לְשׁוֹן רַבֵּנוּ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה
אָנֹכִי יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים: ( שמות כ )
א כְּשֶׁאָדָם יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁכָּל מְאֹרְעוֹתָיו הֵם לְטוֹבָתוֹ, זֹאת הַבְּחִינָה הִיא מֵעֵין עוֹלָם הַבָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( תהלים נו ): בַּה' אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר, בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר; וְזֹאת הַבְּחִינָה הִיא מֵעֵין עוֹלָם הַבָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( פסחים נ. ): בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה ה' אֶחָד וְכוּ'. וְהִקְשׁוּ: וְכִי הָאִידְנָא לָאו הוּא אֶחָד. וְתֵרְצוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: הָאִידְנָא מְבָרְכִין עַל הַטּוֹבָה הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב, וְעַל הָרָעָה – דַּיָּן אֱמֶת; וּלֶעָתִיד – כֻּלּוֹ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שֵׁם ה' וְשֵׁם אֱלֹקִים אַחְדוּת אֶחָד :

Verbatim from Rabbeinu of blessed memory:
I AM Hashem [Y-H-W-H] your Elohim, Which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ( Ex. 20:2 ):
1. When a man knows that all the things that happen to him to him are for his good, this aspect is like the World to Come, as is written ( Ps. 56 ): "When [God treats me] with [the attribute of the Merciful] Hashem (a name connoting kindness and mercy) I will praise [Him] for the thing; and when [He treats me] with [the attribute of the justice-upholding] Elohim (“God” or “Power over all Powers,” a name connoting strict justice and judgement) I will praise him for the thing" [ Berakhot 60b ; Eyn Yaakov]. And this aspect is like the World to Come, as our Sages of blessed memory said ( Pesachim 50 ): "On that day shall Hashem be one, and His name one." — and they argued: And now is He not one? And our Sages of blessed memory resolved: Now, one recites the blessing upon the good events, "Who is good and beneficent," and on the bad events "the Truthful Judge." But in the future it shall all be "Who is good and beneficent," that the name Hashem and the name Elohim shall be one unity:

ב וְזֹאת הַבְּחִינָה אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשִּׂיג אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁמַּעֲלֶה בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה מֵהַגָּלוּת מִבֵּין הָעֲכּוּ"ם, כִּי עַכְשָׁו הַמַּלְכוּת וְהַמֶּמְשָׁלָה לְהָעֲכּוּ"ם, וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרָאִים עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים שֶׁלָּהֶם בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים, כִּי יוֹנְקִים מִבְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, הַנִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( תהלים עד ): אֱלֹהִים מַלְכִּי מִקֶּדֶם; וּכְשֶׁמַּעֲלִין בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת מִבֵּין הָעַכּוּ"ם, אֲזַי נִתְקַיֵּם: כִּי מֶלֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֱלֹהִים (שם מז):

2. But this aspect is impossible to attain except when one raises the aspect of the Malkhut (Kingship) of holiness from exile among the nations. For now the Malkhut and the rule is by the nations, and for this reason their idolatries are referred to as “Elohim,” [“You shall have no other Elohim besides me.” ( Ex. 20 )] for they nurse from the aspect of Malkhut, which is called Elohim, as is written ( Ps. 74 ): "Elohim is my King of old;" and when one raises the aspect of Malkhut from among the nations, then is fulfilled: "For Elohim is the King of all the earth" (there 47):

ג וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהָשִׁיב הַמְלוּכָה לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, עַל יְדֵי זֶה מְתַקֵּן וּמַעֲלֶה בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת לְשָׁרְשָׁהּ. וְזֶהוּ פֵּרוּשׁ ( הושע יד ): קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים – זֶהוּ וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים, זֶה בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, כְּמוֹ דַּבָּר אֶחָד לְדוֹר ( סנהדרין ח. ). דַּבָּר – לְשׁוֹן מַנְהִיג וּמוֹשֵׁל. וְשׁוּבוּ אֶל ה' – שֶׁיְּתַקְּנוּ וְיַעֲלוּ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים, אֶת בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, בְּחִינַת אֶלֹהִים, אֶל ה', הַיְנוּ כַּנַּ"ל, בַּה' אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיֵּדַע שֶׁכָּל מְאֹרְעוֹתָיו כֻּלָּם לְטוֹבָתוֹ וִיבָרֵךְ עַל כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב:

3. And it is impossible to return the Kingdom to Hashem Yithbarakh, except through verbal confession before a Torah sage (talmid khacham), and through this he repairs and raises the aspect of Malkhut to its root. And this is the explanation of ( Hos. 14 ): "Take with you words (DeVaRim)..." —this is verbal confession, this is like Malkhut, like "One spokesman/leader (DaBaR) per generation" ( Sanhedrin 8 ). DaBaR is a term for leader and ruler — "...and return to Hashem" — that we should repair and raise up the words, the aspect of Malkhut, like Elohim, to Hashem, i.e. as mentioned above, like "When he treats me as Hashem I will sing praise for the thing; when he treats me as Elohim I sing praise for the thing," i.e. that one should know that all things that happen to him, they are all for his good and he shall say the blessing upon all things "Who is good and the beneficent:"

ד וּכְשֶׁיֵּדַע כָּל זֹאת, נִקְרָא יְדִיעָה שְׁלֵמָה, כִּי עִקַּר הַדַּעַת הוּא אַחְדוּת שֶׁל חַסָדִים וּגְבוּרוֹת, זֶה נִקְרָא דַּעַת, הַיְנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יַחֲלֹק בֵּין חֶסֶד לְדִין, וִיבָרֵךְ עַל כֻּלָּם הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב. וְזֶה נִקְרָא ה' אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד, כְּמַאֲמַר חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, שֶׁלֶּעָתִיד יִהְיֶה אַחְדוּת גָּמוּר, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כֻּלּוֹ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב. וְזֶה: ה' אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ זֶה בְּחִינַת אֱלֹהִים מַלְכוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שמואל־ב ח): וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִד שֵׁם: – אֶחָד גִּימַטְרִיָּא אַהֲבָה, הַיְנוּ הֵן ה' שֶׁהוּא רַחֲמִים, הֵן שְׁמוֹ שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אֱלֹהִים, בְּחִינַת דִּין – כֻּלָּהּ לְטוֹבָתְךָ מֵחֲמַת אַהֲבָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( משלי ג ): אֶת אֲשֶׁר יֶאֱהַב ה' יוֹכִיחַ. וּכְתִיב ( עמוס ג ): רַק אֶתְכֶם יָדַעְתִּי מִכֹּל מִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאֲדָמָה, עַל כֵּן אֶפְקוֹד עֲלֵיכֶם עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם:

4. And when one knows all this, it is called complete knowledge, for the essence of knowledge is the unity of lovingkindnesses and strengths — this is called knowledge, i.e. that one should not partition between mercy and judgement, and should bless upon all of them "Who is good and beneficent." And this is called "Hashem, one, and His name, one," as our Sages of blessed memory said, that in the future there shall be complete unity, that it shall all be "Who is good and beneficent." And this is: Hashem, one, and His name — this is like Elohim, Kingship, as is written (Sam. II 8): "And David got him a name:" One (אחד=13) in gematria [see Appendix: Gematria] equals love (אהבה=13), i.e. whether it is Hashem which is mercies, or whether it is His Name which is like Elohim, like judgement — it is all for his good because of the love that Hashem Yithbarakh, loves you, as is written ( Prov. 3 ): "For whom Hashem loves He corrects." And the scripture ( Amos 3 ): "You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

ה וַעֲוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם הֵם עַל עַצְמוֹתָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( יחזקאל לב ): וַתְּהִי עֲוֹנוֹתָם חֲקוּקָה עַל עַצְמוֹתָם, וְכָל עֲבֵרָה יֵשׁ לָהּ צֵרוּף אוֹתִיּוֹת. וּכְשֶׁעָבַר אֵיזֶה עֲבֵרָה, אֲזַי נֶחְקָק צֵרוּף רַע עַל עַצְמוֹתָיו, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מַכְנִיס בְּחִינַת הַדִּבּוּר שֶׁל הַלָּאו הַזֶּה שֶׁעָבַר בְּתוֹךְ הַטֻּמְאָה, הַיְנוּ שֶׁמַּכְנִיס בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת דַּבָּר אֶחָד לַדּוֹר, הוּא מַכְנִיס אוֹתָהּ בְּתוֹךְ הָעַכּוּ"ם, וְנוֹתֵן לָהֶם מֶמְשָׁלָה. לְמָשָׁל, אִם עָבַר עַל דִבּוּר שֶׁל הַלָּאו לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ*), אֲזַי מַחֲרִיב הַצֵּרוּף הַטּוֹב שֶׁל הַדִּבּוּר וּבוֹנֶה צֵרוּף רַע, וְנֶחְקָק הַצֵּרוּף הַזֶּה עַל עַצְמוֹתָיו וְנוֹקֵם בּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ירמיהו ה ): עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם הִטּוּ אֵלֶּה. וּכְתִיב ( תהלים לד ): תְּמוֹתֵת רָשָׁע רָעָה. וְעַל יְדֵי וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים יוֹצֵא מֵעַצְמוֹתָיו הָאוֹתִיּוֹת הַחֲקוּקִים עֲלֵיהֶם, וְנַעֲשֶׂה מֵהֶם הַדִּבּוּר שֶׁל הַוִּדּוּי, כִּי הַדִּבּוּר יוֹצֵא מֵעַצְמוֹתָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם לה): כָּל עַצְמֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה; וּמַחֲרִיב הַבִּנְיָן וְהַצֵּרוּף הָרָע, וּבוֹנֶה מֵהֶם מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה.
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( סוטה ז: ): בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָלְכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, הָיוּ עַצְמוֹתָיו שֶׁל יְהוּדָה מְגֻלְגָּלִין, עַד שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה: שְׁמַע ה' קוֹל יְהוּדָה – שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ מֹשֶׁה מֵהַקָּדוֹשׁ־ בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, שֶׁיִּזְכֹּר לִיהוּדָה הַוִּדּוּי שֶׁהִתְוַדָּה, וְכֵן הֲוֵי לֵיה. וְזֶה דַּוְקָא עַצְמוֹתָיו הָיוּ מְגֻלְגָּלִין, עַל שֵׁם וַתְּהִי עֲוֹנוֹתָם חֲקוּקָה עַל עַצְמוֹתָם, וְעַל־יְדֵי הַוִּדּוּי נִתְתַּקְּנוּ, וְעָלוּ כָּל חַד לְדוּכְתֵּה. וִיהוּדָה זֶה בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת; רֶמֶז, שֶׁבְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת נִתְתַּקֵּן עַל־יְדֵי וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים, וְזֶה נַעֲשָׂה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה, שֶׁזָּכַר מֹשֶׁה הַוִּדּוּי, כִּי כֵן צָרִיךְ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַוִּדּוּי לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, וְכָל תַּלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא בְּחִינַת מֹשֶׁה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ: מֹשֶׁה, שַׁפִּיר קָאֲמַרְתְּ. וּבָזֶה שֶׁזָּכַר מֹשֶׁה הַוִּדּוּי, נַעֲשָׂה כְּאִלּוּ הִתְוַדָּה עַכְשָׁו לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה, וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה נִתְתַּקֵּן בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, וְנֶחֱרַב הַצֵּרוּף הָרָע שֶׁנֶּחְקַק עַל עַצְמוֹתָיו :

5. And the sins of a man are upon his bones, as is written (Eze. 32): "but their iniquities shall be upon their bones," and every sin has a permutation of letters. And when one commits some sin, then an evil permutation is engraved on his bones, and through this he puts the aspect of the speech of this prohibition that he transgressed into the impurity, i.e. he puts the aspect of Malkhut, which is like "one spokesman per generation" — he puts it into the nations, and gives them rule. For example, if he transgressed the speech of the prohibition "You shall have no [other Elohim]..." then he destroys the good permutation of the speech and builds an evil permutation, and this permutation is engraved on his bones and takes vengeance on him, as is written ( Jer. 5 ): "Your iniquities have turned away these things." And the scripture ( Ps. 34 ): "Evil shall slay the wicked." But through spoken confession go out from his bones the letters engraved upon them, and from them is made the speech of confession, for the speech goes out from the bones, as is written (there 35): "All my bones shall say;" and he destroys the bad structure and permutation, and builds from them the Malkhut of holiness.
And this is [the explanation of] what our Sages of blessed memory said ( Sotah 7 ): "While Israel walked in the desert, the bones of Yehudah were rolling, until Moshe said: "Hear, Hashem, the voice of Judah," since Moshe asked of Hashem Yithbarakh, that He should recall upon Yehudah the confession that he confessed, and so it was. And this is why specifically his bones were rolling, as in "but their iniquities shall be upon their bones," and through confession they were remedied and went up each one to its place. And Yehudah is like Malkhut; this is a clue, that the aspect of Malkhut is repaired through spoken confession, and this is done through Moshe, since Moshe recalled the confession. For so it must be, that the confession should be before a Torah sage, and every Torah sage is like Moshe, as they said: "Moshe, you have spoken well." And in this, that Moshe recalled the confession, it becomes as if he confessed now before Moshe, and through this is repaired the aspect of Malkhut, and the evil permutation is destroyed that was engraved on his bones.

ו וְזֶה בְּחִינַת הַחְזָרַת הַמַּלְכוּת לְשָׁרְשָׁהּ, כִּי שֹׁרֶשׁ הַמַּלְכוּת הוּא אֵשׁ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( סנהדרין קא: ): לָמָּה טָעָה נְבָט, שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁיָּצָא אֵשׁ מֵאֲמָתוֹ. וְהַתּוֹרָה נִקְרֵאת אֵשׁ, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם הַמַּלְכוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ירמיהו כג ): הֲלוֹא כֹּה דְבָרִי כָּאֵשׁ, וּכְתִיב ( משלי ח ): בִּי מְלָכִים יִמְלֹכוּ. וְעִקַּר הַתּוֹרָה הֵם הַתַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( מכות כב: ): כַּמָּה טִפְּשָׁאֵי דְּקַיְמָא מִקַּמֵּי סֵפֶר־תּוֹרָה, וְלָא קַיְמָא מִקַּמֵּי צוּרְבָא מִדְּרַבָּנָן.
וְזֶהוּ ( במדבר לא ): כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יָבֹא בָאֵשׁ, תַּעֲבִירוּ בָאֵשׁ. דָּבָר – זֶה בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, שֶׁנִּמְשָׁךְ בְּתוֹךְ הַטֻּמְאָה, בְּתוֹךְ חֲמִימוּת הַיֵּצֶר, כְּמוֹ ( קידושין פא. ): נוּרָא בֵּי עַמְרָם; תַּעֲבִירוּ בָאֵשׁ – תִּקּוּנוֹ עַל־יְדֵי אֵשׁ, הַיְנוּ וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד חָכָם כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶה לְשׁוֹן עֲבֵרָה, שֶׁהַצֵּרוּף שֶׁל עֲבֵרָה עוֹבֵר בְּתוֹךְ עַצְמוֹתָיו, מֵעֵבֶר אֶל עֵבֶר. וּמִצְוָה לְשׁוֹן הִתְחַבְּרוּת – כְּשֶׁעוֹשֶׂה חֲבִילוֹת חֲבִילוֹת שֶׁל מִצְוֹות (מ"ר אחרי פ' כא), אֲזַי נִתְחַבְּרוּ שִׁבְרֵי עַצְמוֹתָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( תהלים לד ): שׁוֹמֵר כָּל עַצְמוֹתָיו :

6. And this is like returning the Malkhut to its root, for the root of Malkhut is fire, as our Sages of blessed memory said ( Sanhedrin 101 ): Why did Nebat err? — he saw fire issuing from his member. And the Torah is called fire, because from it is Malkhut, as is written ( Jer. 23 ): "Is not my word like as fire?" And the written ( Prov. 8 ): "By me kings reign," and the essence of Torah is Torah sages, as our Sages of blessed memory said ( Makkot 22 ): "How foolish are those who stand up before a Torah scroll and do not stand up before a rabbinical scholar."
And this is [the explanation of] ( Num. 31 ): "And every [metal thing] that is used over fire, you shall make it go through the fire," Thing/DaVaR -- is like Malkhut, which is drawn into the impurity, into the heat of the [evil] inclination, as in ( Kiddushin 81 ): "the fire of `Amram." You shall make it go through the fire — its repair is through fire, i.e. through spoken confession before a Torah sage as mentioned above. And this is the root of the word `AVeRah (transgression), since the permutation of the `AVeRah passes (`OVeR) into his bones from side to side (m`EVeR l`EVeR). But mitzvah (commandment) is a term for connection. When one makes bundles and bundles of commandments (Midrash Rabbah Acharei 21), then his bone fragments get connected, as is written ( Ps. 34 ): "He keeps all his bones"

