Daf 8a (דַּף ח ע״א)

Pataḥ is forty-two (פַּתָ״ח אִיהוּ מ״ב). The reckoning of Pataḥ is twenty (חוּשְׁבַּן פַּתָח אִיהוּ כ׳). And spark and two firmaments, Vav Vav, behold forty-two (וְנִיצוֹץ וּתְרֵין רְקִיעִי ו״ו, הָא מ״ב). “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him” (כִּ״י בִ״י חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ) (Psalms 91:14). “Open for me the gates of righteousness, I will enter them…” (פִּתְחוּ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק אָבֹא בָם וְגוֹ׳) (Psalms 118:19). “Bam” is forty-two (בָ״ם אַרְבָּעִים וּתְרֵין). “Because he has desired (chashak) Me, therefore will I deliver him” (כִּי בִי חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ) (Psalms 91:14). Chashak [is an acronym for] Hirik, Sheva, Kamatz, from [the Name] from ABGYTTZ (חָשַׁק חִירֵק שְׁבָא קָמֵץ מִן אָבְגַיִתָץ).

Kamatz is [from the word] the closed “kometz” in the letter Yod (קָמֵץ קוֹמֶץ סָתִים בְּאָת יו״ד). Pataḥ is opened in it in the five fingers, which are Hei (פַּתָ״ח אִתְפַּתַּח בֵּיהּ בְּחָמֵשׁ אֶצְבְּעָאן דְּאִינוּן ה׳). And how many secrets in the nekudot! (וְכַמָּה רָזִין בְּנִקּוּדֵי). And this is: “I will enter them, I will thank Y-H” (וְהַאי אִיהוּ אָבֹא בָם אוֹדֶה י״הּ) (Psalms 118:19). And of Pataḥ it is said: “Open for me…” (וּפַתָח עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר פִּתְחוּ לִי וְגוֹ׳) (Psalms 118:19). “This is the gate of Hashem” (זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַיהוָֹ״ה) (Psalms 118:20). There are angels that minister to these Nekudot [vowel points] (מַלְאָכִין אִית דִּמְשַׁמְּשִׁין לְאִלֵּין נְקוּדִין). And they are Otiyot [letters], which are like horses for the Nekudot [vowel points] (וְאִינוּן אַתְוָון, דְּאִינוּן כְּסוּסְוָון לִנְקוּדֵי). And the Ta‘amei [cantillation marks] guide them (וְטַעֲמֵי מַנְהִיגֵי לוֹן), and they are movements in relation to them (וְאִינוּן תְּנוּעוֹת לְגַבַּיְיהוּ), as it is said: “At the command of Hashem they encamped, and at the command of Hashem they journeyed” (כְּגוֹן עַל פִּי יהו״ה יַחֲנוּ, וְעַל פִּי יהו״ה יִסָּעוּ) (Numbers 9:20). And the Nekudot [vowel points], in relation to the Ta‘amei [cantillation marks], are like sheep following shepherds, who guide them in every direction—to ascend and descend, above and below—and guide them in every direction: to the right and to the left, forward and backward (וְאִינוּן נְקוּדִין לְגַבֵּי טַעֲמֵי, כְּעָאנָא בָּתַר רַעִיָּין דְּאַנְהִיגִין לוֹן לְכָל סִטְרָא, לְסַלְקָא וּלְנַחְתָא עִילָא וְתַתָּא, וּלְאַנְהָגָא לוֹן לְכָל סִטְרָא לִימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא לְקַמָּא וְלַאֲחוֹרָא). And the Ta‘amei [cantillation marks] are Neshamot [souls], the Nekudot [vowel points] are Ruḥin [spirits], and the Otiyot [letters] are Nefashin [souls] (וְטַעֲמֵי אִינוּן נִשְׁמָתִין, וּנְקוּדִין רוּחִין, וְאַתְוָון נַפְשִׁין). These are conducted after these, and these after these (אִלֵּין מִתְנַהֲגִין בָּתַר אִלֵּין, וְאִלֵּין בָּתַר אִלֵּין). The letters are conducted after the nekudot, and the nekudot after the ta‘amei (אַתְוָון מִתְנַהֲגֵי בָּתַר נְקוּדֵי, וּנְקוּדֵי בָּתַר טַעֲמֵי). “For higher than the high one watches” (כִּי גָבוֹהַּ מֵעַל גָּבוֹהַּ שׁוֹמֵר) (Ecclesiastes 5:7).

