R. Simeon opened here a discourse with the text: I have roused up one from the north, and he is come, from the rising of the sun one that calleth upon my name; and he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay (Is. 41, 25). ‘How foolish’, he said, ‘are the sons of men who neither know nor care about the ways of the Almighty, their eyes being closed as in sleep.
God made man after the supernal pattern, each limb corresponding to something in the scheme of Wisdom. For when the whole body of man had been duly shaped with all its members, God associated Himself with him and put a holy soul into him, so as to teach man to walk in the ways of the Torah and to observe His commandments in order that he might attain to his full perfection.
Hence, while the holy soul is still within man’s body, it is incumbent on him to multiply the image of the King in the world. There is herein an esoteric thought involved, namely, that just as the celestial stream flows on for ever without ceasing, so must man see that his own river and spring shall not cease in this world. And so long as a man is unsuccessful in his purpose in this world, the Holy One, blessed be He, uproots him and replants him over and over again.
Observe, then, the meaning of the words: “I have roused up one from the north, and he is come”, where the rousing alludes to the rousing and stirring up of the desire of a man for mating in this world, which originates from the North, whilst the words “and he is come” allude to the holy soul which descends from on high, whence God sends it, and comes into this world to enter into a man, as said above.
“From the rising of the sun” alludes to the place of that celestial ever-flowing river, whence the soul issues and is illumined: “and there come rulers as mortar” signifies the heavenly forces which cause a rousing in the souls above corresponding to the stirring of the man in his body.
For it is for this purpose that God creates souls in couples and sends them down to the world, so that there may be companionship both on high and below, and the well-spring of all may be blessed. God made man that he should steadfastly walk in His ways, and never cut off his fount and well-spring; for if a man cuts off his well-spring on earth and causes it to dry up, it is as though he causes the waters of the celestial river to fail, as described in the words: “The waters fail from the sea, and the river is drained dry” (Job 14, 11). For inasmuch as man has been established in this world after the pattern of the upper world, he whose well-spring ceases to produce through his not taking a wife is beyond remedy, and of him it is said: “That which is crooked cannot be made straight” (Eccl. 1, 15). On the other hand, he who has taken a wife but has not been blessed with offspring can be redeemed by his near relative, that is, by his brother. He who dies without leaving children will not enter within the curtain of heaven and will have no share in the other world, and his soul will not be admitted to the place where all souls are gathered and his image will be cut off from there. Of such a one it is written: “And this soul will be cut off from before me.” Such being the case, God has provided for such a man a redeemer to redeem him out of the hands of the destructive angels, to wit, his brother who is near to him. So Scripture says: “If brethren dwell together, etc.” (Deut. 25, 5-10); also: “Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of husband’s brother unto her, etc.” For the soul of such a man does not enter before the presence of the Holy One, blessed be He, but remains without, since he has not succeeded in radiating light in this world by means of the body. He who has not succeeded in this place must go to another place where he may have better fortune. When wood smoulders without any flame, if it is struck it flares up and throws out light. Man is compared to wood, as it says: “for the tree of the field is man” (Ibid. 20, 19). Now a man who eats and drinks and marries, but is not blessed with children, is like the wood that burns without giving off any light, that is, his soul has not been illumined in its present body but has remained in darkness.
7
וְכָל מַאן דְּפָסִיק מְקוֹרֵיהּ, (מתתא ומיבש ליה כביכול כאלו גרים ליה לאתפסקא לעילא, כדין (איוב י״ד:י״א) אזלו מים מני ים ונהר יחרב ויבש, הואיל ובר נש אתקם לתתא כדוגמא דלעילא, מאן דמקוריה ימיש מלמעבד פירין, כגון דין דלא בעא למיתב איתתא, או נסיב לה דאשתדל ולא יכיל, אלו דתרין הפכין אינון דא מדא, (או ס"א ההוא) דימיש מלמעבד פירין, לית ליה תקנה לעולם. (קהלת א׳:ט״ו) מעוות לא יכול לתקון, בגין דלא בעא למיסב איתתא ולאשתדלא בפריה ורביה, וההוא דאשתדל ונסב איתתא ולא יכיל, דא מתתקן בפריקיה דקריב ליה דהוא אחוי, וההוא דמית בלא בנין) כַּד נָפִיק מֵהַאי עַלְמָא הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ לָא עָאל בְּפַרְגּוֹדָא וְלָא נָטִיל חוּלַק בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא (ונשמתיה לא אתכלילת באתר דכל נשמתין אתכלילו, ואתגזר דיוקניה מתמן. הדא הוא דכתיב, (ויקרא כ״ב:ג׳) ונכרתה הנפש ההיא מלפני, הואיל וכדין הוא, ברא ליה קודשא בריך הוא פריק דיפרוק ליה מידא דמחבלין, ודא אחוי דקריב ליה שנאמר (דברים כ״ה:ה׳) כי ישבו אחים יחדיו וגו'. וכתיב בא אל אשת אחיך ויבם אותה וגו'. בגין דנשמתיה לא עאלת קמיה קודשא בריך הוא, אלא היא קימא לבר. בגין דלא זכה לאנהרא בהאי עלמא בההוא גופא. מאן דלא זכה בהאי אתר, יהך לאתר אחרא ויזכי ביה. כגוונא דא אעא דדליק ונהורא לא סליק יבטשון ליה ויסלק נהורא ביה וינהיר. אעא הוא אדם דכתיב (שם כ) כי האדם עץ השדה. רצונו לומר בר נש כד איהו בהאי עלמא ואזל ותאיב ואכיל ושתי ואזדווג באיתתא ולא זכי לבנין. דא הוא אעא דדליק ונהורא לא סליק, כלומר נשמתיה לא זכאת בההוא גופא לאתנהרא אלא איהי בחשוכא). תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב, (ישעיהו מ״ה:י״ח) לֹא תֹהוּ בְּרָאָהּ לְשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּגִין דָּא עֲבַד לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת כְּדְאֲמָרָן. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲבַד טִיבוּ עִם עַלְמָא. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, (בראשית כ״ה:א׳) וַיּוֹסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה וּשְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה, רָזָא דְּנִשְׁמָתָא אָתַת לְאִתְתַּקָּנָא כְּמִלְקַדְּמִין.