ז וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ ( משלי טז ): חֲמַת מֶלֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי מָוֶת, כִּי חֲמָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא – בִּשְׁבִיל הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיל עַל־יְדֵי עֲווֹנוֹתָיו; וְאִישׁ חָכָם יְכַפְּרֶנָּה, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, בְּחִינַת מֹשֶׁה, הוּא יְכַפֵּר לוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( מיכה ז ): וְעֹבֵר עַל פֶּשַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִית – לְמִי שֶׁמֵּשִׂים עַצְמוֹ כְּשִׁירַיִם ( ר"ה יז ). נִמְצָא, כְּשֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד חָכָם וּמוֹצִיא כָּל צֵרוּפָיו לִפְנֵי הַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם, וְהַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא בְּחִינַת מֹשֶׁה, שֶׁמֵּשִׂים עַצְמוֹ כְּשִׁירַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( במדבר יב ): וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָו מְאֹד; וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִקְרָא אִישׁ חָכָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( איוב כח ): וְהַחָכְמָה מֵאַיִן תִּמָּצֵא (ע' סוטה כא: ). וּבָזֶה יֵשׁ כֹּחַ לַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם לְכַפֵּר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאִישׁ חָכָם יְכַפְּרֶנָּה:
וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה כְּשֶׁהִתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה עַל חֵטְא הָעֵגֶל, אָמַר ( שמות לב ): אִם תִּשָּׂא חַטָּאתָם, וְאִם אַיִן מְחֵנִי נָא; כִּי זֶה מִן הַנִּמְנָע, שֶׁלֹּא יָבוֹא לְאָדָם אֵיזֶה גַּדְלוּת, כְּשֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ שֶׁמְּסַפְּרִין שִׁבְחוֹ, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן כְּשֶׁמֶּלֶךְ גָּדוֹל מְשַׁבֵּחַ וּמְפָאֵר אֶת הָאָדָם, אֲזַי בְּוַדַּאי מִן הַנִּמְנָע, שֶׁלֹּא יָבוֹא לוֹ אֵיזֶה גַּדְלוּת. אֲבָל צָרִיךְ לָזֶה בִּטּוּל כָּל הַרְגָּשׁוֹתָיו וְחָמְרִיּוֹתָיו, אֲזַי יָכוֹל הָאָדָם לִשְׁמֹעַ שִׁבְחוֹ, וְלֹא יָבוֹא לוֹ שׁוּם גַּדְלוּת, כְּמוֹ מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, שֶׁרָאָה כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה: וַיְּדַבֵּר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה, וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה; וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרְאִין בְּכָל יוֹם בַּתּוֹרָה שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, וְהוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ מְסַפֵּר לָהֶם שְׁבָחָיו, וְלֹא הָיָה לְמֹשֶׁה שׁוּם הִתְפָּאֲרוּת וְגַדְלוּת מִזֶּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָו מְאֹד, וּבְוַדַּאי עַל־יְדֵי עַנְוְתָנוּתוֹ הָיָה כֹּחַ בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה לְכַפֵּר עֲווֹן־הָעֵגֶל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְאִישׁ חָכָם יְכַפְּרֶנָּה. וְזֶה שֶׁטָּעַן מֹשֶׁה: וְאִם אַיִן, הַיְנוּ אִם לֹא תִּשָּׂא חַטָּאתָם, בָּזֶה אַתָּה מַרְאֶה, שֶׁאֵין לִי כָּל כָּךְ עֲנִיווּת, שֶׁאוּכַל לְכַפֵּר לָהֶם עֲווֹן הָעֵגֶל, בְּכֵן בַּקָּשָׁתִי: מְחֵנִי נָא, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא אֶכָּשֵׁל בְּגַדְלוּת, שֶׁאֲנִי רוֹאֶה וְשׁוֹמֵעַ בְּכָל עֵת סִפּוּר שְׁמִי וְשִׁבְחִי בַּתּוֹרָה, כִּי מִי יוּכַל לַעֲמֹד בָּזֶה, שֶׁיִּשְׁמַע סִפּוּר שִׁבְחוֹ וְלֹא יִתְגָּאֶה, אִם לֹא עָנָו גָּדוֹל; וְאִם אֲנִי עָנָו, צָרִיךְ לְךָ שֶׁתִּשָּׂא חֲטָּאתָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְעוֹבֵר עַל פֶּשַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִית וְכוּ':
וְזֶה: ( דברים לג ) וַיְהִי בִישֻׁרוּן מֶלֶךְ, הַיְנוּ שֶׁמַּלְכוּת עָלָה לְשָׁרְשָׁהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( תהלים לז ): וַעֲנָוִים יִרְשׁוּ אָרֶץ, וְאֶרֶץ הִיא דִּינָא דְּמַלְכוּתָא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( איוב כ ): וְאֶרֶץ מִתְקוֹמָמָה לוֹ :

7. And this is the explanation of ( Prov. 16 ): "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death" for the wrath of Hashem Yithbarakh is because of the Malkhut/kingship, that one cast down by his sins; "but a wise man will pacify it," i.e. the Torah sage, like Moshe, shall make atonement for him, as is written ( Mic. 7 ): "and passes by the transgression of the remnant" — of one who considers himself as remnants ( Rosh Hashanah 17 ). Hence, when he comes before the Torah sage and brings out all his permutations before the Torah sage, and the Torah sage is like Moshe, who considers himself like remnants, as is written ( Num. 12 ): "Now the man Moses was very humble;" and through this he is called a wise man, as is written ( Job 28 ): "But wisdom shall be found from nothingness" (see Sotah 21 ). And in this the Torah sage has power to appease, as is said: "but a wise man will pacify it."
And because of this, when Moshe prayed concerning the sin of the Calf, he said ( Ex. 32 ): "Yet now, if you will forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray;" for it is from the [realm of] impossibility, that a man should not have some haughtiness, when he hears his praise told; all the more so when a great king praises and glorifies the man, then it is certainly from the impossible, that he should not have some haughtiness. But one needs for this the nullification of all his feeling and materiality; then the man can hear his praise, and he will not have any haughtiness, like Moshe Rabbeinu, who saw it written in the Torah: "And Hashem spoke unto Moshe,” “And Hashem said unto Moshe;" and Israel reads every day in the Torah the praise of Moshe, and he himself tells them his praise; and Moshe did not have any glory or haughtiness from this, as is written: "Now the man Moses was very humble," and certainly through his humility there was power in the hand of Moshe to atone the sin of the Calf, as is written: "but a wise man will pacify it." And this is what Moshe argued: "And if not," i.e. if You will not forgive their sin, by this You show that I do not have such humility, that I could atone for them the sin of the Calf, therefore I asked: "blot me, I pray" in order that I should not stumble in pride, since I see and hear all the time the telling of my fame and my praise in the Torah, for who can stand in this, that he should hear the telling of his praise and not be proud, if he is not greatly humble; and if I am humble, then You need it that You should forgive their sin, as is written: "and passes by the transgression of the remnant" etc.:
And this is: ( Deut. 33 ) "And he was king in Yeshurun," i.e. the kingship went up to its root, as is written ( Ps. 37 ): "But the meek shall inherit the earth," and earth is the law of the kingship, as is written ( Job 20 ): "and the earth shall rise up against him:"

ח וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( סוטה כא ): מָשָׁל לְאֶחָד, שֶׁהָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ בַּדֶרֶךְ בְּאִישׁוֹן לַיְלָה וַאֲפֵלָה, וּמִתְיָרֵא מִן הַקּוֹצִים וּמִן הַפְּחָתִים וּמֵחַיָּה רָעָה וּמִלִּסְטִים, וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ בְּאֵיזֶה דֶּרֶךְ מְהַלֵּךְ וְכוּ':
כִּי זֶה יָדוּעַ, שֶׁכָּל הַמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן נִמְשָׁכִין מֵאַרְבָּעָה יְסוֹדוֹת, מֵאַרְבַּע מָרוֹת, כַּמּוּבָא בְּמִשְׁנַת חֲסִידִים: עַצְבוּת וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן נִמְשָׁכִין מִדּוֹמֵם, תַּאֲווֹת רָעוֹת וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן נִמְשָׁכִין מִצּוֹמֵחַ, דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן נִמְשָׁכִין מֵחַי, גַּאֲוָה וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן נִמְשָׁכִין מִמְּדַבֵּר; וּמִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לֵילֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, צָרִיךְ לְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת, וִיסַפֵּר לִפְנֵי הַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם, הַיְנוּ וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים, וְהַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם יְפָרֵשׁ וִיבָרֵר לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ לְפִי שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ.
וְיֵשׁ שָׁלֹשׁ בְּחִינוֹת בְּהִתְקָרְבוּת לַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי שָׁלֹשׁ בְּחִינוֹת אֵלּוּ נִתְתַּקֵּן הַכֹּל, וְאֵלּוּ הֵם הַשְּׁלשָׁה בְּחִינוֹת:
הַבְּחִינָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה אֶת הַצַּדִּיק, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ישעיהו ל ): וְהָיוּ עֵינֶיךָ רוֹאוֹת אֶת מוֹרֶיךָ; וְזֹאת הַבְּחִינָה מְבַטֶּלֶת הַמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת הַנִּמְשָׁכִין מִשְּׁנֵי הַיְּסוֹדוֹת דּוֹמֵם צוֹמֵחַ, הַיְנוּ עַצְבוּת וְתוֹלְדוֹתֶיהָ וְתַאֲווֹת רָעוֹת, כִּי צַדִּיק הַדּוֹר נִקְרָא אֵם, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהוּא מֵינִיק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאוֹר תּוֹרָתוֹ, וְהַתּוֹרָה נִקְרֵאת חָלָב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( שה"ש ד ): דְּבַשׁ וְחָלָב תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנֵךְ. וְזֶה אָנוּ רוֹאִים בְּחוּשׁ, כְּשֶׁהַתִּינוֹק הוּא בְּעַצְבוּת וְעַצְלוּת, כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה אֶת אִמּוֹ הוּא נִתְעוֹרֵר בִּזְרִיזוּת גָּדוֹל לִקְרַאת אִמּוֹ, הַיְנוּ לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ. גַּם אָנוּ רוֹאִים בְּחוּשׁ, כְּשֶׁהַתִּינוֹק עוֹסֵק בְּדִבְרֵי שְׁטוּת שֶׁלּוֹ, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ תַּאֲוָה גְּדוֹלָה לָזֶה, אַף־עַל־פִּי כֵן כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה אֶת אִמּוֹ, הוּא מַשְׁלִיךְ כָּל תַּאֲווֹתָיו אַחַר כְּתֵפָיו וּמוֹשֵׁךְ אֶת עַצְמוֹ לְאִמּוֹ. נִמְצָא, שֶׁנִּתְבַּטְּלִין הַמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל שְׁנֵי הַיְּסוֹדוֹת דּוֹמֵם צוֹמֵחַ עַל יְדֵי הִסְתַּכְּלוּת פְּנֵי הַצַּדִּיק. וְזֶהוּ: וּמִתְיָרֵא מִן הַקּוֹצִים, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת צוֹמֵחַ; וּפְחָתִים – שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת דּוֹמֵם. וּכְשֶׁנִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ אֲבוּקָה שֶׁל אוֹר, זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, שֶׁהוּא אָבִיק בְּאוֹר הַתּוֹרָה, וְעַל־יָדוֹ נִצּוֹל מִמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל שְׁנֵי יְסוֹדוֹת דּוֹמֵם צוֹמֵחַ, וְאָז נִצּוֹל מִן הַקּוֹצִים וּמִן הַפְּחָתִים:
הַבְּחִינָה הַשְּׁנִיָּה, הַצְּדָקָה שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם, שֶׁעַל־ יְדֵי־זֶה נִצּוֹל מִמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל שְׁנֵי יְסוֹדוֹת חַי מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁהֵן בְּחִינַת חַיָּה רָעָה וְלִסְטִים, שֶׁהֵן דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים וְגַאֲוָה וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים וְלָשׁוֹן הָרָע בָּא עֲנִיּוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( שמות ד ): כִּי מֵתוּ כָּל הָאֲנָשִׁים, זֶהוּ עֲנִיּוּת. גַּם בְּגַאֲוָה אָמְרוּ ( קידושין מט: ): סִימָן לְגַסּוּת הָרוּחַ – עֲנִיּוּת. וְעַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה נִתְעַשֵּׁר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( גיטין ז: ): אִם שְׁלֵמִים וְכֵן רַבִּים וְכֵן נָגוֹזוּ וְעָבַר וְעִנִּיתִיךָ לֹא אֲעַנֵּךְ – שׁוּב אֵין מַרְאִין לוֹ סִימָנֵי עֲנִיּוּת. וְזֶהוּ: כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר נִצּוֹל מֵחַיָּה רָעָה וּמִלִּסְטִים. עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר רֶמֶז לִצְדָקָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ישעיהו נח ): כִּי תִרְאֶה עָרֹם וְכִסִּיתוֹ וְכוּ', אָז יִבָּקַע כַּשַּׁחַר אוֹרֶךָ. נִמְצָא, עַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה נִצּוֹל מִמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל שְׁנֵי יְסוֹדוֹת, חַי מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חַיָּה רָעָה וְלִסְטִים:
הַבְּחִינָה הַשְּׁלִישִׁית, כְּשֶׁמִּתְוַדֶּה וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה הַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם מַדְרִיךְ אוֹתוֹ בְּדֶרֶךְ יָשָׁר לְפִי שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, וְזֶה: הִגִּיעַ לְפָרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים, וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( סוטה כא ): זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, וְיוֹם הַמִּיתָה, זֶה בְּחִינַת וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד חָכָם; יוֹם הַמִּיתָה רֶמֶז עַל וִדּוּי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ( סנהדרין מג: ): כָּל הַמּוּמָתִין מִתְוַדִּין. וְזֶה נִקְרָא פָּרָשַׁת־דְּרָכִים, כִּי הַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם מַפְרִישׁ לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ לְפִי שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, אֲזַי נִצּוֹל מִכֻּלָּם. כִּי קֹדֶם שֶׁהִתְוַדָּה, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהָיָה אֵצֶל הַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם וְנָתַן לוֹ מָמוֹן, עֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ בְּאֵיזֶהוּ דֶּרֶךְ הוּא מְהַלֵּךְ, כִּי יֵשׁ דֶּרֶךְ יָשָׁר לִפְנֵי אִישׁ וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ דַּרְכֵי מָוֶת ( משלי יד ), אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְפָרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים, זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָכָם וְיוֹם הַמִּיתָה, הַיְנוּ וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם, אֲזַי נִצּוֹל מִכֻּלָּם :

8. And this is [the explanation of] what our Sages of blessed memory said ( Sotah 21 ) in: Parable of a man who is walking in the middle of the night and darkness, and is afraid of thorns, pits, thistles, wild beasts and robbers, and also does not know the road in which he is going. If a lighted torch is prepared for him, he is saved from thorns, pits and thistles; but he is still afraid of wild beasts and robbers, and does not know the road in which he is going. When, however, dawn breaks, he is saved from wild beasts and robbers, but still does not know the road in which he is going. When, however, he reaches the crossroads, he is saved from everything.
For this is known, that all the bad attributes and their derivatives are drawn from the four elements, from the four biles, as brought in Mishnat Chasidim: Depression and its derivatives are drawn from the inanimate, evil lusts and their derivatives are drawn from the vegetable, wasteful words and their derivatives are drawn from the animal, pride and its derivatives are drawn from the speaking; and whoever wants to walk in the holy way, must break all the evil traits and shall tell before the Torah sage, i.e. spoken confession, and the Torah sage shall lay out and select for him a way according to the root of his soul.
And there are three aspects in approaching tzaddikim, through which three roads everything is repaired. And these are the three aspects:
The first aspect, is when one sees the Tzaddik, as is written ( Isa. 30 ): "but your eyes shall see your teachers;" and this aspect annuls the bad traits, that are drawn from the two elements inanimate and vegetable, i.e. depression and its derivatives and evil lusts, for the Tzaddik of the generation is called Mother, because he nurses Israel in the light of his Torah, and the Torah is called milk, as is written ( Song 4 ): "honey and milk are under your tongue." And this we see tangibly, when an infant is sad and lazy, when he sees his mother he awakes in great haste towards his mother, i.e. to his root. Also we see tangibly, when a child is busy with his things of nonsense, even though he has great lusts for this, despite this when he sees his mother, he throws all his lusts behind his shoulders and draws himself to his mother. Hence, the evil traits of the two elements inanimate and vegetable are annulled through seeing the face of the Tzaddik. And this is: and is afraid of thorns – which is like the vegetable; and pits – which is like inanimate. If a lighted torch is prepared for him – this is the Torah sage, who is ablaze in the light of the Torah, and through this he is saved from evil traits of the two elements inanimate and vegetable, and so he is saved from the thorns and from the pits.
The second aspect, is the tzedakah that one gives to the Torah sage, through which he is saved from the evil traits of the two elements animal and speaking, which are like the wild beasts and robbers, which are wasteful words and pride and their derivatives, for through wasteful words and slander comes poverty, as is written ( Ex. 4 ): "for all the men are dead" – this is poverty. Also regarding pride they said ( Kiddushin 49 ): "A sign for presumptuousness is poverty," but through charity one becomes rich, as our Sages of blessed memory said ( Gittin 7 ): "`Though they be in full strength and likewise many, even so shall they be sheared off and he shall pass away/pass over…’ ( Nahum 1:12 ) Explanation: If a man sees that his livelihood is barely sufficient for him, he should give charity from it, and all the more so if it is plentiful. What is the meaning of the words, 'Even so they shall be sheared and he shall pass'? — In the school of R. Ishmael it was taught: Whoever shears off part of his possessions and dispenses it in charity is delivered from the punishment of Gehenna. Picture two sheep crossing a river, one shorn and the other not shorn; the shorn one gets across, the unshorn one does not. ‘…And though I have afflicted you…’ Mar Zutra said: Even a poor man who himself subsists on charity should give charity. ‘…I will afflict you no more…’ R. Joseph learnt: [Heaven] will not again show him signs of poverty." And this is: When, however, dawn breaks, he is saved from wild beasts and robbers. Dawnbreak hints to charity, as is written ( Isa. 58 ): "when you see the naked, that you cover him... then shall your light break

ט וְזֶה בְּכָל פַּעַם שֶׁבָּא אֵצֶל תַּלְמִיד חָכָם וּמְסַפֵּר לְפָנָיו כָּל לִבּוֹ, וְהַתַּלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא בְּחִינַת משֶׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אַיִן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהַחָכְמָה מֵאַיִן תִּמָּצֵא; וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה אַתָּה נִכְלָל בָּאֵין סוֹף. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת: זַרְקָא, דְּאִזְדְּרִיקַת לְאֲתַר דְּאִתְנְטִילַת מִתַּמָּן, שֶׁתַּחֲזִיר אֶת הַמַּלְכוּת לְאֵין סוֹף, שֶׁהוּא רָצוֹן שֶׁבְּכָל הָרְצוֹנוֹת. כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אוֹתִיּוֹת הַדִּבּוּרִים, כָּל אוֹת וָאוֹת מְלֻבָּשׁ בָּהּ רְצוֹן הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁרְצוֹן הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ הָיָה, שֶׁזֹּאת הָאוֹת יִהְיֶה לָהּ תְּמוּנָה כָּזוֹ, וְאוֹת אַחֶרֶת יִהְיֶה לָהּ תְּמוּנָה אַחֶרֶת. נִמְצָא, שֶׁרְצוֹנוֹת, הַיְנוּ תְּמוּנוֹת אוֹתִיּוֹת, הֵם הִתְגַּלּוּת מַלְכוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ, וְכָל אֵלּוּ הָרְצוֹנוֹת, הַיְנוּ הַתְּמוּנוֹת, נִמְשָׁכִין מֵרְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף, שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ תְּמוּנָה, וְכָל הַדְּבָרִים וְהַיֵּשׁוּת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הֵם מֵהָאוֹתִיּוֹת, הַיְנוּ מִמַּלְכוּת, כִּי יֵשׁוּת הוּא מֵחֲמַת הַמַּלְכוּת, שֶׁרָצָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה מַלְכוּתוֹ בָּעוֹלָם, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה בָּרָא אֶת הָעוֹלָם מֵאַיִן לְיֵשׁ, וְכָל הָרְצוֹנוֹת, הַיְנוּ הַתְּמוּנוֹת, וְכָל הַיֵּשׁוּת, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, מְקַבְּלִים חִיּוּתָם מֵרְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ ( מגילה לא. ): בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא גְּדֻלָּתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ־ בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, הַיְנוּ מַלְכוּתוֹ, הַיְנוּ רְצוֹנוֹת, שָׁם אַתָּה מוֹצֵא עַנְוְתָנוּתוֹ, הַיְנוּ רְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת הִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת, כִּי כְּשֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהִכָּלֵל בִּרְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף, צָרִיךְ לְבַטֵּל אֶת הַיֵּשׁוּת שֶׁלּוֹ. וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר (יתרו דף פח:), שֶׁהִסְתַּלְּקוּת מֹשֶׁה בְּשַׁבָּת בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּמִנְחָה, שֶׁאָז הִתְגַּלּוּת רַעֲוָא דְּרַעֲוִין, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת רְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף, שֶׁכָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת מְקַבְּלִין חִיּוּתָם מִמֶּנּוּ. וְזֶה מֵחֲמַת שֶׁבִּטֵּל משֶׁה כָּל יֵשׁוּתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( שמות טז ): וְנַחְנוּ מָה. וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַּגַּיְא ( דברים לד ) – זֶה בְּחִינַת אַיִן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ישעיהו מ ): כָּל גֶּיא יִנָּשֵׂא; בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב – זֶה בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, שֶׁדָּוִד בָּא מִמּוֹאָב, שֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק מֹשֶׁה בְּתוֹךְ אֵין סוֹף, בְּתוֹךְ רָצוֹן שֶׁבָּרְצוֹנוֹת, בְּתוֹךְ רַעֲוָא דְּרַעֲוִין, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת רְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף הַמְלֻבָּשׁ בִּרְצוֹנוֹת, בִּתְמוּנוֹת אוֹתִיּוֹת, בִּבְחִינַת מַלְכוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא גְּדֻלָּתוֹ, הַיְנוּ מַלְכוּת, בְּחִינַת רַעֲוִין, שָׁם אַתָּה מוֹצֵא רַעֲוָא, רְצוֹן אֵין סוֹף. וְזֶה: מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר – כִּי אָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מדרש אגדה, מובא בתוספות סוטה יד. ): לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פְּעוֹר, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁפּוֹעֵר פִּיו; כִּי כְּשֶׁפּוֹגְמִין בְּמַלְכוּת, אֲזַי יֵשׁ לוֹ כֹּחַ לִפְעֹר פִּיו בְּצֵרוּפִים רָעִים; אֲבָל משֶׁה, שֶׁתִּקֵּן מִדַּת הַמַּלְכוּת, עַל־יְדֵי זֶה לֹא הָיָה יְכֹלֶת בְּיַד פְּעוֹר לִפְעֹר פִּיו. וְזֶה: וְלֹא יָדַע אִישׁ, אֲפִלּוּ מֹשֶׁה לֹא יָדַע, (כמו שאמרו רז"ל סוטה יד. ), כִּי נִתְבַּטֵּל לְגַבֵּי אֵין סוֹף. וְכָל זֶה הָיָה בְּמוֹתוֹ, אֲבָל בְּוַדַּאי גַּם בְּחַיָּיו הָיָה לוֹ הִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת, וְהָיָה מְדַבֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּאוֹר אֵין סוֹף, אֲבָל הַהִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הָיָה בִּבְחִינַת: וְהַחַיּוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב; כִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא רוֹצֶה בַּעֲבוֹדָתֵנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְאָבִיתָ תְּהִלָּה מִגּוּשֵׁי עָפָר, מִקְּרוּצֵי חֹמֶר. וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה צָרִיךְ שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁאֵר כֵּן אֶלָּא עַד עֵת שֶׁיָּבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ וְיִטֹּל נִשְׁמָתוֹ. וְזֶה שֶׁאָנוּ רוֹאִים, שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים נִתְלַהֵב אָדָם בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּפִלָּה וְאוֹמֵר כַּמָּה תֵּבוֹת בְּהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל – זֶה בְּחֶמְלַת ה' עָלָיו, שֶׁנִּפְתַּח לוֹ אוֹר אֵין סוֹף וְהֵאִיר לוֹ; וּכְשֶׁרוֹאֶה אָדָם הִתְנוֹצְצוּת הַזֹּאת, אַף־עַל־גַּב דְּאִיהוּ לָא חָזִי – מַזְלֵהּ חָזִי ( מגילה ג. ), תֵּכֶף נִתְלַהֵב נִשְׁמָתוֹ לִדְבֵקוּת גָּדוֹל, לְדַבֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּאוֹר אֵין סוֹף, וּכְשִׁעוּר הִתְגַּלּוּת אֵין סוֹף, לְפִי מִנְיַן הַתֵּבוֹת שֶׁנִּפְתְּחוּ וְהִתְנוֹצְצוּ, כָּל אֵלּוּ הַתֵּבוֹת אוֹמֵר בִּדְבֵקוּת גָּדוֹל וּבִמְסִירַת נַפְשׁוֹ וּבְבִטּוּל כֹּחוֹתָיו, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּתְבַּטֵּל לְגַבֵּי אֵין סוֹף, אֲזַי הוּא בִּבְחִינַת: וְלֹא יָדַע אִישׁ, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מֵעַצְמוֹ. אֲבָל זֹאת הַבְּחִינָה צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְקַיֵּם יֵשׁוּתוֹ. נִמְצָא כְּשֶׁהוּא בִּבְחִינַת וָשׁוֹב, אֲזַי צָרִיךְ לְהַרְאוֹת גַּם לְדַעְתּוֹ, כִּי מִתְּחִלָּה, בִּשְׁעַת דְּבֵקוּת, הָיָה נִתְבַּטֵּל הַדַּעַת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְלֹא יָדַע אִישׁ; וּכְשֶׁהוּא בִּבְחִינַת וָשׁוֹב, שֶׁשָּׁב (לְדַעְתּוֹ) לְיֵשׁוּתוֹ, אָז שָׁב לְדַעְתּוֹ; וּכְשֶׁשָּׁב לְדַעְתּוֹ, אָז הוּא יוֹדֵעַ אַחְדוּת הָאֵין סוֹף וְטוּבוֹ, וַאֲזַי אֵין חִלּוּק בֵּין ה' לֵאלֹהִים, בֵּין מִדַּת הַדִּין לְמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים, כִּי בְּאֵין סוֹף אֵין שַׁיָּךְ, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שִׁנּוּי רָצוֹן, כִּי הַשִּׁנּוּיִים אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּשִׁנּוּי הַתְּמוּנוֹת, אֲבָל עַל־יְדֵי הַדְּבֵקוּת שֶׁל אָדָם בְּאֵין סוֹף, שֶׁשָּׁם אֵין שִׁנּוּי רָצוֹן, כִּי שָׁם רָצוֹן פָּשׁוּט, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ נִשְׁאָר בּוֹ רְשִׁימוּ מֵאַחְדוּת הַזֹּאת, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ נַעֲשֶׂה בִּבְחִינַת וָשׁוֹב, אֲזַי הָרְשִׁימוּ מַרְאֶה לָדַעַת, שֶׁיֵּדַע שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ טוֹב וְכֻלּוֹ אֶחָד: וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר משֶׁה לְדוֹרוֹ ( דברים ד ): אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים; כִּי משֶׁה הוּא בְּחִינַת אַיִן, וְדוֹרוֹ הַדְּבוּקִים אֵלָיו רָאוּי לָהֶם לָדַעַת, הַיְנוּ לְהָאִיר לַדַּעַת, בְּחִינַת אֵין סוֹף, בְּחִינַת רַעֲוָא דְּרַעֲוִין, בְּחִינַת: ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים:
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָא: זִימְנָא חַדָּא הֲוָה קָאַזְלִינָן בִּסְפִינְתָּא, וַחֲזִינָן הַהוּא כַּוְרָא דְּיַתְבָא לֵהּ אָכְלָה טִינָא בְּאוּסְיֵהּ, וְאִדְחוּהוּ מַיָא, וְשַׁדְיוּהוּ לְגוּדָא, וְחָרוּב מִינֵהּ שִׁיתִין מְחוֹזֵי, וְאָכְלוּ מִינֵהּ שִׁיתִין מְחוֹזֵי, וּמָלְחוּ מִינֵהּ שִׁיתִין מְחוֹזֵי, וּמָלְאוּ מֵחַד גַּלְגַּלָא דְּעֵינָא תְּלָת מֵאָה גַּרְבֵּי מִשְׁחָא. וְכִי הַדְרָן לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי שַׁתָּא, חֲזִינָן דְּהַוָה קָא מְנַסְרֵי מִגַּרְמֵיהּ מְטַלַלְתָּא, וִיהֲבֵי לְמִבְנִינְהוּ הַנָּךְ מְחוֹזֵי:
פֵּרוּשׁ: סְפִינָה – לְשׁוֹן חֲשִׁיבוּת, בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, שֶׁרַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה חָקַר בְּשִׂכְלוֹ אוֹדוֹת הַמַּלְכוּת, אֵיךְ בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלִין אוֹתָהּ. וַחֲזִינָן הַאי כַּוְרָא – יִשְׂרָאֵל מְכֻנִּין בְּשֵׁם דָּגִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( בראשית מח ): וְיִדְגּוּ לָרֹב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ. דְּיַתְבָא לֵיהּ אָכְלָא טִינָא בִּנְחִירָיו – זֶה בְּחִינַת תְּפִלָּתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ישעיהו מח ): וּתְהִלָּתִי אֶחֱטָם לָךְ; שֶׁנִּתְעָרֵב שֶׁרֶץ, הַיְנוּ טֻמְאָה, בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ וַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ וּבִלְבֵּל אוֹתוֹ, וְלֹא הָיָה יָכוֹל אִישׁ הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי הַזֶּה לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ תַּמָּה. מֶה עָשָׂה הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה, עָשָׂה שָׁלֹשׁ בְּחִינוֹת הַנַּ"ל, הַיְנוּ הִתְקַשְּׁרוּת לְהַצַּדִּיק, וּנְתִינַת הַצְּדָקָה, וּוִדּוּי דְּבָרִים.
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: וּמֵתָה וְאִידְחוּהוּ מַיָא וְשַׁדְיוּהוּ לְגוּדָא; וְהִזְכִּיר הַשָּׁלֹשׁ בְּחִינוֹת מֵעֵלָּא לְתַתָּא: וּמֵתָה – זֶה בְּחִינַת וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ: כָּל הַמּוּמָתִין מִתְוַדִּין; וְאִדְחוּהוּ מַיָא – זֶה בְּחִינַת צְדָקָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( קהלת יא ): שַׁלַּח לַחְמְךָ עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם. וּכְתִיב ( ישעיהו לב ): אַשְׁרֵיכֶם זוֹרְעֵי עַל כָּל מַיִם. וְשַׁדְיוּהוּ לְגוּדָא – הַצַּדִּיק נִקְרָא גּוּדָא, לְשׁוֹן גָּדֵר, שֶׁהוּא גּוֹדֵר פִּרְצוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל ( יחזקאל כב , ישעיהו נח ). וְזֶה: וְשַׁדְיוּהוּ לְגוּדָא – שֶׁהִקְרִיב אֶת עַצְמוֹ לַצַּדִּיק. וְעַל־יְדֵי שָׁלֹשׁ בְּחִינוֹת אֵלּוּ: וְחָרוּב מִינֵהּ שִׁיתִּין מְחוֹזָא – שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי הַמִּיתָה, הַיְנוּ וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים, הֶעֱלָה אֶת הַמַּלְכוּת מִבֵּין הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא, וְהַצַּדִּיק הוֹרָה לוֹ אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּהַפְטָרַת בְּרֵאשִׁית ( ישעיהו מב ): אַחֲרִיב הָרִים וּגְבָעוֹת – רֶמֶז עַל חֻרְבַּן מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הָעַכּוּ"ם; וְהוֹלַכְתִּי עִוְּרִים בְּדֶרֶךְ לֹא יָדָעוּ – זֶה בְּחִינַת שֶׁהַצַּדִּיק הוֹרָה לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ יָשָׁר, זֶה בְּחִינַת פָּרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים, כַּנַּ"ל. וְשִׁיתִין מְחוֹזָא רֶמֶז עַל עֲלִיַּת הַמַּלְכוּת, דִּכְתִיב בָּהּ ( שה"ש ו ): שִׁשִּׁים הֵמָּה מְלָכוֹת.
וְאָכְלוּ מִינָהּ שִׁיתִין מְחוֹזָא – רֶמֶז עַל שְׁנֵי מִדּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל חַי מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁעַל־יָדוֹ בָּא עֲנִיּוּת כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה מְתַקֵּן אוֹתָם וְיַמְשִׁיךְ שֶׁפַע. וְזֶה: אָכְלוּ מִינֵה. וְשִיתִין מְחוֹזָא – רֶמֶז עַל בְּחִינוֹת שִׁשִּׁים גִּבּוֹרִים, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם בָּא פַּרְנָסָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ: גְּבוּרוֹת גְּשָׁמִים ( ברכות לג. תענית ב. ע"ש). וּמָלְחוּ מִינָהּ שִׁיתִּין מְחוֹזָא – זֶה רֶמֶז עַל תִּקּוּן שְׁתֵּי מִדּוֹת רָעוֹת, דּוֹמֵם צוֹמֵחַ, עַל־יְדֵי קִרְבָתוֹ לְהַצַּדִּיק, כִּי הַצַּדִּיק הוּא בְּרִית מֶלַח עוֹלָם. גַּם עַצְבוּת וְתַאֲווֹת בָּאִים מִדָּמִים עֲכוּרִים, וְעַל־יְדֵי מֶלַח פּוֹלֵט הַדָּמִים רָעִים. וְשִיתִּין מְחוֹזָא זֶה רֶמֶז עַל שִׁשִּׁים אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁבְּבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁהֵם בְּיַד הַצַּדִּיק, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( משלי י ): בְּרָכוֹת לְרֹאשׁ צַדִּיק.
וּמָלְאוּ מֵחַד גַּלְגַּלָא דְּעֵינָא תְּלָת מֵאָה גַּרְבֵּי מִשְׁחָא – גַּרְבֵּי מִשְׁחָא זֶה בְּחִינוֹת הַדַּעַת, כִּי שֶׁמֶן מִשְׁחַת קֹדֶשׁ ( שמות ל ) זֶה בְּחִינַת שֵׂכֶל. וּתְלָת מֵאָה זֶה בְּחִינוֹת משֶׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מַה שֶּׁהַצַּדִּיק מַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ בִּבְחִינַת מָה. בְּשָׁלשׁ בְּחִינוֹת צָרִיךְ לְהַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ( ירמיהו ט ): אַל יִתְהַלֵּל חָכָם, גִּבּוֹר וְעָשִׁיר. נִמְצָא, שֶׁבְּכָל בְּחִינָה מֵאֵלּוּ שָׁלשׁ בְּחִינוֹת הוּא נַעֲשֶׂה מָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה יֵשׁ לוֹ הִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת, וּמִדַּבֵּק בְּאוֹר אֵין סוֹף, שֶׁאֵין שָׁם שׁוּם שִׁנּוּי רָצוֹן, אֶלָּא ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹקִים כַּנַּ"ל, הַיְנוּ כֻּלּוֹ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת חַד גַּלְגַּלָא דְּעֵינָא, כַּמּוּבָא בְּאִידְרָא (נשא דף קלז:): וּלְזִימְנָא דְּאָתִי יִשְׁתַּכַּח בָּה עֵינָא חַד דְּרַחֲמֵי – זֶה בְּחִינַת כֻּלּוֹ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב. נִמְצָא, כְּשֶׁהַצַּדִּיק עוֹשֶׂה עַצְמוֹ מָה, מְדַבֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ לְעֵינָא חַד דְרַחֲמֵי, הַיְנוּ לְאֵין סוֹף; וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁחוֹזֵר, בִּבְחִינַת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב, אָז מַמְשִׁיךְ מֵאוֹר אֵין סוֹף הָאַחְדוּת הָרָצוֹן הַפָּשׁוּט שָׁם דֶּרֶךְ הַ"מָּה" שֶׁלּוֹ, וְנַעֲשֶׂה מִמָּה מֵאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ: אַל תִּקְרֵי מָה, אֶלָּא מֵאָה, וְנַעֲשֶׂה תְּלָת מֵאָה מִתְּלָת מָה, וּמַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר הַזֶּה לְדַעְתּוֹ וּלְשִׂכְלוֹ, הַיְנוּ גַּרְבֵּי דְּמִשְׁחָא, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת שֵׂכֶל כַּנַּ"ל. אַתָּה הָרְאֵיתָ לָדַעַת, שֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר אֵין סוֹף לְדַעְתּוֹ, שֶׁיֵּדַע הָאַחְדוּת, שֶׁה' הוּא הָאֱלֹקִים, וִיבָרֵךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב עַל הַכֹּל כְּמוֹ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא:
כִּי הַדְרָן וְאָתָאן לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי שַׁתָּא וְקָחֲזִינָן דְּהַוֵי מְנַסְרָא מִגַּרְמַיְהוּ לְבִנְיָנָא הַנָּךְ מְחוֹזָא – כִּי מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, שֶׁעַל־יָדָם נִתְתַּקֵּן מַלְכוּת הַנַּ"ל, וְאַחֲרֵיהֶם הוּא הַטֻּמְאָה, וְיֵשׁ בְּנֵי־אָדָם שֶׁיּוֹצְאִין מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה. וְזֶה שֶׁסִּפֵּר הַתַּנָּא, שֶׁהָדַר וְחָזַר לְעַיֵּן בְּאֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵם בָּתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי שַׁתָּא, שֶׁהֵם אֲחוֹרֵי שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁיּוֹצְאִין מִכְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים. וַחֲזִינָן דְּהֲווּ מְנַסְרֵי מִגַּרְמַיְהוּ – הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים הַחֲקוּקִים עַל עַצְמוֹתָם, וְהַחֲקִיקָה עוֹבֵר מֵעֵבֶר לְעֵבֶר כִּנְסִירָה מַמָּשׁ.. אֲבָל עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁאִישׁ הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי הַנַּ"ל נִתְעוֹרֵר בִּתְשׁוּבָה עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁרֶץ קָטָן שֶׁבִּנְחִירָיו, עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהִרְגִּישׁ טֻמְאָה קְטַנָּה שֶׁמְּבַלְבֶּלֶת אוֹתוֹ – עַל־יְדֵי תְּשׁוּבָתוֹ גּוֹרֵם, שֶׁגַּם אֵלּוּ הָרְשָׁעִים נַעֲשׂוּ כִּסֵּא לַקְּדֻשָּׁה, וִיהָבֵי לְבִנְיָנָא הַנָּךְ מְחוֹזָא – שֶׁעוֹזְרִים גַּם הֵם לְעוֹבְדֵי הַשֵּׁם, שֶׁיִּבְנוּ הַנָּךְ מְחוֹזָא הַנַּ"ל:
וְזֶה פֵּרוּשׁ: אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ. פֵּרוּשׁ, הֵן ה' הֵן אֱלֹהֶיךָ תָּבִין, שֶׁכָּל זֹאת אָנֹכִי, הַיְנוּ שֶׁתְּקַיֵּם: בַּה' אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר, בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר, הַיְנוּ כֻּלּוֹ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב כַּנַּ"ל; אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם – דְּאִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (בראשית פ' טז), כִּי כָּל הַגָּלֻיּוֹת נִקְרָאִים עַל שֵׁם גָּלוּת מִצְרַיִם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם מְצֵרִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הַיְנוּ שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיק נִתְבַּטֵּל מַלְכוּתָם וּמֶמְשַׁלְתָּם שֶׁל הָעַכּוּ"ם, כִּי עַל־יְדֵי זֶה עוֹלָה מִתּוֹכָם מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל. מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים – זֶה רֶמֶז עַל בִּטּוּל הַמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל אַרְבַּע יְסוֹדוֹת, הַמְכֻנִּים בְּשֵׁם עֲבָדִים, כִּי כָּל הָאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדוֹת הֵם מִתַּחַת גַּלְגַּל הַיָּרֵחַ, וְהַיָּרֵחַ מְכֻנֶּה בְּשֵׁם עֶבֶד, כַּמּוּבָא בַּזֹּהַר (וישב דף קפא:): הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִי – דָּא סִיהַרָא, פֵּרוּשׁ עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיק עוֹלָה הַמַּלְכוּת מִן הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא, וְנִתְבַּטְּלִים הַמִּדּוֹת רָעוֹת, וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה הָאָדָם בָּא לִבְחִינַת עוֹלָם הַבָּא, לִבְחִינַת: בַּה' אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר, בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר :

9. And this applies every time when one comes to a Torah sage and tells before him all his heart, and the Torah sage is like Moshe, who is like nothingness, as is written: "But wisdom shall be found from nothingness." And through this you are included in the Infinite. And this is like: "Zarka [a cantillation mark for Torah reading, where the voice is thrown from a lower to higher pitch], since it is thrown back to the place that it was taken from," since you shall return the Malkhut to the Infinite One, which is the desire that is in all desires. For the Malkhut, which is like the letters of speech, each and every letter has clothed in it the will of Hashem Yithbarakh, since the will of Hashem Yithbarakh, was that this letter should have such an image, and another letter, should have another image. Hence, the wills, i.e. the images of the letters, are the revelation of his Kingship, blessed be his Name, and all these wills, i.e. the images, are drawn from the will of the Infinite One, in whom is no image, and all the things and the existence in the world are from the letters, i.e. from Malkhut, for existence is because of the Malkhut, since Hashem Yithbarakh, wanted that His Kingship should be revealed in the world, and through this He created the world from nothingness to existence; and all the desires, i.e. the images, and all the existence, i.e. the aspect of Malkhut, receives its life from the will of the Infinite One, as they said ( Megillah 31 ): Wherever you find the greatness of the Holy One, blessed-be-He, there you find his humility, i.e. the will of the Infinite One. And this is like putting off the materiality, for when one wants to include oneself in the will of the Infinite One, he must annul his existence. And this is that which is written in the Zohar (Yitro, page 84), that the passing away of Moshe was on Shabbat at the time of Minchah, which is the time of revelation of the Ra`awah d’Ra`awin [Aram.] (Will of Wills), which is like the will of the Infinite One, from which all the wills receive their life. And this is because Moshe annulled all his existence, as is written ( Ex. 16 ): "and what are we." This is the explanation of: And he buried him in a valley ( Deut. 34 ) — this is like nothingness, as is written ( Isa. 40 ): Every valley shall be exalted; in the land of Moab this is like Malkhut, as David comes from Moab, since Moshe passed away into the Infinite, into the Will of Wills, into the Ra`awah d’Ra`awin, which is like the will of the Infinite that is clothed in the wills, in the images of the letters, in the aspect of Malkhut, as they said: Wherever you find His greatness, i.e. Malkhut, like wills, there you find the will, the Will of the Infinite One. And this is [the explanation of]: over against Beit-Pe`or, for our Sages of blessed memory said (an anecdotal explanation brought in Tosefot Sotah 14 ): "Why was it called Pe`or? Because it opens wide its mouth," for when one blemishes in Malkhut, then it has power to open wide its mouth in evil permutations; but Moshe, who repaired the aspect of Malkhut, through this Pe`or did not have the ability to open wide its mouth. And this is [the explanation of]: but no man knows –- even Moshe did not know, as our Rabbis of blessed memory said ( Sotah 14 ), for he was annulled in the Infinite. And all this was in his death, but certainly also in his life he had putting off of materiality, and would cleave himself to the light of the Infinite. But the putting off was like: "And the living creatures ran and returned;" for the Holy One, Blessed be He, wants our service, as is written: "but You desire praise from bodies of dust, from lumps of clay." And because of this one must not remain so (extendedly annulled), only until the time when the Holy One, blessed-be-He, himself comes and takes up his soul. And this is that which we see, that sometimes a man flames up inside during prayer and says several words in great ardor, this is by the pity of Hashem upon him, that the light of the Infinite is opened to him and shines for him; and when a man sees this sparking, even though he does not see, his mazal (guardian angel) sees ( Megillah 3 ), immediately his soul flames up to great cleaving, to cleave itself to the light of the Infinite, and according to the measure of the revelation of the Infinite, according to the count of words that were opened up and sparked up — all these words he says in great cleavage and in great devotion of soul in nullification of his powers, and when he is annulled against the Infinite, then he is like: but no man knows — even he himself does not know of his [own knowledge]. But this aspect must be "running and returning," in order that his existence should endure. Hence, when he is like "and returning," then he must reveal also to his mind. For at first, at the time of cleaving, the knowledge was annulled, as is written: but no man knows; but when he is like "and returning," when he returns (to his mind) to his existence, he returns to his mind; and when he returns to his mind, then he knows the unity of the Infinite and His goodness, and then there is no difference between Hashem and Elohim, between the trait of judgement and the trait of mercy, for to the Infinite One do not apply, God forbid, a variation of will, for the variations are only in variations of the images. But through the cleaving of a man to the Infinite, where there is no variation of will — for there is simply will, and afterwards there remains in him his impression from this unity and afterwards he becomes like "and returning" — then his impression shows to the mind, that it should know that it is all good and all one. And this is [the explanation of] what Moshe said to his generation ( Deut. 4 ): "It has been clearly shown to your da`at/knowledge that the [Merciful] Hashem, He is the Elohim [of judgement];" for Moshe corresponds to ayin/self-nullification [i.e. humility, which generates wisdom (see Job 28:12 and commentaries)], and his generation that cleaved to him, it was proper for them to have da`at/knowledge, i.e. to illuminate the da`at regarding the Ein Sof/Infinite — the Ra`awah d’Ra`awin — "Hashem, He is Elohim:"
And this is the explanation of: Said Rabbah bar Bar Channah: Once we were travelling on board a ship and saw a kawra (fish) in whose nostrils a mud-eater had entered (and the fish died). And the water cast it up, and threw it upon the shore. Sixty towns were destroyed thereby, sixty towns ate therefrom, and sixty towns salted [the remnants] thereof, and they filled from one of its eyeballs three hundred kegs of oil. On returning after twelve months time, we saw that they were sawing rafters from its bones with which to rebuild those towns: [ Rashbam: Kawra — a fish. Mud eater — a small creeping thing. In whose nostrils — the creeping thing entered into the nostrils of the fish. And the water cast it up — the water cast it up and threw it onto dry land, in the way of the sea, which does not tolerate a dead thing. Sixty towns were destroyed thereby — since the water threw onto sixty towns and broke all of them, since it was so big. Sixty towns ate therefrom — while it was still moist. And sixty towns salted [the remnants] thereof — other towns, which were far from there, salted from it and took it to their place. From one of its eyeballs — from its eyeball they took three hundred kegs of oil. They were sawing — to rebuild from the bones of the fish those same cities that it leveled.]
And the explanation: A ship (sefinah) — is a term for importance, like Malkhut, since Rabbah bar Bar Channah sought with his intelligence to investigate the Malkhut and how mankind could elevate it. And saw a kawra (fish) — Israel are named fish, as is written ( Gen. 48 ): "and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." In whose nostrils a mud-eater had entered — this is like the prayer of Israel, as is written ( Isa. 48 ): "For my praise will-I-restrain-[My-anger] (eCheToM [like ChoTeM, nose]) for you;" since a creeping thing, i.e. impurity, got mixed with his prayer and service and confused him, and this Israelite man was not able to perform his service completely. What did this man do? He performed the three aspects mentioned above, i.e. tying oneself to the Tzaddik and giving charity and spoken confession.
And this is the explanation of: And (the fish) died and the water cast it up, and threw it upon the shore; now he mentions the three aspects from top to bottom: And (the fish) died — this alludes to spoken confession, as they said: "Whoever is sentenced to death performs confession;" And the water cast it up — this alludes to charity, as is written (Eccl. 11) "Cast your bread upon the waters," and the scripture ( Isa. 32 ): "Happy are you that sow beside all waters;" And threw it upon the shore — the Tzaddik is called "shore (GoDa)," a term for fence (GaDer), since he fences the breaches of Israel (Eze. 22, Isa. 58 ), and this is: "And threw it upon the shore," since he drew himself close to the Tzaddik. And through these three aspects: Sixty towns were destroyed thereby — since through the “death,” i.e. the spoken confession, he raised the Malkhut from among the Sitra Achara (Other [Evil] Side), and the Tzaddik shows him the straight way, as is written in the Haftarah of Bereishit ( Isa. 42 ): "I will destroy mountains and hills..." — hinting to destruction of the rule of the nations, "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not" — this is like the Tzaddik showing him a straight way; this is like a crossroads, as mentioned above, and "sixty towns" hints to rise of the Malkhut, of which it is written ( Song 6 ): "There are sixty queens (melakhot)."
And sixty towns ate therefrom hints to the two evil traits of animate and speaking [kingdoms], through which comes poverty as mentioned above, but through charity one repairs them and draws down the flow (of livelihood). And this is [the explanation of]: they ate from it. And sixty towns hints to the aspect of sixty mighty ones, from which [aspect of strength/gevurah] comes livelihood, as they said: "gevurot geshamim (strengths/judgements of rains/materiality)" ( Berakhot 33 , Ta`anit 2, see there) And sixty towns salted [the remnants] thereof — this hints to repair of the two evil traits, inanimate and vegetable, through his drawing close to the Tzaddik, for the Tzaddik is "a covenant [brit] everlasting like salt” ( Num. 18:19 ) [Brit can refer to the covenant of Abraham, i.e. circumcision, i.e. guarding family purity, which is the characteristic of a Tzaddik]. Also depression and lusts come from foul blood, but through salt one extracts the bad bloods, and "sixty towns" clues to the sixty letters in the Priestly Blessing, which are in the hand of the Tzaddik, as is written ( Prov. 10 ): "Blessings are upon the head of the righteous."
And they filled from one of its eyeballs three hundred kegs of oil. Kegs of oil — allude to da`at/knowledge, for "holy anointing oil" ( Ex. 30 ) alludes to seikhel/intellect. And "three hundred," this is like Moshe, who is like the Tzaddik diminishing himself in the aspect of "what" [MaH, similar to MEaH, one hundred] — in three aspects it is necessary to diminish oneself, as is written ( Jer. 9 ): "Let not the wise man... mighty man... or rich man glory." Hence, in each aspect from these three aspects he is made "what," and through this he has putting off of materiality, and clings to the light of the Infinite, where there is no variation of will, rather “Hashem, He is Elohim” as mentioned above, i.e. it is all "the Good and the Beneficent." And this is like one eyeball, as brought down in the Idra (Nasso 137): "And in the future there will be the One Eye of Compassion [in how God supervises the world]." This corresponds to “it shall all be ‘Who is good and beneficent.’" Hence, when the Tzaddik makes himself "what," he cleaves himself to the one eye of compassion, i.e. to the Infinite; and afterwards, when he returns, as in running and returning, then he draws down from the light of the Infinite the unity of the will that extends there through his "what," and from "what (MaH)" is made "hundred (MeaH)," as they said: "Do not read it as what (MaH), but hundred (MeaH)," and from the three MaH are made three MeaH, and he draws this light to his da`at and intellect, i.e. "kegs of oil," which alludes to intellect as mentioned above. "It has been clearly shown to your daat," since he draws down the light of the Infinite to his mind, that he should know the unity, that “Hashem, He is Elohim,” and should bless "the Good and the Beneficent" upon everything, as in the future to come.
On returning after twelve months time, we saw that they were sawing rafters from its bones with which to rebuild those towns. For behind the holiness — which is the Twelve Tribes, through which the Malkhut is repaired — behind is impurity. There are people who go out from the holiness. And this is what the Tannah (the Mishnaic scholar, i.e. Rabbah bar Bar Channah) told, that he paid respect and returned to inquire after these who are after twelve months time — those who are behind the Twelve Tribes of holiness, who go out from the community of Israel through their evil deeds. And he saw they were sawing rafters from its bones, i.e. through their evil deeds, engraved upon their bones, the engraving passes from side to side just like a saw mark. But through the Israelite man mentioned above waking up in repentance through the small creeping thing in his nostrils, by feeling a small impurity that confuses him, through his repentance he causes, that also these evil ones are made into a seat for holiness. With which to rebuild those towns — that [the evil ones] should also help those who serve God to build those towns, as mentioned.
And this is the explanation of: I am the Hashem your Elohim — meaning, whether He is Hashem or whether Elohim, understand that all this is I, i.e. that you should fulfill: "When he treats me as Hashem I will sing praise for the thing; when he treats me as Elohim I sing praise for the thing," i.e. that all should be "Good and Beneficent" as mentioned above; Which have brought you out of the Land of Egypt, since it says in the commentary (Bereishit Ch. 16): "for all the exiles are named by the exile of Egypt (MiTZRaIM), since they afflict (M’TZeRIM) Israel," i.e. through the Tzaddik the kingship and rule of the nations are annulled, for through this the Malkhut of holiness goes up out of them, as mentioned above. From the house of slavery — this hints to nullification of the evil traits of the four elements which are named by the title "slaves," for all the four elements are under the moon orb, and the moon is called by the title "slave," as brought in the Zohar (Wayeshev 181): "’Behold, my slave will become intelligent’ — this is the moon," meaning through the Tzaddik the Malkhut goes up from the Other Side, and the evil traits are annulled, and through this the man comes to the aspect of the World to Come, to the aspect of: "When he treats me as Hashem I will sing praise for the thing; when he treats me as Elohim I sing praise for the thing:"