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Section 1Chapter one
Lecture 1Introduction - 50:51

Tomer Devorah

Introduction – 50:51


Chapter 1 – That it is fitting for a person to resemble his Creator: It is fitting for a person to resemble his Creator and then he will be [configured] in the secret of the Highest Form, [both] in image and likeness. As if he is alike in his body but not in his actions, he betrays the Form; and they will say about him, “A lovely form, but ugly deeds.” As behold, the essence of the Highest Image and Likeness is His actions. And what will it benefit him to have the structure of his limbs like the Highest Form, but not resemble his Creator in his actions? Therefore it is fitting that he should [make his actions] resemble the actions of the Crown (Keter), which are the thirteen highest traits of mercy. And they are hinted to in the secret of the verses (Michah 7:18-20), “Who is a power like You; He will again have mercy on us; You shall give truth.” If so, it is fitting that these thirteen traits [also] be found in man. And now we will explain these thirteen actions that are fitting to be with him.

האדם ראוי שיתדמה לקונו: הָאָדָם רָאוּי שֶׁיִּתְדַּמֶּה לְקוֹנוֹ וְאָז יִהְיֶה בְּסוֹד הַצּוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה צֶלֶם וּדְמוּת, שֶׁאִלּוּ יְדֻמֶּה בְּגוּפוֹ וְלֹא בִּפְעֻלּוֹת הֲרֵי הוּא מַכְזִיב הַצּוּרָה וְיֹאמְרוּ עָלָיו צוּרָה נָאָה וּמַעֲשִׂים כְּעוּרִים. שֶׁהֲרֵי עִיקָר הַצֶּלֶם וְהַדְּמוּת הָעֶלְיוֹן הֵן פְּעֻלּוֹתָיו, וּמַה יוֹעִיל לוֹ הֱיוֹתוֹ כְּצוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה דְּמוּת תַּבְנִית אֵבָרָיו וּבַפְּעֻלּוֹת לֹא יִתְדַמֶּה לְקוֹנוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ רָאוּי שֶׁיִּתְדַּמֶּה אֶל פְּעֻלּוֹת הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁהֵן יג מִדּוֹת שֶׁל רַחֲמִים עֶלְיוֹנוֹת. וּרְמוּזוֹת בְּסוֹד הַפְּסוּקִים (מיכה ז, יח) מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ. יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ. תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת. אִם כֵּן רָאוּי שֶׁתִּמְצָאֶנָּה בוֹ יג מִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ. וְעַכְשָׁו נְפָרֵשׁ אוֹתָן הַפְּעֻלּוֹת יג שֶׁרָאוּי שֶׁתִּהְיֶינָה בוֹ:

Lecture 2Who is a G-d like You - 39:06

Tomer Devorah – Part 2

Who is a G-d like You – 39:06


The First: “Who is a power like You” instructs about the Holy One, blessed be He, being an insulted King [that] tolerates insult that is inconceivable. Behold, nothing is hidden from His oversight, without a doubt, and [yet] there is no moment ‎when a person is not nourished and preserved by the Highest force that flows upon him; and behold, you find that ‎there was never a person who sinned against God, without Him – at that very instant – [willing] the flow of his existence and the movement of his limbs. While this person sins with that force, He does not withhold it from him at all. Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, tolerates such an insult – to flow the power for the movement of his ‎limbs into the person, and the person [uses] that power at that moment for sin and iniquity, and [to] anger ‎[Him]; and the Holy One, blessed be He, tolerates [it]. And you [should] not say that He is not able to withhold this goodness from him – God forbid. As behold, it is in His power to make his arms and legs rigid instantly, like His word – similar to what He did to Yerovam (Kings I 13:4). And even with all this, that He has the power in His hand to withdraw that flowing force, ‎and He could have said, “Since you sin against Me, sin with your own [strength], not with Mine” – He ‎does not withhold good from a person for this. Instead, He tolerates the insult, flows the force [to do this] ‎and gives the person of His goodness. Behold, this is insult and [its] toleration that cannot be told. And for this, the ministering angels call the Holy One, blessed be He, the insulted King. And this is [the meaning of] its stating, “Who is a power like You” – You ‎are a Power that is a Master of Kindness that benefits, a Power that is a Master of strength to take revenge and ‎take back what is Yours; and with all that, You tolerate [it] and are insulted until [the person] repents.

Behold, this is a ‎trait that a person must practice – I mean tolerance; and, so, to be insulted, even to this extent, and nonetheless not to ‎withhold one’s goodness from the recipient.‎

הא’ – מי אל כמוך – מוֹרֶה עַל הֱיוֹת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֶלֶךְ נֶעֱלַב, סוֹבֵל עֶלְבּוֹן מַה שֶׁלֹּא יְכִילֵהוּ רַעְיוֹן. הֲרֵי אֵין דָּבָר נִסְתָּר מֵהַשְׁגָּחָתוֹ בְּלִי סָפֵק, וְעוֹד אֵין רֶגַע שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה הָאָדָם נִזּוֹן וּמִתְקַיֵּם מִכֹּחַ עֶלְיוֹן הַשּׁוֹפֵעַ עָלָיו, וַהֲרֵי תִּמְצָא שֶׁמֵּעוֹלָם לֹא חָטָא אָדָם נֶגְדּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה הוּא בְּאוֹתוֹ הָרֶגַע מַמָּשׁ שׁוֹפֵעַ שֶׁפַע קִיּוּמוֹ וּתְנוּעַת אֵבָרָיו, עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁהָאָדָם חֹטֵא בַכֹּחַ הַהוּא לֹא מְנָעוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ כְּלָל אֶלָּא סוֹבֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֶלְבּוֹן כָּזֶה לִהְיוֹת מַשְׁפִּיעַ בּוֹ כֹּחַ תְּנוּעוֹת אֵבָרָיו, וְהוּא מוֹצִיא אוֹתוֹ כֹּחַ בְּאוֹתוֹ רֶגַע בְּחֵטְא וְעָוֹן וּמַכְעִיס וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא סוֹבֵל. וְלֹא תֹאמַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִמְנוֹעַ מִמֶּנּוּ הַטּוֹב הַהוּא ח”ו שֶׁהֲרֵי בְכֹחוֹ בְּרֶגַע כְּמֵימְרָא לְיַבֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו כְּעֵין שֶׁעָשָׂה לְיָרָבְעָם, וְעִם כָּל זֹאת שֶׁהַכֹּחַ בְּיָדוֹ לְהַחְזִיר הַכֹּחַ הַנִּשְׁפָּע הַהוּא וְהָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר כֵּיוָן שֶׁאַתָּה חֹטֵא נֶגְדִּי תֶּחֱטָא בְּשֶׁלְּךָ לֹא בְשֶׁלִּי, לֹא מִפְּנֵי זֶה מָנַע טוּבוֹ מִן הָאָדָם אֶלָּא סָבַל עֶלְבּוֹן, וְהִשְׁפִּיעַ הַכֹּחַ וְהֵטִיב לְאָדָם טוּבוֹ. הֲרֵי זֶה עֶלְבּוֹן וְסַבְלָנוּת מַה שֶׁלֹּא יְסֻפָּר וְעַל זֶה קוֹרְאִים מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֶלֶךְ עָלוּב וְהַיְנוּ אוֹמְרוֹ מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ, אַתָּה אֵל בַּעַל חֶסֶד הַמֵּטִיב, אֵל בַּעַל כֹּחַ לִנְקֹם וְלֶאֱסֹף אֶת שֶׁלְּךָ, וְעִם כָּל זֹאת אַתָּה סוֹבֵל וְנֶעֱלָב עַד יָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה.

הֲרֵי זוֹ מִדָּה שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הָאָדָם לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהּ רְצוֹנִי הַסַּבְלָנוּת וְכֵן הֱיוֹתוֹ נֶעֱלַב אֲפִלּוּ לְמַדְרֵגָה זוֹ וְעִם כָּל זֹאת לֹא יֶאֱסֹף טוֹבָתוֹ מִן הַמְּקַבֵּל:

Lecture 3Who forgives iniquity - 42:35

Tomer Devorah – Part 3

Who forgives iniquity – 42:35



The second: “Who bears iniquity” – and behold, this is greater than the previous. As behold, a man does not do an iniquity without creating a destructive spirit (Mashchit); as it is learned (Avot 4:11), “One who transgresses a single iniquity acquires a single prosecutor.” And behold, this prosecutor stands in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, and says, “X made me.” And no creature exists in the world except from the flow of the Holy One, blessed be He – and behold, this destructive spirit that stands in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, from what does he exist? It would be logical that the Holy One, blessed be He, would say, “I do not nourish destructive spirits – he should go to the one that made him and be sustained from him.” And the destructive spirit would go down immediately and take his soul, excise him or have him punished according to his punishment – until this destructive spirit is nullified. But the Holy One, blessed be He, does not do this; but He rather bears and tolerates the iniquity – and [just] as He nourishes and sustains the whole world, [so too] does He nourish and sustain this destructive spirit until there be one of three things: Either the sinner repents and he finishes him and nullifies him with his mortifications; or that the righteous Judge nullifies him with afflictions and death; or [that the sinner] goes to Geihinom and he pays his debt there. And that is [the meaning of] that which Kain said (Genesis 4:13), “Is my iniquity too great to bear?” And the Sages, may their memory be blessed, explained it (Midrash Tanchuma, Bereshit 9), “You tolerate the whole world” – meaning nourish and sustain – “and my iniquity is [so] heavy that you cannot tolerate it” – meaning to sustain it until I repent and repair [it]. If so, behold this is a great trait of tolerance – that He nourishes and sustains an evil creature, that the sinner created, until he repents.

A person [should] learn [from this] how much he needs to be tolerant, to carry the yoke of his fellow and his evils that he did against him; to the measure such that his evil that he sinned against him is still in existence – and he tolerates [it] until his fellow repairs [it], or that it is nullified by itself, and similar to it.

הב’ – נושא עון – וַהֲרֵי זֶה גָּדוֹל מֵהַקֹּדֶם שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה הָאָדָם עָוֹן שֶׁלֹּא יִבָּרֵא מַשְׁחִית כְּדִתְנַן הָעוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה אַחַת קֹנֶה לוֹ קָטֵגוֹר אֶחָד וַהֲרֵי אוֹתוֹ קַטֵּגוֹר עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאוֹמֵר פְּלוֹנִי עֲשָׂאַנִי, וְאֵין בְּרִיָּה מִתְקַיֶּמֶת בָּעוֹלָם אֶלָּא בְּשִׁפְעוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וַהֲרֵי הַמַּשְׁחִית הַזֶּה עוֹמֵד לְפָנָיו וּבַמֶּה מִתְקַיֵּם, הַדִּין נוֹתֵן שֶּׁיֹּאמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינִי זָן מַשְׁחִיתִים יֵלֵךְ אֵצֶל מִי שֶׁעֲשָׂאוֹ וְיִתְפַּרְנֵס מִמֶּנּוּ וְהָיָה הַמַּשְׁחִית יוֹרֵד מִיַּד וְנוֹטֵל נִשְׁמָתוֹ אוֹ כוֹרְתוֹ אוֹ נֶעֱנַשׁ עָלָיו כְּפִי עָנְשׁוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּשְׁחִית הַהוּא, וְאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה כֵן אֶלָּא נוֹשֵׂא וְסוֹבֵל הֶעָוֹן וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא זָן הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס הַמַּשְׁחִית הַזֶּה עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים, אוֹ שֶׁיָּשׁוּב הַחוֹטֵא בִּתְשׁוּבָה וִיכַלֵּהוּ וִיבַטְּלֵהוּ בְּסִגֻּפָיו, אוֹ יְבַטְּלֵהוּ שׁוֹפֵט צֶדֶק בְּיִסּוּרִים וּמִיתָה, אוֹ יֵלֵךְ בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם וְשָׁם יִפְרַע חוֹבוֹ. וְהַיְנוּ שֶׁאָמַר קַיִן גָּדוֹל עֲוֹנִי מִנְּשׂוֹא וּפֵרְשׁוּ חֲזַ”ל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ אַתָּה סוֹבֵל יֵרָצֶה זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס, וַעֲוֹנִי כָבֵד שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יָכוֹל לְסוֹבְלוֹ פֵּרוּשׁ לְפַרְנְסוֹ עַד שֶׁאָשׁוּב וַאֲתַקֵּן, אִם כֵּן הֲרֵי זֶה מִדַּת סַבְלָנוּת גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁיָּזוּן וּמְפַרְנֵס בְּרִיָּה רָעָה שֶׁבָּרָא הַחוֹטֵא עַד שֶׁיָּשׁוּב.

