R. Simeon said: ‘I am amazed to see how little men pay heed to the will of their Master, and how they allow themselves to be wrapt in sleep until the day comes which will cover them with darkness, and when their Master will demand reckoning from them. The Torah calls aloud to them, but none inclines his ear. Mark now that in future generations the Torah will be forgotten, and there will be none to close and open. Alas for that generation! There will be no generation like the present until the Messiah comes and knowledge shall be diffused throughout the world.
Mark now that in future generations the Torah will be forgotten, and there will be none to close and open. Alas for that generation! There will be no generation like the present until the Messiah comes and knowledge shall be diffused throughout the world.
It is written: “A river went forth from Eden” (Gen. 2, 10). It has been laid down that the name of that river is Jubilee, but in the book of Rab Hamnuna the Elder it is called Life, because life issues thence to the world. We have also laid down that the great and mighty Tree in which is food for all is called the Tree of Life, because its roots are in that Life.
We have learnt that that river sends forth deep streams with the oil of plenitude to water the Garden and feed the trees and the shoots. These streams flow on and unite in two pillars which are called Jachin and Boaz. Thence the streams flow on and come to rest in a grade called Zaddik, and from hence they flow further till they all are gathered into the place called Sea, which is the sea of Wisdom.
But the current of that river never ceases, and therefore the streams flow back to the two pillars, Nezah. and Hod, whence they traverse that Zaddik to find there blessings and joy.
The Matrona is called the “time” of the Zaddik, and therefore all who are fed below are fed from this place, as it is written: “The eyes of all wait on thee and thou givest them their meat in due season” (Ps. 145, 15).
When these two are joined, all worlds have gladness and blessing, and there is peace among upper and lower beings. But when through the sins of this world there are no blessings from these streams, and the “time” sucks from the “other side”, then judgement impends over the world and there is no peace. Now when mankind desire to be blessed, they can only be so through the priest, when he arouses his own Crown and blesses the Matrona, so that there are blessings in all worlds.
We have learnt that at that time Moses inquired of God concerning this, saying: If the sons of men shall return to Thee, through whom shall they be blessed? and God replied: Do not ask Me. Speak to Aaron thy brother, for in his hands are delivered blessings above and below.
(ויקרא ט״ז:ב׳) וַיֹּאמֶר יְיָ' אֶל מֹשֶׁה דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ וְאַל יָבֹא בְכָל עֵת אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְגוֹ' רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (קהלת א׳:ז׳) כָּל הַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים אֶל הַיָּם וְהַיָּם אֵינֶנּוּ מָלֵא וְגוֹ'. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, תַּוַּוהְנָא עַל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, דְּהָא לֵית לְהוּ עַיְינִין לְמֵחֱזֵי, וְלִבָּא לְאַשְׁגְחָא, וְלָא יַדְעִין, וְלָא שַׁוְיָין לִבַּיְיהוּ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בִּרְעוּתָא דְמָאָרֵיהוֹן, הֵיךְ נַיְימִין, וְלָא מִתְעָרֵי מִשֵׁנָתַיְיהוּ, עַד לָא יֵיתֵי הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּחָפֵי עָלַיְיהוּ חֲשׁוֹכָא וְקַבְלָא, וְיִתְבַּע הַהוּא מָארֵיהּ דְּפִקְדוֹנָא, חוּשְׁבָּנָא מִנַּיְיהוּ.
R. Simeon said: ‘I am amazed to see how little men pay heed to the will of their Master, and how they allow themselves to be wrapt in sleep until the day comes which will cover them with darkness, and when their Master will demand reckoning from them. The Torah calls aloud to them, but none inclines his ear. Mark now that in future generations the Torah will be forgotten, and there will be none to close and open. Alas for that generation! There will be no generation like the present until the Messiah comes and knowledge shall be diffused throughout the world.
וְכָרוֹזָא כָּל יוֹמָא קָארֵי עָלַיְיהוּ, וְנִשְׁמָתֵהוֹן, אַסְהִידַת בְּהוֹן בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְלֵילְיָא, אוֹרַיְיתָא רָאמַת קָלִין לְכָל עִבָר, מַכְרֶזֶת וְאוֹמֶרֶת, (משלי א׳:כ״ב) עַד מָתַי פְּתָאִים תְּאֶהֲבוּ פֶתִי (משלי ט׳:ה׳) מִי פֶתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה חֲסַר לֵב אָמְרָה לוֹ. לְכוּ לַחֲמוּ בְלַחְמִי וּשְׁתוּ בְּיַיִן מָסָכְתִּי. וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַרְכִּין אוּדְנֵיהּ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיִתְּעַר לִבֵּיהּ.
