Toldot: Chapter 5

The feast of the righteous in the future to come

Synopsis

Here the Rabbis discuss the shape of things to come - the time when the Creator will raise the dead. The discussion first centers on the physical nature of this event, then explores the question of the soul's place in heaven, along with its movement into a new body no longer made of dust. The feast that the Creator will prepare for His people are described in all its many levels of meaning, from mundane food and drink, to the meal of supernal splendor. This meal, we are told, includes no physical food or drink, and is the kind of meal that was eaten by Moses during his forty days and forty nights with the Creator. We learn, too, about who will partake of each kind of meal and what comprises the meals. The passage concludes with an inspiring vision of the future, which is described as begetting laughter and joy in the world.

Relevance

As usual, the wisdom of the Zohar pertains to both cosmic and personal realms. The supernal feast of joy that awaits us in the future can be tasted today through a reflective reading of this passage. Moreover, our interaction with these holy verses helps hasten the universal redemption.

Abraham Creation Dust Fragrance Ground Isaac Mandrakes

33. Midrash Hane'elam (Homiletical interpretations on the obscure). "And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son, Abraham begot Isaac" (Beresheet 25:19). Rabbi Yitzchak began the discussion with the verse: "The mandrakes give a fragrance..." (Shir Hashirim 7:14). The sages taught that in the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise the dead and shake the dust off them. As a result, they will no longer be made of dust, as they were when first created from dust, which does not endure, as it is written, "And Hashem Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground" (Beresheet 2:7).

33. (מִדְרָשׁ הַנֶּעֱלָם) וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יִצְחָק בֶּן אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת יִצְחָק. רִבִּי יִצְחָק פְּתַח, הַדּוּדָאִים נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ וגו'. ת"ר, לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, הַקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְחַיֶּה אֶת הַמֵּתִים, וִינַעֵר אוֹתָם מֵעַפְרָם, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ בִּנְיַן עָפָר, כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בַּתְּחִלָּה, שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ מֵעָפָר מַמָּשׁ, דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים, הה"ד וַיִּיצֶר ה' אֱלֹֹקִים אֶת הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן הָאֲדָמָה.

Dust Fragrance Garden of Eden Ground Jerusalem Mandrakes Soul, The

34. The instant they shake the dust from their bodily frames, they will have enduring frames, as it is written, "Shake yourself from the dust; arise, and sit down, Jerusalem" (Yeshayah 52:2). They will endure and rise from beneath the ground to receive their souls in the land of Yisrael. At that time, the Holy One, blessed be He, will pour upon them all the kinds of fragrances that are in the Garden of Eden, as it is written, "The mandrakes give a fragrance."

34. וּבְאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה יִתְנַעֲרוּ מֵעָפָר, מֵאוֹתוֹ הַבִּנְיָן, וְיַעַמְדוּ בְּבִנְיַן מְקוּיָים, לִהְיוֹת לָהֶם קִיּוּמָא, הה"ד הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי שְׁבִי יְרוּשָׁלִַם, יִתְקַיְימוּ בְּקִיּוּמָא. וְיַעֲלוּ מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ, וִיקַבְּלוּ נִשְׁמָתָם בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, יַצִּיף קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כָּל מִינֵי רֵיחִין שֶׁבַּג"ע עֲלֵיהֶם, הה"ד הַדּוּדָאִים נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ.

Body Fragrance Love Mandrakes Soul, The

35. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Do not pronounce it dudaim ('mandrakes'), but rather dodim ('lovers'). They are the body and the soul, who are lovers and friends to each other. Rav Nachman said, They are real mandrakes. As the mandrakes bring love into the world, so they create love in the world. And they give off a fragrance, which is how they know and recognize their Creator.

35. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, אַל תִּקְרֵי הַדּוּדָאִים, אֶלָּא הַדּוֹדִים, זֶהוּ הַגּוּף וְהַנְּשָׁמָה, שֶׁהֵם דּוֹדִים וְרֵעִים זֶה עִם זֶה. רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר, דּוּדָאִים מַמָּשׁ, מַה הַדּוּדָאִים מוֹלִידִים אַהֲבָה בָּעוֹלָם, אַף הֵם מוֹלִידִים אַהֲבָה בָּעוֹלָם. וּמַאי נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ, כִּשְׁרוֹן מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, לָדַעַת וּלְהַכִּיר לְבוֹרְאָם.

