All souls desire and hunger after money; and they hunger after and love not only money itself, but even a person who has money. It is common for people to be drawn to him and to adore him on account of his money. We see this empirically, and it is also written (Proverbs 14:20), “whereas the wealthy man has many friends.”
The reason for this is that the soul originates from the same supernal source from which money issues, devolves and comes into being. Money’s origin, from which it extends downward, is undoubtedly an aspect of holiness and [a source of] holy influx. But afterwards, in the process of devolving, [this influx] acquires corporeality and becomes money. Thus the reason the soul desires money is that the soul and money share the same source.
Even so, one should not hunger after money. As has already been explained many times, avarice is very disgraceful. Rather, one should hunger after and love the place from which money originates and devolves. And it is in this aspect that “Rebbi would honor the rich,” as our Sages, of blessed memory, taught (Eruvin 86a) ; on account of their having money, which emanates from an exalted realm.
2. And know, that it would be right for all Jews to have money. However, there is one trait that causes them to forfeit and lose it. This is a despicably evil trait, from which it is very difficult to be rescued. Even if a person wants to go free from it—in particular when his motivation is greed: so as not to lose money—this evil trait nevertheless overwhelms him in his youth and immaturity, and so he forfeits the money that he should have had.
This evil trait is anger, because of which a person forfeits and loses the money he should rightfully have. For the root from which money devolves, from which it extends downward, is precisely the same as that of anger.
Therefore, when Satan sees a flow of blessing devolving and coming down for a person so that he might have money, he descends and arranges for him to get angry. That influx which devolves and comes down for a person so that he might have money—[Satan] turns it into anger.
This is because at the root from which they devolve, anger and money are precisely the same aspect and concept, and there is nothing that separates them. Both are extensions of gevurot (severities) and are derived from the same place. This is as in “gold emerges from the north” (Job 37:22), and it is also written (Jeremiah 1:14), “the evil will originate out of the north”—i.e., the aspect of anger, as it is written (Ecclesiastes 11:10), “So banish anger from your heart, and eliminate evil from your flesh.”
Now, money and wealth are the aspect of a wall, as it is written (Proverbs 18:11), “The rich man’s wealth is his stronghold, and like a towering wall….” But anger damages the wall, as it is written (ibid. 25:28), “[Like] a breached city without walls is a person with no self-restraint.” When Satan sees an influx of money—the aspect of a wall—devolving for a person, he turns this devolution into anger. He arranges for something to anger the person, and the anger damages the aspect of the wall, since at the root from which they devolve anger and money are one aspect. It is therefore easy to turn his devolving influx of money, which is the aspect of a wall, into anger, which is the opposite of a wall—transforming chOmah (wall) into chEImah (anger), turning money into anger.
At its origin, the root from which money devolves is the source of the soul, as in “for his soul depends on it” (Deuteronomy 24:15), which is said concerning the money of a day-worker. It is also written (Lamentations 5:9), “We get our bread at the peril of our souls.” This is why the soul hungers after and desires it, as explained above. But by getting angry a person loses his soul, as in “He tears apart his soul with his anger” (Job 18:4) ; as the Zohar brings (II, 182a) .
3. Know, too, that even if a person has already received the influx and it has become money—so that he has already acquired the money, the aspect of a wall—there are times when Satan incites him to such rage that he forfeits and loses even the money he already has. By right, getting angry should no longer cause him to lose the money, since the devolving influx has already become money and so cannot be converted into anger. On the contrary, the money he has, since it is the aspect of a wall, ought to protect him. [Satan] should not be able to cause him to lose it or arrange for him to get angry, which is the opposite of a wall.
Despite this, Satan is able to overwhelm a person [and incite him] to such rage that he loses even the money he has already acquired. This is because when money descends to a person, it is in the aspect of “He provides TeReF (subsistence) for those who fear Him” (Psalms 111:5). But he changes it into anger, and it becomes “ToReF (He tears apart) his soul with his anger.” May God protect us and save us from this disgraceful trait. Amen, may it be His will.
כָּל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת תְּאֵבִים וּמִתְאַוִּים לְמָמוֹן, וְלֹא לְמָמוֹן בִּלְבַד מִתְאַוִּים וְאוֹהֲבִים אוֹתוֹ, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ לְהָאָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ הַמָּמוֹן, דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לִמְשֹׁךְ אֵלָיו וְלֶאֱהֹב אוֹתוֹ, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מָמוֹן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָנוּ רוֹאִין בְּחוּשׁ, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (משלי י״ד:כ׳): וְאוֹהֲבֵי עָשִׁיר רַבִּים.
