1. "And Sarah's life was a hundred year and twenty year and seven years" (Beresheet 23:1). Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the verse, "So they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging" (Yonah 1:15). We have to examine this text carefully. Why did the sea rage upon Jonah and not the earth, NAMELY THE NUKVA CALLED EARTH? He was leaving the land, so that the Shechinah would not hover above him. IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE LAND OF YISRAEL - FROM THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA. If so, why did the sea seize him when he went away, AND NOT THE LAND FROM WHICH HE RAN?
2. RABBI YOSI ANSWERS THAT the verse was accurate, for the sea resembles the firmament, and the firmament resembles the Throne of Glory. For that reason, the sea grabbed him and received him in its midst. He was fleeing from the sea, NAMELY FROM THE PROPHECY THAT IS DRAWN FROM THE MOCHIN OF THE NUKVA, WHICH IS AN ASPECT OF THE SEA. THUS, THE SEA RAGED UPON HIM, NOT THE LAND. HE WAS CAST INTO THE SEA TO RETURN HIM TO THE PROPHECY FROM WHICH HE WAS FLEEING.
3. "So they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea." We learned that when they cast him into the sea and immersed him to his knees, the sea calmed. When they lifted him, the sea raged. The deeper they immersed him, the calmer the sea became, until he said, "Take me up, and cast me into the sea" (Yonah 1:12). Immediately, "they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea."
4. When he was thrown into the sea, his soul soared and ascended to the King's throne to be judged. When his soul was returned to him, he entered the mouth of that fish, which died and later came back to life.
5. Come and behold, When a man goes to sleep each night, his soul leaves him to be judged before the King's court. If it merits life, his soul is returned to this world.
6. The judgement is twofold, for man is not judged for the evil he is destined to commit. "For Elohim has heard the voice of the lad where he is" (Beresheet 21:17) is NOT written IN THE FUTURE TENSE. You should not say that man is judged only for the good he has already done, rather he is rewarded for his present good as was said above, and he is also judged for the good he will do in the future. He is saved for their sake, as they said, even though he is now wicked. The Holy One, blessed be He, does good with all people and does everything to benefit all, therefore He does not sentence man for the evil he is about to do. Hence, man is judged before the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO KNOWS THE FUTURE.
7. Come and behold. Once they cast Jonah into the sea, it is written, "And the sea ceased (lit. 'stood') from its raging." THIS IS the supernal sea, THE NUKVA. It stood where it was, for when anger calms down, it stands. When judgement is passed upon the world, that court, NAMELY THE NUKVA, is like a pregnant woman experiencing severe labor pains. When she gives birth, the panic ceases. Similarly, when judgement is passed upon the world, it does not calm or rest until justice is administered to the wicked. Then it rests, wholly standing in its place and perfectly maintained. This is what the verse meant by the words, "But when the wicked perish, there is jubilation" (Mishlei 11:10). This has already been explained.
8. HE THEN ASKS ABOUT THE VERSE, "But when the wicked perish, there is jubilation." Is it not written, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die" (Yechezkel 18:23)? This would mean that there is no pleasure for the Holy One, blessed be He, when judgement is administered to the wicked. HE ANSWERS, Before their measure was filled, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, DID NOT HAVE PLEASURE THAT THE WICKED SHOULD DIE. But now, after the measure is full, "WHEN THE WICKED PERISH, THERE IS JUBILATION."
9. Tosefta (Addendum). "And Sarah's life was..." The body of the Mishnah, NAMELY ITS ESSENCE, WAS LONG AND IS NOW ABRIDGED. We, WHO ARE VERSED IN THE MISHNAH, were close TO THE INNER SIDE OF THE GRADE and heard a voice that travels down from above and expands throughout the world. This voice uproots mountains and smashes strong rocks, NAMELY ITS ILLUMINATION UPROOTS AND SMASHES ALL THE KLIPOT. Great spirits rise, and ears are open.
10. As THE VOICE TRAVELS TO THREE PLACES, it says, Cut off a portion, how the still ones, who are still sleeping, maintain their guard and stand in position. The king, NUKVA, guards the gates, as the ruler over many armies stands by his post.