448. Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion saying, "My heart goes out to the governors of Yisrael, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Hashem" (Shoftim 5:9). Come and see, it behooves man to extend blessings from above downward willingly and with the meditation of his heart to unite together the Holy Name. He needs to draw, by prayer to the Holy One, blessed be He, with desire and an intent heart, from the deep river, BINAH, as written, "Out of the depths I have cried to You, Hashem" (Tehilim 130:1). There is the depth of everything in the supernal depths, the supreme beginning where Aba and Ima are united, NAMELY CHOCHMAH AND BINAH OF BINAH. Here too, "my heart goes out to the governors of Yisrael." Who are the governors (Heb. chokekim) of Yisrael? It is not written, 'Those engraven (Heb. chakukim) on Yisrael,' but the "governors of Yisrael" are Aba and Ima, who engrave, NAMELY GIVE MOCHIN, to holy Yisrael, ZEIR ANPIN, that is drawn from between them.

449. "That offered themselves willingly (Heb. hamitnadvim) among the people" are the patriarchs - NAMELY, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN - called princes (Heb. nedivim), as written, "The nobles (Heb. nedivim) of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the Elohim of Abraham" (Tehilim 47:10). NAMELY, THE PATRIARCHS THAT ARE COME FROM ABRAHAM, CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN, ARE CALLED THE NOBLES OF THE PEOPLES. Then "Bless Hashem," to draw from Him blessings downwards, so that there will be blessings throughout the world. When BLESSINGS from above are here, IN THIS WORLD BELOW, everyone is joyful and everything is in perfection, AS NO LIGHT IS COMPLETED, SAVE WHEN IT IS DRAWN TO THIS WORLD. Happy is the portion of Yisrael, for the Holy One, blessed be He, pours plenty of blessings on them, and hears their prayer. Of them, it is written, "He heeds the prayer of the destitute, and does not despise their prayer" (Tehilim 102:18).