54. For Rabbi Aba said: All the friends who do not love each other die before their time. All the friends during the days of Rabbi Shimon loved each other, soul and spirit. Therefore, in the generation of Rabbi Shimon THE SECRETS OF THE TORAH WERE unveiled, for Rabbi Shimon used to say: All the friends that do not love each other cause THEMSELVES to deviate from the straight path. Also, they blemish it, THE TORAH, because the Torah has in it love, friendship and truth. Abraham loved Isaac and Isaac loved Abraham, so they embraced each other. Both were attached to Jacob with love and friendship, and gave their spirit to each other. The friends must be like them, and not cause a blemish in them. FOR IF THEY LACK LOVE, THEY CAUSE A BLEMISH IN THEIR COUNTERPART ABOVE, IN ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET.