Daf 67a (דַּף ס״ז ע״א)

“Set me as a seal” - this is Orayta (שִׂימֵנִי כַחוֹתָם, דָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא), of which it is said: “The Torah of truth was in his mouth” (Malachi 2:6) (דְאִתְּמַר בָּהּ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ). And she is crowned from ten sayings which are Yod (וְאִיהִי כְלִילָא מֵעֲשַׂר אֲמִירָן דְּאִנּוּן י׳), and from the ten utterances which are Heh Heh (וּמֵעֲשַׂר דִּבְּרָן דְּאִינוּן ה״ה). And what is Torah? Vav - inclusive of the six days of Bereshit (וּמַאי תּוֹרָה ו׳ כְּלִיל שִׁית יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית). “Upon your heart” - this is Lamed–Bet; Elohim, by the computation of thirty-two (עַל לִבֶּךָ דָּא ל״ב אֱלֹהִים בְּחוּשְׁבַּן ל״ב), which depend from Vav (דְּתַלְיָין מִן ו׳), which is “Vav times ‘good’” (דְּאִיהוּ ו׳ זִמְנִין טוֹב). And in her is completed (some say: Vav) the Name of forty-two letters (וּבָהּ אִשְׁתַּלִּים [נ״א ו׳] שְׁמָא דְאַרְבְּעִין וּתְרֵין אַתְוָון), by which were created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them (דִּבְהוֹן אִתְבְּרִיאוּ שְׁמַיָּא וְאַרְעָא וְכָל מַה דְּאִית בְּהוֹן).

And this is the secret: “For the day of vengeance is in My heart” (Isaiah 63:4) (וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא כִּי יוֹם נָקָם בְּלִבִּי), “My heart” ascends to forty-two (לִבִּ״י סְלִיק מ״ב). “Vayechullu” - the seventy-two Names of the Explicit Name (וַיְכֻלּ״וּ ע״ב שְׁמָהָן דִּשְׁמָא מְפָרַשׁ). And concerning it is said: “To My heart I revealed, but to My limbs - which are the 248 commandments of Orayta - I did not reveal” (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר לְלִבִּי גִלִּיתִי, וּלְאֵבָרַי דְּאִנּוּן רְמַ״ח פִּקּוּדִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לֹא גִלִּיתִי). And in this “Vayechullu” (וּבְהַאי וַיְכֻלּוּ [ה׳ בְּשִׁשִּׁי דַּאֲיהוּ בּו׳, וְדָא אִיהִי וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי, דְּהָאִי]) the Heh of “the sixth” is Malkhut, the seventh (ה׳ דְהַשִּׁשִּׁי אִיהוּ מַלְכוּת שְׁבִיעָאָה), and she is called Ayin-Beit (וְאִיהִי אִתְקְרִיאַת ע״ב). And in her rides the Vav to redeem Yisrael (וּבָהּ רְכִיב ו׳ לְמִפְרַק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל). This is what is written: “Behold, Hashem rides upon a swift cloud” (Isaiah 19:1) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב הִנֵּה יְהוָה רוֹכֵב עַל עָ״ב קַל), because she is the inclusive totality of the three patriarchs (בְּגִין דְּאִיהִי כְּלָלָא דִתְלַת אֲבָהָן), from whom depend the seventy-two Names (דְּתַלְיָין מִנְּהוֹן ע״ב שְׁמָהָן), and they are included in her (וְאִתְכְּלִילָן בָּהּ).