The Torah calls aloud to them, but none inclines his ear.
תָּא חֲזֵי, זְמִינִין דָּרֵי בַּתְרָאֵי דְּיֵיתוּן, דְּיִתְנְשֵׁי אוֹרַיְיתָא מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְחַכִּימֵי לִבָּא יִתְכַּנְּשׁוּן לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ, (ס"א לאתרא קדישא) וְלָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח מַאן דְּסָגִיר וּפָתַח. וַוי לְהַהוּא דָּרָא. וּמִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, לָא יְהֵא דָּרָא כְּדָרָא דָּא, עַד דָּרָא דְּיֵיתֵי מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא, וּמַנְדְּעָא יִתְּעַר בְּעָלְמָא, דִּכְתִּיב, (ירמיהו ל״א:ל״ד) כִּי כֻלָּם יֵדְעוּ אוֹתִי לְמִקְּטַנָּם וְעַד גְּדוֹלָם.
Mark now that in future generations the Torah will be forgotten, and there will be none to close and open. Alas for that generation! There will be no generation like the present until the Messiah comes and knowledge shall be diffused throughout the world.
תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב, (בראשית ב׳:י׳) וְנָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן. וְתָנֵינָן, מַה שְׁמֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא נָהָר. אוֹקִימְנָא יוּבַל שְׁמֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב, (ירמיהו י״ז:ח׳) וְעַל יוּבַל יְשַׁלַּח שָׁרָשָׁיו. וּבְסִפְרָא דְּרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא, חַיִּים שְׁמֵיהּ, דִּמִתַּמָּן נָפְקִין חַיִּים לְעָלְמָא, וְאִינּוּן אִקְרוּן חַיֵּי מַלְכָּא. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, הַהוּא אִילָנָא רַבָּא וְתַקִּיפָא, דְּמָזוֹן לְכֹלָּא בֵּיהּ. אִקְרֵי עֵץ חַיִּים. אִילָנָא דְּנָטַע שָׁרְשׁוֹי בְּאִינּוּן חַיִּים, וְכֹלָּא הוּא שַׁפִּיר.
It is written: “A river went forth from Eden” (Gen. 2, 10). It has been laid down that the name of that river is Jubilee, but in the book of Rab Hamnuna the Elder it is called Life, because life issues thence to the world. We have also laid down that the great and mighty Tree in which is food for all is called the Tree of Life, because its roots are in that Life.
וְתָאנָא, הַהוּא נָהָר אַפִּיק נַחֲלִין עֲמִיקִין, בִּמְשַׁח רְבוּת, לְאַשְׁקָאָה גִּנְתָּא, וּלְרַוָּואָה אִילָנִין וּנְטִיעִין, דִּכְתִּיב (תהילים ק״ד:ט״ז) יִשְׂבְּעוּ עֲצֵי יְיָ' אַרְזֵי לְבָנוֹן אֲשֶׁר נָטָע, וְאִינּוּן נַחֲלִין, נַגְדִּין וְאִתְמַשְּׁכָן וּמִתְכַּנְּשִׁין בִּתְרֵין קַיָימִין (נ"א סמכין) וְאִינּוּן בִּרְיָיתֵי (תרי) קָרֵינָן לְהוּ, (מלכים א ז) יָכִי"ן וּבוֹעַ"ז, וְשַׁפִּיר. וּמִתַּמָּן נָפְקִין כָּל אִינּוּן נַחֲלִין, וְשַׁרְיָין לוֹן בְּחַד דַּרְגָּא דְּאִקְרֵי צַדִּיק, דִּכְתִּיב, (משלי י׳:כ״ה) וְצַדִיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם. וְכֻלְּהוּ אַזְלִין וּמִתְכַּנְּשִׁין לְהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי יָם, וְהוּא יַמָּא דְּחָכְמְתָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (קהלת א׳:ז׳) כָּל (שמות נ' ע"ב) הַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים אֶל הַיָּם וְגוֹ'.
