The safe-keeping on Shabbat

198. When this spirit rests on the world, all the evil spirits and prosecutors are gone from the world, and we do not need to pray for protection. For Yisrael are kept protected by that spirit, and the tabernacle of peace, MALCHUT, spreads its wings over them, and keeps them safe from all harm.

199. You may say: we learned that a man should not walk solitary on the eve of the fourth day of the week and on Shabbat eve, and that a man should be careful. We, on the other hand, said that on Shabbat eve all people are kept from prosecution, and we do not have to pray for safety.

200. HE ANSWERS: Come and see, it is certainly so that on the eve of the fourth day of the week, one should be careful OF THE OTHER SIDE. The reason is in the verse "let there be lights (Heb. me'orot)" (Beresheet 1:14). Me'orot is spelled without Vav, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE MOON WAS WANING. And since the moon, MALCHUT, is waning, some troops of spirits were included in these curses (Heb. me'erot) for there are curses and maledictions when the moon is not full, which all have power on that night; THEREFORE A MAN SHOULD NOT GO OUT ON HIS OWN.

201. On Shabbat eve, all demons disperse to enter a hole in the ground SO they would not be able to have power and cause harm. WE LEARN FROM IT THAT BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE HOLE THEY DO HAVE POWER TO HARM. THEREFORE, a man should be careful not to go out alone, FOR THEY COULD HARM HIM ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOLE IN THE GROUND. Also, even though they have no power, they could sometimes be seen, and man should guard himself FROM SEEING THEM, FOR HE COULD BE HARMED BY THE SIGHT.

202. HE MENTIONS THE MEANING HE LEARNED CONCERNING THE MATTER, SAYING THAT this is the way he learned it IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS. HE ASKS: If it is so, THAT A MAN SHOULD NOT GO OUT ALONE ON SHABBAT EVE, then the protection is inadequate. HE ANSWERS: still there is protection on Shabbat for the holy nation, and when Shabbat commences, the Holy One, blessed be He, bedecks everyone from Yisrael WITH AN ADDITIONAL SOUL. They should keep the holy crown they were adorned with. And though they, THE DEMONS, are not in inhabited places, they nevertheless appear before lone persons and diminish their good fortune. A person should be adorned with the holy crown and guard it.

203. And last, there is keeping for the holy nation, since the tabernacle of peace, BINAH, is spread over the people. For we learned that wherever the tabernacle of peace is present, the Other Side is not. Therefore the tabernacle is considered to be protection, and there is protection available.

204. Shabbat day is joy for all, and everything is protected above and below. And the lower point, MALCHUT, shines in rising higher with the beauty of seventy crowns, THAT ARE the additional parts FROM SHABBAT EVE. And the eldest of the old, KETER is awakened TO GIVE AFFLUENCE TO IT.

205. When dawn rises, the holy nation hasten to come to the synagogue gladly, dressed in their best attire, and bedeck themselves with that holy, high crown from above, and with that spirit, THE ADDITIONAL SOUL, which awaits them below. They sing with praises and hymns, and the hymns go up. The higher and the lower beings are all glad, adorned together. The higher beings begin by saying 'happy are you, a holy nation upon the earth, for your Master is bedecked through you, and all the holy armies are crowned for your sake.'

206. This day is the day of the soul, not of the body, because it is in the power of the bundle of souls, BINAH. The higher and lowers beings are all in unison, with the crown of the additional, holy, supernal Ruach.