Daf 35b (דַּף ל״ה ע״ב)

Happy are Yisrael, who know supernal secrets in the Havayot (זַכָּאִין אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיָדְעִין רָזִין עִלָּאִין בַּהֲוַיּוֹ״ת), in which their prayers ascend in the breath of their mouths (דִּבְהוֹן סָלְקִין צְלוֹתִין בַּהֲבָלִים דְּפוּמְהוֹן), and the powers descend in them as is fitting (וְנָחֲתִין אִינוּן חֲיָילִין בְּהוֹן כִּדְקָא יָאוּת). For when a man raises his Shekhinta in his prayer (דְּכַד בַּר נַשׁ סָלִיק שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בִּצְלוֹתֵיהּ), Kudsha Berikh Hu descends upon him (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָחִית עֲלֵיהּ). This is what is written: “In every place where I cause My Name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב בְּכָל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי אָבֹא אֵלֶיךָ וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ) (Exodus 20). Happy are Yisrael, who are the legs of the Shekhinta (זַכָּאִין אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִינוּן רַגְלִין לִשְׁכִינְתָּא), to stand with Her whether in ease or in hardship (לְמֵיקַם עִמָּהּ בֵּין בְּרֵיוַח בֵּין בְּעָקוּ).

For when they are in judgment, on the Day of Judgment which is Rosh haShanah (דְּכַד אִנּוּן בְּדִינָא בְּיוֹמָא דְּדִינָא דְאִיהִי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה), She stands with them for judgment (אִיהִי קָמַת עִמְּהוֹן לְדִינָא), for they uphold Her in their prayers (דְקַיְימִין לָהּ בִּצְלוֹתְהוֹן). Of them it is said: “When you walk, it shall lead you; when you lie down, it shall guard you; and when you awake, it shall talk with you” (דַעֲלַיְיהוּ אִתְּמַר בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אוֹתָךְ, בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמוֹר עָלֶיךָ, וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ) (Proverbs 6). For in every place where Yisrael uphold every commandment for the Shekhinta (דִבְכָל אֲתַר דְּקַיְימִין יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל פִּקּוּדָא וּפִקּוּדָא לִשְׁכִינְתָּא), She stands with them, for their sake, in every pressure and distress (אִיהִי קַיְימַת בְּגִינַיְיהוּ בְּכָל דּוֹחֲקָא וְצַעֲרָא), whether on the road, or in settlement, or at sea (בֵּין בְּאָרְחָא בֵּין בְּיִשּׁוּבָא בֵּין בְּיַמָּא). And this is: “When you walk in the wilderness, it shall lead you” (וְדָא אִיהוּ בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ בְּמַדְבְּרָא תַּנְחֶה אוֹתָךְ). This is what is written: “Righteousness shall go before Him and set His steps in the way” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב צֶדֶק לְפָנָיו יְהַלֵּךְ וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו) (Psalms 85). “When you lie down, in settlement, it shall guard you” (בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ בְּיִשּׁוּבָא תִּשְׁמוֹר עָלֶיךָ). “And when you awake, to go by sea, it shall talk with you” (וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ לְמֵיזַל בְּיַמָּא הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ).

And further: “When you walk in this world, it shall lead you” (וְעוֹד בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא תַּנְחֶה אוֹתָךְ). “When you lie down, in the grave, it shall guard you” (בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ בַּקֶּבֶר תִּשְׁמוֹר עָלֶיךָ). “And when you awake, at the resurrection of the dead, it shall talk with you” (וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ בִתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ).

