Daf 89a (דַּף פ״ט ע״א)

And furthermore: “Blow the shofar at the new moon, in concealment, for our festival day” (וְעוֹד תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֶּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ) (Psalms 81:4). What is “in concealment”? (מַאי בַּכֶּסֶה). This is the Lower Shekhinta (דָא שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה). And within her: “Inscribe us for life” (וּבָהּ כָּתְבֵנוּ לְחַיִּים). For she is writing from the side of the right and from the side of the left (דְּאִיהִי כְּתִיבָה מִסִּטְרָא דִימִינָא וּמִסִּטְרָא דִשְׂמָאלָא). And because it is joined within her, the word “writing” is mentioned twice (וּבְגִין דְּאִתְאַחַד בֵּיהּ אַדְכִּיר תְּרֵין זִמְנִין כְּתִיבָה). Some say: it is the upper Yad [hand] and the lower Yad [hand] (נ״א דאיהו י״ד עִלָּאָה י״ד תַּתָּאָה). Some say: it is the Lower Imma [Mother], from the side of the left (נ״א אִמָּא תַּתָּאָה מִסִּטְרָא דְשְׂמָאלָא אִיהִי). “In concealment” (בַּכֶּסֶה)—in that of which it is said: “That which is hidden from you, do not search out” (בְּהַהוּא דְאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ בַּמְּכוּסֶה מִמָּךְ אַל תַּחְקוֹר). “Inscribe us for life” (כָּתְבֵנוּ לְחַיִּים)—this is in this verse: “And the tablets were the work of Elohim, and the writing was the writing of Elohim, engraved upon the tablets” (אִיהוּ בַּקְּרָא דָא וְהַלֻּחוֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִי״ם הֵמָּה וְהַמִּכְתָּב מִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִי״ם הוּא חָרוּת עַל הַלֻּחֹת) (Exodus 32:16).

What is “engraved”? This is the Heh (מַאי חָרוּת דָּא ה׳). Of which it is said: “And you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land” (דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ וּקְרָאתֶם דְּרוֹר בָּאָרֶץ) (Leviticus 25:10). “Deror” is freedom (דְּרוֹר אִיהִי חֵרוּת). “And the tablets” - these are Vav-Heh, son and daughter (וְ״הַלֻּחוֹ״ת אִינוּן ו״ה בְּרָא וּבְרַתָּא). And they are the work of Elohim - this is Imma Ila’ah (וְאִינוּן מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִי״ם דְּאִיהִי אִימָּא עִלָּאָה). “Work” - this is with two hands, and there is asiyah (מַעֲשֶׂה אִיהוּ בִּתְרֵין יְדִין דְּתַמָּן עֲשִׂיָּה). “And the writing of Elohim” - with two hands, and there is writing (וּמִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִי״ם בִּתְרֵין יְדַיִן דְּתַמָּן כְּתִיבָה). And it is engraved upon the tablets (וְאִיהִי חָרוּת עַל הַלֻּחֹת). One hand writes and one hand seals (יָד כּוֹתֶבֶת וְיָד חוֹתֶמֶת). And this is one: the Great Hand, of which it is said: “And Yisrael saw the great hand” (וְאִיהִי חַד יָד הַגְּדוֹלָה דְאִתְּמַר בָּהּ וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיָּד הַגְּדוֹלָה) (Exodus 14:31). And the second, the Mighty Hand - this is what is written: “And with a mighty hand…” (וְתִנְיָינָא יָד הַחֲזָקָה הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה וְגוֹ׳) (Deuteronomy 4:34). And the secret of the matter: “Hashem Eloheinu Hashem” - the great Yad (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה יְהו״ה אֱלֹהֵינ״ו יְהו״ה יָ״ד הַגְּדוֹלָה). “Kuzu bemokhsozo, Kuzu” - the mighty hand (כוז״ו במוכס״ז כוז״ו יָ״ד הַחֲזָקָה). And these are: the upper hand, from the side of the right; the lower hand, from the side of the left (וְאִינוּן, יָד עִלָּאָה מִסִּטְרָא דִימִינָא, יָד תַּתָּאָה מִסִּטְרָא דִשְׂמָאלָא). And all are twenty-eight joints (וְכֹלָּא כ״ח פִּרְקִין). Of them it is said: “And now, let the power of Hashem be great” (דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וְעַתָּה יִגְדַּל נָא כֹּחַ אֲדֹנָ״י) (Numbers 14:17). And this is: “He declared the power of His works to His people” (וְדָא כֹּחַ מַעֲשָׂיו הִגִּיד לְעַמּוֹ) (Psalms 111:6). The power of Ma’aseh Bereshit (כֹּחַ מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית).

And furthermore, there is a Yad that is called the “Exalted Hand” (וְעוֹד אִית יָ״ד דְּאִתְקְרֵי יָד רָמָה). And this is Yod-Heh Vav-Heh (וְדָא יְהו״ה יו״ד ה״א וָא״ו ה״א). And there is a second Yad for Kabbalah - this is Ehyeh, Alef Heh Yod Heh (וְאִית יָד תִּנְיָינָא לְקַבָּלָה וְדָא אֶהְיֶה אל״ף ה״א יו״ד ה״א). And this is ko’ach, 28 (וְדָא כ״ח). In the time that Yisrael sinned, this power was removed from them (בְּזִמְנָא דְחָאבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אִסְתַּלַּק הַאי כֹּחַ מִנַּיְיהוּ). And it is said of them: “And they went without power before the pursuer” (וְאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וַיֵּלְכוּ בְלֹא כֹּחַ לִפְנֵי רוֹדֵף) (Lamentations 1:6). And among the angels, K’taviel is appointed over writing (וּבְמַלְאָכִים כתב״יאל מְמַנָּא עַל הַכְּתִיבָה), Ḥotamiel over the sealing (חתמי״אל עַל הַחֲתִימָה). K’taviel - “K’tav El-i,” “My God wrote” (כתבי״אל כְּתָ״ב אֵלִ״י). Eli is Imma in calculation (אֵלִ״י אִיהוּ אֵ״ם בְּחוּשְׁבַּן). “This is my El and I will glorify Him” (זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ) (Exodus 15:2). K’tav, Kaf is Keter, tav is Torah, bet is blessing (כְּתָב כ׳ כֶּתֶר ת׳ תּוֹרָה ב׳ בְּרָכָה). And all is Imma Ila’ah (וְכֹלָּא אִימָּא עִלָּאָה). She is Keter upon the head of every Tzaddik (אִיהִי כֶּתֶר בְּרֹאשׁ כָּל צַדִּיק). She is the Torah of Hashem which is perfect (וְאִיהִי תּוֹרַת יְהו״ה תְּמִימָה) (Psalms 19:8). She is the blessing of Hashem, it makes rich (וְאִיהִי בִּרְכַּת יְהו״ה הִיא תַּעֲשִׁיר) (Proverbs 10:22). Ḥotamiel is from the side of Chokhmah (חתמי״אל מִסִּטְרָא דְחָכְמָה). And both of them are life (וְתַרְוַיְיהוּ חַיִּים). Chokhmah, as it is written: “Wisdom gives life to those who have it” (חָכְמָה דִכְתִיב הַחָכְמָה תְּחַיֶּה בְעָלֶיהָ) (Ecclesiastes 7:12). Imma Ila’ah - “She is a Tree of Life to those who hold her” (אִימָּא עִלָּאָה עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ) (Proverbs 3:18). And both are to the right and to the left (וְתַרְוַיְיהוּ לִימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא).

Three fingers are united in the quill for writing (תְּלַת אֶצְבָּעִין מִתְיַיחֲדִין בְּקוֹלְמוֹס לַכְּתִיבָה). And about them Ben Zoma said: “There is no distance between the upper waters and the lower waters, except as three fingers” (וַעֲלַיְיהוּ אָמַר בֶּן זוֹמָא, אֵין בֵּין מַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְמַיִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, אֶלָּא כְשָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת). And two fingers are those that support them (וּתְרֵין אֶצְבְּעָאן אִינוּן דְּסָמְכִין לוֹן). And they are like two garments folded over each other (וְאִינוּן כִּתְרֵי גְלִימֵי דִסְחִיפֵי אַהֲדָדֵי). Raziel - this is Uriel (רזי״אל אִיהוּ אוּרִיאֵ״ל). And about him it is said: “This is My remembrance,” with Vav-Heh, 248 (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר וְזֶה זִכְרִ״י עִם ו״ה רְמַ״ח) (Exodus 3:15). And this Raziel - “My Name with Yod-Heh,” 365 (וְדָא רזיא״ל, שְׁמִי עִם י״ה שְׁסָ״ה).

Shmu’el, Metatron, and Yahu’el are the roshei teivot [initial letters] of Shemi [My Name] (שַׂמּוּאֵ״ל מְטַטְרוֹ״ן יָהוּאֵ״ל רָאשֵׁי תֵּיבִין שְׁמִי). Chasdi’el is from the side of Chesed [lovingkindness] (חַסְדִיאֵ״ל מִסִּטְרָא דְחֶסֶד). Gavri’el is from the side of Gevurah [might] (גַּבְרִיאֵ״ל מִסִּטְרָא דִגְבוּרָה). Uri’el is from the side of the Middle Pillar (אוּרִיאֵ״ל מִסִּטְרָא דְעַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא). In every side, Eli is from the side of Imma [Mother] (בְּכָל סִטְרָא אֵלִי אִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דְאֵם). And these are Eli - Alef Keter, Yod Chokhmah, Heh Imma Ila’ah (וְאִינוּן אֵלִ״י א׳ כֶּתֶר י׳ חָכְמָה ה׳ אִימָּא עִלָּאָה). She is “A strong tower is the Name of Hashem” (דְאִיהִי מִגְדַּל עוֹז שֵׁם יְהו״ה) (Proverbs 18:10). And furthermore Sava said, Rabbi, Rabbi (וְעוֹד אָמַר הַהוּא סָבָא רַבִּי רַבִּי), “And the writing was the writing of Elohim” (וְהַמִּכְתָּב מִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִי״ם הוּא) (Exodus 32:16). Two hands write, from the right and from the left (תְּרֵין יְדַיִן כּוֹתְבוֹת מִימִינָא וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא). But “engraved upon the tablets” - this is the Middle Column (אֲבָל חָרוּת עַל הַלּוּחוֹת עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא). Some say: the son of Yod-Heh, he is indeed (נ״א בֶּן י״ה אִיהוּ וַדַּאי).