Deeds Fruit Gates Heaven Soul, The World to Come, The Year

36. The verse: "And at our gates..." (Shir Hashirim 7:14) refers to the gates of heaven, which are open to brings down souls for cadavers. "...all manner of choice fruits..." refers to the souls; "new and old" refers to those whose souls left them years ago and those whose souls left them only a few days ago. They merited, by their skillful deeds, to enter the World to Come. All of them are destined to descend simultaneously to enter the bodies that are prepared for them.

36. וְעַל פְּתָחֵינוּ: אֵלּוּ פִּתְחֵי שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁהֵם פְּתוּחִים לְהוֹרִיד נְשָׁמוֹת לִפְגָרִים. כָּל מְגָדִים: אֵלּוּ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת. חֲדָשִׁים גַּם יְשָׁנִים: אוֹתָם שֶׁיָּצְאוּ נִשְׁמָתָם מֵהַיּוֹם כַּמָּה שָׁנִים, וְאוֹתָם שֶׁיָּצְאוּ נִשְׁמָתָם מִיָּמִים מוּעָטִים, וְזָכוּ בְּכִשְׁרוֹן מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, לְהִכָּנֵס בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא, כֻּלָּם עֲתִידִים לֵירֵד בְּבַת אַחַת, לְהִכָּנֵס בַּגּוּפוֹת הַמּוּכָנִים לָהֶם.

Angels Body Fragrance Jacob Mandrakes Soul, The

37. Rabbi Acha bar Jacob said that a divine voice resounded, proclaiming: "New and old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved" (Shir Hashirim 7:14). "I have laid up for you" - in these same worlds. "...for you..." means because of you, because you are a holy and clean body. Another explanation is that these mandrakes are the Angels of Peace. "...Give a fragrance..." refers to souls, the fragrance of the world; "give" means to allow, as it is written, "and Sichon would not allow Yisrael" (Bemidbar 21:23).

37. אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב, בַּת קוֹל יוֹצֵאת וְאוֹמֶרֶת, חֲדָשִׁים גַּם יְשָׁנִים דּוֹדִי צָפַנְתִּי לָךְ. צָפַנְתִּי אוֹתָם, בְּאוֹתָם הָעוֹלָמוֹת. לָךְ: בִּשְׁבִילְךָ, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאַתָּה גּוּף קָדוֹשׁ וְנָקִי. דָּבָר אֲחֵר הַדּוּדָאִים, אֵלּוּ מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם. נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ, אֵלּוּ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת, שֶׁהֵם רֵיחַ הָעוֹלָם. נָתְנוּ: שָׁבְקוּ, כְּדָּבָר אֲחֵר וְלֹא נָתַן סִיחוֹן אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל.

Angels Dumah (Angel) Fruit Gates Shabbat Soul, The Universe

38. Rabbi Yehuda said that three classes of ministering angels appear at the beginning of every month and on every Shabbat to escort the soul to its place of ascension. What does the verse, "And at our gates are all manner of choice fruits," refer to? Rabbi Yehuda said, These are bodies standing at the openings of the graves to receive their souls. And Dumah offers a note of reckoning, and proclaims, Master of the Universe, "old and new," those who were buried long ago, and those buried not so long ago, all these "I have laid up for you," to take them into account.

38. דְּתָאנָא אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, שָׁלֹשׁ כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, הוֹלְכִים בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ וּבְכָל שַׁבָּת, לְלַוּוֹת לַנְּשָׁמָה עַד מְקוֹם מַעֲלָתָהּ. וּבְמַאן נוֹקִים עַל פְּתָחֵינוּ כָּל מְגָדִים. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, אֵלּוּ הֵן הַגּוּפוֹת, שֶׁהֵם עוֹמְדִים בְּפִתְחֵי קְבָרוֹת לְקַבֵּל נִשְׁמָתָן. וְדוּמָ"ה נוֹתֵן פִּתְקָא דְּחֻשְׁבְּנָא, וְהוּא מַכְרִיז וְאוֹמֵר, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, חֲדָשִׁים גַּם יְשָׁנִים, אוֹתָם שֶׁנִּקְבְּרוּ מִכַּמָּה יָמִים, וְאוֹתָם שֶׁנִּקְבְּרוּ מִזְּמַן מוּעָט, כֻּלָּם צָפַנְתִּי לָךְ, לְמֵיפַּק לְהוֹ בְּחוּשְׁבְּנָא.

