Daf 48a (דַּף מ״ח ע״א)

And the affliction of the Shekhinta (וְעִנּוּיָא דִשְׁכִינְתָּא), even though she is in three directions (אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִיהִי בִּתְלַת סִטְרִין), in the Tekia, which is a soft judgment, Rafeh (בִּתְקִיעָ״ה דְאִיהִי דִינָא רַפְיָא רָפֵ״ה), and in the Shevarim, which is a hard judgment, Dagesh Gevurah (וּבִשְׁבָרִי״ם דְּאִיהוּ דִינָא קַשְׁיָא דָגֵ״שׁ גְּבוּרָה), she has no affliction like the affliction of her Master, which is the Teru‘ah, Shelsheleth (לֵית לָהּ עִנּוּיָא כְּעִנּוּיָא דְבַעִילָהּ דְּאִיהוּ תְרוּעָ״ה שַׁלְשֶׁלֶ״ת). And the mystery of the matter: “It is not the sound of strength of victory” (Exodus 32:18) (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה אֵין קוֹל עַנוֹת גְּבוּרָה) - this is Shevarim (דָא שְׁבָרִי״ם). “And it is not the sound of weakness” (Exodus 32:18) (וְאֵין קוֹל עַנוֹת חֲלוּשָׁה) - this is Tekia (דָא תְּקִיעָ״ה). “But the sound of affliction do I hear” (Exodus 32:18) (אֶלָּא קוֹל עַנּוֹת אָנֹכִי שׁוֹמֵעַ) - this is Teru‘ah (דָא תְרוּעָ״ה), which ascends in affliction, this after that, like Teru‘ah (דְּסָלְקָא בְּעִנּוּיָיא דָא בָתַר דָּא כִּתְרוּעָה). And because of this: “Happy is the people who know the Teru‘ah” (Psalms 89:16) (וּבְגִין דָּא אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יוֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה). Even though the Shekhinta is in afflictions from the right and from the left (אַף עַל גַּב דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא אִיהִי בְּעִנּוּיָיא מִימִינָא וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא), there is no affliction like the affliction of her Master - the Teru‘ah which is Torah of Arich Anpin (לֵית עִנּוּיָיא כְּעִנּוּיָא דְבַעִילָהּ, תְּרוּעָ״ה דְאִיהִי תוֹרָ״ה עַיִ״ן אַנְפִּין). And she is his Teru‘ah (וְאִיהִי תְרוּעָה דִילֵיהּ). And because of this: “Happy is the people who know the Teru‘ah” (Psalms 89:16) (וּבְגִין דָּא אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יוֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה).

Another matter: “The sound of affliction do I hear” (Exodus 32:18) (דָּבָר אַחֵר קוֹל עַנּוֹת אָנֹכִי שׁוֹמֵעַ), this is the affliction of “Anochi do I hear” (דָּא אִיהוּ עִנּוּיָא דְאָנֹכִי שׁוֹמֵעַ), for she cries every day above, she and her children (דְּאִיהִי צָוְוחַת בְּכָל יוֹמָא לְמַעִילָא, הִיא וּבְנָהָא). And they call to Him twice, evening and morning: “Shema Yisrael” (וְקָרָאן לֵיהּ תְּרֵין זִמְנִין עִרֶב וָבֹקֶר שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל). And every person who has affliction from the Shekhinta, who is poor in exile, distant from her Master (וְכָל בַּר נַשׁ דְּאִית לֵיהּ עִנּוּי מִשְּׁכִינְתָּא, דְּאִיהִי עַנְיָא בְגָלוּתָא, רְחִיקָא מִן בַּעִילָהּ), and he calls to her every day “Shema Yisrael,” that he may descend to her (וְקָרָא לֵיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּיְהֵא נָחִית לְגַבָּהּ), indeed upon him it is said: “The sound of affliction do I hear” (Exodus 32:18) (וַדַּאי עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר קוֹל עַנּוֹת אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ). The sound of affliction of this poor one do I hear (קוֹל דְּעִנּוּיָא דְהַאי עַנְיָא אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ).