Behold, these go out (הָא אִלֵּין נָפְקִין). And behold, others come, knocking at the gate (וְהָא אָחֳרָנִין קָא דָפְקִין לְפִתְחָא). And they are masters of the legs, from the side of the legs of Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְאִינוּן מָארֵי רַגְלִין, מִסִּטְרָא דְרַגְלִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). Of them it is said: “And His feet shall stand in that day” (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וְעָמְדוּ רַגְלָיו בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא) (Zechariah 14). And concerning them it is said: “About six hundred thousand on foot were the men, besides children” (וַעֲלַיְיהוּ אִתְּמַר כְּשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף רַגְלִי הַגְּבָרִים לְבַד מִטָּף) (Exodus 12). These go out, and behold, others enter (אִלֵּין נָפְקִין הָא אָחֳרָנִין עָאלִין), from the side of those of whom it is said: “And their feet were a straight foot” (מִסִּטְרָא דְאִלֵּין דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וְרַגְלֵיהֶם רֶגֶל יְשָׁרָה) (Ezekiel 1). Legs in a circle, they are a straight foot (רַגְלִין בְּעִגּוּלָא אִינוּן רֶגֶל יְשָׁרָה). And there are other legs, squared, of the Ophanim (וְאִית רַגְלִין אָחֳרָנִין מְרוּבָּעִין דְּאוֹפַנִּים), of which it is said: “On their four sides, when they went, they went” (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן עַל אַרְבַּעַת רִבְעִיהֶם בְּלֶכְתָּם יֵלֵכוּ) (Ezekiel 1:17). In them: “And the living creatures ran and returned like the appearance of a flash of lightning” (דִּבְהוֹן וְהַחַיּוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב כְּמַרְאֵה הַבָּזָק) (Ezekiel 1:14). And those legs that are in a circle, they are like the points to the letters (וְאִנּוּן רַגְלִין בְּעִגּוּלָא, אִינוּן כְּנִקּוּדִין לְאַתְוָון), while those legs in square are the letters themselves (דְּאִינוּן רַגְלִין בְּרִבּוּעָא). And the prophet, who is from their side (וְנָבִיא דְאִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִלְהוֹן), there his spirit would ascend (תַּמָּן הֲוָה סָלִיק רוּחֵיהּ), and from there he would hear all that he needed to hear (וּמִתַּמָּן הֲוָה שָׁמַע כָּל מַה דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמִשְׁמַע).

This is what is written: “And He said to me: Son of man, stand upon your feet and I will speak with you” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָי בֶּן אָדָם עֲמֹד עַל רַגְלֶיךָ וַאֲדַבֵּר אוֹתָךְ) (Ezekiel 2). And further: “And the spirit entered into me when He spoke to me, and set me upon my feet, and I heard Him that spoke to me” (וְעוֹד וַתָּבֹא בִי רוּחַ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלַי וַתַּעֲמִדֵנִי עַל רַגְלָי, וָאֶשְׁמַע אֵת מִדַּבֵּר אֵלָי) (Ezekiel 2). “And the spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me…” (וַתִּשָּׂאֵנִי רוּחַ וָאֶשְׁמַע אַחֲרַי וְגוֹמֵר) (Ezekiel 3). Because these are levels from the side of the Shekhinta (בְּגִין דְּדַרְגִּין אִינוּן מִסִּטְרָא דִשְׁכִינְתָּא), about which it is said: “And you shall see My back” (דְאִתְּמַר בָּהּ וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחוֹרָי) (Exodus 33). He said: “And I heard behind me” (אָמַר וָאֶשְׁמַע אַחֲרַי). What is a “great sound of noise”? (מָאי קוֹל רַעַשׁ גָּדוֹל). For there is a noise and there is a noise (דְּאִית רַעַשׁ וְאִית רַעַשׁ). There is a noise of which it is said: “Hashem was not in the noise” (אִית רַעַשׁ דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ לֹא בָרַעַשׁ יְיָ) (I Kings 19), for Kudsha Berikh Hu does not come there (דְּלָא יֵיתֵי תַמָּן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And there is a noise where He does come (וְאִית רַעַשׁ דְּיֵיתֵי תַמָּן). Rather, Ra'ash [Noise/Quake] in reverse is Eres [Bed] (אֶלָּא רַעַ״שׁ בְּהִפּוּכָא עִרֶ״שׂ), as it is said: “Hashem will support him upon the bed of sickness” (כְּמָה דְאִתְּמַר יְיָ יִסְעָדֶנּוּ עַל עֶרֶשׂ דְּוָי) (Psalms 41). And this is: “All his bed You have turned in his illness” (וְדָא אִיהוּ כָּל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ הָפַכְתָּ בְחָלְיוֹ) (ibid.).

