EVERY MAN WITH HIS OWN STANDARD, ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS, BY THEIR FATHER’S HOUSES, SHALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PITCH. R. Eleazar began a discourse, citing the verse: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad in her, all ye that love her”, etc. (Isa. 66, 10). ‘How beloved’, he said, ‘is the Torah before the Holy One, blessed be He, inasmuch as wherever words of the Torah are heard the Holy One, blessed be He, listens together with all His hosts. Indeed, He comes to lodge with the one that gives utterance to those words, as Scripture says: “In every place where I cause my name to be mentioned”, etc. (Ex. 20, 21). Moreover, the enemies of such a man fall down before him, as said elsewhere.
Observe this’, he continued. ‘The precepts of the Torah are exalted essences on high. Whenever a man fulfils one of the precepts, that precept presents itself, all adorned, before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: So-and-so fulfilled me and I proceed from him. That man, thus, as he roused that precept below, caused a stirring on high, and brought about peace on high and below. Of this Scripture says: “Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he make peace with me; yea, let him make peace with me” (Isa. 27, 5); twice “peace”, to wit, peace on high and peace below. Happy is the portion of the man who observes the precepts of the Torah.
The text cited above says: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem”, etc., inasmuch as at no time is there joy save when Israel is established in the Holy Land, where the Wife is joined to her Spouse, diffusing thereby world-embracing joy, both on high and below. But when Israel is not in the Holy Land, a man is forbidden to display joy or gladness, as Scripture says: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad in her״, to wit, only when within her.’
R. Abba once saw a man making merry in the house of some Babylonian officers. R. Abba struck at him, citing the words: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem”, etc., which teaches us that only when Jerusalem is in joy is it permissible for us to rejoice. In harmony with this idea, R. Eleazar reconciled the two seemingly contradictory verses, one of which says “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 100, 2),
whilst the other says, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Ibid. 2, 11). ‘The former’, he explained, ‘speaks of the time when Israel dwells in the Holy Land, whilst the latter refers to the time of their dwelling in a strange land. Or we may also say that “serve the Lord in fear” speaks to the Community of Israel at a time when She is in exile among the nations.’
R. Judah adduced in opposition to this the verse, “For ye shall go out with joy” (Isa. 55, 12), which seems to show that the Community of Israel will be in joy whilst still in exile. R. Eleazar, in reply, said: ‘The truth is that so long as She is in exile and lies in the dust there will be no real gladness. But only when the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise Her from the dust, saying, “Shake thyself from the dust”, etc. (Isa. 52, 2), “Arise, shine”, etc. (Ibid. 60, 1), and the people will assemble together, then there will be gladness indeed- gladness for all. Then indeed “ye shall go out with joy”; then indeed numerous hosts will go forth to meet the Matrona, sharing in the joy of her espousals with the King. Scripture thus says: “The mountains and the hills shall break forth”, etc. (Ibid. 55, 12); also, “For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rearward” (Ibid. 52, 12).
(במדבר ב׳:ב׳) אִישׁ עַל דִּגְלוֹ בְאוֹתוֹת לְבֵית אֲבוֹתָם יַחֲנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ'. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח, (ישעיהו ס״ו:י׳) שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַ ם וְגִילוּ בָּהּ כָּל אֹהֲבֶיהָ וְגוֹ'. כַּמָה חֲבִיבָא אוֹרַיְיתָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּהָא בְּכָל אֲתָר דְּמִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אִשְׁתְּמָעוּ, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְכָל חַיָּילִין דִּילֵיהּ כֻּלְּהוּ צַיְיתִין לְמִלוּלֵיהּ. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְדַיְּירָא עִמֵּיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (שמות כ׳:כ״א) בְּכָל הַמָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי וְגוֹ'. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּשַׂנְאוֹי נַפְלִין קַמֵּיהּ, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ.
EVERY MAN WITH HIS OWN STANDARD, ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS, BY THEIR FATHER’S HOUSES, SHALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PITCH. R. Eleazar began a discourse, citing the verse: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad in her, all ye that love her”, etc. (Isa. 66, 10). ‘How beloved’, he said, ‘is the Torah before the Holy One, blessed be He, inasmuch as wherever words of the Torah are heard the Holy One, blessed be He, listens together with all His hosts. Indeed, He comes to lodge with the one that gives utterance to those words, as Scripture says: “In every place where I cause my name to be mentioned”, etc. (Ex. 20, 21). Moreover, the enemies of such a man fall down before him, as said elsewhere.
תָּא חֲזֵי, פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא עִלָּאִין אִינּוּן לְעֵילָּא. אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ וְעָבִיד פִּקּוּדָא חֲדָא, הַהוּא פִּקּוּדָא קַיְּימָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּמִתְעַטְּרָא קַמֵּיהּ, וְאָמַר פְּלַנְיָיא עֲבַד לִי, וּמִן פְּלַנְיָיא אֲנָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אִתְּעַר לֵיהּ לְעֵילָּא. כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִיהוּ אִתְּעַר לֵיהּ לְתַתָּא, הָכִי נָמֵי אִתְּעַר לְעֵילָּא, וְעָבִיד שְׁלָמָא לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, (ישעיהו כ״ז:ה׳) אוֹ יַחֲזֵק בְּמָעוּזִּי יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם לִי שָׁלוֹם יַעֲשֶׂה לִי. יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם לִי, לְעֵילָּא. (לעיל י"ד ע"ב) שָׁלוֹם יַעֲשֶׂה לִּי, לְתַתָּא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דְּעָבִיד פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא.
