Hebrew Literature

And She (the Bride) adhereth unto the side of the Male; wherefore also She is called, Cant. v. 2, “My dove, my perfect one.” Read not, “THMTHI, _Thamathi_, My perfect one”; but...

12. “Stalks of Fruit which convey Uncleanness” treats of fruits growing out of the earth, which have a stalk and no husk. They can be polluted and can pollute, but may not be co...

Come and behold. When the Most Holy Ancient One, the Concealed with all Concealments, desired to be formed forth, He conformed all things under the form of Male and Female; and...

Hebrew Melodies Ode To Zion God, Whom Shall I Compare To Thee? Servant Of God My King To The Soul Sabbath Hymn O Sleeper! Wake, Arise! The Land Of Peace The Heart’s Desire O Sou...

1. The Sages studied in the language of the Mishna; blessed be He who made choice of them and their learning. R. Meier said, “he who is engaged in the study of the law for its o...

1. With ten expressions(494) the world was created. “But wherefore is this taught, since God could have created it with one expression?” “This is to punish the wicked, who destr...

1. Akabia, son of Mahallalel, said, “ponder on three things, and thou wilt not be led to the commission of sin; consider from whence thou comest, and whither thou goest; and in...

Tradition.—On that day on which the Companions were assembled together in the house of Rabbi Schimeon, and on which he had arranged his affairs because he was about to depart fr...

For in the beginning of the verse it is written: “Curse not the King even in thy thought.” Where it is written concerning even the (unexpressed) thought, and concerning the secr...

1. On that day(773) they voted and decided, “that a foot-bath containing from two logs to nine cabs,(774) which was split,(775) may become unclean from pressure,”(776) although...

1. Rabbi Judah said, “which are the most eligible paths for man to choose? All such as are an ornament to those who tread therein; and get them honor from man. Be also as carefu...

Thy fountain goeth forth and faileth not: surely concerning thee may this be applied, “And a river went forth out of Eden”; also that which is written, “Like a fountain of water...

1. The son of Zoma said, “Who is wise? He who is willing to receive instruction from all men, as is said, ‘Than all my teachers.’(490) Who is mighty? He who subdues his evil ima...

And therefore is it written, Ps. xciv. 7, “IH, _Yah_, shall not behold.” And shortly after verse 9, “He that planteth the ear, shall He not hear? He that formeth the eye, shall...

His conformation is that He is formed forth in that brain, the most hidden of all things, which is expanded and formed forth, and hence proceedeth the superior and inferior CHSD...

Hereunto have I propounded how one thing agreeth with another; and I have expounded those things which have been concealed in the most Holy Ancient One, the Concealed with all C...

1. Four punishments were permitted to the supreme court—stoning, burning, beheading, and strangling. R. Simon said, “burning, stoning, strangling, and beheading.” The preceding...

The beautiful arrangement of this beard is divided into nine parts. But when the most holy oil of dignity of the Most Holy Ancient One sendeth down rays into this beard, its par...

1. All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as is said, “Thy people also shall be all righteous,”(412) etc. And these are they who have no portion in the world to come: h...

1. “All images are forbidden, because they are worshipped once a year.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “only those are forbidden which have in their hand a staff, or...

1. Short hyssop is made sufficient for sprinkling with a thread and spindle, and it is dipped and lifted, and one holds the hyssop and sprinkles. R. Judah and R. Simon say, “as...

1. “What is the order of the fast-days?” “Men draw out the ark containing the rolls of the Law to the public street of the city, and they put burnt ashes on the top of the ark,...

1. He who was legally unclean, or in a journey afar off, and did not keep the first, must keep the second (passover). “He mistook it, or was constrained by force, and did not ke...

1. Three times in the year the priests elevate their hands to bless the people, four times a day—in the morning prayer, in the following prayer, in the evening prayer, and at th...

1. A palm branch stolen or withered is disallowed. One from an idolatrous grove, or from a city withdrawn to idolatry,(250) is disallowed. If the point be broken off, or the lea...

