Said R. Simeon: ‘AII this is true, yet nevertheless the Holy One, blessed be He, has conferred power on the unclean spirit and it behoves man to subjugate him from all directions. Now I am about to reveal to you’, he said, ‘a mystery which is only permitted to be revealed to the superior saints.
The Holy One, blessed be He, has conferred power upon the place which is the unclean spirit to have dominion over the world in many ways and to be enabled to inflict harm; we thus dare not treat him lightly, but we have to be on our guard against him lest he indict us, even in our holy actions. We have, therefore, a secret device, namely, to assign him a little space within our holy performances, since it is out of the source of holiness that he derives his power.
Hence we are required to enclose inside the phylacteries a hair of a calf with one end jutting out and exposed to sight. This hair is incapable of communicating defilement, since it is smaller than a barley grain.1Allusion (apparently inexact) to Mishnah, Ahaloth 3, 2.
Now, when the unclean spirit beholds this hair that is within the supremely holy, and thus finds that he has a portion therein, he will abstain from assailing the wearer and will be powerless to inflict evil on him, whether on high or below. Whereas if nothing is given him within what is holy he brings accusations, saying, that-and-that man who at the moment makes himself holy has done such-and-such a deed on such-and-such a day, and these-and-these are the sins he committed; so that the man will thus be brought to judgement and be punished.
The Israelites, who were aware of this secret, used to adopt a similar device when they began to sanctify themselves on the Day of Atonement; they at once made provision for assigning the unclean spirit his portion, so that he should not accuse them nor bring to notice the sins of Israel. For when he presents himself to bring accusations against Israel, ever so many bands and hosts stand there ready to take up his word. Happy is the portion of him who is able to be on his guard so that his sins should not be brought to notice on high, and so that he should not be regarded with disfavour.’
Meanwhile tears began to flow from R. Abba’s eyes. Said R. Eleazar to him: “Abba, Abba, unloose thy girdle, and wipe the tears from thy face, inasmuch as the mystic doctrines of the Torah were entrusted to the righteous, as it is written: “The secret (SOD)1Sod in Bib. Heb. =counsel, in post-Bib. =secret, mystery. of the Lord is for them that fear him” (Ps. 25, 14).’
Observe that on New Year’s Day the world is brought to trial before the holy Judgement Seat; and there stands on one side the evil spirit who regards intently and makes a record of all those that are doomed to death. But at the moment that Israel awakens mercy by means of the sound of the trumpet (shofar) he becomes altogether confused and distracted, and turns his gaze away from the doomed ones. This continues until some time after.1i.e. the eve of the Last day of Tabernacles. Then all those under decree of death who have not repented of their sins are delivered into the hands of the evil power under a final order of death, which order is irrevocable.
The whole of Israel together have thus to be on guard against him, and how much more so one who is by himself. We have thus to assign him at every New Moon a he-goat as his portion, so that he will abstain from acting as accuser. The sacred moon will thus draw sustenance in holiness and be fittingly renewed.
The moon being renewed every month is thus called “na’ar” (youth), but the opposite force, which is forever immersed in defilement, is called “old and foolish king” (Eccles. 4, 13). Thus for holy Israel, the one nation united to God in holiness, the Holy One, blessed be He, has provided a means of escape from all the evil powers. Happy are they in this world and in the world to come. So Scripture says: “Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever; the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, wherein I glory” (Isa. 60, 21).
אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אַף עַל גַּב דְּכָל הָנֵי מִלִּין כִּדְקַאמְרָן, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהִיב לֵיהּ שׁוּלְטָנוּ. וְרוּחַ מְסַאֲבָא בָּעֵי לְאַכְפְּיָא לֵיהּ בְּכָל סִטְרִין. תָּא וְאִימָא לְךָ רָזָא חֲדָא, וְלָא אִתְיְיהִיב לְגַלָּאָה בַּר לְאִינּוּן קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין.
Said R. Simeon: ‘AII this is true, yet nevertheless the Holy One, blessed be He, has conferred power on the unclean spirit and it behoves man to subjugate him from all directions. Now I am about to reveal to you’, he said, ‘a mystery which is only permitted to be revealed to the superior saints.
תָּא חֲזֵי, לְהַאי אֲתָר דְּאִיהוּ רוּחַ מְסַאֲבָא. קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהִיב לֵיהּ שׁוּלְטָנוּ, לְמִשְׁלַט בְּעָלְמָא, בְּכַמָּה סִטְרִין, וְיָכִיל לְנַזְקָא, וְלֵית לֵיהּ (נ"א לן) רְשׁוּ, לְאַנְהָגָא בֵּיהּ קְלָנָא, דְּבָעֵינָן לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מִנֵּיהּ, דְּלָא יְקַטְרֵג עֲלָן בְּגוֹ קְדוּשָּׁה דִּילָן. וְעַל דָּא רָזָא חֲדָא אִית לָן, דְּבָעֵינָן לְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ דּוּכְתָּא זְעֵיר, בְּגוֹ קְדוּשָּׁה דִּילָן (דלא אשתכח מקטרגא בגו קדושא דילן) דְּהָא מִגּוֹ קְדוּשָּׁה נָפִיק שׁוּלְטָנוּ דִּילֵיהּ.
The Holy One, blessed be He, has conferred power upon the place which is the unclean spirit to have dominion over the world in many ways and to be enabled to inflict harm; we thus dare not treat him lightly, but we have to be on our guard against him lest he indict us, even in our holy actions. We have, therefore, a secret device, namely, to assign him a little space within our holy performances, since it is out of the source of holiness that he derives his power.
דְּבָעֵינָן גּוֹ רָזָא דִּתְפִלִּין, לְאַצְנְעָא (סוד שער שבתפילין) חַד שַׂעֲרָא דְּעֶגְלָא, דְּיִפּוּק לְבַר וְיִתְחָזֵי. דְּהָא חוּטָא דְּשַׂעֲרָא דָּא לָא מַסְאִיב, בַּר דְּאִי אִתְחַבָּר הַאי שַׂעֲרָא, וְאִתְעָבִיד כַּשְּׁעוּרָא, אֲבָל פָּחוּת מִן דָּא לָא מַסְאִיב. וְהַהוּא שַׂעֲרָא בָּעֵי לְאַעֲלָא לֵיהּ בְּגוֹ קְדוּשָּׁה עִלָּאָה דִּילָן, וּלְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ דּוּכְתָּא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יְקַטְרֵג לָן בְּקִדוּשָׁן.
Hence we are required to enclose inside the phylacteries a hair of a calf with one end jutting out and exposed to sight. This hair is incapable of communicating defilement, since it is smaller than a barley grain.1Allusion (apparently inexact) to Mishnah, Ahaloth 3, 2.
וְיִפּוּק מִן הַהוּא שַׂעֲרָא לְבַר, דְּיִתְחָזֵי, דְּכַד חָמֵי לְהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ בִּקְדוּשָּׁה עִלָּאָה, וְחוּלָקָא דִּילֵיהּ מִשְׁתַּתֵּף לְתַמָן, כְּדֵין לָא יְקַטְרֵג לֵיהּ, וְלָא יָכִיל לְאַבְאָשָׁא לֵיהּ לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, דְּהָא דּוּכְתָּא יְהַב לֵיהּ. וְאִי הַהוּא חוּלָקָא לָא יָהֲבִין לֵיהּ (דוכתא) בְּהַאי קְדוּשָּׁה, יָכִיל לְאַבְאָשָׁא לֵיהּ לְתַתָּא, וְסָלִיק מְקַטְרְגָא לֵיהּ לְעֵילָּא, וְאָמַר פְּלוֹנִי דְּקָא מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשְׁתָּא, כַּךְ וְכַךְ עֲבַד יוֹמָא פְּלוֹנִי, וְכַךְ אִינּוּן חוֹבוֹי, עַד דְּיִמְטֵי דִּינָא עַל הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, וְיִתְעֲנֵשׁ עַל יְדוֹי. (וכן שעיר המשתלח).
Now, when the unclean spirit beholds this hair that is within the supremely holy, and thus finds that he has a portion therein, he will abstain from assailing the wearer and will be powerless to inflict evil on him, whether on high or below. Whereas if nothing is given him within what is holy he brings accusations, saying, that-and-that man who at the moment makes himself holy has done such-and-such a deed on such-and-such a day, and these-and-these are the sins he committed; so that the man will thus be brought to judgement and be punished.
וְכַךָ הֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדֵי, דַּהֲווֹ יַדְעֵי רָזָא דָּא, כַּד שָׁרָאן לְאִתְקַדְּשָׁא בִּקְדוּשָּׁה עִלָּאָה בְּיוֹמָא דְּכִפּוּרֵי, הֲווֹ מִסְתַּכְּלֵי מִיַּד לְמֵיהַב חוּלָקֵיהּ לְהַאי אֲתָר, וּלְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח מְקַטְרְגָא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְלָא יֵיתוּן לְאַדְכְּרָא חוֹבֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּכַמָּה חֲבִילִין, וְכַמָּה מַשִׁרְיָין, אִינּוּן דְּאִזְדַמְּנָן לְנַטְלָא מִלָּה מִנֵּיהּ, כַּד אָתֵי לְקַטְרְגָא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ, מַאן דְּיָכִיל לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא, דְּלָא יִדְכְּרוּן חוֹבוֹי לְעֵילָּא, וְלָא יַשְׁגִחוּן עָלֵיהּ לְבִישׁ.
The Israelites, who were aware of this secret, used to adopt a similar device when they began to sanctify themselves on the Day of Atonement; they at once made provision for assigning the unclean spirit his portion, so that he should not accuse them nor bring to notice the sins of Israel. For when he presents himself to bring accusations against Israel, ever so many bands and hosts stand there ready to take up his word. Happy is the portion of him who is able to be on his guard so that his sins should not be brought to notice on high, and so that he should not be regarded with disfavour.’
