written: “And this is what their father spoke to them” (Bereshit 49) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם וְגוֹמֵר). And David, because he knew that all the will and the power and the strength of the King were in Her (וְדָוִד בְּגִין דַּהֲוָה יָדַע דְּכָל רְעוּתָא וְחֵילָא וְתוּקְפָא דְמַלְכָּא בָּהּ), said: “Though a camp encamp against me… in this I trust” (Psalms 27) (אָמַר אִם תַּחֲנֶה וְגוֹמֵר בְּזֹאת אֲנִי בוֹטֵחַ), for it is said of Her: “And His kingdom rules over all” (Psalms 103) (דְּאִתְּמַר עֲלָהּ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בַּכֹּל מָשָׁלָה). And whoever does not set his heart also to this (וּמָאן דְּלָא שָׁת לִבֵּיהּ גַּם לָזֹאת), upon him it is said: “And the fool does not understand this” (Psalms 92) (עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר וּכְסִיל לֹא יָבִין אֶת זֹאת). And because of this, when Yisrael seek requests of the King (וּבְגִין דָּא כַד יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעָאן בָּעוּתִין לְמַלְכָּא), they say to Her: “Where has your Beloved gone?” (Song of Songs 6) (אָמְרִין לָהּ אָנָה הָלַךְ דּוֹדֵךְ), for it is said of Him: “My Beloved has turned away” (דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ בְּרַח דּוֹדִי). “Where has your Beloved turned, that we may seek Him with you?” (Song of Songs 6) (אָנָה פָּנָה דוֹדֵךְ וּנְבַקְשֶׁנּוּ עִמָּךְ). With many supplications of prayers and requests (בְּכַמָּה בַּקָּשׁוֹת דִּצְלוֹתִין וּבָעוּתִין), for because of you He descends upon us (דִּבְגִינָךְ אִיהוּ נָחִית עֲלָן). For He did not depart from us except because we did not honor you (דְּלָא זָז מִנָּנָא אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּלָא נָהִגְנָא יְקָרָא בָךְ). For because of you He was closed off with us for six days (דִּבְגִינָךְ הֲוָה אֲסִיר עִמָּנָא כָּל שִׁית יוֹמִין), as it is written: “It shall be closed the six days of work, and on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened” (Ezekiel 46) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב יִהְיֶה סָגוּר שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת יִפָּתֵחַ וּבְיוֹם הַחֹדֶשׁ יִפָּתֵחַ). For thus it is, the Shekhinta is closed with Him on weekdays (דְּהָכִי אִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא סְתִימָא עִמֵּיהּ בְּיוֹמָא דְחוֹלָא), like a rose that is closed (כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה דְאִיהִי אֲטִימָא). But on Shabbat, and on the new moon, and on festivals, She is opened (וּבְיוֹמָא דְשַׁבַּתָּא וּבְיוֹמָא דְחָדְשָׁא וּבְיוֹמִין טָבִין אִתְפַּתְּחַת), to receive fragrances and perfumes (לְקַבְּלָא רֵיחִין וּבוּסְמִין), and to bequeath souls and delights to Her children (וּלְיַרְתָא נַפְשִׁין וְעִנּוּגִין לִבְנַיְיהוּ).

Woe to the sons of men (וַוי לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא), that the Kudsha Berikh Hu is imprisoned with them in exile (דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אֲסִיר עִמְּהוֹן בְּגָלוּתָא), and the Shekhinta is imprisoned with them (וּשְׁכִינְתָּא אֲסִירַת עִמְּהוֹן). And it is said of Her (וְאִתְּמַר בָּהּ): “A prisoner cannot free himself from the house of prisoners” (אֵין חָבוּשׁ מַתִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִבֵּית הָאֲסוּרִים). And Her redemption, which is Teshuvah, the Supernal Imma (וּפוּרְקָנָא דִילָהּ דְּאִיהִי תְשׁוּבָה אִימָּא עִלָּאָה), is dependent upon their hands (אִיהִי תַלְיָא בִידֵיהוֹן). For fifty gates of freedom are with Her (דְּחַמְשִׁין תַּרְעִין דְּחֵירוּ עִמָּהּ), corresponding to fifty times that the Exodus from Egypt is mentioned in the Orayta (לָקֳבֵל חַמְשִׁין זִמְנִין דְּאִדְכַּר יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). This is what is written: “And he turned this way and that” (Exodus 2) (דָּא הוּא וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה). These are the fifty letters that unite Him every day in the recitation twice of Shema Yisrael (בְּאִלֵּין חַמְשִׁין אַתְוָון דִּמְיַחֲדִין לֵיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא פַּעֲמַיִם שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל), for in them are twenty-five and twenty-five letters (דְּאִית בְּהוֹן כ״ה וְכ״ה אַתְוָון). And he saw that there was no man awakened to Her within them (וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ דְּאִתְעַר לָהּ בְּגַוַּיְהוּ). And She peers from the windows (וְאִיהִי מַשְׁגִּיחַ מִן הַחֲלוֹנוֹת), of which it is said: “Make bright Your face, O El, and be gracious to us” (חַלּוּ נָא פְנֵי אֵל וִיחָנֵּנוּ). This is She of whom it is said: “El, please heal her, please” (Numbers 12) (לְהַהִיא דְאִתְּמַר בָּהּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ), for healing is in His hand (דְּאַסְוָותָא בִידֵיהּ). For He is the outstretched hand to receive those who repent (דְּאִיהוּ יָד פְּשׁוּטָה לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים). “And he saw that there was no man” (Exodus 2) (וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ). And She: “Through the window she looked out” (Judges 5) (וְאִיהִי בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן נִשְׁקְפָה). And she wailed with a Teruah [blast], which is a sobbing wail [Yevava] (וַתְּיַבֵּב בִּתְרוּעָה דְאִיהִי יְבָבָא). Of Her it is said: “And Noach opened the window of the ark that he had made” (Bereshit 8) (דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ וַיִּפְתַּח נֹחַ אֶת חַלּוֹן הַתֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה). And this is Yom Kippur, which is the Ark of Noach, the Supernal Imma (וְדָא יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים דְּתֵיבַת נֹחַ הִיא אִימָּא עִלָּאָה). Her window is the middle pillar (חַלּוֹן דִּילָהּ הוּא עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא), in which is light (דְבֵיהּ אוֹר). And Torah is light (וְתוֹרָה אוֹר). And this is the hidden light (וְאִיהוּ אוֹר הַגָּנוּז).

“And he turned this way and that” (Exodus 2) (וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה), “peering from the lattice” (Song of Songs 2) (מֵצִיץ מִן הַחֲרַכִּים)-these are the Ten Days of Teshuvah (אֵלּוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת יְמֵי תְּשׁוּבָה). “And he saw that there was no man” (Exodus 2) (וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ). And again, “She peers from the windows” (Song of Songs 2) (וְעוֹד מַשְׁגִּיחַ מִן הַחַלּוֹנוֹת)-these are the windows of the synagogue (אִלֵּין חַלּוֹנוֹת דְּבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא). For Abba and His children are imprisoned in the synagogue (דְּאַבָּא וּבְנוֹי אִינוּן בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אֲסִירָן). And every day His providence is upon them (וְאִיהוּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא אַשְׁגָּחוּתֵיהּ עֲלַיְהוּ). And He gives them sustenance (וְיָהִיב לוֹן מְזוֹנָא).

“And he turned this way and that” (Exodus 2) (וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה), if there is someone who will be aroused in Teshuvah to break their prison house (אִם אִית מָאן דְּיִתְעַר בִּתְיוּבְתָּא לְתַבְרָא בֵּית אֲסוּרִין דִּלְהוֹן), this is what is written: “To say to the prisoners: Go forth, to those who are in darkness: Show yourselves” (Isaiah 49) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב לֵאמֹר לַאֲסוּרִים צֵאוּ, וְלַאֲשֶׁר בַּחֹשֶׁךְ הִגָּלוּ). “And he turned this way and that and saw that there was no man” (Exodus 2) (וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ), but rather, each man turned to his own way (אֶלָּא אִישׁ לְדַרְכּוֹ פָּנוּ), to their own affairs (בַּעֲסָקִין דִּלְהוֹן), to their own paths (בְּאוֹרְחִין דִּלְהוֹן), each man to his own gain (אִישׁ לְבִצְעוֹ מִקָּצֵהוּ), in the pursuit of this world (בְּבִצְעָא דְהַאי עָלְמָא), to inherit this world (לְיַרְתָא הַאי עָלְמָא). And they are not of the side of those of whom it is said (Exodus 18): “Men of valor, fearers of Elohim, men of truth, haters of gain” (וְלַאו אִינוּן מִסִּטְרָא דְאִלֵּין דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל, יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים, אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת, שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע).

Rather, all of them cry out in their prayers on Yom Kippur like dogs (אֶלָּא כֻּלְּהוּ צָוְוחִין בִּצְלוֹתִין בְּיוֹמָא דְכִפּוּרֵי כַכְּלָבִים), “Give us food, and forgiveness and atonement and life, write us for life” (הַב לָנָא מְזוֹנָא, וּסְלִיחָה וְכַפָּרָה וְחַיֵּי, כָּתְבֵנוּ לְחַיִּים). And they are brazen of spirit like dogs (וְאִינוּן עַזֵּי נֶפֶשׁ כַּכְּלָבִים), for they are the nations of the world who cry out to Him without shame (דְּאִינוּן אוּמִין דְּעָלְמָא דְצָוְוחֵי לְגַבֵּיהּ וְלֵית לוֹן בֹּשֶׁת אַנְפִּין). For there is no one who calls to Him in Teshuvah (דְּלָא אִית מָאן דְּקָרָא לֵיהּ בִּתְיוּבְתָּא), to return His Shekhinta to Kudsha Berikh Hu (דְיַחֲזוֹר שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), for She is distant from Him (דְאִיהִי מְרַחֲקָא מִנֵּיהּ), to return to Him (לְמֶהדַר לְגַבֵּיהּ). And they are compared to dogs (וְאִדַּמְיָין לִכְלָבִים), of whom it is said: “And they mingled among the nations and learned their deeds” (Psalms 106) (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וַיִּתְעָרְבוּ בַגּוֹיִם וַיִּלְמְדוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם). And they are the Erev rav (וְאִינוּן עִרֶב רַב), for all the kindness they perform, they perform for themselves (דְּכָל חֶסֶד דְּעָבְדִין לְגַרְמַיְהוּ עָבְדִין).