It is written: “He created it not a waste, he formed it to be inhabited” (Is. 45, 18), that is, God made man for this purpose, and so dealt kindly with the world. Observe the Scriptural text: “And Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah” (Gen. 25, 1). Herein is an allusion to the soul which after death comes to earth to be built up as before.
Observe that of the body it is written: “And it pleased the Lord to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, and prolong his days, and that the purpose of the Lord might prosper by his hand.” (Is. 53, 10). That is to say, if the soul desires to be rehabilitated then he must see seed, for the soul hovers round about and is ready to enter the seed of procreation, and thus “he will prolong his days, and the purpose of the Lord”, namely the Torah, “will prosper in his hand”.
For although a man labours in the Torah day and night, yet if his source remains fruitless, he will find no place by which to enter within the heavenly curtain. As has been pointed out, a well of water, if not fed by its source and spring, is no well, since the well and the source are one and they have a joint symbolism.
It is written: “It is vain for you that ye rise early, and sit up late, ye that eat the bread of sadness; so he giveth unto his beloved sleep” (Ps. 127, 2). Precious, indeed, are the words of the Torah, each one containing sublime and holy mysteries, as has been affirmed, that when God gave the Torah to Israel, He gave it to them with all its sublime and holy treasures.
The words: “It is vain for you that ye rise early” are addressed to those who are single, not exhibiting the proper union of male with female. In vain they rise early, as we read: “There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second… yet, there is no end of all his labour” (Eccl. 4, 8). In vain, too, they “sit up late”, or, as we may translate, they “postpone rest”, as woman is assuredly man’s repose.
They are addressed as “ye that eat the bread of sadness”, for the man who has children eats his bread in good cheer and gladness of heart; but to him that has no children, the bread he eats is bread of sadness:
“so he giveth unto his beloved sleep”, the beloved being he whose wellspring is blessed, and to whom the Holy One vouchsafeth sleep in the other world, as we read: “and thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Prov. 3, 24), for he has a share in the world to come; the man will thus lie down and be blessed with the world to come.
“There is one that is alone” (Eccl. 4, 8) is an allusion to the man who is improperly alone, without a wife; “and he hath not a second”, no one to uphold him, no son to establish his name in Israel, or to bring him to his due meed;
“yet there is no end of all his labour”, as he is always labouring, day and night; “neither is his eye satisfied with riches” (Ibid.) and he has not the sense to reflect: “for whom, then, do I labour and bereave my soul of pleasure?” (Ibid.) You may say that he has pleasure in that he eats and drinks and feasts every day; but it is not so, inasmuch as his soul (nefesh) does not share in his pleasure, so that assuredly he bereaves his soul of pleasure, of the blissful illumination of the world to come; for it is left stunted without attaining its full and proper growth. For God cares for His works, and so desires that a man should be set right and not perish from the world to come, as already said.’
R. Hiya put the following question: ‘What is the position of a man who is just and upright and occupies himself with the study of the Torah day and night, and devotes himself wholly to the service of the Almighty, and yet is not blessed with children in this world despite all his effort, or who has children and they die-what is his position in the world to come?’ R. Jose replied: ‘His good deeds and the Torah will shield him in the world to come.’
R. Isaac said: ‘Of such it is written: “For thus saith the Lord concerning the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a monument and a memorial, better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting memorial that shall not be cut off’ (Is. 56, 4-5), so that these have a share in the world to come.’ Said R. Jose: ‘All this is perfectly correct.
But what of the following problem? Suppose there is a perfectly righteous man who has all these qualities and duly perfects himself, yet dies without issue. Now, seeing that he will inherit his place in the world to come, will his wife require to marry his brother or not? If she has to do so, then the marriage will be purposeless, seeing that the other brother inherits his own place in the other world.
The truth, however, is that she must still marry the brother, because we cannot say definitely whether the departed was really perfect or not. And in any case her second marriage is not purposeless, since it can serve to redeem some other righteous man who has died without children and has had no ransomer.
The passage quoted above continues: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour” (Eccl. 4, 9), alluding to those who have performed the duty of leaving children in this world, for whose sake they inherit a portion in the world to come.
So God has planted trees in this world; if they prosper, well and good, and if not, He uproots them and replants them time after time. All the ways of the Holy One are thus for the purpose of achieving the good and the perfection of the world.’