How many angel scribes are there above, who write the merits of Yisrael (כַּמָּה מַלְאָכַיָּא סַפְרַיָּא אִית לְעֵילָא דְכָתְבִין זַכְוָון דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And how many angels of the seal of the King, in their hands, who seal the merits of Yisrael (וְכַמָּה מַלְאָכַיָּא דְחוֹתָמָא דְמַלְכָּא בִּידֵיהוֹן דְּחָתְמִין זַכְוָון דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And how many angels are those who weigh the light and heavy of the Orayta (וְכַמָּה מַלְאָכַיָּא אִינוּן שָׁקְלִין קַלִּין וַחֲמוּרִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). This is what is written: “Where is the scribe, where is the weigher” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב אַיֵּה סוֹפֵר אַיֵּה שׁוֹקֵל) (Isaiah 33:18). And when He seals with the signet of the King, which is the Vav (וְכַד אִיהוּ חָתִים בְּטַבַּעַת הַמֶּלֶךְ דְּאִיהוּ ו׳), some say Yod (נ״א י׳), there is no returning (אֵין לְהָשִׁיב). The seal is Vav, the true seal (חוֹתָם אִיהוּ ו׳ חוֹתָם אֶמֶת). One hand writes and one hand seals (יָד כּוֹתֵב וְיָד חוֹתֵם). The lower Heh writes (ה׳ תַּתָּאָה כּוֹתֵב), the upper Heh seals (ה׳ עִלָּאָה חוֹתֵם). These are the five fingers of the right hand and the five fingers of the left hand (דְּאִינוּן ה׳ אֶצְבְּעָאן דְּיָד יְמִינָא וְה׳ אֶצְבְּעָאן דְּיָד שְׂמָאלָא). The lower Heh writes with the letter Vav, which is the quill, the reed of the arm (ה׳ תַּתָּאָה כּוֹתֵב בְּאָת ו׳ דְּאִיהוּ קוֹלְמוֹס, קָנֶה דִדְרוֹעָא). The upper Heh seals with the letter Yod, which is the palm of the hand (ה׳ עִלָּאָה חוֹתֵם בְּאָת י׳ דְּאִיהוּ כַּף הַיָּד).

The name of the one who expounds is the Tzaddik (שֵׁ״ם הַדּוֹרֵ״שׁ אִיהוּ צַדִּיק). Regarding him it is said: “Hashem Elohim has given me the tongue of those who are taught” (עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר יְהו״ה אֱלֹהִי״ם נָתַן לִי לְשׁוֹן לִמּוּדִים) (Isaiah 50:4). And this is the small Yod (וְדָא י׳ זְעִירָא). “To know to sustain the weary with a word” (לָדַעַת לָעוּת אֶת יָעִף דָּבָר) (Isaiah 50:4). These are the Heh Heh (אִינוּן ה״ה), with which it is said: “And fowl shall fly above the earth” (דִבְהוֹן וְעוֹף יְעוֹפֵף עַל הָאָרֶץ) (Bereshit 1:20). And the point of the name of the scribe (וּנְקוּדָה דְשֵׁם הַכּוֹתֵב). “And the writing was the writing of Elohim” - this is YHVHV (וְהַמִּכְתָּב מִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִי״ם הוּא דָא יְהִוֶהוּ). The name of the expounder: “Hashem Elohim has given me the tongue of those who are taught, to know to sustain the weary with a word” (שֵׁ״ם הַדּוֹרֵ״שׁ, יְהו״ה אֱלֹהִי״ם נָתַן לִי לְשׁוֹן לִמּוּדִים, לָדַעַת לָעוּת אֶת יָעִף דָּבָר) (Isaiah 50:4). And this is YHVH (וְדָא יָהָוֶהָ). The knowledge of Kudsha Berikh Hu in His Shekhinta (יְדִיעַת קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ). In this point, “let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me” (בְּהַאי נְקוּדָה יִתְהַלֵּל הַמִּתְהַלֵּל הַשְׂכֵּל וְיָדוֹעַ) (Jeremiah 9:23). And this is YHHV (וְדָא יִהַהַוְ).