Hands Jerusalem Righteous Shechinah Staff Sun Wicked Wickedness Women

39. In the name of the Rav, Rabbi Yehuda said that in the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will rejoice with the righteous, and will let His Shechinah dwell among them. Everybody will rejoice in that joy, as it is written, "Llet Hashem rejoice in His works" (Tehilim 104:31). Rabbi Yehuda said that at that time the righteous will create worlds and raise the dead. Rabbi Yosi said to him: We have learned that "there is nothing new under the sun" (Kohelet 1:9). Rabbi Yehuda responded, Come and hearken. While the wicked are in the world and multiply, the whole world does not endure, but when the Righteous are in the world, it does endure. And in the future they will raise the dead, as it is written, "Old men and old women shall yet again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age" (Zecharyah 8:4).

39. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב, עָתִיד הַקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לִשְׂמוֹחַ בְּאוֹתוֹ זְמַן, עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים, לְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָתוֹ עִמָּהֶם, וְהַכֹּל יִשְׂמְחוּ בְּאוֹתָהּ שִׂמְחָה, הה"ד יִשְׂמַח ה' בְּמַעֲשָׂיו. אָמַר רָבִּי יְהוּדָה, עֲתִידִים הַצַּדִּיקִים בְּאוֹתוֹ זְמַן, לִבְרֹא עוֹלָמוֹת, וּלְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְהָתְנַן אֵין כָּל חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. אָמַר לוֹ רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, ת"ש, בְּעוֹד שֶׁהָרְשָׁעִים בָּעוֹלָם, וְיִרְבּוּ, כָּל הָעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ בְּקִיּוּם, וּכְשֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים בָּעוֹלָם, אֲזַי הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּים. וַעֲתִידִים לְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים, כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן, עוֹד יֵשְׁבוּ זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת בִּרְחוֹבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְאִישׁ מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ בְּיָדוֹ מֵרוֹב יָמִים, כְּדִכְתִיב לְעֵיל.

Abraham Body Eyes Heart Isaac Righteous Shechinah Soul, The Wisdom

40. At that time, the Righteous will attain complete knowledge, for as Rabbi Yosi said, When "Hashem rejoices in His works," then the Righteous are destined to grasp the Holy One, blessed be He, in their hearts. And wisdom will abound in their hearts, as if they are seeing Him with their eyes. This is the meaning of the verse: "And it shall be said on that day, this is our Elohim" (Yeshayah 25:9). And for their existence together, the soul shall delight in the body more than anything, and that they shall have knowledge and perception of their Master, and shall have the enjoyment of the splendor of the Shechinah. This is the goodness hidden for the Righteous in the future to come. Thus, "And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son," refers to the generations of gladness and laughter that will exist at that time. Abraham's son is the soul worthy of it and is perfect in its ascent; "Abraham begot Isaac," means that the soul sires joy and laughter in the world.

40. בְּאוֹתוֹ זְמַן, יַשִּׂיגוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים דַּעַת שְׁלֵמָה, דַּאֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, בְּיוֹמָא דְּיֶחֱדֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּעוֹבָדוֹי, זְמִינִין אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָא, לְמִנְדַע לֵיהּ בְּלִבְּהוֹן, וּכְדֵין יִסְגֵּי סֻכְלְתָנוּ בְּלִבְּהוֹן, כְּאִילּוּ חָזוֹ לֵיהּ בְּעֵינָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, וְאָמַר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵינוּ זֶה וגו'. וְשִׂמְחַת הַנְּשָׁמָה בַּגּוּף, יֶתֶר מִכּוּלָּם, עַל שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם קַיָּימִים, וְיֵדְעוּ וְיַשִּׂיגוּ אֶת בּוֹרְאָם, וְיֶהֱנוּ מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה, וְזֶהוּ הַטּוֹב הַגָּנוּז לַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. הה"ד, וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יִצְחָק בֶּן אַבְרָהָם, אֵלּוּ הֵם תּוֹלְדוֹת הַשִּׂמְחָה, וְהַשְּׂחוֹק, שֶׁיְהֵא בָּעוֹלָם בְּאוֹתוֹ זְמַן. בֶּן אַבְרָהָם, הִיא הַנְּשָׁמָה הַזּוֹכָה לְכָךְ, וְלִהְיוֹת שְׁלֵימָה בְּמַעֲלָתָהּ. אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת יִצְחָק, הַנְּשָׁמָה מוֹלִידָה הַשִּׂמְחָה וְהַשְּׂחוֹק הַזֶּה בָּעוֹלָם.