One stands at the wall, and this is the lower Shekhinta (קָם אֶחָד בְּקִירְטָא וְדָא שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה), and one with the bow, this is the covenant of the Tzaddik (וְחַד בְּקַשְׁתָּא דָא בְרִית צַדִּיק). About him it is said: “The shofar goes, scattering greatly” (Isaiah 27:13) (עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר שׁוֹפָ״ר הוֹלֵ״ךְ פָּזֵ״ר גָּדוֹ״ל). Her arrows are the Tzaddikim of Yisrael, who accepted the covenant (גִּירִין דִּילָהּ אִינוּן צַדִּיקִים דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּקַבִּילוּ בְרִית). By their merit they go forth from exile (דְּבִזְכוּתֵיהּ נָפְקִין מִגָּלוּתָא). And the mystery of the matter: “Behold, I have given you seed” (Bereshit 47:23) (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה הֵא לָהֶם זֶרַע) - these are the drops, and this is Zarqa (דְּאִינוּן טִיפִּין וְדָּא זַרְקָ״א).

The Tannaim and Amoraim above stood and blessed him (קָמוּ תַּנָּאִין וַאֲמוֹרָאִין דִּלְעִילָא וּבָרִיכוּ לֵיהּ), and they said: “A target shall be a protection for you from arrows in exile” (וְאָמְרוּ מַטָּרָה תְּהֵא אֲגִינַת עֲלָךְ מֵחִצִּים בְּגָלוּתָא). Some say: “A crown” (נ״א עֲטָרָה). “About you it is said: ‘You shall not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day’” (Psalms 91:5) (עֲלָךְ אִתְּמַר לֹא תִירָא מִפַּחַד לָיְלָה מֵחֵץ יָעוּף יוֹמָם). “And the bow and arrow of the side of holiness shall protect you” (וְקַשְׁתָּא וְחִצָּא דְסִטְרָא דִקְדוּשָׁה יָגֵן עֲלָךְ). “And under His wings shall you take refuge; His truth is a shield and buckler” (Psalms 91:4) (וְתַחַת כְּנָפָיו תֶּחְסֶּה צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ). “The shield, this is the lower Shekhinta” (צִנָּה דָא שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה). “The buckler, this is the upper Shekhinta” (וְסֹחֵרָה דָא שְׁכִינְתָּא עִלָּאָה). “His truth, this is the Middle Pillar” (אֲמִתּוֹ דָא עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא).

He stood and said: “Tannaim, Tannaim, may the Mishnah be in your aid” (קָם אִיהוּ וְאָמַר תַּנָּאִין תַּנָּאִין מִשְׁנֶה תְּהֵא בְּעִזְרַיְיכוּ). “And do not be changed from mercy to judgment” (וְלָא תִּשְׁתַּנִּיאוּ מֵרַחֲמֵי לְדִינָא). “Halakhah goes to your right, to be strengthened in it against your enemies” (הֲלָכָה אָזְלַת לִימִינָא דִלְכוֹן, לְאִתְגַבְּרָא בָּהּ עַל שַׂנְאֵכוֹן). “Kabbalah-your prayer will be received” (קַבָּלָה תִּתְקַבֵּל צְלוֹתְכוֹן). “Beraita-I have brought forth for you and for your children from exile, and from subjugation, and from the judgment of that one appointed over the exile upon your children” (בְּרַיְיתָא אֲפִיקַת לְכוֹן וְלִבְנַיְיכוּ מִגָּלוּתָא, וּמִשִּׁעִבּוּדָא וְדִינָא דְהַהוּא דִמְמַנָּא עַל גָּלוּתָא עַל בְּנַיְיכוּ). “Immediately, He who blessed them ascends to His place” (מִיָּד דְּבָרִיךְ לוֹן סָלִיק לְאַתְרֵיהּ).

Rabbi Shimon stood first, opened and said: “Tanna, Tanna, guard yourself, for behold a wall is toward you, and this is the Shekhinta” (קָם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּקַדְמֵיתָא פָּתַח וְאָמַר, תַּנָּא תַּנָּא אִסְתַּמַּר לָךְ, דְּהָא קִירְטָא לְגַבָּךְ, וְדָא שְׁכִינְתָּא). “And in her were cast three stones, which are the three drops of supernal brain, which are Yod-Yod-Yod, and they were included in Chokhmah, in Tevunah, and in Da‘at” (וּבָהּ אִזְדְּרִיקוּ תְלַת אַבְנִין, דְּאִינוּן תְּלַת טִפִּין דְּמוֹחָא עִלָּאִין, דְּאִינוּן י״י״י״, וְאִתְכְּלִילוּ בְּחָכְמָה בִּתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת).

He said to him: “Rabbi, ‘Place your nest in the rock’ (Numbers 24:21)” (אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי שִׂים בַּסֶּלַע קִנֶּךָ). “For behold the bow is toward you, which is the sign of the covenant” (דְּהָא קַשְׁתָּא לְגַבָּךְ דְּאִיהוּ אוֹת הַבְּרִית). “Guard yourself from his arrows, which are three Vav-Vav-Vav, which ascend as eighteen in number, and this is the Life of Worlds” (אִסְתַּמַּר מִגִּירִין דִּילֵיהּ, דְּאִינוּן תְּלַת ו״ו״ו״, דְּסָלְקִין חַ״י בְּחוּשְׁבַּן, וְדָא חַ״י עָלְמִין).

A second Tanna stood and said to him: “Behold a teaching (tanya) that supports you, with the spear that is crowned from four sections” (קָם תַּנָּא תִּנְיָינָא וְאָמַר לֵיהּ, הָא תַּנְיָא דִמְסַיֵּיעַ לָךְ, בְּרוּמְחָא דְאִיהוּ כְּלִילָא מֵאַרְבַּע פַּרָשִׁיָּין). “And this is the Vav, which is the Middle Pillar, crowned with six words of union, and with the 248 words about which it is said: ‘And place your nest in the rock’” (וְדָא ו׳ דְּאִיהוּ עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא, כְלִיל שִׁית תֵּיבִין דְּיִחוּדָא, וְרַמַ״ח תֵּיבִין דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ וְשִׂים בַּסֶּלַע קִנֶּךָ) (Numbers 24:21). “For behold, the horns of the ox are toward you, which are the two true prophets” (דְּהָא קַרְנֵי פָרָה לְגַבָּךְ, דְּאִנּוּן תְּרֵין נְבִיאֵי קְשׁוֹט). “About them it is said: ‘I will make a horn sprout for David’” (אַצְמִיחַ קֶרֶן לְדָוִד) (Psalms 132:17). “And He causes the horn of salvation to sprout, from the side of the Shekhinta, it is called the horns of the ox” (וּמַצְמִיחַ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָה מִסִּטְרָא דִשְׁכִינְתָּא אִתְקְרֵי קַרְנֵי פָרָה). “From the side of the bull: ‘And the horns of the re’em are his horns’” (וְקַרְנֵי רְאֵם קַרְנָיו) (Deuteronomy 33:17). “And these are the first and second Mashiach, Yod and Vav, the First House and the Second House, Heh-Heh” (וְאִינוּן מָשִׁיחַ רִאשׁוֹן וְשֵׁנִי י׳ ו׳, בַּיִת רִאשׁוֹן וְשֵׁנִי ה״ה). “And the Shekhinta took purple from red fire and was imprinted with it, and she is called red, ‘A red heifer without blemish’” (וּשְׁכִינְתָּא נַטְלָא פּוּרְפִּירָא מֵאֶשָּׁא סוּמְקָא וְאִצְטַבְּעַת בָּהּ, וְאִתְקְרִיאַת סוּמְקָא פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה תְּמִימָה) (Numbers 19:2). “Red indeed, from the side of Gevurah” (אֲדוּמָה וַדַּאי מִסִּטְרָא דִגְבוּרָה). “Tamim, from the side of that of which it is said: ‘Walk before Me and be perfect’” (הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי וֶהְיֵה תָמִים) (Bereshit 17:1). “That in which there is no blemish, from the side of Ya‘akov, who has no defect, as it is said: ‘And Ya‘akov was a wholesome man’” (אֲשֶׁר אֵין בָּהּ מוּם מִסִּטְרָא דְיַעֲקֹב דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ פְּסוֹלֶת, דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם) (Bereshit 25:27). “Ya‘akov above, and in his image Ya‘akov below” (יַעֲקֹב דִלְעִילָא, וּבְדִיּוֹקְנֵיהּ יַעֲקֹב דִלְתַתָּא). “‘Upon which no yoke has come’” (אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָלָה עָלֶיהָ עוֹל) (Numbers 19:2) - “from the subjugation of exile, because she is called the upper Shekhinta” (מִשִּׁעִבּוּדָא דְגָלוּתָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא עִלָּאָה אִתְקְרִיאַת). “And not only this, but she is also called Shabbat, for she is forbidden in labor, because she is called freedom” (וְלָא עוֹד אֶלָּא דְאִיהִי אִתְקְרִיאַת שַׁבָּת, דְּאִיהִי אָסוּר בִּמְלָאכָה, בְּגִין דְּאִתְקְרִיאַת חֵרוּת).