And corresponding to the three patriarchs it is said in “Vayechullu” three times “the seventh” (וְלָקֳבֵל תְּלַת אֲבָהָן אִתְּמַר בְּוַיְכֻלּוּ תְּלַת זִמְנִין שְׁבִיעִי). And this is the secret of Shabbat (וְדָא אִיהִי רָזָא דְשַׁבָּ״ת), Bet–Tav with Shin (בַּ״ת ש), which are “Vayissa, Vayavo, Vayet” that are included in Bet–Tav (דְּאִינוּן וַיִּסַּע וַיָּבֹא וַיֵּט דְּאִתְכְּלִילָן בְּבַ״ת). At that time the merit of the patriarchs becomes weak (בְּהַהִיא זִמְנָא חָלָה זְכוּת אֲבָהָן), for from the day the Temple was destroyed the world is called “tohu va-vohu” (דְּמִיּוֹמָא דְאִתְחֲרִיב בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא עָלְמָא אִתְקְרִי תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ). From there and onward the verse stands: “I said, the world shall be built by Chesed” (Psalms 89:3) (מִתַּמָּן וְאֵילֵךְ אִתְקַיַּים קְרָא אָמַרְתִּי עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה), “Chesed” ascends to the computation of the seventy-two Names (חֶסֶ״ד סְלִיק לְחוּשְׁבַּן ע״ב שְׁמָהָן). And this is the secret that the seventh is bound with the first day (וְדָא רָזָא דְאִתְקַשַּׁר שְׁבִיעִי בְּיוֹמָא קַדְמָאָה). And who is the seventh? This is the Tzaddik, the sign of Shabbat and Yomim Tovim (וּמָאן שְׁבִיעִי דָּא צַדִּיק אוֹת דְּשַׁבָּת וְיוֹמִין טָבִין). And the secret of the matter: “As Hashem lives, lie until the morning” (Ruth 3:13) (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה חַי יְהוָה שִׁכְבִי עַד הַבֹּקֶר), and this “morning” is of Avraham (וְדָא בֹּקֶר דְּאַבְרָהָם), that of which it is said: “And Avraham rose early in the morning” (Bereshit 19:27) (הַהוּא דְאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר). And he is his Chesed (וְאִיהוּ חֶסֶד דִּילֵיהּ), because in this Chesed the throne - which is falling - is rectified (בְּגִין דִּבְהַאי חֶסֶד אִתְתַּקַּן כָּרְסַיָּיא דְאִיהִי נְפִילָה). This is what is written: “And in Chesed a throne shall be established” (Isaiah 16:5) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְהוּכַן בַּחֶסֶד כִּסֵּא), and by it it shall stand (וּבֵיהּ תָּקוּם). And the secret of the matter: “And with everlasting Chesed I have had compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:8) (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה וּבְחֶסֶד עוֹלָם רִחַמְתִּיךְ). And all the Sefirot are bound in the right (וְכָל סְפִירָן מִתְקַשְּׁרִין בִּימִינָא), because concerning it is said: “From His right hand a fiery law for them” (Deuteronomy 33:2) (בְּגִין דַּעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ). From the right the Orayta is given (מִימִינָא אִתְיַיהִיב אוֹרַיְיתָא).

Because of this: “Who led at the right hand of Moshe the arm of His Tiferet, who split the waters” (Isaiah 63:12) (בְּגִין דָּא מוֹלִיךְ לִימִין מֹשֶׁה זְרוֹעַ תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ, וּבוֹקֵעַ מַיִם), the Orayta is from there (דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא מִתַּמָּן). From the Heh of Avraham (מִה׳ דְאַבְרָהָם), to be for him in it “a Name everlasting” (Isaiah 63:12) (לְמֶהֱוִי לֵיהּ בָּהּ שֵׁם עוֹלָם). And in it is completed the Heh of Moshe (וּבָהּ אִשְׁתַּלִּים ה׳ דְמֹשֶׁה), which is in surety toward Avraham through Moshe, who brought the Orayta (דְּאִיהִי בְמַשְׁכּוֹנָא לְגַבֵּיהּ דְאַבְרָהָם בְּמֹשֶׁה, דְאַיְיתֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא), until he redeems his children (עַד דְּיִפְרוֹק לִבְנוֹי). And the secret of the matter: “As in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt, I will show him wonders” (Micah 7:15) (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה כִּימֵי צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אַרְאֶנּוּ נִפְלָאוֹת).