Angels Bread Heart Meals Merit Mishnah Moses Peace Righteous Water

41. Rabbi Yehuda said to Rabbi Chiya: We have learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, will prepare a feast for the righteous in the future. What is this feast? He replied, Before you went before these holy angels, the sages of the Mishnah, I heard what Rabbi Elazar said. It set my heart at peace. For Rabbi Elazar said that the feast of the Righteous in the future is as it is written, "and they beheld the Elohim, and did eat and drink" (Shemot 24:11). Here it is written, "eat," but Rabbi Elazar noted that in one place it is explained as, "enjoy" and in another, "eat." What is the difference? He responded, Woe to the Righteous who do not have as much merit; they enjoy the splendor, though they do not understand everything. However, the Righteous who merit the divine splendor eat until they grasp it fully. Food and drink refers to this feast and eating alone. From whom do we know this? From Moses, as it is written, "He did neither eat bread, nor drink water" (Shemot 34:28). Why so? Because he ate another meal, which is the supernal splendor. The meal of the Righteous in the future will be in that manner.

41. אָמַר רָבִּי יְהוּדָה לְרִבִּי חִיָּיא, הָא דְתָנִינָן דְּעָתִיד הַקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת סְעוּדָה לַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, מַאי הִיא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, עַד לָא אָזְלֵית קַמֵּי אִינוּן מַלְאָכִין קַדִּישִׁין, מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין, הָכֵי שְׁמִיעַ לִי, כֵּיוָן דְּשָׁמְעִית הָא דַּאֲמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אִתְיַשְּׁבָא בְּלִבָּאי, דְּאָמַר רָבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, סְעוּדַת הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, כְּהַאי דִכְתִיב וַיֶּחֱזוּ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ. וְדָא הוּא דִתְנַן נִיזוֹנִין. וַאֲמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּאֲתַר חָד תָּנִינָן נֶהֱנִין, וּבַאֲתַר אָחֳרָא תָּנִינָן נִיזוֹנִין, מַאי בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי. אֶלָּא הָכֵי אֲמַר אֲבוֹי, הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁלֹּא זָכוּ כָּל כָּךְ, נֶהֱנִין מֵאוֹתוֹ זִיו, שֶׁלֹּא יַשִּׁיגוּ כָּל כָּךְ, אֲבָל הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁזָּכוּ, נִזּוֹנִין, עַד שֶׁיַּשִּׂיגוּ הַשָּׂגָה שְׁלֵמָה. וְאֵין אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה אֶלָּא זוֹ, וְזוֹ הִיא הַסְּעוּדָה וְהָאֲכִילָה. וּמְנָא לָן הָא, מִמֹּשֶׁה, דִּכְתִיב וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה' אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה. מ"ט לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל, וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה נִזּוֹן מִסְּעוּדָה אַחֶרֶת, מֵאוֹתוֹ זִיו שֶׁל מַעְלָה, וּכְהַאי גַוְונָא סְעוּדָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא.

Creation Food Righteous Wine

42. Rabbi Yehuda said that the feast of the Righteous in the future is to partake of His joy, according to the verse: "The humble shall hear of it, and be glad" (Tehilim 34:3). Rav Huna said that it is understood from the verse: "But let all those that put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy" (Tehilim 5:12). Rabbi Yitzchak said, Both will occur in the future. We were taught by Rabbi Yosi that cellared wine with its grapes, from the six days of Creation, contains the ancient matters that were not revealed to man from the day the world was created. These are destined to be revealed to the Righteous in the future; this is assuredly their food and drink.

42. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה סְעוּדַת הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, לִשְׂמוֹחַ בְּשִׂמְחָתוֹ, הה"ד יִשְׁמְעוּ עֲנָוִים וְיִשְׂמָחוּ. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא, וְיִשְׂמְחוּ כָל חוֹסֵי בָךְ לְעוֹלָם יְרַנֵּנוּ. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, הַאי וְהַאי אִיתָא לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. וְתָאנָא אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, יַיִן הַמְשׁוּמָר בַּעֲנָבָיו, מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית, אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים עַתִּיקִים, שֶׁלֹֹּא נִגְלוּ לְאָדָם, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, וַעֲתִידִים לְהִגָּלוֹת לַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וְזוֹ הִיא הַשְּׁתִיָה וַאֲכִילָה, וַדַּאי דָא הִיא.