Go IN UNTO THY BROTHER’S WIFE, AND PERFORM THE DUTY OF A HUSBAND’S BROTHER UNTO HER. Judah and all the other tribes were already cognisant of this duty, the main purpose of which is expressed in the sentence: “and raise up seed to thy brother”, as that seed is needed for the purpose of putting things right by growing into human shape and form and thus preventing the stock from being severed from its root.
And when all has been put right, then those concerned receive praisc in the other world, as the Holy One is pleased with them. Hence it says: “Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun” (Ibid. 4, 2-3). That is to say: I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that have returned (from the other world) to the days of their youth; but better than they both is he that has not yet returned to the days of his youth, as he has no need to rectify and to suffer for his former sins; for the Holy One has already given him a fitting place in the other world.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה לְאוֹנָן בֹּא אֶל אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ וְגו'. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (ישעיהו מ״א:כ״ה) הַעִירוֹתִי מִצָּפוֹן וַיַּאֲת מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ יִקְרָא בִשְׁמִי וְיָבֹא סְגָנִים כְּמוֹ חֹמֶר וּכְמוֹ יוֹצֵר יִרְמָס טִיט. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אִינוּן בְּנִי נָשָׁא טִפְּשִׁין דְּלָא יָדְעִין וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין לְמִנְדַע אָרְחוֹי דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. דְּהָא כֻּלְּהוּ נַיְימִין, דְּלָא מִתְעָרֵי שֵׁינְתָא בְּחוֹרֵיהוֹן.
R. Simeon opened here a discourse with the text: I have roused up one from the north, and he is come, from the rising of the sun one that calleth upon my name; and he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay (Is. 41, 25). ‘How foolish’, he said, ‘are the sons of men who neither know nor care about the ways of the Almighty, their eyes being closed as in sleep.
תָּא חֲזֵי, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲבַד לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא. כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ בְּחָכְמְתָא. דְּלֵית לָךְ שַׁיְיפָא וְשַׁיְיפָא בְּבַר נָשׁ דְּלָא קָיְימָא בְּחָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה. דְּהָא כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְתַּקַּן כָּל גּוּפָא בְּשַׁיְיפוֹי כְּדְקָא יְאוּת, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתַּתַּף (נ"א אתתקף) בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וְאָעִיל בֵּיהּ נִשְׁמָתָא קַדִּישָׁא. בְּגִין לְאוֹלָפָא לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֵהַךְ בְּאָרְחוֹי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּלְמִיטַר פִּקּוּדוֹי, בְּגִין דְּיִתְתַּקַּן בַּר נָשׁ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת.
God made man after the supernal pattern, each limb corresponding to something in the scheme of Wisdom. For when the whole body of man had been duly shaped with all its members, God associated Himself with him and put a holy soul into him, so as to teach man to walk in the ways of the Torah and to observe His commandments in order that he might attain to his full perfection.
(ס"א ובגין דא בעוד) (ובגין ס"א ובעוד) דְּאִית בֵּיהּ נִשְׁמָתָא קַדִּישָׁא מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְאַסְגָּאָה דִּיוּקְנָא דְמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה בְּעַלְמָא. וְרָזָא דָא, דְּהָא הַהוּא נָהָר דְּנָגִיד וְנָפִיק לָא פָּסְקָן מֵימוֹי לְעָלְמִין. וְעַל דָּא מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ דְּלָא יַפְסִיק נַהֲרָא וּמְקוֹרָא דִּילֵיהּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא (גליון נה"ר רמז לקיימא קדישא דחתים בבשריה, דאיהו דוגמא דההוא נה"ר רזא דצדיק דאתחבר בצד"ק כחדא לעילא, בגין כך בעי בר נש לתתא לאתחברא באתתיה בקדושה בגין דאתתקף ביה בההוא עלמא). וְכָל זִמְנָא דְּבַר נָשׁ לָא יַצְלַח בְּהַאי עַלְמָא (ס"א ועל דא מבעי ליה לבר נש דלא יפסיק נהרא ומקורא דיליה בהאי עלמא, ואי לא) קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָקַר לֵיהּ וְנָטַע לֵיהּ בְּכַמָּה זִמְנִין כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין.
Hence, while the holy soul is still within man’s body, it is incumbent on him to multiply the image of the King in the world. There is herein an esoteric thought involved, namely, that just as the celestial stream flows on for ever without ceasing, so must man see that his own river and spring shall not cease in this world. And so long as a man is unsuccessful in his purpose in this world, the Holy One, blessed be He, uproots him and replants him over and over again.
תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, הַעִירוֹתִי מִצָּפוֹן וַיַּאת. הַעִירוֹתִי, דָּא אִתְעֲרוּתָא דְּזִוּוּגָא דְּבַר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְעֲרוּתָא מִסִּטְרָא דְצָפוֹן. וַיַאת, דָּא הִיא נִשְׁמָתָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּאַתְיָא מִלְּעֵילָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְשַׁדֵּר לָהּ מִלְּעֵילָא. אַתְיָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא וְעָאלַת בְּגוֹ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן.
Observe, then, the meaning of the words: “I have roused up one from the north, and he is come”, where the rousing alludes to the rousing and stirring up of the desire of a man for mating in this world, which originates from the North, whilst the words “and he is come” allude to the holy soul which descends from on high, whence God sends it, and comes into this world to enter into a man, as said above.
מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ, דָּא אֲתַר דְּהַהוּא נָהָר דְּנָגִיד וְנָפִיק דְּמִתַּמָּן נָפְקַת נִשְׁמָתָא וְאִתְנְהִירַת. וְיָבֹא סְגָנִים (כמו חמר) אִלֵּין אִינוּן חֵילִין דְּעָלְמָא דְּאַתְיָין בְּגִין (ס"א בגו) הַהוּא אִתְעֲרוּתָא דְּנִשְׁמָתִין. כְּמוֹ חוֹמֶר, כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִתְעַר בַּר נָשׁ בְּגוּפָא.
“From the rising of the sun” alludes to the place of that celestial ever-flowing river, whence the soul issues and is illumined: “and there come rulers as mortar” signifies the heavenly forces which cause a rousing in the souls above corresponding to the stirring of the man in his body.
דְּהָא בְּגִין דָּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד זִווּגִין וְאַטִּיל נִשְׁמָתִין בְּעַלְמָא, וְחַבְרוּתָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא וּמְקוֹרָא דְּכֹלָּא הוּא (ס"א יהא) בָּרוּךְ. וּבְּגִין כָּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲבַד לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ בְּגִין לְאִשְׁתַּדָּלָא בְּאָרְחוֹי, וְלָא יַפְסִיק מְקוֹרֵיהּ וּמַבּוּעָא דִילֵיהּ לְעָלְמִין.
For it is for this purpose that God creates souls in couples and sends them down to the world, so that there may be companionship both on high and below, and the well-spring of all may be blessed. God made man that he should steadfastly walk in His ways, and never cut off his fount and well-spring; for if a man cuts off his well-spring on earth and causes it to dry up, it is as though he causes the waters of the celestial river to fail, as described in the words: “The waters fail from the sea, and the river is drained dry” (Job 14, 11). For inasmuch as man has been established in this world after the pattern of the upper world, he whose well-spring ceases to produce through his not taking a wife is beyond remedy, and of him it is said: “That which is crooked cannot be made straight” (Eccl. 1, 15). On the other hand, he who has taken a wife but has not been blessed with offspring can be redeemed by his near relative, that is, by his brother. He who dies without leaving children will not enter within the curtain of heaven and will have no share in the other world, and his soul will not be admitted to the place where all souls are gathered and his image will be cut off from there. Of such a one it is written: “And this soul will be cut off from before me.” Such being the case, God has provided for such a man a redeemer to redeem him out of the hands of the destructive angels, to wit, his brother who is near to him. So Scripture says: “If brethren dwell together, etc.” (Deut. 25, 5-10); also: “Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of husband’s brother unto her, etc.” For the soul of such a man does not enter before the presence of the Holy One, blessed be He, but remains without, since he has not succeeded in radiating light in this world by means of the body. He who has not succeeded in this place must go to another place where he may have better fortune. When wood smoulders without any flame, if it is struck it flares up and throws out light. Man is compared to wood, as it says: “for the tree of the field is man” (Ibid. 20, 19). Now a man who eats and drinks and marries, but is not blessed with children, is like the wood that burns without giving off any light, that is, his soul has not been illumined in its present body but has remained in darkness.
וְכָל מַאן דְּפָסִיק מְקוֹרֵיהּ, (מתתא ומיבש ליה כביכול כאלו גרים ליה לאתפסקא לעילא, כדין (איוב י״ד:י״א) אזלו מים מני ים ונהר יחרב ויבש, הואיל ובר נש אתקם לתתא כדוגמא דלעילא, מאן דמקוריה ימיש מלמעבד פירין, כגון דין דלא בעא למיתב איתתא, או נסיב לה דאשתדל ולא יכיל, אלו דתרין הפכין אינון דא מדא, (או ס"א ההוא) דימיש מלמעבד פירין, לית ליה תקנה לעולם. (קהלת א׳:ט״ו) מעוות לא יכול לתקון, בגין דלא בעא למיסב איתתא ולאשתדלא בפריה ורביה, וההוא דאשתדל ונסב איתתא ולא יכיל, דא מתתקן בפריקיה דקריב ליה דהוא אחוי, וההוא דמית בלא בנין) כַּד נָפִיק מֵהַאי עַלְמָא הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ לָא עָאל בְּפַרְגּוֹדָא וְלָא נָטִיל חוּלַק בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא (ונשמתיה לא אתכלילת באתר דכל נשמתין אתכלילו, ואתגזר דיוקניה מתמן. הדא הוא דכתיב, (ויקרא כ״ב:ג׳) ונכרתה הנפש ההיא מלפני, הואיל וכדין הוא, ברא ליה קודשא בריך הוא פריק דיפרוק ליה מידא דמחבלין, ודא אחוי דקריב ליה שנאמר (דברים כ״ה:ה׳) כי ישבו אחים יחדיו וגו'. וכתיב בא אל אשת אחיך ויבם אותה וגו'. בגין דנשמתיה לא עאלת קמיה קודשא בריך הוא, אלא היא קימא לבר. בגין דלא זכה לאנהרא בהאי עלמא בההוא גופא. מאן דלא זכה בהאי אתר, יהך לאתר אחרא ויזכי ביה. כגוונא דא אעא דדליק ונהורא לא סליק יבטשון ליה ויסלק נהורא ביה וינהיר. אעא הוא אדם דכתיב (שם כ) כי האדם עץ השדה. רצונו לומר בר נש כד איהו בהאי עלמא ואזל ותאיב ואכיל ושתי ואזדווג באיתתא ולא זכי לבנין. דא הוא אעא דדליק ונהורא לא סליק, כלומר נשמתיה לא זכאת בההוא גופא לאתנהרא אלא איהי בחשוכא). תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב, (ישעיהו מ״ה:י״ח) לֹא תֹהוּ בְּרָאָהּ לְשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּגִין דָּא עֲבַד לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת כְּדְאֲמָרָן. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲבַד טִיבוּ עִם עַלְמָא. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, (בראשית כ״ה:א׳) וַיּוֹסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה וּשְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה, רָזָא דְּנִשְׁמָתָא אָתַת לְאִתְתַּקָּנָא כְּמִלְקַדְּמִין.
It is written: “He created it not a waste, he formed it to be inhabited” (Is. 45, 18), that is, God made man for this purpose, and so dealt kindly with the world. Observe the Scriptural text: “And Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah” (Gen. 25, 1). Herein is an allusion to the soul which after death comes to earth to be built up as before.
תָּא חֲזֵי, הַהוּא גוּפָא מַה כְּתִיב, (ישעיהו נ״ג:י׳) וַיְיָ חָפֵץ דַּכְּאוֹ הֶחלִי אִם תָּשִׂים אָשָׁם נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְאֶה זֶרַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים וְחֵפֶץ יְיָ בְּיָדוֹ יִצְלָח. וַיְיָ חָפַץ דַּכְּאוֹ, הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בֵּיהּ, אַמַּאי חָפֵץ בְּגִין דְּיִתְדַּכֵּי. אִם תָּשִׂים אָשָׁם, אִם יָשִׂים אָשָׁם מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי אִם תָּשִׂים. אֶלָּא לְנִשְׁמָתָא אַהֲדַר מִלָּה. אִי הַהִיא נִשְׁמָתָא בַּעְיָא לְאִתְתַּקָּנָא כְּדְקָא יָאוֹת, יִרְאֶה זֶרַע. בְּגִין דְּהַהִיא נִשְׁמָתָא אָזְלַת וְשָׁאטַת וְאִיהִי זְמִינָא לְאָעֳלָא בְּהַהוּא זֶרַע דְּאִתְעַסַּק בָּהּ בַּר נָשׁ בִּפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה, וּכְדֵין יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים. וְחֵפֶץ יְיָ דָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא בִּידֵיהּ אַצְלַח.
Observe that of the body it is written: “And it pleased the Lord to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, and prolong his days, and that the purpose of the Lord might prosper by his hand.” (Is. 53, 10). That is to say, if the soul desires to be rehabilitated then he must see seed, for the soul hovers round about and is ready to enter the seed of procreation, and thus “he will prolong his days, and the purpose of the Lord”, namely the Torah, “will prosper in his hand”.
תָּא חֲזֵי, אַף עַל גַּב דְּבַר נָשׁ אִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יְמָמָא וְלֵילְיָא, וּמְקוֹרֵיהּ וּמַבּוּעֵיהּ קָיְימָא בֵּיהּ לְמַגָּנָא, לֵית לֵיהּ אֲתַר לְאֲעָלָא לְפַרְגּוֹדָא. וְהָא אִתְּמָר דְּבֵירָא דְמַיָא אִי הַהוּא מְקוֹרָא וּמַבּוּעָא לָא עָאל בֵּיהּ, לָאו אִיהוּ בְּאֵר, דְּבֵירָא וּמְקוֹרָא, כְּחֲדָא אִינוּן, וְרָזָא חָדָא אִיהוּ, וְאוֹקִימְנָא.
For although a man labours in the Torah day and night, yet if his source remains fruitless, he will find no place by which to enter within the heavenly curtain. As has been pointed out, a well of water, if not fed by its source and spring, is no well, since the well and the source are one and they have a joint symbolism.
כְּתִיב, (תהילים קכ״ז:ב׳) שָׁוְא לָכֶם מַשְׁכִּימֵי קוּם מֵאַחֲרֵי שֶׁבֶת אוֹכְלֵי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים כֵּן יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ שֵׁנָה. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה חֲבִיבִין אִינוּן מִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא. דְּכָל מִלָּה וּמִלָּה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא אִית בֵּיהּ רָזִין עִלָּאִין קַדִּישִׁין. וְהָא אִתְּמָר דְּכַד יָהַב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּל גְּנִיזִין עִלָּאִין קַדִּישִׁין כֻּלְּהוּ יָהַב לְהוּ (וכלהו) בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְיְהִיבוּ לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּקַבִּילוּ אוֹרַיְיתָא בְּסִינַי.