All souls desire and hunger after money; and they hunger after and love not only money itself, but even a person who has money. It is common for people to be drawn to him and to adore him on account of his money. We see this empirically, and it is also written (Proverbs 14:20), “whereas the wealthy man has many friends.”
וְזֶה מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ בָּאָה מִמָּקוֹם עֶלְיוֹן, שֶׁהַמָּמוֹן בָּא וּמִשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל וּמִתְהַוֶּה מִשָּׁם. כִּי בְּוַדַּאי הַתְחָלַת הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל מִשָּׁם הַמָּמוֹן, הוּא בְּוַדַּאי בְּחִינַת קְדֻשָּׁה וְשֶׁפַע קֹדֶשׁ, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ נִתְגַּשָּׁם לְמַטָּה, כְּדֶרֶךְ הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת, וְנִתְהַוֶּה מָמוֹן. וְעַל כֵּן הַנֶּפֶשׁ תְּאֵבָה לְמָמוֹן, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ בָּאָה מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁהַמָּמוֹן בָּא מִשָּׁם.
The reason for this is that the soul originates from the same supernal source from which money issues, devolves and comes into being. Money’s origin, from which it extends downward, is undoubtedly an aspect of holiness and [a source of] holy influx. But afterwards, in the process of devolving, [this influx] acquires corporeality and becomes money. Thus the reason the soul desires money is that the soul and money share the same source.
אַךְ צָרִיךְ לִבְלִי לְהִתְאַוּוֹת לְהַמָּמוֹן, כַּמְבֹאָר כְּבָר כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים גֹּדֶל גְּנוּת תַּאֲוַת מָמוֹן, רַק לְהִתְאַוּוֹת וְלֶאֱהֹב הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁהַמָּמוֹן בָּא וּמִשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל מִשָּׁם כַּנַּ"ל. וּבִבְחִינָה זוֹ רַבִּי מְכַבֵּד עֲשִׁירִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עירובין פו), מֵחֲמַת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם מָמוֹן שֶׁהוּא בָּא מִמָּקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ כַּנַּ"ל:
Even so, one should not hunger after money. As has already been explained many times, avarice is very disgraceful. Rather, one should hunger after and love the place from which money originates and devolves. And it is in this aspect that “Rebbi would honor the rich,” as our Sages, of blessed memory, taught (Eruvin 86a) ; on account of their having money, which emanates from an exalted realm.
וְדַע, שֶׁרָאוּי שֶׁכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיוּ לָהֶם מָמוֹן, אַךְ יֵשׁ מִדָּה אַחַת שֶׁמַּפְסֶדֶת וּמְאַבֶּדֶת מֵהֶם הַמָּמוֹן, וְהִיא מִדָּה רָעָה מְגֻנָּה, שֶׁקָּשֶׁה מְאֹד לְהִנָּצֵל מִמֶּנָּה. וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יִרְצֶה אֶחָד לְהִנָּצֵל מִמֶּנָּה, וּבִפְרָט בִּשְׁבִיל תַּאֲוַת הַמָּמוֹן, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תַּפְסִיד לוֹ אֶת הַמָּמוֹן, עִם כָּל זֶה הַמִּדָּה רָעָה הַזֹּאת מִתְגַּבֶּרֶת עָלָיו בְּיַלְדוּתוֹ וּבְקַטְנוּתוֹ, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מַפְסֶדֶת מִמֶּנּוּ הַמָּמוֹן שֶׁהָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ.
2. And know, that it would be right for all Jews to have money. However, there is one trait that causes them to forfeit and lose it. This is a despicably evil trait, from which it is very difficult to be rescued. Even if a person wants to go free from it—in particular when his motivation is greed: so as not to lose money—this evil trait nevertheless overwhelms him in his youth and immaturity, and so he forfeits the money that he should have had.
וְהַמִּדָּה רָעָה הַהִיא הוּא מִדַּת הַכַּעַס, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מַפְסִיד וּמְאַבֵּד הַמָּמוֹן הָרָאוּי לוֹ. כִּי בִּבְחִינַת שֹׁרֶשׁ הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל הַמָּמוֹן, מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל מִשָּׁם, הוּא בְּחִינָה אַחַת עִם הַכַּעַס מַמָּשׁ.
