Daf 81a (דַּף פ״א ע״א)

And He gave them others, from the side of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (וִיָהִיב לוֹן אָחֳרָנִין מִסִּטְרָא דְעִץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע), from there is given the Orayta in forbidden and permitted (דְּמִתַּמָּן אִתְיְיהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא בְּאִסּוּר וְהֶתֵּר). From the right - life, and from the left - death (מִימִינָא חַיֵּי וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא מִיתָה). And because of this Rabbi Akiva said to his disciples: When you come to the pure marble stones, do not say “water, water” (וּבְגִין דָּא אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא לְתַלְמִידוֹי כְּשֶׁתַּגִּיעוּ לְאַבְנֵי שַׁיִשׁ טָהוֹר אַל תֹּאמְרוּ מַיִם מַיִם). And do not exchange pure marble stones for other stones, which are life and death (וְלָא תֶהֱוָון שְׁקִילִין אַבְנֵי שַׁיִשׁ טָהוֹר לַאֲבָנִים אָחֳרָנִין, דְּאִינוּן חַיֵּי וּמִיתָה).

For there: “The heart of the wise is to his right” (Ecclesiastes 10:2) (דְּתַמָן לֵב חָכָם לִימִינוֹ), of a man (דְּבַר נַשׁ). “And the heart of the fool to his left” (Ecclesiastes 10:2) (וְלֵב כְּסִיל לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ). And not only this, but you endanger yourselves (וְלָא עוֹד אֶלָּא אַתֶּם תְּסַכְּנוּ עַצְמְכֶם). Because these stones of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil are in separation (בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין אַבְנִין דְּעִץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע אִינוּן בְּפִרוּדָא). But these pure marble stones are in unification, without separation at all (וְאִלֵּין אַבְנֵי שַׁיִשׁ טָהוֹר אִינוּן בְּיִחוּדָא בְּלָא פִּרוּדָא כְּלָל). And if you should say: Behold, the Tree of Life has departed from them and they have fallen, and there is separation among them (וְאִם תֹּאמְרוּ דְהָא אִסְתַּלַּק עִץ הַחַיִּים מִנַּיְיהוּ וְנָפְלוּ וְאִית פִּרוּדָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ), “He who speaks lies shall not be established before My eyes” (Psalms 101:7) (דּוֹבֵר שְׁקָרִים לֹא יִכּוֹן לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי). For above there is no separation (דְּהָא לֵית תַּמָּן פִּרוּדָא לְעִילָא). And those that were broken - from those vessels they were (וְאִלֵּין דְּאִתְּבַרוּ מֵאִינוּן [מאנין] הֲווֹ). They came to kiss it, and it flew and departed from them (אָתוּ לְנַשְׁקָא לֵיהּ פָּרַח וְאִסְתַּלַּק מִנַּיְיהוּ).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק): All the dead of the land of Yisrael will live and rise first at the time when Kudsha Berikh Hu revives the dead (כָּל אִינוּן מֵתִים דְּאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, יִחְיוּן וִיקוּמוּן בְּקַדְמֵיתָא לְעִידָּן דִּיְחֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מֵיתַיָּא). Because Kudsha Berikh Hu will be aroused upon them (בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יַתְעַר עֲלַיְיהוּ). This is that which is written: “Your dead shall live, my corpses shall rise” (Isaiah 26:19) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב יִחְיוּ מֵתֶיךָ נְבֵלָתִי יְקוּמוּן). “Your dead shall live” - these are those in the land of Yisrael (יִחְיוּ מֵתֶיךָ אִלֵין אִינוּן דְּאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל). “My corpses shall rise” - these are those in a foreign land (נְבֵלָתִי יְקוּמוּן אִלֵּין אִינוּן דִּבְאַרְעָא נוּכְרָאָה). For it is not written of them “revival,” but “rising” (דְּלָא כְתִיב בְּהוּ תְּחִיָּה אֶלָּא קִימָה). For the spirit of life shall not rest upon them except in the land of Yisrael (דְּהָא רוּחָא דְחַיֵּי לָא תִּשְׁרֵי עֲלַיְהוּ אֶלָּא בְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל). And because of this it is written of them: “They shall live” (וּבְגִין כַּךְ כְּתִיב בְּהוּ יִחְיוּ). “My corpses shall rise” - these are those abroad (נְבֵלָתִי יְקוּמוּן אִלֵּין דִּלְבָר). Their bodies shall be broken and rise body without spirit (יִתְבְּרֵי גוּפָא דִלְהוֹן וִיקוּמוּן גּוּפָא בְּלָא רוּחָא). And afterward they shall roll beneath the dust until they reach the land of Yisrael (וּלְבָתַר יִתְגַּלְגְּלוּן מִתְּחוֹת עַפְרָא עַד דְּמָטוּ לְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל). And there they shall receive a neshamah, and not in another dominion (וְתַמָּן יְקַבְּלוּן נִשְׁמָתָא וְלָא בִּרְשׁוּ אָחֳרָא). In order that they may exist in the world properly (בְּגִין דְּיִתְקַיְימוּן בְּעָלְמָא כִּדְקָא חָזֵי).