יִלְמֹד הָאָדָם כַּמָּה צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה סַבְלָן לִסְבֹּל עֹל חֲבֵרוֹ וְרָעוֹתָיו שֶׁהֵרִיעַ עַד שִׁעוּר כָּזֶה שֶׁעֲדַיִן רָעָתוֹ קַיֶּמֶת, שֶׁחָטָא נֶגְדּוֹ וְהוּא יִסְבֹּל עַד יְתַקֵּן חֲבֵרוֹ אוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל מֵאֵלָיו וְכַיּוֹצֵא:

 

Lecture 4 And passes over transgression - 26:55

Tomer Devorah – Part 4

And passes over transgression – 26:55



The third: “And passes over transgression” – this is a great trait. As behold, the pardon is not through an emissary but rather actually through the Holy One, blessed be He – as it is written (Psalm 130:4), “For with You is forgiveness, etc.” And what is that forgiveness? That He washes away the transgression, as it is written (Isaiah 4:4), “When the Lord will have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, etc.” And so [too,] is it written (Ezekiel 36:25), “I will sprinkle upon you pure waters, etc.” And this is [the meaning of] “and passes over transgression” – He sends forth waters of washing, and He passes and washes [away] the transgression.

And behold, just like this likeness must a person be – such that he not say, “And shall I fix what x sinned or destroyed?” He should not say like this; for behold, a person sins and the Holy One, blessed be He – Himself, and not through an emissary – ‘fixes the twisted,’ and washes away the filth of his transgression.

And from here, the person will be ashamed to sin again; for behold, the King, Himself, washes the dirt of his clothes.

הג’- ועובר על פשע – זוֹ מִדָּה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין הַמְּחִילָה עַל יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ אֶלָּא עַל יָדוֹ מַמָּשׁ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּדִכְתִיב (תהלים קל, ד) כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה וְגוֹ’ וּמַה הִיא הַסְּלִיחָה שֶׁהוּא רוֹחֵץ הֶעָוֹן כְּדִכְתִיב (ישעיה ד, ד) אִם רָחַץ אֲדֹנָי אֵת צֹאַת בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן וְגוֹ׳ וְכֵן כְּתִיב (יחזקאל לו, כה) וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וְגוֹ’ וְהַיְנוּ וְעוֹבֵר עַל פֶּשַׁע שׁוֹלֵחַ מֵימֵי רְחִיצָה וְעוֹבֵד וְרוֹחֵץ הַפֶּשַׁע.

וְהִנֵּה מַמָּשׁ כִּדְמוּת זֶה צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת הָאָדָם שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר וְכִי אֲנִי מְתַקֵּן מַה שֶׁפְּלוֹנִי חָטָא אוֹ הִשְׁחִית, לֹא יֹאמַר כָּךְ שֶׁהֲרֵי הָאָדָם חֹטֵא וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁלֹּא עַל יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ מְתַקֵּן אֶת מְעֻוָּת וְרוֹחֵץ צֹאַת עֲוֹנוֹ.

וּמִכָּאן יִתְבַּיֵּשׁ הָאָדָם לָשׁוּב לַחֲטֹא שֶׁהֲרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּעַצְמוֹ רוֹחֵץ לִכְלוּךְ בְּגָדָיו:

 

Lecture 5Remnant of His inheritance - 51:10

Tomer Devorah – Part 5

Remnant of His inheritance – 51:10



The fourth“To the remnant of His inheritance” – behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, acts with His people in this way, to say, “What can I do with Israel, [as] they are My relatives – relation of flesh do I have with them.” As they are the spouse to the Holy One, blessed be He; and He calls them, “My daughter” and “My sister,” “My Mother” – as they, may their memory be blessed, explained (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 3:11:2). And it is written (Psalms 148:14), “Israel, His close (kerovo) nation” – He has actual closeness (kurvah) with them, and they are His children. And that is [the meaning of] the remnant of (she’erit) His inheritance” – it is an expression of relation (she’er) of flesh; and in the end, they are His (literal) inheritance. “And what shall I say? If I punish them, behold the pain is upon Me; as it is written (Isaiah 63:9), ‘In all their distress, the distress (tsar) was to Him.’” And [to Him (lo)] is written with a [letter,] alef, to say that their pain reached the Highest Wonder (Wonder, peleh, being composed of the same letters as the spelling of alef, and representing Keter) – and all the more so, the two Faces through which is the central running [of the world] – but it is written with a [letter,] vav, [to mean that] the distress is to Him. And it is written (Judges 10:16), “and His soul could not bear the travail of Israel” – as He does not bear their pain and their disgrace, because they are “the she’erit [of] His inheritance.”

So is it [regarding] a man with his fellow: All Israel are relations of flesh, these with those. Since all of their souls are bound together, this one has a share in that and that one has a share in this. And hence it is not similar when the many do the commandments [to when they are only done by individuals]. And all of this is because of their being bound together. And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, thus explained (Berakhot 47b) about the one who is counted from the first ten in the synagogue – [that] even if a hundred come after him, he recieves the reward that corresponds to all of them. It is actually a hundred, as per its understanding. Since the ten are included – these in those – behold, they are ten times ten, one hundred. And [so] each one of them is composed of a hundred [parts]. If so, even if one hundred come [afterwards], he has the reward of a hundred. As so from this reason, Israel are guarantors for each other. Since each one actually has a part of his fellow – when the one sins, he damages himself and he damages the part that his fellow has in him. It comes out from the side of that part that his fellow is his guarantor. If so, they are the relation, one of the other. And hence it is fitting that a person be desiring of the good of his fellow and his eye be good towards the good of his fellow, and that his honor should be as beloved to him as his [own] – as he is literally him[self]. And from this reason were we commanded (Leviticus 19:18), “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” And it is fitting that he desire the propriety of his fellow and not speak about his disgrace at all. And he [should] not want it, in the way that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not want our disgrace nor our pain – from the reason of relation. So too [should] he not want the disgrace of his fellow nor his pain, nor his corruption. And it [should] be bad for him on account of [his fellow], as if he was actually experiencing that pain, or [good for him from] that good [that he experiences].

הד’ – לשארית נחלתו – הִנֵּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּדֶרֶךְ זֶה לוֹמַר מַה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֵם קְרוֹבָי שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר יֵשׁ לִי עִמָּהֶם שֶׁהֵם בַּת זוּג לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְקוֹרֵא לָהּ בִּתִּי, אֲחוֹתִי, אִמִּי. כְּדְפֵרְשׁוּ ז”ל וּכְתִיב יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קְרוֹבוֹ מַמָּשׁ קֻרְבָה יֵשׁ לוֹ עִמָּהֶם וּבָנָיו הֵם. וְהַיְנוּ לִשְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ לָשׁוֹן שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר וְסוֹף סוֹף הֵם נַחֲלָתוֹ. וּמַה אֹמַר, אִם אַעֲנִישֵׁם הֲרֵי הַכְּאֵב עָלַי כְּדִכְתִיב (יְשַׁעְיָה סג, ט) בְּכָל צָרָתָם לוֹ צָר. כְּתִיב בְּ’אַלֶף’ לוֹמַר שֶׁצַּעֲרָם מַגִּיעַ לְפֶלֶא הָעֶלְיוֹן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן לְדוּ פַּרְצוּפִין שֶׁבָּהֶן עִיקָר הַהַנְהָגָה וְקָרֵינַן בְּ’וָאו’ לוֹ צָר. וּכְתִיב (שֹׁפְטִים, ז) וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשִׁי בַּעֲמַל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ סוֹבֵל צַעֲרָם וּקְלוֹנָם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם שְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ.

כָּךְ הָאָדָם עִם חֲבֵרוֹ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר אֵלּוּ עִם אֵלּוּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמוֹת כְּלוּלוֹת יַחַד יֵשׁ בָּזֶה חֵלֶק זֶה וּבָזֶה חֵלֶק זֶה, וּלְכָךְ אֵינוֹ דּוֹמֶה מְרֻבִּים הָעוֹשִׂים אֶת הַמִּצְוֹת וְכ”ז מִפְּנֵי כְּלָלוּתָם, וּלְכָךְ פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה עַל הַנִּמְנֶה מֵעֲשָׂרָה רִאשׁוֹנִים בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה בָּאִים אַחֲרָיו מְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם, מֵאָה מַמָּשׁ כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָעֲשָׂרָה הֵם כְּלוּלִים אֵלּוּ בְּאֵלּוּ הֲרֵי הֵם עֲשָׂרָה פְּעָמִים עֲשָׂרָה מֵאָה וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶם כָּלוּל מִמֵּאָה אִם כֵּן אֲפִלּוּ יָבוֹאוּ מֵאָה הוּא יֵשׁ לוֹ שְׂכַר מֵאָה, וְכֵן מִטַּעַם זֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה לָזֶה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּמָּשׁ יֵשׁ בְּכָל אֶחָד חֵלֶק אֶחָד מֵחֲבֵרוֹ וּכְשֶׁחוֹטֵא הָאֶחָד פּוֹגֵם אֶת עַצְמוֹ וּפוֹגֵם חֵלֶק אֲשֶׁר לַחֲבֵרוֹ בּוֹ, נִמְצָא מִצַּד הַחֵלֶק הַהוּא חֲבֵרוֹ עָרֵב עָלָיו. אִם כֵּן הֵם שְׁאֵר זֶה עִם זֶה וּלְכָךְ רָאוּי לְאָדָם לִהְיוֹתוֹ חָפֵץ בְּטוֹבָתוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ וְעֵינוֹ טוֹבָה עַל טוֹבַת חֲבֵרוֹ וּכְבוֹדוֹ יִהְיֶה חָבִיב עָלָיו כְּשֶׁלּוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא הוּא מַמָּשׁ, וּמִטַּעַם זֶה נִצְטַוִּינוּ (וַיִּקְרָא, יט) וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ וְרָאוּי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה בְּכַשְׁרוּת חֲבֵרוֹ וְלֹא יְדַבֵּר בִּגְנוּתוֹ כְּלָל וְלֹא יִרְצֶה בוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רוֹצֶה בִּגְנוּתֵנוּ וְלֹא בְּצַעַרֵנוּ מִטַּעַם הַקֻּרְבָה, אַף הוּא לֹא יִרְצֶה בִּגְנוּת חֲבֵרוֹ וְלֹא בְּצַעֲרוֹ וְלֹא בְּקִלְקוּלוֹ וְיֵרַע לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מַמָּשׁ הָיָה שָׁרוּי בְּאוֹתוֹ צַעַר אוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ טוֹבָה:

 

Lecture 6Does not maintain his anger - 46:59

Tomer Devorah – Part 6

Does not maintain his anger – 46:59



The fifth“He does not hold on to His fury forever” – this is a different trait: that even if a person holds on to his sin, the Holy One, blessed be He, does not hold on to His fury. And if He holds on to it, not forever. Rather, He nullifies His anger, even if the person does not repent. As we found in the days of Yerovam the son of Yoash, that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought back the boundary of Israel [from occupation] and they were [still] worshipping calves – He had mercy upon them, but they did not repent. If so, why did He have mercy? For the sake of this trait, that He does not hold on to his fury forever. Just the opposite, His fury weakens – even as the sin is still in existence, He does not punish, but rather He expects and has mercy that they may repent. And that is [the meaning of] “He will not contend forever, or begrudge for all time” (Psalms 103:9). Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, acts with softnesses and harshnesses, all for the good of Israel.

And this is a trait that is fitting for a person to practice with his fellow. Even if he is permitted to rebuke his fellow or his sons with upbraiding and they [accept it], it is not because of this that he [should] increase his rebuke. And he [should] not hold on to his anger – even if he got angry – but rather nullify it. And he [should] not hold on to his rage forever, even if it is a [rage] that is permitted to a person, similar to that which they explained: “When you see the donkey of your fellow, etc.” (Exodus 23:5); and they explained (Pesachim 113b) what is this anger – that he saw him transgressing a sin, but [the one seeing] is [alone, such that] he may not testify; and [so] he hates him for the matter of the sin. And even so, the Torah states, “you shall surely release with him” – leave that which is in your heart; rather it is a commandment to bring him close with love. [As] perhaps it will be beneficial [to act] in this way. And this is exactly the trait of, “He does not hold on to His fury forever.”

הה’ – לא החזיק לעד אפוזוֹ מִדָּה אַחֶרֶת שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁהָאָדָם מַחֲזִיק בְּחֵטְא אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַחֲזִיק אַף, וְאִם מַחֲזִיק לֹא לָעַד אֶלָּא יְבַטֵּל כַּעֲסוֹ אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּב הָאָדָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ בִּימֵי יָרָבְעָם בֶּן יוֹאָשׁ שֶׁהֶחְזִיר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֵם הָיוּ עוֹבְדִים עֲגָלִים וְרִחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְלֹא שָׁבוּ אִם כֵּן לָמָּה רִחֵם, בִּשְׁבִיל מִדָּה זוֹ שֶׁלֹּא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ אַדְּרַבָּא מַחְלִישׁ אַפּוֹ עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁעֲדַיִן הַחֵטְא קַיָּם אֵינוֹ מַעֲנִישׁ אֶלָּא מְצַפֶּה וּמְרַחֵם אוּלַי יָשׁוּבוּ, וְהַיְנוּ כִּי לֹא לָנֶצַח אָרִיב וְלֹא לְעוֹלָם אֶטּוֹר אֶלָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג בְּרַכּוֹת וּבַקָּשׁוֹת הַכֹּל לְטוֹבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל

וְזוֹ מִדָּה רְאוּיָה לְאָדָם לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהּ עַל חֲבֵרוֹ אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁהוּא רַשַּׁאי לְהוֹכִיחַ בְּיִסּוּרִים אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ אוֹ אֶת בָּנָיו וְהֵם מִתְיַסְּרִים לֹא מִפְּנֵי זֶה יַרְבֶּה תּוֹכַחְתּוֹ וְלֹא יַחֲזִיק כַּעֲסוֹ אֲפִלּוּ שֶּׁכָּעַס אֶלָּא יְבַטְּלֶנּוּ וְלֹא יַחֲזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ, גַם אִם אַף הוּא הַמֻּתָּר לָאָדָם כְּעֵין שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ כִּי תִרְאֶה חֲמוֹר שֹׂנַאֲךָ וְגוֹ’ וּפֵרְשׁוּ מַה הִיא הַשִּׂנְאָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתוֹ עוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה וְהוּא יָחִיד אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהָעִיד וְשֹׂנֵא אוֹתוֹ עַל דְּבַר עֲבֵרָה וַאֲפִלּוּ הָכִי אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב עִמּוֹ שְׁבוֹק יָת דִּבְלִבָּךְ אֶלָּא מִצְוָה לְקָרֵב אוֹתוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה אוּלַי יוֹעִיל בְּדֶרֶךְ זוֹ וְהַיְנוּ מַמָּשׁ מִדָּה זוֹ לֹא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ

 

Lecture 7He desires loving kindness - 47:28

Tomer Devorah – Part 7

He desires loving kindness – 47:28



The sixth“For He is One that desires kindness” – did we not already explain in its place that in the known chamber, there are angels appointed to receive the bestowing of kindness that a man does in this world? And when the trait of justice prosecutes against Israel, these angels immediately show this kindness, and the Holy One, blessed be He, has mercy upon Israel, since He desires kindness. And even with their being liable, if they bestow kindness – this one to that one – He has mercy upon them. And it is like it was at the time of the destruction [of the Temple]: That it was told to Gavriel (Ezekiel 10:2), “Go inside the wheelwork, etc.” – as he is the minister of judgement and power; and He gave him authority to receive powers of judgement, inside the wheelwork from under the cherubs, from the fire of the altar. This is the judgement of the power of kingship (Malchut). And the judgement was intensified until it sought to finish everything off – to uproot the seed of Israel, since they were liable for destruction. And it is written (Ezekiel 10:8), “And by the cherubs there appeared the form of the hand of a man under their wings.” And this is [meaning] that the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Gavriel, “They are bestowing acts of kindness – these with those – and even if they are liable, they are saved and there shall be a remnant from them.” And the reason is because of this trait – since He is One who desires kindness, He desires that which Israel does kindness. And He recalls that side for them, even as they are not fitting from another side.

If so, it is fitting for a person to practice this approach. If he sees a person doing evil to him and angering him – if there is a good side to [that person], that he does good to others or [has] a good trait that he practice appropriately, that side should suffice for him to nullify his anger from upon him. And his heart [should] be appeased about him; and he [should] desire kindness and say, “It is enough for me with this goodness that he has.” And all the more so [is this the case] with his wife; as our Rabbis explained (Yevamot 63a), “It is enough that they raise our children, and save us from sin.” So should he say about every person, “It is enough for me with x goodness that he did for me,” or “that he did with y,” or “[with the] good trait z that he has.” He will [hence] be desiring kindness.

הו’ – כי חפץ חסד הואהֲלֹא כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁנוּ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּהֵיכָל יָדוּעַ מַלְאָכִים מְמֻנִּים לְקַבֵּל גְּמִילוּת חֶסֶד שֶׁאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְכַאֲשֶׁר מִדַּת הַדִּין מְקַטְרֶגֶת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִיַּד אֹתָם הַמַּלְאָכִים מַרְאִים הַחֶסֶד הַהוּא וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְרַחֵם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא חָפֵץ בְּחֶסֶד, וְעִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁהֵם חַיָּבִים אִם הֵם גּוֹמְלִים חֶסֶד זֶה לָזֶה – מְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בִּזְמַן הַחֻרְבָּן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְגַבְרִיאֵל (יְחֶזְקֵאל י, ב) בֹּא אֶל בֵּינוֹת לַגַּלְגַּל וְגוֹ’ כִּי הוּא שַׂר הַדִּין וְהַגְּבוּרָה וְנָתַן לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְקַבֵּל כֹּחוֹת הַדִּין בֵּינוֹת לַגַּלְגַּל מִתַּחַת לַכְּרוּבִים מֵאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ דְּהַיְנוּ דִּין גְּבוּרַת הַמַּלְכוּת וְהָיָה הַדִּין מִתְחַזֵּק עַד שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לְכַלּוֹת אֶת הַכֹּל לְקַעֲקֵעַ בֵּיצָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּתְחַיְּבוּ כְּלָיָה וּכְתִיב (שם, ח) וַיֵּרָא לַכְּרוּבִים תַּבְנִית יַד אָדָם תַּחַת כַּנְפֵיהֶם וְהַיְּנוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְגַבְרִיאֵל הֵם גּוֹמְלִים חֲסָדִים אֵלּוּ עִם אֵלּוּ וְאַף אִם הֵם חַיָּבִים נִצּוֹלוּ וְהָיָה לָהֶם שְׁאֵרִית. וְהַטַּעַם מִפְּנֵי מִדָּה זוֹ כִּי חָפֵץ חֶסֶד הוּא רוֹצֶה בְּמַה שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹמְלִים חֶסֶד וְאוֹתוֹ צַד מַזְכִּיר לָהֶם עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם כְּשֵׁרִים בְּצַד אַחֵר.

אִם כֵּן בְּסֵדֶר זוֹ רָאוּי לְאָדָם לְהִתְנַהֵג אַף אִם רָאָה שֶׁאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ רַע וּמַכְעִיסוֹ אִם יֵשׁ בּוֹ צַד טוֹבָה שֶׁמֵּטִיב לַאֲחֵרִים אוֹ מִדָּה טוֹבָה שֶׁמִּתְנַהֵג כַּשּׁוּרָה יַסְפִּיק לוֹ צַד זֶה לְבַטֵּל כַּעֲסוֹ מֵעָלָיו וְיֵרָצֶה לִבּוֹ עִמּוֹ וְיַחְפֹּץ חֶסֶד וְיֹאמַר דַּי לִי בְּטוֹבָה זוֹ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ כִּדְפֵרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (יְבָמוֹת סג, א) דַּיֵּנוּ שֶׁמְּגַּדְלוֹת אֶת בָּנֵינוּ וּמַצִּילוֹת אוֹתָנוּ מִן הַחֵטְא, כָּךְ יֹאמַר עַל כָּל אָדָם דֵּי לִי בְּטוֹבָה פְּלוֹנִית שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי אוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה עִם פְּלוֹנִי אוֹ מִדָּה טוֹבָה פְּלוֹנִית שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ יִהְיֶה חָפֵץ חֶסֶד

 

Lecture 8He shall grant us compassion - 39:11

Tomer Devorah – Part 8

He shall grant us compassion – 39:11



The Seventh“He will again have mercy on us” – behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, does not follow the trait of flesh and blood. [That trait is that] if [someone] angers him – if he is appeased from him, he is a little appeased, [but] not like the previous love [he had for him]. But if a person sinned [to God] and he repents, his stature is greater with the Holy One, blessed be He, [than before]. And this is [the meaning of] “In the place that penitents stand, [even] completely righteous ones cannot stand” (Berakhot 34b). And the reason is like they explained in the chapter [entitled] HaBoneh (it is in Menachot 29b in our texts) regarding why [the letter,] hey is made like a portico: “Such that the one that wants to exit from his world [may] exit.” The explanation is that the world was created with a hey. And the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world widely open to the side of evil and sin. There is no side that does not have physicality, the evil impulse and defect – like a type of portico. It does not have fences but rather has a large breach, open towards the side of evil, to the bottom side. How many openings are there for anyone who wants to exit from his world – he cannot turn to a side that he will not find a side of sin and iniquity to go out to the external forces (Chitsonim)! But it is [also] open from above; so that if he repents, he will be accepted. And they asked, “Let him be taken back through [the bottom]!” [They answered,] “the matter will not help.” They [meant] with this that one who repents will not suffice to be fenced from iniquity [with a fence] like the fence of the righteous ones that did not sin – a small fence suffices for them. However a small fence will not suffice for the sinner that sinned and repented. Rather, he needs to fence himself with several difficult fences, since he already breached the small fence once. If he approaches there, his impulse seduces him easily. Rather he needs to distance himself with a very great distancing. And for this [reason], he does not enter through the opening of the portico, where the breach is there. Rather, he ascends and enters through the small opening, [such that] he makes several difficulties and mortifications for himself and [thereby] closes the breaches.

And from this reason, “In the place that penitents stand, etc.” – because they do not enter through the opening of the righteous ones, so that they will be with the righteous ones. Rather, they trudge and climb through the higher opening, and mortify themselves and become much more separated from sin than the righteous ones. Hence they climbed and stood on the level of hey (the numerical equivalent of which is five) – the fifth chamber in the Garden of Eden, which is the roof of the hey – whereas the righteous ones are at the opening of the hey, at the entrance of the portico. And accordingly, when a person undergoes repentance (Teshuvah) – which is [that] hey returns (Teshuv Hey) to its place – and the Holy One, blessed be He, brings back His Presence upon him, He does not come back [with a love] only like the first love, but rather much more. And this is [the meaning of] “He will again have mercy on us” – that He will add to His mercy on Israel and refine them more and bring them closer.

And so must a person act towards his fellow. He should not begrudge enmity from the earlier anger. But rather when he sees that his fellow seeks his love, he should have a level of mercy and love [that is] much more than before. And he should say, “Behold, for me he is like penitents, that the completely righteous cannot stand next to them.” And he [should] bring him the closest – closer than he brings those that are completely righteous with him, that have not sinned towards him.

הז’ – ישוב ירחמנו – הִנֵּה אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג כְּמִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁאִם הִכְעִיסוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא מִתְרַצֶּה עִמּוֹ מִתְרַצֶּה מְעַט לֹא כְּאַהֲבָה הַקּוֹדֶמֶת. אֲבָל אִם חָטָא אָדָם וְעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה, מַעֲלָתוֹ יוֹתֵר גְּדוֹלָה עִם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהַיְּנוּ (בְּרָכוֹת לד) “בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁבַּעֲלֵי תְּשׁוּבָה עוֹמְדִים אֵין צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמוֹד”. וְהַטַּעַם כִּדְפֵרְשׁוּ בְּפֶרֶק הַבּוֹנֶה (לְפָנֵינוּ הוּא במְנָחוֹת כט) בְּעִנְיַן ה לָמָּה הִיא עֲשׂוּיָה כְּאַכְסַדְרָא שֶׁכָּל הָרוֹצֶה לָצֵאת מֵעוֹלָמוֹ יֵצֵא, פֵּרוּשׁ הָעוֹלָם נִבְרָא בַּה’ וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּרָא הָעוֹלָם פָּתוֹחַ לְצַד הָרַע וְהַחֵטְא לִרְוָחָה אֵין צַד שֶׁאֵין חֹמֶר וְיֵצֶר הָרַע וּפְגָם כְּמִין אַכְסַדְרָא, אֵינוֹ בַּעַל גְּדָרִים אֶלָּא פִּרְצָה גְּדוֹלָה פְּרוּצָה לְצַד הָרַע לְצַד מַטָּה כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה לָצֵאת מֵעוֹלָמוֹ כַּמָּה פִתְחִין לוֹ לֹא יִפְנֶה לְצַד שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצָא צַד חֵטְא וְעָוֹן לִכָּנֵס אֶל הַחִצוֹנִים, וְהִיא פְתוּחָה מִלְּמַעְלָה שֶׁאִם יָשֻׁב יְקַבְּלוּהוּ. וְהִקְשׁוּ וּלְהַדְּרוּהוּ בְּהַאי, לֹא מִסְתַּיְּעָא מִלְּתָא, רָצוּ בָּזֶה שֶׁהַשָּׁב בִּתְשׁוּבָה לֹא יַסְפִּיק לוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִגְדָר בֶּעָוֹן כְּגֶדֶר הַצַּדִּיקִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ גָּדֵר מְעַט יַסְפִּיק אֲלֵיהֶם אָמְנָם הַחוֹטֵא שֶׁחָטָא וָשָׁב לֹא יַסְפִּיק לוֹ גָּדֵר מְעַט אֶלָּא צָרִיךְ לְהַגְדִּיר עַצְמוֹ כַּמָּה גְּדָרִים קָשִׁים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֹתוֹ הַגָּדֵר הַמְעַט כְּבַר נִפְרָץ פַּעַם אַחַת אִם יִתְקָרֵב שָׁם בְּקַל יְפַתֵּהוּ יִצְרוֹ אֶלָּא צָרִיךְ לְהִתְרַחֵק הֶרְחֵק גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, וְלָזֶה לֹא יִכָּנֵס דֶּרֶךְ פֶּתַח הָאַכְסַדְרָה שֶׁהַפִּרְצָה שָׁם אֶלָּא יִתְעַלֶּה וְיִכָּנֵס דֶּרֶךְ פֶּתַח צַר וַיַּעֲשֶׂה כַּמָּה צָרוֹת וְסִגּוּפִים לְעַצְמוֹ וְיִסְתֹּם הַפְּרָצוֹת