This evil trait is anger, because of which a person forfeits and loses the money he should rightfully have. For the root from which money devolves, from which it extends downward, is precisely the same as that of anger.
וְעַל כֵּן הַבַּעַל דָּבָר, כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל וְיוֹרֵד שֶׁפַע לָאָדָם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ מָמוֹן, אֲזַי יוֹרֵד וּמַזְמִין לוֹ כַּעַס, וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ מִבְּחִינַת הַהַשְׁפָּעָה וְהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת שֶׁיּוֹרֵד אֵלָיו שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ מָמוֹן, עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ כַּעַס.
Therefore, when Satan sees a flow of blessing devolving and coming down for a person so that he might have money, he descends and arranges for him to get angry. That influx which devolves and comes down for a person so that he might have money—[Satan] turns it into anger.
כִּי הַכַּעַס הוּא מַמָּשׁ בְּחִינָה אַחַת וְעִנְיָן אֶחָד עִם הַמָּמוֹן, בִּמְקוֹם שֹׁרֶשׁ הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת, וְאֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם שׁוּם הֶפְרֵשׁ, כִּי שְׁנֵיהֶם יוֹרְדִים מִגְּבוּרוֹת, וְנִמְשָׁכִין מִמָּקוֹם אֶחָד מַמָּשׁ, בִּבְחִינַת (איוב לז): מִצָּפוֹן זָהָב יֶאֱתֶה; וּכְתִיב (ירמיה א): מִצָּפוֹן תִּפָּתַח הָרָעָה; הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת כַּעַס, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (קהלת יא): וְהָסֵר כַּעַס מִלִּבֶּךָ וְהַעֲבֵר רָעָה מִבְּשָׂרֶךָ.
This is because at the root from which they devolve, anger and money are precisely the same aspect and concept, and there is nothing that separates them. Both are extensions of gevurot (severities) and are derived from the same place. This is as in “gold emerges from the north” (Job 37:22), and it is also written (Jeremiah 1:14), “the evil will originate out of the north”—i.e., the aspect of anger, as it is written (Ecclesiastes 11:10), “So banish anger from your heart, and eliminate evil from your flesh.”
כִּי הַמָּמוֹן וְהָעֲשִׁירוּת הִיא בְּחִינַת חוֹמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (משלי יח): הוֹן עָשִׁיר קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ וּכְחוֹמָה נִשְׂגָּבָה וְכוּ'. וְהַכַּעַס הוּא קִלְקוּל הַחוֹמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם כה): עִיר פְּרוּצָה אֵין חוֹמָה, אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֵין מַעְצָר לְרוּחוֹ. וְהַבַּעַל דָּבָר, כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה שֶׁיּוֹרֵד לָאָדָם הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת שֶׁפַע שֶׁל מָמוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חוֹמָה כַּנַּ"ל, אֲזַי הוּא עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ מִזֶּה הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת כַּעַס, שֶׁמַּזְמִין לוֹ דָּבָר לִכְעֹס, וְנִתְקַלְקֵל בְּחִינַת הַחוֹמָה עַל־יְדֵי הַכַּעַס כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי הַכַּעַס וְהַמָּמוֹן הֵם בְּחִינָה אַחַת בְּשֹׁרֶשׁ הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל כֵּן בְּקַל מְהַפֵּךְ לוֹ הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת שֶׁפַע שֶׁל מָמוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חוֹמָה, לְכַעַס, שֶׁהוּא הֶפֶךְ הַחוֹמָה, וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ מֵחוֹמָה חֵמָה, שֶׁמְּהַפֵּךְ הַמָּמוֹן לְכַעַס כַּנַּ"ל.
Now, money and wealth are the aspect of a wall, as it is written (Proverbs 18:11), “The rich man’s wealth is his stronghold, and like a towering wall….” But anger damages the wall, as it is written (ibid. 25:28), “[Like] a breached city without walls is a person with no self-restraint.” When Satan sees an influx of money—the aspect of a wall—devolving for a person, he turns this devolution into anger. He arranges for something to anger the person, and the anger damages the aspect of the wall, since at the root from which they devolve anger and money are one aspect. It is therefore easy to turn his devolving influx of money, which is the aspect of a wall, into anger, which is the opposite of a wall—transforming chOmah (wall) into chEImah (anger), turning money into anger.