Crocodiles Food Job Leviathan Mountains Punishment Seas Serpent Sword

43. In the name of Rabbi Shalom, Rabbi Yehuda said that if that is true, what about the Leviathan and the bull, as it is written, "Surely the mountains bring him forth food" (Iyov 40:20). Rabbi Yosi said that it is also written, "On that day, Hashem with His sore and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the flying serpent, and the Leviathan that crooked serpent; and He will slay the crocodile that is in the sea" (Yeshayah 27:1). This was said thrice, to hint at the kingdom. Rabbi Tanchum added that there is nothing to reveal in addition to what the wise men said. This is assuredly so.

43. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרִבִּי שָׁלוֹם, א"כ מַהוּ לִוְיָתָן, וּמַהוּ הַשּׁוֹר, דִּכְתִיב, כִּי בוּל הָרִים יִשְׂאוּ לוֹ. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְהָא כְתִיב בָּעֵת הַהִיא יִפְקוֹד ה' בְּחַרְבּוֹ הַקָּשָׁה וְהַגְּדוֹלָה וְהַחֲזָקָה עַל לִוְיָתָן נָחָשׁ בָּרִיחַ וְעַל לִוְיָתָן נָחָשׁ עֲקָלָתוֹן וְהָרַג אֶת הַתַּנִּין אֲשֶׁר בַּיָּם. הָא הָכָא תְּלָתָא, אֶלָּא רֶמֶז הוּא, דְּקָא רָמַז עַל מַלְכְּוָותָא. אֲמַר רִבִּי תַּנְחוּם לֵית לְמֵימַר, עַל מַה דְּאָמְרוּ רַבָּנָן, וַדַּאי כָּךְ הִיא.

Correction Leviathan Righteous

44. Rabbi Yitzchak said, I was present before Rabbi Yehoshua and asked him about this. I said that this feast of the Righteous that will be held in the future WAS SAID TO CONSIST OF THE LEVIATHAN AND THE WILD BULL. If this is so, there is a contradiction, because Rabbi Elazar said that the feast of the Righteous in the future will be as it is written in the verse: "And they beheld the Elohim, and did eat and drink." Rabbi Yehoshua said that Rabbi Elazar was correct.

44. אֲמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, אֲנָא הֲוֵינָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְשָׁאֵילְנָא הַאי מִלָּה, אֲמַרְנָא הַאי סְעוּדָתָא דְּצַדִּיקַיָא לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, אִי כָּךְ הוּא, לָא אִתְיַישְׁבָא בְּלִבָּאי, דְּהָא אֲמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, סְעוּדַת הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, כְּהַאי גַוְונָא דִּכְתִיב, וַיֶּחֱזוּ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ. אֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וְכָךְ הוּא.

Bread Creation Curse Egypt Exile Hands Leviathan Meals Suffering Torah Wine

45. Rabbi Yehoshua further stated the belief that the sages communicated to most of the people: that they are invited to this meal of the Leviathan and the wild bull, where they will drink of the good CELLARED wine preserved from the time of the Creation. They came upon this verse: "and you shall eat your bread to the full" (Vayikra 26:5), and interpreted it thus. Rabbi Zira said, The Holy One, blessed be He, used all kinds of enticements to encourage the children of Yisrael to return to the good path. The greatest of them all was when He said to them, "and you shall eat your bread to the full," or among the curses, the worst is, "and you shall eat, and not be satisfied" (Ibid. 26). Why so? Because it is written, "Would we had died by the hand of Hashem in the land of Egypt" (Shemot 16:3). Rabbi Zira said, This teaches us that for the sake of eating, sacrificed their lives to die by their hands. When the Holy One, blessed be He, noticed their lust, He said to them: "If you will hearken to keep the commandments, you shall eat your bread to the full', in order to appease their minds. In this manner, the wise men saw that the exile would continue. They relied on the verses in the Torah, and said that they would eat and be merry at the great feast that the Holy One, blessed be He, will hold for them. Therefore, most of the people in the world suffer this exile for the sake of that feast.

45. עוֹד אֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הַאי מְהֵימְנוּתָא, דַּאֲמָרוּ רַבָּנָן לְרוּבָּא דְעַלְמָא, דְּזַמִּינִין אִינוּן בְּהַאי סְעוּדָתָא דְלִוְיָתָן וְהַהוּא תוֹרָא, וּלְמִשְׁתֵּי חַמְרָא טַב, דְּאִתְנְטַר מִכַּד אִתְבְּרֵי עַלְמָא, קְרָא אַשְׁכָּחוּ וְדָרְשׁוּ, דִּכְתִיב וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשׂוֹבַע, דַּאֲמַר רִבִּי זֵירָא, כָּל מִינֵי פִּיתּוּי, פִּתָּה הַקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לְהַחֲזִירָם לְמוּטָב, וְדָא הוּא יַתִּיר מִכֻּלְּהוֹן, דַּאֲמַר לְהוֹ וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשׂוֹבַע. וּבַקְּלָלוֹת, וַאֲכַלְתֶּם וְלֹא תִשְׂבָּעוּ, וְדָא קַשְׁיָא לְהוֹ מִכֻּלְּהוּ. מ"ט, דִּכְתִיב מִי יִתֵּן מוּתֵנוּ בְּיַד ה' בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וגו'. אֲמַר רִבִּי זֵירָא, מְלַמֵּד, דְּמִשּׁוּם הָאֲכִילָה מָסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם לָמוּת בְּיָדָם. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה הַקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא תַּאֲוָתָם, אָמַר לָהֶם, אִם תִּשְׁמְעוּ לְקוֹל הַמִּצְוֹת, וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לָשׂוֹבַע כְּדֵי לְהָנִיחַ דַּעְתָּם. כה"ג, חָמוּ רַבָּנָן דְּגָלוּתָא אִתְמַשַּׁךְ, אִסְתַּכְּמוּ עַל קְרָאֵי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וַאֲמָרוּ דִּזְמִינִין לְמֵיכַל וּלְמֶחֱדֵי בִּסְעוּדָתָא רַבָּה, דְּזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֶעְבַּד לְהוֹ, וְע"ד רוּבָּא דְעַלְמָא סָבְלוּ גָלוּתָא בְּגִין הַהִיא סְעוּדָתָא.

Abraham Bread Faith Isaac Love Praise Righteous Soul, The Torah Wine Witnesses

46. Rabbi Yochanan said that we should not contradict this belief, but support the idea THAT THE FEAST CONSISTS OF EATING AND DRINKING, because the Torah bears witness to it IN THE VERSE: "AND YOU SHALL EAT YOUR BREAD TO THE FULL" (VAYIKRA 26:5). We already know the Faith of the Righteous and their desire from the verses, "We will be glad and rejoice in You" (Shir Hashirim 1:4), and not in eating, and "we will praise you love more than wine" (Vayikra 26:5), WHICH ALLUDES TO THE WINE OF THE TORAH. That feast, that they - MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD - are destined for, FOR EATING AND DRINKING, we will partake of it too. This is the part of joy and laughter. "And these are the generations of Isaac (lit. 'will laugh')," for the righteous will laugh in the future. "Abraham begot Isaac," as it is the virtue of the soul that begets that laughter and joy in the world.

46. אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן, לֵית לָן לִסְתּוֹר מְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, אֶלָּא לְקַיְימָא לֵיהּ, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא אַסְהֵידַת עֲלוֹי, דְּהָא אֲנַן יָדְעִין מְהֵימְנוּתָא דְצַדִּיקַיָא, וְכִסּוּפָא דִלְהוֹן מַאי הִיא, דִּכְתִיב נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בָךְ, וְלֹא בַאֲכִילָה. נַזְכִּירָה דּוֹדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן. וְהַהִיא סְעוּדָתָא דִּזְמִינִין בָּהּ, יְהֵא לָן חוּלַק לְמֶהֱנֵי מִנָּהּ, וְזוֹ הִיא הַשִּׂמְחָה וְהַשְּׂחוֹק. וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יִצְחָק, שֶׁיִּצְחֲקוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת יִצְחָק, זַכּוּת הַנְּשָׁמָה, מוֹלִיד הַשְּׂחוֹק הַזֶּה, וְהַשִּׂמְחָה בָּעוֹלָם.

<
>