וּמִטַּעַם זֶה בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁבַּעֲלֵי תְּשׁוּבָה עוֹמְדִים וְכוּ’ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא נִכְנְסוּ דֶּרֶךְ פֶּתַח הַצַּדִּיקִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים, אֶלָּא נִצְטַעֲרוּ וְעָלוּ דֶּרֶךְ פֶּתַח הָעֶלְיוֹן וְסִגְּפוּ עַצְמָן וְנִבְדְּלוּ מִן הַחֵטְא יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר מִן הַצַּדִּיקִים לְכָךְ עָלָו וְעָמְדוּ בְּמַדְרֵגָה ה’ הֵיכָל חֲמִישִׁי שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן דְּהַיְנוּ גַּג הַהֵ”א וְצַדִּיקִים בְּפֶתַח הַהֵ”א בִּכְנִיסַת הָאַכְסַדְרָא וְלָזֶה כַּאֲשֶׁר הָאָדָם יַעֲשֶׂה תְּשׁוּבָה דְּהַיְנוּ תָּשׁוּב ה’ אֶל מְקֹמָהּ, וְיַחְזִיר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁכִינָתוֹ עָלָיו אֵינוֹ שָׁב כְּאַהֲבָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר. וְהַיְּנוּ “יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ” שֶׁיּוֹסִיף רַחֲמִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וִיתַקְּנֵם וִיקָרְבֵם יוֹתֵר

וְכָךְ הָאָדָם צָרִיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג עִם חֲבֵרוֹ לֹא יִהְיֶה נוֹטֵר אֵיבָה מֵהַכַּעַס הַקּוֹדֵם אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁיִּרְאֶה שֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ מְבַקֵּשׁ אַהֲבָתוֹ יִהְיֶה לוֹ בְּמַדְרֵגַת רַחֲמִים וְאַהֲבָה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר מִקֹּדֶם וְיֹאמַר הֲרֵי הוּא לִי כְּבַעֲלֵי תְּשׁוּבָה שֶּׁאֵין צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים יְכוֹלִים לַעֲמֹד אֶצְלָם וִיקָרְבֵהוּ תַּכְלִית קֻרְבָה יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁמְּקָרֵב אֹתָם שֶׁהֵם צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים עִמּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ אֶצְלוֹ

 

Lecture 9He shall hide our iniquities - 44:26

Tomer Devorah – Part 9

He shall hide our iniquities – 44:26



The eighth – “He shall hide our iniquities” – behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, acts with Israel with this trait, and that is the secret of the suppression of iniquities. As behold the commandment, ‘it is like when it blossoms, its bud arises’ and it pierces and climbs until no end, to enter in front of Him, may He be blessed. But the iniquities, however, do not have passage there, God forbid. Rather, He suppresses them, such that they not enter – as it is written (Psalms 5:5), “evil does not dwell [with] You (yegurcha)”; evil shall not dwell in Your domicile (megurcha). If so, the iniquity does not enter inside. And from this reason, “There is no reward for a commandment in this world” (Kiddushin 39a) – as [the commandments] are in front of Him, may He be blessed. And how can He give him from that which is in front of Him – a spiritual reward – in the world that is physical? And behold, the entire world is not worth one commandment and the satisfaction [from it] in front of Him. And for this reason, He does not take the bribe of commandments. The metaphor for this is that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not say, “He did forty commandments and ten sins; there remain thirty and the [other] ten go [away] with the ten” – God forbid! Rather, even if he was a completely righteous one and he committed one sin, it is similar in front of Him as if he burned the entire Torah, until he satisfies his debt. And afterwards, he can receive the reward for all of his commandments. And this is a great kindness that the Holy One, blessed be He, does with the righteous ones – that he does not reduce [the reward], as the commandments are very important and climb until [they reach] in front of Him, may He be blessed. And how could He reduce from them on account of sins – as the repayment of sins is from the share of Geihinom, from that which is disdained; whereas the reward of the commandments is from the honored, the radiance of the Divine Presence. How could these be reduced [on account of] those? Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, collects the debt of the sins and pays the reward of all of the commandments. And this is [the meaning of] “He suppresses our iniquities” – that the iniquities do not intensify in front of Him, like the commandments. Rather He suppresses them that they should not rise and not enter – even as He is supervising over the ways of a man, good and bad. Nonetheless, He does not suppress the good, but rather it blossoms and climbs until [it grows] very much. And [so] one commandment is grouped together with [another] commandment and a great edifice is built, and a fine suit [is formed]. But iniquities do not have this special quality, but He rather suppresses them, that they should not have this success, and [not] enter inside [in front of Him].

A man needs to also practice this trait – to not suppress the good of his fellow and remember his evil that he did to him. Rather, just the opposite – he [should] suppress the evil, forget it and neglect it, and ‘evil shall not dwell in his domicile.’ And the good [should] always be ordered in front of him, and he [should] remember [his fellow’s] good. And he [should] intensify it over all of the deeds that he has done to him. And he [should] not reduce [that] in his heart, and say, “If he did me good, behold he [also] did me evil,” and forget the good. He should not do this. Rather, he [should] be appeased in any way of appeasement [possible]. And he [should] never neglect the good from [being] between his eyes; and avert his eye from the evil as much as he can, in the way that the Holy One, blessed be He, suppresses His iniquities, as I have explained.

הח’ – יכבוש עונותינו – הֲרֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִדָּה זוֹ וְהִיא סוֹד כְּבִישַׁת הֶעָוֹן. כִּי הִנֵּה הַמִּצְוֹת הִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלָתָה נִצָּהּ וּבוֹקֵעַ וְעוֹלֶה עַד אֵין תַּכְלִית לִכְנֹס לְפָנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ אָמְנָם הָעֲוֹנוֹת אֵין לָהֶם כְּנִיסָה שָׁם ח”ו אֶלָּא כֹּבְשָׁם שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ כְּדִכְתִיב (תְּהִלִּים ה, ה) “לֹא יְגֻרְךָ רָע” – לֹא יָגוּר בִּמְגוּרְךָ רָע אִם כֵּן אֵין הֶעָוֹן נִכְנָס פְּנִימָה. וּמִטַּעַם זֶה “שְׂכַר מִצְוָה בְּהַאי עָלְמָא לֵיכָּא” (קִדּוּשִׁין לט.) מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם לְפָנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ וְהַאֵיךְ יִתֵּן לוֹ מִמַּה שֶׁלְּפָנָיו שָׂכָר רוּחָנִי בָּעוֹלָם גַּשְׁמִי וַהֲרֵי כָּל הָעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ כְּדַאי לְמִצְוָה אַחַת וּלְקוֹרַת רוּחַ אֲשֶׁר לְפָנָיו. וּמִטַּעַם זֶה לֹא יִקַּח שֹׁחַד שֶׁל מִצְוֹת, הַמָּשָׁל בָּזֶה, אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר עָשָׂה אַרְבָּעִים מִצְוֹת וְעֶשֶׂר עֲבֵרוֹת נִשְׁאֲרוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים מִצְוֹת וְיֵלְכוּ עֶשֶׂר בְּעֶשֶׂר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ צַדִּיק גָּמוּר וְעָשָׂה עֲבֵרָה אַחַת דּוֹמֶה לְפָנָיו כְּאִלּוּ שָׂרַף אֶת הַתּוֹרָה עַד שֶׁיְּרַצֶּה חֹבוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יְקַבֵּל שְׂכַר כָּל מִצְוֹתָיו. וְזֶה חֶסֶד גָּדוֹל שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְנַכֶּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַמִּצְוֹת חֲשׁוּבוֹת מְאֹד וּמִתְעַלּוֹת עַד לְפָנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְהַאֵיךְ יְנַכֶּה מֵהֶן בִּשְׁבִיל הָעֲבֵרוֹת כִּי שְׂכַר הָעֲבֵרָה הוּא מֵחֵלֶק הַגֵּיהִנֹּם – מֵהַנִּבְזֶה, וְהַמִּצְוֹת שְׂכָרָן מֵהַנִּכְבָּד זִיו שְׁכִינָה, הַאֵיךְ יְנַכֶּה אֵלּוּ בְּצַד אֵלּוּ אֶלָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גּוֹבֶה חוֹב הָעֲבֵרוֹת וּמַשְׂכִּיר שְׂכַר כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת. וְהַיְּנוּ יִכְבֹּשׁ עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאֵין הָעֲוֹנוֹת מִתְגַּבְּרִים לְפָנָיו כְּמִצְוֹת אֶלָּא כּוֹבֵשׁ אֹתָם שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעַלּוּ וְלֹא יִכָּנְסוּ עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁהוּא מַשְׁגִּיחַ עַל דַּרְכֵי אִישׁ הַטּוֹב וְהָרָע עִם כָּל זֶה הַטּוֹב אֵינוֹ כּוֹבְשׁוֹ אֶלָּא פּוֹרֵחַ וְעוֹלֶה עַד לִמְאֹד וְנִכְלָל מִצְוָה בְּמִצְוָה וְנִבְנֶה מִמֶּנּוּ בִּנְיָן וּלְבוּשׁ נִכְבָּד וַעֲוֹנוֹת אֵין לָהֶם סְגֻלָּה זוֹ אֶלָּא כּוֹבֵשׁ אֹתָם שֶׁלֹּא יַצְלִיחוּ הַצְלָחָה זוֹ וְלֹא יִכָּנְסוּ פְּנִימָה

אַף מִדָּה זוֹ צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכְבֹּשׁ טוֹבַת חֲבֵרוֹ וַיִּזְכּוֹר רָעָתוֹ שֶׁגְמָלָהוּ אֶלָּא אַדְּרַבָּה יִכְבֹּשׁ הֵרַע וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵהוּ וְיַזְנִיחֵהוּ וְלֹא יָגוּר בִּמְגוּרוֹ רָע וְתִהְיֶה הַטּוֹבָה סְדוּרָה תָּמִיד לְפָנָיו וְיִזְכֹּר לוֹ הַטּוֹבָה וְיַגְבִּיר לוֹ עַל כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים שֶׁעָשָׂה לוֹ וְלֹא יְנַכֶּה בְּלִבּוֹ וְיֹאמַר אִם עָשָׂה לִי טוֹבָה הֲרֵי עָשָׂה לִי רָעָה וְיִשְׁכַּח הַטּוֹבָה לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה כֵן אֶלָּא בְּרָעָה יִתְרַצֶּה כָּל דֶּרֶךְ רִצּוּי שֶׁיּוּכַל וְהַטּוֹבָה אֶל יַזְנִיחָהּ לְעוֹלָם מִבֵּין עֵינָיו וְיַעֲלִים עֵינוֹ מִן הָרָעָה כָּל מַה שֶׁיּוּכַל כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כּוֹבֵשׁ עֲוֹנוֹת כִּדְפֵרַשְׁתִּי

 

Lecture 10Cast into the depths - 1:40:35

Tomer Devorah – Part 10

Cast into the depths of the sea all their sins – 1:40:35

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4



The ninth – “Cast into the depths of the sea all their sins” – this is a good trait of the Holy One, blessed be He. As behold, Israel sinned; He delivered them into the hand of Pharaoh, and they repented. Why [should] he punish Pharaoh? And likewise Sancheriv; and likewise Haman and those similar to them. The Holy One, blessed be He, is not only assuaged to say, “They have repented. If so, let them not have any more evil. If so, let Haman withdraw from them,” or Pharaoh, or Sancheriv. This does not suffice. Rather, he puts the travail of Haman back on his head; and likewise Pharaoh; and likewise Sancheriv. And the reason for this practice is the secret of “And the goat carries upon him all of their iniquities to a desolate land” (Leviticus 16:22). And its explanation is that it carries the actual sins. But this is very difficult: And shall Israel sin and the goat carry [it]? Rather [this] trait is like this: A person confesses [sins], and his intention in the confession is to receive purification upon himself; like the matter that David stated (Psalms 51:4), “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.” And so, in our saying, “Purge [me] in Your great mercy,” [one] is only praying that the afflictions be light, such that there not be a hindrance of Torah [study]; and this [is also the intention of] that which we say, “But not through bad (harsh) afflictions.” And so, in his saying, “And You are righteous about all that happens to me” – he intends to truly accept afflictions with a pleasant countenance, in order to atone; as there are iniquities that [only] afflictions purge or that [only] death purges. And such is the trait: As soon as this one confesses in his prayer – they explained in the Zohar in Parshat Pekudei (p. 262b) that this is the portion of Samael, similar to the goat. What is his portion that the Holy One, blessed be He, decreed for him? Afflictions. And [so] Samael immediately arrives there and goes and collects his debt. And behold, [this is] the goat carrying the iniquities – that the Holy One, blessed be He, gives him authority to collect his debt, and Israel is [thus] purified. But, behold, it all devolves upon Samael. And the reason is because the Holy One, blessed be He, decreed upon His world, that anyone who does this, will be nullified. And this is the reason of, “and you shall kill the beast” (Leviticus 20:15). And likewise the stone of the commandment of those stoned; and the sword of the commandment of those killed, require burial (Sanhedrin 45b) to nullify their existence and power after their judgement is finished.

And behold, there is actually the secret of the image of Nevuchadnetsar in this: Israel was given over to the hand of the king of Babylonia, “the head of gold” (Daniel 2:32). That head was humbled and given over to the hand of Persia, who are “the chest and the arms of silver.” And likewise, these were pushed off for those, until Israel descended to “their feet, some of them were iron and some of them were clay” (Daniel 2:33). And what is the good finish? In the end, the Holy One, blessed be He, stands them up and carries out judgement upon them, as it is written (Deuteronomy 32:23), “I will finish My arrows upon them” – My arrows end, but Israel does not end (Sotah 9a). “All at once, the (bronze, silver, gold, etc.) were crushed” (Daniel 2:35). Behold at the beginning, it is written (Daniel 2:34), “and struck the image on its feet” – there is nothing of the image besides its feet, as the power of the head, its arms and its belly had already been nullified. And nonetheless at the end, it was crushed [entirely] as one. In the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will stand up Samael and the evildoers that do his deeds and acts, and carry out the judgement upon them. And that is [the meaning of] “and You will hurl into the depths of the sea all of their sins” – it wants [to say], He will hurl the power of judgement to bring [it] down on the hands of these, who are “the depths of the sea.” [As it is stated (Isaiah 57:20),] “But the wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, whose waters toss up mire and mud” – these are the ones that enact judgement upon Israel, all the payment of whom falls back on their heads. And the reason is because after Israel has received their judgement, the Holy One, blessed be He, regrets even about what preceded, and He [avenges] their insult. And it is not enough [that they carried out the judgement on Israel], but rather, “I was a little mad, but they assisted for the bad” (Zechariah 1:15).

Also this trait must a person practice with his fellow. Even if he is an evildoer that is plagued with afflictions, he shall not hate him – as once he has been debased, behold he is like your brother (Makkot 23a). And he [should] bring close the downtrodden and punished and have mercy upon them. And just the opposite, he should save them from the hand of the enemy, and he should not say, “It is his iniquity that caused it to him.” But rather, he should have mercy upon him with this trait, as I have explained.

הט’ – ותשליך במצולות ים כל חטאותם – ותשליך במצלות ים כל חטאותם – זוֹ מִדָּה טוֹבָה לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל חָטְאוּ מְסָרָם בְּיַד פַּרְעֹה וְשָׁבוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה לָמָּה יַעֲנִישׁ פַּרְעֹה וְכֵן סַנְחֵרִיב וְכֵן הָמָן וְדוֹמֵיהֶם אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַחֵם בִּלְבַד לוֹמַר שָׁבוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה אִם כֵּן לֹא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם עוֹד רָעָה אִם כֵּן יִסְתַּלֵּק הָמָן מֵעֲלֵיהֶם אוֹ פַרְעֹה אוֹ סַנְחֵרִיב זֶה לֹא יַסְפִּיק אֶלָּא יָשׁוּב עֲמַל הָמָן עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְכֵן פַּרְעֹה וְכֵן סַנְחֵרִיב וְהַטַּעַם לְהַנְהָגָה זוֹ הִיא בְּסוֹד (וַיִּקְרָא טז, כב): “וְנָשָׂא הַשָּׂעִיר עָלָיו אֶת כָּל עֲוֹנֹתָם אֶל אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה” וּפֵרוּשׁוֹ שֶׁהַשָּׂעִיר נוֹשֵׂא עֲוֹנוֹת מַמָּשׁ, וְזֶה קָשֶׁה מְאֹד וְכִי יִשְׂרָאֵל חָטְאוּ וְהַשָּׂעִיר נוֹשֵׂא. אֶלָּא הַמִּדָּה הִיא כָּךְ הָאָדָם מִתְוַדֶּה וְכַוָּנָתוֹ בַּוִּדּוּי לְקַבֵּל עָלָיו טָהֳרָה כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד (תְּהִלִּים נא, ד): “הֶרֶב כַּבְּסֵנִי מֵעֲוֹנִי” וְכֵן הוּא אֲמָרֵנוּ “מְרוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים” אֵינוֹ מִתְפַּלֵּל אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יִסּוּרִים קַלִּים שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה בָּהֶם בִּטּוּל תּוֹרָה. וְזֶה שֶׁאוֹמְרִים “אֲבָל לֹא עַל יְדֵי יִסּוּרִים רָעִים” וְכָךְ הוּא מְכַוֵּן בִּהְיוֹתוֹ אוֹמֵר “וְאַתָּה צַדִּיק עַל כָּל הַבָּא עָלַי” מַמָּשׁ הוּא מְקַבֵּל יִסּוּרִים בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת לְהִתְכַּפֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ עֲוֹנוֹת שֶׁיִּסּוּרִים מְמָרְקִים אוֹ מִיתָה מְמָרֶקֶת. וְכָךְ הִיא הַמִּדָּה מִיַּד שֶׁזֶּה מִתְוַדֶּה בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ וּפֵרְשׁוּ בַּזֹּהַר בְּפָרָשַׁת פְּקוּדֵי (דַּף רסב:) שֶׁהוּא חֵלֶק סמא”ל כְּעֵין הַשָּׂעִיר, מַהוּ חֶלְקוֹ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גּוֹזֵר עָלָיו יִסּוּרִים וּמִיַּד מִזְדַּמֵּן שָׁם סמא”ל וְהוֹלֵךְ וְגוֹבֶה חוֹבוֹ וַהֲרֵי נוֹשֵׂא הַשָּׂעִיר הָעֲוֹנוֹת שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נוֹתֵן לוֹ רְשׁוּת לִגְבּוֹת חוֹבוֹ וְיִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְטַהֲרִים וְהִנֵּה הַכֹּל יִתְגַּלְגֵּל עַל סמא”ל, וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גָּזַר עַל עוֹלָמוֹ שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה כֵן יִתְבַּטֵּל, וְזֶה טַעַם “וְאֶת הַבְּהֵמָה תַּהֲרֹגוּ” (וַיִּקְרָא כ, טו) וְכֵן הָאֶבֶן שֶׁל מִצְוַת הַנִּסְקָלִין וְהַסַּיִף שֶׁל מִצְוַת הַנֶּהֱרָגִין טְעוּנִין קְבוּרָה (סַנְהֶדְרִין מה:) לְבַטֵּל מְצִיאוּתָם וְכֹחָם אַחַר שֶׁיִּגְמֹר דִּינָם

וַהֲרֵי בָזֶה מַמָּשׁ סוֹד הַצֶּלֶם שֶׁל נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר נִמְסְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיַד מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל “רֵישָׁא דִּי דַהֲבָא” (דָּנִיֵּאל ב, לב) נִכְנַע הַהוּא רֵישָׁא וְנִמְסְרוּ בְּיַד פָּרַס שֶׁהֵן “חֲדוֹהִי וּדְרָעוֹהִי דִּי כְסַף” וְכֵן נִדְחוּ אֵלּוּ מִפְּנֵי אֵלּוּ עַד שֶׁיָּרְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְ”רַגְלוֹהִי מִנְּהֵון דִּי פַרְזֶל וּמִנְּהֵון דִּי חֲסַף” (דָּנִיֵּאל ב, לג) וּמַה יִהְיֶה תַּכְלִית הַטּוֹב בַּסּוֹף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲמִידָם וְעוֹשֶׂה בָּהֶם דִּין כְּדִכְתִיב (דְּבָרִים לב, כג): “חִצַּי אֲכַלֶּה בָם” חִצַּי כָּלִים וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָם כָּלִים “בֵּאדַיִן דָּקוּ כַּחֲדָא דַהֲבָא כַּסְפָּא וּנְחָשָׁא וְכוּ’” (שָׁם, לה) הִנֵּה בַּהַתְחָלָה כְּתִיב (שם, לד) “וּמְחָת לְצַלְמָא עַל רַגְלוֹהִי” אֵין מִכָּל הַצֶּלֶם אֶלָּא רַגְלָיו שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְבַּטֵּל כֹּחָם וְעָבְרוּ רֹאשׁ וּדְרָעוֹהִי וּמְעוֹהִי וְעִם כָּל זֶה בַּסּוֹף דָּקוּ כַּחֲדָא, עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַעֲמִיד סמא”ל וְהָרְשָׁעִים עוֹשֵׂי מַעֲשָׂיו וּפְעֻלּוֹתָיו וַיַּעֲשֶׂה בָהֶם הַדִּין. וְהַיְּנוּ ” וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם כָּל חַטֹּאותָם ” , יֵרָצֶה הִשְׁלִיךְ כֹּחַ הַדִּין לְהַפִּיל עַל יְדֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵם מְצוּלוֹת יָם “וְהָרְשָׁעִים כַּיָּם נִגְרָשׁ כִּי הַשְׁקֵט לֹא יוּכָל וַיְגָרְשׁוּ מֵימָיו רֶפֶשׁ וָטִיט” (יְשַׁעְיָה נז, כ) אֵלּוּ הֵם הָעוֹשִׂים דִּין בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיָּשׁוּב אַחַר כָּךְ כָּל גְּמוּלָם בְּרֹאשָׁם, וְהַטַּעַם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל קִבְּלוּ הַדִּין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַחֵם אֲפִלּוּ עַל מַה שֶׁקָּדַם וְתוֹבֵעַ עֶלְבּוֹנָם וְלֹא דַּי אֶלָּא “אֲנִי קָצַפְתִּי מְעָט וְהֵמָּה עָזְרוּ לְרָעָה” (זְכַרְיָה א, טו 

גַּם בְּמִדָּה זוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג הָאָדָם עִם חֲבֵרוֹ, אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רָשָׁע מְדֻכָּא בְּיִסּוּרִין אַל יִשְׂנָאֵהוּ שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁנִּקְלָה הֲרֵי הוּא כְּאָחִיךָ (מַכּוֹת כג.) וִיקָרֵב הַמְּרוּדִים וְהַנֶּעֱנָשִׁים וִירַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְאַדְרַבָּה יַצִּילֵם מִיַּד אוֹיֵב וְאַל יֹאמַר עֲוֹנוֹ גָּרַם לוֹ אֶלָּא יְרַחֲמֵהוּ בְּמִדָּה זוֹ כִּדְפֵרַשְׁתִּי

 

Lecture 11Give truth to Yakov - 22:47

Tomer Devorah – Part 11

Give truth to Yakov – 22:47



The Tenth – “You shall give truth to Yakov” – this trait is that Israel has a virtue. Those average people that do not know how to act beyond the [letter] of the law – and they are called Yaakov, since they only act with true behavior; and also the Holy One, blessed be He, has a trait of truth, which is from the angle of the existence of straight judgement. And with these who act with straightness in the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, acts with truth. He has mercy upon them from the angle of straightness and judgement.

A person must also behave with his fellow from the angle of straightness and truth, without inclining the judgement of his fellow – to have mercy upon him in truth; [just] like God, may He be blessed, has mercy upon the average creatures with the trait of truth [in order] to refine them.

הי’ – תתן אמת ליעקב – מִדָּה זוֹ הִיא, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלָה, אֹתָם הַבֵּינוֹנִיִּים שֶׁאֵינָם יוֹדְעִים לְהִתְנַהֵג לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין וְהֵם נִקְרָאִים יַעֲקֹב מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינָם מִתְנַהֲגִים אֶלָּא עִם הַנְהָגוֹת אֲמִתִּיּוֹת גַּם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יֵשׁ לוֹ מִדַּת אֱמֶת שֶׁהוּא עַל צַד מְצִיאוּת הַמִּשְׁפָּט הַיֹּשֶׁר, וְאֵלּוּ הֵם הַמִּתְנַהֲגִים בָּעוֹלָם בְּיֹשֶׁר וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג עִמָּהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת מֵרֶחֶם עֲלֵיהֶם עַל צַד הַיֹּשֶׁר וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט

גַּם כֵּן הָאָדָם צָרִיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג עִם חֲבֵרוֹ עַל צַד הַיֹּשֶׁר וְהָאֱמֶת בְּלִי לְהַטּוֹת מִשְׁפַּט חֲבֵרוֹ לְרַחֵם עָלָיו בֶּאֱמֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ מְרַחֵם עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת הַבֵּינוֹנִיִּים בְּמִדַּת אֱמֶת לְתַקֵּן אֹתָם

 

Lecture 12The loving Kindness - 17:22

Tomer Devorah – Part 12

The loving Kindness – 17:22



The Eleventh – “Kindness to Avraham” – these are the ones that act beyond the [letter] of the law in the world, like Avraham, our father; also the Holy One, blessed be He, acts with them beyond the [letter] of the law. He does not take the law (judgement) to its [full] force, even in the way of straightness. Rather, He [seeks to] go beyond straightness with them, [just] like they act. And that is [the meaning of] “kindness to Avraham” – the Holy One, blessed be He, practices the trait of kindness with those that are like Avraham in their behavior.

Also a person – even as he acts with righteousness, straightness and justice towards every person – his behavior towards the best and the pious [should] be beyond the [letter] of the law. And if he was a little patient with other people – towards these [he should be] much more [patient], and have mercy upon them; to go with them beyond the [letter] of the law that he follows with all other people. And these must be very, very important in front of him and [be] beloved to him. And they [should] be from the people of his entourage.

הי’א – חסד לאברהם – הֵם הַמִּתְנַהֲגִים בָּעוֹלָם לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין כְּאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ גַּם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג עִמָּהֶם לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין, אֵינוֹ מַעֲמִיד עִמָּהֶם הַדִּין עַל תּוֹקְפוֹ אַף לֹא כְּדֶרֶךְ הַיֹּשֶׁר אֶלָּא נִכְנַס עִמָּהֶם לִפְנִים מִן הַיֹּשֶׁר כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵם מִתְנַהֲגִים, וְהַיְּנוּ ” חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם ” הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג בְּמִדַּת חֶסֶד עִם אֹתָם שֶׁהֵם כְּמוֹ אַבְרָהָם בְּהִתְנַהֲגוּת

גַּם הָאָדָם עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁעִם כָּל אָדָם יִהְיֶה מִתְנַהֵג בְּצֶדֶק וּבְיֹשֶׁר וּבְמִשְׁפָּט, עִם הַטּוֹבִים וְהַחֲסִידִים תִּהְיֶה הַנְהָגָתוֹ לְפָנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין. וְאִם לִשְׁאָר הָאָדָם הָיָה סַבְלָן קְצָת לְאֵלּוּ יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, וִירַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם לִכָּנֵס עִמָּהֶם לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין שֶׁהוּא מִתְנַהֵג בָּהּ עִם שְׁאָר הָאָדָם וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אֵלּוּ חֲשׁוּבִים לְפָנָיו מְאֹד מְאֹד וַחֲבִיבִים לוֹ וְהֵם יִהְיוּ מֵאַנְשֵׁי חֶבְרָתוֹ

 

Lecture 13You swore to our fathers - 37:42

Tomer Devorah – Part 13

The loving Kindness – 37:42



The Twelfth – “Which you swore to our fathers” – The twelfth: “Which You swore to our fathers” – there are people that are not proper, and the Holy One, blessed be He, has mercy on all of them. And they explained in the Gemara (Berakhot 7a), “and I will give grace to the one that I give grace” (Exodus 33:19) – “The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘This storehouse is for those that are not proper.’” There is a storehouse of those given grace that the Holy One, blessed be He, graces and gives them [as] a free present. As the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Behold, they have the merit of the fathers – I swore to the fathers. Therefore, even if they are not proper, they shall merit because they are from the seed of the fathers to whom I swore. Hence, I will lead them and guide them until they are refined.”

And so should a person be if he meets evildoers: He should not be cruel towards them or curse them and similar [to these things]. Rather, he should have mercy upon them and say, “In the end, they are the children of Avraham, Yitschak and Yaakov. If they are not fit, their fathers were fit and proper. And one who disgraces the children, disgraces the fathers. [Hence] I do not desire that they be disgraced through me.” And he covers their insult and refines them according to his ability.

הי’ב – אשר נשבעת לאבותינו – יֵשׁ בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְרַחֵם עַל כֻּלָּם וּפֵרְשׁוּ בַּגְּמָרָא (בְּרָכוֹת ז.) “וְחַנֹּתִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן” (שְׁמוֹת לג, יט) אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹצָר זֶה לְאוֹתָם שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים יֵשׁ אוֹצַר חִנּוּנִים שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חוֹנֵן וְנוֹתֵן לָהֶם מַתְּנַת חִנָּם לְפִי שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲרֵי יֵשׁ לָהֶם זְכוּת אָבוֹת, אֲנִי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָאָבוֹת אִם כֵּן עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים יִזְכּוּ בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁהֵם מִזֶּרַע הָאָבוֹת שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָהֶם לְפִיכָךְ אַנְהִילֵם וְאַנְהִיגֵם עַד שֶׁיְּתֻקְּנוּ

וְכָךְ יִהְיֶה הָאָדָם אַף אִם יִפְגַּע בָּרְשָׁעִים אַל יִתְאַכְזֵר כְּנֶגְדָּם אוֹ יְחָרְפֵם וְכַיּוֹצֵא, אֶלָּא יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיֹאמַר סוֹף סוֹף הֵם בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, אִם הֵם אֵינָם כְּשֵׁרִים, אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם כְּשֵׁרִים וַהֲגוּנִים, וְהַמְּבַזֶּה הַבָּנִים מְבַזֶּה הָאָבוֹת, אֵין רְצוֹנִי שֶׁיִּתְבַּזּוּ אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם עַל יָדִי, וּמְכַסֶּה עֶלְבּוֹנָם וּמְתַקְּנָם כְּפִי כֹחוֹ

 

Lecture 14From days of yore - 41:37

Tomer Devorah – Part 14

From days of yore – 41:37



The Thirteenth – “From days of yore” – behold [this is] the trait that the Holy One, blessed be He, has with Israel when their merit and similar [to it] ends. What shall He do – behold, they are not proper in their own right? It is written (Jeremiah 2:2), “I remembered for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride” – the Holy One, blessed be He, actually remembers the days of the early ones, the love that He had from before, and has mercy upon Israel. And through this, He remembers for them all the commandments that they did from the day they were born and all of the good traits with which the Holy One, blessed be He, runs His world. And from all of them, He produces a special quality to have mercy for them. And behold, this trait includes all of the traits entirely, as they explained in the Idra (Zohar, Nasso, p. 134b).

So [should] a person refine his behavior with people, such that even if he does not find an argument from those mentioned [in the other traits], he should say, “There were already times when they did not sin. And behold, that time, or those earlier days, they were fit.” And he [should] remember for them that good that they did in their childhood, and remember for them the love of the ‘ones weaned from milk, removed from the breasts.’ And through this, there will not be a man who will not be fit to benefit, to pray for his welfare and to have mercy upon him.

To now [we] have reached the thirteen traits though which a person should resemble his Creator, which are the highest traits of mercy. And their special quality is that [just] as a person acts below, so [too] will he merit to open for himself the highest trait above – exactly as he acts, so will there be a flow from above. And he will cause that trait to shine in the world. And so he should not have these thirteen traits escape from the eyes of [his] mind. And he [should] not stop the verse from his mouth, so that it will be a reminder – when a situation comes to him that he needs to uses one of the traits, he will remember and say, “Behold, that thing depends upon trait x; I do not want to move from it, so that this trait does not disappear and retreat from the world.”

הי’ג – מימי קדם – הֲרֵי מִדָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשֶׁתַּמָּה זְכוּת וְכַיּוֹצֵא מַה יַעֲשֶׂה וַהֲרֵי הֵם מִצַּד עַצְמָם אֵינָם הֲגוּנִים, כְּתִיב (יִרְמִיָה ב, ב): “זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ אַהֲבַת כְּלוּלֹתָיִךְ” מַמָּשׁ זוֹכֵר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יְמֵי קַדְמוֹנִים, אַהֲבָה שֶׁהָיָה מִקֹּדֶם וּמְרַחֵם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבָזֶה יַזְכִּיר לָהֶם כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁעָשׂוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנּוֹלְדוּ וְכָל מִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַנְהִיג בָּהֶם עוֹלָמוֹ וּמִכֻּלָּם עוֹשֶׂה סְגֻלָּה לְרַחֵם בִּשְׁבִילָם, וַהֲרֵי זוֹ הַמִּדָּה כּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הַמִּדּוֹת כֻּלָּם כִּדְפֵרְשׁוּ בָּאִדְרָא – זֹהַר נָשֹׂא קלד:

כָּךְ הָאָדָם יְתַקֵּן הַנְהָגָתוֹ עִם בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצָא טַעֲנָה מֵאֵלּוּ הַנִּזְכָּרוֹת יֹאמַר כְּבָר הָיוּ שָׁעָה קֹדֶם שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ וַהֲרֵי אֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אוֹ בְּיָמִים קַדְמוֹנִים הָיוּ כְּשֵׁרִים וְיִזְכֹּר לָהֶם הַטּוֹבָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ בְּקַטְנוּתָם וְיִזְכֹּר לָהֶם אַהֲבַת גְּמוּלֵי מֵחָלָב עַתִּיקֵי מִשָּׁדָיִם וּבָזֶה לֹא יִמָּצֵא אָדָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לְהֵטִיבוֹ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל שְׁלוֹמוֹ וּלְרַחֵם עָלָיו

עַד כַּאן הִגִּיעַ שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶן יִהְיֶה הָאָדָם דּוֹמֶה אֶל קוֹנוֹ שֶׁהֵן מִדּוֹת שֶׁל רַחֲמִים עֶלְיוֹנוֹת וּסְגֻלָּתָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאָדָם מִתְנַהֵג לְמַטָּה כָּךְ יִּזְכֶּה לִפְתֹּחַ לוֹ מִדָּה עֶלְיוֹנָה מִלְמַעְלָה מַמָּשׁ כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁיִּתְנַהֵג כָּךְ מַשְׁפִּיעַ מִלְמַעְלָה וְגוֹרֵם שֶׁאוֹתָהּ הַמִּדָּה תָּאִיר בָּעוֹלָם. וּלְכָךְ אַל יָלֻזוּ מֵעֵינֵי הַשֵּׂכֶל שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ וְהַפָּסוּק לֹא יָסוּף מִפִּיו כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ לְמַזְכֶּרֶת כַּאֲשֶׁר יָבֹא לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂה שֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּמִדָּה אַחַת מֵהֶן יִזְכֹּר וְיֹאמַר הֲרֵי דָּבָר זֶה תָּלוּי בְּמִדָּה פְּלוֹנִית אֵינִי רוֹצֶה לָזוּז מִמֶּנָּה שֶׁלֹּא תִתְעַלֵּם וְתִסְתַּלֵּק הַמִּדָּה הַהִיא מִן הָעוֹלָם

 

Section 2Chapter two
Lecture 15Mercy on all creations - 52:57

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 1

Mercy on all creations – – 52:57



Chapter 2 – Some major activities that are the main governance: Further for a person to resemble his Creator from the secret of the trait of the Crown (Keter), he must [do] some major activities – which are the main governance.

The first: The trait of humility – which includes everything – because it is dependent on the Crown. As behold, It is a trait over all of the Traits, but it does not raise itself and become proud above [the others]. Indeed, It goes down and always looks downwards. And that is from two reasons: The one is that It is embarrassed to look at Its Cause, rather Its Emanator always looks down upon It to benefit It; and It looks down to the lower ones. So [too,] must a person be embarrassed from staring upwards, to be proud. Rather, he must always stare downwards, to diminish himself all that he can. And behold, this trait is generally dependent upon the head of a man. As a man only shows his pride with the lifting of his head upwards, whereas the poor person lowers his head downwards. And behold, there is none as tolerant and humble as our God with the trait of the Crown, such that He is the epitome of mercy. And there is no defect nor iniquity nor judgement nor any other trait that intervenes in front of Him, that prevents [Him] from surveying, flowing and bestowing good constantly. So must a person [be], that no cause in the world prevent him from bestowing good; and that no iniquity or improper act of people intervene in front of him in order to impede him from bestowing good from those that need his good at any time and at any instant. And [just] like He sits and nourishes ‘from the antelope’s horns to the lice’s eggs,’ and does not disgrace any creature – as if He were to disgrace the creatures because of their smallness, they would not exist in the world even for an instant – but [He] rather supervises and gives His mercies upon them all; so must a man be, to bestow good to all and not to have any creature disgraced in front of him. Rather, even the puniest of the puny creatures [should] be very important in his eyes, and he [should] put his mind to it; and bestow good to all that need his good. And this trait is dependent on the Crown, in the secret of the Head as a whole.

כמה גופי פעולות שהם עיקר ההנהגה: עוֹד, לִהְיוֹת הָאָדָם דּוֹמֶה לְקוֹנוֹ בְּסוֹד מִדַּת הַכֶּתֶר צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בוֹ כַּמָּה גּוּפֵי פְּעֻלּוֹת שֶׁהֵם עִיקָר הַהַנְהָגָה

הָרִאשׁוֹנָה – הַכּוֹלֶלֶת הַכֹּל הִיא מִדַּת הָעֲנָוָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא תְּלוּיָה בַּכֶּתֶר שֶׁהֲרֵי הִיא מִדָּה עַל כָּל הַמִּדּוֹת וְאֵינָהּ מִתְעַלִּית וּמִתְגָּאָה לְמַעְלָה אָמְנָם יוֹרֶדֶת וּמִסְתַּכֶּלֶת לְמַטָּה תָּדִיר, וְזֶה מִשְּׁנֵי טְעָמִים: הָאֶחָד שֶׁהוּא בּוֹשׁ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בְּסִבָּתוֹ אֶלָּא מַאֲצִילוֹ מַבִּיט בּוֹ תָּמִיד לְהֵטִיבוֹ וְהוּא מַבִּיט בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים. כָּךְ הָאָדָם צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֵּבוֹשׁ מִלְּהִסְתַּכֵּל לְצַד מַעְלָה לְהִתְגָּאוֹת אֶלָּא תָּדִיר יִסְתַּכֵּל לְצַד מַטָּה לְהַפְחִית עַצְמוֹ כָּל מַה שֶׁיּוּכַל. וַהֲרֵי הַמִּדָּה הַזֹּאת הִיא תְּלוּיָה דֶּרֶךְ כְּלָל בָּרֹאשׁ שֶּׁאֵין הָאָדָם מִתְגָּאֶה אֶלָּא בַּהֲרָמַת רֹאשׁוֹ כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה וְהֶעָנִי מַשְׁפִּיל רֹאשׁוֹ לְמַטָּה. וַהֲרֵי אֵין סַבְלָן וְעָנָו כֵּאלֹהֵינוּ בְּמִדַּת הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁהוּא תַּכְלִית הָרַחֲמִים וְלֹא יִכָּנֵס לְפָנָיו שׂוֹם פְּגַם וְלֹא עָוֹן וְלֹא דִּין וְלֹא שׁוּם מִדָּה מוֹנַעַת מִלְּהַשְׁגִּיחַ וּלְהַשְׁפִּיעַ וּלְהֵיטִיב תָּדִיר. כָּךְ צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם שֶׁשּׁוּם סִבָּה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם לֹא תִּמְנָעֵהוּ מִלְּהֵטִיב וְשׂוּם עָוֹן אוֹ מַעֲשֵׂה בְּנֵי אָדָם בִּלְתִּי הָגוּן לֹא יִכָּנֵס לְפָנָיו כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּעַכְּבֵהוּ מִלְּהֵיטִיב לְאוֹתָם הַצְּרִיכִים טוֹבָתוֹ בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל רֶגַע. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא יֹשֵׁב וְזָן מִקַּרְנֵי רְאֵמִים וְעַד בֵּיצֵי כִנִּים וְאֵינוֹ מְבַזֶּה שׁוּם בְּרִיָּה שֶׁאִלּוּ יְבַזֶּה הַבְּרוּאִים מִפְּנֵי פְחִיתוּתָם לֹא יִתְקַיְּמוּ בָעוֹלָם אֲפִלּוּ רֶגַע, אֶלָּא מַשְׁגִּיחַ וְנוֹתֵן רַחֲמָיו עַל כֻּלָּם. כָּךְ צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאָדָם מֵטִיב לַכֹּל וְלֹא יִתְבַּזֶּה שׁוּם נִבְרָא לְפָנָיו אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ בְּרִיָּה קֹלָהּ שֶׁבַּקַּלִּים תִּהְיֶה מְאֹד חֲשׁוּבָה בְעֵינָיו וְיִתֵּן דַּעְתּוֹ עָלֶיהָ וְיֵיטִיב לְכָל הַמִּצְטָרֵךְ אֶל טוֹבָתוֹ, וְזוֹ מִדָּה תְּלוּיָה בַּכֶּתֶר בְּסוֹד הָרֹאשׁ דֶּרֶךְ כְּלָל

 

Lecture 16No strangers allowed! - 34:53

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 2

No strangers allowed! – 34:53



The Second: That his thought resemble the thought of the Crown. [Just] as that Wisdom (Chochmah) does not ever cease to think good thoughts and evil does not intervene – as It is complete mercy, and there is no judgment there, nor any hardness at all – so [should] a man’s thought be always free from anything ugly. And [just] as It is the secret of the Wisdom of the primordial Torah and It is never lacking the secret of the Torah; so must he not divert himself to any diversion from the thought of Torah and [from] thinking about the greatness of God and His good actions, bestowing good, and similar to this.

The principle of the thing is that no foreign or idle thing should intervene in his thought. And this was the virtue of Rabbi Shimon (Bar Yochai) and his colleagues – and behold in the Zohar in Parshat Vayakhel, how much Rabbi Shimon chastised Rabbi Yose when he diverted his thought a little.

הַשְּׁנִיָּה – מַחְשַׁבְתּוֹ תִדְמֶה לְמַחְשֶׁבֶת הַכֶּתֶר. כְּמוֹ שֶׁאוֹתָהּ הַחָכְמָה לֹא תִּפְסֹק תָּמִיד לַחְשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת טוֹבוֹת, וְהָרַע לֹא יִכָּנֵס בָּהּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא רַחֲמִים גְּמוּרִים, וְאֵין שָׁם דִּין וְלֹא שׁוּם קֹשִׁי כְּלָל, כָּךְ הָאָדָם תָּמִיד תִּהְיֶה מַחְשַׁבְתּוֹ פְּנוּיָה מִכָּל דָּבָר מְכֹעָר. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהִיא סוֹד חָכְמָה תּוֹרָה קְדוּמָה, וְלֹא יֶחְסַר שָׁם סוֹד תּוֹרָה, כָּךְ לֹא יִפְנֶה אֶל שׁוּם פְּנִיָּה חוּץ מִמַּחְשֶׁבֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְלַחְשֹׁב בְּגַדְלוּת הָאֵל וּפְעֻלּוֹתָיו הַטּוֹבוֹת וּלְהֵיטִיב וְכַיּוֹצֵא

כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר – לֹא יִכָּנֵס זָר וּבָטֵל בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ, וְזוֹ הָיְתָה מַעֲלַת רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וַחֲבֵרָיו. וְהִנֵּה כְּשֶׁהִפְרִיד רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ מְעָט, כַּמָּה הוֹכִיחוֹ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּזֹהַר בְּפָרָשַׁת וַיַּקְהֵל

 

Lecture 17Lets Make Peace - 43:28

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 3

Lets Make Peace – 43:28



The Third: That there not be any hardness in his forehead at all, but it rather resemble the Forehead of will, that wills everything. Even if he finds people angering [him], he [should] appease them and quiet them with his good will. As so is the will of the Forehead – always willing, appeasing the severities (gevurot) and refining them. So [too, should] he appease the powerful ones (geeborim) that intensify their anger; and he [should] lead them with good will and engulf [them] with great wisdom to quiet the anger – so that it not pass the limit and be destructive, God forbid. And he [should] use the model of the Higher Will, which is drawn from the wondrous Wisdom of the Forehead of the Ancient One (Aatika), and appeases all from there.

And he [should] draw [on this] to always be agreeable towards the creatures; as if his traits are hard with people from a [particular] angle, they will not be appeased by him. And this is the explanation of the Mishnah (Avot 3:10), “Anyone from whom the spirit of creations find pleasure, from him the spirit of the Omnipresent finds pleasure.”

הַשְּׁלִישִׁית – מִצְחוֹ לֹא יִהְיֶה בוֹ קֹשִׁי כְּלָל, אֶלָּא יִדְמֶה תָּמִיד לְמֵצַח הָרָצוֹן שֶׁיְּרַצֶּה אֶת הַכֹּל אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁיִּמְצָא בְּנֵי אָדָם כּוֹעֲסִים יְרַצֵּם וְיַשְׁקִיטֵם בִּרְצוֹנוֹ הַטּוֹב, שֶׁכֵּן מֵצַח הָרָצוֹן הוּא תָּמִיד רוֹצֶה וּמְרַצֶּה הַגְּבוּרוֹת וּמְתַקְּנָם, אַף הוּא יְרַצֶּה הַגִּבּוֹרִים הַמִּתְגַּבְּרִים כַּעֲסָם, וְהוּא יְנַהֲלֵם בְּרָצוֹן טוֹב וִישַׁתֵּף שָׁם חָכְמָה גְּדוֹלָה לְהַשְׁבִּית הַכַּעַס, שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲבֹר הַגְּבוּל וִיקַלְקֵל חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְיֵעָשֶׂה דֻּגְמָא לְרָצוֹן הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁהוּא נִמְשָׁךְ מִן הַחָכְמָה הַנִּפְלָאָה בְּמִצְחָא דְעַתִּיקָא וּמִשָּׁם מְרַצֶּה הַכֹּל

כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר – לֹא יִכָּנֵס זָר וּבָטֵל בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ, וְזוֹ הָיְתָה מַעֲלַת רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וַחֲבֵרָיו. וְהִנֵּה כְּשֶׁהִפְרִיד רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ מְעָט, כַּמָּה הוֹכִיחוֹוְזֶה יִמָּשֵׁךְ לִהְיוֹתוֹ תָּמִיד נֹחַ לַבְּרִיּוֹת, שֶׁאִם מִדּוֹתָיו קָשׁוֹת מִצַּד אֶחָד עִם בְּנֵי אָדָם, לֹא יִתְרַצּוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. וְזֶה טַעַם הַמִּשְׁנֶה כָּל שֶׁרוּחַ הַבְּרִיּוֹת נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ, רוּחַ הַמָּקוֹם נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ

 

Lecture 18Hear No Evil - 19:02

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 4

Hear No Evil – 19:02



The Fourth: That his ears are always inclined to hear the good. Indeed, a useless or disgraceful report [should] not enter them at all. In the way that no yelling of judgement nor defect of evil speech enters the Highest Listening, so [should] he only listen to goodnesses and beneficial things. And he [should] not listen to the other things that intensify anger at all. And [just] like the snake, his speech and his expression do not enter Above, so [too,] must no disgraceful thing enter to him. And that is [the meaning of, “You shall not raise a false report” (Exodus 23:1) – all the more so, [should] the other disgraceful things not enter his ear at all. And it [should] only listen to good things.

הַרביעית – שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אָזְנָיו נוֹטוֹת תָּמִיד לִשְׁמֹעַ הַטּוֹב, אָמְנָם שֵׁמַע שָׁוְא אוֹ הַמְּגֻנֶּה לֹא יִכָּנֵס בָּהֶם כְּלָל, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁסּוֹד הַאֲזָנָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה אֵין שׁוּם צַעֲקַת דִּין וְלֹא פְּגַם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע נִכְנָס שָׁם, כָּךְ לֹא יַאֲזִין אֶלָּא הַטּוֹבוֹת וְהַדְּבָרִים הַמּוֹעִילִים, וּשְׁאָר דְּבָרִים הַמַּגְבִּירִים כַּעַס לֹא יַאֲזִין אֲלֵיהֶם כְּלָל, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהַנָּחָשׁ וְדִבּוּרוֹ וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ אֵינוֹ נִכְנָס לְמַעְלָה, כָּךְ לֹא יִכָּנֵס אֵלָיו שׁוּם דָּבָר מְגֻנֶּה. וְהַיְּנוּ “לֹא תִשָּׂא שֵׁמַע שָׁוְא” (שְׁמוֹת כג, א) כָּל שֶׁכֵּן שְׁאָר הַמְּגֻנֶּה שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס לְאָזְנוֹ כְּלָל, וְלֹא תִהְיֶה קַשֶּׁבֶת אֶלָּא אֶל הַדְּבָרִים הַטּוֹבִים

Lecture 19See No Evil - 26:08

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 5

See No Evil – 26:08



The Fifth: The fifth: His eyes [should] not gaze at any disgraceful thing at all. Indeed, they [should] always be open to survey and have mercy upon all the despondent, according to his ability. And when he sees the distress of a poor person, he [should] not shut his eyes at all. Rather, he [should] contemplate about him in his mind – according to his ability – and arouse mercy upon him in front of the Heavens and in front of the creatures. And he [should] distance himself from all observation of evil, in the way that the Highest Eye is open and gazes immediately at the good.

החמישית – עֵינָיו לֹא יִסְתַּכֵּל בָּהֶן כְּלָל בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר מְגֻנֶּה. אָמְנָם תִּהְיֶינָה תָמִיד פְקֻחוֹת לְהַשְׁגִּיחַ וּלְרַחֵם עַל הָאֻמְלָלִים כְּפִי כֹחוֹ, וּכְשֶׁיִּרְאֶה בְּצָרַת עָנִי לֹא יַעֲצִים עֵינָיו כְּלָל, אֶלָּא יִתְבּוֹנֵן בְּדַעְתּוֹ עָלָיו כְּפִי כֹחוֹ וִיעוֹרֵר רַחֲמִים עָלָיו בִּפְנֵי שָׁמַיִם וּבִפְנֵי הַבְּרִיּוֹת. וְיִתְרַחֵק מִכָּל הַשְׁגָּחָה רָעָה, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהָעַיִן הָעֶלְיוֹנָה פְּקוּחָה וּמִסְתַּכֶּלֶת מִיַּד אֶל הַטּוֹב

Lecture 20Never Be Burning Fury - 30:59

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 6

Never Be Burning Fury – 30:59



The Sixth: That there [should] never be burning fury (literally, fury of the nose) from his nostril at all. Rather, that there always be life, good will and patience (literally, duration of nose) in his nose. And he [should] always want to fulfill the will [of others], to satisfy every request and to sustain every downtrodden one; and always extract forgiveness of iniquity and (stopping) [passing over] of transgression from his [breath]. And he [should] not get angry with one who sins against him, but rather always be appeased and desire kindness, to create a pleasantness of spirit for all.

הששית – בְּחֹטְמוֹ מֵעוֹלָם לֹא יִמָּצֵא בוֹ חֲרוֹן אַף כְּלָל, אֶלָּא תָמִיד בְּאַפּוֹ חַיִּים וְרָצוֹן טוֹב וַאֲרִיכוּת אַף, אֲפִלּוּ לְאוֹתָם שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים. וְתָמִיד רוֹצֶה לְמַלְּאוֹת רָצוֹן וּלְהָפִיק כָּל שְׁאֵלָה וּלְהַחֲיוֹת כָּל נִדְכֶּה, וּמוֹצִיא מֵחֹטְמוֹ תָמִיד מְחִילַת עָוֹן (וְהַעֲצָרַת) [וְהַעֲבָרַת] פָּשַׁע, וְאֵינוֹ כּוֹעֵס בַּחֹטֵא לוֹ, אֶלָּא מִתְרַצֶּה תָּמִיד וְחָפֵץ חֶסֶד לַעֲשׂוֹת נַחַת רוּחַ לַכֹּל

 

Lecture 21A Shining Face - 36:34

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 7

A shining Face – 36:34



The Seventh: His face [should] always be shining and he [should] receive every person with a pleasant countenance. As so it is stated about the Highest Crown, “There is life in the light of the face of the King” (Proverbs 16:15); and no redness (harshness) or judgement enters there at all. So [should] the light of his face not be changed; anyone who gazes at him will only find joy and a pleasant countenance. And no cause [should] disrupt him from this at all.

השביעית – פָּנָיו תִּהְיֶינָה מְאִירוֹת תָּמִיד וִיקַבֵּל כָּל אָדָם בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת, שֶׁכֵּן בְּכֶתֶר עֶלְיוֹן נֶאֱמַר (מִשְׁלֵי טז, טו): “בְּאוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים” וְאֵין שׁוּם אֹדֶם וְדִין נִכְנָס שָׁם כְּלָל, כָּךְ אוֹר פָּנָיו לֹא יְשֻׁנֶּה וְכָל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בָּהֶם לֹא יִמְצָא אֶלָּא שִׂמְחָה וְסֵבֶר פָּנִים וְשׁוּם סִבָּה לֹא תַטְרִידֵהוּ מִזֶּה כְּלָל

 

Lecture 22Keep your mouth holy - 22:31

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 8

Keep your mouth holy – 22:31



The Eighth: His mouth [should] only bring out good; and the crafting of his statements be Torah and the causation of good will. And he [should] not bring out a disgraceful thing, a curse or the fury of anger from his mouth at all. And he [should] be similar to that Highest Mouth that never closes at all, and never prevents the good. And therefore, he must not be silent from speaking good about everything, and to always bring out goodness and blessing from this mouth.

השמינית – פִּיו לֹא יוֹצִיא אֶלָּא טוֹבָה, וְגִזְרַת אֲמָרָיו תּוֹרָה וַהֲפָקַת רָצוֹן טוֹב תָּמִיד, וְלֹא יוֹצִיא מִפִּיו דָּבָר מְגֻנֶּה וְלֹא קְלָלָה וְלֹא רֹגֶז כַּעַס כְּלָל וְלֹא דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים, וְיִהְיֶה דּוֹמֶה לְאוֹתוֹ הַפֶּה הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִסְתָּם כְּלָל, וְלֹא יִמְנַע טוֹב תָּמִיד, וְלָכֵן צָרִיךְ שֶׁלֹּא יֶחֱשֶׁה מִלְּדַבֵּר טוֹבָה עַל הַכֹּל וּלְהוֹצִיא מִפִּיו טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה תָמִיד

Lecture 23Humility is key - 45:53

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 2 – Part 9

Humility is key – 45:53



Behold, these are eight good traits; and they are all under the masthead of humility. As they are above in the Crown, in the Highest Limbs. And at the time that a person wants to approach the Above, to resemble Him – to open his sources to those below – he must attain perfection in these two chapters.

When he must practice the traits of the Crown: Indeed, we know that it is impossible to always practice these traits, as there are other traits in which a person must attain perfection – and those are the lower severities (gevurot), as we will elucidate. However, there are specific days that the severities are not active and people do not need them, as the Crown rules over them [then]; and times that the Crown is [wholly] required. Then one must use all of these traits that we mentioned.

Yet [with] the other traits – even if they are a need of the service at their [appropriate] times – [the times just mentioned are] not the time to use them, as the light of the Crown [would] nullify them; and hence he should not use those hard traits. For example, he [should] not use these traits on Shabbat – when the world is refined with the secret of delight, and [so] we do not judge [cases] on Shabbat. Then he [should] use all of the these traits [of the Crown] – to open the Highest Sources. As if he focuses his concentration on the lights of the Crown in his prayers but he acts the opposite with his actions, how will he open the Source of the Crown? And behold, he actually pushes It off with his actions. And behold the things are an a fortiori argument (kal vechomer): If the Crown does not dwell in the Highest Sefirot (divine emanations) that intensify holy judgments and holy anger, is it not even more so that the Crown and Its light will not dwell upon a person who is intensifying external anger – even if it is for the sake of the Heavens? And even more so, since he comes to challenge the Highest Traits. And They [will] say, “How brazen-faced is that one – the light of the Crown is not revealed in Us because of Our holy and pure judgement, and he seeks to reveal It [while] he is full of anger and disgraceful external actions?”

הֲרֵי אֵלֶּה שְׁמֹנֶה מִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְכֻלָּן תַּחַת דֶּגֶל הָעֲנָוָה שֶׁכֻּלָּן לְמַעְלָה בַּכֶּתֶר בָּאֵבָרִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים. וּבָעֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה הָאָדָם לְהִתְקָרֵב לְמַעְלָה לְהִדָּמוֹת אֵלָיו לִפְתֹּחַ מְקוֹרוֹתָיו אֶל הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּלֵּם בִּשְׁנֵי פְרָקִים אֵלּוּ

מתי צריך להתנהג במדות הכתר: אָמְנָם יָדַעְנוּ שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּאֵלּוּ הַמִּדּוֹת תָּמִיד, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ מִדּוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת שֶׁהָאָדָם צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּלֵּם בָּהֶן וְהֵן מֵהַגְּבוּרוֹת הַתַּחְתּוֹנוֹת, כַּאֲשֶׁר נְבָאֵר. אֲבָל יֵשׁ יָמִים יְדוּעִים שֶׁאֵין הַגְּבוּרוֹת פּוֹעֲלוֹת וְאֵין בְּנֵי אָדָם צְרִיכִים אֲלֵיהֶן, לְפִי שֶׁהַכֶּתֶר שׁוֹלֵט בָּהֶם, אוֹ שָׁעוֹת שֶׁהַכֶּתֶר מִתְבַּקֵּשׁ, אָז צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּכָל אֵלֶּה הַמִּדּוֹת שֶּׁזָּכַרְנוּ

אָמְנָם שְׁאָר הַמִּדּוֹת עִם הֱיוֹת שֶׁהֵם צֹרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָה בִּשְׁעָתָן, אֵין עֵת עַתָּה לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאוֹר הַכֶּתֶר מְבַטְּלָן. וְכָךְ הוּא לֹא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּאוֹתָן הַמִּדּוֹת הַקָּשׁוֹת, כְּגוֹן שַׁבָּת שֶׁהָעוֹלָם מִתְתַּקֵּן בְּסוֹד עֹנֶג וְאֵין דָּנִין בְּשַׁבָּת, אָז יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּמִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ כֻּלָּן, כְּדֵי לִפְתֹּחַ הַמְּקוֹרוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנִים. שֶׁאִלּוּ יְכַוֵּן בְּכַוָּנָתוֹ אֶל אוֹרוֹת הַכֶּתֶר בִּתְפִלּוֹתָיו וְהוּא יִפְעֹל בִּפְעֻלּוֹתָיו בְּהֵפֶךְ, הֵיאַךְ יִפְתַּח מְקוֹר הַכֶּתֶר, וַהֲרֵי הוּא דוֹחֵהוּ מַמָּשׁ בְּמַעֲשָׂיו. וַהֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר, אִם הַסְּפִירוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנוֹת מַגְבִּירוֹת הַדִּינִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַכַּעַס, הַקָּדוֹשׁ לֹא יִשְׁרֶה הַכֶּתֶר בָּהֶן, אִם הָאָדָם יַגְבִּיר הַכַּעַס הַחִיצוֹנִי אֲפִלּוּ יִהְיֶה לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁרֶה הַכֶּתֶר וְאוֹרוֹ עָלָיו. וּמַה גַּם שֶׁהוּא בָּא לְעוֹרְרוֹ עַל הַמִּדּוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנוֹת, וְהֵן אוֹמְרוֹת כַּמָּה עַזּוּת פָּנִים יֵשׁ בּוֹ, אֵין אוֹר הַכֶּתֶר מִתְגַּלֶּה בָּנוּ, מִפְּנֵי דִינֵנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַטָּהוֹר, וְהוּא רוֹצֶה לְגַלּוֹתוֹ מָלֵא כַּעַס וּפְעֻלּוֹת מְגֻנּוֹת חִצוֹנוֹת

Lecture 24Recap of last classes - 50:20

Tomer Devorah – Chapter 2 – Part 10

Recap of last classes – 50:20

Lecture 25Becoming humble - 1:03:59
Lecture 26A powerful medicine - 1:22:45
Lecture 27A powerful beverage - 1:04:20
Lecture 28Summary of chapter - 56:41

Tomer Devorah – Part 14

Summary of chapters 1 & 2 – 56:41

Section 3Chapter three
Lecture 29Midat Ha'Chochma - 50:16

Tomer Devorah

Chapter 3 – Part 1

Midat Ha’Chochma – 50:16


Chapter 3 – How a person can accustom himself with the trait of wisdom (Chochma):

Behold, the Highest Wisdom is completely spread over all things that exist, even as It is very concealed and sublime. About It is it stated (Psalms 104:24), “How many are Your creations, Lord; You made all of them with wisdom.” So [too,] is it fitting for a person’s wisdom to be found in everything; and he [should] ‘teach to benefit’ people – he [should] endow each and every one according to his ability, that which he can endow from his wisdom. And no cause [should] disturb him [in this] at all.

האיך ירגיל האדם עצמו במדת החכמה: הִנֵּה הַחָכְמָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה פְּרוּשָׂה עַל כָּל הַנִּמְצָאִים כֻּלָּם, עִם הֱיוֹתָהּ נֶעֱלֶמֶת וְנִשְׂגָּבָה מְאֹד, וְעָלֶיהָ נֶאֱמַר (תְּהִלִּים קד, כד): “מָה רַבּוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ ה’ כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִׂיתָ“. כָּךְ רָאוּי לְאָדָם שֶׁתִּהְיֶה חָכְמָתוֹ מְצוּיָה בַּכֹּל וְיִהְיֶה מְלַמֵּד לְהוֹעִיל לִבְנֵי אָדָם לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּפִי כֹחוֹ כָּל מַה שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלָיו מֵחָכְמָתוֹ יַשְׁפִּיעֵהוּ וְלֹא תַטְרִידֵהוּ סִבָּה כְּלָל.

 

Lecture 30Share the wisdom - 35:02
Lecture 31Take from above - 56:41
Lecture 32Always think good - 49:11
Lecture 33Think it's your son - 1:34:45
Lecture 34Compassion is key - 1:04:56
Lecture 35Summary of Chapter 3 - 1:20:52 - NEW