כִּי תְּחִלַּת שֹׁרֶשׁ הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת הַמָּמוֹן, הוּא מָקוֹם שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ בָּאָה מִשָּׁם, בִּבְחִינַת (דברים כד): וְאֵלָיו הוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ, הַנֶּאֱמַר עַל מָמוֹן שֶׁל שְׂכִיר יוֹם, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (איכה ה): בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ נָבִיא לַחְמֵנוּ, וְעַל כֵּן הַנֶּפֶשׁ מִתְאַוָּה וְתָאֵב לוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. וְעַל יְדֵי כַּעַס מְאַבֵּד נַפְשׁוֹ, בִּבְחִינַת (איוב יח): טוֹרֵף נַפְשׁוֹ בְּאַפּוֹ, כַּמּוּבָא בַּזֹּהַר (תצוה דף קפב):
At its origin, the root from which money devolves is the source of the soul, as in “for his soul depends on it” (Deuteronomy 24:15), which is said concerning the money of a day-worker. It is also written (Lamentations 5:9), “We get our bread at the peril of our souls.” This is why the soul hungers after and desires it, as explained above. But by getting angry a person loses his soul, as in “He tears apart his soul with his anger” (Job 18:4) ; as the Zohar brings (II, 182a) .
וְדַע, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ אִם כְּבָר הִגִּיעַ לוֹ הַשֶּׁפַע, וְנִתְהַוֶּה מִמֶּנָּה מָמוֹן, וּכְבָר יֵשׁ לוֹ הַמָּמוֹן, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חוֹמָה כַּנַּ"ל. עַל כָּל זֶה, לִפְעָמִים הַבַּעַל דָּבָר מְגָרֶה אוֹתוֹ בְּכַעַס גָּדוֹל כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁמַּפְסִיד וּמְאַבֵּד מִמֶּנּוּ אֲפִלּוּ הַמָּמוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ כְּבָר. אַף שֶׁהָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל אָז לְהַפְסִיד לוֹ הַמָּמוֹן עַל יְדֵי הַכַּעַס, מֵאַחַר שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְהַוָּה מֵהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת הַשֶּׁפַע מָמוֹן, וְשׁוּב אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְהַפֵּךְ לְכַעַס, וְאַדְּרַבָּא הַמָּמוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חוֹמָה, רָאוּי שֶׁיָּגֵן עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְהַפְסִיד לוֹ וּלְהַזְמִין לוֹ כַּעַס, שֶׁהוּא הֶפֶךְ בְּחִינַת חוֹמָה.
3. Know, too, that even if a person has already received the influx and it has become money—so that he has already acquired the money, the aspect of a wall—there are times when Satan incites him to such rage that he forfeits and loses even the money he already has. By right, getting angry should no longer cause him to lose the money, since the devolving influx has already become money and so cannot be converted into anger. On the contrary, the money he has, since it is the aspect of a wall, ought to protect him. [Satan] should not be able to cause him to lose it or arrange for him to get angry, which is the opposite of a wall.
עַל כָּל זֶה, יֵשׁ כֹּחַ בְּיַד הַבַּעַל דָּבָר לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הָאָדָם בְּכַעַס גָּדוֹל כָּל־כָּךְ, שֶׁיַּפְסִיד מִמֶּנּוּ אֲפִלּוּ הַמָּמוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ כְּבָר. כִּי כְּשֶׁהַמָּמוֹן יוֹרֵד לָאָדָם, הוּא בִּבְחִינַת (תהילים קי״א:ה׳): טֶרֶף נָתַן לִירֵאָיו. וְהוּא מְהַפְּכוֹ לְכַעַס, וְנַעֲשֶׂה מִזֶּה טוֹרֵף נַפְשׁוֹ בְּאַפּוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. הַשֵׁם יִשְׁמְרֵנוּ וְיַצִּילֵנוּ מִמִּדָּה הַמְגֻנָּה הַזֹּאת, אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן:
Despite this, Satan is able to overwhelm a person [and incite him] to such rage that he loses even the money he has already acquired. This is because when money descends to a person, it is in the aspect of “He provides TeReF (subsistence) for those who fear Him” (Psalms 111:5). But he changes it into anger, and it becomes “ToReF (He tears apart) his soul with his anger.” May God protect us and save us from this disgraceful trait. Amen, may it be His will.