Rabbi El'azar said: Come and see (אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, תָּא חֲזִי): At the time when Kudsha Berikh Hu will revive the dead, all those neshamot that shall be aroused shall all rise in the very image that they had in this world (בְּשַׁעִ״תָּא דְזָמִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַחָיָיא מֵיתַיָּא, כָּל אִינוּן נִשְׁמָתִין דְּיִתְעָרוּן, כֻּלְּהוֹן יְקוּמוּן בְּהַהוּא דִיּוֹקְנָא מַמָּשׁ דַּהֲווֹ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא). And Kudsha Berikh Hu shall descend to them and call them by their names (וְנָחִית לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְקָרָא לוֹן בִּשְׁמָהָן). This is that which is written: “He calls them all by name” (Isaiah 40:26) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב לְכֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא). And each neshamah shall enter into its place (וְכָל נִשְׁמָתָא תֵּיעוּל לְדוּכְתָּהָא). And they shall rise in existence in the world as is fitting (וִיקוּמוּן בְּקִיּוּמָא בְּעָלְמָא כְּדְקָא חַזִי). And then the world shall be complete (וּכְדֵין יְהֵא עָלְמָא שְׁלִים). And concerning that time it is written: “And the reproach of His people He shall remove” (Isaiah 25:8) (וְעַל הַהוּא זִמְנָא כְּתִיב וְחֶרְפַּת עַמּוֹ יָסִיר). This is the evil inclination, which darkened the face of man and ruled over him (דָּא יֵצֶר הָרָע דְּאַחְשִׁיךְ אַפֵּי דְבַר נַשׁ וְשַׁלִּיט בֵּיהּ).

Rabbi Ḥizkiyah said (אָמַר רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה): If you should say that all the bodies of the world shall rise and be aroused from the dust (אִי תֵּימָא דְכָל גּוּפִין דְּעָלְמָא יְקוּמוּן וְיִתְעָרוּן מֵעַפְרָא), those bodies that were planted with one neshamah - what shall be of them (אִינוּן גּוּפִין דְּאִתְנַטְעוּ בְּנִשְׁמָתָא חֲדָא מַה תְּהֵא מִנַּיְיהוּ)? Rabbi Yose said (אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי): Those bodies that did not merit and did not prosper, behold they are as if they never were (אִינוּן גּוּפִין דְּלָא זָכוּ וְלָא אַצְלָחוּ הֲרֵי אִינוּן כְּלָא הֲווֹ), just as they were a dry tree in this world, so too in that time (כְּמָה דַהֲווֹ עִץ יָבֵשׁ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, הָכִי נַמִּי בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא). And the latter body shall rise, that which was planted and prospered and set down its roots properly (וְגוּפָא בַתְרָאָה יְקוּם, הַהוּא דְאִתְנַטַּע וְאַצְלַח וְנָטַע שָׁרָשׁוֹי כִּדְקָא יָאוּת). And of that latter body it is written: “And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalms 1:3) (וְעַל הַהוּא גוּפָא בַתְרָאָה כְּתִיב וְהָיָה כְּעִץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם), which produced branches and set down roots and prospered as was fitting (דְּעָבַד אִבִּין וְנָטַע שָׁרָשִׁין וְאַצְלַח כִּדְקָא יָאוּת). And of that first body it is written: “And he shall be like a tamarisk in the desert, and shall not see when good comes” (Jeremiah 17:6) (וְעַל הַהוּא גוּפָא קַדְמָאָה כְּתִיב וְהָיָה כְּעַרְעָר בָּעֲרָבָה וְלֹא יִרְאֶה כִּי יָבֹא טוֹב). “When good comes” - this is the resurrection of the dead (כִּי יָבֹא טוֹב דָּא תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים). And that light is illuminated, which is destined to shine for the Tzaddikim (וְאִתְנְהִיר הַהוּא נְהוֹרָא דְזַמִּין לְאַנְהָרָא לְצַדִּיקַיָּא), which was hidden before Him from the day the world was created (דַהֲוָה קַמֵּיהּ גָּנִיז מִיּוֹמָא דְאִתְבְּרִי עָלְמָא). This is that which is written: “And Elohim saw the light, that it was good” (Bereshit 1:4) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיַּרְא אלהי״ם אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב). With it Kudsha Berikh Hu is destined to revive the dead (בֵּיהּ זָמִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַחָיָא מֵיתַיָּא). This is that which is written: “And for you who fear My Name, the sun of righteousness shall arise, with healing in its wings” (Malachi 3:20) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְזָרְחָה לָכֶם יִרְאֵי שְׁמִי שֶׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה וּמַרְפֵּא). And then good shall prevail in the world (וּכְדֵין יִתְגַּבַּר טוֹב בְּעָלְמָא), and that which is called evil shall pass from the world (וְהַהוּא דְאִתְקְרֵי רָע יִתְעֲבַר מֵעָלְמָא). And then those first bodies shall be as if they never were (וּכְדֵין אִינוּן גּוּפִין קַדְמָאִין לִיהווּ כְלָא הֲווֹ).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק): Kudsha Berikh Hu is destined to scatter upon those bodies spirits (זָמִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַרָקָא עַל אִינוּן גּוּפִין רוּחִין). If they are worthy in them, they shall rise into the world as is fitting (אִי זָכוּ בְּהוּ יְקוּמוּן לְעָלְמָא כִּדְקָא יָאוּת). And if not, they shall be ashes under the feet of the Tzaddikim (וְאִם לַאו יְהוֹן קִטְמָא תְּחוֹת רַגְלֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא). This is that which is written: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake…” (Daniel 12:2) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְרַבִּים מִיְּשֵׁנֵי אַדְמַת עָפָר יָקִיצוּ וְגוֹמֵר).

Rabbi El'azar said (אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר): And this one who departs from the world before his days have reached twenty years (וְהַאי מָאן דְּאִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא עַד לָא מָטוּן יוֹמוֹי לְעִשְׂרִין שְׁנִין), from what place is he punished (מֵאָן אֲתַר אִתְעֲנַשׁ)? Because (he is thirteen years and above) (בְּגִין [דהוי מתליסר שנין ולעילא]), for from thirteen and below he is not a man of punishment but only through the sin of his father (דְּהָא מִתְּלֵיסַר וּלְתַתָּא לַאו בַּר עָנְשָׁא הוּא אֶלָּא בְּחֶטְאָה דַאֲבוֹי). But from thirteen and above, what then (אֲבָל מִתְּלֵיסַר וּלְעִילָא מַהוּ)? He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): Kudsha Berikh Hu has mercy upon him, for he dies innocent (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חָס עֲלֵיהּ דְּלִימוּת זַכָּאָה), and He gives him good reward in that world (וְיָהִיב לֵיהּ אֲגַר טַב בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא). And he shall not die guilty to be punished in that world (וְלָא יָמוּת חַיָּיב דְּיִתְעֲנַשׁ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא). And behold, this has been established (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ).

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): If he is guilty, and his days have not reached twenty years, what then (אִי חַיָּיבָא הוּא וְלָא מָטוּן יוֹמוֹי לְעִשְׂרִין שְׁנִין מַהוּ)? Since he departed from the world, by what is his punishment (כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא בְּמַאי הוּא עוֹנְשֵׁיהּ)? He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): In this is fulfilled: “And there is one who is swept away without justice” (Proverbs 13:23) (בְּדָא אִתְקַיַּים וְיֵשׁ נִסְפֶּה בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט). For when punishment descends into the world, he who is stirred in that destroyer is punished (דְּכַד עָנְשָׁא נָחִית לְעָלְמָא אִיהוּ דְאַעִירַע בְּהַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא אִתְעֲנַשׁ). And he was not watched over from above (דְּלָא אַשְׁגַּחוּ עֲלֵיהּ מִלְּעִילָא). And concerning him it is written: “The iniquities of the wicked one shall ensnare him” (Proverbs 5:22) (וַעֲלֵיהּ כְּתִיב עֲוֹנוֹתָיו יִלְכְּדוּנוֹ אֶת הָרָשָׁע). “Shall ensnare him” - to magnify upon one whose days have not reached to be punished (אֶת לְאַסְגָּאָה מָאן דְּלָא מָטוּן יוֹמוֹי לְאִתְעַנְשָׁא).

“His iniquities shall ensnare him” - and not the court above (עֲוֹנוֹתָיו יִלְכְּדוּנוֹ וְלָא בֵּי דִינָא דִלְעִילָא). “And with the cords of his sin he shall be held” (Proverbs 5:22) (וּבְחַבְלֵי חַטָּאתוֹ יִתָּמֵךְ). And not the court below (וְלָא בֵּי דִינָא דִלְתַתָּא).