1. “Has an idolater hired an Israelite to make with him wine of idolatrous libation?” “His wages are forbidden.” “But if he hired him to do with him another work, even though he...

1. Seven days before the burning of the heifer, the priest who burned the heifer was removed from his house to the chamber in front of the Temple Palace toward the northeast;(72...

1. When the judgment was finished, they brought him forth to stone him.(394) The place of stoning was outside the judgment-hall; as is said, “Bring him forth that hath cursed.”(...

“How did the Levites guard the tabernacle?” “The family of Kohath watched on the south, as is said, ‘The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle...

1. The musical pipes were (played) for five and (sometimes) six days. That is to say, the pipes of the water-drawing, which supersedes neither the Sabbath day nor the feast. The...

1. “Judgments in money matters (require) three judges. This party chooses for himself one, and the other party chooses for himself one. And both parties choose another.” The wor...

1. The doorway of the Sanctuary(583) was twenty cubits in height, and ten in breadth. And it had four doors, two within and two without, as is said, “Two doors to the temple and...

1. The Mountain of the House was 500 cubits square. The largest space was on the south, the second on the east, the third on the north, and the least westward. In the place larg...

1. Judgments in money and judgments in souls must be equally inquired into and investigated; as is said, “Ye shall have one manner of law.”(389) “What is the difference between...

1. “How do men roast the passover?” “They bring a stick of pomegranate and thrust it through its mouth to its tail. And they put its legs and intestines inside it.” The words of...

For as the Most Holy Ancient One is found to include equally in Himself the Three Heads,(847) so all things are symbolized under the form of the Three Heads, as we have stated.

1. The priests did not tie the four feet of the lamb together, but they bound its fore and hind feet. He who gained the lot for carrying the members, held it; and thus was it bo...

1. On the eves of the passovers near to the time of evening prayer a man must not eat till it be dark. And even the poorest in Israel must not eat till he can recline at ease, a...

1. Rabbi Ishmael said, “three stones(458) beside each other at the side of the image of Mercury are forbidden, but two are allowed.” But the Sages say, “when they are within his...

1. The daily offering was slaughtered at half-past eight,(151) and offered at half-past nine. On the eve of the passover it was slaughtered at half-past seven and offered at hal...

1. The altar was thirty-two cubits square. It ascended a cubit and receded a cubit. This was the foundation. It remains thirty cubits square. It ascended five cubits, and recede...

1. If a witness were unknown, another was sent to testify to him. At first they received evidence of the new moon from anyone; but when the heretics(294) bribed (the witnesses),...

1. The overseer said to them, “go and look if the time for slaughter is come.” If it came, the watchman said, “it is brightening.”(204) Matthew the son of Samuel said, “is the w...

1. “When five persons filled five barrels with water of purification, to purify five persons requiring purification, and they changed their mind for one purification, or they pr...

1. A son stubborn and rebellious.(405) “From what time is he decidedly a son stubborn and rebellious?” “From the time the two hairs have come, and up to the time the beard has s...

1. These are to be strangled—he who beats his father or his mother, and he who steals a soul from Israel, and an “elder” who is rebellious against the judges, and a false prophe...

1. The Sages stated an important rule: “In the Sabbatical year, everything eaten by man and eaten by beast, and a kind of dye-stuff, and whatever cannot remain in the ground, to...

1. In olden times they used to say a man may gather wood, stones, and grass in his own (field), just as he may gather that which is greater out of his neighbor’s field. When tra...

1. The Captain of the Temple said to the priests, “come and cast lots.” “Who is to slaughter?” “Who is to sprinkle?” “Who is to take the ashes from the inner altar?” “Who is to...

1. When the feast of New Year happened on the Sabbath, they used to sound the cornet in the Sanctuary; but not in the provinces. After the destruction of the Sanctuary, R. Jocha...

1. Both he-goats for the day of atonement are commanded to be alike in color, and in stature, and in price, and to be selected at the same time, and although they be not equal,...

1. When the High Priest entered to worship, three priests had hold of him, one on his right hand, one on his left hand, and one by the jewels on his breast-plate. And so soon as...

1. “A place in which men are accustomed to do work on the eve of the passover?” “For half a day they may work.” “A place in which they are not accustomed to work?” “They must no...

1. The Sabbatical year releases(83) a loan, whether it be with or without a bill. The credit of a shop is not released. But if one made it as a loan, it is released. Rabbi Judah...

Rabbi Judah the Holy, said, there were ten heave-offerings, the heave-offering of the Lord, and the heave-offering of the tithes, of the dough, and of the first-fruits; and the...

“How did Bezaleel make the candlestick?” “He made it from an ingot of gold, and it was like a beam. And above and below he made bowls, knops, and flowers, and drew out from it t...

1. They brought out for him the cup and the censer, and filled his hand full (of incense), and put it into the cup, the large according to his largeness,(218) and the smaller ac...

1. And these are to be beheaded. The murderer and the men of a city withdrawn to idolatry. “The murderer who smote his neighbor with a stone or iron, and he pressed him down in...

1. “If one sleep under a bed in the booth?” “He has not discharged his duty.” R. Judah said, “we used to sleep under a bed before the elders, and they said nothing to us.” R. Si...

1. These things in the passover abrogate the command against work on the Sabbath: its slaughtering, and the sprinkling of its blood, and purging its inwards, and incensing its f...

1. The Sages stated an important rule for the Sabbatical year: “Of all that is only fit for man’s food a plaster may not be made for man, and it is needless to say for beast. An...

1. Three days before the feasts of the idolaters it is forbidden to deal with them, to lend articles to them, or to take a loan of articles from them; to make a loan of money to...

1. The order of these fasts is said only for the first rains. But if the sprouts wither, men blow an alarm off-hand. And if the rains cease between rain and rain forty days, men...

And from this convexity of the joining together of this White Skull daily distilleth a dew into Microprosopus, into that place which is called Heaven; and in that very place sha...

1. Israelites must not put cattle in the stables of idolaters, because of their evil habits. And a woman must not be alone with them, because of their evil habits. And no man sh...

1. The rue, and the sorrel with spreading leaves, and the wild savory, the coriander of the mountains, and the parsley of the marshes, and the rocket of the desert, are free fro...

1. There are more weighty rules for holy things, than for the heave-offering. Because vessels may be baptized in vessels for the heave-offering, but not for holy things. The out...

1. “How long may men bring out dung to the heap?” “Till the time comes for stopping work.” The words of R. Maier. R. Judah said, “till its fertility(48) dry out.” R. José said,...

The court of the tabernacle was in length 100 cubits, and in breadth fifty cubits, as is said, “And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle for the south side, etc., 100 cub...

1. The palm-branch and the willow (were used) for six days and for seven. The hymn, and the rejoicings, for eight days. The booth and the pouring out of water for seven days; an...

1. Removals(91) on the Sabbath are two. Of these removals four are inside a place. And there are two other removals, of which four are outside a place. “How?” “A beggar stands w...

1. The priests guarded the sanctuary in three places, in the House Abtinas,(567) in the House Nitzus,(568) and in the House Moked;(569) and the Levites in twenty-one places, fiv...

1. “With what may a woman go out?” And “with what may she not go out?” “A woman may not go out with laces of wool, nor with laces of flax, nor with straps on her head, and she c...

1. Moses received the Oral Law from Sinai and delivered it to Joshua, and Joshua delivered it to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the men of the g...

1. “A pan for purification which one left open, and he found it covered?” “It is disallowed.” “He left it open and found a covering on it?” “If a weasel could drink of it, or a...

1. He who brings earthen vessels for the ashes of the heifer must wash them, and place them in the furnace over night. Rabbi Judah said, “even if he bring them from his house th...

1. The high-priest may judge, and be judged.(379) He may bear witness, and witness may be borne against him. He may have his shoe loosed, and the shoe may be loosed for his wife...

“How did Bezaleel make the ark?” “He made three boxes, two of gold and one of wood. He put the wooden one inside the golden one, and the golden one inside the wooden one, and co...

1. “The married woman, while she is in the house of her husband?” “Her husband slaughtered on her account, and her father slaughtered on her account?” “She must eat the passover...

1. “How long may men plough in a white(43) field on the eve of the Sabbatical year?” “Till the productiveness ceases; so long as men usually plough to plant cucumbers and gourds...

1. “Two persons watched a trough containing water for purification; one of them becomes legally unclean?” “It is allowed, because it was in the safe-keeping of the second.” “He...

1. He shook the urn and brought up two lots; one was written “for the Name,” and the other was written “for Azazel.”(213) The Sagan stood at his right hand, and the Chief of the...

Moses made one LAVER, as is said, “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass.”(686) Solomon made ten lavers, as is said, “He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, an...

1. “Judgments for money (require) three (judges). Robbery and beating (require) three. Damages or half damages, double payments and payments four or five fold (require) three.”...

1. A booth which is above twenty cubits high is disallowed. R. Judah allows it. One which is not ten hands high, one which has not three walls, or which has more sun than shade,...

From the skull of the Head (of Microprosopus) depend all those chiefs and leaders (otherwise, all those thousands and tens of thousands), and also from the locks of the hair.

1. These cause transgression during passover: the Babylonian cuthack,(132) and the Median beer, and the Edomite vinegar, and the Egyptian zithum,(133) and the purifying dough of...

1. “Whosoever puts his hands into a house smitten with leprosy?” “His hands are unclean in a primary degree.”(766) The words of R. Akiba. But the Sages say, “his hands are uncle...

1. The Sabbatical year of white figs(57) is the second after the Sabbatical year, because they produce in three years. Rabbi Judah said, “The Sabbatical year of the Persian figs...

1. On the day of atonement, food, and drink, and washing, and anointing, and the sandal latchet,(242) and marriage duties, are restricted. “But the king and bride are allowed to...

1. Men may not discourse on illegal connections with three,(358) nor on the work of creation with two,(359) nor on the cherubs with one,(360) save when one is wise, and comprehe...

1. The witnesses were examined with seven investigations. “In what Sabbatical year?” “In what year?” “In what month?” “What date in the month?” “What day?” “What hour?” “What pl...

1. He who sees a place where signs were wrought for Israel, says, “Blessed be He who wrought signs for our fathers in this place;” a place where idolatry has been rooted out,—sa...

1. The Priests guarded the sanctuary in three places(534)—in the House Abtinas, in the House Nitzus, and in the House Moked. The House Abtinas and the House Nitzus had upper cha...

1. “If one poured on his hand one gush?” “His hand is clean.” “If on both hands one gush?” R. Meier pronounces them “unclean, until one poured out of a quarter-log (vessel) upon...

1. There are four new years. The first of Nisan(279) is a new year for kings and for festivals.(280) The first of Elul(281) is a new year for the tithing of cattle; but R. Eleaz...

1. The whole time that it is allowed to eat leaven, men may feed beasts with it, and wild animals and fowls, and they may sell it to a stranger. And they are allowed to enjoy it...

When Israel was to encamp, the pillar of cloud rose up and spread out over the children of Judah like a kind of booth, and it covered the tent outward, and filled the tabernacle...

For the nose of Him, the Ancient One, is the life of lives for all things, and from His two nostrils rush forth the _Ruachin De-Chiin_, RVCHIN DCHIIN, spirits of lives for all.

And since He Himself is the grace of all graciousness; hence He assumeth the conformation of the Forehead, which is disclosed in the most intense light (otherwise, hath a format...

1. One may bring out wine sufficient for the cup,(121) milk sufficient for a gulp, honey sufficient for a bruise, oil sufficient to anoint a small member, water sufficient to mo...

1. “A pan full of the water of purification into which ordinary water, however little, has fallen?” R. Eliezer said, “one must sprinkle twice with it.” But the Sages “disallow i...

1. “The Sanhedrin and all Israel saw (the new moon); the witnesses were examined, but it became dark before they could say, ‘Sanctified’?” “The month is intercalary.” “The Sanhe...

The ark which Moses made in the desert was in length two cubits and a half, and in breadth one cubit and a half, and in height one cubit and a half, as is said, “And they shall...

1. “From what time do we recite the Shemah(8) in the evening?” “From the hour the priests(9) enter (the temple) to eat their heave offerings, until the end of the first watch.”(...

1. “If one who is reading in the Law when the time comes for praying intends it in his heart?” “He is free.” “But if not?” “He is not free.” “At the end of the sections one salu...

The altar of incense was in length a cubit, and in breadth a cubit, and in height two cubits, as is said, “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon; of shittim-wood sha...

1. The High Priest came to read. If he wished to read in linen garments, he read. If not, he read in his own white stole. The public Minister of the congregation took out the ro...

1. “How long do men plough in a field with trees on the eve of the Sabbatical year?”(38) The school of Shammai say, “so long as it is useful for the fruit;” but the school of Hi...

1. The length of the whole court(590) was 187 cubits. The breadth 135. From east to west 187. The place for the tread of the feet of Israel was eleven cubits. The place for the...

The vail was woven ten cubits square, and there were made in it four loops, and it was hung on hooks on the tops of the pillars, and it was spread in the third portion of the ta...

1. “When do we remember in prayer the heavy rain?” Rabbi Eleazar said, “from the first holiday of the feast (of tabernacles),” Rabbi Joshua said, “from the last holiday of the f...

1. On the eve of the fourteenth day of Nisan(126) men search for leaven by candlelight. Every place where men do not bring in leaven, there is no need of search. “And wherefore...

1. Three men who have eaten together are bound to bless after food. “If a person have eaten of that which is doubtful, whether it has paid tithe or not; or of first tithe from w...

1. Seven days before the Day of Atonement the High Priest was removed from his house to the chamber(192) Parhedrin, and the council prepared for him another priest,(193) lest th...

1. All are bound to appear in the Temple, except the deaf, an idiot, and a child, and a eunuch, and women, and slaves who are not free, and the lame, and the blind, and the sick...

1. At first everyone who wished to (cleanse) the altar, cleansed it. When they were many, they ran and mounted the ascent, and each one, who at the middle outstripped his compan...

Those hairs cover not the lips, and the entire lips are red and rosy. As it is written, Cant. v. 13, “His lips as roses.” (In the ordinary version SHVSHNIM, _Shushanim_, is tran...

1. Everything suited for causing legal uncleanness in that which is trodden must be expelled from the ceremony of purification, whether it be unclean or clean, and man likewise....

1. The Captain of the Watch said, “give one blessing,” and the priests blessed and read the ten commandments, “Hear,”(549) etc. “And it shall come to pass if ye shall hearken,”(...

1. Rabbi Eliezer said, “the red heifer must be a calf of a year old or a heifer of two years.” But the Sages say, “a calf of two years and a heifer of three years or of four yea...

1. “With what may they light (lamps) on the Sabbath?” “And with what may they not light?” “They may not light with cedar moss, nor with unhackled flax, nor with floss silk, nor...

1. Rabbi Eliezer said, “a heifer for a sin-offering is allowed even in pregnancy.” But the Sages disallow her. R. Eliezer said, “she is not to be taken from foreigners.” But the...

1. “A cooking oven which was heated with stubble or brushwood?” “They may place on it cookery.” “With oil-dregs and with wood?” “They must not place it, till the coals are raked...

1. “How do we bless for fruit?” “For fruit of a tree say, ‘Who createst the fruit of the wood,’ excepting the wine. For wine say, ‘Who createst the fruit of the vine.’ For fruit...

There were provided eleven curtains of goats’ hair, and the length of every one of them was thirty cubits, as is said, “And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ (hair) to be a cov...

The letter H, _He_, the golden-yellow color (otherwise, germinating power) of the Mother, Aima, having been connected with the Female Power, is extended in the Greater Female Po...

And since this Brain radiateth into the three white brilliances of the eye (of Microprosopus), hence is that called the “good eye,” concerning which it is said, Prov. xxii. 9, “...

The candlestick which Moses made in the wilderness was wrought from gold, and required hammering, and required knops and flowers, as is said, “And thou shalt make a candlestick...

The table which Moses made in the wilderness was in length two cubits, and its breadth one cubit, and its height was one cubit and a half, as is said, “Thou shalt also make a ta...

1. “The heifer which was slaughtered without the proper intention, (the priest) caught the blood and sprinkled it without the proper intention, or with the proper intention and...

In the “Book of the Teaching of the School of Rav Yeyeva the Elder” it is said: The forehead is according as the forehead(856) of the Ancient One. Otherwise, the letter _Cheth_,...

2. “Mixtures,” or combinations, treats of the extension of boundaries, whereby all the inhabitants of the court, or entry, where the mixture is made, are counted as one family i...

1. Men should not stand up to pray, except with reverential head. The pious of ancient days used to pause one hour before they began to pray, that they might direct their hearts...

1. Three countries (are included) in the laws of the Sabbatical year. In all the possessions of those who returned from Babylon—from the (border) of the land of Israel and to Ce...

1. A quarter-log(760) of water is poured on the hands of one person; also on the hands of two persons. Half a log on three or four. From a log for five, ten, or even 100 (person...

1. His brethren saw him come down, and they came running to him. They hastened and sanctified their hands and their feet from the laver. They took the brushes and the forks, and...

“How was the tabernacle covered?” “There were provided ten curtains of blue, of purple, and scarlet, and fine-twined linen.” As is said, “Moreover, thou shalt make the tabernacl...

1. “With what is a beast led forth, and with what is it not led forth?”(104) One may lead forth the camel with a head-stall, and the she-camel with a nose-ring, and the Lydda(10...

And that Spirit proceedeth from the hidden brain, and She is called the Spirit of Life, and through that Spirit(812) will all men understand CHKMTHA, _Chokmatha_, Wisdom, in the...

1. “When one wishes to purify, and the ashes of purification have fallen on his hand or upon the side (of the vessel), and they afterward fell on a drinking-trough?” “They are d...

2. “A Corner of a Field” (Lev. xxiii. 22; Deut. xxiv. 19) treats of the corners of the field to be left for the poor to glean them—the forgotten sheaves, olives, and grapes—and...

1. The Sages laid down a great rule for the Sabbath: “Everyone who forgets the principle of Sabbath, and did many works on many Sabbaths, is only responsible for one sin-offerin...

3. “Unconsecrated Things” treats of what is clean and unclean, of not eating the sinew that shrank, and not killing the dam and her young in one day (Deut. xxii. 6).

1. He whose dead lies before him is exempted from reciting the Shemah,—from the prayer,—and from the phylacteries.(23) Those who carry the bier, and those who relieve them, and...

1. “First Gate,” so called because in the East law is often administered in the gateway of a city. It treats of all such damages as may be received from man or beast. It assesse...

1. These are the controversies relating to meals between the schools of Shammai and Hillel. The school of Shammai say, “one must say the blessing of the day, and then bless the...

1. The morning prayer may be said till noon. R. Judah says “until the fourth hour.” The afternoon prayer until the evening. R. Judah says “until half the afternoon.” The evening...

In that Influence is extended an expansion of the Supernal Emanation,(813) which is the Head of all Heads, which is not known nor perfected, and which neither superiors nor infe...

1. The priests began ascending the steps of the porch. They who gained the lot for the removal of ashes from the inner altar and from the candlestick, proceeded in front. He who...

1. “Brother’s Widow” (Deut. xxv. 5-11) treats of the law obliging a brother to marry the relict of his deceased brother; also, when the obligation is to take place, and the cere...

But these places of fragrance are white and red; the testimony of Ab the Father, and Aima the Mother; the testimony of the inheritance which He hath taken by right and obtained.

1. “With what may they cover up (pots to retain the heat)?” “And with what may they not cover them up?” “They may not cover them up with oil-dregs, or dung, or salt, or lime, or...