אַדְּהָכִי הֲווֹ זַלְגִין עֵינוֹי דְּרִבִּי אַבָּא. אָמַר לֵיהּ, אַבָּא אַבָּא, זִיל טַנְפִיר קְטוּרָךְ, וְאַקְפִּיד בְּקוּלְטָךְ, דְּהָא רָזִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לְזַכָּאֵי אִתְיְיהִיבוּ דִּכְתִּיב, (תהלים כה) סוֹד יְיָ' לִירֵאָיו.
Meanwhile tears began to flow from R. Abba’s eyes. Said R. Eleazar to him: “Abba, Abba, unloose thy girdle, and wipe the tears from thy face, inasmuch as the mystic doctrines of the Torah were entrusted to the righteous, as it is written: “The secret (SOD)1Sod in Bib. Heb. =counsel, in post-Bib. =secret, mystery. of the Lord is for them that fear him” (Ps. 25, 14).’
תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּיוֹמָא דְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, עָלְמָא אִתְּדָּן, וּבֵי דִּינָא קַדִּישָׁא (קודשא בריך הוא) יָתִיב, וְדָן כָּל עָלְמָא. וְהַהוּא סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא קָאִים מִסִּטְרָא דָּא, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאִתְּדָנוּ לְמוֹתָא אַשְׁגַּח עָלַיְיהוּ, וְאִתְרְשִׁימוּ קָמֵיהּ. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְעָרֵי רַחֲמֵי, בְּהַהוּא קוֹל שׁוֹפָר, כְּדֵין אִתְעַרְבְבָא לֵיהּ כֹּלָּא, דְּלָא יָדַע וְלָא מַשְׁגַּח, בְּאִינּוּן דְּאִתְּדָנוּ. עַד דִּלְבָתַר כָּל אִינּוּן דְּלָא מְהַדְּרֵי בְּתִיּוּבְתָּא, וְאִגְזַר עָלַיְיהוּ מוֹתָא, וַדַּאי נָפְקִין פִּתְקִין מִבֵּי מַלְכָּא, וְאִתְמְסָרוּ לֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְמְסָרוּ לֵיהּ, לָא אָהַדְרוּ פִּתְקִין, עַד דְּאִתְעָבִיד דִּינָא.
Observe that on New Year’s Day the world is brought to trial before the holy Judgement Seat; and there stands on one side the evil spirit who regards intently and makes a record of all those that are doomed to death. But at the moment that Israel awakens mercy by means of the sound of the trumpet (shofar) he becomes altogether confused and distracted, and turns his gaze away from the doomed ones. This continues until some time after.1i.e. the eve of the Last day of Tabernacles. Then all those under decree of death who have not repented of their sins are delivered into the hands of the evil power under a final order of death, which order is irrevocable.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלְּהוּ, בַּעְיָין לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מִנֵּיהּ, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בַּר נָשׁ בִּלְחוֹדוֹי. (וכל שכן וכל שכן) דְּהָא בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה דִּלְעֵילָּא, בָּעֵינָן לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא, וּלְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ בְּכָל יַרְחָא וְיַרְחָא, כַּד סִיהֲרָא בָּעֵי לְאִתְחַדְּתָּא, חַד שָׂעִיר, בְּגִין דְּלָא יְקַטְרֵג חַדְּתּוּתָא (נ"א חדוותא) וְיִטּוֹל חוּלָקֵיהּ כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי לֵיהּ. וְסִיהֲרָא קַדִּישָׁא לְיָנְקָא בִּקְדוּשָּׁה לְחַדְּתּוּתֵי כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת.
The whole of Israel together have thus to be on guard against him, and how much more so one who is by himself. We have thus to assign him at every New Moon a he-goat as his portion, so that he will abstain from acting as accuser. The sacred moon will thus draw sustenance in holiness and be fittingly renewed.
וְכַד מִתְחַדְּשָׁא בְּכָל יַרְחָא וְיַרְחָא, בְּגִין (בראשית קמ"ט ע"ב) כַּךְ אִקְרֵי נַעַר, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא. וְהַאי אַחֲרָא דָּא, דְּאִיהוּ תָּדִיר בִּמְסָאֲבוּ, וְלָא נָפִיק מִנֵּיה, אִקְרֵי מֶלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, יִשְׂרָאֵל קַדִּישִׁין דְּאִינּוּן עַמָּא חַד, בְּיִחוּדָא קַדִּישָׁא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהִיב לוֹן עֵיטָא, לְאִשְׁתְּזָבָא מִכֹּלָּא. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין, וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, דִּכְתִּיב, (ישעיהו ס׳:כ״א) וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים לְעוֹלָם יִרְשׁוּ אָרֶץ נֵצֶר מַטָּעַי מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי לְהִתְפָּאֵר.
The moon being renewed every month is thus called “na’ar” (youth), but the opposite force, which is forever immersed in defilement, is called “old and foolish king” (Eccles. 4, 13). Thus for holy Israel, the one nation united to God in holiness, the Holy One, blessed be He, has provided a means of escape from all the evil powers. Happy are they in this world and in the world to come. So Scripture says: “Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever; the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, wherein I glory” (Isa. 60, 21).