56. Rabbi Yosi said: It is written, "And yet for all that (lit. 'and also even this'), when they are in the land of their enemies..." (Vayikra 26:44). "And also even this." 'Even,' is as, "even I" (Ibid. 28), WHICH REFERS TO ZEIR ANPIN. 'Also,' includes the Congregation of Yisrael, called 'this' (Heb. zot), MALCHUT, that never leaves them. '"When they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor will I abhor them" - though I am not connected to them - "so that I would break My Covenant with them" (Vayikra 26:44), because if I do not redeem them, my Covenant is divided. AND THE UNION BETWEEN YESOD AND MALCHUT IS UNDONE. THE SCRIPTURE therefore SAYS, "to break My Covenant with them."
57. Rabbi Chiya said: I have heard something new that Rabbi Elazar said: "I will not cast them away (also: 'detest them'), nor will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly" (Ibid. 44). It should have been written, 'I will not hit them, nor will I kill them to destroy them utterly.' HE ANSWERS: THE MEANING OF, "I will not cast them away, nor will I abhor them," is that a man who hates someone is abhorred and detested by Him. But here, "I will not cast them away, nor will I abhor them." Why? Because the beloved of My soul is among them, NAMELY THE SHECHINAH, for whose sake they are all My friends.' Hence, it says, "lechalotam" (lit. 'to destroy them utterly'). Lechalotam is spelled without the Vav AS AN ALLUSION TO THE SHECHINAH, CALLED 'BRIDE' (HEB. KALAH). LECHALOTAM IS AS 'FOR THE KALAH' - 'It is for THE BRIDE that I do not detest or abhor them, because She is the beloved of My soul, and the beloved of My soul is among them.'
58. THIS IS like a man who loves a woman who lives in a market of tanners WHO SMELL DISAGREEABLY - were she not there, he would never have entered there. Since she is there, THE TANNERS' MARKET seems to him like a market of spice merchants, where there are all the best odors in the world.
59. Here too, "And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies," which is a tanners' market OF EVIL SMELL, "I will not cast them away, nor will I abhor them." Why? "to destroy them utterly (Heb. lechalotam);" 'because their Bride (Heb. kalatam), THE SHECHINAH, who abides there, is My love, and the Beloved of My soul. It therefore seems to Me like the best fragrance in the world, due to the Bride that dwells among them.' Rabbi Yosi said: Had I come only to hear this, it would be enough.