Observe this’, he continued. ‘The precepts of the Torah are exalted essences on high. Whenever a man fulfils one of the precepts, that precept presents itself, all adorned, before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: So-and-so fulfilled me and I proceed from him. That man, thus, as he roused that precept below, caused a stirring on high, and brought about peace on high and below. Of this Scripture says: “Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he make peace with me; yea, let him make peace with me” (Isa. 27, 5); twice “peace”, to wit, peace on high and peace below. Happy is the portion of the man who observes the precepts of the Torah.
שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם וְגוֹ', בְּגִין דְּחֶדְוָה לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל קַיְימֵי בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא. דְּתַמָּן אִתְחַבְּרַת אִתְּתָא בְּבַעְלָהּ, וּכְדֵין הוּא חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֹלָּא, חֶדְוָותָא דְּעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא. בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְמֵחדֵי, וּלְאַחְזָאָה חֵידוּ. דִּכְתִּיב, שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם וְגִילוּ בָהּ וְגוֹ', וְגִילוּ בָהּ דַּיְיקָא.
The text cited above says: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem”, etc., inasmuch as at no time is there joy save when Israel is established in the Holy Land, where the Wife is joined to her Spouse, diffusing thereby world-embracing joy, both on high and below. But when Israel is not in the Holy Land, a man is forbidden to display joy or gladness, as Scripture says: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad in her״, to wit, only when within her.’
רִבִּי אַבָּא חָמָא חַד בַּר נָשׁ, דְּהֲוָה חַדֵּי בְּבֵי טְרוֹנְיָיא דְּבָבֶל, בָּטַשׁ בֵּיהּ, אָמַר שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם כְּתִיב (אמר רבי אבא), בְּזִמְנָא דִּיְרוּשָׁלַ ם בְּחֶדְוָה, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶחְדֵּי. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַם, הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב, (תהילים ק׳:ב׳) עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּשִׂמְחָה.
R. Abba once saw a man making merry in the house of some Babylonian officers. R. Abba struck at him, citing the words: “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem”, etc., which teaches us that only when Jerusalem is in joy is it permissible for us to rejoice. In harmony with this idea, R. Eleazar reconciled the two seemingly contradictory verses, one of which says “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 100, 2),
כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר, עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּשִׂמְחָה, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר, (תהילים ב׳:י״א) עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּיִרְאָה וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה. מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי. אֶלָּא, כָּאן בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרָאן בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא. כָּאן בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרָאן בְּאַרְעָא אַחֲרָא. (ד"א) עִבְדוּ אֶת יְיָ בְּיִרְאָה, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִיהִי בְּגָלוּתָא בֵּינֵי עֲמַמְיָא.
whilst the other says, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Ibid. 2, 11). ‘The former’, he explained, ‘speaks of the time when Israel dwells in the Holy Land, whilst the latter refers to the time of their dwelling in a strange land. Or we may also say that “serve the Lord in fear” speaks to the Community of Israel at a time when She is in exile among the nations.’
אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, וְהָא כְּתִיב (ישעיהו נ״ה:י״ב) כִּי בְּשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ, וְדָא הִיא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר תֵצֵאוּ, מִן גָּלוּתָא הוּא, וְאִקְרֵי שִׂמְחָה. אָמַר לֵיהּ, וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא, דְּכָל זִמְנָא דְּאִיהִי בְּגָלוּתָא וּשְׁכִיבַת לְעַפְרָא, לָא אִקְרֵי שִׂמְחָה, עַד דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יֵיתֵי לְגַבָּהּ, וְיוֹקִים לָהּ מֵעַפְרָא, וְיֵימָא (ישעיהו נ״ב:ב׳) הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר וְגוֹ'. (ישעיהו ס׳:א׳) קוּמִי אוֹרִי וְגוֹ'. וְיִתְחַבְּרוּן כַּחֲדָא, (ויוקים לה מעפרא) כְּדֵין חֶדְוָותָא אִקְרֵי. חֶדְוָותָא דְּכֹלָּא, וּכְדֵין בְּשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ וַדַּאי. כְּדֵין כַּמָה חַיָּילִין יִפְּקוּן לָקֳבְלָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא, לְחֶדְוָותָא דְּהִלּוּלָא דְּמַלְכָּא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (ישעיהו נ״ה:י״ב) הֶהָרִים וְהַגְּבָעוֹת יִפְצְחוּ וְגוֹ', וּכְתִיב (ישעיהו נ״ב:י״ב) כִּי הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם יְיָ וּמְאַסִּפְכֶם וְגוֹ'.
R. Judah adduced in opposition to this the verse, “For ye shall go out with joy” (Isa. 55, 12), which seems to show that the Community of Israel will be in joy whilst still in exile. R. Eleazar, in reply, said: ‘The truth is that so long as She is in exile and lies in the dust there will be no real gladness. But only when the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise Her from the dust, saying, “Shake thyself from the dust”, etc. (Isa. 52, 2), “Arise, shine”, etc. (Ibid. 60, 1), and the people will assemble together, then there will be gladness indeed- gladness for all. Then indeed “ye shall go out with joy”; then indeed numerous hosts will go forth to meet the Matrona, sharing in the joy of her espousals with the King. Scripture thus says: “The mountains and the hills shall break forth”, etc. (Ibid. 55, 12); also, “For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rearward” (Ibid. 52, 12).