For Ra'ash [Noise/Quake] in reverse is Eres [Bed] (דְּאִתְהַפַּךְ רַעַ״שׁ לְעִרֶ״שׂ). And what is Eres [Bed]? (וּמַאי נִיהוּ עִרֶ״שׂ). Rather, it is eser (ten) in reversal of letters (אֶלָּא אִיהוּ עִשֶׂ״ר בְּהִפּוּךְ אַתְוָון). And this is the Shekhinta, who is the totality of ten Sefirot (וְדָא שְׁכִינְתָּא דְאִיהִי כְלָלָא דְעִשֶׂר סְפִירָן). Concerning Her it is said: “There is no sanctity with less than ten” (דַּעֲלָהּ אִתְּמַר אֵין קְדוּשָׁה בְּפָחוּת מֵעֲשָׂרָה). For She rests at the head of the sick (דְאִיהִי שַׁרְיָא לְרֵישָׁא דְחוֹלֶה), and because of Her it is said: “Hashem will support him” (וּבְגִינָהּ יְיָ יִסְעָדֶנּוּ). And with what-“upon the bed of sickness” (וּבְמַאי עַל עֶרֶשׂ דְּוָי)? Surely upon his Shekhinta (עַל שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ וַדַּאי). But if the Shekhinta is not there (וְאִם שְׁכִינְתָּא לַאו תַּמָּן), a storm-wind is there (רוּחַ סְעָרָה תַמָּן), which shakes the body of man (דְּאַסְעִיר גּוּפֵיהּ דְּבַר נַשׁ), as it is written of him: “And the ship thought to be broken” (דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ וְהָאֳנִיָּה חִשְּׁבָה לְהִשָּׁבֵר) (Jonah 1). That is the body, the ship (דְּאִיהִי גוּפָא דִסְפִינָה). When the Shekhinta does not support it (כַּד לֵית שְׁכִינְתָּא סְמִיכַת לָהּ), the storm-wind overturns it and breaks it (רוּחַ סְעָרָה מְהַפֵּךְ לָהּ וְתַבַּר לָהּ). But in the time that the Shekhinta supports it (וּבְזִמְנָא דִשְׁכִינְתָּא סְמִיכַת לָהּ), immediately the voice goes forth: “Son of man, stand upon your feet” (מִיָּד קָלָא נָפִיק בֶּן אָדָם עֲמֹד עַל רַגְלֶיךָ) (Ezekiel 2). And he rises from his sickness (וְקָאִים מִמַּרְעָא דִילֵיהּ), and goes out from judgment (וְנָפִיק מִדִּינָא), whole in his body and whole in his wealth (שְׁלִים בְּגוּפֵיהּ שְׁלִים בְּמָמוֹנֵיהּ).

Behold, these go out (הָא אִלֵּין נָפְקִין). Behold, others knock at the gate (הָא אָחֳרָנִין דָּפְקִין לְפִתְחָא), and they say: “Adonai, open my lips” (וְאָמְרִין אדנ״י שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח) (Psalms 51). And they are those who support the Shekhinta with many legs of festivals and holy days (וְאִינוּן דִּסְמִיכִין לִשְׁכִינְתָּא בְּכַמָּה רַגְלִין דְּמוֹעֲדִים וְיוֹמִין טָבִין). And when these ascend (וְכַד אִלֵּין עָאלִין), Kudsha Berikh Hu praises Her with them (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְשַׁבַּח לָהּ בְּהוֹן): “How beautiful are your steps in sandals, O daughter of the noble one” (מַה יָּפוּ פְעָמַיִךְ בַּנְּעָלִים בַּת נָדִיב) (Song of Songs 7). For these are those of whom it is said: “Three times in the year shall all your males appear” (דְּאִלֵּין אִינוּן דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה יֵרָאֶה כָל זְכוּרְךָ) (Deuteronomy 16). Kudsha Berikh Hu said: How beautiful you are in these sandals, which are the pilgrimage of Pesach, the pilgrimage of Atzeret, and the pilgrimage of the Festival (אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּמָּה אַנְתְּ שַׁפִּירָא בְּאִלֵּין נְעָלִים דְּאִינוּן נְעִילַת פֶּסַח וּנְעִילַת עֲצֶרֶת וּנְעִילַת חָג). “The curves of your thighs” (חַמּוּקֵי יְרֵכַיִךְ) (Song of Songs 7), these are from the side of the two thighs of truth (אִלֵּין אִינוּן מִסִּטְרָא דִתְרֵי יַרְכֵי קְשׁוֹט), of which it is said: “His legs are pillars of marble” (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן שׁוֹקָיו עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ) (Song of Songs 5). And these are six levels of prophecy (וְאִינוּן שִׁית דַּרְגִּין דִּנְבוּאָה).