It is written: “It is vain for you that ye rise early, and sit up late, ye that eat the bread of sadness; so he giveth unto his beloved sleep” (Ps. 127, 2). Precious, indeed, are the words of the Torah, each one containing sublime and holy mysteries, as has been affirmed, that when God gave the Torah to Israel, He gave it to them with all its sublime and holy treasures.
תָּא חֲזֵי, שָׁוְא לָכֶם מַשְׁכִּימֵי קוּם, אִלֵין אִינוּן יְחִידִים דְּאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ, דְּלָאו אִינוּן דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת, וְאַקְדְּמָן בְּצַפְרָא לַעֲבִידְתַּיְהוּ. כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (קהלת ד׳:ח׳) יֵשׁ אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי וְגו' וְאֵין קֵץ לְכָל עֲמָלוֹ. מֵאַחֲרֵי שֶׁבֶת. מְאַחֲרִין נַיְיחָא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת. בְּגִין דְּאִתְּתָא לְגַבֵּי בַּר נָשׁ אִיהִי נַיְיחָא לְגַבֵּיהּ וַדַּאי.
The words: “It is vain for you that ye rise early” are addressed to those who are single, not exhibiting the proper union of male with female. In vain they rise early, as we read: “There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second… yet, there is no end of all his labour” (Eccl. 4, 8). In vain, too, they “sit up late”, or, as we may translate, they “postpone rest”, as woman is assuredly man’s repose.
אוֹכְלֵי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים, מַאי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים. דְּכַד בַּר נָשׁ אִית לֵיהּ בְּנִין, הַהוּא נַהֲמָא דְּאָכִיל, אָכִיל לֵיהּ בְּחֶדְוָה וּבִרְעוּתָא דְלִבָּא. וְהַהוּא דְּלֵית לֵיהּ בְּנִין, הַהוּא נַהֲמָא דְּאָכִיל אִיהוּ נַהֲמָא דַּעֲצִיבוּ. וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן אוֹכְלֵי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים וַדַּאי.
They are addressed as “ye that eat the bread of sadness”, for the man who has children eats his bread in good cheer and gladness of heart; but to him that has no children, the bread he eats is bread of sadness:
כֵּן יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ שֵׁנָה, מַאי יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ, דָּא הוּא דִּמְקוֹרֵיהּ מְבָרַךְ, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהַב לֵיהּ שֵׁינָה בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (משלי ג׳:כ״ד) וְשָׁכַבְתָּ וְעָרְבָה שְׁנָתֶךָ. בְּגִין דְּאִית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא בְּעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ שָׁכִיב וְיִתְהַנֵּי בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא דְאָתֵי כְּדְקָא יְאוּת.
“so he giveth unto his beloved sleep”, the beloved being he whose wellspring is blessed, and to whom the Holy One vouchsafeth sleep in the other world, as we read: “and thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Prov. 3, 24), for he has a share in the world to come; the man will thus lie down and be blessed with the world to come.
יֵשׁ אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי וְגו'. יֵשׁ אֶחָד, דָּא הוּא בַּר נָשׁ דְּאִיהוּ יְחִידָאי בְּעַלְמָא, לָא יְחִידָאי כְּדְקָא יְאוּת, אֶלָּא דְּאִיהוּ בְּלָא זִוּוּגָא. וְאֵין שֵׁנִי, דְּלֵית עִמֵּיהּ סֶמֶךְ. גַּם בֵּן, דְּיוֹקִים שְׁמֵיהּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא שָׁבַק. וְאָח (אין לו) לְאַיְיתָאָה לֵיהּ לְתִקּוּנָא.
“There is one that is alone” (Eccl. 4, 8) is an allusion to the man who is improperly alone, without a wife; “and he hath not a second”, no one to uphold him, no son to establish his name in Israel, or to bring him to his due meed;
וְאֵין קֵץ לְכָל עֲמָלוֹ, דְּאִיהוּ עָמֵל תָּדִיר דְּאַקְדִּים יְמָמָא וְלֵילְיָא. גַּם עֵינוֹ לא תִשְׂבַּע עשֶׁר, וְלֵית לֵיהּ לִבָּא לְאַשְׁגָּחָא וּלְמֵימַר לְמִי אֲנִי עָמֵל וּמְחַסֵּר אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִטּוֹבָה. וְאִי תֵימָא דִּבְגִין דְּיֵיכוּל וְיִשְׁתֵּי יַתִּיר וְיַעֲבֵד מִשְׁתַּיָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא תָּדִיר, לָאו הָכִי. דְּהָא נַפְשָׁא לָא אִתְהַנִּי מִנֵּיהּ, אֶלָּא וַדַּאי אִיהוּ מְחַסֵּר לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ מִטִּיבוּ דִּנְהוֹרָא דְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. בְּגִין דְּדָא הִיא נַפְשָׁא חַסְרָא, דְּלָא אִשְׁתַּלִּימַת כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה חָס קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַל עוֹבָדוֹי, בְּגִין דְּקָא בָּעֵי דְּיִתְתַּקַּן, וְלָא יִתְאֲבִיד מֵהַהוּא עַלְמָא דְאָתֵי כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן.
“yet there is no end of all his labour”, as he is always labouring, day and night; “neither is his eye satisfied with riches” (Ibid.) and he has not the sense to reflect: “for whom, then, do I labour and bereave my soul of pleasure?” (Ibid.) You may say that he has pleasure in that he eats and drinks and feasts every day; but it is not so, inasmuch as his soul (nefesh) does not share in his pleasure, so that assuredly he bereaves his soul of pleasure, of the blissful illumination of the world to come; for it is left stunted without attaining its full and proper growth. For God cares for His works, and so desires that a man should be set right and not perish from the world to come, as already said.’
רִבִּי חִיָּיא בָּעָא, הַאי דְאִיהוּ זַכָּאָה שְׁלֵימָא וְאִשְׁתְּדָּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יוֹמֵי וְלֵילֵי וְכָל עוֹבָדוֹי לִשְׁמָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלָא זָכָה לִבְנִין בְּהַאי עַלְמָא כְּגוֹן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּהוּ וְלָא זָכָה, אוֹ דְּהֲווּ לֵיהּ וּמִיתוּ. מַה אִינוּן לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, עוֹבָדוֹי וְהַהִיא אוֹרַיְיתָא, קָא מָגִינָן עֲלֵיהּ לְהַהוּא עַלְמָא.
R. Hiya put the following question: ‘What is the position of a man who is just and upright and occupies himself with the study of the Torah day and night, and devotes himself wholly to the service of the Almighty, and yet is not blessed with children in this world despite all his effort, or who has children and they die-what is his position in the world to come?’ R. Jose replied: ‘His good deeds and the Torah will shield him in the world to come.’
אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, עֲלַיְיהוּ וְעַל אִינוּן זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט, (כגון רבי יוחנן דהוו ליה בנין ומיתו, וכגון רבי חזקיה דאיהו עקר) עֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, (ישעיהו נ״ו:ד׳) כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ לַסָּרִיסִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי וּבָחֲרוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפָצְתִּי וּמַחֲזִיקִים בִּבְרִיתִי. מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ, וְנָתַתִּי לָהֶם בְּבֵיתִי וּבְחוֹמוֹתַי יָד וָשֵׁם טוֹב מִבָּנִים וּמִבָּנוֹת שֵׁם עוֹלָם אֶתֵּן לוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִכָּרֵת. בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין אִית לוֹן חוּלָקָא לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, יָאוֹת הוּא וְשַׁפִּיר.
R. Isaac said: ‘Of such it is written: “For thus saith the Lord concerning the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a monument and a memorial, better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting memorial that shall not be cut off’ (Is. 56, 4-5), so that these have a share in the world to come.’ Said R. Jose: ‘All this is perfectly correct.
תָּא חֲזֵי, זַכָּאָה שְׁלִים דְּהֲווּ כָּל אִלֵּין בֵּיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּלִים כְּדְקָא יְאוּת, וּמִית בְּלָא בְּנִין, וְהָא קָא יָרִית דּוּכְתֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, אִתְּתֵיהּ בָּעְיָא לִיבוּמֵי אוֹ לָא. אִי תֵימָא דְּלִבָּעֵי לִיבוּמֵי, הָא בְּרֵיקַנְיָא אִיהוּ, דְּהָא אַתְרֵיהּ קָא יָרִית בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא.
But what of the following problem? Suppose there is a perfectly righteous man who has all these qualities and duly perfects himself, yet dies without issue. Now, seeing that he will inherit his place in the world to come, will his wife require to marry his brother or not? If she has to do so, then the marriage will be purposeless, seeing that the other brother inherits his own place in the other world.
אֶלָּא וַדַּאי בָּעְיָא לִיבוּמֵי, בְּגִין דְּלָא יַדְעִינָן אִי הֲוָה שְׁלִים בְּעוֹבָדוֹי אִי לָאו. וְהִיא אִי אִתְיַיבְּמַת לָא הֲוָה בְּרֵיקַנְיָא. בְּגִין דְּאֲתַר אִית לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּהָא (ל) בַּר נָשׁ (ד) הֲוָה בְּעַלְמָא וּמִית בְּלָא בְּנִין וּפוּרָקָא לָא הֲוֵי לֵיהּ בְּעַלְמָא, כֵּיוָן דְּמִית הַאי זַכָּאָה שְׁלִים וְאִתְּתֵיה אִתְיַיבְּמַת, וְאִיהוּ אַתְרֵיהּ יָרִית. אֲתָא הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ וְאִשְׁתַּלִּים הָכָא, וּבֵין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אֲתַר זַמִּין לֵיהּ (לעלמא) (בעלמא) עַד דְּיֵימוּת הַאי זַכָּאָה שְׁלִים, וְיִשְׁתְּלִים אִיהוּ בְּעַלְמָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר ל״ה:כ״ח) כִּי בְעִיר מִקְלָטוֹ יֵשֵׁב עַד מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל וְגו'.
The truth, however, is that she must still marry the brother, because we cannot say definitely whether the departed was really perfect or not. And in any case her second marriage is not purposeless, since it can serve to redeem some other righteous man who has died without children and has had no ransomer.
וְדָא הוּא דְּתָנִינָן, בְּנִין זְמִינִין אִינוּן לְצַדִּיקַיָא בְּמִיתַתְהוֹן, בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן לָא זָכוּ וּבְמִיתַתְהוֹן זָכוּ. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כָּל עוֹבָדוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כֻּלְּהוּ קְשׁוֹט וּזְכוּ, (ס"א וחייס) וְחַיִּים עַל כֹּלָּא.
(קהלת ד׳:ט׳) טוֹבִים הַשְּׁנַיִם מִן הָאֶחָד אֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ לָהֶם שָׂכָר טוֹב בַּעֲמָלָם, אִלֵּין אִינוּן דְּמִתְעַסְּקִין בְּהַאי עַלְמָא לְאוֹלָדָא בְּנִין. דְּאִינוּן בְּנִין דְּשָׁבְקוּ, בְּגִינֵיהוֹן אִית לוֹן אֲגַר טַב בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וּבְגִינֵיהוּ יַרְתִין אֲבָהָן דִּלְהוֹן חוּלָקָא בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא וְאוּקְמוּהָ.
The passage quoted above continues: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour” (Eccl. 4, 9), alluding to those who have performed the duty of leaving children in this world, for whose sake they inherit a portion in the world to come.
תָּא חֲזֵי, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָטַע אִילָנִין בְּהַאי עַלְמָא אִי אַצְלָחוּ יָאוֹת, לָא אַצְלָחוּ אַעֲקַר לוֹן וְשָׁתַל לוֹן אֲפִילּוּ כַּמָּה זִמְנִין. וּבְּגִין כָּךְ כָּל אָרְחוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כֻּלְּהוּ לְטַב וּלְאַתְקָנָא עָלְמָא:
So God has planted trees in this world; if they prosper, well and good, and if not, He uproots them and replants them time after time. All the ways of the Holy One are thus for the purpose of achieving the good and the perfection of the world.’
בֹּא אֶל אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ וְיַבֵּם אוֹתָהּ, דְּהָא יְהוּדָה וְכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְטִין הֲווּ יָדְעֵי דָּא. וְעִקְּרָא דְמִלְּתָא, וְהָקֵם זֶרַע. בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא זֶרַע אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתְתַּקָּנָא מִלָּה וּלְמִגְלַם גּוֹלָמָא לְתִקּוּנָא דְּלָא יִתְפְּרַשׁ גִּזְעָא מִשָּׁרְשֵׁיהּ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב לה) וְאָדָם עַל עָפָר יָשׁוּב.
Go IN UNTO THY BROTHER’S WIFE, AND PERFORM THE DUTY OF A HUSBAND’S BROTHER UNTO HER. Judah and all the other tribes were already cognisant of this duty, the main purpose of which is expressed in the sentence: “and raise up seed to thy brother”, as that seed is needed for the purpose of putting things right by growing into human shape and form and thus preventing the stock from being severed from its root.
וְכַד מִתְתַּקַּן לְבָתַר כְּדְקָא יָאוֹת, אִלֵּין מִשְׁתַּבְּחִין בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרָעֵי בְּהוּ. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, (קהלת ד׳:ב׳) וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים שֶׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ, דַּיְיקָא. מִן הַחַיִּים אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה חַיִּים עֲדֶנָּה. מַאי עֲדֶנָּה, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (בראשית י״ח:י״ב) אַחֲרֵי בְלוֹתִי הָיְתָה לִי עֶדְנָה. וּכְתִיב (איוב ל״ג:כ״ה) יָשׁוּב לִימֵי עֲלוּמָיו.
And when all has been put right, then those concerned receive praisc in the other world, as the Holy One is pleased with them. Hence it says: “Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
וְטוֹב מִשְּׁנִיהֶם אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲדֶן לא הָיָה (דלא שב לימי עלומיו) אֲשֶׁר לֹא רָאָה אֶת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה הָרַע אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. וְטוֹב מִשְּׁנִיהֶם אֶת אֲשֶׁר עֲדֶן לֹא הָיָה, דְּלָא שָׁב לִימֵי עֲלוּמָיו וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתְתַּקָּנָא, וְלָא סָבִיל חוֹבִין קַדְמָאֵי, בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהַב לֵיהּ אֲתַר מְתַקְנָא בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא כְּדְקָא יָאוֹת.
but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun” (Ibid. 4, 2-3). That is to say: I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that have returned (from the other world) to the days of their youth; but better than they both is he that has not yet returned to the days of his youth, as he has no need to rectify and to suffer for his former sins; for the Holy One has already given him a fitting place in the other world.
תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, (קהלת ח׳:י׳) וּבְכֵן רָאִיתִי רְשָׁעִים קְבוּרִים וְגו', כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר. בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד טִיבוּ וְלָא בָעָא לְשֵׁצָאָה עַלְמָא אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר, וְכָל אָרְחוֹי כֻּלְּהוּ קְשׁוֹט וּזְכוּ לְאוֹטָבָא לְהוּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. זַכָּאָה חוּלְקֵהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָיא דְּאִינוּן אָזְלֵי בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, עֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב, (תהילים ל״ז:כ״ט) צַדִּיקִים יִרְשׁוּ אָרֶץ:
Happy the portion of the just who walk in the way of truth. Of them it is written: “The righteous shall inherit the land” (Ps. 37, 29).