We have learnt that that river sends forth deep streams with the oil of plenitude to water the Garden and feed the trees and the shoots. These streams flow on and unite in two pillars which are called Jachin and Boaz. Thence the streams flow on and come to rest in a grade called Zaddik, and from hence they flow further till they all are gathered into the place called Sea, which is the sea of Wisdom.
וְאִי תֵּימָא, דְּהָא מָטוּ לַאֲתָר דָּא, וּפַסְקִין, וְלָא תַּיְיבִין, לְבָתַר כְּתִיב, אֶל מְקוֹם שֶׁהַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים שָׁם הֵם שָׁבִים לָלָכֶת, בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא נַהֲרָא לָא פָּסִיק לְעָלְמִין. הֵם שָׁבִים, לְאָן אֲתַר שָׁבִים, לְאִינּוּן תְּרֵין קַיְימִין, נֶצַח וְהוֹד. לָלָכֶת, בְּהַאי צַדִּיק, לְאַשְׁכְּחָא בִּרְכָאָן וְחִידוּ. וְהַיְינוּ רָזָא דְּתָנֵינָן, (תהילים ק״ד:כ״ו) לִוְיָתָן זֶה יָצַרְתָּ לְשַׂחֶק בּוֹ, דָּא צַדִּיק.
But the current of that river never ceases, and therefore the streams flow back to the two pillars, Nezah. and Hod, whence they traverse that Zaddik to find there blessings and joy.
כֻּלָּם אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּן לָתֵת אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ. מַאן עִתּוֹ. דָּא (עתו דצדיק) מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, דְּאִקְרֵי עִתּוֹ דְּצַדִּיק, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כֻּלְּהוּ מְחַכָּאן לְהַאי עִתּוֹ, כֻּלְּהוּ דְּאַתְּזְנָן לְתַתָּא, מֵאֲתַר דָּא אַתְּזְנָן, וְרָזָא דָּא אוֹקִימְנָא, (תהילים קמ״ה:ט״ו) עֵינֵי כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְגוֹ' כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא.
The Matrona is called the “time” of the Zaddik, and therefore all who are fed below are fed from this place, as it is written: “The eyes of all wait on thee and thou givest them their meat in due season” (Ps. 145, 15).
תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּהַאי כֹּל, מְבַסֵּם לְעִתּוֹ, וּמִתְחַבְּרָא עִמֵּיהּ, כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין בְּחֵידוּ, כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין בְּבִרְכָּאן, כְּדֵין שְׁלָמָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי. וְכַד גַּרְמִין חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא, דְּתַמָן לָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בִּרְכָאן דְּאִינּוּן נַחֲלֵי, וְיַנְקָא, הַאי עֵת, מִסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא, כְּדֵין דִּינִין מִתְעָרִין בְּעָלְמָא, וּשְׁלָמָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח. וְכַד בָּעָאן בְּנֵי עָלְמָא לְאִתְבָּרְכָא, לָא יַכְלִין אֶלָּא עַל יְדָא דְּכַהֲנָא, בְּגִין דְּיִתְּעַר כִּתְרָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְיִתְבְּרַךְ מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, וְיִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בִּרְכָאן בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין.
When these two are joined, all worlds have gladness and blessing, and there is peace among upper and lower beings. But when through the sins of this world there are no blessings from these streams, and the “time” sucks from the “other side”, then judgement impends over the world and there is no peace. Now when mankind desire to be blessed, they can only be so through the priest, when he arouses his own Crown and blesses the Matrona, so that there are blessings in all worlds.
תָּאנָא, בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, בָּעָא מֹשֶׁה קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מִלָּה דָּא, אָמַר לֵיהּ, אִי בְּנֵי עָלְמָא יְתוּבוּן קַמָּךְ, עַל יְדֵי דְּמַאן מִתְבָּרְכָאן. אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלִי אַתְּ אוֹמֵר, דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ, דְּהָא בִּידֵיהּ מְסִירָאן בִּרְכָאן לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא.
We have learnt that at that time Moses inquired of God concerning this, saying: If the sons of men shall return to Thee, through whom shall they be blessed? and God replied: Do not ask Me. Speak to Aaron thy brother, for in his hands are delivered blessings above and below.