And furthermore, the letters are fire, the nekudot spirit (וְעוֹד אַתְוָון אִנּוּן אֵשׁ, נְקוּדֵי רוּחַ). “Wherever the spirit was to go, they went” (אֶל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה שָּׁמָּה הָרוּחַ לָלֶכֶת יֵלֵכוּ) (Ezekiel 1:12). And they are like fountains of water, as it is said of them: “He sends forth springs into the valleys, they flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field…” (וְאִנּוּן כְּמַבּוּעִי מַיָּא, דְאִתְּמַר עֲלַיְיהוּ הַמְשַׁלֵּחַ מַעֲיָנִים בַּנְּחָלִים, יַשְׁקוּ כָּל חַיְתוֹ שָׂדָי וְגוֹ׳) (Psalms 104:10). These are the letters (אִלֵּין אַתְוָון). And there are those who set the letters as water, fire, spirit, and earth, the four legs of the Throne (וְאִית דְּשַׁוִּי לוֹן לְאַתְוָון, מַיִם אֵשׁ רוּחַ וְעָפָר אַרְבַּע רַגְלִין דְּכָרְסַיָּא). The nekudot are Adam to sit upon the Throne (נְקוּדֵי אָדָם לָשֶׁבֶת עַל הַכִּסֵּא). From the side of Abba, Yods above (מִסִּטְרָא דְאַבָּא יוּדִי״ן לְעִילָא). From the side of the daughter, Yods below (מִסִּטְרָא דִבְרַתָּא יוּדִי״ן לְתַתָּא). From the side of the Son, Vavs above, in this likeness Vav Vav (מִסִּטְרָא דְבֵן וָוִי״ן לְעִילָא, כְּגַוְונָא דָא ו״ו). From the side of Abba, Vavs below, in this likeness Yod Vav (מִסִּטְרָא דְאַבָּא וָוִי״ן לְתַתָּא, כְּגַוְונָא דָא יו״ו). The Hehs of Imma, in this likeness Heh Vav, Heh Yod (הֵהִי״ן דְּאִמָּא כְּגַוְונָא דָא ה״ו ה״י). The Hehs of the daughter, in this likeness Yod Heh Heh, Vav Heh Heh (הֵהִי״ן דִּבְרַתָּא כְּגַוְונָא דָא י״ה ה״ה ו״ה). And so in every Havayah and Havayah (וְהָכִי בְּכָל הֲוַיָּה וַהֲוַיָּה). And furthermore, whoever studies these Havayot must learn them to build with them the structure for Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְעוֹד מָאן דְּאוֹלִיף אִלֵּין הֲוַיָּין, צָרִיךְ לְאוֹלָפָא לוֹן לְמִבְנֵי בְּהוֹן בִּנְיָנָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). As it is said of him: “And he repaired the altar of Hashem that was broken down” (דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ וַיְרַפֵּא אֶת מִזְבַּח יהו״ה הֶהָרוּס) (I Kings 18:30). And the mystery of the matter is that they can be broken in the letters of His Name (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה דְיָכְלִין לְמֶהרַס בְּאַתְוִוי דִשְׁמֵיהּ). This is what is written: “Lest they break through to Hashem” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב פֶּן יֶהֶרְסוּ אֶל יהו״ה) (Exodus 19:21). And because they break them in their sins, it is necessary to build them in their prayers (וּבְגִין דָּא דְיֶהֶרְסוּ לוֹן בְּחוֹבַיְיהוּ, צָרִיךְ לְמִבְנֵי לוֹן בִּצְלוֹתְהוֹן).

The letter Yod is the foundation stone of the building (דְּאָת י׳ אִיהִי אֶבֶן יְסוֹדָא דְבִנְיָנָא). Yod Yod from YYH, from YYV, from VYY (י״י מִן יי״ה, מִן יי״ו, מִן וי״י). In them: “With whole stones you shall build the altar of Hashem your Elohim” (בְּהוֹן אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֹת תִּבְנֶה אֶת מִזְבַּח יהו״ה אֱלֹהֶי״ךָ) (Deuteronomy 27:6). This is Hei (דָא ה׳). Vav, this is the beam and the pillar, to support upon it the house (ו׳ דָּא קוֹרָה, וְעַמּוּדָא, לִסְמוֹךְ עֲלָהּ בַּיִת).

And because of this, the joining of the three letters is Bayit: Bet, Yod, Tav (וּבְגִין דָּא חִבּוּרָא דִתְלַת אַתְוָון בַּיִת, ב׳ בִּנְיָנָא, י׳ יְסוֹד בִּנְיָנָא, ת׳ תִּפְאֶרֶת). And these are Bet, Malkhut; Yod, Yesod, the ninth Sefirah, which supports redemption to prayer (וְאִנּוּן ב׳ מַלְכוּת, י׳ יְסוֹד סְפִירָה תְּשִׁיעָאָה, דְאִיהוּ סוֹמֵךְ גְּאוּלָה לִתְפִלָּה). And in it: “Hashem supports all who fall” (וּבֵיהּ סוֹמֵךְ יהו״ה לְכָל הַנּוֹפְלִים) (Psalms 145:14). Tav is Tiferet, of which it is said: “As the beauty of a man to dwell in a house” (ת׳ תִּפְאֶרֶת, דְּאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ כְּתִפְאֶרֶת אָדָם לָשֶׁבֶת בָּיִת) (Isaiah 44:13). And in it, everyone who stands erect, stands erect in the Name (וּבֵיהּ כָּל הַזּוֹקֵף זוֹקֵף בְּשֵׁם). But with respect to Yesod, everyone who bows, bows in “Barukh” (אֲבָל לְגַבֵּי יְסוֹד כָּל הַכּוֹרֵעַ כּוֹרֵעַ בְּבָרוּךְ). This is what is written: “Blessings are upon the head of the Tzaddik” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב בְּרָכוֹת לְרֹאשׁ צַדִּיק) (Proverbs 10:6). And it is the crossbeam, that must be lowered if the beam is above twenty, which is Yod (וְאִיהוּ עִרוּב, דְּיַשְׁפִּיל בֵּיהּ הַקּוֹרָה אִם הִיא לְמַעִלָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים, דְּאִיהִי יו״ד). Above twenty, which is Kaf, Keter, He is the Cause of causes above all, over which no eye has dominion (דִּלְעִילָא מֵעִשְׂרִים, דְּאִיהוּ כ׳ כֶּתֶר, אִיהוּ עִלַּת הָעִלּוֹת עַל כֹּלָּא, דְלֵית עִינָא שַׁלִּיט עֲלֵיהּ).

And because of this, the alleyway, which is the lower Shekhinta, which is the small Yod, its measure is ten handbreadths (וּבְגִין דָּא מָבוּי דְאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה דְאִיהִי י׳ זְעִירָא, עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים שִׁעוּרָהּ). In it the beam, which is Vav, must be lowered (בֵּיהּ צָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁפִּיל הַקּוֹרָה דְאִיהוּ ו׳). But regarding the sukkah, which is Imma, her measure is Yod, which is Kaf, Keter (אֲבָל לְגַבֵּי סֻכָּה דְאִיהִי אִמָּא, דְשִׁיעוּר דִּילָהּ יו״ד דְּאִיהוּ כ׳ כֶּתֶר). Above Keter there is no Adam of the Merkavah dwelling within the sukkah, for no eye has dominion over it (לְעִילָא מִכֶּתֶר לֵית אָדָם דְּמֶרְכָּבָה דָר בֵּיהּ גּוֹ סֻכָּה, דְלֵית עִינָא שַׁלִּיט עֲלֵיהּ). And the source of these Havayot is in the reckoning of Chesed (וּמָקוֹר דְּאִלֵּין הֲוַיָּין כְּחֻשְׁבַּן חֶסֶד). In them must be built this structure, for they are from Chesed (דִּבְהוֹן צָרִיךְ לְמִבְנֵי בִּנְיָנָא דָא דְּאִנּוּן מֵחֶסֶד). For the source of their existence is Yod Hei Vav Hei (דְּמָקוֹר דַּהֲוַיָּתֵיהּ אִיהוּ יו״ד ה״י וי״ו ה״י). These ascend to seventy-two Havayot, in the reckoning of Chesed (דְּסָלְקֵי לְשַׁבְעִין וּתְרֵין הֲוַיָּן כְּחוּשְׁבַּן חֶסֶ״ד). All of them are stone, beam, and structure built in them together (כֻלְּהוּ אֶבֶן וְקוֹרָה וּבִנְיָנָא דְאִתְבְּנֵי בְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ).

And these are the seventy-two Havayot that go forth from Yod Hei Vav Hei

וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן ע״ב הֲוַיָּן דְּנָפְקִין מִן יו״ד ה״י וי״ו ה״י

(All of these Names are forbidden to pronounce with the mouth, and it is enough to look upon them and to read them in thought) (כָּל אֵלּוּ הַשֵּׁמוֹת אָסוּר לְהוֹצִיאָם בַּפֶּה וְדַי לְהִסְתַּכֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם וּלְקָרוֹתָם בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה).