(ו) בְּרֵאשִׁית רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח (תהילים קי״א:י׳) רֵאשִׁית (י''א ב) חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יְיָ שֵׂכֶל טוֹב לְכָל עוֹשֵׂיהֶם תְּהִלָּתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד. רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה, הַאי קְרָא הָכִי מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, סוֹף חָכְמָה יִרְאַת ה', בְּגִין דְּיִרְאַת ה' סוֹף חָכְמָה אִיהִי. (נ''א אלא איהי ראשית) לְעָאלָא לְגוֹ דַרְגָא דְּחָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (תהילים קי״ח:י״ט) פִּתְחוּ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק. זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַה' וַדַּאי, דְּאִי לָא יֵיעוּל בְּהַאי תַּרְעָא לָא יֵיעוּל לְעָלְמִין. לְמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה דְּאִיהִי (דאיהו) עִלָּאָה וְטָמִיר וְגָנִיז וְעֲבִיד לֵיהּ תַּרְעִין אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין וּלְסוֹף כָּל תַּרְעִין עֲבַד תַּרְעָא חַד בְּכַמָּה מַנְעוּלִין בְּכַמָּה פִּתְחִין בְּכַמָּה הֵיכָלִין אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין. אָמַר כָּל מַאן דְּבָעֵי לְמֵיעַל לְגַבָּאי תַּרְעָא דָא יְהֵא קַדְמָאָה לְגַבָּאי, מָאן דְּיֵעוֹל בְּהַאי תַּרְעָא יֵעוּל. אוּף הָכִי תַּרְעָא קַדְמָאָה לְחָכְמָה עִלָּאָה יִרְאַת ה' אִיהִי. וְדָא אִיהִי רֵאשִׁית
(ז) ב, תְּרֵין אִנּוּן דְּמִתְחַבְּרִין כְּחֲדָא, וְאִנּוּן תְּרֵין נְקוּדִין, חַד גְּנִיזָא וּטְמִירָא וְחַד קַיָּימָא בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא. וּבְגִין דְּלֵית לְהוּ פִּירוּדָא אִקְרוּן רִאשִׁית. חַד וְלָא תְּרֵין. מָאן דְּנָטִיל הַאי נָטִיל הַאי. וְכֹלָא חָד דְּהָא הוּא (שמיה) וּשְׁמֵיהּ חַד דִּכְתִיב, (תהילים פ״ג:י״ט) וְיֵדְעוּ כִּי אַתָּה שִׁמְךָ יְיָ לְבַדֶּךָ. אַמַּאי אִקְרֵי יִרְאַת ה', בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אִילָנָא דְּטוֹב וְרָע, זָכֵי בַּר נָשׁ הָא טוֹב וְאִי לָא זָכֵי הָא (הוא) רָע.
(6) 6. בְּרֵאשִׁית. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, "The fear of Hashem is the beginning of wisdom; good understanding have all they who do His commandments; His praise endures forever" (Ps. 111:10). Of the phrase, "the beginning of wisdom," this verse have read 'the fear of Hashem is the end of wisdom,' because the fear of Hashem (is the secret of Malchut), which is at the end of Chochmah! She (Malchut) is the beginning or the first stage that opens the entrance to the level of the supernal Chochmah (Wisdom). So it is written, "Open to me the gates of righteousness" (Ibid. 118:19), "this is the gate to Hashem" (Ibid. 20). Assuredly, if he does not enter this gate, he shall never reach the Supernal King, because He is exalted, hidden, and concealed, and has made gates for Himself, one behind the other. At the end of all those gates, He set up a gate with many locks, many openings, and many chambers one on top of the other. He said, "Whoever wants to reach Me must first pass through this gate. Whoever enters this gate, may enter!" The same applies here, as the first gate to Supernal Wisdom is the "Fear of Hashem," (Malchut). This is why it is called 'The beginning'.
(7) 7. The letter Bet (indicates) two points that are joined together (in Malchut). And of these two Points, one is concealed and treasured, while the other is revealed and out in the open. But because they are not separated, they are called 'The Beginning (Heb. רִאשִׁית)', one and not two. Whoever takes one, takes the other as well, and all is one; because "He and His Name are One," as it is written, "that men may know that You alone, whose name is Hashem" (Ps. 83:19). Why is (Malchut) called "the fear of Hashem?" Because it is the Tree of Good and Evil, If a person is deserving, then it is good; but if he is not deserving, then it is bad.
(א) וְעַל דָּא שָׁרֵי בְּהַאי אֲתַר יִרְאָה. וְדָא תַּרְעָא לְעָאלָא לְכָל טוּבָא דְעָלְמָא. שֵׂכֶל טוֹב אִלֵּין תְּרֵין תַּרְעִין דְּאִנּוּן כְּחֲדָא.
(ב) רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר שֵׂכֶל טוֹב דָּא אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי דְּאִיהוּ שֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּלָא רָע כְּלָל. וְעַל דְּלָא שַׁרְיָא בֵּיהּ רָע אִיהוּ שֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּלָא רָע. לְכָל עוֹשֵׂיהֶם, אִלֵּין חַסְדֵּי דָוִד (ויחי רי''ט ע''א) הַנֶּאֱמָנִים תַּמְכִין אוֹרַיְיתָא. וְאִנּוּן דְּתָמְכִין אוֹרַיְיתָא כִּבְיָכוֹל אִנּוּן עָבְדִין. כָּל אִנּוּן דְּלָעָאן בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לֵית בְּהוּ עֲשִׂיָּה בְּעוֹד דְּלָעָאן בָּהּ. אִנּוּן דְּתָמְכִין לוֹן אִית בְּהוּ עֲשִׂיָּה. וּבְחֵילָא דָא כְּתִיב תְּהִלָּתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד וְקַיְימָא כּוּרְסְיָיא עַל קִיּוּמֵיהּ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת.
(ג) רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הֲוָה יָתִיב וְלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּלֵילְיָא (אמור צ''ח א) דְּכַלָּה אִתְחַבְּרַת בְּבַעֲלָהּ. דְּתָנִינָן כָּל אִנּוּן חַבְרַיָא דִּבְנֵי הֵיכָלָא דְּכַלָּה אִצְטְרִיכוּ בְּהַהִיא לֵילְיָא דְּכַלָּה אִזְדַּמְנַת לְמֶהֱוֵי לְיוֹמָא אַחֲרָא גּוֹ חוּפָּה בְּבַעֲלָהּ לְמֶהוֵי עִמָּהּ כָּל הַהוּא לֵילְיָא, וּלְמֶחֱדֵי עִמָּהּ בְּתִקּוּנָהָא דְאִיהִי אִתְתַּקָּנַת לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא מִתּוֹרָה לִנְבִיאִים וּמִנְבִיאִים לִכְתוּבִים וּבְמִדְרָשׁוֹת דִּקְרָאֵי וּבְרָזֵי דְחָכְמְתָא. בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין אִנּוּן תִּיקּוּנִין דִּילָהּ וְתַכְשִׁיטָהָא. וְאִיהִי וְעוּלֵמְתָהָא עָאלַת וְקַיְימַת עַל רֵישֵׁיהוֹן וְאִתְתַּקָּנַת בְּהוּ וְחָדַת בְּהוּ כָּל הַהוּא לֵילְיָא. וּלְיוֹמָא אָחֳרָא לָא עָאלַת לַחוּפָּה אֶלָּא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ. וְאִלֵּין אִקְרוּן בְּנֵי חוּפָּתָא. וְכֵיוָן דְּעָאלַת לְחוּפָּתָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שָׁאִיל עֲלַיְיהוּ וּמְבָרֵךְ לוֹן וּמְעַטֵּר לוֹן בְּעִטְּרָהָא דְּכַלָּה. זַכָּאָה חוּלַקְהוֹן.
(ד) וְהֲוָה רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְכֻלְהוּ חַבְרַיָיא (בהדיה) מְרַנְּנִין בְּרִנָּה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא וּמְחַדְּשָׁן מִלִּין דְאוֹרַיְיתָא כָּל חַד וְחַד מִנַּיְיהוּ. וְהֲוָה חָדֵי רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְכָל שְׁאָר חַבְרַיָיא. אָמַר לוֹן רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בָּנַי זַכָּאָה חוּלַקְכוֹן בְּגִין דִּלְמָחָר לָא תֵיעוּל כַּלָּה לַחוּפָּה אֶלָּא בַּהֲדַיְיכוּ. בְּגִין דְּכֻלְהוּ דִּמְתַקְנִין תִּקּוּנָהָא בְּהַאי לֵילְיָא וְחָדָאן בָּהּ כֻּלְהוּ יְהוֹן רְשִׁימִין וּכְתִיבִין בְּסִפְרָא דְדֻכְרָנַיָא וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְבָרֵךְ לוֹן בְּשִׁבְעִין בִּרְכָאן וְעִטְּרִין דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה.
(ה) פָּתַח רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר (תהילים י״ט:ב׳) (תרומה קל''ו ב) הַשָּׁמַיִם מְסַפְּרִים כְּבוֹד אֵל וְגו' קְרָא דָא הָא אוֹקִימְנָא לֵיהּ. אֲבָל בְּזִמְנָא דָא דְּכַלָּה אִתְעָרָא לְמֵיעַל לַחוּפָּה בְּיוֹמָא דְמָחָר אִתְתַּקָּנַת וְאִתְנְהִירַת בְּקִישׁוּטָהָא בַּהֲדֵי חַבְרַיָיא דְּחָדָאן עִמָּהּ כָּל הַהִיא לֵילְיָא וְאִיהִי חָדַאת עִמְּהוֹן. וּבְיוֹמָא דְּמָחָר כַּמָּה אוּכְלוּסִין (כמה) חַיָּילִין וּמַשִּׁרְיָין מִתְכַּנְשִׁין בַּהֲדָהּ. וְאִיהִי וְכֻלְהוּ מְחַכָּאן לְכָל חַד וְחַד דִּתְקִינוּ לָהּ בְּהַאי לֵילְיָא. כֵּיוָן דְּמִתְחַבְּרָן כְּחֲדָא וְאִיהִי חָמַאת לְבַעְלָהּ מַה כְּתִיב הַשָּׁמַיִם מְסַפְּרִים כְּבוֹד אֵל. הַשָּׁמַיִם דָּא חָתָן דְּעָאל לַחוּפָּה. מְסַפְּרִים, מְנַהֲרִין כְּזוֹהֲרָא דְּסַפִּיר, דְּנָהִיר וְזָהִיר מִסְיָיפֵי עָלְמָא וְעַד סְיָיפֵי עָלְמָא.
(ו) כְּבוֹד אֵל, דָּא כְּבוֹד כַּלָּה דְּאִקְרֵי אֵל, דִּכְתִיב, (תהלים ז) אֵל זוֹעֵם בְּכָל יוֹם. בְּכָל יוֹמֵי שַׁתָּא אִקְרֵי אֵל, וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּהָא עָאלַת לַחוּפָּה אִקְרֵי כָּבוֹד, וְאִקְרֵי אֵל. יְקָר עַל יְקָר. נְהִירוּ עַל נְהִירוּ. וְשָׁלְטָנוּ עַל שָׁלְטָנוּ. כְּדֵין בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּשָׁמַיִם עָאל לַחוּפָּה וְאָתֵי וְנָהִיר לָהּ, כָּל אִנּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא דְּאַתְקִינוּ לָהּ כֻּלְהוּ אִתְפָּרְשֵׁי (אתפרשו) בִּשְׁמָהָן תַּמָּן הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (תהלים יט) וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו מַגִּיד הָרָקִיעַ. מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, אִלֵּין אִנּוּן מָארֵי קַיָּימָא דִּבְרִית בַּהֲדֵי כַלָה, וְאִנּוּן מָארֵי קַיָימָא דִבְרִית אִקְרוּן מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (תהלים צ) וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ) כּוֹנְנֵהוּ דָּא בְּרִית קַיָּימָא דְּחֲתִים בְּבִשְׂרָא דְּבַר נָשׁ.
(1) Why is Malchut called “fear of the Creator?” It is because Malchut is the Tree of Good and Evil: If man merits, it is good, but if he does not, it is evil. This is why fear dwells in that place. And this gate leads to all the goodness that exists in the world. ALL THE GOODNESS signifies two gates, two points that are as one.
(2) Rabbi Yosi said that ALL THE GOODNESS refers to the Tree of Life, for it is entirely good and completely without evil. And because it is without evil, it is entirely good, without evil. To all those who act, it is the faithful mercy of David that upholds the Torah. Those who keep the Torah seemingly create it themselves. All those who study the Torah – there is no action in them as they study, but those who keep the Torah – in them there is action. And the world exists by this force, eternal are the wisdom and the Torah, and the throne stands just as it should stand.
(3) Rabbi Shimon was sitting and studying the Torah on the night when the Bride, Malchut, unites with her husband, Zeir Anpin. And all the friends present in the bridal chamber on that night, the eve of the holiday of Shavuot, must stand together with the bridegroom under the Huppah, and be with him this whole night, and rejoice with him in the corrections of the Bride, i.e., study the Torah, then Prophets, then Holy Scriptures, and finally the wisdom, for these corrections are the Bride’s adornments. And the Bride receives corrections, adorns herself with them, and rejoices with them all of that night. And on the next day, on the holiday of Shavuot, she only comes to the Huppah together with them. And her friends, who studied the Torah all night long, are called the sons of the Huppah. And as she approaches the Huppah, the Creator asks about them, blesses and adorns them with the Bride’s adornments. Happy are those who merit this!
(4) This is why Rabbi Shimon and all of his friends stayed up that night, and each of them renewed the Torah again and again. Rabbi Shimon was joyous, and so were his friends. Rabbi Shimon said to them: “My sons, how blessed is your lot, for it is you who shall accompany the Bride tomorrow to the Huppah, for all those who correct Her and rejoice in Her this night shall have their names recorded in the Book of Remembrance. And the Creator shall bless them with seventy blessings and adornments of crowns of the Upper World.”
(5) Rabbi Shimon opened and said, (Ps. 19:2) “The Heavens declare the Creator’s greatness. I have already explained this, but when the bride awakens to enter the Huppah on the following day, with all the friends who rejoiced with her through that night, she rejoices with them, corrects herself and shines with her adornments.” And on the following day, a multitude of masses, hosts, and legions join her. And she, together with all these masses, hosts and legions, awaits all those who corrected her by studying the Torah on that night. This is so because Zeir Anpin unites with Malchut, and she sees her husband, and it is said: “The Heavens declare the Creator’s greatness.” “The Heavens” alludes to the Bridegroom (ZA), who enters the Huppah. “The Heavens declare,” i.e., shine, like the luminescence of a sapphire, upon the entire Malchut, from end to end.
(6) The Creator’s glory = EL – is the bride, Malchut, called EL, as it is written: (Ps. 7:12) “ EL rages each day.” She is called EL on all the days of the year. And now, on the holiday of Shavuot, when she already entered the Huppah, she is called GREATNESS and she is called EL, greatest of the great, luminescent out of the luminescent, dominion over dominions. The hour when the Heaven (ZA) enters the Huppah and shines upon Malchut, all of her friends, who corrected her by studying the Torah, are known by their names, as it is said: “The Heavens declare the work of His hands.” “The work of His hands” refers to the members of this covenant, called “the work of His hands.” As you say: “Confirm for us the work of our hands,” which is the mark of the covenant, imprinted on man’s body.
all who practice it gain sound understanding.
Praise of Him is everlasting.
that I may enter them and praise the LORD. (20) This is the gateway to the LORD—
the victorious shall enter through it.
that Your name, Yours alone, is the LORD,
supreme over all the earth.
the sky proclaims His handiwork.
God pronounces doom-f each day.