The combining of the attribute of Mercy with Judgment

Synopsis

The discussion continues to explore the uniting of Jacob and Rivkah. It evolves toward a more complete understanding, explaining the more subtle meanings that arise from this combination of Malchut (an aspect of judgment) and Binah (an aspect of mercy). The Rabbis also discuss the role of the Evil Inclination, explaining how this, too, derives from the Creator. They describe how evil is placed in the human heart, discuss its formidably enduring nature, and explain its role in reproduction. The creation of the Evil Inclination actually denotes the Creation of the Desire to Receive.

This Desire to Receive is a vital and necessary component in man, for without it, the Creator cannot share His infinite beneficence. There must be a willing recipient in order for sharing to take place. The angel Satan, however, manipulates this vital Desire to Receive into a Desire to Receive for the Self alone. This additional aspect of receiving in a selfish manner is the "root of all evil." Man's spiritual work is to negate the Satan's influence and to express our Desire to Receive through sharing.

Relevance

A story is told of an arrogant tycoon who tosses a few gold coins to a poverty-stricken man in the streets. The poor man is of high principles and refuses the condescending handout. The tycoon is taken aback and insists that the pauper accept his gift. The poor man refuses. Initially, the tycoon was indifferent to the plight of the poor man. His charity was more an act of haughty self-regard, but now the tycoon is overcome with guilt and embarrassment. He pleads with the poor man to accept the gift. Seeing how much distress and anxiety his refusal is causing the wealthy man, the poor man decides to accept the gold coins so that his benefactor will feel better about himself. Kabbalistically, the poor man's receiving has taken the form of sharing.

A reading of this section helps us transform our selfish desires into actions that embody the principle of receiving for the sake of sharing.

Angels Creation Evil Face Heaven Isaac Jacob Judgment Kisses Mercy Thought Year

47. "And Isaac was forty years old." Rabbi Bo began in the name of Rabbi Yosi with the verse: "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth..." (Shir Hashirim 1:2). With how many GOOD qualities was the world created? We have learned that Rabbi Acha bar Jacob said that everything the Holy One, blessed be He, created in His worlds, outside of Himself, was in collaboration - THAT IS, THE COMBINING OF MALCHUT, AN ASPECT OF JUDGMENT, WITH BINAH, AN ASPECT OF MERCY. IT IS FROM THESE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MANY QUALITIES ARE FOUND IN THE WORLD. ONE THOUGHT THIS PARTNERSHIP OF GOOD AND EVIL APPLIES TO CREATURES, SO HE RAISED A QUESTION. Rabbi Acha asks, Is that so? Heaven forbid, for this will add dissension in the world, FOR EVERYBODY WHO HEARS HIM WILL DISAGREE. For if you say that it means that the angels, created as the Holy Spirit itself, have a blend OF GOOD AND EVIL in them, then their faces and ours are the same - THAT IS, ANGELS AND MEN ARE EQUAL.

47. וַיְהִי יִצְחָק בֶּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה. רִבִּי בּוֹ בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ וגו', בְּכַמָּה מַעֲלוֹת נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, דְּתָנִינָן אָמַר רִבִּי אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעוֹלָמוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ, חוּץ מִמֶּנּוּ, הָיוּ בְּשִׁתּוּף. וּמִי אָמַר רִבִּי אַחָא הָכֵי, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, דְּהָא בְּמִלָּה דָא יִסְגֵּי פְּלוּגְתָּא בְּעַלְמָא, דְּאִי תֵימָא הָכֵי, הַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁהֵם נִבְרָאִים רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מַמָּשׁ, יֹאמַר שֶׁיֵּשׁ שִׁתּוּף בָּהֶם, הָא כָּל אַפַּיָּיא דִּדְהוֹן וְדִידָן שַׁוְיָין.

Angels Body Judgment Light Mercy Mishnah Soul, The

48. Rabbi Aba said THAT IT IS TRUE, and through this, dissension will increase in the world. For we learned in the Mishnah that all that the Holy One, blessed be He, created, He made as body and soul. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, JOINED TOGETHER THE BODY FROM MALCHUT AND THE SOUL FROM BINAH. THIS IS THE SECRET OF JOINING JUDGMENT WITH MERCY. One may argue that the angels have no bodies and cannot perform actions until the Holy Soul, THE LIGHT OF BINAH, joins them which is help from above.

48. אֲמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, בְּמִלּה דָא יִסְגֵּי פְּלוּגְתָּא בְּעַלְמָא, דְּהָא תְּנַן בְּמַתְנִיתִין דִּידָן, דְּכָל דַּעֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עֲבַד כְּגוֹן גּוּפָא וְנִשְׁמָתָא, וְאִי תֵימָא דְּהָא לֵית גּוּפָא לַמַּלְאָכִים, כָּךְ הוּא, אֲבָל לֵית אִינוּן יָכְלִין לְמֶעְבַּד עֲבִידְתָּא, עַד שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּתֵּף בְּהוֹ הַהִיא נִשְׁמָתָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּהִיא סִיּוּעָא דִלְעֵילָא, וּבְהַאי גַוְונֵי כָּל מַאי דַּעֲבֵיד אִצְטְרִיךְ לְהַהִיא סִיּוּעָא דִּלְעֵילָא מִנֵּיהּ.

Body Dust Earth Isaac Jubilee Kisses Love Noah Rain Rebecca Redemption and Salvation Resurrection Shechinah Soul, The Wine Year

49. Rabbi Yosi said that the instant the Holy One blessed be He, resurrects the dead, all troubles will end, on the fortieth year FOLLOWING THE GATHERING OF THE EXILES. It has been resolved by law "Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed" (Devarim 25:3). The journey of Yisrael in the desert WAS COMPLETED in the fortieth year. Forty years before the body is resurrected, the soul awaits it in the land of Yisrael. IT APPEARS THEN that in the fortieth year OF THE WAITING OF THE SOUL IN THE LAND OF YISRAEL, the bodies will rise from the dust. After forty days the rain stopped, this is the meaning of the verses "And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights" (Beresheet 7:12), and "it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened" (Beresheet 8:6). Also, the time of the Redemption of Yisrael is during the fortieth year. During the fiftieth year the world, which is Jubilee, will be populated. The return of the soul to the body occurs after forty years of waiting in the land of Yisrael. This is the meaning of, "and Isaac was forty years old." That is, he was waiting for the body. "When he took Rivkah," who was put in the body prepared for him. Their passion and longing at that moment was for the splendor of the Shechinah only and to be nourished by Her splendor. This is the meaning of the verse, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." Rabbi Aba said, "Let him kiss me" means let him nourish me. Their sole nourishment is the enjoyment and sustenance of the supernal splendor. Rabbi Yosi said that this is proven by the end of the verse, which reads, "for your love is better than wine" (Shir Hashirim 1:2).

49. אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא דְּזַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַאֲחָיָא מֵתַיָא, וְהָא סוֹפָא כָּל עַקְתִין, בְּאַרְבָּעִים לֶהֱוֵי. וּגְזַר קְיָים, אַרְבָּעִים יַכֶּנּוּ לֹא יוֹסִיף. סוֹף הֲלִיכָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים. אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, קוֹדֶם תְּחִיַּית הַגּוּף, מַמְתֶּנֶת לוֹ הַנְּשָׁמָה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים יְקוּמוּן הַגּוּפוֹת מֵעַפְרָא. בְּאַרְבָּעִים נִכְלָא הַגֶּשֶׁם, הה"ד וַיְהִי הַגֶּשֶׁם עַל הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, וּכְתִיב וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וַיִּפְתַּח נֹחַ. זְמַן גְּאוּלָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים הוּא. וּבַחֲמִשִּׁים אֲתָא יִשּׁוּב עַלְמָא, דְּהִיא הַיּוֹבֵל. הַחְזָרַת הַנְּשָׁמָה לַגּוּף, בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים, שֶׁהִמְתִּינָה לוֹ בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיְהִי יִצְחָק בֶּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, שֶׁהִמְתִּין לַגּוּף. בְּקַחְתּוֹ אֶת רִבְקָה, בְּהַכְנָסָתָהּ בַּגּוּף הַמְּזוּמָן לוֹ. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, בְּהַכְנָסָתָהּ בּוֹ, אֵין תַּאֲוָתָם וְכִסּוּפָם, אֶלָּא לֵיהָנוֹת מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה, וְלִיזוֹן מִזִּיוָהּ, הה"ד יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ. אָמַר רָבִּי אַבָּא, יִשָּׁקֵנִי יְפַרְנְסֵנִי, שֶׁאֵין פַּרְנָסָתָן אֶלָּא לֵיהָנוֹת וְלִיזוֹן מִזִּיוָהּ שֶׁל מַעְלָה. אָמַר רָבִּי יוֹסֵי סוֹפֵיהּ דִּקְרָא מוֹכַח דִּכְתִיב כִּי טוֹבִים דּוֹדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן.

Bethuel Body Bone Daughter Head Serpent

50. "The daughter of Betu'el" means the daughter (Heb. bat) of El. Rav Huna disagreed with this. He said that BETU'EL is not ONE OF MALCHUT'S NAMES. I have been to distant lands, and heard there that this is the name of the bone of the spine. Of all the bones this one remains in the grave, AND DOES NOT ROT. It is called 'Betu'el the deceitful,' THAT IS, THE 'SCOUNDREL.' I asked about it, ABOUT ITS NATURE, and they said that its shape resembles a head of a serpent, which is deceitful. And that more than any other bone in the body, this bone is deceitful.

50. בַּת בְּתוּאֵל בַּת בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל אֵל. רַב הוּנָא אֲמַר, לֹא כָךְ הוּא, וַאֲנָא הֲוֵית בִּכְרַכֵּי הַיָּם, וְשָׁמַעְנָא דַּהֲווֹ קָרָאן לְהַהוּא גַּרְמָא דְשִׁדְּרָה, הַהוּא דְּאִשְׁתָּאַר בְּקִבְרָא מִכָּל גּוּפָא, בְּתוּאֵל רַמָּאָה, שְׁאֵלִית עֲלֵיהּ, אֲמָרוּ דְּהוּא כְּרִישָׁא דְחִוְיָא, דְּאִיהוּ רַמָּאָה, וְהַהוּא גַּרְמָא הוּא רַמָּאָה, מִכָּל שְׁאָר גַּרְמֵי.

Bethuel Body Bone Daughter Food Resurrection

51. דְּתָאנָא אֲמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הַהוּא גַּרְמָא, לָמָּה אִשְׁתָּאַר בְּקִיּוּמָא, יַתִּיר מִכָּל שְׁאָר גַּרְמֵי. מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיהוּ רַמָּאָה, וְלֵית סָבִיל טַעֲמָא דִמְזוֹנָא דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא כִּשְׁאָר גַּרְמֵי, וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ הוּא תַּקִּיף מִכָּל גַּרְמֵי, וְהוּא לֵיהֱוֵי עִקְּרָא, דְּגוּפָא אִתְבְּנֵי מִנֵּיהּ. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב בַּת בְּתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי.

Angel of Death Angels Bethuel Bone Daughter Evil Evil Inclination Head Laban Lot Purification Serpent Sin Washing White

52. We learned that Rabbi Shimon said, It, THE BONE OF THE SPINE, is deceitful, and IT CAME from a deceitful world, NAMELY, FROM PADDAN- ARAM. Also, deceitful is the Evil Inclination, WHICH IS THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT, WHICH IS THE EVIL INCLINATION, THE ANGEL OF DEATH. This is the meaning of the verse, "the daughter of Betu'el the Arammian," who is the deceitful bone of the spine. The words, "of Paddan-Aram," WHICH MEANS THAT HE CAME FROM A DECEITFUL (HEB. RAMAI) WORLD, represent two deceivers, as we have learned that Paddana means a 'couple.'The two deceivers are "the sister of Laban," NAMELY, the sister of the deceitful Evil Inclination. At first, when it was corrupted by sins in this world, it was called 'Lot.' In the future, when it will no longer be as corrupted, IT WILL BE as someone who has washed and was cleansed of his impurities, and it will be called 'Laban' (lit. 'white'). Nevertheless, the Evil Inclination is not eliminated from the world.

52. וְתָאנָא אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הוּא רַמַּאי, וּמֵעוֹלָם רַמַּאי, וְשֶׁכֵּן יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ רַמַּאי. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב בַּת בְּתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי גַּרְמָא רַמָּאָה, מִפַּדַּן אֲרָם, מִצֶּמֶד רַמָּאִין, כְּדִתְנַן פַּדְּנָא דְתוֹרָא שֶׁהוּא צֶמֶד. אֲחוֹת לָבָן, אֲחוֹת יֵצֶר הָרָע הָאֲרַמִּי, כְּדִתְנַן, בַּתְּחִלָּה שֶׁהָיָה מְנוּוָל בְּחַטָּאוֹת בָּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, נִקְרָא לוֹט. לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁלֹֹּא יְהֵא מְנוּוָל כִּדְבְקַדְמֵיתָא, כְּמַאן דְּסָחֵי וּמַטְבִּיל מְסָאֲבוּתֵיהּ, קָרָאן לֵיהּ לָבָן. עַל כָּל פָּנִים אֵין יֵצֶר הָרָע בָּטֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם.

Body Evil Evil Inclination Firstborn Laban Lot Mishnah

53. ת"ש, דְּהָכֵי אֲנַן אוֹקִימְנָא בְּמַתְנִיתָּא. שְׁתֵּי בְּנוֹת לוֹט, שֶׁהֵן שְׁתֵּי כֹּחוֹת הַגּוּף, הַמְעוֹרְרוֹת לַיֵּצֶר הָרָע, עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְנוּוָל כ"כ, וְנִטְבַּל מִלִּכְלוּכוֹ, נִקְרָא לָבָן, וְאוֹתָן שְׁתֵּי בָּנוֹת אֵינָן בְּטֵלוֹת מַמָּשׁ, הה"ד וּלְלָבָן שְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת. אָמַר רָבִּי יוֹסֵי כָּךְ הוּא, תַּמָּן כְּתִיב בְּכִירָה וּצְעִירָה, וְהָכָא כְּתִיב גְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה.

Deeds Evil Evil Inclination Laban Leah Lot Purification Rachel Sheep Strength White Wickedness

54. Rabbi Yosi said that they no longer have the power to do evil or arouse the Evil Inclination. This is understood from the verse, "the name of the elder (lit. 'bigger') was Leah" (Beresheet 29:16), for she was weary (Heb. leah) from her wickedness and evil, while Rachel, "the younger (lit. 'smaller')," did not have the power to incite. As it is written, "and as a sheep (lit. 'Rachel') before her shearers is dumb" (Yeshayah 53:7). Rav Huna said, This is the Evil Inclination. Its two daughters are different than they were at the beginning. First, it was Lot, cursed and corrupted; now it is Laban (lit. 'white'), who has been cleansed, not as cursed and corrupted as it was before. First its two daughters were strong; each had her individual strength. Now the name of the elder was Leah - weary ('Leah') without power; weary without strength; Leah, fatigued from her former deeds. And the name of the younger was Rachel, as we have said, not as they were at first.

54. אָמַר רָבִּי יוֹסֵי, אֲבָל אֵינָן בְּכֹחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת רָע, וּלְהִתְעוֹרֵר לַיצה"ר כְּמִתְּחִלָּה, מַשְׁמַע דִּכְתִיב שֵׁם הַגְּדוֹלָה לֵאָה, שֶׁלֵּאָה מִכֹּחָהּ וּמֵרִשְׁעָתָהּ, וְשֵׁם הַקְּטַנָּה רָחֵל, שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ כֹּחַ הַמִּתְעוֹרֵר, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וּכְרָחֵל לִפְנֵי גוֹזְזֶיהָ נֶאֱלָמָה. אָמַר רַב הוּנָא, זֶה יצה"ר, וּשְׁתֵּי בְּנוֹתָיו, מִתְחַלְּפוֹת מִכְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה. בַּתְּחִלָּה לוֹט, מְקוּלָּל מְנוּוָל, עַכְשָׁיו לָבָן, מְלוּבָּן, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְקוּלָּל וּמְנוּוָל בְּנִיווּלוֹ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה. בַּתְּחִלָּה שְׁתֵּי בְּנוֹתָיו חֲזָקוֹת, כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת בְּכֹחָהּ, וְעַכְשָׁיו שֵׁם הַגְּדוֹלָה לֵאָה: לֵאָה בְּלֹא כֹּחַ, לֵאָה בְּלֹא חִזּוּק. לֵאָה מִמַּעֲשֶׂיהָ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים. וְשֵׁם הַקְּטַנָּה רָחֵל, כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן, וְלֹא כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה.

Evil Evil Inclination Infertility Isaac Jacob Prayer Rebecca Strength

55. אָמַר רָבִּי אַחַא בַּר יַעֲקֹב, תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיֶּעְתַּר יִצְחָק לַה' לְנֹכַח אִשְׁתּוֹ כִּי עֲקָרָה הִיא. אָמַר רִבִּי אַחָא מִפְּנֵי מָה הִיא עֲקָרָה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּצֶר הָרָע אֵינוֹ נִמְצָא בְּכֹחוֹ בָּעוֹלָם, וְעַל כָּךְ אֵין נִמְצָא פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה, זוּלָתִי בַּתְּפִלָּה, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ ה', וַתַּהַר רִבְקָה אִשְׁתּוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁמִּתְעוֹרֵר יֵצֶר הָרָע, נִמְצָא פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה.

Evil Evil Inclination Ezekiel Flesh Heart Rebecca Sin

56. Rabbi Yosi asks, What then is the difference between this world and the world at that time; WILL THERE BE EVIL INCLINATION TOO? The scripture also says, "AND HASHEM WAS ENTREATED BY HIM, AND RIVKAH HIS WIFE CONCEIVED," WHICH MEANS that the Holy One, blessed be He, does it Himself, AND AWAKENS THE EVIL INCLINATION AT THAT TIME, WHICH IS ALSO PUZZLING. Rabbi Acha said, It is so. The Holy One, blessed be He, arouses THE EVIL INCLINATION for the specific purpose of mating, but not all the time, so that the Evil Inclination may be with men always, and they sin because of it. But it is aroused only for mating, and the arousal OF THE EVIL INCLINATION AT THE TIME OF UNION will be caused by the Holy One, blessed be He. This is the meaning of the verse, "And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh" (Yechezkel 36:26). What is a heart of flesh? Rabbi Yehuda replies, It is a heart that would issue flesh and nothing else, AS, FOR EXAMPLE, A HEART THAT WOULD ONLY BEGET CHILDREN. THEREFORE IT IS WRITTEN, "AND I WILL GIVE YOU," FOR THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WILL HIMSELF AROUSE THE EVIL INCLINATION AT THE TIME OF MATING.

56. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, אִם כֵּן מַה הֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין הָעוֹלָם הַזֶה, לְאוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן, וְעוֹד דְּהָא קְרָא קָאֲמַר, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד. אֲמַר רִבִּי אַחָא, כָּךְ הוּא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְעַר לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא עִנְיָינָא, דְּצָרִיךְ לְזַוְּוגָא, וְלָא לְכָל שַׁעְתָּא, דִּיהֵא תָּדִיר עִם בַּר נָשׁ כְּמוֹ כְּעָן, דְּאִיהוּ אִשְׁתַּכַּח תָּדִיר, וְחָטָאן בֵּיהּ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, אֶלָּא לְהַהוּא זִוּוּגָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְאִתְעֲרוּתָא הַהִיא, אִתְעֲרוּתָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לֶיהֱוֵי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַהֲסִירוֹתִי אֶת לֵב הָאֶבֶן מִבְּשַׂרְכֶם וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם לֵב בָּשָׂר. מַהוּ לֵב בָּשָׂר. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, לֵב לְהוֹצִיא בָּשָׂר, וְלֹא לְדָבָר אַחֵר.

Body Dwellings Eliezer Evil Evil Inclination Heart Love Mishnah Mountains Rain Sin Soul, The

57. Rabbi Yitzchak, the son of Rabbi Yosi, traveled from Cappadocia to Lod, where he met Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Yitzchak asks him, Why are the companions, the sages of the Mishnah, not aroused in this matter of removing the Evil Inclination from the world, except at the time of mating? He replied, Upon your life! The world needs the Evil Inclination as much as it needs rain, because without the Evil Inclination there would not be the joy of study in the world. But it also would not be as corrupted as it was before, which caused sinning. This is the meaning of the verse, "They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain" (Yeshayah 11:9). Rabbi Shimon said, "MY HOLY MOUNTAIN" is the heart," the dwelling place of the Evil Inclination. Rabbi Eliezer said, A good heart is the foundation of the body and soul. For that reason, it is written, "And you shall love Hashem your Elohim with all your heart" (Devarim 6:5), for the heart is the essence of all!

57. רִבִּי יִצְחָק בְּרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, הֲוָה אָתֵי מִקַּפּוֹטְקִיָּא לְלוֹד, פָּגַע בֵּיהּ רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, אָמַר לוֹ רִבִּי יִצְחָק, תֹּאמַר דַּחֲבֵירָנָא חַכִּימֵי מַתְנִיתָּא, אִתְעָרוּ לְהַאי עִנְיָינָא, דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע יִתְנְשֵׁי מִן עַלְמָא, בַּר הַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא לְזִיווּגָא. א"ל, חַיֶּיךָ הָכֵי אִצְטְרִיךְ יֵצֶר הָרָע לָעוֹלָם, כְּמִטְרָא לָעוֹלָם, דְּאִלְמָלֵא יֵצֶר הָרָע, חֶדְוָותָא דִשְׁמַעְתָּא לָא לֶיהֱוֵי, אֲבָל לָא מְנַוְולָה כְּקַדְמֵיתָא, לְמֶחֱטֵי בֵיהּ, הה"ד לֹֹא יָרֵעוּ וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתוּ בְּכָל הַר קָדְשִׁי וגו'. אֲמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הוּא לִבָּא, דִּמְדוֹרֵיהּ דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע בֵּיהּ. רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, לִבָּא טָבָא, בִּנְיָינָא דְגוּפָא וְנִשְׁמְתָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלֹֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ דְּהוּא עִקָּרָא דְּכֹלָּא.