And the secret of redemption is in this seal (וְרָזָא דְפוּרְקָנָא בְּהַאי חוֹתָמָא אִיהוּ), for it is said of it (דַּעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר): “For you shall go out with joy and with peace you shall be led” (Isaiah 55:12) (כִּי בְשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ וּבְשָׁלוֹם תּוּבָלוּן). “With joy/be-Simchah” ascends to the computation of Eden which is Adonai (בְּשִׂמְחָה סָלִיק לְחוּשְׁבַּן אָדֶ״ן דְּאִיהוּ אדנ״י). The Ark of the Covenant, the Lord of all the earth, is called thus (אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית אָדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ אִתְקְרֵי). Excluding the letter Shin which is three hundred (בַּר מֵאָת ש׳ דְּאִיהוּ תְּלַת מֵאָה). And these are the three Patriarchs who are joined in it (וְאִינוּן תְּלַת אֲבָהָן דְּאִתְחַבְּרוּ בָהּ). And the letters of be-Simchah [in joy]—it is Machashavah [thought] (וְאַתְוָון בְּשִׂמְחָ״ה אִיהִי מַחֲשָׁבָ״ה). Shin, three Patriarchs, in Hamah Hen (ש תְּלַת אֲבָהָן בְּחַמָּה ה״ן). And she is the Shekhinta who has no union except with her kind (וְאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא דְלֵית לָהּ יִחוּדָא אֶלָּא בְמִינָהּ). As the letters of Heh Nun (כְּמָה דְאַתְּוָותָא דְה״ן). And they became ten and became one hundred (וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ עֲשָׂרָה וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ מֵאָה). As the Shekhinta is inclusive of all ten and all one hundred (כְּמָה דִשְׁכִינְתָּא כְּלִילָא כֻּלְּהוּ עֲשָׂרָה וְכֻלְּהוּ מֵאָה). And this is what is written: “Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belong the heavens and the heaven of heavens” (Deuteronomy 10:14) (וְהַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב הֵן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם). And the secret of the matter is: Hen Adonai [Behold, the Lord] (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה הֵן אדנ״י).

“And with peace you shall be led” (Isaiah 55:12) (וּבְשָׁלוֹם תּוּבָלוּן). Shin, three Patriarchs (ש תְּלַת אֲבָהָן). Vav, Vav two Mashiachs (ו״ו תְּרֵין מְשִׁיחִין). Mem, Lamed–Bet, and in “and with peace” it ascends to seventy-two (מ׳ ל״ב דְּוּבְשָׁלוֹ״ם סְלִיק ע״ב). And this is what is said: “And I shall return in peace to my father’s house” (Bereshit 28:21) (וְדָא אִיהוּ דְאִתְּמַר וְשַׁבְתִּי בְשָׁלוֹם אֶל בֵּית אָבִי). “Joy” is that of which it is said: “Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a good heart” (Ecclesiastes 9:7) (שִׂמְחָה אִיהוּ דְאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ לֵךְ אֱכוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ וּשְׁתֵה בְלֶב טוֹב יֵינֶךָ). This is the wine kept in its grapes (דָּא יַיִן הַמְשׁוּמָר בַּעֲנָבָיו). And concerning it is said: “The secret of Hashem is to those who fear Him” (Psalms 25:14) (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר סוֹד יְהוָה לִירֵאָיו). Good wine, this is the Tzaddik (יַיִן טוֹב דָּא צַדִּיק). Of whom it is said: “The Tzaddik perishes” (Isaiah 57:1) (דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ הַצַּדִּיק אָבָד). And what is “perishes”? He perished - that flowing (וּמַאי אָבָד אָבַד הַהוּא נְבִיעוּ). And what remained was destruction and dryness in the First and Second House (וְאִשְׁתָּאַר נֶחֱרַב וְיָבֵשׁ בְּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן וְשֵׁנִי).

Sava arose and said (קָם סָבָא וְאָמַר), Adonai ascends in thought (אדנ״י בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה סָלְקָא), and not in calculation (וְלַאו בְּחֻשְׁבַּן). And concerning it is said: “Be silent all flesh before Hashem, for He is aroused from His holy habitation” (Zechariah 2:17) (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר הַ״ס כָּל בָּשָׂר מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה כִּי נֵעוֹר מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ). He is aroused in it as one aroused from sleep and returns to sleep (יִתְעַר בֵּיהּ כְּמָה דְאִתְעַר מִשִּׁנְתֵיהּ וְחָזַר לְשִׁנְתֵיהּ), until Hashem is aroused, who is mercy (עַד דְּיִתְעַר יְהוָה דְּאִיהוּ רַחֲמֵי), to fulfill in it: “And with great mercies I will gather you” (Isaiah 54:7) (לְקַיְימָא בֵּיהּ וּבְרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים אֲקַבְּצֵךְ). “Great” is called from the side of “the great God” who is Chesed (גְּדוֹלִים אִתְקְרִיאַת מִסִּטְרָא דְהָאֵ״ל הַגָּדוֹל דְּאִיהוּ חֶסֶד). And the Shekhinta in Him ascends to be called Gedulah (וּשְׁכִינְתָּא בֵּיהּ סָלְקָא לְאִתְקְרֵי גְדוֹלָה). And in Him surely is the secret of redemption (וּבֵיהּ וַדַּאי רָזָא דְפוּרְקָנָא). In this manner: Yod Heh Vav Heh (כְגַוְונָא דָא יו״ד ה״א וא״ו ה״א יְהוָה). And the Vav in it is the secret of redemption (וָא״ו בֵּיהּ רָזָא דְפוּרְקָנָא). For it is inscribed in the Name of seventy-two (דְּאִיהוּ רָשִׁים בִּשְׁמָא דְע״ב), which are Vav–Heh–Vav, Ani, Vav–Heh–Vav, initial letters Vav (דְּאִינוּן וָה״וּ אֲנִ״י וָה״וּ רֵישֵׁי תֵּיבִין וָא״ו). The thirteen attributes of mercy of Orayta that are given from the right (תְּלַת עֲשַׂר מְכִילָן דְּרַחֲמֵי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא דְּאִתְיְיהִיבַת מִימִינָא).

There remains Yod Heh Heh which ascends to the calculation of thirty-two (אִשְׁתָּאַר יו״ד ה״א ה״א דְסָלִיק לְחֻשְׁבַּן ל״ב). And it is Bet from Bereshit, Lamed from “before the eyes of all Yisrael” (וְאִיהוּ ב׳ מִן בְּרֵאשִׁית ל׳ לְעֵינֵי כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל). And further it is thirty-two Elohim of the work of Bereshit (וְעוֹד אִיהוּ ל״ב אֱלֹהִים דְּעוֹבָדָא דִבְּרֵאשִׁית). And concerning it is said: “For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redemption has come” (Isaiah 63:4) (דַּעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר כִּי יוֹם נָקָם בְּלִבִּי וּשְׁנַת גְּאוּלַי בָּאָה). And the Name of Ayin-Bet [seventy-two] is Vayechullu [and they were completed] (וּשְׁמָא דְע״ב אִיהוּ וַיְכֻלּ״וּ). In it, the secret of Purqana [redemption] is completed (בֵּיהּ אִשְׁתַּלִּים רָזָא דְפוּרְקָנָא). And concerning it, it is said: “To My heart I revealed” (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר לְלִבִּ״י גִלִּיתִי), for it is the Ḥushban [calculation] of Vayechullu [and they were completed] (דְאִיהוּ חוּשְׁבַּן וַיְכֻלּ״וּ). And in it the verse is fulfilled: “I said, the world shall be built with Chesed” (Psalms 89:3) (וּבֵיהּ אִתְקַיַּים קְרָא אָמַרְתִּי עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה). And as they went forth from Egypt in the secret of the seventy-two Names (וּכְמָה דְנָפְקוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּרָזָא דְע״ב שְׁמָהָן), so shall they go forth with them when they will be redeemed at the end (כַּךְ יִפְקוּן בְּהוֹן כַּד יִפְרְקוּן בְּבַתְרַיְיתָא). At that time “the Chesed of Hashem filled the earth” (Psalms 33:5) (בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא חֶסֶד יְהוָה מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ). And concerning it is said: “My Chesed shall not depart from you, and with everlasting Chesed I have had compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:8) (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר וְחַסְדִּי מֵאִתֵּךְ לֹא יָמוּשׁ, וּבְחֶסֶד עוֹלָם רִחַמְתִּיךְ). And because of this David praised Kudsha Berikh Hu in the exile, which is Sheol, in this Chesed (וּבְגִין דָּא שַׁבַּח דָּוִד לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּגָלוּתָא דְאִיהִי שְׁאוֹל בְּהַאי חֶסֶד), as it is said: “For great is Your Chesed toward me, and You have saved my soul from the lowest Sheol” (Psalms 86:13) (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר כִּי חַסְדְּךָ גָּדוֹל עָלַי וְהִצַּלְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִשְּׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּיָּה).